Dawn Little's Blog, page 11
October 29, 2012
The Art of Miss Chew by Patricia Polacco
Recommended Grades: 4-6
This is the heartwarming story of how Patricia Polacco discovered she was an artist, a story that shows just how important a teacher can be in a child’s life.
Lesson Idea:
Memoir Mentor Text: Read aloud The Art of Miss Chew and discuss the autobiographical aspects of the story in a study of memoir mentor texts. Use several of Polacco’s books in an author study of memoir writing. Other books by Polacco about inspirational teachers taken from her life are Junkyard Wonders
and Thank You, Mr. Falker.
©2012 by Dawn Little for Picture This! Teaching with Picture Books. All Amazon links are affiliate links and may result in my receiving a small commission. This is at no additional cost to you.
Filed under: memoir, teaching with picture books, The Art of Miss Chew by Patricia Polacco Tagged: memoir mentor texts, The Art of Miss Chew by Patricia Polacco
October 22, 2012
Wumbers by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Recommended Grades: 4-6
So what is a wumber? It’s words cre8ted with numbers! A fun look at mixing words and numbers to create a wumber. Wumbers
is a fun story to read with our texting generation.
Lesson Idea:
Writers Workshop: Read aloud Wumbers and look at all the words that the author created using a mixture of numbers and letters. Encourage students to notice the sounds the numbers make, as that is really how to mix the two together. Brainstorm a list of words that can be created using wumbers. Ask students to write their own wumber story.
©2012 by Dawn Little for Picture This! Teaching with Picture Books. All Amazon links are affiliate links and may result in my receiving a small commission. This is at no additional cost to you.
Filed under: writers workshop, Wumbers by Amy Krouse Rosenthal Tagged: writers workshop, Wumbers by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
October 15, 2012
A Poem as Big as New York City: Little Kids Write about the Big Apple Edited by Teachers & Writers Collaborative
Recommended Grades: K -12
A fantastic celebration of the wonder that is New York, as told in the words of its children. The foreword by Walter Dean Myers and edited by Teachers and Writers Collaborative, this collaboration is part of an unprecedented series of workshops in which New York city public school students were challenged to write about what it is like to live, learn, and play in New York City. The result is nothing short of magical.
Lesson Idea:
Poetry/Word Choice: Read aloud A Poem as Big as New York City: Little Kids Write About the Big Apple and use it as a model text for writing poetry. This mythical poem takes shape in the form of a “person” who takes us through the five boroughs of New York City. Readers can feel, smell, taste, hear, and see what New York is all about through the eyes of children. Images and words dance, jump and stroll down crowded sidewalks—through the “bongo beats,” “pitter-patter,” and “Zoom! Whoosh!” – and take the reader far and wide across the city, to such places as the South Street Seaport, The Statue of Liberty, The Apollo Theater, and both ways across the Brooklyn Bridge.
This is a fantastic book to read aloud simply to hear various techniques of poetry. Or use it as a model text for word choice in poetry, discussing the onomatopoeia that the reader hears and how the choice of words really makes the poem come alive.
I am absolutely in awe of this book and so proud of the accomplishments of the students of public schools in New York City. This book should be on the shelves of teachers of every age and should be read aloud often in classrooms across our country.
©2012 by Dawn Little for Picture This! Teaching with Picture Books. All Amazon links are affiliate links and may result in my receiving a small commission. This is at no additional cost to you.
Filed under: A Poem as Big as New York City, Poetry, six traits of writing, teaching with picture books, word choice Tagged: A Poem as Big as New York City, Poetry, six traits of writing, word choice
October 8, 2012
The Year comes Round: Haiku through the Seasons by Sid Farrar
Recommended Grades: K-5
Simply written, this book of haiku takes readers through the seasons from January to December.
Lesson Idea:
Poetry: Read aloud The Year Comes Round: Haiku through the Seasons and use it as a model text for writing poetry, specifically haiku. Use the organization as a model for students. Choose a topic and after a study of haiku, have students write their own haiku related to the topic for a class anthology book.
©2012 by Dawn Little for Picture This! Teaching with Picture Books. All Amazon links are affiliate links and may result in my receiving a small commission. This is at no additional cost to you.
Filed under: Poetry, teaching with picture books, The Year Comes Round Tagged: haiku, Poetry, The Year Comes Round
October 1, 2012
Grandfather’s Journey by Allen Say
Recommended Grades: 3-5
Using his grandfather’s story as a backdrop, Say bridges the gap between two cultures, Japanese and American. He tells the story of his grandfather who learned to love both cultures and invariably miss one when he was living in the other country.
Lesson Idea:
Content Connections/Immigration/Multiple perspectives: Read aloud Grandfather’s Journey and discuss how the author and his grandfather’s perspective are both evident. Use this as a model text to determine how one might feel when immigrating to a new country.
©2012 by Dawn Little for Picture This! Teaching with Picture Books. All Amazon links are affiliate links and may result in my receiving a small commission. This is at no additional cost to you.
Filed under: Content Connections, Grandfather's Journey, immigration, multiple perspectives, teaching with picture books Tagged: content connections, Grandfather's Journey, immigration, multiple perspectives
September 24, 2012
Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin
Recommended Grades: 3-5
Snow in Vermont is as common as dirt. Why would anyone want to photograph it? But from the time he was a small boy, Wilson Bentley thinks of the icy crystals as small miracles, and he determines that one day his camera will capture for others their extraordinary beauty.
Lesson Idea:
Embedded Nonfiction Mentor Text: Read aloud Snowflake Bentley and discuss how the author told a story, but embedded true information throughout. Use this book as a model for students as they write their own informational pieces. Perhaps students can write in narrative form with true information embedded throughout.
©2012 by Dawn Little for Picture This! Teaching with Picture Books. All Amazon links are affiliate links and may result in my receiving a small commission. This is at no additional cost to you.
Filed under: narrative nonfiction, nonfiction, nonfiction writing, Snowflake Bentley, teaching with picture books, writers workshop Tagged: narrative nonfiction, nonfiction writing, Snowflake Bentley, writers workshop
September 17, 2012
One Cool Friend by Toni Buzzeo
Recommended Grades: 3-5
What would you do if you met your ideal pet? Elliot asks his father if he can have a penguin during a visit to the aquarium. This begins a silly tale of an irresistible friendship.
Lesson Idea:
Six Traits Mentor Text/Conventions or Organization: Read aloud One Cool Friend and discuss how the author/illustrator modeled the use of dialogue. The author actually uses dialogue bubbles embedded within the text. Additionally, this book would be a great model text for surprise endings.
©2012 by Dawn Little for Picture This! Teaching with Picture Books. All Amazon links are affiliate links and may result in my receiving a small commission. This is at no additional cost to you.
Filed under: conventions, dialogue, One Cool Friend, organization, six traits of writing, surprise endings, teaching with picture books Tagged: conventions, dialogue, One Cool Friend, organization, six traits of writing, surprise endings
September 10, 2012
Dear Benjamin Banneker by Andrea Davis Pinkney
Recommended Grades: 3-5
A picture book biography of Benjamin Banneker, who was born free when most blacks were still enslaved. An accomplished astronomer and mathematician, author of the first published almanac by a black man, Banneker decided to take a stand against slavery. This is a story of his correspondence with Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson.
Lesson Idea:
Biography Mentor Text: Read aloud Dear Benjamin Banneker and discuss the components of the biography. Biographies can take many shapes and this one is written in part through actual letters. Connect this book with Molly Bannaky. Use this book as a model during a study of biographies or during a study of history.
©2012 by Dawn Little for Picture This! Teaching with Picture Books. All Amazon links are affiliate links and may result in my receiving a small commission. This is at no additional cost to you.
Filed under: biographies, civil rights, Content Connections, Dear Benjamin Banneker, teaching with picture books Tagged: biography mentor texts, civil rights, content connections, Dear Benjamin Banneker, picture book biographies
September 3, 2012
Molly Bannaky by Alice McGill
Recommended Grades: 3-5
A picture book biography of Molly Walsh, a young English dairymaid brought before the court in 1683 for stealing milk. She was sentenced to work as an indentured servant in an American colony. This becomes a story of a remarkable woman and her courage, determination, and vision (and a surprise connection to a historical figure).
Lesson Idea:
Biography Mentor Text: Read aloud Molly Bannaky and discuss the components of the biography and the surprise ending (Molly’s connection to a historical figure). Use this book as a model during a study of biographies or during a study of history.
©2012 by Dawn Little for Picture This! Teaching with Picture Books. All Amazon links are affiliate links and may result in my receiving a small commission. This is at no additional cost to you.
Filed under: biographies, Content Connections, teaching with picture books Tagged: biographies, content connections, Molly Bannaky
August 27, 2012
Saturdays and Teacakes by Lester Laminack
Recommended Grades: 3-5
A memoir of the author’s weekly Saturday visit with his grandmother. The author’s voice is prominent throughout.
Lesson Idea:
Writers Workshop:
Memoir/Voice Mentor Text: Read aloud Saturdays and Teacakes and discuss how the author’s voice comes through in the text. Use this book as model during a study of memoirs or as a model text for writers workshop when students are writing their own memoirs or when they need a model for voice in a memoir.
©2012 by Dawn Little for Picture This! Teaching with Picture Books. All Amazon links are affiliate links and may result in my receiving a small commission. This is at no additional cost to you.
Filed under: memoir, Saturdays and Teacakes by Lester Laminack, teaching with picture books, voice, writers workshop Tagged: memoirs, Saturdays and Teacakes by Lester Laminack, writing workshop
