War Heroes: Voices from Iraq

Copyright: 2009

Publisher: Scholastic Press

About the Book:

Do you or somebody you know have a friend or relative that went to Iraq or Afghanistan? Have you ever wondered yourself just how terrible it must be to be fighting in a strange and scary place for our country? Well stop wondering! Pick up Allan Zullo's War Heros book and you will be able to read first-hand 100% true accounts of our own U.S. military soldiers fighting for lives, saving their fellow leathernecks while working towards freedom for the Iraqi civilians and world peace for all. You'll be sitting on the edge of your seat as C-4 explosives are bouncing from bunker to bunker and gritting your teeth as brave men risk their lives to save an injured friend in enemy fire. In this relevant and historical time, don't miss out on a great read to learn more about our country and what its like to be a hero as well as an American. 

What is this book like? 

• Nonfiction
• Relevant and up to date
• Heroic
• Inspiring
• Real (describes fully weapons used and contains sensitive violent scenes)

Online Resources to Support Text:

Teaching Tools
This website contains many educational links to sites such as PBS which include lesson plans and teaching strategies for addressing the attacks of September 11, 2001.

Teaching Strategies:

1. It is essential that content-specific vocabulary be taught before the reading of this text. Much of the technical vocabulary can be taught by encouraging children to think of related items using their prior knowledge. For example, it is not necessary to know the functions and styles of different guns or bombs, just the ability to identify that say, a AK-47 is a type of gun. It may be helpful for children to use the glossary in the back of the book and create a chart grouping related terms for easy access during reading. 

2. After each personal story children should be encouraged to pull together or synthesize the information to explain what the passage was about. This will encourage children to focus on the main ideas of the passage and focus less on the nitty-gritty. Children can address as well why certain individuals were considered heroes for their actions.  

3. Students will participate in creating their own award poster for a soldier of their choice. They will draw a picture of the soldier, describe why he or she is important, what their major contributions were doing war, list their hardships they faced in battle, and how they overcame them. Then the class will present them to each other and display them on the wall for all to see as a kind of memorial.

Revolting Rhymes by Roald Dahl

Copyright: 1982

Publisher: Random House

About this book:

Roald Dahl's poetry collection will make you go silly billy! If you enjoyed reading stories while you were young such as Little Red Riding Hood or Cinderella you will love this collection as a big kid! You will laugh out loud as these these popular fairy tales are given completely different endings and completely different attitudes! What will happen when Cinderella's slipper is replaced by her evil stepsister? What wishes will come true when the magic mirror is stolen by Snow White? You will only be able to enjoy these crazy twists by reading Revolting Rhymes by Roald Dahl.   

What is this poetry collection like?

• Controversial (Book has been banned/challenged in several libraries for containing the word slut, the recognition of witches, and the innappropriateness of the text in general)
• Entertaining
• Surprising (Woah, did that just happen?)
• Fun (Children can relate to these stories)

Online Resources to Support Text:

Original Fairy Tales
Site offers child-friendly access to the original fairy tales included in this poetry collection. Ones included in this book that are also available on the site are: Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, The Three Little Pigs, and Snow White.

Poetry for Children
Children who are interested in this poetry can have a look at an entire site full of poetry - organized by theme - just for children!

Teaching Suggestions: 

1. Many of the words used in this poetry collection are new vocabulary for children due to being used on account of rhyming. Pull out such words, define them, and relate the word to a more familiar word. Such words may include gory, brooch, cinch, and dainty.

2. Before reading tell children that this particular book was banned/challenged in some libraries across the states. While they are reading have children pay close attention to why this book might be banned. Have children record their ideas during reading and discuss, as a class, these elements. (Ideas: Why was the word slut used? Is it appropriate to change endings of popular fairy tales? Are you bothered by these stories, or did you enoy them? Is it okay that Little Red Riding Hood owned a gun?)

3. As a culminating writing assignment have the children write sequals or alternate endings to one of the fairy tales written by Dahl. What happens to Little Red Riding Hood as she is walking around in the woods wearing the wolf's fur? What would have happened if the prince stayed true to his word and married the evil stepsister?

Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key by Jack Gantos

Copyright: 1998

Publisher: HarperTrophy

About the Novel:

Joey Pigza can't sit still. Not even for five seconds. Some people think he's crazy, while others think he's had too many cookies for breakfast. One second he's thumping around in his seat, the next he's running around with scissors or jumping from the top of a barn into piles of hay. One time he even ate an entire pie - by himself. But Joey's shenanigans only last so long, because after Joey takes his bad behavior too far his teacher Mrs. Maxy sends him away... Where does Joey go, and does he ever lose his springs? Find out more when you read Joey Pigza swallowed the Key.

What is this book like?

• Educational (teaches children about ADHD)
• Stereotypical (teachers should be aware of  the possible negative attitudes towards children with disabilities and be ready to discuss these as a class - the book describes such children very stereotypically and does not resolve negative attitudes or indicate in any way that they are hurtful, invalid, or naive.  
• Believable: Novel is clearly written from the perspective of a 10 year old
• Fast paced

Online Resources to Support Text:

Author's Official Webpage
Author Jack Ganto's site includes teacher's guides to some of his most popular novels and series, reviews and descriptions of many of his books, biography and photos of the author, and even contact information to ask Jack himself some questions personally! How cool!

Lesson Plans
Site includes an in depth lesson for the teaching of this novel, focusing on ADD/ADHD.

Teaching Suggestions:

1. Before reading create a KWL chart with the children to discuss what they already know about ADD and ADHD and what they want to know. While reading the novel the children can add things to the chart as they learn them. Teacher should make sure that students are aware that this novel is a work of fiction and so all of the elements of this disorder may not be completely accurate. It may be wise to compare this novel during discussion of the KWL chart to factual information over the internet or via a nonfiction text.

2. During reading the teacher and children should discuss Joey's viewpoint as he discusses what he sees in the special education classroom focusing on his descriptions of the students. Have students discuss why Joey feels the way he does, why he describes things the way he does, and compare Joey to the other students (including the general education students). Are special education children really that different? Are children with disabilities nice? Should they be included in the classroom or should they be separated? It is imperative that the stereotypes represented in this novel by discussed and it is necessary that children who read this novel will realize that all children are unique and different but that they are all just as important.

3. Have children write an expository writing piece about what they learned about ADHD. Encourage children to use internet as well as nonfiction text to compare the novel to actual symptoms and behaviors of the disorder.

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

Copyright: 1977

Publisher: HarperCollins

About the novel:

Terabithia is a place where Leslie and Jesse could escape it all - their parents, their annoying brothers and sisters, their mean teacher, and their cruel classmates. It was a place where they could be themselves, to play and to imagine without anything else in the world to worry about. It is here that they became best friends, and it is here that Jesse learns to deal with an unexpected tragedy that changes him, and others, forever.

What is this book like?

• Fiction
• Touching
• Surprising
• Fast-paced
• Inspirational

Online Resources to Support Text

Review Questions
This site offers review questions that may engage students' thinking. Students will be able to monitor their own comprehension as they answer these questions that are available per chapter.

Katherine Paterson Website
Official website of Katherine Paterson offers blurbs to many of her novels so children can find other books by the same author that they may enjoy.

Teaching Suggestions:

Lesson Name: Discussing friendship with Bridge to Terabithia                               Grade: 4

Content Standards:

·       ELA Standard 1.1a: activate prior knowledge and establish purpose for reading.

·         ELA Standard 1.1b: monitor comprehension and apply appropriate strategies when understanding breaks down.

·         ELA Standard 1.1f: make and justify inferences from explicit and/or implicit information.

·        ELA Standard 2.3a: Discuss and analyze how characters deal with diversity of human experience and conflict and relate these to real-life situations.

·        NCSS Standard IV(e): Identify and describe ways family, groups, and community influence the individual’s daily life and personal choices

Learner Background: (pre-reading activity)

Before reading we will discuss as a large group the qualities of a good friend, listing each one on the board. Then as a class we will group the terms by relevance into three to four main groups that define a good friend. Then, we will discuss qualities that are not typical of a good friend. As a class we will discuss reasons for why friends may act a certain way, good or bad, encouraging students to realize that how a student, friend, or teacher acts may not always determine whether they are nice or not. (I.e. friend is sick, upset about something, tired, had something bad happen to them, etc.) Then as a class we will construct our own definition of what it means to be a good friend.

Objective:

Students will be able to discuss deeply character development, focusing in on change over time, misconceptions, and characteristics specific to an individual that influence his or her interactions with others. Students will learn to create inferences as they analyze why characters have changed or why a character’s perspective of another changed in some way. Students will also be able to identify how characters impact others positively and relate their findings to their own personal experiences.

Assessment:

v  Before Reading: The students will be assessed formatively during the pre-reading group discussion. The students will be observed on their abilities to talk openly about qualities of a good friend and by their ability to relate them to their own personal experiences with friendship.

v  During Reading: Students will be assessed on their ability to identify characteristics of protagonists and antagonists in the novel, their ability to identify character change over time, and their ability to identify the reasoning or significance of these changes and how it relates to them personally. A character development chart will be used for assessment.    

v  After Reading: Students will be assessed on their ability to create a piece of writing that reflects thought and insight of the beneficial impact of one character to another and relate it directly to a personal experience of their own. The work will be assessed according to a rubric which the students will have a copy of as well.     

Materials/Resources:

·         Bridge to Terabithia text set by Katherine Paterson

·         Character development chart

·         Rubric for grading writing piece

Learning Activities:

During reading the students will be asked questions such as:

·         Have you ever become friends with someone you didn’t like at first?

·         Have you ever not liked a teacher before because you thought she was mean?

·         Do you think that everyone is either nice or mean?

·         What are some reasons why people may not appear nice?

These types of questions will help students to think more complexly as they learn about the characters in the novel. This will make it much easier for students to fill out their character development charts and to think critically about different points of view and why characters are the way they are, how some change over time, and how perceptions of others change as well. After the children have filled out their character charts the students will be asked to choose one character from the novel that grew or changed in some way, or a character that, while not necessarily changing, developed a new perspective in the eyes of either Leslie or Jesse. They will be asked to describe what happened in the novel and discuss what this change means to the student individually.

The children will be encouraged to think about:

·         What this change has taught him/her about friendship

·         What this change has taught him/her about others

·         What this change has taught him/her about themself

As a culminating activity students will write a short paper, 2-3 pages written, about the impact that Leslie and Jesse had on each other relating these ideas to their own life.

Writing Prompt:

Jesse and Leslie's friendship ended so abruptly that Jesse had a difficult time accepting it as reality. However, the experiences these two shared will continue in their memories for a lifetime.  

Describe how either Leslie or Jesse had a positive impact on the other. Identify a time in your own life when a person impacted you in a positive way. Relate these two experiences.

Think about:

·         Conflict/Obstacles

·         Love/Friendship

·         Fear

Differentiated Instruction:

ELL instruction:

For ELLs with high or moderately high ELP, students may benefit from using a Spanish/English dictionary while reading the novel and completing the charts and/or written assignment. It is highly likely that ELLs will need more time to finish reading the novel and to complete the assignments. ELLs with low ELP may benefit from hearing the novel read orally through the use of an audio and answering the questions orally. 

Barack Obama: Our 44th President by Beatrice Gormley

Copyright: 2008

Publisher: Aladdin Paperbacks

About the Book:

This nonfiction novel written about our 44th president, Barack Obama, tells of his life during childhood, adolescence and adulthood. Fasten your seat belt as we embark

on a fast-paced and bumpy journey as we move with Obama to different countries, learn new languages and religions, battle racism, find love, and become the leader of our nation. This book focuses on dozens of challenges and triumphs that Obama overcame in his struggle to find out who he was as he established himself as an African American citizen in a predominately white society. This novel will pull the reader into learning much more than just Obama's history, but also what was going on in the world throughout his life as well. This novel takes on a much more advanced view than the typical biography - truly a great read. 

What is the book like?

• 
  
  Nonfiction/Expository
• 
  
  Presidential biography 
• 
  
  Historical
• 
  
  Inspirational
• 
  
  Relevant

Online Resources to Support Text:

Helpful Resources for Children & Teachers

This site, built by an elementary school, features a slide show about how a presidential election works, a link to an interactive game about becoming the president, a quiz, and content-area vocabulary with definitions. The site also includes teacher lesson plans. 

Election 2008 for Kids

This site focuses on the election of 2008 and could be used as a pre-reading activity or for clarifying any confusion as an after-reading strategy. The site compares the candidates, defines key vocabulary, talks about the different issues the presidents plan on addressing, and even goes through the procedure of becoming president! 

Teaching Suggestions: 

1. Pull out content specific vocabulary from the text before reading and teach explicitly. Compare unique terms to something children can relate to. Suggest that children mark unfamiliar words while reading with post-it notes and be sure to review and teach these terms until there is no confusion. Possible teaching strategy: create pocket chart with word cards, say word aloud, ask children to repeat word, and spell word on board. Have images ready for children to look at online and be ready to discuss their purposes.  

2. While reading ask students to create a character chart to aid in their comprehension of the text. This particular text introduces many characters. It would be beneficial and less confusing for the students to group the characters according to their significance in Obama's life as well as a few facts about them, such as why they are important to Obama or to his life in a general way. 

3. After reading ask students to create an interactive timeline of what each student feels were the five most important or challenging aspects of Obama's life. This activity will help children to sequence time visually, while also engaging children to think deeply and empathetically as they compare and constrast events in another's life.

Happy Reading!

The Giver, by Lois Lowry

Copyright: 1993

Publisher: Bantam Doubleday Books for Young Readers

About the Book:

Jonas is about to turn 12, and when he does his whole life will change. The carefree days of childhood will be gone and will be replaced by jobs in the adult society. You see, the world where Jonas lives is different than yours and mine. Adulthood begins at 12 and after that age no longer matters. Another peculiar thing is that children are not allowed to ride bikes until they are nine years old! When Jonas receives his job he quickly realizes that it is the most important in society - and that the survival of his friends, family, and fellow citizens depends on it. Will Jonas be able to fulfill his expectations? 

What is the book like?

• Science-fiction
• Unique
• Interesting
• Mystifying
• Thought-provoking

Online Resources to Extend & Support Text:

Online Teacher Resources

Site contains key vocabulary, possible review questions, and activities that coordinate with the novel.

Interactive Web Quest

Before, during, and after reading activities that connect to children's prior knowledge and engages them to use complex thinking skills.

Teaching Suggestions 

1. Pull out key vocabulary that as specific to the text The Giver and engage students in a discussion to connect these words to terms they are more familiar with. Such vocabulary may include newchild, comfort object, and release.
2. Before reading ask students to complete a check list of different items they would or would rather not have in their society. Such items could include hunger, love, memories, and colors. Afterwards engage students in a discussion to find out why or why not these items are of importance.
3. After reading ask students to write an alternative ending to the novel, or to continue with the original ending and extend. What happened to Jonas? The newchild?

Enjoy!!