Posts tagged lit

46 Notes

Summer Book Club?

I will happily host another summer book club this summer if there at least 10 people that commit to buy or borrow the book and participate.  I’d also be looking for someone interested in splitting the duties of coming up with discussion questions with me.

Please let me know what you think #education!

If there is enough interest, I will ask for book suggestions, put it for a vote, and if enough people commit at that point we will move forward.

For book selections, I will ask for books that would be interesting to a teacher of any grade level/subject.  

Last time, it took some people a long time to get the book.  Therefore, I want to get this set up ahead of time.

104 Notes

world-shaker:

writingprompts:

246

Did you know that there’s a Writing Prompts Tumblr run by a teacher?

world-shaker:

writingprompts:

246

Did you know that there’s a Writing Prompts Tumblr run by a teacher?

10 Notes

5 Children’s Series to Love

David Books by David Shannon
David is an active young boy based on the author himself.   It has been speculated (and I’m not sure whether or not it has been confirmed) that David has ADHD.  Whether or not he does, David is a spirited child who doesn’t think his actions through.  He is not purposely causing problems, however, he is constantly finding himself in a pickle.  These simple books are ones that every child can relate to.  The over-arching message of these books is an important one: no matter what trouble you find yourself in, you are loved.  Some of the books in this series are:
No, David!, David Gets in Trouble, David Goes to School, and Oh, David!


Pigeon Series by Mo Williems

This series began with Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! in which the bus driver leaves the reader in charge.  The only responsibility is to keep the Pigeon from driving the bus, but his antics and begging are both hilarious and persistent.   The series is an excellent read aloud book in which the students are engaged as the tell the Pigeon no every time he asks.  Also in this series are: Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late!, The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog ,and Pigeon Wants a Puppy.


Farmer Brown’s Animals by Doreen Cronin

Farmer Brown has a problem.   The animals on his farm are very demanding.  The cows want electric blankets, the duck wants to be president, and their preparations for the county talent show are keeping him up at night.  These animals are driven, and hilarious.   Some of the books in the series are: Click Clack Moo: Cows that Type, Giggle, Giggle, Quack, Duck for President, Dooby Dooby Moo, and Thump Quack Moo: A Whacky Adventure.

Fly Guy by Tedd Arnold
Buzz looks for the perfect pet to bring to the Amazing Pet show, and he decides to bring the only pet he could find that says his name (Hi! Fly Guy).  The judges aren’t sold though.  You’ll have to read the book to find out what happens!  Fly Guys has lots of adventures that you will find in the other books in the series: Super Fly Guy, Shoo, Fly Guy, Hooray for Fly Guy, Fly Guy Meets Fly Girl and more!

Bear Series by Karma Wilson

I absolutely love the pictures in this series.  I use some of the books in the series to discuss situations with my class that they may face, such as making a new friend or feeling scared.  Some of the books in the series are Bear’s New Friend, Bear Wants More, Bear Snores On, Bear Feels Scared, and Bear Feels Sick.


Originally, I had included Skippyjon Jones in the series.  However, when I went to find links to Amazon I read some of the negative reviews which said that the books stereotype Mexicans.  I’ve read the books, and they didn’t strike me that way — but that doesn’t mean that other people not see it more easily because of what they as readers bring to the table.  I’d love to hear the community’s thoughts on this series if they have any either through reblogs or responses.  

Skippyjon Jones by Judy Schachner

Skippyjon Jones is a Siamese cat that has an over active imagination.  His imagines that he is a  Chihuahua who saves his friends Los Chimichango from some scary situations.  This is a series my students ask for time, and time again.  The Spanish words provide an opportunity for ELL students to share the knowledge, and the Mexican styled lyrics that are sung in the book always produce giggles.  Some of the books in the series are: Skippyjon Jones, Skippyjon Jones and the Big Bones, Skippyjon Jones in Mummy Trouble, and  Skippyjon Jones Lost in Spice.
So, what do you think?

27 Notes

world-shaker:

Your Weekend Ed Tech Challenge: Explore the collaborative storytelling web app, Storybird.

(via Storybird - Tour)

Reblogging from my own account. You should all give this a shot!

20 Notes

High School Writing Prompts (Open Google Doc)

George Couros has created an open Google Doc for High School writing prompts. They’re broken down by discipline, and anyone can view and edit the document.

This is excellent, and worth a look.

Would any of you be interested in me extending this idea with Google Docs for other grade levels and topics here on Team Teachers? Drop me a line and let me know what you think would be valuable.

12 Notes

Authors Who Skype with Classes & Book Clubs (for free!)

A real can’t-miss resource over here. A growing list of educators who will Skype into your class or book club for free. This is excellent!

7 Notes

Question Three for Summer Book Club

Every successful school intervention for low-SES kids features some variation on the theme of rebuilding the operating system and honing the fewest processes that matter the most to the learning processTeaching with Poverty in Mind, by Eric Jensen, pg 56
Jensen goes on to describe some of the ways the operating system can be trained (physical activity, chess, the arts, and computer aided tasks).
In a brand new post, please share any ways you know of that can help train and improve the operating system.  Also, please share what things you think you can implement in your classroom (realistically) to help train your students operating systems to help set them up for success academically.
Don’t forget to use the “summer book club” tag, and remember to track it so people can follow the conversation.

8 Notes

Tomorrow we begin Chapters 3 & 4 for book club.

If you haven’t answered question # 1 or question #2, you’re welcome to do them at any time.  I know some of you got your books late.  There have been some really well-thought posts so far, and I’m hoping the trend continues!

Also, please, please check out the google doc (whether you are reading or not) to comment on the discussions there.

(Side note: Feel free to create new posts to answer questions 1 and 2, so that you get the notes and it will show up in the summer book club tag)

3 Notes

High-poverty, high-minority schools receive significantly less state and local money than do more prosperous schools, and students in such schools are more likely to be taught by teachers who are inexperienced or teaching outside their specialties.
Teaching with Poverty in Mind by Eric Jensen, pg 38

17 Notes

The brains of infants are hard-wired for only 6 emotions: joy, anger, surprise, disgust, sadness, and fear.

Teaching with Poverty in Mind by Eric Jensen, pg 15

(relates to question 2 for week 1)