Index

• A Midsummer Night's Scream By: R.L. Stine
• Choice List
• During Reading Strategy

• Because of Winn Dixie By: Kate DiCamillo
• Newbery Award Winner
• Reading Strategies

• Big Nate: In a Class By Himself By: Lincoln Peirce
• Choice List
• Reading Strategies

• Blindsided By: Priscilla Cummings
• Read Aloud 5th-6th

• Desk Stories By: Kevin O'Malley
• Graphic Novel
• Web 2.0

• Emmanuel's Dream By: Laurie Ann Thompson
• Diversity
• Reading Strategies

• Finding Winnie By: Lindsay Mattick
• Read Aloud 3rd-4th

• Mango Abuela and Me By: Meg Medina
• Diversity
• Before Reading Strategy

• One Crazy Summer By: Rita Williams Garcia
• Historical Fiction
• Reading Strategies

• The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus By: Jen Bryant
• Nonfiction
• Reading Strategies

• The Westing Game By: Ellen Raskin
• Newbery Winner
• Before Reading Strategy

• Turtle in Paradise By: Jennifer Holm
• Newbery Winner
• Before Reading Strategy

• What Darwin Saw: The Journey that Changed the World By: Rosalyn Schanzer
• Nonfiction
• Voki

• What Pet Should I Get By: Dr. Seuss
• Poem

• Wonderstruck By: Brian Selznick
• Diversity
• Reading Strategies

Blindsided

Blindsided

Written By: Priscilla Cummings

Published By: Dutton Children's Books

Copyright: 2010

Heartbreaking, Courage, Unknown, Disability, Reluctant

Reading Level:

Lexile: 710L

DRA: 50

Guided Reading: V

Suggested Delivery

Read Aloud
Independent 

Small Group

Electronic Resources

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Epvsl3tSI8E

This is a book trailer that the students can watch to intrigue them and make them want to read the book

http://www.priscillacummings.com/novels.html

This is the authors website. Any students that want to know more about Priscilla Cummings or read any other books she has written can follow this link

Teaching Suggestions

Vocabulary

Braille: A system of writing or printing. Uses dot combinations to make words

Beckoned: To signal someone over

Maneuver: A planned movement

Crucial: Extremely important

Nuisance: An annoying person

Reading Strategies

Before Reading: First Lines- Read the beginning lines from the book and make predictions based on it

During Reading: Partner Reading- Students are paired together and read the same book. Students take turns reading and get to discuss the book and give feedback

After Reading: Visual Imagery- Create images based on what the student has read in the text

Writing Activity

Have students pretend to be Natalie. They just learned that they are going to lose their eyesight forever. Have the students write about how they feel and what they would do to prepare for that to happen

Emmanuel's Dream

Emmanuel's Dream

Written By: Laurie Ann Thompson

Illustrated By: Sean Qualls

Published By: Schwartz & Wade/ Random House

Copyright: 2015

Inspirational, Courageous, Making a Difference, Persevere, Community

Reading Level

Lexile: 770L

DRA: 52-60

Fountas & Pinnell: O-V

Suggested Delivery

Read Aloud

Electronic Resources

www.emmanuelsdream.org

This website has information about Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboa, and pictures of his journey that the students can use to gain background information. 

http://lauriethompson.com/books/emmanuels-dream/

This is the author Laurie Ann Thompson's website about her book. She has the awards the book has won, reviews, information for educators, and links to blogs about the book.

Teaching Suggestions

Vocabulary

Disability: A physical or mental handicap
Inability: Cannot do something
Perseverance: Steady persistence in a course of action
Self-Reliance: Relying on yourself
Interdependence: Relying on each other

Reading Strategies

Before Reading: Read the jacket summary. Have the students discuss what Emmanuel's disability, what can't he do because of his disability, and what can he do.

During Reading: Think-Aloud- Let the students say what they are feeling out loud as you read through the book

After Reading: Poems with two voices- Have the students write a poem from Emmanuel's perspective and a poem from his mother's perspective

Writing Activity

Look at the ways that Emmanuel's actions changed the way people in Ghana thought about physical disabilities. What is something you could change your communities minds about and how could you accomplish that goal.

Big Nate

Big Nate: In a Class by Himself

Written By: Lincoln Peirce
Published By: Harper Collins
Copyright: 2010

Witty, Relatable, Trouble Maker, Creative, Laugh-out-Loud

Reading Level

Lexile: 500L

DRA: 40

Guided Reading: S

Suggested Delivery

Individual

Group

Electronic Resources

http://www.bignatebooks.com/books

This is the Big Nate website where students can find all of the Big Nate books, watch videos, find out information about the author, and view comic strips the author makes as well

http://mrschureads.blogspot.com/2011/02/big-nate-in-class-by-himself.html

This is a blog about the book. There are so many extra pieces in this blog such as comic strips, videos of the author talking about comic books, a link to make your own Big Nate comic and more. 

Teaching Suggestions

Vocabulary

Ace: a close friend

Caricature: Exaggerated picture

Diversion: Distraction

Forgery: A fake

Frivolous: Carefree, lack of seriousness

Gullible: Easily deceived

Insolence: Rude

Predicament: A difficult situation

Surpass: To go beyond

Reading Strategies

Before Reading: Word Wall- Create a word wall with all of the words and definitions from the book that students might not know

During Reading: Anticipation Guide- Students will answer questions about the text then read the text to confirm whether their answer was true or not

After Reading: Question-Answer Relationship- After reading the teacher will ask questions whose answers can be found in the writing, gathered from multiple parts of the text, based on information from the text and the students own experience, and prior knowledge the students would have

Writing Activity

Ask students to write about how Nate made P.S 38 History, if he deserved all seven detentions he received and what he did to recieve those detentions

A Midsummer Night's Scream

A Midsummer Night's Scream

Written by: R.L. Stine

Published By: Square Fish

Copyright: 2014

Mysterious, Horror, Spooky, Gruesome, Magic

Reading Level

Lexile: 470L

DRA: 42-54

Fountas & Pinnell: I-P

Suggested Delivery

Group

Individual

Electronic Resources

http://rlstine.com/

This is R.L. Stine's website. Students can visit this and learn about his other books, play games based on his books, and learn about the author. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8H9YzZo6Kk

This is the link to the book trailer that can be used to get students interested in reading the book

Teaching Suggestions

Vocabulary

Veered: To change directions or turn

Uttered: To speak

Exasperated: To irritate or provoke

Staggered: To walk unsteadily

Reading Strategies

Before Reading: Interest Survey- This book would not be liked by everyone in the classroom so to make sure students will enjoy what they are reading have them take an interest survey before handing out books

During Reading: Fishbowl Discussion- Have a couple of students sit in the middle of the rest of the class and have a discussion about the book while the rest of the class listens in

After Reading: Students book talks- Have students get into groups with the people who read the same book they did to discuss what they read. After have the students get into groups with other classmates who read other books to discuss what they read and what could be the same or different in their books

Writing Activity

Under the "For Teachers" sections of R.L. Stine's website there is a writing program for students. Students can use this Any of the ideas in the link below can be used as a writing activity for students

http://rlstine.com/wp/wp-content/themes/rlstine/common/media/downloads/rl_classroom_kit.pdf

Finding Winnie

Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear

Written By: Lindsay Mattick

Illustrated By: Sophie Blackall

Published By: Little Brown Books for Young Readers

Copyright: 2015

Heartwarming, True, Memories, Family, What you do Matters

Reading Level

Accelerated Reader: 3.4

Lexile: 590L

DRA: 4254

Fountas & Pinnell: I-P

Suggested Delivery

Read Aloud

Electronic Resources

http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/lindsay-mattick/finding-winnie/9780316324908/#details

This website has a video about the book, why the author choose to write it, and what she hopes parents and children will get out of the story.

http://www.lindsaymattick.com/

The author's website has information about the book as well as information about projects she has set up and a tour she took to follow the footsteps of her grandfather and the other soldiers he served with. 

Teaching Suggestions

Vocabulary

Trapper: A person that traps animals for their fur

Reading Strategies

Before Reading: Watch the authors video about the book and why she wrote it to help students feel more connected with what they are reading

During Reading: Post-Its- Students can write post-its of information they learned, found interesting or surprised them

After Reading: Have students ask their classmates questions about the story as if they were a reporter writing an article about the topic. 

Writing Activity

Read the story Winnie by Sally Walker. Have the students compare and contrast the two stories.they can write about why the two authors chose to start their stories in different places and other differences. Students can also write about the personal connection between Lindsay Mattick and the book.

Desk Stories

Desk Stories

Written By: Kevin O'Malley

Published By: Whitman, Albert & Company

Copyright: 2011

Funny, Relatable, Creative, Enjoyable, A Story for Everyone

Reading Level

Accelerated Reading Level: 3.0
Lexile: 600
DRA: 30
Fountas and Pinnell: N

Suggested Delivery

Individual
Read Aloud

Electronic Resources

http://www.fictiondb.com/author/kevin-omalley~46934.htm

If students like reading Desk Stories by Kevin O'Malley this is a website that lists 18 other title he has written. It lists all of his books from the 1990's to 2016.

http://www.booksbyomalley.com/

This is the authors own personal website. He has information about school visits, free books you can download, information about getting published, and more. 

Teaching Suggestions

Vocabulary

Graphic Novel: A novel in the form of comic strips

Dynamic: Full of energy or action

Middle Ages: The time in European history between classical antiquity and the Renaissance

Dark Ages: A period in European history from 476 a.d to 1000 

Gaping: Stare with mouth wide open

Dumbfounded: To make speechless with amazement

Reading Strategies

Before Reading: Prior Knowledge- Ask students what their prior knowledge is about reading graphic novels, how they are written, and what is the purpose of them.

During Reading: Dear Classmate- Using email, twitter, or someother form of communicating have students write to each other as they read the book. 

After Reading: Text-connections- Use text-to-self, text-to-text, and text-to-world to compare and contrast the story to the students lives, other students around the world and other graphic novels or stories that have been previously read

Writing Activity

Have students use www.toondoo.com to create their own comic strip or graphic novel. You can give them a specific topic to write about or let them do it on their own. This can be used as a comic maker, a book maker, a character maker, or a doodle maker. 

What Pet Should I Get

What Pet Should I Get?

Written By: Dr. Seuss

Published By: Random House

Copyright: 2015

Mysterious, Fun, Classic, Decisions, Life Lessons 

Reading Level

Lexile: 200L
DRA: 16
Guided Reading: J

Suggested Delivery

 Read Aloud

Electronic Resources

https://www.nea.org/assets/docs/HOTR16_RAAEduKit_Brochure_WEB.pdf

This is a PDF of a Read Across America Activity guide. It has many activities that go along with the book as well as other Dr.Seuss books such as The Cat in the Hat, and One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.

http://www.seussville.com/Educators/educatorLessonPlans.php

This is Dr. Seuss's website. There are newsletters, information about Dr. Seuss, and other classroom resources. 

Teaching Resources

Vocabulary

Puppy-mill- A place where puppies are bread for profit

Adoption- To take and make someone or something as your own

Yent- A giant fictional animal

Reading Strategies

Before Reading: The teacher will give the students information about Dr. Seuss and his style of writing. They can also talk about what types of pets they have at their house.

During Reading: After Reading the first page or so let the students guess what they think the children will pick as their pet

After Reading: Have the students discuss why Dr. Seuss never gave told us what animal the children got as a pet.

 Also at the end of the book is an editors note talking about Dr. Seuss, pet adoption and the discovery of the manuscript that can be read either before reading or after reading.

Writing Activity

Have the students pick a topic they have interest in. Once they know their topic have the students create their own poems as if they were Dr. Seuss himself using found poem strategy or blackout poetry.  

The Right Word

The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus

Written By: Jen Bryant

Illustrated By: Melissa Sweet

Published By: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers

Copyright: 2014

Reading Level

Lexile: 590L

Grade Level Equivalent: 4.1

Suggested Delivery

Read Aloud

Electronic Resources

http://www.jenbryant.com/books/inprint/bk_roget.html

This is the Jen Bryant's website. On it students will find a book trailer and summary of the book as well as teaching ideas and a discussion guide.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iVeVHzjoVl4FdxgRx-A_iBwXMnYdL7ZugjQr4ReVjTU/edit

This is a link to the reader's theater script by Bound to Stay Books. This could be used as a before reading strategy to get an insight of the book. It can also make students intrigued to know what will happen in the book

Teaching Strategies

Vocabulary

Thesaurus: A dictionary of synonyms and antonyms of words
Clattered: To make loud rattling sounds
Intrude: To go into without permission
Lockstep: A way of marching in very close file
Badger: To harass
Provoke: To anger
Cobbler: A person who mends shoes
Fishmonger: A person who sells fish
Inexhaustible: untiring

Reading Strategies

Before Reading: Use the readers theater under electronic resources to prepare the students for reading the book

During Reading:  Create a word wall of words that are new to the students as well as definitions for easy referencing

After Reading: Create a shades of meaning and degrees of intensity chart with some of the words from the book

Writing Activity

After Reading The Right Word have the students also read The Boy Who Loved Words by Roni Schotter. Compare and contrast the two stories based on the main characters love of words as well as the different illustrations.