Wonder by RJ Polacio

We're at the near beginning of reading this amazing book for young adults in my classroom, and I'm finding it difficult to read aloud. I keep wondering if I'm using the right tone, voice, pacing, rhythm to do this story justice. I'm loving how it's keeping my students on their toes, making them question themselves and the actions of others. They are digging deep into their values and morals. I love that stuff.  One of the interesting parts of the book is the teacher, Mr. Browne's, precepts (think fortune cookie statements, inspirations, quotations) that he presents to his students. I found a blogpost by the author that explains these precepts, and how their use could play itself out in a classroom. You can find the post here:

The Nerdy Bookclub - RJ Polacio post

(If you don't already read "The Nerdy Bookclub" blog, you should. It's excellent.)

I also found a teacher page on the author's website. It lists thought-provoking questions that go along with "Wonder", and it also has a compilation of all of Mr. Browne's precepts (spoiler alert):

RJ Polacio's website

I'll write more about "Wonder" when we're through. I'd love to hear from others who have read it.

Using Animated Short Films

I have been an avid follower of this blog/website for over a year now:

The Literacy Shed

 It has an extensive and amazing collection of short films, videos, and images that get children and young adults to think critically and creatively. Each of the "sheds" focuses on a particular topic or theme. Within the "shed" (links) you will find a variety of links and suggestions for using graphics, films, and images to support your teaching.

I've used these films with my fifth grade students as part of our writing curriculum, social thinking / PBIS discussions, and to promote critical thinking. As impressive as The Literacy Shed is, you may still want to supplement with other resources. A quick search of YouTube will provide you with more films than you can imagine! Here are a few that I found in just a few minutes using the search term, "animated films".

Bath Time

Homelesss

Day and Night (wonderful to use with a civil rights / prejudice unit)

As you know, it's important to preview all videos prior to showing them to children. Only you know what's appropriate for those students in your care. These videos are also wonderfully playful and engaging ways to work with children who struggle with social thinking and theory of mind. 

I've also used these as a launching pad for writing assignments, or to have students re-tell or sequence the events.  Many of these films do not have dialogue. You could use iPads and have students work in pairs to create the scripts. What an authentic way to introduce the concept.

I hope that you enjoy these as much as I did. Be sure to stop by The Literacy Shed too!

Teaching Elapsed Time concepts

Teaching elapsed time can be a struggle for lots of teachers, and a difficult concept for lots of students to learn, especially those who have a learning difference such as ADHD,  Non-verbal Learning disability (NLD) or Right-Hemisphere disorder (RHD). I've found a few products that help students to understand the "sweep of time". First off, it's important that there's an understanding of the fact that time is linear. Learning Resources has a wonderful "Judy Clock" with gears that actually moves incrementally as students figure out the passage of time. 

You can find it here.  Learning resources also features an Elapsed Time Set that has magnetic strips that show the passage of time. You can find those here.



Another helpful resource are the Magnetic Elapsed Time Bars sold by "Really Good Stuff". These bars show comparisons between segments of time (think fraction bars) in a very visual way. They are made of durable foam that is backed with magnetic strips - perfect for use on a white-board or refrigerator. Those who are teaching using the Singapore Method will like the way that these bars approach elapsed time problem solving. You can purchase them here.

I purchased each of these products myself. I am not affiliated with either company, and I did not receive any compensation for this post.

"The One and Only Ivan"

A few weeks ago, I finished reading this modern-day "Charlotte's Web" to my fifth graders. It is a  beautifully crafted story (based loosely on true events) that lends itself to being read aloud. My students especially enjoyed the voices that I created for the various characters! Admittedly, I also had to pause and wipe away a tear or two at certain points. 

My class and I drew many comparisons between Julia (the young girl who befriends Ivan) and Fern, Ivan and Charlotte, and Wilbur and Ruby (the young elephant taken under Ivan's wing). Even though one can make strong connections between the two stories, "The One and Only Ivan", is sure to be remembered as a classic in its own right.

I always like to make connections for my students by offering background information to help them think critically and dig deeper into the topics and issues we read about. I'll show images or videos, and I try to bring the "real-world" into our classroom conversations and learning as much as I possibly can. 

Here are some suggestions for extending beyond the book, "The One and Only Ivan".

Official book trailer:

We also visited the Atlanta Zoo website. Ivan was transferred there after living in a shopping center in Tacoma, Washington. We were able to see video and pictures of the gorilla, Ivan, on whom this story was based. 

Zoo Atlanta - Ivan pictures 

We also Googled "Ivan Gorilla paintings" and found examples of the finger painting that the "real" Ivan made.

Recently, a baby gorilla was rejected by her mother and is being cared for at the Cincinnati Zoo. We read the story here:

Link to story


 Applegate's wonderful prose, combined with sweet illustrations, make this book a gentle read. Even though the topic of animal welfare and captivity does have a dark side to it, Applegate handles the issue in a way that isn't overly scary. (Younger children may have a bit of a difficult time with a few references to animal mistreatment, but the adult reader could easily omit them without altering the integrity of the story.)

 Sadly, Ivan passed away at the Atlanta Zoo last August due to complications from surgery. 

I highly recommend this book. It's no surprise that it won the Newbery medal this year!

Author's Website - Ivan information

"The Burgess Boys"

Fans of "Olive Kitteridge" will certainly be excited to read another Strout novel. I know I was! This novel focuses on a small Maine town in transition as Somali immigrants try to assimilate and retain some of their culture, while juxtaposing this lifestyle with the bustle of urban New York.

"The Burgess Boys" focuses on the family dynamics of eldest brother Jim, his wife Helen, and Jim's younger twin siblings, Bob and Susan. Strout has a gift in her ability to develop strong characters, most of whom are not very likable. She explores interesting themes, and backs them up with realistic characters and issues that make us think about ourselves, where we stand, and what we value.

I admit I was disappointed when I first read about the conflict in the story -  Susan's son's lapse of judgment (deemed a hate crime) in a mosque. I was expecting the typical child-gone-wild story that we hear too often in the news and through other works of fiction. But, I actually enjoyed the slower paced unraveling of the story and the nuances of the relationship between the Somali immigrant community in Maine and those who had grown up and raised families in this small New England town.

"The Burgess Boys" isn't a page-turning-stay-up-all-night sort of read. It's a slow, thoughtful examination of family, parenting, culture, and humanity. If you like slice-of-life books that make you think, question yourself and the world around you, you'll enjoy "The Burgess Boys". It will be available for purchase on March 26, 2013.

I received an advance copy of this novel from the publisher.

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog! I'm a mom to two school-aged children, and I also teach fifth grade. I love to read adult/young adult/children's books, play games and solve puzzles, infuse technology into my classroom, and watch videos that not only entertain, but also inform. I will offer ideas and suggestions for parents and teachers who are looking for new ways to connect with children and young adults.