Teachers Share: May 2010

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

What Kids Can Do

Hearing directly from middle school students can be enlightening! They remind us that what we say and how can have a tremendous impact, even when it may seem they don't care about what adults think. Even tweens and teens seek encouragement and straight-forward talk.

Check out an excerpt from the latest book from WKCD authors Kathleen Cushman and Laura Rogers, Fires in the Middle School Bathroom: Advice for Teachers from Middle Schoolers (New Press, 2008).

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Books for Reluctant Readers

Guys Read: Funny Business From Booklist *Starred Review* The funny fellow (Jon Scieszka) with the impressive title (Emeritus National Ambassador for Children’s Literature) presents a collection of 10 humorous (you were expecting tragedy?) stories by some leading lights in literature for young readers. This is the first volume of the promised official Guys Read library, which is named for Scieszka’s well-known Web site, designed, like this book, to encourage boys to read. And what better way to start than with this collection of howlers by the likes of Eoin Colfer, David Lubar, Christopher Paul Curtis, and other yuk-inducing luminaries. Standouts include Kate DiCamillo (the lone female among the authors) and editor Scieszka’s charmer of a story in letters between a famous author named Maureen O’Toople and a boy named Joe; David Yoo’s wacky, laugh-out-loud story about a disappointed father and an evil turkey; and from the diabolical imagination of Jack Gantos, a cautionary tale about dangerous friends and rusty pliers. A must-have collection for the boys in your library—and while you’re at it, get a copy for the girls, too! Grades 4-7. --Michael Cart --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Brothers of War

Two brothers from Kentucky get captured by the Rebel army. The brothers soon find they are fighting for survival in Andersonville Confederate Prison. They also search for their missing father, whom they believe is somewhere within the confines of the prison walls. Boys as young as nine years old participated in this American conflict. We have no accurate records of how many boys enlisted for the Northern or Southern armies. Over four hundred thousand were involved directly in the war. National laws now prevent boys from participating in American wars. Andersonville was one of the largest Confederate military compounds. The site has an award-winning lesson plan for teaching about historical places. More than forty-five thousand Union soldiers were confined here. Source: boysread.org

24/7 Science Behind the Scenes

'...takes a look at how some of history's most intriguing crimes were solved. Each title focuses on the science and technology used to solve real-life crimes and heart-stopping mysteries. From killer wallpaper to deadly pets, from parasites to mosquitoes, these high-interest books build vocabulary, foster scientific knowledge, and develop inquiry skills through the use of charts, timelines, briefing notes, case files, primary sources, and captivating storytelling.' Sourse: Scholastic Books

Bone by Jeff Smith

'Graphic novels can also help improve reading development for students struggling with language acquisition, as the illustrations provide contextual clues to the meaning of the written narrative. When graphic novels are made available to young people, even those deemed “poor readers” willingly and enthusiastically gravitate towards these books. Providing young people with diverse reading materials, including graphic novels, can help them become lifelong readers.' Source: Scholastic Books

Teachers Share

Monday, May 24, 2010

Social Justice Planbook: Check this Out!!

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

What Kids Can Do