Taken from a painting of Kapiti Island at Sunset.
by Sonia Savage.

Monday, June 11, 2012

It's Monday What Are You Reading?



It is Monday and again I am joining in the meme over at Mentor Texts.
Hop on over and join in over at the Mentor Text Blog. Just click on the picture below.




This last week I read See You at Harry's by Jo Knowles.  A very moving book that addresses a number of issues.  Mainly my sympathy was with 
Fern and the sense that she had at times that she was invisible especially to her mother.    I loved how Sara, Fern's older sister steps up and gets Fern and Holden to the homecoming dance.  The book bravely addresses the issues of a death in the family and homosexuality.  

I am not sure whether I will introduce this to my class, only the very older ones perhaps. If you've read it when would you introduce it into a class library? I wonder as mine I think are just say a year too young. (10-12 year olds)


Origami Yoda while still addressing issues important to middle graders, was far more lighthearted and I found myself chuckling a few times. I know there will be many readers in my class for this one.








I read this for my own professional reading.  I found it very helpful , especially the middle section that explored the telling of narrative.  Even if I was never to do digital storytelling in the classroom, this section gives a good approach to planning a narrative where there is tension and character development and change.  Something quite hard for younger writers to grasp. This book has given me some ideas on how to help them.

Apart from that I am going to try digital storytelling and I found this book very useful.

This coming week I will be reading Franny K Stein Mad Scientist  Lunch Walks Among us by Jim Benton and Marty Maguire Digs Worms by Kate Messner.

5 comments:

  1. I loved See You At Harry's, but think every class is different so you might see if you have a receptive class about serious issues. It is a YA, so having the younger students in your class too makes me thnk there are so many good books, it doesn't matter. Good luck with those new books.

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  2. Both the YA choices are on my list.. the PD title looks like a must, this is definitely something I need to work on this summer.

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  3. I'm hoping to read See You At Harry's and Origami Yoda this summer. My students *love* Knowles' Jumping Off Swings.

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  4. I have See You at Harry's in my classroom and have had 12 year olds read it. I think it'll be a student by student choice for you.

    Origami Yoda is great! I love the humor in it while still touching on middle school.

    Happy reading this week! :)

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  5. I do love Origami Yoda, mainly because I still have so many middle schoolers who adore Star Wars. See You at Harry's was really sad.

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