Classroom Reads Part II

This is the reading list for grades 5-8.  As I've stated before, please feel free to email me any other amazing reads for any grade level.

Grades 5-8

• Tuesday's at the Castle (5th)-series
• Circus Mirandus (5th)
• Out of my Mind (5th)
• The Misadventures of Maude March (5th)
• A Single Shard (5th)
• The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle (5th)
• Amelia Lost!: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart (5th)- non-fiction text
• Wonder (5th)
• Number the Stars (5th)
• Esperanza Rising (5th)

• Tuck Everlasting (6th)
• The Thing About Jelly Fish (6th)
• Holes (6th)
• Upside Down in the Middle of Nowhere (6th)
• Where the Red Fern Grows (6/7th)
• The War That Saved My Life (8th)
• Chains (8th)

Great Classroom Reads

Is there anything better than diving into a great book with your students?  I am listing some books that have been recommended by other teachers as well as myself.  Teachers will refer to some of these books as core novels/texts. You might use the books for students to read independently or as instructional texts. 

Picture Books

• The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore
• Sam and Dave Dig a Hole
• The Adventures of Beekle
• Mother Goose Bruce
• I am a Story
• A Child of Books
• What to do With an Idea
• What to do With a Problem
• Finding Winnie
• How to Train a Train
• Aberdeen
• Choose Your Days
• The Giving Tree
• Rosie Revere, Engineer
• Iggy Peck, Architect
• Ada Twist, Scientist
• The Invisible Boy
• The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles
• The Dark
• The Not So Quiet Library

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Grades 3-4

• Gooney Bird Greene (3rd) series
• The Hundred Dresses (3rd)
• Riding Freedom (3rd)
• Frank Einstein and the Anti-Matter Motor (3rd)
• My Father's Dragon (3rd)
• The Year of Billy Miller (3rd)
• Because of Winn Dixie (3rd)
• Fantastic Mr. Fox (3rd)
• Ruby Lu Empress of Everything (3rd)
• Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things (3rd/4th)

        

• The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane (4th)
• Mr. Popper's Penguins (4th)
• The One and Only Ivan (4th)
• Al Capone Does my Shirts (4th)
• Rules (4th)
• Turtle in Paradise (4th)
• The Ballad of Lucy Whipple (4th)
• Fish in a Tree (4th)
• El Deafo (4th)
• Bridge to Terabithia (4/5th)
• By the Great Horn Spoon (4/5th)

Writing Done Right

I'm excited to announce my writing curriculum is now on Amazon.  The book is available in paperback or on Kindle.

Writing Done Right is suited for teachers, parents, homeschoolers, or anybody that would like a comprehensive writing curriculum that teaches students to meet the rigor of current writing standards with flair and style.

Successful Summer Writing Camp

I'd like to thank the amazing parents and students for a successful Killeen Up Your Writing Summer Camp!

We covered opinion, informational, and narrative text types.  In addition, the students learned about author's craft, descriptive writing, and so much more.

The informational piece on "Pokemon Go" was a huge hit!

I am proud of what they accomplished.  They rocked!

I look forward to more sessions next summer!

The First Draft is From the Heart

I was flipping through the channels a few weeks back and noticed we had free HBO. You heard me! I'm sure I'm paying for it in one way, shape, or form, but I figured I'd scroll through to see what was on. I stumbled upon Finding Forrester with Sean Connery.  I'm no movie buff, but I watched this years ago and found myself glued again for some reason. There were a few spoken lines that resonated with me. In fact, I ran over to my post-its and wrote them down.  

"The first draft is written from the heart and the second draft is written from the head!" These words sent goose bumps down my arms.  I missed this the first time through, but this makes total sense.  

How often do we just write about what we are feeling on a particular day? Sometimes my pen seems to do the thinking while my head plays catch up.  Has this happened to you?  

I have a quick challenge. Write what comes to mind for five minutes and see where it leads.  I bet you'll tap into something you never imagined.  You can do this as a parent, teacher, individually, or with your class.

Coming Soon...

Coming soon...Writing Done Right!  I’m happy to announce my writing curriculum is finished…at least on my end! I hit some bumps in the road, but that is typical for writing a book. The book should be on Amazon in about a month. Many of you have been quite supportive along this journey and I can’t thank you enough. 
Details to follow...

Memorial Day

The aroma from charcoal briquettes, lighter fluid, hamburgers, and sausages, wafting across countless backyard grills this weekend, coupled with laughter, and reunions, sets the tone for a fun-filled Memorial Day.  Simultaneously, whispering winds silently push across this vast nation we call home, as “Old Glory” adorns museums, fields, schools, buildings, and homes. 

As we celebrate this Memorial Day weekend, let’s think of those who have lost their voice, as they rest peacefully, in marked and unmarked monuments throughout this nation, as well as overseas. The fallen… names obscure, subtlety scrolls across our screens each night, or on local news channels, but trust me… entire communities and families know the sacrifice and their names. Tears cling to swollen cheeks, hugs last a little longer, memories fade, years roll along, and memorials are erected, but we wouldn’t sleep peacefully in our warm, secure beds without these heroes. 

Thank you to all the brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice to make our country what it is today!

God Bless America!