Journalistic Quest

Alphabet Books for Intermediate Students

2008-01-21T08:53:00.000-08:00

I undertook my first alphabet picture book read-aloud this year on a whim. My intent was to keep kids excited about our read-alouds, because I only read two letters each day. They loved it (and learned so much from it), that I tried another, which was met with even more success. Take a look:

The Skull Alphabet, Jerry Pallotta

Pallotta has written about a zillion alphabet books (he even signed a copy of the Spice Alphabet when he came to visit my elementary school!). For this one, he shows 26 different critter skulls. We used this during our unit on the human body. Students have to guess the animals, and the creatures range in difficulty from a dog, to a panda, to a narwhal. Fabulous. Additionally, Pallotta randomly hid busts of the presidents in some of his pictures, so this could be used in an American History class as well. You can see a few pages from the book here.

E is for Evergreen, Marie & Roland Smith

My favorite Michigan publisher is responsible for the enormous series of state alphabet books. If you teach 5th grade (or any other survey course on U.S. history that involves a state study), I would not be exaggerating to say that you need every book in this series. As a 4th grade teacher, I only needed the book for our state, Washington. It's fantastic because it includes all the basic information about the state -- state bird, flower, insect, etc., as well as some famous people and events. Imagine my shock when my kids opened their (terrible, boring) Washington State textbook and began exclaiming that they found a picture of Mother Joseph. What an invaluable resource.

Rethinking Pam Munoz Ryan

2008-01-13T18:31:00.000-08:00

I know last time I posted about Pam Munoz Ryan I was rather critical, but I have since then been introduced to her fantastic picture books and they made me rethink my first impressions. The art in both of these books is done by Brian Selznick, and it's gorgeous.

When Marian Sang, Pam Munoz Ryan

There is so much to talk about in this book. I used it for a lesson on inferences, but it also works great to show how vocabulary is chosen to develop plot or a certain character.

Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride, Pam Munoz Ryan

I love that many of Munoz Ryan's stories are based on real events. This is the story of Amelia Earhart and Eleanor Roosevelt ditching a fancy dinner party to go on an evening airplane ride through Washington, D.C. The art is fantastic.

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Potter Approacheth

2007-07-04T16:20:00.000-07:00

It's become my personal mission to revisit all of the Harry Potter books before the final installment arrives on July 21. Here's as far as I've gotten so far:

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, J.K. Rowling

If you're a die-hard fan and you want to read Rowling's original words before they put the American language spin on them, pick up this version of the first book in the series. There aren't any giveaway pictures at the chapter openings, and it's quite lovely. Harry comes to terms with his wizardness and heads off to his first year at Hogwart's. Unfortunately, it seems as though someone wants him dead?

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, J.K. Rowling

In Harry's second year at Hogwart's, we meet Dobby the house elf, Ginny, Ron's smitten younger sister, Moaning Myrtle, and Tom Riddle. Threatening messages announcing that Slitherin's Heir has returned appear on the walls, and it seems as though Harry is a prime candidate. Could it be Harry, a Parselmouth just like Slitherin, who is paralyzing ghosts, Squibs, and Mudbloods?

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More on Delicious Library

2007-06-14T19:05:00.000-07:00

A few points:

1. I graduated!

2. I'm going to be teaching at a fantastic school! I'll be in the Federal Way, WA school district, and I couldn't be happier.

Now that I know what's going to be happening to me come August, I've re-embarked on my mission to enter all my books into a database. I had originally begun this venture using www.bibliophil.org, but I've switched to Delicious Library because I can upload my list to my iPod and bring it with me when I purchase new books. I utilized this perk today at Goodwill, and it proved invaluable.

I've had the week off, so I'll try to return to a more structured posting schedule next week.

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Double meanings

2007-05-27T08:27:00.000-07:00

There really are far too many new technologies for bookish people. I've been splitting my time between here, goodreads.com (find me under beforetoday), and my trusty Delicious Library, where I'm still valiantly attempting to catalog my entire household of books. Here are two new books I'm actually pairing in my classroom for our shared reading:

Amelia Bedilia, Peggy Parish

Yes, I teach 3rd graders, and yes, most of them have read this book before, but I used it as an anchoring experience so all of us were on the same page regarding words that have double meanings (I always loved "draw the drapes").

Regarding the Fountain, Kate Klise

This book not only works well with teaching double meanings and the hijinx that can follow, but it's a great way to discuss the different reasons why people use writing (this entire lesson was inspired by Regie Routman's work). A school needs a new drinking fountain, and the principal inadvertently contacts a fountain designer. The book is entirely made of letters, memos, posters, newspaper articles, and the like, and it's highly enjoyable (and relevant across a wide age range).

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2007-02-24T00:55:00.000-08:00

On hiatus while I finish my literature unit plan. Juggling two dozen tomes is all I can handle of children's books right now.

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Picture books for older kids

2007-02-04T06:20:00.000-08:00

I've been reading a lot of teacher-books lately that cannot seem to recommend picture books enough for older students, even up through middle and high school. Here are two books to consider that I've just recently discovered.

Science Verse, Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith

The entertaining duo who co-authored/illustrated Stinky Cheese Man and the Time Warp Trio series have created a companion picture book for Math Verse. These are not simply new takes on "Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star," that would never do. Instead, they revise such classroom classics as "The Jabberwock," "Hiawatha" and "Walking Through the Woods on a Snowy Evening." Of note: If your school district/parents is/are up in arms over origin of life, this book does mention evolution and the Big Bang theory.

Outbreak: Plagues that Changed History, Bryn Barnard

The book exhibits some pretty heavy bias towards global health and social poverty programs, and students should at least be aware that others hold different views or might not be as cynical as the author of this book. That said, it has some fascinating information about most of the big pandemics of history, and how each one wound up changing the social order in some way. Gloomy (but good!) illustrations, lots of uncommon facts.

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Books using (sometimes creepy) dolls

2007-02-02T07:26:00.000-08:00

These books use dolls, bears, railroad model figures, and other inanimate objects to tell a story. The first book (published in 1957) has been criticized in recent years, but the latter is relatively recent.

The Lonely Doll, Dare Wright

Older classroom libraries may still have copies of this book, which features a doll and other critters spending time together. The black-and-white photos have in recent years been interpreted as signs of abuse, and a new biography alludes to the author's troubled childhood. Students fearful of clowns might want to steer clear of this.

Ellsworth's Extraordinary Electric Ears and Other Amazing Alphabet Anecdotes, Valorie Fisher

This alliterative adventure takes model figures, animals, and scenery, and fractures them into absurd situations. My favorite two are a duck driving a pink dump truck filled with dice, and Walter, who wallpapers his whole house, including his wheelbarrow. There are also hidden items on each page that begin with the page's featured letter, and there's a helpful index in the back that lists all the S items one can find on the S page, etc.

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ALA Awards Announced Live

2007-01-21T17:58:00.000-08:00

The American Library Association (which chooses the Caldecott, Newbery, Coretta Scott King, etc. awards) will have a live podcast for their winner announcements TOMORROW.

Check it out here. You'll want to tune in at 7:45 a.m. on the West Coast, and thus 10:45 a.m. on the East Coast.

I can't wait to see what they piiiiiiick!!!

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Diaries: One for them, one for you

2007-01-21T07:32:00.000-08:00

This entry seemed rather timely, given the recent media attention to the latter book:

Diary of a Young Girl, Anne Frank

You probably know all you need to about this book, but be aware that the new edition of Anne's diary (I don't know specifically what publishing date) now contains detailed information about her first period and about trying to physically understand her developing body. I offer this information not as a deterent, but as a piece of awareness. I learned about the modified edition (the changes were added after Otto Frank died) through The Curse, by Karen Houppert.

Freedom Writers Diary: How a Teacher and 150 Teens Used Writing to Change Themselves and the World Around Them, Erin Gruwell

Both Anne Frank and my other favorite diary book, Zlata's Diary, are key to this book, written by L.A. language arts students and their teacher. This was just made into a movie with Hilary Swank, which I have not yet seen. Reviews have been mediocre, but the book is lovely. Additionally, if you live in the Puget Sound, Gruwell will make an appearance next month at Seattle University. Call the university to reserve tickets. (P.S. I hate movie book covers, don't you? That's why I chose to post the old cover of this book.)

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Back! With some books for developing young women

2007-01-16T09:44:00.000-08:00

It took me a while longer than I had hoped to get over the holiday bustle and get settled in the new year. I'm hoping to backdate some entries so I can keep you up-to-date on what I've discovered. Today I'm going to share some books about girls on the cusp of puberty. Both of these books are frequently banned for their frank discussion of menstruation, so I suppose for the sake of covering my bases I should suggest that you take a peek at them if you're concerned about that sort of thing (although what makes menstruation any more scandalous than murder or graphic violence or any of the other reasons books are banned?).

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, Judy Blume

Judy Blume's quintessential novel about the endless anxieties and confusions of growing up is still one of the only novels available for the mid-to-late elementary set that even mentions menstruation. Note: I know several gentlemen who have read this book and emerged unscarred, so don't think these books are only for women. The parts about sanitary belts are a bit dated, but the rest holds up surprisingly well.

What's Happening to My Body: Book for Girls, Lynda Madaras (There's also a boy edition, which I have read and is rather similar)

This book is much more technical and involved but still accessible by a variety of ages (the book itself says ages 9 and above). I read it in 3rd grade with my mom -- we sat side-by-side on the bed and silently read a page at a time, and this was a comfortable way of addressing puberty together without "the talk." Does a good job of addressing possible family or religious beliefs concerning puberty and sexuality, but still presents all options.

I haven't read the new edition, which apparently discusses the female athletic syndrome. Perhaps it's time for me to take another look, as I am not familiar with it at all outside of just discovering this article.

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2006-12-22T17:54:00.000-08:00

I neglected to mention that I will be in my homeland from December 17-27. I will resume my reviews when I return, but until then, check these books out:

2006 Global Reading Challenge

Many of these books were also used in the Kent and Federal Way, WA Battle of the Books last spring.

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Rhythmic Reads

2006-12-13T18:33:00.000-08:00

I've been raving about this first book for a while, and the second was a pretty good follow-up to the rhythm of Tico Tango that my tutoring student enjoyed.

The Parrot Tico Tango, Anna Witte

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Tico Tango is a greedy parrot who snatches his friends' exotic fruit (the verses build like "The Twelve Days of Christmas" as he gets more and more food. Eventually, however, his body can't hold it all... The book is also available in Spanish, which might be fun for folks taking Espanol 1 in middle or high school. Witte herself is a Spanish professor at Seattle University, and I hear she's fantastic. You might have a hard time tracking this book down, but I promise it's worth it.

Chili Chili Chin Chin, Belle Yang

This is a tale of friendship between a boy and his donkey, who is named for the sound his bells make. The text is minimal and repetitive, which made it a good choice for our tutoring sessions (it was obviously good for our practice with the "ch" sound).

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Books by people who have let me down

2006-12-11T11:16:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time, there was a sports journalist. He was locally beloved for his wry and sometimes touching observations. Even some people who didn't like sports liked to read his column. (Note that here, he at least admits he's a hypocrite)

Then he wrote a bunch of books that are at a superficial level kind of heartwarming, until you realize that he's full of crap and producing his books with the sole intent of provoking emotion. It's not like he writes good literature and along the way it is touching because you feel so moved. It's like he took a course from people who were rejected from Lifetime Movie's writing team, then applied all he learned to his books, which include:

He's also a pretentious jerk, but that's another story. There is, of course, some irony in the idea that a lonely, rich, workaholic journalist writes "haunting tales" of love and the people who are important to us.

(I will note that when I did a Powell's search for Tuesdays with Morrie, they told me I might also like 1984. Take from that what you'd like.)

That rant said, I was similarly angered when I read Esme Codell's new book:

Sing a Song of Tuna Fish

which is inexplicably up for the Sasquatch Award. This book is far inferior to her 2003 book, Sahara Special, for which she won several deserved awards (but not the Sasquatch! Maybe they now feel guilty for their oversight?) Let it be known, lest you think I'm an Esme hater, that I loved this book, and my students did too.

In Tuna Fish, Esme shares stories of her life in fifth grade, all of which begin with the very "back in my day" phrase of, "Let me tell you something about..." It's a cute device, but the book definitely seems to be written to adults, not students. I admittedly haven't run into any kids who have read this book, so it'd be interesting to see what they think.

The other troubling thing about books related to Codell is that just like Albom, Codell seems to suffer from an inflated view of herself. The interesting memoir Educating Esme: A Diary of a Teacher's First Year is marred by the fact that there seems to be no educating going on -- Esme seems to arrive in the mean halls of a Chicago Public School with all her ducks in a row. She does just fine in her first year, which, I mean, great for her, but it causes her book to read like a tale of, "First I did this perfectly, then I did this perfectly, and some of my students didn't get me because I'm wacky and original, but eventually they all loved me." Good self esteem is nice and all, but I think it would have been nice to see her be a little more vulnterable. Codell also runs the modestly titled Planet Esme.

I think part of the reason why I'm so troubled by Codell is that I feel like ideologically, we share A LOT of the same views! I enjoy reading her book blog! I want to like her! I just worry that people will be turned off from her because they think she's pretentious.

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LGBT-friendly Schools

2006-12-08T18:22:00.000-08:00

These two books highlight school communities where being LGBT (lesbian, gay, bi or transgender) isn't a big deal. They're both good stories, to boot! Both of these books are probably better for middle schoolers.

Boy Meets Boy, David Levithan

This is a fairly standard story of crushes and crossed communications, but played out from a gay student's perspective. The school is extremely LGBT-friendly and could pave the way for discussions about openness and acceptance. (From the publisher: "The cheerleaders ride Harleys, the homecoming queen used to be a guy named Daryl (she now prefers Infinite Darlene and is also the star quarterback), and the gay-straight alliance was formed to help the straight kids learn how to dance.") However, sometimes the book sashays and limp-wrists its way into the stereotypical.

Dancing in Red Shoes Will Kill You, Dorian Cirrone

At last! This is one of just a few YA books that deals with the woes of having large breasts. Kayla winds up with the role of an ugly stepsister in the big ballet because of her buxom bosom, and she wrestles with the possibility of having a breast reduction surgery to get a more traditional dancer's figure. (Her dance instructor encourages her!) Meanwhile, she deals with boy issues and threatening messages posted near her red slippers.

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New Books that Look Old

2006-12-05T15:37:00.000-08:00

Vintage goodies and nostalgia have been popular for a few years now, and I think I'm beginning to see some books following this trend. Here are two of my favorites:

Agent A to Agent Z, Andy Rash

Done in the vintage style popularized recently by The Incredibles, this book follows Agent A as he makes sure his operation's 25 other agents are using their letters of the alphabet to spy and obtain top-secret information. There is a disproportionately small number of women spies, and the ones who are featured are beautiful and mysterious (one is even lounging on a bed, waiting to receive secrets!?).

The Spider and the Fly, Mary Botham Howitt and Tony DiTerlizzi

This Caldecott Honor book is one of two in recent years to be rendered in black and white (the other is Kitten's First Full Moon. The polylegged characters in this book are decked out in '20s duds. According to his Web site, his inspiration was the horror movies from the '20s and '30s. The images are great, but while we're talking about traditional gender roles, it's a shame the pretty fly is the one who gets suckered in yet again.

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The Velveteen Rabit, past and present

2006-12-03T07:58:00.000-08:00

The Velveteen Rabbit, Margery Williams

This book came to mind when I was thinking about wintery stories, but then I questioned whether this was a Christmastime book or a springtime book (as it takes place during both times, correct?). Middle schoolers might scoff at reading a book like this, but I can't even attempt to give an unbiased review because a beloved comparative drama professor read it to a class of college kids and had us all weeping. Thus, I'd say it's appropriate and timeless. (Does anyone else get the covers of this book and of Rabbit Hill mixed up?)

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, Kate DiCamillo

I didn't want to like this book. I didn't want to find it charming or heartwarming, probably because I was still grouchy and disappointed with DiCamillo's Mercy Watson (more on that later). The illustrations absolutely make this and give the book an antiquey feel, which seems to make it a little more OK that it's cheesy -- kind of in the same way that it's OK for Prairie Home Companion to be a little cheesy.

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One for the kids, one for you: Michigan novels

2006-12-01T18:40:00.000-08:00

I was inspired to think about Michigan books because of the 5th Avenue Theatre's revival of White Christmas. One of the songs in the Irving Berlin musical is called, "I Was Born in Michigan," which I first heard at northern Michigan's Interlochen Center for the Arts.

Bud, Not Buddy, Christopher Paul Curtis

Bud sets his mind on tracking down his father, who believes is a famous jazz musician. This book is centered in Flint, Michigan (a town that was later the focus of Michael Moore's first film, Roger and Me), and it takes place during a time when the area was feeling the devastating effects of the Great Depression (Bud even stops in a Hoovertown). I admit, when I first encountered this book I thought it would be boring historical fiction, but it was an enjoyable plot-driven book that would be a good read-aloud. Your class will probably also enjoy Bud's wisdom sprinkled throughout the book, collectively known as, "Bud Caldwell's Rules and Things for Having a Funner Life and Making a Better Liar Out of Yourself."

Middlesex, Jeffrey Euginedes

Middlesex chronicles the life of an intersex person living in Detroit as it crumbles in the middle of the 20th century. It also covers her family two generations earlier. This is an amazing story of family, culture, and Detroit's history of racial and ethnic relations. Please forgive my skimpy review of this book, as my copy was lost in my move from Michigan to Seattle.

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Classroom audiobook tips

2006-11-29T11:09:00.000-08:00

I am taking this from a conversation I had with a friend who teaches elementary school in Dallas. I hope she doesn't mind.

We had been talking about the beauty of checking audiobook CDs from the library, then upoading them to iTunes. I had been looking to just burn copies of the CDs and store them either with my classroom library or near my classroom library. Then she offered this advice:

"Load Itunes onto your classroom computers and use those as listening stations. I do that and I have 5 iPods that can be checked out (shuffles, mostly donated). Of the iPods I have 3 are from a collection taken up by the parents in my class (10 bucks a kid= $200) and the other two I bought with my own money."

I haven't talked with her about the possible downsides to loaning out iPods, but even if you only allow your students to use them in class, I think it's a fantastic idea. Take a look at the iPod Shuffle here, and check out the neat new ad.

I think this is an idea that can be used in classrooms at any level. To read more about how audiobooks had a huge impact on a middle school classroom, do yourself an enormous favor and check out:

Caught in the Middle, Susan Ohanian

This book spends a lot of time talking about crazy school bureaucracy, and it also has fantastic suggestions for language arts classes for students of all abilities.

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One for the kids, one for you

2006-11-28T09:12:00.000-08:00

It's a complete snow emergency in Seattle today, so I'm going to suggest a pair of books that will keep both you and any young folks satisfied.

Runny Babbit, Shel Silverstein

This is a funny way to approach the importance of using a correct starting sound in words. A mix-and-match word activity could easily be developed from this book -- at one point, flashcards of many of the book's illustrations were available from Barnes and Noble, you could probably find them on eBay.

Uncle Shelby's ABZ Book, Shel Silverstein

I LOVE this book. Reader beware: despite what Uncle Shelby tells you, this naughty ABC book is probably most appropriate for older youngsters -- middle schoolers, perhaps?

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Obvious and not-so-obvious recommendations

2006-11-27T09:26:00.000-08:00

Did you know that the delightful author of Charlotte's Web also designed one of the quintessential guides to proper writing style? Behold:

Charlotte's Web, E.B. White

Quick, reread the original before the live action version comes out and cheapens the story beyond recognition! This book, technically written at a fourth-grade level, is totally appropriate for first graders on up (or even younger if you're reading it to someone). I still greet people with "Salutations" in a nod to this book.

The Elements of Style, Strunk and White

This English student standard got a facelift last year with a coffee table version, complete with humorous illustrations and a gilded cover (although the edition in this image seems to have a paper outer cover that my first edition doesn't have). It took me nearly 20 years to realize my beloved E.B. White was coauthor of this extremely handy, practical volume (Additionally, Powells is your source for getting a copy of this book in Japanese).

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Bet you didn't know it was a series

2006-11-26T11:20:00.000-08:00

The Giver, Gathering Blue, Messenger, Lois Lowry

Many students are familiar with Lowry's Newbery-winning book about a boy who is chosen to receive the city's memories. But quite a few aren't aware of the companion novel, Gathering Blue, which occurs in another community at the same point in time. Messenger links these two worlds together, but it unfortunately uses a plot devite that can seem to have religious overtones (which is just fine, but comes across as too heavily/clunkily applied).

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Culturally accurate or pandering attempts?

2006-11-25T22:31:00.000-08:00

I present these two books because after I finished reading them, I wasn't sure if they were giving me an insight into cultures I didn't know about or if they were created in an overtly PC way to fill a market with woefully few minority perspectives. (An example: The Newbery-winning book A Single Shard is full of interesting historical and cultural facts, yet it is a horrifically boring novel that seems to have been praised just for the fact that it presents an unfamiliar culture)

Girls for Breakfast, David Yoo

The main character of this book struggles because he doesn't live up to the Asian ideal -- he's not brainy or dorky or... anything, really, he's just average. The book follows his struggles through school and the awkwardness of finding a ladyfriend. It seems to be an attempt to recreate in high school form the guy-lit genre popularized by Nick Hornby (High Fidelity, About a Boy, etc.). The subject matter of this is probably more appropriate for middle and high schoolers.

Becoming Naomi Leon, Pam Munoz Ryan

This book is a Powell's staff pick and a contender for the 2007 Sasquatch Awards (through the Washington Library Media Association), so I'm inclined to believe that this isn't just receiving buzz for the fact that it's about a Mexican girl living with her extended family. This is a touching story with lots of cultural history that I wasn't aware of, and (peripherally) honestly addresses the issues of children with special needs.

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Felines Feasting on Food

2006-11-24T22:47:00.000-08:00

Each of the books in this duo feature hungry cats.

Pizza Kittens,

These bratty kittens refuse to enjoy the crummy meals their parents prepare for them. They try to reform their behavior, but things don't work out until they finally get the food they want -- three guesses as to what food that would be?

Kitten's First Full Moon,
The Caldecott-winning book, by the author of several other excellent books, is the tale of a kitten who thinks the round full moon is a bowl of milk. She goes on an adventure around the neighborhood to track it down. Even more difficult than tracking down the moon, it seems, is getting in touch with Henkes. I attempted to send a letter his way, but short of contacting the publisher (and who within the publisher should I direct the letter to?), there was no contact. In searching online, I discovered other teachers encountered the same troubles I did. Suggestions?

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On getting a good rest

2006-11-22T17:24:00.000-08:00

I've been feeling under the weather today, so here are some books on getting rested...

Naps: The Sound of N, Cynthia Fitterer Klingel

This is a good book for explaining the difference in the sounds that N and M make. The photos are kind of hokey, but it's good for younger students to see the older elementary kids in the book taking naps.

I Am Not Sleepy and I Will Not Go To Bed, Lauren Child

This silly book is a good companion to the N study for Naps, because the author uses "not" a lot. The photo collage element is a neat illustration choice, too.

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Daily Book Review

2006-11-20T17:49:00.000-08:00

I always wind up suggesting books to people when something appropriate comes up in conversation. I haven't read this book yet, but I thought it was relevant related to the article I've also linked to.

Teachers Have It Easy, Dave Eggers

This book talks about how bad school policy -- particularly related to funding and pay issues -- makes it much harder for teachers to do their jobs. Written in accessible language, the book is wry and brings up points not often addressed in articles or books about education reform.

Federal Way School District sues state over funding, The Seattle Times

The Federal Way School District is sueing the state of Washington because it says the state's formulas for funding school is unfair. Here's another article.

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Looking at the Year

2006-11-19T17:34:00.000-08:00

These books are neat, unusual alternatives to simply presenting the different months or seasons of the year.

A Busy Year, Leo Lionni

Two mice visit Woody, a tree, throughout the year to celebrate each of the new looks she sports as the seasons change. It could be neat to copy these pictures to make month signs for the classroom.

The Ecological Calendar, Chris Hardman

This calendar is available locally at Display and Costume. It traces the changes of the year through seasons, animal migrations, plant growth, etc. The calendar is printed on sturdy cardstock that could be easily laminated for classroom use.

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Crazy Birds

2006-11-17T18:17:00.000-08:00

The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog!, Mo Willems

The same Pigeon who wanted so badly to drive the bus is back again. This time, he has a pest of his own, a little duck who keeps trying to TAKE HIS HOT DOG! Who will prevail in this battle between annoying and annoyinger?

Cheep! Cheep!, Julie Stiegemeyer

This is a great book for emphasizing initial consonant blends, as all the words in the text have "-eep" at the ends.

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Taking Another Look at Things

2006-11-14T18:27:00.000-08:00

These books give students the opportunity to look at letters and images in a different way than they usually do.

The Turn-Around, Upside-Down Alphabet Book, Lisa Campbell Ernst

Each letter of the alphabet is turned 45 degrees at a time to reveal a new picture (K becomes a cat's whiskers, a bird's beak, etc.). This is a good opportunity to challenge students to find different pictures in abstract blocks of color.

Look! Look! Look!, Nancy Elizabeth Wallace

Three mice discover an art postcard and each explore their interpretations of the painting based on color, line, and shape. The mice also talk about how to write and send a postcard. Just think of the activities you could springboard from this!

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Back again

2006-11-02T18:34:00.000-08:00

Now that the Halloween season is over at Display and Costume and I've put away my flapper, princess, and genie in a bottle costumes, I again have time to dedicate to suggesting books for teachers and students. What a relief!

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Banned Books

2006-09-18T23:29:00.000-07:00

In honor of the swiftly approaching Banned Book Week, I present to you the top 100 banned books from 1990-2000.

Scary Stories (Series) by Alvin Schwartz
Daddy's Roommate by Michael Willhoite
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Harry Potter (Series) by J.K. Rowling
Forever by Judy Blume
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
Alice by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman
My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
The Giver by Lois Lowry
It's Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris
Goosebumps (Series) by R.L. Stine
A Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Newton Peck
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Sex by Madonna
Earth's Children (Series) by Jean M. Auel
The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers
In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak
The Stupids (Series) by Harry Allard
The Witches by Roald Dahl
The New Joy of Gay Sex by Charles Silverstein
Anastasia Krupnik (Series) by Lois Lowry
The Goats by Brock Cole
Kaffir Boy by Mark Mathabane
Blubber by Judy Blume
Killing Mr. Griffin by Lois Duncan
Halloween ABC by Eve Merriam
We All Fall Down by Robert Cormier
Final Exit by Derek Humphry
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
What's Happening to my Body? Book for Girls: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Daughters by Lynda Madaras
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Beloved by Toni Morrison
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
The Pigman by Paul Zindel
Bumps in the Night by Harry Allard
Deenie by Judy Blume
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
Annie on my Mind by Nancy Garden
The Boy Who Lost His Face by Louis Sachar
Cross Your Fingers, Spit in Your Hat by Alvin Schwartz
A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Sleeping Beauty Trilogy by A.N. Roquelaure (Anne Rice)
Asking About Sex and Growing Up by Joanna Cole
Cujo by Stephen King
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
The Anarchist Cookbook by William Powell
Boys and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy
Ordinary People by Judith Guest
American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
What's Happening to my Body? Book for Boys: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Sons by Lynda Madaras
Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
Crazy Lady by Jane Conly
Athletic Shorts by Chris Crutcher
Fade by Robert Cormier
Guess What? by Mem Fox
The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende
The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline Cooney
Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Native Son by Richard Wright
Women on Top: How Real Life Has Changed Women's Fantasies by Nancy Friday
Curses, Hexes and Spells by Daniel Cohen
Jack by A.M. Homes
Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo A. Anaya
Where Did I Come From? by Peter Mayle
Carrie by Stephen King
Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume
On My Honor by Marion Dane Bauer
Arizona Kid by Ron Koertge
Family Secrets by Norma Klein
Mommy Laid An Egg by Babette Cole
The Dead Zone by Stephen King
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
Always Running by Luis Rodriguez
Private Parts by Howard Stern
Where's Waldo? by Martin Hanford
Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene
Little Black Sambo by Helen Bannerman
Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
Running Loose by Chris Crutcher
Sex Education by Jenny Davis
The Drowning of Stephen Jones by Bette Greene
Girls and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy
How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell
View from the Cherry Tree by Willo Davis Roberts
The Headless Cupid by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
The Terrorist by Caroline Cooney
Jump Ship to Freedom by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier

Happy reading!

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Great Alphabet Books

2006-09-11T22:39:00.000-07:00

Alphabet books don't have to be just the tired recitation of alliterative animals and the like. Check these out:

Alphabet City, Stephen T. Johnson

This wordless book is a series of photographs shot in New York City. Each image has a letter of the alphabet hidden in it, naturally formed by the architecture and nature. The letters go in order, so observant kids will know which letters to look for next, but in my experience, they still like finding the letters regardless.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, Bill Martin Jr.

Did you know you can buy a tree that comes with velcro letters to follow their adventures? I just use an alphabet puzzle to point out the letters, and then I dump out the puzzle over when everyone falls out of the tree. Then, I have the kids put them back into place as we finish the book. Another tree idea I really enjoyed was when a teacher bought an inflatable coconut tree for the classroom.

Strong women living outside of the city

2006-09-07T20:20:00.000-07:00

Get out of town (or suburbia) with these great books.

Tadpole, Ruth White

A great read-aloud book. This follows Carolina and her loud, state-named family of women as they work through life with limited funds and no father. The exuberent title character shows up to escape some family troubles of his own, and adventures ensue. Funny, and a great introduction to Mark Twain-esque dialects.

Little House on Rocky Ridge, Roger Lea Macbride

Even as an (obsessively) avid Little House books fan, I had no idea what a vivacious, smart and rather famous woman Rose Wilder Lane was. This is the first in a series on her adventures as a girl. Series about Laura's grandmother and great-grandmother are also available.

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Exploring homeschooling

2006-09-04T21:36:00.000-07:00

Homeschooling has been a hot topic for nearly a decade, and these books do a great job of exploring the pros and cons of traditional and homeschooling without being preachy or overly biased.

Ida B: And Her Plans To Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World, Katherine Hannigan

Ida B., who has a mind of her own and grand plans to match, returns to public school when her homeschooling mother falls ill. Provides a good critique on the pitfalls of public education at the same time that it highlights the best kind of teacher one can find there.

Surviving the Applewhites, Stephanie S. Tolan
I liked that this book gave a voice to some of the big criticisms of homeschooling (lack of structure, etc.), yet it wasn't a public service announcement for the idea. The story should appeal to reading and theater fans, as well as the students traditionally viewed as naughty.

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Adventuresome Dogs

2006-09-01T08:33:00.000-07:00

For a few days, our readings took on a dog theme, because what young person doesn't like man's best friend? Here are two of my favorites.

Martha Blah Blah, Susan Meddaugh
Martha is an extraordinary dog who can talk after she eats alphabet soup. But when the soup company starts eliminating letters from the soup, Martha’s speech gets all garbled. I found a fun letter recognition activity to go along with this book in Games with Books, by Peggy Kaye. The text is a bit harder than most of the other books I’ve been using, so I would suggest reading this out loud and letting the student follow along with an alphabet puzzle, removing the letters as they get taken out of the soup.

Joey and Jet, James Yang
This book is good for beginning readers to try on their own because the vocabulary is manageable, yet they tackle prepositions (around, beneath) that aren’t usually found in early reading books. The art looks like fabric collage, and Jet has a lot of energy, which results in him running all over the place chasing a stick (a dog’s work is never done).

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Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto

2006-08-31T19:37:00.000-07:00

This summer has been largely filled with robot books. Here are a few I enjoyed that were also enjoyed by my 6-year-old tutoring student.

See Otto

The Otto the Robot series is a great one for kids who are ready to read on their own. See Otto was the first book my 6-year-old tutoring student was willing to read without my help, and the subsequent books in the series have always been treats. I love the bold, clear illustrations in these books, and the repetition of a cast of quite irresistible characters. Also appreciated is the fact that each book is so different in plot from the other, yet the vocabulary remains manageable.

Hello, Robots
Inspired by the wild success of Otto, I checked out the book Hello, Robots. This is a great book to read even to a child who can identify no words, because the robots names are each printed in the color of their bodies. Thus, whenever a green word pops, up, the child knows to call out the green robot’s name (certainly a good lesson in the importance of characters). In the course of the book, the robots’ bodies get mixed up, which exposes kids to the concepts of rhyming words and changing word endings.

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So I begin

2006-08-27T21:00:00.000-07:00

I'm writing this on the eve of my first day of grad school at Seattle University... I'm feeling pretty apprehensive, but I'm thrilled. I can't imagine being anywhere else at this moment.

I haven't yet decided what I can/should/will have time to include here, but some ideas include:

Book reviews, YA and picture books
Classroom resources
Reflections? Although I don't necessarily feel appropriate putting those on a public forum...

So hello again... I hope I can hold your attention this time!

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A New Quest

2005-12-21T08:06:00.000-08:00

I haven't logged on in so long, I nearly forgot how to post.

My newest Journalistic Quest doesn't involve reporting at all -- I'm serving with AmeriCorps in Seattle. I'm at Silver Lake Elementary School, where I teach intervention programs in math and reading. It's ridiculous amounts of fun.

Perhaps I'll revive this at a later date. For now, I'm back in Michigan for a visit!

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On Youth

2005-06-03T13:29:00.000-07:00

My first week at the paper has been sadly uneventful, despite my best efforts to make it otherwise.

The most absurd experiences I've had in this newsroom usually happen when I ask people where they graduated from -- or more importantly, when. The people in this newsroom are my age, and that terrifies me.

Beth graduated from Northwestern in 2001.

More than a handful of people here refrain from wearing tapered leg pants (note: a Google search for "ugly tapered leg pants" had no results).

The arts reporter is legitimately cool, not overgrown and creepy.

People get excited about the Ben Folds picture on my desk, because they know he is amazing.

Joe is a 2004 graduate from Florida State. He's old MIPA buddies with Steve Eder. That means he's pretty much my age. With a real job.

Adventures in Cooking

2005-05-28T16:59:00.000-07:00

I like my steaks medium rare. Uncooked red slabs of meat don't make me queasy, nor does dissecting a cat for that matter.

Therefore, there's no sensible reason why I should have such an intense fear of cooking meat. Perhaps it's carnophobia, but wasn't able to cook meat once all last year, and I dreaded making it through another summer battling my fear of raw beef.

The lack of ground chuck in my Publix shopping cart made me panic, and I fled the stacks of meat only to bump my cart into a display of fish fillets and steaks. These would be a breeze with my new Foreman grill, but I dropped the chilly bag like a hotcake and moved on to the muffins.

I overcompensated for the lack of flesh in my cart by stacking it high with healthy treats such as yogurt and Amy's Kitchen natural frozen dinners, bought soley based on the smell of Carrie Hoover's microwaved State News meals.

Looking at my cart, it vaguely looked as though I could pass for a vegetarian, if you didn't notice the chicken bits in my whole-wheat tortellini or shrimp scampi buried under the honey nut Cheerios and Raisin Bran. I even threw in some vanilla soymilk to bolster the ruse.

I felt like such a fraud.

It must've worked. "You've got all the good stuff," Bernadette said approvingly as she checked me out. I promptly decided the gentle middle-aged British woman must've been the sort to accidentally send her children out with one sock, as she surely should have noticed my sketchily unbalanced attempts at buying enough protein to make up for the abandoned hallibut and pork.

Several days later, I mustered my courage after reading through Sara's Betty Crocker cookbook and went back to Publix to buy ground chicken. I turned on Pollyanna on the Hallmark channel to lift my spirits and attempted a meal. It turned out alright, amazingly. I hope you enjoy:

CHICKEN-AND-BROCCOLI-FILLED LASAGNA ROLLS

4 dried lasagna noodles
6 ounces ground raw chicken
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped broccoli
1/4 cu[ water
1 beaten egg
1 cup ricotta cheese
1/2 teaspoon dried thume
1 1/2 cups meatless spagnetti sauce
1/4 cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese

1. Cook lasagna noodles for 10 to 12 minutes or until tended but firm. Drain noodles, rinse with cold water, drain well.
2. Meanwhile, for filling, in a large skillet cook ground chicken and onion until turkey is no longer pink and onion is tender. Drain fat. Stir in chopped broccoli and water. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer about 5 minutes or until broccoli is crisp-tender; drain.
3. In a mixing bowl stir together egg,rictta cheese and thyme; stir in he chicken mixture. Divide filling mixture into 4 equal portions. Spread a portion over each lasagna noodle; roll up each noodle. Place lasagna rolls, seam sides down in a baking dish. Spoon spaghetti sauce over lasagna rolls.
4. Bake, covered, in a 375 degree oven about 30 minutes until heated through. Uncover and sprinkle with the Parmasean cheese. Makes 4 main-dish servings.

Thank you, and good night.

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Greetings

2005-05-19T12:08:00.000-07:00

Welcome to an account of my adventures in journalism. Let's recap our earlier chapters:

Journalistic Quest I: Reporting in the British Isles, Summer 2003
Journalistic Quest II: Cops and metro reporting in Colorado Springs, Summer 2004
Journalistic Quest III: Cops and education reporting in Jacksonville, Fla., Summer 2005

I'll be in Florida from May 22 until mid-August. I'll be starting at the Florida Times-Union on May 31. Wish me luck, and enjoy!

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