Miss Nelson has a Field Day by Harry G. Allard Jr.

My video clip for my lesson :)

Freckle Juice by Judy Blume - Chapter Book

http://voicethread.com/#q.b419603.i0.k0

Voice Thread

The Absent Author by Ron Roy - Chapter Book

This book is about a boy named Dink who writes to his favorite author, Wallis Wallace. Dink invites him to come visit. Wallis Wallace told Dink he would come and Dink was shocked by his answer. When the day comes for Wallace to show up, he is nowhere to be found. The police tell Dink that he probably missed his plane, but Dink does not agree. Dink and his friends Ruth Rose and Josh find out where the missing Wallis Wallace is before it is to late. I think this would be a good book to have in the classroom library because it is a series book. If the students are interested in one of the book then they will be hooked to the series. Also, you can have your students do an investigation of their own in class to solve a case that deals with mathematical thinking.

Amelia Rules by Jimmy Gownley - Graphic Novel

This graphic novel is broken into four volumes. The novel is about Amelia Louise McBride, a 9 year old protagonist. Amelia's parents go through a divorce and so Amelia and her mother move. They move from New York to Pennsylvania to live with her 20 year old Aunt Tanner. Amelia's life is hard but she stays happy. She finds a good goofy group of friends including fubling Reggie, the Pajamaman, and Rhonda. Together, they are always in and out of trouble. Pajamaman hardly ever speaks and Reggie thinks he is a superhero. Amelia gets an visit from her father which is very awkward for her. More and more problems start to occur as she learns one of her friends has a life-threatening disease and another friend has to deal with her father being stationed overseas. Amelia confides in her Aunt Tanner. Amelia acts on impulse which often gets her into trouble but she is not afraid to admit her mistakes. This novel is a joy to read because it takes you back to childhood. It is very easy to relate to Amelia's character and would be great to have in your classroom library.

Grandfather Counts by Andrea Cheng - Multicultural Literature

The book is about a girl named Helen's grandfather, Gong Gong, who came from China to live with her family. He is very shocked and slightly disappointed to find that none of his grandchildren can speak Chinese. He is stumped on how is going to communicate with them. One day he goes with Helen to watch trains go by. Gong Gong starts to count the trains in Chinese. Helen repeats all the words she hears her grandfather say. She is trying to pick up on his Chinese. Helen then says the numbers back to her grandfather in English to help him learn a little too. Throughout the book they continue to help each other to overcome the language barrier. This is a wonderful book because their or several different languages all around the world. It is important for students to know that they will run across language barriers in life but can still communicate with the right approach. We could discuss as a class the different approaches to take when faced with a communication barrier.

Mama Day by Gloria Naylor - Multicultural

This book is good for a Social Studies unit as well. It could be good for an actvity on the hardships of slavery.

Charloette's Web by E.B. White - Modern Fantasy

The book Charloette's Web, tells a story about a little pig named Wilbur. Wilbur becomes famous with the helps of his friend Charlotte and other animal neighbors. Wilbur is not the best pick in the litter and struggles to survive. Fern, Wilburs human friend wants to keep him and begs her father, Mr. Arable to let her raise him. Fern's father lets her bring Wilbur to the Farm where he makes a lot of new friends. He meets a gray spider named Charolette. When Wilbur starts to become big and plump from all the good fedding, the two try to come up with a plan to keep Wilbur from being dinner. Charloette helps Wilbur by using her webs. Templeton the rat, and other aniamls on the farm help Wilbur too and he becomes the prize-winning pig at the County Fair. Wilbur is one famous pig by the end of the book. This book teaches children about loyalty and friendship. I think it is a great book to have in your classroom library. The kids can learn a little bit about farm life as well from Charloette's Web.

Interstella Pig by William Sleator - Science Fiction

The book Interstellar Pig is a story full of mystery. The book is about a teen named Barney who goes on a beach trip with his family. When they are at the beach they make a few friends, or what they thought to be friends. The neighbors have a board game that interests Barney so he decides to find out about the game. This leads him to something much more than a game. The neighbor Zena introduces him to Interstellar Pig. The object is to finish the game with a piggy card in hand. Each player picks a card. The cards have different aliens on each. The aliens have their own strengths ans weaknesses. By the end of the game, Barney ends up destroying the house because of all the wild things that happen when he draws a card. He is left to figure out how to explain the trashed house to his parents. This book is a good read because it is action packed and full of imagination. I think the kids would find this book to be very intriguing. I could use this book to introduce a Scienc lesson that requires some imagination so the students can pull ideas from the book.

Hostage to War by Tatiana Vassilieva - Autobiography

This book is about the author, a 13 year old girl who lived through the war when the Germans invaded Russia. She writes a diary explaining the impact the invasion had on her family of Blitzkreig. She also talks about her journey to Germany as slave labour and what she experienced when she was there. She survives with the help of others ans a few Germans. In order for her to return to her home, she must convince the Russians that she is not a spy. She wanted to go back to finish her education. This story gives a good insight of a young girls life going through war. This book provides great information about the impact war has on a child's life and can introduce the students to the hardships children faced during those times of war.

Rosa Parks: Fight for Freedom by Keith Brandt - Biography

Rosa
Who is strong-willed, ambitious, and motivated
Who is a daughter of James and Leona McCauley
Who loves people, church and equality
Who feels threatened, determined, and angry
Who needs support, change and respect
Who gives knowledge, inspiration, and guidance
Who fears separation, loss, and unjust
Who would like to see justice and equality
Who shares her support and advice
Who is an American Civil Rights activist
Who is resident of Montgomery, Alabama
Parks

I would definately recommed this book to read to students. The story of Rosa Parks will forever be cherised and apart of American History. The students can do a reasearch project using the internet sources and books to find out more about Rosa Parks life because she was an inspiration to all.

18th Century Clothing by Bobbie Kalman - Nonfiction

This is a great nonfiction book to read to the students during a Social Studies Unit. It will educate them on the advances we have made in the fashion industry since the 18th century.

Goldilocks and the Three Bears by Robert Southey - Folk Literature

Goldilocks and the Tree Bears is about three bears who live together in the woods. The bears follow a daily routine. They each have their porridge pot, chair, and bed. The bears take a walk in the woods one day so their porridge can cool off. A woman walking by stumbles accross the bears home. She enters and begins to taste Wee Bears's porridge and then sits in his chair and breaks it. She finds the bear's beds and gets in Wee Bears and falls asleep. When the bears return they find the woman in Wee Bears bed. Wee Bear is very upset and starts to cry. The woman is startled and leaves the bears home, never to come back. I think this would be another great book for readers theatre because the students can easily act out the scences. It also can be good for teaching children about home securtiy so strangers don't just come stumbling in.

Jack and the Beanstalk by Flora Annie Steel- Folk Literature

Jack and the Beanstalk is a story about a boy named Jack who goes to the market one day to sell a cow for his mother. Jack was stopped by a stranger at the market who asked him to trade his cow for five "magic beans." Jack agreed to the deal and took the beans. Jack's mother was so angry when he got home that she threw the beans out of the window. Overnight, the beans had been growing in the soil and turned into a giant beanstalk. Jack thought he should climb the beanstalk, so he did. When he got to the top of the beanstalk he reached land. The land was home to a giant. When the giant heard someone on his land he said, "Fee-fi-fo-fum! I smell the blood of an Englishman. Be he live or be he dead, I'll grind his bones to make my bread." Jack was scared but was able to escape by the help of the giants wife. He took back with him some gold coins. Jack was anxious to get more and climbed back up the beanstalk after escaping. He stole a hen that laid golden eggs. He was saved by the wife once again. Jack went up the beanstalk a 3rd time and he stole a magical harp. The harp played by itself. The instrument had a mind of its own and let the giant know if did not want to be stolen. The giant went after Jack all the way down the beanstalk. Jack chopped down the beanstalk with an axe and the giant fell. This is a great book to read to students because it keeps you on your toes. Jack is continuously getting into mischief. I think this would be a great book for readers theatre because the students could act out the scence from the book.

Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Engalls Wilder - Chapter Book

This is a great book to read for a Social Studies unit. This is actually the book my third graders are reading now for their Social Studies unit. The book introduces life on the frontier. I think this book would tie in well with teaching the students about pioneer life and American History

Mars Needs Moms! - Science Fiction

The book Mars Needs Moms by Berkeley Breathed is about a little boy named Milo who doesn't understand the purpose of mothers. He thinks all they do is force you to eat your vegetables and take out the trash. Milo comes to find that he needs his mother around when he sees the martians from mars try to take her away. The martians needed mothers in mars because they never had mothers. In efforts to save his mother, Milo jumps in the spaceship with the martians. They go all the way to mars and Milo jumps out to get his mother but his space helmet breaks. He is losing oxygen and starts to close his eyes. His mother comes to the rescue and give him her helmet, leaving her without one. Milo then realizes how important his mother is and that she is much more than a "broccoli bully." Milo asks the martians for help because his mother is losing air. The martians help the mother by brining her a helmet and getting the two back home. I think this is a great book to share with students because it has great illustrations. The book also expresses the importance of mothers and their care. I think the students will be able to relate to this book and make really good connections.

Missing May - Chapter Book

Summer
Who is caring, afraid, and insecure
Who is a foster child of Ob and May’s
Who loves being loved, appreciated and trusted
Who feels anxious, troubled, and alone
Who needs comfort, support, and connection
Who gives knowledge, love, and guidance
Who fears abandonment, loss, and separation
Who would like to see a spiritual sign
Who shares her support and love
Who is an orphan that has been passed down from one relative to another
Who is resident in the Appalachian Mountains
Missing May

I would use this book in my class to talk about death and grieving. I think it is important for students to know that it is okay to grieve when they lose a loved one but to also know, life does go on and will go on. I have suffered many losses of my own and I want my students to feel like they have someone to talk to if they ever need someone to listen.

People by Peter Spier - Multicultural

Folk Literature

I would highly recommend reading "Sidney Rella and the Glass Sneakers" by Bernice Myers because it is a great book. I really enjoyed this book because it has an interesting twist off the traditional Cinderella. Sidney Rella is about a boy who wants to be on the football team at his school. His brothers are very hard on him and always tell him he could never play football because he was to small and to slow. The only thing stopping Sidney Rella from trying out for the team was his to do list. Sidney always had something to do around the house. On the day of tryouts a fairy godfather appears. Sidney Rella is amazed by the fairy godfather when he zaps his wand and does everything on Sidney's to do list. The fairy godfather zaps his wand again and dresses Sidney in football attire and glass sneakers for tryouts. The glass sneakers help him run fast. The only rule is Sidney has to be back before 6:00pm or the football outfit will disappear. Sidney makes it home on time. The fairy godfather does not appear again until the next football game. He zaps the glass sneakers on Sidneys feet and Sidney rushes to the field. Sidney scores the winning touchdown right after 6:00pm and runs off. The fans are amazed by the boy in his underwear. Sidney was the star player, the only problem is he was too fast for anyone to notice who he was. The coach goes from house to house to find the boy that fits the glass sneaker. The coach puts the sneaker on Sidneys two but comes to find that the sneaker only fits Sidney. Sidney is the star player and goes onto be a lawyer. I would use this in my class to teach my students about self-confidence. Don't ever let someone tell you that you cannot do something. Believe in yourself and you can do anything you put your mind too!

Historical Fiction

George Washington's Breakfast, by Jean Fritz is a great book for students. The book is about a little boy named George W. Allen who wants to know everything about George Washington. The reason for this is because he was named after George Washington and had the same birthday. He felt like he was related to George Washington and should know everything about him. George W. Allen knew almost everything about George Washington except for what he ate for breakfast. George W. Allen wanted to know so badly that he went to the school librarian for assistance. The librarian was also interested in the question and helped George W. Allen search for information. When George could not find the answer in the library books, he had his parents take him to Mount Vernon, Virginia where George Washington used to live. When he arrived to the kitchen where George used to eat, he asked the guard if he knew what George ate for breakfast. No one at the monument could answer his question so George W. Allen and his parents went back home. When George gets back, he is so mad that he marches up to the attic. George W. Allen ends up finding an old tarnished book of his grandfathers in a box. In the book, he finds George Washington's breakfast. Grandma offers to cook right away after all of his hard work researching George Washington's breakfast. This book represents several great morals. One moral in particual is to never give up. George W. Allen exemplifies this in the book by never giving up on himself until he finds what he is looking for. I would integrate this in my class during my Social Studies unit because it has a number of great facts about one of our country's most famous Presidents, George Washington.

Realistic Fiction

The Cats' Burglar, by Peggy Perrish is a wonderful book to share with students. The book is about a woman named Aunt Emma who has a house full of cats. She absolutely adores cats and has them here, there and everywhere in her house. Her neighbor Mr. James always makes comments about how she has too many cats. Aunt Emma is not ashamed of her 8 cats and they serve her proud in the book. In the book, the cats help protect Aunt Emma when her house gets broken into by a burglar. The burglar is allergic to cats and has trouble controlling his sneezing. As more cats enter the scence, the more the burglar sneezes and cries for help. Aunt Emma finds her cats to be very amuzing, as she watches them attack the burglar. Police Chief, Don comes to Aunt Emma's house to put an end to the sneezing freenzy. He takes away the bad guy and Aunt Emma smiles because she had her cats to protect her. Her nephew and niece stop by the next day with a suprise, another kitten. She was thrilled and gladly took the kitten into her home. I think this book says a lot about having a pet around the house. I would integrate this into my lesson by relating the book to my students. I know most of my students will have some kind of pet at home or will have a friend with a pet. They can reflect on the story by relating it to their own experiences with pets.

Realistic Fiction

See You Tomorrow, Charles by Miriam Cohen is a great book to share with the class. The book is about a boy named Charles, who is new to his 1st grade class. Charles is blind, so the other kids try really hard to welcome him and make him feel comfortable. The students do not understand that Charles can do thing on his own. His vision only impairs him from seeing but he can still hear, feel, and smell things around him. Charles has a friend name Anne Maria who is always sticking up for him. One day on the playground, Charles, Anne Maria and another student Danny get in trouble during recess. They went inside a door that led them to a dark basement. The door was shut behind them and they found themselves locked in this dark basement. Charles helped get them out by feeling the walls. He was a hero and his classmates were all proud of him for getting them out of the door. I think this is a great book to share with students because they will gain a new perspective on those who are visually-impaired. The story has a great moral and will teach kids that being blind does not stop you from doing great things. I would incorporate this into my classroom during a diversity lesson. I want my students to be accepting of every ones differences and know that they are all equals and all are capable of their dreams.