Reading First News

I don't know if any of you have seen the report done on Reading First. But here is the link to the New York Times article about it this weekend. I think scripted programs for teachers are getting out of control and that we need to work to make REAL books the anchor for reading instruction. Hopefully, more money will be given to book based reading instruction in the near future.
An interesting read.

Poetry Saturday

School has taken over my life, so this poem has particular resonance:

ONCE AGAIN I FAIL TO READ AN IMPORTANT NOVEL
by George Bilgere

Instead we sit together by the fountain,
the important novel and I.

We are having coffee together
in that quiet first hour of the morning,
respecting each other's silences
in the shadow of an important old building
in this small but significant European city.

All the characters can relax.
I'm giving them the day off.

(click here for the rest of the poem)



And here are a few haiku my 5th graders wrote about favorite read-alouds from last year:

THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX by Kate DiCamillo

Despereaux is small
A mouse the size of a bug
A hero to all


Despereaux is a
mouse that gets his tail cut off
by a falling knife.


Shining warrior
he goes to save a princess
Name is Despereaux.



THE MIRACULOUS JOURNEY OF EDWARD TULANE by Kate DiCamillo

Edward Tulane lost
his beloved pocket watch,
a cherished item.


Edward Tulane was
a rich rabbit without love.
People, though, found it.

Poetry Friday!

I found a fun, new poetry book that I thought I'd share. It is called DON'T FORGET YOUR ETIQUETTE! THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO MISBEHAVIOR. ("With advice from Miss Information"--get it?!) So, this is a cute book of poems for kids that talks all about ways to misbehave. It is illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott so if you know her other books, you know that her illustrations always add fun to the text.

Here is a stanza from a poem called "The Etiquette of Dress"

Tuck your tie into your belt
And wear it as a tail.
Put your undies on your head
And wear them as a veil.

I think my favorite part of the book is the placement of a quote above each poem. These are serious quotes about manners from manners books and experts. (Miss Manners, Emily Post, etc.). The quote above "The Etiquette of Dress" says, "You never get a second chance at a first impression, and a first impression is often based on how you look." Emily Post's Teen Etiquette. The brilliance in the choice of quotes is quite amusing:-)

I think kids will LOVE this book. I think MOST parents will too, but after reading the link from Read Roger, who knows how some parents will react to the humor.

The New Yorker in Haiku

Every New Yorker article turned into haiku.

Amazing.

Excessive, in a minimalist sort of way.

My Top 5 Books

Top 5 2006 Series Books For Struggling Readers in Upper Elementary

NIGHT OF THE NEW MAGICIANS by Mary Pope Osborne (Magic Tree House Series)
LOSE, TEAM, LOSE by R.L. Stine (Rotten School Series)
BABYMOUSE: BEACH BABE by Jennifer and Matthew Holm (Babymouse Series)
CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS AND THE PREPOSTEROUS PLIGHT OF THE PURPLE POTTY PEOPLE by Dav Pilkey (Captain Underpants Series)
THE DRAGONSLAYER by Jeff Smith (Bone Series -- graphic novel)

None of these books will win the Newbery. But they're what my struggling 4th/5th graders can pick up and read independently.

Three Cool Connections

A group of my students are reading COUNTING ON GRACE by Elizabeth Winthrop. I am reading GOSSAMER by Lois Lowry for our read aloud.

The group thinks Grace, who has just started working at the mill, is like Littlest, who has just started bestowing dreams. Grace and Littlest both are playful and curious and have a hard time concentrating on their work.

Pepe is like Grandpa in CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, they think. I'm pretty sure they won't think that at the end of the book.

One of my avid BONE readers thinks the bad dreams that Thorn is having come from the Sinsteeds in GOSSAMER.

Poetry Friday, better late than never

Life is mostly froth and bubble,
Two things stand like stone;
Kindness in another's trouble,
Courage in your own.

by A.L. Gordon
in THIS PLACE I KNOW: POEMS OF COMFORT, selected by Georgia Heard

From School Library Journal
In memory of the September 11th tragedy, this book was compiled initially to offer hope and comfort to children who witnessed the event firsthand, but has far broader application, speaking to all people, young and old, who suffer trauma.

Whining

I heard an interview on NPR this morning, "The Joys and Perils of Whining at Work."

On that note, here are my two school haikus, in response to Franki's challenge.


I really do think
we work harder every day
than anyone else.


We educate your
future generations. You
begrudge us summers?

Franki's Top Picks (so far!) for 2006

Thanks to Mother Reader for another great idea! She has asked us to pick our top 5 books of 2006 in a few categories. Since the purpose of this blog is to read books that could win the Newbery, I have my top 5 in that area on my list. At the moment, based on what I've read and the mood I'm in, here are the top 5 picture books and chapter books for middle readers.

Top 5 Fiction for Middle Readers
(Novels that COULD Win the Newbery Award)

YELLOW STAR by Jennifer Roy

PENNY FROM HEAVEN by Jennifer Holm

YEAR OF THE DOG by Grace Lin

FAIRIES OF NUTFOLK WOOD by Barb Bentler Ullman

GOSSAMER by Lois Lowry


Fiction Picture Books

SCAREDY SQUIRREL by Melanie Watt

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL by Louise Borden

THE PRINCESS AND THE PEAby Lauren Child

HIPPO! NO, RHINO! by Jeff Newman

BIG SISTER, LITTLE SISTER By LeUyen Pham

Teacher Challenge!

I am fascinated by Fibonacci Poetry (thanks to Gotta Book) and Emily Reads Haiku Reviews (thanks to A Chair, A Fireplace, and a Tea Cozy). I'm also quite amused by Book-a-Minute.

So, teachers, here is your challenge,
create a Fibonacci Poem OR a Haiku OR a School-Day-A-Minute describing your day at school.

Mary Lee, you go first:-)


School Fib for Tuesday, September 12

Wake,
walk
dog and
swim laps, then
it's all a blur 'til
I fall asleep reading in bed.


To Teach Fib

To
teach
is to
motivate,
inspire, encourage,
watch, listen, cajole, celebrate.


ML