The Firefly Letters by Margarita Engle - Diversity

"Diversity is the one true thing we all have in common. Celebrate it every day."

This was a great book that focuses around three girls journey during the 1850’s to try and achieve freedom for themselves. Engle gives us different perspectives as it starts off with Fredrika who is the main character of the story, and then Elena, the daughter of the magistrate who is hosting Frederika, Cecilia who is the young slave and lastly, Beni who is Cecilia's husband. Through their journey in Cuba the reader can see how three very different girls break the walls of language and cultures to become friends with each other, helping one another grow in the process! A great message for all of this books readers to benefit from J

Reading Level: 4.4

Readers: Below are a few websites that could assist in the learning and teaching of this book!

- This would be a good website to use in the classroom to help explain to students how back 100/200 years ago, women did not have as many freedoms as men. This website would be able to describe the women’s movement and would be a great pre-teaching website to use in a lesson before reading the book.

 - This is also a good website to use with your students as it can be a review of what they learned after reading the book. It has different questions along with a summary which can help keep them on tract!

Vocabulary:

Activities:

Pre Reading:

The teacher and students can talk about what rights and privileges everyone has now-a-days and how that wasn’t always the case for those who lived before us. The website that I listed above would be a good reference to use in this discussion!

During Reading:

Students will independently read and write down different liberties that they see Fredrika and the other characters not have that they have today (this can then lead into the after reading activity.)

After Reading:

Students can choose two or three of the freedoms that they noticed didn’t exist “back in the day” and research how they came to be freedoms that they have. This would be a great learning experience for the students and could cross over to be used as a history lesson as well!

Engle, M. (2010). The firefly letters: a suffragette's journey to Cuba. New York: Henry Holt And Co..

Reaching for Sun by Tracie Zimmer - Diversity

“Embrace what makes you who you are”

I loved the set-up that Tracy Zimmer wrote this book in! The story is written through poems that link together to tell a story of a young girl, Josie, who struggles to accept the differences that exist around her. Growing up, she never knew her father and her mother was hardly ever around either. As if having both parents be non-existent would be hard enough, Josie also suffers from cerebral palsy as well which makes school and making friends even harder! As the story continues though, the reader learns of a character named Jordan, who becomes a new neighbor to Josie, and befriends her, despite her differences and helps her learn to love herself for who she is.

Reading Level: 4.6

Readers: Below are a few websites that could assist in the learning and teaching of this book!

 - This would be a good website about what cerebral palsy is. It would be good to review with your students before talking / reading “Reaching for the Sun.” It would allow them to better understand what is happening in the story and what the main character is dealing with.

 - This is a great website that could also be used in the classroom. It discusses the author and what her background is, along with reviews of this book and other books that she has written.

Vocabulary: Some words that might need to be pre-taught include Beakers, crochet, chintz, dollops, Formica, genus, fan dangled, metronome, python and whirligig.

Activities:

Pre Reading:

A good pre reading activity would be to have students do a KWL chart as to what they know about cerebral palsy. This would also allow you to bring in the website listed above, and help them learn something new before they even start reading!

During Reading:

Students will independently read and can be asked to write in their journal and reflect on the poems, and style of writing that the author chose to convey this story in. They can express whether or not they felt like this style made it easier or more difficult for them to understand the book.

After Reading:

To extend the lesson students can pair off and be asked to write their own “short stories” by connecting three or four poems. Each group can think of one story to write about and one student can be responsible for the beginning of the story while the other would be responsible for the end.

Zimmer, T. V. (2007). Reaching for sun. New York: Bloomsbury Children's Books.

The Dreamer by Pam Munoz Ryan - Diversity

“Shoot for the moon, and if you miss you’ll land among the stars”

This was a great book which again caught my attention as it focuses around Netfali, an aspiring writer and poet who has to face his physically and mentally abusive father, but prevails to become one of the world’s greatest poets! Throughout the book we learn of Netfali’s family life and struggle with his father and how his father wants him to follow in the footsteps of the Chilean Andes. Unfortunately, Netfali chooses otherwise and decides to leave for a university in Santiago to continue on his aspiring path to become a writer and poet. We see how Netfali struggles to hold strong onto his dream through his father‘s persist comments for him to give up and to get a “real job.” Through the help of his stepmother and uncle though he is able to stand up to his father and pursue his dreams, which lead him farther than he would have ever imagined!

Reading Level - 5.3

 - This is a great review of the book that could be used in the classroom! It talks about the main themes that came up throughout the book and how to address that with your students.

 - This website reviews the main points of the book and gives the reader questions that can be asked regarding the story. Some of these questions can be used as a discussion guide in a classroom to get students talking about the story!

Vocabulary - Some words that might need to be pre- taught include ballast, cavern, elation, feeble, girth, luma, preen, swashbucklers, and wallowed.

Activities:

Before Reading:

A good before reading activity to this book would be to talk with your students about their own culture and ask them questions such as what makes them unique and special.

During Reading:

While the students are independently reading this book, have them write down several traits that make Netfali unique and why they think it might be difficult for him to be leaving his culture.

After Reading:

Once finished with reading the story, the teacher can extend this lesson by bringing in different cultures (ie: maybe the cultures that exist in the classroom) and have the students do a small research assignment on one of them to become more aware of diversity and the different cultures that exist in the world.

Ryan, P. M., & Sís, P. (2010). The dreamer. New York: Scholastic Press.

Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine - Read a Loud

“Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder”

Mockingbird is a story told from the perspective of the main character Caitlin, who suffers from aspergers and has to learn to deal with the emotional pain of losing her brother to a school shooting. This is a wonderfully written book that shows us Caitlin’s difficulties relating with other people, especially her father. Once the only person who understands her is killed though, we see Caitlin transform and start to “rebuild” the relationship that she has with him (pun - intended J ) We see their relationship grow stronger as she makes an effort to work with her father to finish a chest that her brother and father was working on. The ending really makes the whole story so beautiful!

                                                                                                             

Reading Level: 4.8

Readers- Below are a few links that can help you teach this book to your own class or child!

- This is a create website that talks about the themes that exist throughout the book, and what each of them mean. While discussing the different themes, it also makes you use some critical thinking as it asks questions such as “what would you do in this situation.”

- This is a great article and website that can be read in the classroom to expand the knowledge and lessons that were just learned in the reading of Mockingbird. It talks about what causes school’s to have shooting and what precautions students can make and different help lines that are out their if one is feeling overwhelmed.

Vocabulary: Some words that might need to be pre-taught include Principal, Principle, Effusive, Extroverted, Gregarious, Introverted, Woodworking and Router.

Activities:

Before Reading:

Talk with the students about what a school shooting is, along with what it means if someone had asbergers. Understanding these two things before reading the book wil help the students better comprehend what is going on through out the story.

During reading:

Have the students idependently read and write down different ways they see Caitlin trying to cope with the lose of her brother, and the different ways she tries to express herself.

After Reading:

Each student can read aloud the techniques they saw Caitlin use to try to deal with the stress she was dealing with. Once each student has had the opportunity to read what they write, have each student brainstorm an activity for themselves that would help them de-stress in a situation where they, themselves feel overwhelmed.

 

Erskine, K. (2010). Mockingbird (Mok'ing-bûrd). New York: Philomel Books.

Noah Webster : Weaver of Words by Pegi Deitz Shea - Non fiction

“Words Talk”

Shea, P. D., & Vachula, M. (2009). Noah Webster: weaver of words. Honesdale: Calkins Creek.

As an English major, this book caught my attention right away! I love words, and what is a better book to be reading than a book about the man himself who logged all of them into one place, which we know as the dictionary J This book talks about Noah’s life growing up and his struggles in school. Ironically enough though, Noah’s dislike of school was not because it was to hard, but was actually because it was to easy! The reader learns that once he attended Yale University he excelled in the challenging work that faced him and in fact enjoyed every second of it! From there he, as we know became the first person ever to write the dictionary and even opened a school where he believed everyone had the right to attend.

Reading Level - 3.4

Readers: Below are a few websites that could assist in the learning and teaching of this book!

 - While sometimes we can use things without even realizing the genesis of it, bringing up this website and having students use it to find words and explain to them that the man that they just read about was the first one to create something like this could really impact them. Its important to understand how things came about and who invented it!

- This website provides activities (including jigsaw puzzles) and fun things that a teacher could use in her classroom when discussing and teaching students about Noah Webster! Definitely something I would suggest people to check out!

Vocab - Some words that might need to be pre-taught include: Weaver, dictionary, type writer, university, Yale and profession.

Activities:

Before reading:

Discussing with the students about what a dictionary is and asking if anyone knows the relationship between a dictionary and Webster could be the first step to seeing how much your students know about this topic which will allow you to adjust your teaching.

During reading:

Have the students write down things that they find to be “important” and have them explain what makes them think that!

After reading:

If allowed, it would be great to have the students be able to go to the museum where they can visual see, feel and touch the information that they just learned while extending their knowledge and even being able to learn more!

 

The Secret World of Walter Anderson by Hester Bass - Non Fiction

“There is beauty Everywhere”

This is a nonfiction book which depicts the life of Walter Anderson. Through reading it we learn of this amazing artist (Walter Anderson) who stayed undiscovered for quite some time. From Horn Island to the Mississippi gulf coast, Anderson spent most time by himself where he would sketch and draw the beautiful things that surrounded him. His true dedication to the arts comes out as the reader learns of his willingness to go through storms and face bouts of lack of food, just so he could continue painting. Now that’s dedication!!!

Reading Level - 3.1

Readers: Below are a few websites that could assist in the learning and teaching of this book!

- This is a website which helps student learn about what the book will be about before they start reading. It gets them engaged and excited to learn about such an important person.

- This website is full of Anderson’s accomplishments and drawings that he has completed throughout to life. Having students look at these after they are done reading will serve as a visual aid, and be able to reinforce the talent that this man had and the dedication he put into his work.

Vocabulary - Some words that might need to be pre-taught to your students include auxiliary, craven, disdain, distraught, grossly, haggard, insolent, lurched.

Activities:

Before Reading:

I would discuss with students what a “Non fiction” book is, and how it differs from other books. After we discuss the difference I would have them write down a few books that they have read in the past and have them clarify it as fiction or non fiction to make sure they have comprehend what was being taught.

During Reading:

While reading this book in groups I would have the students stop after a few pages and discuss what they learned with a partner. By working together they can make sure that the other one is on task, while sharing new knowledge with a fellow classmate

After Reading:

After reading the book, students can draw a picture of  something that is important to themselves and then write how they think Walter Anderson would describe it, and the importance and beauty he would see in it!

B. (2009). The secret world of Walter Anderson. Cambridge : Candlewick Press.

The Cupcake Thief by Ellen Jackson - Historical Fiction

“There is a lesson in everything, you just need to find it.”

This book was fantastic! The title alone caught my attention (who doesn’t like cupcakes??) This is really one of my favorite books that I have had the pleasure to read for this blog. It starts off with a typical scenario where Zach’s cupcake is missing and is found in his fellow classmates desk, Tyler. While most teachers would take this as a point to scold one of the children, instead we see the teacher turn their sixth grade class into a court room with judges and jurors. It really shows a fellow reader (that is a teacher) that you can almost take anything that happens in a classroom, and with a twist of creativity can get the students involved and hands on in learning about something. Through discussion and debates, the final outcome of the story is that Zach’s cupcake was not stolen in fact, but was in Tyler’s desk by mistake. Again, loved the theme of this book! Highly recommend it.

Reading Level - 3.1

Readers: Below are a few activities that you could us in your classroom to help reinforce what was learned in this book.

-This website is full of questions and activities that you could use when reading this book. It also has standards that these activities meet which I think is wonderful!

-This is a website which is about the author and list many of her other books that she wrote I find it important for students to learn about the author and their background as it makes the author “more human” to the students and allows them to look at other books that they might enjoy reading if they enjoyed this one!

Vocab -  Some of the vocabulary that might need to be pre-taught includes: Court, Eye witness, Jury, Juror, Judge, Lawyer, and Supreme Court.

Activities:

Before Reading:

Before the start of the book I would have a discussion with the class and talk about what a “court” and “jury” is. It is important that students understand the relationship between them and how they work together.

During Reading:

Students can read in groups and write down in there journals new things that they are learning and the relationships and connection that there new knowledge has! (Ie: How does a jury relate to a court, what purpose does it serve?)

After Reading:

An excellent after reading activity would be to have a Jury and court case in your own classroom! This would really liven the students up and allow them to show off there new skills, knowledge, and words that they learned from reading this book!

Jackson, E. B., & Sims, B. (2007). The cupcake thief. New York city: Kane Press.

Hope Was Here by Joan Bauer - Newbury

 “You leave a little piece of you behind, everywhere you go."

　
Hope Yancy finds herself living with her Aunt Addie at a very early age due to her birthmother’s inability to feel that she would “be able to raise her on her own.” This book takes us on a whirlwind of events as Hope and Addie move from place to place, and work diner to diner, just to support themselves. Finally being able to settle down, they find themselves in a small town in Wisconsin and at just sixteen years of age, Hope becomes intertwined in the politics and emotions that come along with learning about her co-workers fight against leukemia.

Reading Level: 5.7

This is a website from Joan he
rself and it includes several discussion guides and questions that can be used while reading this book.

This is an awesome website that is sort of like an “online flashcard” where students can learn the definitions of new words that might arise in this book!
 
Vocabulary: Some words that might need to be pre-taught to your students include coalition, discernable, dilapidated, effervescent, puny, shrewd, synergy and vindication.

Activities:
Before Reading:Have the students research the author and learn about her lifestyle. After this is discussed have them predict what might happen in the book and have them explain there reasoning.

During Reading: Throughout the book, there are many quotes that help Hope push through. Have the students independently read and write down several quotes that they like and have then write one - two paragraphs about what it might mean and why it was able to give hope the motivation to continue.

After Reading: After the book is read. Have the students work with a peer and together, write down the themes that they thought played out throughout the book. Have them include an important scene where they really felt that the theme came through!

Hope was here. (2003). SAXDSA: Random House/Listening Library.

The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt - Newbury

     “What doesn’t kill you, Only makes you stronger.”

The Wednesday Wars is a story told in first person by the main character, Holling Hoodhood taking place in the years 1967-1968 during the Vietnam war. Through this book we learn of Hollings struggle with his dad, friends, and family, and how through these experiences he learns to “find himself” and comes to be his own person. Facing a very strict father and a somewhat rebellious sister, Holling does not find himself short of experiences, that at the time, only create tension and arguments. Through these though, we see Holling learn to cope with the cards that he has been dealt and turn into an extremely mature character, which shines though from his final passage at the end of the book!

Reading Level: 5.9
　
Readers- Below are a few links that can help you teach this book to your own class or child!

This link gives a quick overview of what the book was about and actual provides a quiz online! It’s a fun and interactive way for students to use technology and be learning as well.


Scholastic is a fantastic website which offers different lesson plans and activities that can be used while teaching this book in your classroom! 

Vocabulary: Some words that might need to be pre-taught to your students include asbestos, begrudge, coagulated, emporium, intransitive, nefarious, reconnaissance, unalloyed, vengeance and yarmulka.

Activities:
Before Reading: Have each student make a prediction as to what the story might be about. A lot of times the title and cover foreshadow what might happen throughout the book. Discuss any ideas and encourage any suggestions!

During Reading: While independently reading the book, students can periodically summarize what they have learned and express how they feel about the events that took place.

After Reading: Students can work with a partner and discuss how Holling coped with the stress in his life, and what he did to help himself manage it. Taking this further, the students can think of a time when they, themselves were in a stressful situation and what they did to lessen that.

Schmidt, G. D. (2007). The Wednesday wars. New York: Clarion Books.