Summer Reading- Teacher Style!

The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller:  I don't know how this book escaped me when it first came out?  By far, THE best read of my life.  I've been playing this teacher game for over 20 years and have been on just about every literacy bandwagon my district has implemented.  This book made total sense.  It is jam packed with strategies that make readers, READERS.  Loved the 40 book challenge, the omitted home reading contract, the readers response ideas… actually everything. 

Teach Like a Pirate by Dave Burgess: Dave Burgess inspires you to teach like a pirate, unafraid to try new things- to teach with passion, immersion, rapport, ask and answer, transformation, and enthusiasm.  The second half of his book is loaded with strategies to hook your student- check it out!

The Writing Thief by Ruth Culham:  Need tips for writing craft in writers workshop?  This book is the bomb! It jam packed with all things reading to produce goodwriting, and will leave you wanting to steal writing examples from mentor texts. Loved it!

I love being able to tweet authors questions while reading.  

One of the best online perks EVER!  Follow them at 

@WritingThief 

 @burgessdave  #tlap

@donalynbooks

Summer Reading Round 6

This fairy tale trilogy was a page turner.  The False Prince  is the first book in the trilogy.  The King, Queen, and Prince of Carthya have been poisoned and there is no one to rule.  Prince Jaron is supposedly lost at sea and many have a plan to use a young boy to impersonate the young prince in hopes to take over the kingdom.  Young Sage spends his days stealing and his nights in an orphanage. When Connor visits the orphanage and buys Sage, he and three other boys must compete for the honor of impersonating Prince Jaron.  Whoever isn't chosen will die.  Will Sage convince Connor that he is fit to be Prince Jaron?  Continue the story with the Runaway King and the Shadow Throne.  Super fun reads!  I highly recommend them!

Summer Read Round 5

Yay!  I loved all of these books! All three of these books are MUST reads!  

The Fault in Our Stars:  This book is beautiful.  Hazel is a sixteen year old cancer survivor- thanks to experimental drugs.  She is intelligent, witty, negative, and antisocial - until she meets Augustus at a Cancer Kid Support Group.  Without giving too much away, these two form a friendship that will melt your heart. Augustus goes out of his way to bring Hazel across the country to meet the author of her favorite book- and it is here that the plot twists. Definitely a young adult novel (language etc) but young mature readers will read past it.  LOVED this book!!!

Wonder:  Auggie has a facial deformity that has prevented him from going to school.  After several lifetime surgeries, he is now well enough to try public school.  Learn about 5th grader Auggie's experiences in public school.  Things aren't easy, until something wonderful happens.  A MUST READ for all classrooms.  

Counting by 7's  I also loved this book.  Willow isn't your average girl.  Although the book never states it, I believe she is autistic.  Extremely intelligent with a interest in gardening, but socially challenged, she must leave her exotic garden in the backyard of her home when her adopted parents are killed in a car crash.  Her friends, their mother, and Willow's school counselor concoct a plan to keep her out of the system.  Another MUST READ :0)  

Summer Reading Round 4

These books were fast, emotional, action packed reads about the struggles of two jewish boys during WW2.  Both are true stories, and after reading them, I cannot forget what this generation of people had to endure, or how they persevered through horribly evil conditions.

Prisoner B- 3087-This a true story based on the life of young Jack (Yanek) Gruener.  Jack lived in Poland during WWII (1930s).  As a boy he was taken by the Nazi's and experienced 10 concentration camps, one of which he is tattooed as prisoner B-3087.  I was absolutely horrified at the brutal actions and circumstances he was forced to endure.  Read to learn how he had the will to survive.  A MUST READ!

The Boy on the Wooden Box- This book is a memoir written by Leon Leyson, the youngest worker on Schindler's list.  As a child, he was forced into concentration camps- often separated from his family. Like Yanek (Jacob/Jack) in Prisoner B 3087, Leon must learn to survive.  You will read about the same concentration camps that both characters experienced (even some of the same characters).  My heart dropped for Leon.  Learn how his family's skills were paramount, how Oskar Schindler (a Nazi) saved them, how they kept hope alive.  Also a MUST READ!