September 2009
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asians do exist in adolescent literature.
being of mixed-race asian descent, i am always on the lookout for books that speak to the asian experience.
this is one of the best i have come across.
smart writing. honest perspectives.
preview it here.
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who am i to me. who am i to you.
sherman alexie is a phenomenal writer. not a phenomenal native american writer, but a phenomenal writer.
period.
his first go at adolescent literature garnered him a national book award. not bad, sherms!
recommended for 7-10th graders. you know, during that awkward time of figuring out who you are and how you fit (or don’t fit) within your society. fun stuff.
a great read for guys.
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adorable.
love it.
preview it here.
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the power of three.
This short text packs a punch.
Toning the Sweep is a fabulous story about three generations of women who remain resilient through times of grief and anguish.
Great for 8th graders.
Preview it here.
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the rose that grew from the concrete.
After Tupac and D Foster is an excellent book written by the wonderful Jacqueline Woodson. My 6th grade students loved this novel, which I kicked off with a study of Tupac Shakur. Since Woodson refers to various events in Tupac’s life, it helped to build the schema needed to make those connections while reading.
Preview the book here.
Highly recommended.
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a letter to yotsuba&!.
oh, my dear yotsuba,
you came into my life a few years ago, at the urging of greta, a former student and self-proclaimed manga maniac. my first voyage into the world of manga was through your eyes and i have forever been changed.
you cracked me up with your innocent wit and brutal honesty…i loved you from page one, green hair and all.
i had been looking for your latest print book for...
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writer's notebook.
there are so many teacher resources out there to help us navigate the wonderful world of writing workshop.
here’s one of my favorites for the 3-6 grade range:
preview the book here.
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3...2...1...blastoff!
excellent book on launching the writing workshop (grades 1-6):
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the arrival.
deivis, a wonderful librarian at my local library, suggested this graphic novel. a year later, the arrival by shaun tan still haunts me.
it is a wordless book that lyrically illustrates the journey of various immigrants.
here’s a sampling:
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tulane gem #3.
from the miraculous journey of edward tulane:
“I don’t care if anyone comes for me,” said Edward.
“But that’s dreadful,” said the old doll. “There’s no point in going on if you feel that way. No point at all. You must be filled with expectancy. You must be awash in hope. You must wonder who will love you, whom you will love next.”
...
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tulane gem #2.
from the miraculous journey of edward tulane:
But let’s not speak of what might have been. Let us speak instead of what is. You are whole. (DiCamillo 168)
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tulane gem #1.
yesterday i mentioned how i love reading children’s literature, especially for the small nuggets of wisdom that lay between the pages.
here’s one from the miraculous journey of edward tulane:
Edward knew what it was like to say over and over again the names of those you had left behind. He knew what it was like to miss someone. And so he listened. And in his listening, his heart...
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and proud of it.
Her mouth gapes open slightly as I turn the page. I can see her watching me from the corner of her eye. Slowly, she leans over toward her boyfriend, turning carefully so I won’t see her face. “That woman next to me? She’s reading a children’s book.” Pause. “I wonder why?” Her boyfriend glances at me and shrugs, caring more about his lunch than my...
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too legit to quit.
who would have known how big comics/graphic novels would become in the classroom?
years ago, when i was a wee child, i used to fall easily into the world of comics. the charlie brown book above was one of the first ones that got me hooked. along came garfield. then calvin and hobbes. and when i got older i was introduced to the world of archie, jughead, and veronica (the original mean...
found.
i found this today at an antique market in lambertville, nj.
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cute read aloud & mentor text.
my two boys, reuven (5) and jacob (3), looooove to read. happy birthday, monster! by scott beck is one of their favorites.
it follows doris, ben, and their monster friends as they celebrate doris’ birthday.
this book is a fun read aloud for ages 3-7.
witty dialogue. adorable visuals. short text on each page. it’s the perfect formula!
TEACHING TIP:
beck’s book is also a...
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i'll pick that one.
nyt posted this article last week about reading workshop and student choice.
although this approach is not “new,” it’s good to see it get national attention.
when i taught middle school reading, i found that choice was one of the keys to getting students to read. once they are hooked, kids are open to reading other genres and titles.
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love this quote.
