Literacy Now

Percy Jackson and the Olympians series (Hyperion Books for Children, 2005-2009)
Written by Rick Riordan
Grades 4–10

THE LIGHTNING THIEF, the first in this five-book series, introduces us to 12-year-old Percy Jackson. Percy has always had a tendency to get into trouble and is constantly stumbling upon unusual situations. Over the course of this novel, Percy learns that he is a demi-god, meaning that one of his parents, in this case his mother, is mortal and the other is a Greek god, in Percy’s case, Poseidon. Before he has time to acclimate to this life-changing information, he is sent on a quest to recover Zeus’ master bolt. His companions are Annabeth, a daughter of Athena, and his best friend Grover, who is revealed to be a satyr. The book is punctuated with characters and legends from Greek mythology.

Percy’s story and adventures continue in THE SEA OF MONSTERS, with both returning and new characters. One of the most interesting new characters is Percy’s new friend, Tyson, who isn’t quite who he says he is, nor is his relationship to Percy what it seems. Percy is off on another quest, this time the goal is saving Camp Half-Blood, the only place where demi-gods are protected. In order to save Camp Half-Blood Percy, along with Annabeth, must sail into the Sea of Monsters, and if that wasn’t enough, they must rescue Grover from certain death along the way. The pages are again filled with characters from and references to Greek mythology.

In THE TITAN’S CURSE (Book 3), the goddess Artemis is missing, the return of an ancient monster is immanent and a deadline rapidly approaches—basically, just another week in the life of half-blood Percy Jackson and his friends Grover and Annabeth. The gods are on the cusp of war with the Titans and the success or failure of Percy’s quest may influence whether war erupts or a fragile peace is maintained. Grover has also discovered two powerful half-bloods, whose parentage is unknown, but who may have something to do with the prophecy of the Titan’s curse.

Against the odds, Percy has survived long enough to enter his freshman year of high school. However, things immediately go down hill with the arrival of a mortal acquaintance and demon cheerleaders (THE BATTLE OF THE LABYRINTH). Kronos is gaining strength and his army continues to grow. This army is preparing to invade the once impenetrable Camp Half-Blood, the only place that Percy and his friends have truly felt safe. In order to protect Camp Half-Blood and to forestall the coming war between the gods and the Titans, Percy and his friends must travel through the underground labyrinth and survive its many dangers.

THE LAST OLYMPIAN, the final book in the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series, culminates in a battle against the Titans and their leader, Kronos. New York City, the current location of Mount Olympus, is besieged by the monster, Typon. Soon-to-be 16-year-old Percy Jackson and his half-blood friends battle for their lives and the survival of Western civilization in the streets of Manhattan. As Percy’s sixteenth birthday grows closer, the prophecy regarding this moment unfolds. This is a thrilling and satisfying conclusion to the series.

Additional Texts:

Beyond the five novels, there are two published guides to the series, a graphic novel version of the first book, and a movie based on THE LIGHTNING THIEF. A movie based on THE SEA OF MONSTERS is forthcoming as well. These additional and alternative texts provide a number of great opportunities for comparisons across texts, as well as a source of supplemental activities and means of differentiating instruction.

Riordan, Rick. (2009). THE DEMIGOD FILES (Percy Jackson & the Olympians). New York: Hyperion Books for Children.

Knight, Mary-Jane. (2009). PERCY JACKSON & THE OLYMPIANS: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE. New York: Disney/Hyperion.

Riordan, Rick. (2010). THE LIGHTNING THIEF: THE GRAPHIC NOVEL (Percy Jackson & the Olympians, Book 1). New York: Disney/Hyperion Books.

Motion Picture: PERCY JACKSON & THE OLYMPIANS: THE LIGHTNING THIEF (2010). 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment.

Motion Picture: PERCY JACKSON & THE OLYMPIANS: SEA OF MONSTERS. Scheduled for release in August of 2013.

In addition to these texts, Riordan’s Heroes of Olympus series, which will eventually be composed of five novels as well, features some of the characters from the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series as well as new demi-gods, new quests and unexpected twists.

Cross-curricular Connections: History/Social Studies, Language Arts/English, Art

Ideas for Classroom Use:

Create a God

Many Greek gods and myths developed out of a need to explain natural phenomenon; for example, Zeus’ mastery of the sky served to explain thunder and lightning. Have students brainstorm modern natural and social phenomenon that may be difficult to explain, such as global warming or dropped cell phone calls.

After each student has selected a phenomenon of interest have him or her develop a portfolio of the “god” of this realm. The portfolio might include the following items: a description of the god, a list of the god’s powers, the god’s origins, a picture of the god, a myth featuring the god, or an explanation of why the phenomenon happens (for example, thunder and lightning are a result of Zeus’ anger). You could add an art project to this lesson by asking your students to create a physical representation of their invented god—perhaps a drawing or even a 3-D model.

Your Quirk or Unique Ability

Percy Jackson has been diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia. His ADHD is attributed to his finely tuned fighting skills, which he possesses as a result of being a half-blood. His dyslexia is a result of his brain being hardwired to read Greek rather than English.

We all have unique quirks, abilities or difficulties. Have each student select one of their own characteristics and write an explanation for why they possess such a trait. For example, particularly bad snoring could be the result of a protective spell placed upon me by my fairy godmother in order to keep the monsters away as I sleep.

This activity should be framed in such a way that students are able to embrace their quirks rather than made to feel bad about them.

Greek God Charades

After reading from the Percy Jackson series or studying the Greek gods, goddesses and creatures organize a game of charades focused around Greek mythology.

Without using words, students can act out the behaviors or traits of different characters from Greek mythology. For example, Aphrodite, the goddess of love, may be indicated by air kisses, hugs and swooning. This would be a great way to review the gods and goddesses.

Additional Resources and Activities:

Rick Riordan’s Website
Prior to becoming a full-time author, Riordan was a teacher, and he remains loyal to his teaching roots in the resources he provides on his webpage. This is seriously the best place to start when looking for information on Riordan and his books, or for activity suggestions. Information abounds regarding Riordan, including transcripts from interviews, frequently asked questions, and links to videos. Teachers will find teaching guides for several books in the Percy Jackson series as well as reader’s guides. There is also a reader’s theater script for a scene from THE LIGHTNING THIEF, as well as a link to a unit built around THE LIGHTNING THIEF. Finally, there is a collection of project ideas submitted from schools and educators across the country.

Putting Books to Work: George O’Connor’s HADES: LORD OF THE DEAD
This previous “Putting Books to Work” post is a great pairing to the Percy Jackson series. George O’Connor is creating a series of graphic novels that feature the Greek gods and goddesses. Eventually each of the twelve gods and goddess will have their own graphic novel. This post focuses on HADES: LORD OF THE DEAD. In addition to information about O’Connor’s series, this post also includes suggestions for other activities related to Greek mythology.

Episode 19 — Greek Mythology for Kids
This podcast from ReadWriteThink includes a book chat about three mythology-related titles that are appropriate for reading levels ranging from K through Grade 5. It also includes an activity in which students create a Zeus trading card and a discussion with children’s book author Carolyn Hennesy (Pandora series).

Aimee Rogers is a doctoral student at the University of Minnesota studying children’s and adolescent literature. Prior to her return to school, Aimee taught high school students with special needs, in a wide variety of settings, for ten years. She misses working with adolescents but is developing a passion for working with undergraduate pre-service teachers. She has a growing interest in graphic novels for children and young adults and is hoping to make them the topic of her upcoming dissertation.

The March IRA Member of the Month is Cory Lemoine from Louisiana. The Baton Rouge Center for Visual & Performing Arts (BRCVPA) third-grade teacher was given the Master Teacher Award in 2011. He tells Reading Today his thoughts on teaching literacy, technology in the classroom, and how IRA councils got him out of his "bubble!"

What made you want to become a teacher?

After exploring a variety of ideas, I decided that teaching was the best use of my various talents. My interests lie in many content areas, so I knew I would be knowledgeable and hoped to inform my students on how to become successful citizens in our world.

As a literacy educator, how do you motivate kids to want to read?

To motivate kids to read, I generally make reading aloud part of everyday instruction. I try to make it fun in many ways, be it through questioning techniques, relating the content to their life experiences, or making sure to find reading that is not only at their independent reading level, but is also within their interests as well. For boys especially, I work to try to stock my classroom library with lots of nonfiction books and magazines at varied levels to help motivate them to read. 

What books or genres do you recommend to parents/families looking help their kids become better readers?

This question depends on what level reader a child is. For those below their grade level, I recommend parents find books that are easy readers to help motivate a child to become fluent in lower reads so that the joy of reading can gradually grow as the child grows as a reader. Any series or genres are great for this, especially if they are what the child/children are interested in. I do find that fiction tends to lend itself more to helping students work at reading more fluently because children typically are familiar with how stories work. For those who are on grade level, I suggest fiction books such as the Magic Tree House series, Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, or the Big Nate series. These have proven successful, especially the latter two, in motivating and helping average readers to be successful at a higher level. I also suggest any nonfiction books in which students have an interest. As an elementary teacher, I enjoy pushing my top readers to reach as far as I can. I have been known to work with this small group on middle school books to continue to push them upward. These are generally fictional, many of which are more in the realm of fantasy (these tend to entice their imaginations). 

You were given the Master Teacher Award and your school received the ACHIEVE3000 Power of Technology Reading and Writing Award. Plus, you have a great classroom website. How do you see technology playing a role in education for elementary school children, both now and in the future?

Since I began teaching 10 years ago, technology in my classroom has changed greatly. With the amount of technology in the classroom, generating data and being an efficient instructor are two huge outcomes of the continued wave of technology. At present, using an interactive whiteboard on a daily basis in my classroom has allowed me to be able to more efficiently make connections to concepts from the past than ever before. Technology also helps me to reach students through different modalities to ensure a greater student success rate. No longer do I have to go and find an encyclopedia to show a picture to a student of a volcano. The internet is right at our fingertips so that not only can we see pictures of volcanoes, but we can also see a video of one erupting, someone’s personal experiences with one, and even a satellite imagery of one from different angles. Technology also allows the current generation to learn in a manner that is more consistent with the world that they are growing up in. In the future, I think a time will come when we no longer have textbooks in the classroom taking up so much space. Instead each student will have some sort of electronic reader or tablet computer where all textbook information, worksheets, notes, etc. will be stored on. A new wave of electronic tables/desks is beginning to rise, and the adoption of these and various other technologies that are around make many teachers feel that we are truly in a science fiction movie that we never thought would come true in our lifetimes.

How did you become involved in the International Reading Association (IRA) and the Louisiana Reading Association (LRA)? What do you value most about your membership?

When I was in my fifth year of teaching, I was contacted by a supervisor in my school district that asked if I would consider being vice-president of my local reading council. The idea was that I would learn for two years becoming president of the council after that. Well, things don’t always work out the way they are expected to. The next year I became the president of a council that had decreased in membership and activity for several years, so I was tasked with working to build back up to a historically prosperous council. It is through the work that I did with my local organization that I became familiar with the state and international organizations. My five years in the organizations have been a treat! I have become part of a community of teachers and learners from not only around my state, but also my world. No more getting stuck in the little bubble that I lived in! I have made relationships with so many wonderful people that I never would have if it weren’t for the reading councils. I value the dedication, service, and learning from members of these great councils that have helped me to become a better organization member as well as teacher.

What do you consider to be your proudest career moment?

This is too difficult to pinpoint. Every time one of my current or former students receives any kind of award or recognition at my school, or any time my students work in a production of some sort and I see their joy, dedication, and success, I get teary eyed and feel very proud. No matter what awards, accomplishments, or successes I achieve, my proudest moments will always be seeing all of my students excel in some way. I love all of my students and they make every day the proudest moments in my career.

What’s the best advice you could offer someone new to the profession?

For those new in the field, I suggest staying informed and connected to other professionals beyond their school assignment. Also, keep your chin up and your attitude positive! Times will get tough and stressful! Remember that you are in your first year and that you are doing the best you can. No one is super teacher, not even after ten years. We are all constantly learning. If you are having trouble, don’t be afraid to ask. There are a multitude of websites and blogs out there dedicated to making teaching more fun and creative at the same time as meeting the rigorous standards that our students face. No need to reinvent the wheel when someone out there is willing to share their knowledge and activities. I also suggest making sure to have a life outside of teaching. This will help life to stay balanced keeping teaching from becoming all-consuming. I LOVE teaching, but I also cherish the time I get to spend with family and friends.

What do you like to do when you’re not wearing your educator hat?

I enjoy two things the most when I’m not in teacher mode. Firstly, I enjoy spending time with my family, especially my two nieces and two nephews. Seeing their happy loving smiles and playful attitudes toward life help me to stay young. Secondly, (but really tied for first) I exceedingly enjoy gardening. I love being outdoors, and nothing brings me more at peace than working in dirt to create something beautiful. Be it vegetable or flower gardening, or even raising five chickens, being outdoors centers me and completes the balancing in my life that I need.

 

 

 

by Paul Morsink

At what point does a new technology become so ubiquitous, so familiar and taken-for-granted, that assessing students’ performance in the absence of that technology is seen by researchers, educators, and students themselves as artificial or unfair?

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) offers different answers, depending on whether we’re talking about reading or writing.

In 2010, the authors of the NAEP Writing Assessment clearly felt a tipping point had been reached. They voted to deliver the 2011 Writing Assessment in a fully digital format and, for the first time, to give students the option of accessing a variety of digital writing supports (e.g., copy/paste, text-to-speech, spell-check, thesaurus).

The rationale for this move (laid out in the 2011 NAEP Writing Framework document) makes for interesting reading. After describing at some length the reality that new “communications technologies [have] changed the way people write and the kinds of writing they do,” the authors asserted the following:

[E]liminating access to common word processing tools on the computer would create a highly artificial platform for composing, since a writer normally has access to and uses at least some common tools when composing on a computer. The purpose of assessing writing produced on the computer comes into question when access to such common features of word processing software is eliminated. (p. 9)

The authors acknowledged that some students “who are not comfortable with electronic composition” may be disadvantaged by the digital format. At the same time, they pointed out that “a paper and pencil assessment would create similar issues of bias for students who commonly use computers to write” (p. 8). At the end of the day, then, they decided to go digital and allow digital writing supports because the “NAEP Writing Assessment [should reflect] the way [most of] today’s students compose—and are expected to compose—particularly as they move into various postsecondary settings” (p. vi).

So much for the design of the 2011 NAEP Writing Assessment. (See Dana Grisham and Jill Castek’s October blogpost for discussion of the 2011 Writing Assessment results—in particular the finding that students who used digital tools scored, on average, higher than students who did not use them.)

By contrast, the authors of the NAEP Reading Assessment see the world differently. In the 88-page Reading Framework document they do not devote a single sentence to acknowledging the fact that in U.S. classrooms, and especially outside school, K-12 students starting in Kindergarten are today spending more and more time reading on screens, in an expanding array of genres and formats, for traditional and new tasks and purposes (e.g., studying for an upcoming test as well as exploring a friend’s social media platform profile), and with access to a variety of digital reading supports (text-to-speech, online dictionaries, etc.) (e.g., Barone, 2012; Beach, 2012; Kaiser Family Foundation, 2010; Lenhart, 2012; Rainie et al., 2012).

Indeed, the Reading Framework document uses the word computer only once, simply stating that, “it is difficult to include [computer-based electronic texts] in ways that reflect how students actually read them in and out of school” (p. 6). (The paragraph does not elaborate on the precise nature of the difficulty.)

For these authors, apparently, the tipping point has not yet been reached. For now, in their view, a paper and pencil assessment of “what students know and can do” is still fair, accurate, and valid. Eliminating the tools that readers normally have access to and use at least some of the time when reading on a computer, tablet, or mobile device does not pose a problem.

Figure 1. Two contrasting visions of 21st century literacy. Half of these photographs are from the NAEP Writing Report; the other half are from the Reading Report. Can you guess which are which? (Move your cursor over the image to see answers.)

As of next year, however, the Writing Assessment and Reading Assessment will no longer be the only NAEP literacy games in town. NAEP is currently developing a new assessment, the Technology and Engineering Literacy Assessment, to be inaugurated in 2014. Among other things, it will contain questions and performance items pertaining to Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Students will be assessed for their ability “to employ technologies and media to find, evaluate, analyze, organize, and synthesize information from different sources” (p. 8).

In many ways, this new NAEP assessment looks like what could be the future of the Reading Assessment—a future that the authors of the Reading Assessment have so far refused or ignored. Consequently, it appears that—for a time, at least—we may have two different sets of NAEP data to turn to when we want to know how well U.S. students are reading. The NAEP Reading Assessment will tell us about students’ levels of proficiency with traditional print literacy. The NAEP Technology and Engineering Literacy Assessment will tell us about their proficiency with the new literacies of ICT-enabled reading and learning. And this may be a very positive development. If nothing else, it may deepen our understanding of the idea that, today more than ever, reading and writing are non-unitary constructs (Duke, 2005).

Figure 2. Area 3 (“Information and Communication Technology”) of the NAEP Technology and Engineering Literacy Assessment contains five “sub-areas” in which students are assessed. Area B covers “information research.” Source: 2014 Abridged Technology and Engineering Literacy Framework.

References

Barone, D. (2012). Exploring home and school involvement of young children with Web 2.0 and social media. Research in the Schools, 19(1), 1-11.

Beach, R. (2012). Uses of digital tools and literacies in the English Language Arts classroom. Research in the Schools, 19(1), 45-59.

Duke, N. K. (2005). Comprehension of what for what: Comprehension as a nonunitary construct. In S. G. Paris & S. A. Stahl (Eds.), Children's reading comprehension and assessment (pp. 93-104). Mahwah, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum.

Kaiser Family Foundation. (2010). Generation M: Media in the lives of 8-to 18-year-olds. Menlo Park, CA: Kaiser Family Foundation. Retrieved from http://www.kff.org/entmedia/entmedia012010nr.cfm

Lenhart, A. (2012). Teens, smartphones & texting. Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project. Retrieved from http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2012/Teens-and-smartphones.aspx

National Assessment Governing Board. (2010). Reading framework for the 2011 National Assessment of Educational Progress. Washington, DC: National Assessment Governing Board.

National Assessment Governing Board. (2010). Writing framework for the 2011 National Assessment of Educational Progress. Washington, DC: National Assessment Governing Board.

Rainie, L., Zickuhr, K., Purcell, K., Madden, M., & Brenner, J. (2012). The rise of e-reading. Washington, DC: Pew Internet & Family Life Project. Retrieved from http://www.pewinternet.org

Paul Morsink is a doctoral student in Educational Psychology and Educational Technology at Michigan State University, morsinkp@msu.edu.

This article is part of a series from the International Reading Association Technology in Literacy Education Special Interest Group (TILE-SIG).

 

I embraced online sites and social networks years ago. However, when it came to my classes in children’s and YA literature, I resisted the move from face-to-face (FTF) to online courses. Instead, I used a hybrid approach with some FTF meetings and others done with online courseware. As the hours spent in FTF meetings dwindled from 45 to 30 to 15 to 8 and finally to 4, I was determined to build a reading community online that would mimic what I could do in a traditional classroom. The basis for my crafting an online community was to consider what elements any community of readers shared. The key aspects of community for me were three:

1. I had to create a CORE list of books we would all read and discuss;
2. I had to CONNECT my students with one another despite our separation; and
3. I had to initiate meaningful CONVERSATION about books.

The first step was simple enough. I used the social networks to ask for recommendations of books that teachers and librarians who work with school aged students should know. I certainly had some criteria: diversity in genre and formats and forms and protagonists, older titles as well as newer ones, and literary as well as appealing.

Lists are, even with input from others, idiosyncratic: they do reflect me; I am keenly aware that they may not all appeal to the members of the class. Therefore, I do an activity my colleague Chris Crowe does with his students. At the end of the semester, I have the students rank the books from their most favorite all the way down to their least favorite. After I collect all of these rankings, I tally them. The books with the highest numbers are the least favorites from the class. Conversely, the books with the lowest totals are the favorites. Amazingly, there is not much that separates the top choices from the bottom rankings. I share this with the students so that they might realize that their LEAST favorite book was someone’s MOST favorite book and vice versa. This activity has never resulted in a book being replaced on the core list.

That is not to say the core is static, as every semester I replace two to three titles. New books migrate to the list because they represent some significant change in literature. For instance, when AMERICAN BORN CHINESE became the first graphic novel to win a Printz Honor Medal, it was added to the list. Other GNs have joined the list as this format continues to evolve.

The second step is a bit trickier. How can we connect with one another even though miles separate us? How can we get to know one another in an online forum? One assignment seems to connect us all as readers (and since this is a graduate level class, most students do come into the class as readers). It was an assignment I did more than 20 years ago when I took YA literature from Dick Abrahamson. In turn, it was an assignment he, too, had completed for YA literature: the reading autobiography. I invite students to tell me about their road to lifelong reading (and, for the most part, no one enters this program without a passion for reading being in place). What are their earliest memories of reading? What was reading like in elementary school? How did they learn to read? What did they read in adolescence? In college? As an adult? Students have the option of writing a traditional narrative or constructing some sort of visual (prezis, reading timelines, infographics).

As we share our journeys, two things become clear: there are certain experiences that seem to connect those who loved reading early on, and not everyone’s journey has been an easy one. The experiences that connect those of us who are lifelong readers mirror those in Carlsen and Sherrill’s (NCTE, 1988) VOICES OF READERS: HOW WE COME TO LOVE BOOKS. They include experience such as the following:

• Having someone read aloud
• Having access to books in the home
• Being able to select books to read (choice)
• Talking with someone else who has read the book

It becomes readily apparent that, while many of us read different books along the path to lifelong reading, there were some shared titles—especially a love for reading serially. The series students loved varied depending on the age of the student, but series and reading serially was commonplace.

As for the students whose journeys were more arduous, there were still commonalities. Many of my graduate students are second language learners; they struggled to learn how to read in English when they were in school (and think of what they bring to those students who are also struggling with the same task). Books were not readily accessible in their homes; libraries were not always welcoming places or were not close enough to the neighborhoods where they could be accessed. Poverty played a significant role. Seeing these similarities and differences engages students in some meaningful conversations about how their experiences will be brought to bear within the school library. Connections are being made.

Promulgating meaningful discussion of books could be dicey. I did not want this discussion to devolve into dissection, but I do want the discussion to go beyond the surface. Having students interact in online forums is much like group work in a traditional classroom: it is possible for one person to dominate and for someone to sort of fade into the background. I opted to eschew the Discussion Board portion of the course software. Instead, I am using some new apps for book reading and discussion.

p: ctkmcmillan via photopin cc

One of these is SUBTEXT, an app for the iPad (I am using this with students who have these devices already). Subtext allows a group to read a book and annotate it as they read. They can pose questions, make comments and predictions, and even share URLs and other information they link to the text. Edmodo, another app, permits interaction as well.

While it might be due in part to the Hawthorne Effect, I am seeing much more active participation and much less echoing of the comments of other students. Some of the conversation about book centers on being able to identify those salient qualities that separate a book from a piece of literature, good books from great books. Therefore, students apply criteria and evaluate books in whatever approach works best (charts, PowerPoints, Animoto, etc.). They also create bibliographies such as “If you loved ______, then you might like these books.” In other words, they are creating real world documents, the types of documents they will use as school librarians.

This conversation is critical. Even more crucial is that the conversation extends beyond our class. So, students join in #titletalk, a monthly Twitter chat where books and ideas are exchanged in a fast-paced hour of talk using only 140 characters. Here my students are able to connect with teachers and librarians and authors and publishers from all over the United States.

I will be presenting a session on building community in an online environment as part of a panel including Donalyn Miller and Terry Thompson, classroom teachers. The session, “Scaffolding Students’ Independence and Teachers’ Professional Development through Authentic Reading Communities,” is scheduled for Saturday, April 20, from 11:00AM–1:45PM. Communities increase the reading done by students, help them make connections with other readers, and challenge readers to branch out.

Teri is also moderating the author panel, “‘And Then What Happens?’ The Enduring Appeal of Series Fiction,” at IRA’s 58th Annual Convention, April 19-22, 2013, in San Antonio, Texas. The panel features Tom Angleberger (Origami Yoda series), Laurie Friedman (Mallory McDonald series), Annie Barrows (Ivy + Bean series), and Ellis Weiner (Templeton Twins series). Want more? Come see Teri when she presents the IRA Special Interest Group (SIG) session, “Celebrating Books and Reading: How Teachers Make a Difference.”

Teri Lesesne (last name rhymes with insane) is a professor at Sam Houston State University where she teaches classes in children's and YA literature. She is the author of three professional books and numerous columns, articles, and reviews. Currently, she is Executive Director of ALAN and serving on the BFYA Committee of YALSA.



I Hadn’t Thought of That! Guidelines for Providing Online Feedback That Motivates Students to Learn [member login required]

Harnessing the Educational Power of Twitter

Mentor texts or texts that serve as examples for different types of writing can be especially helpful for writing teachers at every grade level. Teachers can use them as exemplars for good writing or can draw examples of one of the six traits of writing from their pages so that their students know exactly what conventions and presentation, ideas and content, organization, sentence fluency, voice, word choice involve. By relying on published texts that epitomize one of the six traits, teachers can help students gain confidence as they develop into proficient writers. This week’s book reviews from members of the International Reading Association's Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group focus on writing mentor texts. Learning from expert writers or mentors can reap bountiful harvests when it comes to writing and self-expression.  Teachers may be interested in checking out “Plugged In: Coming to You Live … Mentor Texts” on Engage or ReadWriteThink's multitude of lesson ideas for using mentor texts. Also check out the teacher-created blog called Teach Mentor Texts.

 

GRADES  K-3

 

Dahl, Michael. (2013). Goodnight, baseball. Illus. by Christina Forshay.
Mankato, MN: Capstone Press/ Picture Window Books in conjunction with Sports Illustrated for Kids.

A father/son day at the baseball park is the setting for this book. Told in somewhat uneven rhyme, usually from the boy’s point of view but also from an outside narrator, the thrill and excitement of a baseball game is described. Borrowing the nocturnal pattern from Margaret Wise Brown’s Goodnight Moon (1947), the young boy ends his baseball-filled day saying goodnight to the teams and continues with “Goodnight, diamond. Goodnight grass/ Goodnight, home plate/ where each runner ran past.” (pp. 19 & 20). After reading this book aloud, teachers might pose the question to students about a big day they themselves experienced and how they would say goodnight to the many things that they encountered during that special day. Readers can enjoy a book trailer at the publisher’s website. 

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

 

Fandel, Jennifer. (2012). You can write awesome stories. Mankato, MN: Capstone Press.

Perfect for beginning writers or even those who are a little bit older but lack confidence about being able to write, this book offers tips for how to tell a story effectively. The author briefly covers essential writing topics such as character development, setting, plot, mood, and dialogue as well as how to add details to a story. The author reminds readers that it’s important to grab readers’ attention from the beginning of the story, but as important as the way a story starts may be, the ending is also important. For each topic, there is an example and an exercise for would-be writers to try out. This is a good introductory text even though it is not comprehensive in its scope. Writing teachers can use the exercises as starting places upon which they can build with their own examples and lessons.

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

 

Ganeri, Anita. (2012). Action words: Verbs. Mankato, MN: Heinemann Library.

Writers, especially those who are just learning to practice their craft, are always looking for words to use in their writing. Part of a series on different parts of speech and words that can add vibrancy to writing, this introductory book provides an explanation of the role of grammar in writing and then offers a brief tutorial on verbs, including examples exploring verb tense and active and passive verbs. The author even acknowledges that passive sentence construction may function in a more gentle way than active construction; for instance, “The boy hit the ball” may be a stronger sentence than “the ball was hit by the boy,” but there are times when passive construction is more appropriate. The book contains examples in simple sentences accompanied by photographs that help young writers understand this important part of speech. Although brief, the book covers a lot of ground. Teachers will want to use this title as a starting place before introducing even more examples of how verbs can enliven sentences.

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

 

Nunn, Daniel. (2013). True or false? Seasons; True or false? Colors; True or false? Farm animals; True or false? Transportation; True or false? Weather. Mankato, MN: Capstone Publishers/Raintree.

Almost everyone knows how to play the True and False game. The author has created a series of books that uses this familiar format to present the topics of season, colors, farm animals, transportation and weather. Each book begins with a statement such as: “The Seasons. A season is a period of time. The year is divided into four seasons. How much do YOU know about the seasons?” (p. 4). Each book then launches into statements, or sometimes misconceptions, about the topic. The bottom of each page has a large red and green box asking readers to decide if the statement is true or false. The following page holds the answer as well as explanatory statements. For teachers who are looking for early research activities with young students, this nonfiction series provides a mentor text series of books that will guide the reading and research of primary age students.

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Parish, Peggy. (1963). Amelia Bedelia. Illus. by Fritz Siebel. New York: Harper and Row.

For fifty years, teachers have been using the many Amelia Bedelia books, including this one, as mentor texts to illustrate vocabulary, idioms, homonyms, and homophones as Amelia and her feather duster share her hilarious mix-up of words and expressions. This year HarperCollins has prepared a 50th Birthday celebration of the character and book that started it all. Teachers can enjoy the downloadable party kit “friend” Amelia on Facebook or Twitter. There are Amelia Bedelia books for a plethora of occasions and everyday situations. Although the book’s originator died in 1988, her nephew Herman Parish picked up the family trade and continued writing the Amelia Bedelia stories. There are numerous videos available on YouTube depicting many, many of the Amelia books through book talks, book trailers, and full readings of her stories.

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

 

Shapiro, David. (2013). Tool. Time. Twist. A brief history of tools through time. Illus. by Christopher Herndon. Portland, OR: Craigmore Creations.

Teachers who are looking for a way to introduce simple machines might like to start with this interesting approach to the history of tools, in addition to trying this particular format as a writing prompt or mentor text. Each double-page spread introduces a tool chronologically according to when the tool was developed. Page 2 opens the history with “What’s the tool? Sticks and stones! What’s the time? 2.5 million years ago!” Page 3 continues the chronology, “What’s the twist? Humans and our ancestors are not the only ones to use tools. Otters, octopuses, chimpanzees, and crows have all been known to use them too.” The format is launched, and the Tool Time Twist begins. This writing pattern could be applied to any nonfiction topic as guided research for information.

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

 

GRADES  3-5

 

Asselin, Kristine Carlson. (2013). Think for yourself: Avoiding plagiarism. Mankato, MN: Capstone Press.

After defining what plagiarism is for those who may not know or who may regard copying someone’s words as a form of flattery, the author offers suggestions about how to avoid it and why someone else's work cannot be used without crediting the source. This is an excellent introductory text on plagiarism since students often start writing reports during the early years of school. A unit on report writing and research would be remiss if it failed to address this particular topic since even many college students don't realize what plagiarism is, why it's wrong, and its possible consequences. Colorful photographs showing young scholars hard at work accompany the text, part of the Research Tool Kit: Think for Yourself series, the titles of which provide support for academic writing lessons, even on an introductory level.

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

 

Florian, Douglas. (2012). UnBEElievables. New York: Simon & Schuster/Beach Lane Books.

Using poetry as an entrance point to science, nonfiction, or nature is not new. The poet however creates a word-filled world brimming with the warmth of the sun and the variety of a garden, peppered with rhymes that are fun to hear and say, and yes, interesting information in the book’s pages. Readers are introduced to the bee’s world and its various parts, the hive, anatomy, queen bee, drone, worker bees, the bee dance, life cycle, swarm, the pollen and honey. Much of the poetry and information can be discussed with students, read aloud, or used to inspire drawings.  This is also a great mentor text for students working on projects involving bees or any life cycle. The book is perfect for an entire class project (where students choose to do a small bit of the whole) or a small group project (where students get to do a part that is of interest to them). Students can practice writing poetry and non-fiction passages by following the text styles. This book is a great addition for classrooms dedicated to exploring the world around us.

- Rani Iyer, Washington State University Pullman

 

Guillain, Charlotte. (2012). Jobs if you like reading and writing. Mankato, MN: Heinemann Educational Books.

As is the case with the other titles in this series, this entry in the Jobs if You Like...series encourages young readers to draw upon their skills and interests as they consider the right jobs for them later in life. It’s never too early to begin preparing for a career. Someone who enjoys reading and writing, for instance, might enjoy being a librarian, a journalist, an editor, a bookseller, a translator, or a web content manager, among the other careers listed in the book. The author explains how reading and writing skills are useful in those fields and then includes a table that describes the best part of each job. Some of the jobs such as acting are jobs that many readers will not have linked to reading and writing. The photographs that accompany the text show all sorts of individuals enjoying what they are doing. Maybe with a little more foresight and preparation, more adults will enjoy their own lifework. This book might provide a gentle nudge in the right direction.

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

 

Hopkins, Jackie Mims. (2013). Prairie Chicken Little. Illus. by Henry Cole. Atlanta, GA: Peachtree Publications.

What happens when you cross a Chicken Little story with a new ecosystem? You get a variant on the original Chicken Little story, but this time there is an unexpected “rumbling and a grumbling and a tumbling” (p.1). Mary McBlicken, the prairie chicken, is “out on the grasslands where bison roam” (p.1) when she hears these outrageous sounds, fears “A stampede’s a coming” (p.2), and hightails it back to the ranch. On her frantic trek she runs into her friends the prairie dog, the jackrabbit, the meadowlark, and then … Slim Brody, the sly coyote. Slim helpfully offers to show the prairie friends a shortcut to the ranch. As young readers will predict, Slim is up to no good. Teachers will want to share other versions of the Chicken Little story such as Rebecca Emberley’s Chicken Little (Roaring Brook Press, 2009) or Steven Kellogg’s Chicken Little (HarperCollins, 1985). Teachers might also like to introduce Prairie Chicken Little with this video rendition. They might want to connect a short science lesson with a photograph and paragraph about the endangered Prairie Chicken. 

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

 

Marsalis, Wynton. (2012). Squeak, rumble, whomp! Whomp! Whomp!: A sonic adventure. Illus. by Paul Rogers. Somerville, MA: Candlewick.

With several distinctive visual and textual references to the sights, sounds, and flavors of New Orleans, this picture book illustrates how much rhythm can be found in everyone’s daily lives. A boy starts off his morning by opening a back door with its familiar squeak and pauses a moment to savor the sounds that typify his home and neighborhood. As he follows the routines of the day, he hears music in the simple act of buttering toast or the sounds made by a barber's clippers gliding along his now-smooth and close-cropped head. The various sounds are interesting enough in their own right, but when they all come together in a cacophony of notes on the book's last pages, readers will be tempted to tap out some beats of their own. This is a great read aloud title filled with several examples of onomatopoeia for budding writers and musicians. The ink illustrations that were finished digitally allow the sounds to receive attention as they move across the book's pages in harmony.

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

 

Rissman, Rebecca. (2012). Be the best at writing. Mankato, MN: Heinemann/ Raintree.

This helpful writing primer provides several simple but effective tips on how to be a better writer. Late elementary and early middle graders will find it helpful to be reminded of the importance of purpose and audience when they choose words for their written pieces as well as the necessity to narrow their focus before they begin a piece. The author even makes suggestions about preparing and polishing a paper so that it looks finished before turning it in and how to get organized before writing or studying. For instance, it’s a good idea to gather all the necessary materials, including snacks, before beginning to write. The tips that have been provided are also tested throughout the book as readers have a chance to respond to a question about writing after each tip section.

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

 

Salas, Laura Purdie. (2011). Picture yourself writing poetry: Using photos to inspire writing. Mankato, MN: Capstone Press.

Teachers and budding writers can find lots of advice on poetry writing in this book. Even if they choose not to write poetry but to use the photographs or exercises as writing prompts, so much the better. Topics range from choosing a topic or focus for a poem to enhancing a piece by adding sensory details, moody verbs, unexpected words, unusual characters, and even arranging words on a page to create the intended effect. The author even discusses concrete poems and provides brief examples of all the techniques being explored in the book. This is a great writing primer, filled with ideas teachers can use with little modification. Readers will wish for even more tips, examples, and full-page photographs to inspire writers. This title is sure to build confidence in even the most inexperienced writing teacher.

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

These reviews are submitted by members of the International Reading Association's Children's Literature and Reading Special Interest Group (CL/R SIG) and are published weekly on Reading Today Online. The International Reading Association partners with the National Council of Teachers of English and Verizon Thinkfinity to produce ReadWriteThink.org, a website devoted to providing literacy instruction and interactive resources for grades K–12.