Upcoming Book Breakfast Titles

Just as I thought I had finished blogging for the day, I realized that I hadn't shared the upcoming titles for this year's Book Breakfasts!  Copies are on display in the library and students are welcome to check them out at any time.  They aren't obligated to attend the book discussion, but if they enjoyed the book and would like to, I have them sign up as soon as they finish reading.  I only have ten seats available at each breakfast.  This keeps the discussion intimate and everyone feels as if there's time to express their opinion.  I've never had a book breakfast that wasn't beneficial.  :)  And I have to officially state that I borrowed the idea from a 6th grade reading teacher here.  The only difference being I hold mine during 1st period and she held hers before school started.  But they're all fabulous!!!

December- Mockingbird by Erskine
January- Necessary Roughness by Lee
February- The Yearling by Rawls
March- Selling Hope by Tubbs
April- The Borrowers by Norton
May- Night by Elie Weisel

Looking forward to each and every one!

Happy Reading!
Join me!
RC

 

November Book Breakfast

 I cannot believe I forgot to blog about the November Book Breakfast held in the library on Friday, November 15th!  Have I really been that busy?  YES.

I had an awesome group of nine kids who enjoyed donuts and whole milk (book reference) while discussing Daniel Ehrenraft's science fiction novel, The Last Dog on Earth.  

I should probably tell you about all the poignant discussion topics and interesting character development epiphanies they had, but I won't.  I was most impressed at the amount of insight they showed to the author's purpose.  They were able to take the story beyond it's pages and apply it to their own experiences.  The students were critical of the author as well, often questioning why he chose to include certain characters or events.  But what blew me out of the water was an idea two of them had...

DJ wanted to show everyone his version of "Jack", the dog from the story.  So we all passed around pictures of our pets.  That started Colton thinking about the Humane Society, where he volunteers sometime on the weekends.  He suggested we take up food and treats for the animals.  What a fabulous idea!  So we agreed as a "reading community" to collect some items for a week, to see what we could get and that I would make sure the items were picked up.  

Pleased to say that not only did we benefit from this experience, but so did some precious animals at the Humane Society.  Kids amaze me daily.  Can't wait until next month when a new group comes together to discuss another book!  

Happy Reading!
RC

Thanksgiving Break Reading Stack

 My Thanksgiving Break plate is full of great books to read!  I'm starting with these four.  Two are young adult novels I've been dying to get to and one is an adult read loaned to me by a fellow reader/educator.  The final one is a women's devotional that I'll read a little every day.  It was a gift from a precious friend for the holiday season.  (What a good idea...give something they can enjoy all season long!  Never thought of that!)  What follows is a quick blurb about each just in case you'd like to join me.  :)

Champion by Marie Lu (taken from GoodReads)
The explosive finale to Marie Lu’s New York Times bestselling LEGEND trilogy—perfect for fans of THE HUNGER GAMES and DIVERGENT!

He is a Legend.
She is a Prodigy.
Who will be Champion?

June and Day have sacrificed so much for the people of the Republic—and each other—and now their country is on the brink of a new existence. June is back in the good graces of the Republic, working within the government’s elite circles as Princeps Elect while Day has been assigned a high level military position. But neither could have predicted the circumstances that will reunite them once again. Just when a peace treaty is imminent, a plague outbreak causes panic in the Colonies, and war threatens the Republic’s border cities. This new strain of plague is deadlier than ever, and June is the only one who knows the key to her country’s defense. But saving the lives of thousands will mean asking the one she loves to give up everything he has. With heart-pounding action and suspense, Marie Lu’s bestselling trilogy draws to a stunning conclusion.

 Divergent by Veronica Roth (taken from the blog, Book Monkey)

In sixteen-year-old Beatrice Prior’s world, society is divided into five factions – Abnegation (the selfless), Candor (the honest), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent) – each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue, in the attempt to form a “perfect society.” At the age of sixteen, teens must choose the faction to which they will devote their lives.
On her Choosing Day, Beatrice renames herself Tris, rejects her family’s group, and chooses another faction. After surviving a brutal initiation, Tris finds romance with a super-hot boy, but also discovers unrest and growing conflict in their seemingly “perfect society.” To survive and save those they love, they must use their strengths to uncover the truths about their identities, their families, and the order of their society itself.

 The Ocean at The End of The Lane by Neil Gaiman (taken from the website, The Book Depository)
THE OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE is a fable that reshapes modern fantasy: moving, terrifying and elegiac - as pure as a dream, as delicate as a butterfly's wing, as dangerous as a knife in the dark - from storytelling genius Neil Gaiman. It began for our narrator forty years ago when the family lodger stole their car and committed suicide in it, stirring up ancient powers best left undisturbed. Dark creatures from beyond this world are on the loose, and it will take everything our narrator has just to stay alive: there is primal horror here, and menace unleashed - within his family and from the forces that have gathered to destroy it. His only defense is three women, on a farm at the end of the lane. The youngest of them claims that her duckpond is an ocean. The oldest can remember the Big Bang.

I'd love to know what you're planning to read next!  Feel free to share with me in the comments section!

Happy Turkey Day Reading!
Above all, be thankful...
RC

Reading in the Wild

Just finished this educational handbook for reading teachers. It's so amazing to read a professional book and take five pages of great ideas before you even reach the mid-point!  I garnered ideas for summer reading, motivational gifts for reading teachers, holiday vacation reading, bulletin boards and how to build a community of readers.  I was inspired to create a survey that I plan to administer to all students to help me determine my "wild readers" from my "fake readers". 

I was also pleased that I was able to apply many of her theories about reading to the programs I already have implemented in my library.  Book selection criteria, book breakfasts, rapport with readers, etc...  I am working in the right direction to help my students become life-long readers. 

I also appreciated her comments about reading habits.  Although I am an avid reader, I sometimes take breaks.  This was the first author/educator I've read that admitted that all readers do that.  There's lots of common sense in this book.  And to be perfectly honest, that's rare in a professional book for educators. 

I learned from Donalyn Miller that "wild readers"
    1.  dedicate time to read
    2.  self-select reading material
    3.  share books and read with other readers
    4.  have reading plans
    5.  show preferences for genres, authors and topics

An educational website I learned about from this book is "Wonderopolis".  It's good for informational reading.  I've already written a lesson plan for my 6th graders that incorporates this new resource.

For those students who don't always know how to talk about where they are in a book, I have a new column to add to their reading record... "I am at the part where...".

For those who aren't confident about book selection, I've created several posters to hang in the library that list all the great reasons to choose a book..."It's a Keeper". 

I've also created a list that helps me reply to the complaint, "I don't have time to read outside of school!"  It's called a "Hidden Moments" list. 

I smiled when I read the author's suggestion for our students to create a "to be read" list.  Several of my teachers do this already.  :) 

And I've made a copy of Appendix E to use with my students who can never find anything on their own!  It's a list of the best books for students, created by students!  I sat during lunch today with a highlighter and marked the books we already own...over 75% of them!  Yay! 

I know this is not the kind of blog post my students enjoy reading, but I want them to know that building and maintaining a middle school library is tough and takes much time, energy and money.  I'm doing the very best I can to make sure my students have access to the best reading material available!  :)

And it's my pleasure to do so.
Happy Reading!
RC

Fall Book Frenzy 2013

Once again, our annual Fall Book Frenzy Event was a success!  Over 23 books were discussed and over 80 students were in attendance!  There was one particular success story that will stick with me forever.  A struggling reader found his voice and came out of his shell.  He enjoyed himself and wants to sign up for the next event.  And that's why we at North Middle spend so much time, money and energy on this event...we value reading and readers.  Here are a few snapshots from this year's event.  

 Happy Reading!
RC

Al Capone Does My Homework

Finally!  It's time for me to read the third book in the "Alcatraz" tales by Gennifer Choldenko!  I've read the first chapter three different times and keep getting interrupted by other books I need to read.  But tonight, nothing will keep me from snuggling up with this book and a nice hot cup of tea!  

Since I'm blogging BEFORE I've read the book, I'll simply include a blurb about it from Amazon.  Since this is the final book in the trilogy, I really wouldn't want to include any spoiler alerts here anyway.  I'm anticipating that book 3 will be the best.  I liked book 2 better than book 1!  And that's very unusual!  

 "Alcatraz Island in the 1930s isn't the most normal place to grow up, but it's home for Moose Flanagan, his autistic sister, Natalie, and all the families of the guards. When Moose's dad gets promoted to Associate Warden, despite being an unlikely candidate, it's a big deal. But the cons have a point system for targeting prison employees, and his dad is now in serious danger. After a fire starts in the Flanagan's apartment, Natalie is blamed, and Moose bands with the other kids to track down the possible arsonist. Then Moose gets a cryptic note from the notorious Al Capone himself. Is Capone trying to protect Moose's dad too? If Moose can't figure out what Capone's note means, it may be too late."  -from Amazon.com

Happy Trilogy Reading!
RC

Darkly Dreaming Dexter

Reading the book AFTER watching all 8 seasons of Showtime's series, "Dexter", is not how I'd recommend approaching this outstanding character created by author Jeff Lindsay.  However, I plunged into the series this summer and marathoned the series until I caught up with the finale.  Shew!  That was a lot of late night tv watching!  I'm happy to say that I wasn't too disappointed in the book having already watched the plot unfold on television.  The screenwriters held close to the dialogue and character development.  I probably won't read the other books in the series because I already know what happens.  But for those adults out there who love serial killer fiction, this author is for you!  Again, this is NOT a young adult read.  I do not recommend it for middle or high school students.  

Happy Reading to you adults out there!
Hang on, Dexter is quite the character!
RC