Wake Up Missing

Let's just say, I am a huge fan of Kate Messner.  I read The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z. a couple years ago, and I thought, "This is an author I need to have on the shelves of my classroom".  Kate Messner "gets" kids.  As a former teacher, she knows how kids sound and how kids act.  All of her books have such real and believable characters.  I recently read her book Eye of the Storm (review here) and loved it.  And when I heard that there was another science-based novel coming out, I knew I had to read it ASAP.  Thankfully, my friend Stephanie sent me an ARC to read.

Cat has had a life-changing concussion.  She has lingering headaches, trouble focusing, and dizziness.  She is unable to do many of the outdoor activities that she has loved her whole life.  When she and her mother learn about a cutting edge brain-injury center in the Florida Everglades, they jump at the chance to send her.  Cat is nervous for her mom to leave her, but she really wants to get better.  When she arrives, she meets three other kids her age who are also being treated for similar brain injuries.  Things look great at the start, state of the art labs, two smart doctors, kids who say they feel better already.  But Cat is observant.  She notices everything.  She starts to get a funny feeling when she learns about two other kids who are supposedly there, but she never sees them.  She overhears the doctors talking about the DNA of dead scientists and a girl who isn't getting better.  Cat knows something is up and has to convince the others that things might not be what they seem.

Just like Eye of the Storm, this book is fast-paced and exciting.  I read it in one sitting and was sad for it to end.  Kate Messner does a fabulous job researching her books...this book taught me about the science of brain injury and also a lot about the Florida Everglades.  I hope she has some more of these sci-fi type novels to come!

This books comes out on September 10th!  I can't wait to get a copy for my classroom!

Here are some other Kate Messer books I love:

Capture the Flag

Over and Under the Snow

Marty McGuire

Real Revision

Have you read Wake Up Missing?  I'd love to hear what you think!

Slice of Life #1

Ruth and Stacey host Slice of Life on their blog, Two Writing Teachers, every Tuesday.  Head on over for some fantastic posts!

Confession:  I am a lurker.  I have spent months (years?) lurking around Slice of Life posts.  I am the kid in my classroom who never has anything to write about.  I love to read.  I love people who write.  But, writing is so hard for me.  This summer, Christopher Lehman visited my school district.  He told us, "the single most important thing we can do to help our kids write is to be a writer ourselves."

**cringe**

In an attempt to live the life of a writer, I started this blog.  I decided to write about books because that is where I am comfortable.  I LOVE to read books.  I know things about books.  I like to motivate others to read books.  I think I have done a good job, and I now have some "writer's life" type things to share with my students.

BUT today is different.  As I went about my business after school, a SLICE OF LIFE post came to me!  So here it is...my first Slice of Life.

Running.
Running is my nemesis.
I used to be good at it, really good at it.
I spent years of my life running...
around the bases on the softball field,
up and down the soccer field,
from Start to Finish around the track.
I used to be good at it, really, really good at it.

But now, not so much.
Recently, Joey and I have taken up running again.
We should do it.
We need to do it.
We are slowly getting back in the groove, together.

But today, he's not home.
In the car, I think
I'll get home and do a quick run.
But then the traffic hits.
And I start yawning.
Oh, and I forgot I have to return an overdue library book.
(The Day the Crayons Quit).

I get home.
There is no one to push me.
I could just sit down.
I might just sit down.
But I don't.
I lace up my shoes.  I'll do a quick one.
I head out.
And
start
running.

And it's hot.  So hot.
I think my car said 90 degrees.
I'll make it quick.
My legs move faster.  I feel better.
Maybe I'll go farther I think.

I pass the spot where we turned yesterday.
I go up one more street.
I could turn around.
I want to turn around.
But instead, I run up the hill.
When I get to the top, it will all be downhill from here.
Halfway up, I might die.  I think I am dying.
When I get to the top, it will all be downhill from here.
I am barely moving.  I'll stop at the top.
When I get to the top, it will all be downhill from here.
I
finally
make
it.
It's all downhill from here.

And I don't stop.
I run down the hill...
turn right at the light...
down some more...
cross the bridge...
and I've done it.

I smile the rest of the way home.

Solve It Your Way: Which Type of Ball Can Roll The Farthest?

Last week, I wrote about some of the big ideas that I wanted to explore with my class this school year. Some words that floated around in my head included:  creativity, open-minded, thinking, inquiring, cooperation, risk-taking, perseverance.  I want my classroom to be a place where each child feels comfortable trying new things and knows that they will be supported no matter what.

One of the activities I started our year with was "Solve It Your Way".  I read about Solve It Your Way this summer on one of my favorite blogs, A Year of Reading.  The premise behind this project is that kids are given a question...and that's about it.  We give kids time to think, ponder, chat, discover, and reflect on the question.  Then they try some experiments.  Then they come back together and talk about what worked and what didn't.

I thought this fit in perfectly with our "theme" for the year.  Here's how my classroom approached Solve It Your Way:

Since it was the first week of school, I thought this would be a great project for me to observe how kids worked together and what they knew about putting together projects and experiments.  I put my kids into 5 random groups.  I put the question up on the board:  Which Type of Ball Can Roll The Farthest?

I gave groups several minutes to chat.  Then we came back together and we looked at the Questions to Ask Yourself part of the website.  From that point on, groups had time to brainstorm and plan.  Here are some of our brainstorming charts:

The next day, the kids came prepared to experiment.  I never imagined the sheer volume of balls that would enter my classroom.  Everything from the smallest marble to a plethora of bouncy balls to baseballs to water polo balls to soccer balls to basketballs to an enormous pink I don't even know what kind of ball.

We went out on the playground armed with yardsticks, tape measures, clipboards, and of course all of our balls.  Right away, it was interesting to see where each group gravitated.  Most groups wanted flat ground.  Several groups were interested in how the balls would roll on different terrain:  grass, mulch, dirt.  Despite our discussion about how one of our challenges would be pushing each ball with the same amount of force, only one group decided to use a ramp (the twisty slide on the playground).

The kids spent about 45 minutes experimenting and gathering data. 

After our experiments, we went back inside and debriefed.  We talked about how scientists use their data and results to draw conclusions.  We also talked about how scientists reflect and think about what they would change the next time they tried an experiment.  The kids made some posters about their process, results and conclusions.  

This was such a fun project.  We are looking forward to spending time each month Solving It Our Way!  

First Week Read Alouds

You can probably tell by the lack of posts recently that I have started school again.  Every year I think, "Oh, it's not such a big deal to start back.  It'll be easier this year."  But going into my 12th year teaching, I put just as much, if not more, effort into planning and preparing for those first few days.  The first few days of school scare me more than any other days of the year.  I am a creature of habit.  I crave routine.  And there is NOTHING routine about those first days.

But now, I've gotten through it.  I actually have to say that these first few days were some of my best ever.  Despite being a creature of habit, I always want to find the newest and most interesting activities for my kids to set off the school year.  This year, I did several new things that worked out really well.  I thought I'd share some of these activities over the next few days.

This summer I made an effort to read more picture books.  I went well over my book-a-day goal due to this fact.  I wanted to start the year thinking about working together to be creative, open-minded, risk-takers, inquirers, and thinkers.  I chose three picture books for the first three days that revolved around this theme.

First, we read On a Beam of Light:  A Story of Albert Einstein by Jennifer Berne.  We talked about living a life that was filled with wonder and thinking.  We talked about asking questions and how to find the answers.  We talked about how some questions may not have answers and that is okay too.

On the second day, we read Mr. Flux by Kyo Maclear.  We talked about the importance of trying new things and being open to ideas that might be different from ours.  We also talked about how we are all awesome just the way we are :)

On the third day, we read Papa's Mechanical Fish by Candace Fleming.  This book led us into discussions about never giving up, growing ideas by collaborating with others, and revising our thinking.

After we had read all three books, we made a chart of the things we had learned that we can carry with us for the rest of the year.  Here were some of our ideas:

* A brilliant invention can come from anyone at anytime.
* Never give up on the things you want.
* Talk to others and share ideas.
*Any goal can be conquered when you put your mind to it.
*It's okay to be different.
*Change can be a good thing.
*Be unique.
*Be yourself.
*Keep reading, wondering, thinking.
*Be curious about the world around you.

I think those are some great reminders to have posted in our classroom this year!

Our first novel read aloud is Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein.  I think we will be able to continue our discussions about problem solving and working with others as we read that book as well!

Have you read and enjoyed any of these books?  My students and I would love to know what you think!

Picture Book 10 for 10

A Mix of Fiction and Nonfiction Picture Books That Fifth Graders Love

Today I am joining Picture Book 10 for 10 for the first time! I have read and enjoyed these posts the past couple of summers. I am excited to share books I love to read in my fifth grade classroom. Head on over to Cathy Mere's blog, Reflect & Refine, or Mandy Robek's blog, Enjoy and Embrace Learning to see what books other people are reading and loving right now!

Roxaboxen by Alice McLerran

This book is one of my favorite read alouds.  I read it each year when we talk about writing memoir.  It reminds me of playing with my sister when I was little.  We had a huge yard, with huge trees.  And, therefore, tons of leaves in the fall.  We would rake paths and create a town, complete with a jail if anyone would run too fast on the streets.

I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen

 

This is an obvious choice (along with its companion This Is Not My Hat).  But, it’s true, my fifth graders could listen to this one over and over again.  I personally love the second book even more than the first.  That little fish gets me every time.

Animals should definitely not wear clothing. by Judi Barrett

Laurel Snyder, author of Bigger than a Breadbox, read this book to my class when she Skyped with us for World Read Aloud Day. I had never heard of it, but my kids were screaming with laughter. And it truly is hilarious. Who doesn't want to see why animals should definitely NOT wear clothing???

Tikki Tikki Tembo by Arlene Mosell

I mean, come on, who doesn’t love saying Tikki Tikki Tembo’s name! If you don't know, it is Tikki tikki tembo-no sa rembo-chari bari ruchi-pip peri pembo!  My class always loves trying to say his name along with me.  It’s always a favorite for sharing with 1st grade buddies after we read it in class.

The Sweetest Fig by Chris Van Allsburg

This is a book with a main character you love to hate.  Monsieur Bibot is selfish, rude, and cruel to his poor pup.  Kids are always confused for a moment, but then love the twist at the end.  And I do too!  

The Curious Garden by Peter Brown

First off, anything Peter Brown does is AMAZING.  This is a quiet book about how one person can make a difference.  It leads to great discussion about doing your part to care for our environment.  But more than that, it’s just a great story with wonderful illustrations.  Love, love, love this one!

If You Lived Here:  Houses of the World by Giles Laroche

A wonderful nonfiction book about how people live around the world. I love the collage illustrations of all of the different homes. Each page has a paragraph that starts with, "If you lived here, you..." It tells why this house worked well for the people who built it. Under the paragraph are fascinating facts about when and where these homes were built and what they would be made of. It is a great mentor text for hybrid (narrative/expository) nonfiction.

My Librarian Is A Camel by Margriet Ruurs

This book is a great companion to If You Lived Here.  Kids love to see how things work in other parts of the world.  This books shows how kids around the world get access to books. In the northern regions of Canada, kids can request books via email or phone and a library far away will mail them books to keep for 6 weeks. In Finland, a boat brings books from one island to the next. In Kenya, camels bring books to remote villages. Another great hybrid non-fiction mentor text. After reading the information about the books, there is a box or two with a map and more information about that country.

Can We Save the Tiger? by Martin Jenkins

This is a quiet, but hugely powerful book.  I think you can hear a pin drop when I read it aloud.  This book shows kids a range of animals...those that are currently endangered, those that we will never see again, as well as those that we are slowly bringing back from extinction by raising awareness.  Amazing illustrations and another great mentor text for weaving narrative nonfiction with facts.

Balloons Over Broadway:  The True Story of the Puppeteer of the Macy’s Parade by Melissa Sweet

I love sharing a book that shows creativity at work.  Kids have all seen the huge balloons in parades, but they don’t think about how the balloons came to be.  In addition to learning about Tony Sarg, the collage illustrations are fabulous.  Lots of kids pick this one up afterwards to examine the pictures up close...every time you look, you see something new. This book won the 2012 Mock Caldecott in my classroom.

Oh Rats!  The Story of Rats and People by Albert Marrin

Confession:  I haven’t actually shared this book with fifth graders yet.  But I am adding it because I think it is going to be a huge hit with them!  I read this book this summer and reviewed it here.  Anyone who thought they knew a thing or two about rats (or anyone who never wanted to learn a thing or two about rats) will learn a ton in this slightly creepy book.

Whoops, I think I shared 11 books.  I’m sure no one will mind!

Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library

Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein is truly a book for all book lovers.  As I read, I thought I should be making a list of all the references to famous books in this story.  I can imagine the kids in my class raising their hands and their faces lighting up as they make literary connections throughout this book.  Mr. Lemoncello's library will go on my list of places I wish I could visit in books.  Other places on this list include Diagon Alley, Hogwarts, and the magical and mysterious forest in Breadcrumbs.

Mr. Lemoncello lived for his small town library.  It was an escape for him as a child and a place where his imagination could run wild.  As he grew older, he became an eccentric multi-millionaire creating all sorts of board games, trivia games, and video games for kids and adults.  He is basically a Willy Wonka for the gaming industry.

Twelve years before this story begins, his library was torn down to build a parking garage.  Mr. Lemoncello decides to build the most amazing, state-of-the-art library to replace it.  It is so secretive that different crews of workers are hired for short bursts of time and none of them know what the other is working on.  In celebration of the opening of his library, there is a contest.  Twelve 12-year-olds have an opportunity to win a night in the library!  

Kyle Keeley, whose family has sort of an obsession with games, nearly forgets to enter the essay contest.  He makes it in by the skin of his teeth and ends up with one of the coveted spots.  The twelve kids soon find out that this is not your ordinary library...and this was not your ordinary contest.  They find themselves in a race against the clock to get OUT of the library...for a very handsome prize awaits those who succeed.

I think this book will make a fantastic read aloud for my fifth graders.  I am actually thinking of starting my year off with it.  I love that the reader can play along and try to solve the puzzles along with the characters in the story.  

Have you read Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library?  I'd love to hear what you think!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

I'm joining Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers in sharing my reading this week.  Head on over to their blogs to see what others are reading and link up your own post!

I have had an awesome last couple weeks of reading!  I was on such a reading high after The Real Boy and Wake Up Missing that I actually had a hard time deciding what to read next.  I bounced around a little bit before getting back into my groove.  Here are the books I have read and enjoyed the last two weeks!

Middle Grade Books

The Real Boy by Anne Ursu (review here)

Wake Up Missing by Kate Messner 

I loved this book...as I do everything Kate Messner has written.  I wrote a review, but I am going to post it closer to the release date in September.  I was lucky enough to borrow an ARC of the two books above, but that is usually not the case.  I always get frustrated reading about books that I can't get my hands on yet!  (But I was so excited about The Real Boy that I posted that one already!)

This Journal Belongs to Ratchet by Nancy J. Cavanaugh (review here)

  

Bomb by Steve Sheinkin (review here)

Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein

I am going to review this one on Wednesday.  I think I have decided to use it as my first read aloud of the year!

Picture Book

The Matchbox Diary by Paul Fleischman

This book will be fantastic to share with my fifth graders when we think about writing memoir.  A great-grandfather uses small items in a memory box to tell his granddaughter stories about his life.  I don't teach an immigration unit, but it would be great for that as well.

Adult Book

The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith (aka J.K. Rowling)

I am not a big fan of murder mysteries...but learning that J.K. Rowling  had a new book out?  I had to read it!  I was actually on Twitter when this news came out...I quick clicked over to my Worthington Library App and requested it.  I was number 4 on the list...and when I picked it up this week, there were over 1,000 requests for it!  I was actually very proud of myself for my quick thinking.  This was a FANTASTIC book!  I am looking forward to the next book starring Cormoran Strike!