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[Author Prev][Author Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Author Index][Thread Index] Re: Booklist help needed
Oooh, Cari . . . great question. I actually have both situations in my own classroom this year, so I've been thinking a lot about this. Incidentally, the first scenario is giving me much more trouble than the second; guess I already spend a lot of time trying to find out what that less-motivated group would want to read . . . Scenario #1: With my voracious group of readers this year, it's a constant struggle to find things that they haven't read already either on their own or in elementary school. This year, I've gone with really, really NEW books or ones that are a bit older that they may not have come across. One great thing about them, though, is since they are so motivated to read, the length of the book usually isn't as daunting. Off the top of my head, I'd go with: 1. Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech 2. The Uglies series 3. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card 4. The Misfits by James Howe 5. The Wish List by Eoin Colfer 6. Code Orange by Caroline B. Cooney 7. Life of Pi by Yann Martel 8. The Princess Bride by William Goldman 9. Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnablick 10. Skellig by David Almond Scenario #2: Here I went for some mostly shorter, more immediately engaging books. I find that either really funny or potentially gross/shocking books are great hooks for these kiddos: 1. Coraline by Neil Gaiman 2. Phineas Gage: a true story of brain science 3. Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli 4. Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World 5. Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick 6. The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick 7. Holes by Louis Sachar 8. Harris and Me by Gary Paulsen 9. Monster or The Greatest by Walter Dean Myers 10. The Underland Chronicles by Suzanne Collins 11. Of course, all the girls love Twilight, but I wouldn't put my poor 12-year-old boys through that. Imagine going through your whole adolescent life knowing you'll never be as perfect as Edward Cullen. *sigh* Wow. That felt good. Although I really felt like adding about 20 or so "Honorable Mentions", I will refrain. :) I've been meaning to come up with my own list of all the books that have been important in my life but that my kids just aren't quite ready for yet. I want to seal them and hand them out, saying "Don't open until 20th birthday" . . . Heather 6th/IL "When they tell you to grow up, they mean stop growing." - T.R. >>> Cari Spitz Ashford <minnashford@yahoo.com> 03/10/08 1:0 >>> Cari Spitz Ashford <minnashford@yahoo.com> 03/10/08 1:01 PM >>> Hi everyone! Thought I'd throw this out there to get some conversation going. Scenario #1: You have a middle school class (you chose the grade) of very avid readers. Avid meaning they like to read. Some may be advanced readers, but not necessarily. You have been asked to teach at least 2 high quality whole class novels to this group. What would be your top 10 choices? Scenario #2: You have a middle school class of reluctant readers. Reluctant meaning they don't like to read. Some may be struggling readers, but not necessarily. You have been asked to teach at least 2 high quality whole class novels to this group. What would be your top 10 choices? (Please note: these are not actual scenarios. I certainly realize that it would be great to provide choice and do lit circles, etc. But I'm just generating booklists right now, and these scenarios seem to work for what I'm looking for). THANKS SO MUCH FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN PROVIDE!! Cari Minnesota www.undomestic.blogspot.com **************It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms, and advice on AOL Money & Finance. (http://money.aol.com/tax?NCID=aolprf00030000000001) --------------------------------------------------- Thanks to the folks who help keep Interversity (and Middle-Lit) going: http://interversity.org/benefactors.html ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ --------------------------------------------------- Subscribe/Unsubscribe-> http://interversity.org/lists/middle-lit/subscribe.html
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