BOOK TALK
Book talks are short, orally presented invitations to open the covers and read. They should inform and entice prospective readers. Book Talks are often used by teachers to introduce students to the literature of an instructional unit or to selections available for independent reading in classrooms. For my Book Talk I presented two books that shared the same theme of World War II and The Holocaust.
Hiding Edith by Kathy Kacer
Hiding Edith tells the true story of Edith Schwalb, a young Jewish Girl sent to live in a safe house after the Nazi invasion of France. Edith's story is remarkable not only for her own bravery, but for the bravery of those that helped her: an entire village, including its mayor and citizenry, heroically conspired to conceal the presence of hundreds of Jewish children who lived in the safe house. The children went to the local school, roamed the streets and ate good food, all withot having to worry about concealing their Jewish identity. And during Nazi raids, the children camped out until the coast was clear.
I would use this novel in a Grade 4 Novel Study to help integrate sensitive topics into my classroom and allow for great discussion on how the world has changed from then to now.
Hiding Edith tells the true story of Edith Schwalb, a young Jewish Girl sent to live in a safe house after the Nazi invasion of France. Edith's story is remarkable not only for her own bravery, but for the bravery of those that helped her: an entire village, including its mayor and citizenry, heroically conspired to conceal the presence of hundreds of Jewish children who lived in the safe house. The children went to the local school, roamed the streets and ate good food, all withot having to worry about concealing their Jewish identity. And during Nazi raids, the children camped out until the coast was clear.
I would use this novel in a Grade 4 Novel Study to help integrate sensitive topics into my classroom and allow for great discussion on how the world has changed from then to now.
One Thousand Tracings, Healing the Wounds of World War II
Written and Illustrated by Lita Judge
One Thousand Tracings tells that story. In the aftermath of World War II a family in America established contact with a family in Germany and to help them sent them supplies, including shoes. The German family was extremely grateful and asked if their American friends would help others in Europe. Soon shoe tracings from all over the continent started pouring in to the modest Midwest farm. The network of families helping from the U.S. started to grow so that ultimately hundreds of people on both sides of the Atlantic were touched by this remarkable process.
I would integrate this story into a Grade 3 Social Studies unit to teach the ideas of community and helping others. Below is the PDF version for my Teaching Plan I developed for this book.
Written and Illustrated by Lita Judge
One Thousand Tracings tells that story. In the aftermath of World War II a family in America established contact with a family in Germany and to help them sent them supplies, including shoes. The German family was extremely grateful and asked if their American friends would help others in Europe. Soon shoe tracings from all over the continent started pouring in to the modest Midwest farm. The network of families helping from the U.S. started to grow so that ultimately hundreds of people on both sides of the Atlantic were touched by this remarkable process.
I would integrate this story into a Grade 3 Social Studies unit to teach the ideas of community and helping others. Below is the PDF version for my Teaching Plan I developed for this book.
Teaching Plan.pdf | |
File Size: | 192 kb |
File Type: |
Literature fair
On September 26th, the Faculty of Education organized a Literature Fair for PSI students to attend. The fair started off with a wonderful guest speaker, Kathy Kacer. Kathy talked about how to address and integrate books with sensitive topics into your classroom. She also briefly talked about some of the books she has wrote that focus on different true stories during World War II.
The rest of the morning was spent attending different break out sessions where we were introduced to many great books that we could use in our future classrooms. Below are some books that interested me and would love to own one day.
The rest of the morning was spent attending different break out sessions where we were introduced to many great books that we could use in our future classrooms. Below are some books that interested me and would love to own one day.
EXPLORING MUSIC THROUGH LITERATURE
The Conductor by Laetitia Devernay
Pairing two seemingly disparate elements an orchestra conductor and a grove of trees award-winning artist Laetitia Devernay herself orchestrates a visual magnum opus. Her spare, yet intricate, illustrations truly appear to take flight before our eyes and her wordless narrative nearly roars with sound as the conductor prompts the leaves to rustle, then whirl, then swirl to unexpected life with each turn of the page. It is a celebration of creativity, imagination, storytelling, and the renewing power of nature that will entrance readers of every age.
A beautiful wordless picture book that would be a great book to integrate literature into a Music class to teach students about what a conductor is and does. I can also see this book being used in a Science class in being aware of your environment due to the beautiful pictures of trees.
Pairing two seemingly disparate elements an orchestra conductor and a grove of trees award-winning artist Laetitia Devernay herself orchestrates a visual magnum opus. Her spare, yet intricate, illustrations truly appear to take flight before our eyes and her wordless narrative nearly roars with sound as the conductor prompts the leaves to rustle, then whirl, then swirl to unexpected life with each turn of the page. It is a celebration of creativity, imagination, storytelling, and the renewing power of nature that will entrance readers of every age.
A beautiful wordless picture book that would be a great book to integrate literature into a Music class to teach students about what a conductor is and does. I can also see this book being used in a Science class in being aware of your environment due to the beautiful pictures of trees.
Can You Hear It? by William Lach
In association with The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Similar to Abrams best-selling series, Can You Find It?, in this book, young readers are introduced to great music through great works of art. From "The Flight of the Bumblee" to "The Four Seasons" to "Night on Bald Mountain," beloved music is illustrated by great works of art, and the text and accompanying CD urge young readers to listen for certain instruments. Can you hear the car horns honking, played by clarinets? Can you hear the horses' hooves, played by castanets? When each CD track is played, young readers will stop, look, and listen as never before.
A wonderful pairing between beautiful art work and orchestral classics that could be a wonderful introduction to interpreting music or even introducing students to different art styles in an Art Class.
In association with The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Similar to Abrams best-selling series, Can You Find It?, in this book, young readers are introduced to great music through great works of art. From "The Flight of the Bumblee" to "The Four Seasons" to "Night on Bald Mountain," beloved music is illustrated by great works of art, and the text and accompanying CD urge young readers to listen for certain instruments. Can you hear the car horns honking, played by clarinets? Can you hear the horses' hooves, played by castanets? When each CD track is played, young readers will stop, look, and listen as never before.
A wonderful pairing between beautiful art work and orchestral classics that could be a wonderful introduction to interpreting music or even introducing students to different art styles in an Art Class.
ENRICHING MATHEMATICS WITH LITERATURE
One Is a Snail Ten Is a Crab by April Pulley and Jeff Sayre
If one is a snail and two is a person, we must be counting by feet! Just follow the sign to the beach, where a bunch of fun-loving crabs, lounging dogs, gleeful insects, and bewildered-looking snails obligingly offer their feet for counting in a number of silly, surprising combinations - from one to one hundred!
If one is a snail and two is a person, we must be counting by feet! Just follow the sign to the beach, where a bunch of fun-loving crabs, lounging dogs, gleeful insects, and bewildered-looking snails obligingly offer their feet for counting in a number of silly, surprising combinations - from one to one hundred!
Sir Cumference and the First Round Table by Cindy Neudchwander and Wayne Geehan
King Arthur was a good ruler, but in this math adventure he needs a good ruler. Geometry is explained with humor in SIR CUMFERENCE AND THE FIRST ROUND TABLE, making it fun and accessible for beginners. What would you do if the neighboring kingdom were threatening war? Naturally, you'd call your strongest and bravest knights together to come up with a solution. But when your conference table causes more problems than the threat of your enemy, you need expert help. Enter Sir Cumference, his wife Lady Di of Ameter, and their son Radius. With the help of the carpenter, Geo of Metry, this sharp-minded team designs the perfect table conducive to discussing the perfect peace plan. Thanks to Sir Cumference, even the most hesitant will be romancing math.
Who would of thought there would be books about math!? Both above books I was introduced to in this break out session would be a great way to integrate literature into your Math class and introduce some complex topics.
King Arthur was a good ruler, but in this math adventure he needs a good ruler. Geometry is explained with humor in SIR CUMFERENCE AND THE FIRST ROUND TABLE, making it fun and accessible for beginners. What would you do if the neighboring kingdom were threatening war? Naturally, you'd call your strongest and bravest knights together to come up with a solution. But when your conference table causes more problems than the threat of your enemy, you need expert help. Enter Sir Cumference, his wife Lady Di of Ameter, and their son Radius. With the help of the carpenter, Geo of Metry, this sharp-minded team designs the perfect table conducive to discussing the perfect peace plan. Thanks to Sir Cumference, even the most hesitant will be romancing math.
Who would of thought there would be books about math!? Both above books I was introduced to in this break out session would be a great way to integrate literature into your Math class and introduce some complex topics.
READ THIS, REPLACE THAT: BOOKS YOU WISH YOUR HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER HAD YOU READ
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
A beautiful and distinguished family.
A private island.
A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate,
political boy.
A group of four friends—the Liars—whose friendship turns destructive.
A revolution. An accident. A secret.
Lies upon lies.
True love.
The truth.
We Were Liars is a modern, sophisticated suspense novel from National Book Award finalist and Printz Award honoree E. Lockhart.
A beautiful and distinguished family.
A private island.
A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate,
political boy.
A group of four friends—the Liars—whose friendship turns destructive.
A revolution. An accident. A secret.
Lies upon lies.
True love.
The truth.
We Were Liars is a modern, sophisticated suspense novel from National Book Award finalist and Printz Award honoree E. Lockhart.
The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider
Varsity tennis captain, Ezra Faulkner, was supposed to be homecoming king, but that was before—before his girlfriend cheated on him, before a car accident shattered his leg, and before he fell in love with unpredictable new girl Cassidy Thorpe.
Funny, smart, and including everything from flash mobs to blanket forts to a poodle who just might be the reincarnation of Jay Gatsby, The Beginning of Everything is a refreshing contemporary twist on the classic coming-of-age novel—a heart-wrenching story about how difficult it is to play the part that people expect, and how new beginnings can stem from abrupt and tragic endings.
Why not let your students read books they are actually interested in on current topics that students can relate to. Although there are those classic books that everyone should read, both above books I would include in a High School English Novel Study.
Varsity tennis captain, Ezra Faulkner, was supposed to be homecoming king, but that was before—before his girlfriend cheated on him, before a car accident shattered his leg, and before he fell in love with unpredictable new girl Cassidy Thorpe.
Funny, smart, and including everything from flash mobs to blanket forts to a poodle who just might be the reincarnation of Jay Gatsby, The Beginning of Everything is a refreshing contemporary twist on the classic coming-of-age novel—a heart-wrenching story about how difficult it is to play the part that people expect, and how new beginnings can stem from abrupt and tragic endings.
Why not let your students read books they are actually interested in on current topics that students can relate to. Although there are those classic books that everyone should read, both above books I would include in a High School English Novel Study.