Jumping off Swings ...

I picked up Jumping off Swings by Jo Knowles and thought O.K. let's see what people love about this story. That was at 10 p.m. at 1:30 a.m. I pulled the last tissue from the box and finished the book. In awe of such a strong writer, writing with such feelings that just drags your heartstrings through the mud. Wow. This book is for any teen considering relationships that can change your life forever.

This book points out that many teens just want to know they are loved unconditionally. I would have any of Jo Knowles books in my library and add these to my ever growing shelves.

Literacy Links and MORE....

Today I found myself with several hours of quiet time with no electronics and just sitting with pencil and paper. Ten pages later, I have found several ideas that I can NOT wait to use with students next year. I am hoping to do this project next year as part of my internship for college in the library. So I want plan out some more here.

 1. Idea number one - Baxter Book Bash - I would like to have kids who want to compete about books they have read. Just like Battle of the Books but adapted to our campus. So a team of 6 students against another team of 6 students, who have all read the same 3 books.  Bash could be set up like Family Feud and students could win points.

- Each team must bring 12 questions and answers about the books to the match. From question stems and using key vocabulary.
- Books Bashes will happen each six weeks with different Genres of books so all can participate-
    * Diary of Wimpy Kid Bash - Most Popular books and more can participate here.
    * Scary Book Bash - featuring those Ronald Dahls Tales of Fear, R.L. Stine, Cryers Cross or Wait til
        Helen Comes.
    * Historical Fiction Bash - new historical fiction books - Glory Be, Lions of Little Rock, Out of the Easy.
    * Hunger Games Bash - featuring Dystopian books - Among Hidden, Hunger Games, Matched
    * Buford Bash - featuring Buford High Books- The Bully, Pretty Ugly & more
    * Romantic Bash- featuring romantic novels - Sarah Dessen and Lisa Schroeder
    * Poetry Bash with Poetry Slam- featuring Shel Silverstien, Jack Prelutsky and more.
    * Animal Stories - Ivan the One and Only,  The Underneath, Shilo

- Maybe a teacher bash at first to show & model for students how the BASH will happen.
- Each team must answer the mixed questions from question stems and more.  I can't wait to make posters and see who will sign up for the Bash.  What a fun way to read with friends!!
I already have a poster started with - You and Your Friends Bash it Out!  Read it... Prove it.... Win it...!!!

Idea # 2 today - Is Monthly Subject Area Blogs from each department at school. So Engaging for Students

- September Reading  - on this blog, we could have one teacher post a video of what they may be teaching, or reading.  Students can post what they learned or liked.  Or a tutorial to teach others who may need help understanding what the goals are for this first six weeks. This would give the kids ownership in their learning and most love to help others. We could post Book Reviews of books read by students and teacher...!!  Student reviews written. Then pass the blog to next ELAR teacher team for next month.

We could have a Math Blog, Science Blog, a Social Studies Blog; Art Blog; posting photos of great art from students.  Then share with parents and others. ;o)

Idea #3 Literacy Links  - Awards I was thinking of ways we can reward for AR Goal Getters.  As students complete a book and take an AR test they can add a link to the literacy links of our class and by end of year we should have A LOT of links.  I always give snacks to those who take and AR - just because I work in an area that students do not have literature rich environments and they need all the persuasion they can to grab a book and get lost in it, most that are in my class learn it is way cool to read great stories.  So now for everyone who adds a link they get the snack, we will have a visual and they will keep reading.  PLUS the links will have to be filled out complete with Title, author, recommendation, AR Score and Reader's name and date - then we can have a visual of all that we have read.  And others may want to read a book you have read. ;o)  Great fun!!  I plan to use light purple strips, and gold for our school colors, but I saw a polka dot chain that was way cool too.  We shall see what paper is on sale. ;o)  So excited I can't wait for school to start.


This little game will be everywhere in my classroom.  I want posters about the blog, and students questioning students with fake mustache and we can really use it a lot!! LOVE it my Hispanic kids ran around with mustaches on all day when I tried it last year.  So fun.

Beautiful Movie Poster?

http://designreviver.com/inspiration/30-beautiful-movie-posters-for-design-inspiration/

High School Trends in Literature

High School

Crutcher, C. (2013). Period 8. New York: Harper Collins Books.

            When Paulie (Paul) admits he was with another girl to his girlfriend, she is finished. He knows what it is like to be lied to and so he always tells the truth. He is a cheater and their relationship is OVER.  But something is not right and someone is lying in Period 8. This is a class where the students meet to discuss their lives freely, and how they can deal with teen problems. The one rule in the class is to be honest.  Now someone is breaking the rule and some one is getting hurt, and where are they going?  Is the cheating growing?  Who is missing? Is that family abusive? Who should you trust when you are not sure about your friends?  What is going on inside that house at night will be a huge question as you read this mysterious tale of troubled teenagers.  Who will stand up and face the lies and who will find the strength to help those locked away or lost?

Draper, S. (2012). Pinned. New York: Listening Library.

Pinned is a slice-of-life drama told in the alternating voices of Autumn and Adonis. Autumn is strong willed, out-going, and deeply in love with Adonis. In fact, when she isn’t focused on wrestling, she spends her time trying to get closer to him although her best friend Peaches tells her he isn’t worth it. Her passion is wrestling and she feels the strongest, the surest of herself, when she’s on the mat. Although she is the only girl wrestler on her team, and one of the few female wrestlers in the state, she is determined to be the best and doesn’t hesitate to pin her opponents at the majority of her matches. However, there is one problem she can’t seem to tackle. Autumn is not a good reader. She struggles in her reading class and finds it difficult to understand word problems in her math class. Her parents try to help, but they are also poor readers. As her grades continue to reflect her failures, Autumn’s reading disability threatens to destroy her chances of doing the one thing she loves- wrestling.

Adonis is the exact opposite of Autumn. He has no legs, but he doesn’t let being in a wheel chair keep him from standing out. He is intelligent and loves reading. He is a leader and mentor, but does not have an interest in opening up to people and forming real relationships. He despises Autumn, who he sees as stupid and careless, and is often rude to her as he rejects her advances. But much like Autumn, he has a secret. There is something that threatens his image as a strong, unwavering leader. Before he went to the same school as Autumn, he was nearly drowned by a group of students as Peaches (Autumn’s best friend) watched. That was the only time he ever felt helpless and the shame of the event has left him embittered.

Autumn declines academically to the point of being taken off of the wrestling team, but she does not stop pursuing Adonis. Adonis hurts her countless times, but her love never waivers. She struggles to accept help for her learning disability from anyone, but eventually asks Adonis for help. When he rejects her, she realizes that Adonis does not care about her at all, and decides to leave him alone. She seeks help from a caring teacher instead. Adonis, somewhat relieved that Autumn no longer bothers him, begins to realize how alone he really is. He opens up to Autumn and shares his one moment of shame with her for the very first time, and they begin to form a secret relationship despite their differences.

Autumn and Adonis may seem like they are complete opposites, but Pinned shows us that the characters are alike in the fact that they both carry secrets. Autumn is ashamed of her reading disability and Adonis is ashamed of his potential helplessness caused by his handicap. Both of them have disabilities that they must live with and both strive to succeed in spite of them. Sharon G. Flake shows us that struggles can bring people together if they are willing to open up to one another and receive the help that others have to offer.                                                                                           ISBN-13: 978-0-385-36113-2

Kindl. P.(2013). Keeping the Castle. New York: Penguin Group.

Pride and Prejudice revisited in this fiction romantic piece.  You are in England waiting to dance with a group in a line, as you fell further and further into this story.  Main character Althea has to learn to keep her thoughts and words to herself if she is to find a rich man to marry.   But exclaiming how happy she is that her fiancé is rich out loud probably isn’t the best way to do that. So she watched him ride away, then she had hoped his hearing was not quite so good after that.  Her mission is to save her father’s castle for her little brother, while dealing with her two step-sisters. The problem was the castle was really old and falling apart and there was no money. She worked and entertained and scraped and saved every little bit she could to help in the castle. This author’s witty side was really seen throughout the story.  Althea got in to more problems the longer she tried to resist Mr. Frederick’s charms.  She intended to marry his friend, who was much older and in her thoughts more rich that Mr. Frederick.  She tried to set him up with neighbors and sisters and anyone along the way, as he infuriated her, with his noisiness about things being perfect in the old castle.  She had plans yet, somehow always ended up arguing with him. This story is a great introduction into the old English style courting and relationships, with some twist and bumps along the way.  If you are quick you can even read it in a complete English accent for fun.  This one will leave you smiling.

(Ebook downloaded on Nook app.)

Langan, P. (2013). Survivor. New Jersey: Townsend Press.

            The secret Tarah is keeping can destroy her family, once she remembers she knows why she was so sad as a child and what happened.  But should she tell, and lose what she has with her boyfriend. Or would it destroy her family? This story is part of the Bluford High Series for High School students, and is set in Bluford with several of the familiar characters involved.  Tarah’s memories are jarred when planning a family reunion, she is looking through a photo album and someone comments on her sad face.  This brings a flash of her uncle Rudy and what really happened.  Tarah struggles with this decision and when she is presented with her Unlce at the reunion she knows she can’t be alone with him again.  But now her cousin is alone with him?  She does not know what to do and if she can save her family from another disaster.  This topic of abuse is a tough one for younger students but more mature students should be aware of this type of problem and be ready to talk with an adult about it.  Survivor will make you consider your choices and how those choices can affect those you love.  Paul Langan tells this one with straight talk and easy to understand and relatable language that makes this one an easy read for teens.

Smith, S.A (2013). This is what happy looks like. New York: Hatchett Book Group.

      

      One mistake can lead to a real gift of friendship,
when a typo sends an email to the wrong person a
friendship develops between a hidden girl and a teen
star, but if either knew who or what the other one was
really, they would never talk.  So as the anonymity hides
their real world, the escape is building a wonderful
friendship of two unlikely people.  Would you befriend
the chance of being in the news as the latest squeeze of
the pop hero?  Even if you were hiding from a mess with the government, would you take the chance?  This
book makes you look at what you really are inside and the things that make you happy may not matter if it
 just across a wire or right beside you.  Sooner or later you have to pick one.  Chance the reporters or give
up the best thing you have ever met… and pray the cameras are off. Would you risk it for a chance of a
lifetime?  Is being famous all you think it is?

Takoudes, G. (2013). When we wuz famous. New York: Henry Holt.

Getting out doesn't  mean you will stay out. You may be the smartest in your class, more talented than most but you will never lose where you come from, so in the action of When we wuz famous, the main character, Francisco gets the chance to go to private prep school for academics and basketball, and he takes it.  But will it change him?  Will he still hang with his friends?  Will he outgrow his girl friend?  Is it for the best or is it just the end of what he knew. After his first trip home he notices changes, in how he feels about those around him.  He knows he is doing the right thing going to the better school, but he feels guilty for leaving his friends, a.k.a. ‘the krew.’ Francisco was frustrated with all the stress of being the best, keeping friends happy and taking on the law. He knows he lied to his girl friend for money for his best friend to get out of jail?  That one lie changes his future and outlines disaster to come his way, trying to get out or over the one lie. This book is rapidly filled with regret and attempts at righting a wrong that should have never happened.  What did Francisco learn and what did it cost him? You will have to see when you read, When we wuz famous?  Do you owe your friends or yourself a good life?  If you make a promise when you are five should you keep it all your life?  Can you trust your friends? This story gets mixed up with drugs, police, girls and what happens when you make the wrong choices trying to please everyone around you.

Wein, E. (2013). Code name verity. New York. Hyperion Books.

This historical fiction tale draws you into the world of World War II female fighter pilots and what happens to one prisoner of war.  If John Green and this author ever get together, it would be such a distraught tale that one may not be able to read anything they come up with.  This story reminds me of the great friendships you would read in a Green book, but with such a twist and historical points made that it wraps you into a web as if you are there with Maddie and Queenie because the final twist of this story just leaves readers in shock, so unexpected.

‘Maddie’ has been taken prisoner and is being questioned by Nazi soldier, Hauptsturmfuhrer Von Liden for information about her country, and the British’s plans for war. She writes out a twisted message of what she thinks will throw them off the path, about the air strips and locations of her friends and allies.  She is tortured and stripped for more information and bargains for her clothes back piece by piece. She wonders where the real Maddie actually is, and did she survive the plane crash?  Was she captured and thinks if she will ever see her friend again? Her friend Maddie joined the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force for the British just to help out.  She learned how to fly as a young girl.  But never thought she would really be flying to help in this war. She was wondering where did Queenie go and did she make it out alive too?  But she knows one thing, Queenie switched their identities before she jumped out of the plane.  Would they know she is a spy?  Will the British be able to get her out of the country?  Will she ever see her friend again, and could you do the ultimate sacrifice for a friend?  When does friendship end and does it if you are a traitor to your country?  Who will survive?  These questions will keep you glued to this book.  I would recommend this book to students wanting to know more about real historic events and friendship.  I will own several copies of this book for my students. 

Jr. High Titles Trending in Youth Literature

Engle, M. (2013).The lightning dreamer, Cuba’s greatest abolitionist. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

            This author is a weaver of stories that can surround the reader in softly lyrics and gentle tones that discuss serious issues.  The story of the Lightning Dreamer, girls are not supposed to think, read or write.  They are supposed to marry well and just be.  This causes a bit of a problem for Tula, a young girl just wanting to read and be free to not hide while she does it.  She doesn’t want her mother to be so greedy and to marry her off to anyone with the most money.  She wants her friend, and slave, Caridad, to be free too. Her father let her read, and read to her, but her new step father won’t allow it.  Tula’s mother is expecting her to marry so she will regain her grandfather’s approval and inherit more money for the family. Tula identifies with the gift her grandfather gives her (in an implied metaphor) a caged yellow bird, that can’t fly and can only sit and sing. Watching her pet makes her feel useless and lifeless.  She recites poems from others writing about freedoms and justice. 

I love the way the words flow in this story, how the author makes you understand the feelings and wishes of the characters while using the least amounts of words.  She mentions in the story how words in the poems are like the flight pattern of birds swooping and flying high and low.  Her poem like story keeps you reading and makes it quickly a favorite of very sad and great story that will affect the way readers see those from other countries and make you thankful for the freedoms we take for granted every day.

Halperin, W. (2013). Peace. New York: Simon & Schuster.

            This book is beautiful collage pictures in soft pastels that lead the eyes on a visual journey across great lands of people who have stood up for peace throughout the world.  It is very diverse book. The book is filled with quotes from famous important people in the world, like Martin Luther King, Jr., Pope John Paul II, Fyodor Dostoyevsky and Dalai Lama, who promote peace around them. It allows you to use your senses in the book, so you can see peace?  For touching, may your hands be peaceful it says. And even includes senses of tasting to promote peace in the choices we make around the world with our food.  This book has depth and complexity that readers can wonder on each page about how peacefully they can surround themselves with a better world. This book could be a great asset to any classroom for writing about one quote or page of pictures.  I would like to ask students to use the quotes to identify something in their life they could relate to in a more peaceful way.

Schroeder, L. (2013). Falling for you. New York: Simon & Schuster. 

       I heart you, you haunt me. In this story Rae is a high school student trying to hide from the abusive step dad and her worthless mother.  This story is told in backwards order, so it is like a rewound movie that begins at the end and shows the reader what led up to that fateful day.  This was a bit hard to follow but gave the read some neat little foreshadowing of what is to come.  Rae meets a boy who she thinks is her friend, yet he doesn’t really want her as much as he wants the image of a girlfriend.  He is pushy and demanding, this book is a good example of what NOT to put up with in relationships.  She enjoys her job and finds her real family there at her work in the flower shop.  Rae also begins a new friendship that is more calm and friendly with the barista from the neighboring coffee shop.  The story involves poetry as, Schroeder loves to weave into her story.  This book also brings up the argument; of should anonymous submissions be allowed in the school poetry contest.  Does it let students hide their pain, or should students say how they really feel and be free of belittlement or teasing. Falling for You has the theme of finding oneself and understanding you should not let others abuse you. But to learn that lesson will Rae survive?

 

  She finally found something right in her life, how could it turn out to be so wrong.  This story by Lisa

Schroeder is unlike her other books in that, she wrote this one as a story format, instead of poetry format,

like her first book,

Middle School Books Trending

Balliet, B. (2013). Hold Fast. New York: Scholastic Press.

            Early Pearl’s story is the ingenious story of mystery and mayhem, which one innocent simple family encounters after their dad, Dash, disappears suddenly.  This is not your normal family of a broken home; this is a family that reads together, sticks together.

Early, her mom, Summer, and little brother, Jubilation

 are suddenly in a shelter and learning about life in a

hard way.  Summer reads to the children in the shelter

to pass the time and Early is on the hunt to find answers

 and people to help.  All the while, being bullied and torn over the grief of losing her father.  She dreams of

him, and hears his distant voice giving her clues to what happened.  The police are swiftly investigating her

father as if he was a criminal, when he has only worked for the library in the History and Social Science

section for years.  Her father loved his job and family.  But where did he go?  Where did that money come

 from?  Why is there rare diamonds on their floor?  Who broke in, trashed the house, took the money, and

what were they looking for in their peaceful home full of books and words? 

            This book is written with incredibly clear talent by Blue Balliett.  The poetry and metaphors woven throughout the chapters are as clever as verses and hymns sung in another time.  This author has a rhythm and symmetry in her word choice, which captures the reader’s imagination.  Hold Fast will be a cherished book; some may real aloud in class, or share in a literature circle.  Although this story may be for upper elementary students, the poetry and symbolism streams through the paragraphs like a rushing rapids.  Readers can take small parts from this story and build their own creative links if needed, because of the great quotes from Langston Hughes, the poems and classic stories along the way, are great hints for Early to finds the answers to why and what happened to her dad.

Myracle, L. (2013). The life of Ty-Penguin problems. New York: Dutton Children’s Books.

            A ‘boy’ books that will make you realize its ok to have a heart and be helpful in this glorious world of ours.   This book will make boys giggle and maybe tear up if they get real close. Lauren Myracle has given readers Winnie Perry for girls and now this is her little brother’s first book.  Ty is a normal boy with big plans that make up his creative world and help him entertain others around him as well as himself. Ty is a schemer and tries to save and help other characters in the story. Ty visits the hospital for his friend, they discuss the mole on a nurse’s face and gum by the foot. Ty decides he won’t take a bath until his friend gets out of the hospital much to others dismay.  They make a pact and the adventure is on.  But each chapter is filled with funny actions of Ty and his thoughts and friends.  He tries to stay out of trouble but ya know sometimes that just follows certain people around.  Read this book to your little brothers but prepare to warn them of all the fun they will have and try not to giggle aloud.

Northrop, M. (2013) Rotten. New York:  Scholastic Press.

            This simple saga jumps out and grabs your heart as the boy falls in love with his abused new pet. Protagonist Jimmer, learns to be accepting of the mistakes we make in life and how he can grow by owning up to those mistakes in this book.  Jimmer has returned from a summer in “juvie” and no one knows why or where he has been. His mom has a new pet and he is a little bit scared of it since it is so big and mostly the dog is scared of him too.  But his friends are not the best and the dog knows it.  So when one trys to jump his fence the dog bites him and that leads Jimmer into more trouble once again. But will he tell where he has been and face the consequences or will his friends tell the truth?  Is he headed back to juvie? So the story of visiting his “aunt” is getting real old to his ‘besties’ that sooner or later, he knows he must tell someone the truth.  But what will that cost him and will that one girl ever look his way again if she knew.  When his new friend, the dog, gets into trouble will Jimmer risk it all to save a dog on death row, or will he just throw him away like everyone else has in the past.