In Aunt Giraffe's Green Garden

By: Jack Prelutsky
Illustrator: Petra Mathers

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Copyright: 2007

This giant book of poems, is great for students of any age. In the book there are twenty eight diverse poems, dealing with animals, people, snow, and the presidents. There are catchy rhymes and vivid pictures that show a great vision of each poem. This is a great book for beginning poets.

Vocabulary: Scarcely, summits, chassis, blustery, majestic, galoshes


Suggested Delivery: Read Aloud


Lexile Level: 780L

Web Resources: 

Teachers Guide: This is a guide to help teach the book. http://files.harpercollins.com/PDF/TeachingGuides/0066238692.pdf

Audio: Readings of a couple of the poems http://www.teachingbooks.net/book_reading.cgi?id=2229

Comprehension Strategy:

Before Reading: Students who have no been exposed to poems, need to understand what poetry is? How is poetry written? What makes something poetry?

During Reading: Read one poem, see if students can pick out any characteristics that stand out to them in the poem. First visionally, how there are stanzas, then talk about rhyming words at the end of sentences.

Writing Activity: 

Students will write a poem, based off a poem in the book. Students will have end rhymes in their poem. Students will illustrate a picture that is the visual representation of the poem. 

Out of my Mind

By: Sharon Draper
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Copyright: 2010

Melody is not your average eleven year old,  she has a photographic memory and she can remember everything she encounters. Melody is smarter than everyone in her class and even most of the adults in her life, however Melody is not able to communicate or walk. She has cerebral palsy and is confined to a wheelchair. Melody is placed in a learning community for students with disabilities, when her world changes when she starts fifth grade. Her new school begins having inclusion classroom, which allows Melody to be mainstreamed with other peers. Will Melody’s peers accept her? How will Melody communicate with her peers? 

Suggested Delivery: Independent Read or Guided Reading


Lexile Level: 700L

Key Vocabulary: photographic memory, disability, cerebral palsy, inclusion, diagnosis

Web Resources:

Meet the Author: Learn how Sharon is both a English teacher and a writer http://www.teachingbooks.net/spec_athr.cgi?pid=3640

Teachers Guide: Here is great ideas and activities for teaching this book http://books.simonandschuster.net/tagged_assets/23241_out_of_my_mind_rgg_7316.pdf

Comprehension Strategies:

Before Reading: Book Trailer http://www.booktrailersforreaders.com/Out+Of+My+Mind+Book+Trailer


During Reading: Students will have a discussion based on their readings so far, how does the title play a role in Melody's life. 

Writing: 

Put yourself in Melody's chair. Write a paper that tells what it would be like to be Melody for one day. Write about your feelings and frustrations. 

Write a descriptive paper that uses sensory imagery. Describe a specific scene and bring it to life with your words. Use vivid verbs and powerful adjectives and adverbs as you write. Use as many of the senses as you can (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste).

Lady Liberty: A Biography

Lady Liberty: A Biography

By: Doreen Rappaport
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Copyright: 2011

Rappaport tells through the eyes of those who created her and worked to make her come together. It begins in 1865 as an idea, but then tens years later Edouard Laboulayes dream starts to take shape. Most immigrant workers; engineers, carpenters, coppersmiths and more work together to build Lady Liberty.

Suggested Delivery: Independent Read or Guided Reading


Lexile Level: AD760L

Key Vocabulary: liberty; dictator; sculptor; coppersmith; structural engineer; publisher

Web Resources:
Meet the Author: Students can learn about Dorren Rappaport and what she likes to do http://www.doreenrappaport.com/

Teacher Guide: http://www.candlewick.com/book_files/0763625302.btg.1.pdf

Comprehension Strategies:

Before Reading: Students should fill out a KWL chart.

After Reading: Popcorn Discussion answering these questions

1. Why did Edouard de Laboulaye want to give America a gift?
2. Where is the Statue of Liberty located? Why was this location selected?
3. Why do you think some people mocked the statue?
4. Why do you think soldiers who fought in the Civil War gave so much money to fund the statue?
5. Describe the process used by the builders to create the statue.
6. What were the obstacles overcome by those working to create this statue and built it in America?
7. How many years of planning and work did it take to make the Statue of Liberty a reality?

Writing:

Have each student imagine himself or herself as a statue of liberty.Ask students to draw pictures of what they might wear or hold and to label what those things represent to them. Students will have to explain their reasoning behind each item.

Eleven

By: Patricia Reilly Giff
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Copyright: 2008

Sam, is turning eleven, What’s so bad about turning eleven? Well, the number eleven is haunting Sam, in his dreams and his memories. He doesn’t know why. But just before his eleventh birthday he discovers an old newspaper clipping in his grandfathers attic, with a picture of him and his first name, expect his last name is different and it says the word missing. Sam wants to know more about his life, but unfortunately he is not able to read very good, so he acquires the help of a his new partner for a school partner named Catherine. She is always reading, but Catherine’s family has their own troubles? Will Sam find out about his past? Is it worth it?

Suggested Delivery: Independent Read or Guided Reading


Lexile Level: 600L

Key Vocabulary: turrets, moat, detention, ornate, prow, dredge, trenchers

Web Resources:

Web Resources:

Teachers Guide: This is a teachers that is useful when guided students through the book; it gives teaching ideas, discussion and writing, and activities http://www.randomhouse.com/teachers/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780385730693&view=tg

Curriculum Guide: This is a guide is helpful to teachers by giving them teaching ideas http://www.emporia.edu/libsv/wawbookaward/curriculumguides/eleven.html

Comprehension Strategies:

Before Reading: Book trailer for Eleven http://www.booktrailersforreaders.com/Eleven+Book+Trailer

After Reading: Students will complete a popcorn discussion on their readings in the book.

Writing Activity: How are Sam, Mack, Onji, and Anima a family? Compare Sam’s family to Caroline’s family. Which family appears more unified? Debate whether Caroline envies Sam’s relationship with his family. Describe the special bond between Sam and Mack. Explain how learning about his past makes Sam feel even closer to Mack.

Rules

By: Cynthia Lord

Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.

Copyright: 2008

Twelve-year-old Catherine just wants a normal life which is nearly impossible when you have a brother with autism and a family that revolves around his disability. She's spent years trying to teach David the rules that other people know but David has to learn, "If the bathroom door is closed, knock" - "No toys in the fish tank" in order to stop his embarrassing behaviors. But this summer things are different, Catherine meets Jason, a paraplegic boy and she begins to form a friendship with him after offering to draw pictures for his communication book. Then a girl named Kristi moves next-door, she is the friend that Catherine has always wanted, but she can't seem to figure Kristi out. Catherine becomes conflicted with two very different lifestyles and she is forced to ask herself, "What is so important about being normal anyway?"

Suggested Delivery: Independent Read or Guided Reading

Lexile Level: 780L

Key Vocabulary: Occupational therapist, autism, disability, speech therapist, communication book, normal

Web Resources:

Learn about the Author: Cynthia Lord Website

Book Trailer for Rules: YouTube-Rules

Comprehension Strategies:

Before Reading: Invite a guest speaker talk to your students about autism or have your school speech or occupational therapist come in and talk to the students about their career and how they help people with certain disabilities.

After Reading: Have students write a Poem for Two Voices, if students want to write from Jason point of view, what would he say if he could talk?

Writing Activity: If you were to make communication cards for Jason, what words or phrases would you write? Explain your reasoning behind your choices. (Students can also illustrate the picture that goes along with the word or phrase)