Russell the Sheep by Rob Scotton ~Lexile 300

Russell the Sheep by Rob Scotton is filled with oodles of literacy activities that can be used for many grade levels.  I have said before that I think anything Rob Scotton writes is golden and this is another amazing treasure!  

Link to purchase Russell the Sheep

Book jacket summary:

This is Russell.  Sometimes Russell is just a little bit out of step with the rest of the flock.  All the sheep are falling asleep-except Russell.  What's a sheep to do?  Russell tries everything...until at last he falls asleep.

I have used several literacy activities with this book.  Two of my favorites are a long vowel e sort and a cause and effect chain.

{Link} to download activity

{Link} to download activity

We were going to make our cause and effect chain pretty by gluing it on construction paper, but we ran out of time.  It turned out quite nice anyway!

Cheers,

Rice~Sensory Activity for Word Sorting

I have had so much fun this week working in small groups on literacy activities focusing on nonfiction and frogs as well as extending lessons to the /r/ blends of fr, cr, dr, pr, and br.  I used the colorful, practical pictures from Frog Frenzy listed in my previous post (Link) to create a sensory sorting activity with my younger students.

I used a bowl of rice and cut apart the pictures.  Kids went digging for pictures and squealed when they found one.  We read the pictures and sorted by beginning blends.  This was such a simple, useful sensory activity to engage students in their learning.  It all goes back go Jean Piaget...kids need to be actively engaged in activities to "cement" their learning.

Cheers,

Frogs! Level 1 National Geographic Kids by Elizabeth Carney ~Lexile 420

My new favorite nonfiction readers are by National Geographic Kids.  This week I am focusing on frogs, their life cycle, metamorphosis and interesting facts.  Frogs! by Elizabeth Carney is the perfect resource for this topic!  The pictures are engaging, vocabulary is understandable and easy to internalize and the text features are perfect for teaching students to cue into.  I love the little question and answer boxes included. There is a section on toads as well.  This is a very nicely written book. I will be ordering many more National Geographic Kids readers for my library.

Link to purchase:  National Geographic Readers: Frogs!

I bought Deanna Jump's Frog Frenzy unit from Teachers Pay Teachers.  The songs, clip-art, social studies integration and games are worth the cost.  {Link}

Happy Reading,

Cool Dog, School Dog by Deborah Heiligman ~Early Literacy

I am always looking for books with clear rhyming words that I can add picture cues with.  Cool Dog, School Dog by Deborah Heiligman is a delightful book filled with oodles of rhyming words perfect for students who are developing auditory discrimination!  

Link to purchase:  Cool Dog, School Dog

Summary from Amazon:

Join Tinka, a dandy, sandy Golden Retriever, as she unexpectedly visits her owner at school and helps his class learn to read. 

Each page in this book is written with simple rhythm and rhyme that follows the same pattern throughout the book making this easy to follow even for the earliest of readers. 

The first page of this book sets this rhythm and rhyme:

Tinka is a fun dog, a sun dog, a run-and-run-and run dog!"

If you teach Prekindergarten or Kindergarten, Cool Dog, School Dog would make a great addition to your first month of school selections! 

A Good Day by Kevin Henkes~Early Literacy

Sometimes a cheery book that tells you everything is going to be okay is JUST what a person needs to read!  A Good Day by Kevin Henkes talks about how little yellow bird, little white dog, little orange fox and little brown squirrel start their days with with something "bad" happening.  Half-way through this book, there is a page that says, "But then..." The rest of the book simply tells how each of the characters has something good happen that wipes away the bad.  Example:

 "Little white dog got her leash all tangled up in the fence."  Later... "Little white dog worked herself free and ran in circles through the dandelions."

A Good Day is perfect in its simplicity and message.  Good things happen at any time.

In addition, the early literacy activities that can be extended with A Good Day are amazing!

Here are some quick activities that I wrote down after reading this book today.  It is obvious that I have a little spring fever and need COLOR in my life...

                                                           

Nature walk:  Print off the nature walk form and put on clipboards for each student in your classroom.  Kids should draw three things they see in nature-things that grow, hop, skip, fly or move in any way. You can find my nature walk freebie {here}.  When you return to class, kids should color their pictures.  Write down the names of each item, cut and sort by color.

Trent's Top 12 Authors for Tween/Teen Boys~Part 2

Andrew Clements~
Every reading teacher has or should have a copy of Frindle as one of their first read-aloud books to tween students.  This book follows Nick as he invents the word Frindle to replace the word pen and the adventure he has battling with his English teacher to get this word used in class.  Frindle cleverly incorporates the origin of words including derivatives from other languages which is the perfect springboard for teachers to expose students to the wonder of language and word meaning. Most of Andrew Clement's books are around an 800 lexile level.

 Andrew Clement's website has posted his newest book, titled About Average.  This is a book about a girl learning to embrace who she is and developing her own sense of self. About Average will be on my gift list for birthdays in the future.

More about Andrew Clements can be found {here}.                                              
David Lubar~
I follow David Lubar on Twitter and he makes me laugh!  Punished is the first book that comes to mind when I hear David Lubar's name. A review was posted of this book last year.  It is one of my all-time favorite books to teach vocabulary.  You can find our review {here}.   He has also written a series of zombie books about a boy named Nathan Abercrombie as well as a series books~all with the word, "Weenies" in the title.  These books were a hit at our school's book fair last week!  
I will be placing Lubar's book, Hidden Talents in my Amazon cart shortly.  It looks like an engaging tween/YA book that I haven't heard about until now.  The book synopsis from David Lubar's website follows:

"Every time Martin opens his mouth, he gets in trouble.  He's just been dumped at the last place that will take him; a school filled with freaks, misfits, and psychotic bullies.  His roommate start fires.  His new friends are thieves and cheats, and his teachers hate him.  Then things really start to get weird."

 Lexile levels for David Lubar's books range from 540-640.  If you would like to visit his website, you can find it {here}.

Mike Lupica~
Mike Lupica writes "meatier" sports stories that are geared toward older boys around a 900 lexile level. Book covers are more mature as are his story lines.  Mike Lupica's newest book is titled, True Legend.  Here is an excerpt from Lupica's website:

"There's a reason his teammates call him 'True.'  Because for basketball phenom, Drew Robinson, there is nothing more true than his talent on the court.  It's the kind that comes along once in a generation and is loaded with perks...and with problems."

More about Mike Lupica's books can be found by following the link to his website {here}.

Eric Nylund~
Eric Nylund writes Science Fiction and Fantasy books geared toward tween/teen boys.  Trent has plowed his way through the Resisters series, which is about a tweenage boy named Ethan who learns that Earth was taken over by aliens many years ago.  All adults are under mind control.  Ethan makes the decision to join the Resisters, a group who fights against the aliens.  Nylund's books are perfect for the tween reader!

 In addition, Nylund has written the Halo series and The Mortal Coils series; both are young adult Science Fiction/Fantasy books. Lexile levels range from 700-800 for his books.  Eric Nylund's website can be entered {here}.

Gary Paulsen~
When you think of Gary Paulsen, you think of solid writing with heart-stopping adventure and events.  In school, Trent started reading Hatchet.  This has translated to reading several books throughout the years including his most recent read, The Glass Cafe; or The Stripper and the State:  How my Mother Started a War with the System That Made Us Kind of Rich and a Little Bit Famous.  Trent's review of this book is {here}.  

Gary Paulsen's books are written for different ages of boys.  Some are definitely tween and others have more mature topics about adolescence and self-discovery that may be more appropriate for teens.  Lexile ranges are from 700-1500 which is great for Trent as it is very hard to find high-level, engaging books.  Trent especially likes reading Gary Paulsen's books because the "voice" of his characters is so strong!

I am very interested in reading Notes from the Dog.  An excerpt from Random House's website follows:

"Sometimes having company is not all it's cracked up to be."  Fifteen-year-old Finn is a loner, living with his dad and his amazing dog, Dylan.  This summer he's hoping for a job where he doesn't have to talk to anyone except his pal Matthew.  Then Johanna moves in next door.  She's ten years older, cool, funny, and she treats Finn as an equal.  Dylan loves her, too.  Johanna's dealing with breast cancer, and Matthew and Finn learn to care for her, emotionally and physically.  When she hires Finn to create a garden, his gardening ideas backfire comically.  But Johanna and the garden help Finn discover his talents for connecting with people."

Random House has a website for Gary Paulsen.  If you are interested, you can find it {here}.

Louis Sachar~
My love of Louis Sachar books started MANY years ago when I was looking for transitional chapter books to engage a group of struggling readers composed mostly of boys.  We started reading, Marvin Redpost:  Alone in His Teacher's House and their first series hook commenced.  It was so much fun watching this group develop confidence and a love of reading!  Lexile level for these books is around 400.

Trent's love of Louis Sachar books started with reading Holes in fourth grade.  We then watched the movie over and over and over...

Trent then moved on to enjoying the Wayside School series.  A new to me book by Louis Sachar is The Boy Who Lost His Face.  This sounds like an interesting book that incorporates a little character education.

Excerpt from Louis Sachar's website:

"Trying too hard to fit in, David goes along with some boys who harass an old woman.  When she puts a curse on him, he is suddenly unpopular at school!  As he tries to rid himself of the curse, David must decide what he truly believes and what is right." 

 Louis Sachar's website can be entered {here}.

R.L. Stine~
R.L. Stine is actually author #13.  We couldn't showcase specific books because we have heard that his tween/teen horror books are the best to read, but both of us are too chicken to start reading one! His {website} even has scary music on it!  We will have to overcome our fear of horror books...

Mark Walden~
Mark Walden is #14 and we have already devoted 2 separate blog reviews to his amazing H.I.V.E.  Series that Trenton devoured!
See reviews:
http://trifectabookreviews.blogspot.com/2012/04/hive-dreadnought-by-mark-walden-lexile.html

http://trifectabookreviews.blogspot.com/2012/03/hive-escape-velocity-by-mark-walden.html

We welcome your favorite authors for tween and teen boys.  Please leave us a comment.

Trent's Top 12 Authors for Tween/Teen Boys~Part 1

Trent is a voracious reader.  He finds and author that he likes and reads EVERY book he can find; then he moves on to a new author.  Here are his top 12 favorites this year (Part 1):

Avi~
Avi writes in a mature style that pulls the reader into his stories.  He writes a variety of genres including historical fiction.  Poppy, Crispin and The Fighting Ground are just a start to his popular titles.  Sophia's War is a new Revolutionary War book released September 2012 about a girl who becomes a spy.  Check out more information here. Lexile range is from 600-800's.

Matt Christopher~

Matt Christopher has written a PLETHORA of sports stories that are sure to engage every tween reader!  You will be amazed with his website.  Click whatever sport you are interested in and a number of engaging books at different Lexile levels varying from 400-900 levels will show up to pick from. 

You can find Matt Christopher's website here.

Cassandra Clare~
The Mortal Instruments series is the newest read for Trent.  It is an urban fantasy series filled with demons and the shadowhunters who defend mankind from them.
 There are many characters to keep track of including Clary, Jace, Simon, Isabella, Alec  and Valentine. The Lexile range is 700-800, so the reading level is not too hard and the stories are very engaging.  Right now he is reading the third book in this series.  The first book is City of Bones.  Click here for an excerpt.

Eoin Colfer~
Eoin Colfer writes the Artemis Fowl fantasy series.  Book 1 is titled, Artemis Fowl gives a fresh story line where Artemis, the main character, is forced to find a fairy to decode a book that will save his family's fortune.  The fairy angle to this book is refreshing and clever.  The Lexile range is in the 600-700 range making this series very appealing for all readers including those with "reluctant" in front of their names.  This series is highly recommended.  Link to Book 1 is here.

After perusing Eoin Colfer's website, I discovered that he has a new series soon to be released.  Book 1 is titled, Warp.  Check it out here.

Dan Gutman~

Dan Gutman's range of writing includes humorous (meaning make me laugh until I cry at the tack scene in book 1) My Weird School books in the 300-400 Lexile range to the Baseball Card Adventures series focusing on famous baseball players and time travel with Lexile levels 600-700.  You can find Dan Gutman's website here.

Anthony Horowitz~

Trent just finished the Alex Rider series about a teenage spy.  These books are written at a Lexile level range of 700-800 and have completely captivated Trent's attention from beginning to end.  Here is a summary of Book 1, Stormbreaker, from Anthony Horowitz's website:

"When his guardian dies in suspicious circumstances, fourteen year-old Alex Rider finds his world turned upside down.  Forcibly recruited into MI6, Alex has to take part in grueling SAS training exercises. Then, armed with his own set of special secret gadgets, he is off on his first mission to Cornwall where Middle-Eastern multi-billionaire Herod Sayle is producing his state-of-the-art Stormbreaker computers.  Sayle has offered to give one free to every school in the country-but there's more to the gift than meets the eye." 

                                              

You can find a link to Anthony Horowitz's site here.

Six books covered and six books to go in part 2!