Mrs. Yusko Reads
Reading: Mischief and the Magical Librarian
Great Books for Back to School!
Here are just some of my favorite new books that take place in a school, or that should be on your radar for your classroom library.
Kindergarten - 3rd grades:
We Don't Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins
I Walk with Vanessa by Kerascoet
Turning Pages by Sonia Sotomayor (see below)
The Day War Came by Nicola Davies
The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld
Twig by Aura Parker
The Word Collector by Peter H. Reynolds
4th- 7th grades
Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson
Out of Left Field by Ellen Klages
Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World by Ashley Herring Black
Mascot by Antony John
The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty
The Hyena Scientist by Sy Montgomery (see below)
8th-12th grades
Listen to Your Heart by Kasie West
What I Leave Behind by Alison McGhee
Between the Lines by Nikki Grimes
Heretics Anonymous by Katie Henry
The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
The Girl Who Drew Butterflies by Joyce Sidman
I might just have to record a webinar about these...stay tuned to the website (and see below for details).
Happy Reading!
Curriculum Corner: #classroombookaday
I think it's important to share picture books with my middle school classes. It gives them multiple opportunities each week to engage in complete stories, mentor writing, and shared reading experiences. We get to experience the joy of stories together as a classroom community...and because I teach all the middle school students in the building, it helps us build shared reading experiences across the school!
The first 5 stories I shared this school year:
It's a Book by Lane Smith
We Don't Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins
I Just Ate My Friend by Heidi McKinnon
Enemy Pie by Derek Munson
Mother Bruce by Ryan T. Higgins
Here are two added benefits that I've discovered:
1) Students wanting to borrow the books to read to their younger siblings (HOORAY!)
2) Students making connections between the stories (several have pointed out that Penelope from "We Don't Eat Our Classmates" should read "I Just Ate My Friend" to understand why she shouldn't eat her classmates). We have decided that we should start recommending picture books to current characters in our free choice reading books!
Follow @mrsyuskolibrary on social media in order to see the other picture books we read in class this year!
10 Word Book Blurb
Here is my #10wordbookblurb for this new book:
Turn the page: books inspire dreams and show the possibilities.
Turning Pages: my life story by Sonia Sotomayor. Illustrated by Lulu Delacre. Philomel Books, 2018. Grades K-5.
Nonfiction Friday
Each year, the series introduces us to 3-4 scientists conducting research out in the field. Many elementary libraries have this series on their shelf and the terrific photographs (often of animals) appeal to the 3rd-5th grade readers. However, I have found that these books are best utilized in a classroom or library serving 6th-10th graders. The concepts, vocabulary, and reading level of most of the books in the series are most in line with older readers.
One of the latest books in the series is "The Hyena Scientist" by Sy Montgomery (who is AMAZING), with photographs by Nic Bishop (also AMAZING)...it's like a narrative nonfiction dream team!
This book is engaging and browsable for students, especially those interested in animal studies...even those animals that get a bad rap (think The Lion King). There are also many activities across the curriculum that this book could be used for:
1) discussion of stories/folktales about hyenas. Why are they often portrayed as the villain? Watch clips from The Lion King.
2) discussion of "first impressions" or making assumptions about something based on gossip.
3) what other animals have a "bad" reputation? Why?
4) write a poem/story/song that teaches younger students about the hyena. Re-write a scene from The Lion King.
5) compare the scientist in this story to Jane Goodall (or other female scientists).
You can find many other curriculum uses in the extensive teachers guide, available on the series website linked above. (FYI, all the books in the series have an accompanying teachers guide).
On a side note, the other two books in the series published in 2018 are: The Orca Scientists and Backyard Bears. Yes, you will want them all.
The 9/11 Essay You Need to Read
Show the video linked at the end of the essay to your students. You could pair it with "Fireboat" by Maira Kalman if you are participating in #classroombookaday.
Magical Librarian in Action
I love wearing this shirt (or it's companion, the 2020 updated version) when I do booktalks to students. I am able to spot my fellow Harry Potter nerds right away.
Want to know what books I'm promoting to these students? I will be posting webinars of these booktalk presentations (8th grade, 9th/10th grade, 11th/12th grade) on my website this weekend. If you are a paid subscriber, you will get free access to these and all my webinars all year long. You can watch them from the comfort of your living room, view them with your colleagues, or even show them to your classes. This is great if there is not a BER seminar in your area, or you just don't have the PD budget to attend.
I post booktalks (designed to be shown to students, see the sample "Summer Reading" ones currently posted), as well as webinars throughout the school designed for teacher/librarian/administrator viewing (it's like getting my full-day seminar in smaller chunks throughout the school year...at a greatly discounted price). Checkout the subscriber page for information...there are levels for all budgets. And the "Teacher" rate is ON SALE through 9/30/18.
I am also happy to customize a webinar for your class/staff or do a Skype booktalk session. Contact me for details and pricing. (Feel free to fill out this form at the bottom of the website home page).