The Graveyard Book

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman is about a child who grows up in a graveyard and is basically raised by the graveyard ghosts. "Bod" grows up with the spirits and his mentor, a vampire named Silas helps him overcome obstacles that most boys face. Bod meets a lonely girl named Scarlett and the two become friends. But as years go by, Bod faces "grave" danger once again. (no pun intended....lol).

This is an interesting book and I would use it in my classroom.  I enjoyed this book and have actually had the priviledge to meet Neil Gaiman in Decatur, Ga.  Very interesting character.

South Carolina State Standard


Standard 5-1 The student will read and comprehend a variety of literary texts in print and nonprint formats.

5-1.5 Interpret the effect of the author’s craft (for example, tone, figurative language, dialogue, and imagery) on the meaning of literary texts.

The students would do a pre-reading activity dealing with "moods."  The students will pick and choose words from the text that create the dark and eerie mood of this particular book. Then look at mood cards and choose the correct moods for each word.

Websites

http://www.teachingbooks.net/tb.cgi?tid=12845&a=1 *great lesson plan ideas

http://www.webenglishteacher.com/childlit-g.html

http://www.learningthroughlistening.org/Classroom-Teaching-Tools/Lesson-Plans/View-Lesson-Plans/463/lessonId__414/

The Fault in Our Stars

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Tissues...lot's of tissues!! This is yet another wonderfully written book by John Green.  In this book, the main character, Hazel has been diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at the young age of 13.  Two years later after a medical miracle, her tumor has shrunk for now.  She is forced to go to a cancer support group for children who have/is battling cancer.  While there she meets Augustus Waters, a cancer survivor and hott guy, who just so happens to be into her.  Together they battle things that young people shouldn't have to battle.

This is a great book!  I cried a lot while reading this book.  I probably wouldn't use it in a class lesson, but would encourage students to read it for pleasure.

Websites
http://johngreenbooks.com/the-fault-in-our-stars/
http://www.us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780525478812,00.html

http://www.oprah.com/book/The-Fault-in-Our-Stars

And for fun...here are some really cool YouTubers to follow!

Nerdfighters!!!

The Secret of the Old Clock

The Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene

Nancy Drew never gets old!  This story is about 18 year old Nancy Drew.  In this story, Nancy meets the Turner sisters.  Two sisters who are very poor. While talking to the sisters, Nancy discovers a relative that promised to keep the Turner family in money, but he actually left his money to a snobby family whom he didn't like. Nancy goes on a mission to uncover why the relative didn't leave money to the Turners like he said he would.

This is a fun read and would be a good book to teach predictability.

South Carolina Standard

Standard 4-1 The student will read and comprehend a variety of literary texts in print and nonprint formats.
4-1.2 Analyze literary texts to draw conclusions and make inferences.

For this activity, the students would read the first few chapters of The Secret of the Old Clock independently, then the students would get into literature circles and make inferences about what will happen next.

Websites
http://www.herinteractive.com/index.php  *great games for kids

http://nancydrew.com/  *fan based website, but cool

http://nancydrewsleuth.com/ *love this website

Skippyjon Jones

Skippyjon Jones  by Judy Schachner

Skippyjon Jones is a delightful story of a Siamese cat that thinks he is a Chihuahua!  Throughout the first book in the series, we learn that Skippyjon Jones has a very vivid imagination.  He runs wild with a pack of chihuahua friends.  In his first adventure he rescues his friends from a huge bumblebeeto, "bumblebee."

This book is a fun read aloud, but can be tricky.  The words are a bit tongue-twistery and difficult to say.

South Carolina State Standard


Standard K-1 The student will begin to read and comprehend a variety of literary texts in print and nonprint formats.

K-1.3 Understand that a narrator tells the story.

A great activity to go along with the following standard and indicator would be to read the book aloud to the class and listen for the narrator of the book.   Then have the students recall why they think Skippyjon is the narrator.  Record answers on a chart.

Websites



http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/preschool/animals.htm
http://mrskincaid.blogspot.com/2011/08/skippyjon-jones-class-action.html
http://kreativeinkinder.blogspot.com/2012/04/dude-its-me-skippito-and-freebie-too.html

If I Ran the Zoo

If I Ran the Zoo by Dr. Seuss

In this fantastical world of Dr. Seuss, young Gerald McGrew visits the zoo and decides that the normal zoo animals aren't as exciting as the animals that live in his head.  He plans out his zoo, McGrew Zoo is filled with animals such as, Iota and Obsk and Tufted Mazurka.  His imagination grows wild with his own zoo animals.

This is a great book to read to your class.  It's fun and entertaining and the children will love it! I would use this during a thematic unit for a study on animals.

South Carolina State Standard


Standard K-2: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the characteristics of organisms. (Life Science)

K-2.2 Identify examples of organisms and nonliving things.

In my classroom, we would do a shared reading of If I Ran the Zoo by Dr. Seuss, then we would discuss the  kinds of animals we would put in our own zoo.  The students would cut animal pictures out of magazines and glue them to a piece of paper, then glue bars over the animals that resembles a zoo.  Talk about the animals chosen and the things you would need to take care of the animals.



Websites
http://www.seussville.com/books/book_detail.php?isbn=9780394800813

www.scholastic.com

www.teachingheart.com

Here is a sweet video from YouTube.

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume

In this story, Peter is so upset with his little brother, "Fudge."  Fudge is always getting into trouble, throwing temper tantrums and basically getting his way, but Peter is the one who ALWAYS get's blamed for Fudge's behavior. One day Peter win's a turtle at a friend's birthday party, but when Fudge gets a hold of it...well, let's just say it's a whole different ballgame.

This is a fun story that children will love!  I would probably use it during a unit about family or cooperation.

South Carolina State Standard for Social Studies


Standard 1-1: The student will demonstrate an understanding of how individuals, families, and communities live and work together here and across the world.


1-1.4 Compare the daily life of families across the world—including the roles of men, women, and children; typical food, clothes, and style of homes; and the ways the families earn their living.




After reading aloud Tale of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume, the students would make a graphic organizer describing the Hatchers' family life expressed in the book and their own family life.  Then the students would compare the similarities and differences.

Websites

http://judyblume.com/books/fudge/tales.php

http://www.tips-for-teachers.com/TalesofaFourthGradeNothing.htm


http://www.readkiddoread.com/book/331

Mr. Popper's Penguins

Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater

This is a story about a man who loves to read about the south pole and he recieves a penguin as a pet. He eventually ends up with more penguins and with the responsibilty comes funny incidences.

This is a great read for a good laugh.  The kids will like the short, choppy diaglouge as well as the simple text.  I found this particular book interesting because the author had a stroke while writing the book and his wife had to finish the book for her husband. Originally published in 1938, it's a great addition to any classroom or home library.

South Carolina State Standard


Standard 3-1 The student will read and comprehend a variety of literary texts in print and nonprint formats.


3-1.1 Analyze the details that support the expression of the main idea in a given literary text.




This would be a great book to add to the text set of a Science Thematic Unit about Penguins!  In my classroom, I would do a shared reading of Mr. Popper's Penguins.  Then students would listen to the story, then respond in their reading journals.  In the journal, the students would retell, predict and summarize the chapters read.

Websites

www.readwritethink.org

http://pinterest.com/batsyrsd/mr-popper-s-penguins/

http://www.sweetonbooks.com/all-titles/649-mr-poppers-penguins.html