The Watsons go to Birmingham

The Watsons go to Birmingham by Chrsistopher Paul Curtis

Book Genre: Historical Fiction

Publishing Info: Yearling books 1995

Awards or honors received: Newberry Honor Book, Coretta Scott King Award

Summary: This novel begins with a family called the "weird Watsons" sitting around in their living room freezing cold in Flint, Michigan. The family consist of a mother that is originally from Alabama, a dad, an oldest brother Bryon, a middle brother Kenny, and their youngest sister Joletta. The story follows their life as they deal with Bryon always causing trouble and getting into some kind of messes. The mother and father finally decide that they have had enough when Bryon comes home with a new hairdo that he knows his parents will not approve of. They decide to take Bryon to Alabama to spend the summer with his grandmother. Once in Alabama the children realize what a different world they have entered. Living in Flint the children never experienced any racial issues or segregation. Kenny also decides to be the rebelous child for once and go to the "Whool Pool" that his parents forbid him to go to. He ends up almost drowning, but Bryon ends up saving him. Later on Joletta ends up being at the church when the bombing happens. Kenny feels very upset that he did not protect his younger sister. When the family returns to Flint Kenny has a really hard time adjusting. He becomes very depressed and it's finally Bryon that helps Kenny be able to put it all behind him and move on. Throughout the story you see the characters change, especially Bryon and Kenny. Bryon struggles with getting rid of his hard outer shell and really showing his more caring and sensitive side while Kenny struggles with finding his place within his family and being brave.

Personal rating and reason for rating: Good book for middle school aged (especially african american students and it really gains the interest of teenage boys)

Reading level: 5.0

Interest level: 5th-8th grade

Possible uses of the text in integrated units of study (reading and writing across the curriculum): It was funny that David presented on this book last night because it was my last book that I just finished reading yesterday. I agree with all his activities that he suggested, but I thought that you could incoroporate map skills and have the students trace their route from Flint to Alabama that the family takes. Also the students could pick a character and role play one of the scenes in the book, because their are so many that are funny that it would be a very fun and engaging activity for the students.

Potential Problems or Difficulties: the topic of segregation would need to be covered before reading, along with discussions about Civil Rights. There are also a few places throughout the novel where bad language is used.

Hope Was Here

Hope Was Here by Joan Bauer

Book Genre: fiction
Publishing Info: Penguin Putnam Books, 186 pgs.
Awards or honors received: Newberry Honor Book

Summary: This book is about a girl who changed her name from Tulip to Hope, because her real mother did not want the responsibility of raising a child. She moves in with her Aunt Addie who lives in New York until one day she finds out that they have to move to Wisconsin because Addie had to get a new job. Throughout the book Hope and Addie have to learn to believe in themselves and to never give up. They face many struggles throughout their life but in the end they always had faith and overcame whatever obstacles they were faced with. When they get to Wisconsin they both get jobs working at the Welcome Stairways Diner. They meet a special man named GT Stoop that helps the girls out and becomes an important man in their lives. GT has lukemeia, which hurts his chances when he decides to run for major. Addie ends up falling in love with GT and Hope meets a young man named Braveman that she falls for and ends up going off to college with at the end of the book. I think the author shoud write a sequel that follows Hope's life to the next level.

Personal rating and reason for rating: Good book for middle school aged (especially girls)
Reading level: 5.3
Interest level: 5th-8th grade

Possible uses of the text in integrated units of study (reading and writing across the curriculum): It would be neat to read this book around election time and hold a mock election, since that is a topic that is covered in the book. Also incorporating a math lesson dealing with menus, since the majority of the story takes place in a resturant. The students could design their menu and name their entree's then describe them and add prices. The students could figure out how much the bill would be and then add tax and tip.

Potential Problems or Difficulties: Couple of curse words throughout that book, some slang words that may be difficult for the students to pronounce

The Man Who Loved Clowns

The Man Who Loved Clowns by June Rae Wood

Book Genre: Realistic Fiction
Publishing Info: G.P. Putnam's Sons New York
Awards or honors received: None noted

Summary: This book is about a young man named Punky who has down syndrome. He has a teenage cousin named Delrita that learns so much from Punky. Throughout the book they go through the heartbreak of losing Delrita's parents, who took great care of Punky. They were killed in a car crash suddenly and D.J. (what Punky calls Delrita) and Punky have to go live with their Aunt Queenie and Uncle Bert. This is a big change for Punky and DJ but they learn to adapt and actually learn to enjoy life. DJ finally decides to let someone get close to her, a little girl, named Avenelle, and lets her meet Punky. DJ has always been embrassed of Punky because he was different. DJ finally learns that Punky is a very capable human being and finally in the end when Punky passes away she sees what an impact Punky had not only on her life but on everyone he met. This is a very touching heart-felt story that makes the reader laugh and cry throughout the story.

Personal rating and reason for rating: Great book...probably one of the best I have ever read..I loved it and recommend it to anyone to read!!
Reading level: 5.1
Interest level: 5th grade through Adult

Possible uses of the text in integrated units of study (reading and writing across the curriculum): Our science classes at CMS read this book this year while studying genetics and genetic disorders. I also plan on reading it in my special education classes to help my students understand that even people with disabilities have a purpose in life and can have such an impact on others around them. I hope this book will help my students understand that everyone is different but everyone is human, who can care and love.

Potential Problems or Difficulties: The topic would need to be explained so that the students would understand some things about down syndrome and it's characteristics.

The Lottery Rose

Book Title and Author: The Lottery Rose by Irene Hunt

Book Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Publishing Info. – Berkley Publishing Corp., 185 pages

Awards or honors received:

Summary:
The book is about a young boy who was abused both mentally and physically by his mother and her boyfriend. Growing up in an unstable home being raised by an alcoholic mother with no support or love, Georgie had few friends, did poorly in school and distrusted mostly everyone. He was able to hide his feelings and find comfort in a library book filled with beautiful gardens. He won a rosebush in a grocery store lottery given to him by a lady whom he trusted. He finally found his purpose in caring for and loving through the only thing he’d ever owned, his rosebush. After an abusive night when the rescue was called, Georgie was finally taken from his mom and sent to a home for boys where he learns for the first time to feel safe, trust in others and feel loved. He also learns to give and to receive love through his experiences, giving him hope for a future in society.

Personal rating and reason for rating:
It was a great book. You could witness the difference one can make in a person’s life by caring and giving of one’s time.

Reading level: 5th grade
Interest level: 5th grade – adult

Possible uses of the text in integrated units of study:
Reading/Comparison: the rosebush and Georgie’s life

Potential Problems or difficulties: subject content may be disturbing with child abuse and violence.

A Long Way From Chicago

A Long Way From Chicago by Richard Peck
A novel in stories

Fiction, Puffin books 2000, 148 pgs.

Awards- A National Book Award Finalist, Newberry Honor Book

Summary-
This book is the prequel to Peck's novel A Year Down Yonder. It is a novel filled with stories about two children spending the summer with their grandma. This book keeps the audience engaged with humorous stories about all the interesting things Joey and Mary Alice encounter while staying with their grandma in Illinois during countless summers during their childhood. The children are not very excited about going to their "weird and different" grandma's house out in the middle of nowhere. They soon learn grandma is quite a character. She teaches her grandchildren many lessons during the summers, but not in very typical ways. Grandma comes across hard and difficult but really is nothing more than a sweet old grandma that loves her grandchildren. My favorite story in the book is the chapter titled A One-Woman Crime Wave. In this chapter Grandma is taking Joey and Mary Alice fishing. She wakes them up early one morning and tells them to get ready, except they didn't take any fishing rods only a bag of cheese. After walking for a ways, they reach a field with a fence that has a No Trespassing sign on it, Grandma takes the kids right on through the field, paying no attention to the sign. She then leads them to a boat, obviously not hers, but they all hop right in and head down the river. Joey ends up passing out as a big snake is hanging from a limb as they pass by and Mary Alice realizes they aren't really going fishing they are going to get fish from a trap that had been set. She soon realizes that is is illegal and grandma proceeds to tell them it's only illegal if you get caught. Grandma and the children end up running into a group of men on the river, one of which the boat belongs to, and after some fancy talking from grandma they all arrive back at grandma's house safely, with fish to cook for dinner. This was just another average day for grandma, as Joey and Mary Alice would soon learn.

Personal Rating- XXX GOOD
Reading Level- 5.0
Interest Level-4th-7th grade
Possible uses of integration- The novel could be read in a SS class as the setting is in the depression and there are many references to events happening during this time period. Also the student learns some interesting vocabulary words that would be considered slang during that time period. There are a lot of opportunities for writing experiences while reading this novel, such as having the students write a letter to their parents telling them about some of the things they are experiencing at their Grandma Dowdel's house.

Potential Problems- The students would have to be given the some vocabulary words before reading to ensure they would understand, since there are a lot of words used in the book that the students would be unfamiliar with due to the time period that it is set within.It would also be helpful to review what the Great Depression was and other information relating to that time period in history to give the students a better understanding of the setting.

Readers Theatre

Summary- Readers theatre provides the students the opportunity to become the characters presented in the story. Students must interpret the characters emotions and feelings and be able to make connections to the character in the story that they are portraying. The students must present the content through their voice and vocal and facial expressions. The students are exposed to a variety of literature that allows them to interpret the text and have a better understanding of the text. It is a valuable resource for english language learners because it allows them to read the text in small chunks and gain more experience reading the text aloud. This will help increase their reading fluency. Students take an active role in choosing their parts, therefore increasing their motivation in the learning process.

Steps
1. Select a script
2. Rehearse the reading
3. Stage the reading

Mandy's First Post

I am looking forward to reading different children's books and being able to share that resource with others in my class. I think it would be a helpful tool to learn how other teachers are using certain books in their classroom. I'm sure there will be many ideas and activities that I will gain through this assignment that I will be able to use in my own classroom. The thing I'm a little worried about is using an online textbook and completing each quiz after that chapter. I'm sure once I get used to using the online textbook it will be a neat experience and it seems to have many advantages.