Theme: In order to teach a thematic unit, students must first understand the theme being studied. Define perseverance for the students. I chose to explain it as continuing to do something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success. I illustrated the definition for students by explaining how my youngest son has persevered through guitar lessons. […]
Theme
Book Review: Violet the Pilot, by Steve Breen
Why I Picked It Up: This was a recommendation from a librarian in one of our sessions last summer, and it took me entirely too long to actually pick it up! With a two-year-old that loves everything airplanes, we rediscovered it at the public library as we were browsing one day a few weeks ago. We’ve read […]
Book Review: Open Mic: Riffs on Life Between Cultures in Ten Voices
Why I Picked It Up: In searching for strong social studies text for our Beyond the Textbook Session, I found this advanced reader’s copy in Sherry’s personal collection. It was definitely a “Jessica book,” so she happily gave me her copy. Why I Finished It: Curiosity! From the beginning I was intrigued by the stories the […]
Book Review: Page by Paige, by Laura Lee Gulledge
Why I Picked It Up: To be completely honest, Jessica actually picked this one up. We were looking for graphic novels to incorporate into a session we’re working on, and Page by Paige was one that we’d seen in a few places. The play on words in the title made me happy, so even though […]
Book Review: Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast, by Josh Funk
Why I Picked It Up: My son and I were studying in the children’s section in Barnes & Noble, when he looked up and pointed at a display shelf and hollered, “MOM! Totally a book for you!” It’s official, my son is completely aware of my quirky taste in books and there are varied authors […]
Book Review: Words with Wings, by Nikki Grimes
Why I Picked It Up: Honestly, I had to find out novel in verse that would be appropriate for grades 3-5 for our up coming High Tech Literature Circles session. I am one of those people who typically freeze up and become a little panicky, so I wasn’t having much luck. However, many of the […]