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It seems that these are dire times. That hate, anger, and rage against others is more than the norm than ever. I can tell you, going home to Denmark, many friends have asked me; what in the world is happening in America? At times, it feels as if we are judged as a nation by the very loud actions of a few and so it comes down to the rest of us, those whose voices are for some reason not being heard to make sure that the America we know is one of love, of hope, of kindness. A place where all can exist unafraid. What better way to spread more kindness, love, and hope in the world with a few great picture books?

While not out until February 2018, I wish by Pat Zietlow Miller and illustrated by Jen Hill would be the very first read aloud in every single classroom. We are so quick to tell children to be kind, but do they really know what that means?
If you like what you read here, consider reading my newest book, Passionate Readers - The Art of Reaching and Engaging Every Child, out August 2017. This book focuses on the five keys we can implement into any reading community to strengthen student reading experiences, even within the 45 minute English block. If you are looking for solutions and ideas for how to re-engage all of your students consider reading my very first book Passionate Learners - How to Engage and Empower Your Students. Also, if you are wondering where I will be in the coming year or would like to have me speak, please see this page.

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Great Picture Books to Inspire Hope in the World

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It seems that these are dire times. That hate, anger, and rage against others is more than the norm than ever. I can tell you, going home to Denmark, many friends have asked me; what in the world is happening in America? At times, it feels as if we are judged as a nation by...

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When students enter the classroom at the first of the year, a lot of schools are spending days/weeks on ensuring respect, understanding, and creating a classroom culture of family. To do this more effectively and spark conversation, I have learned that opening each year with a book that touches on character traits such as respecting and accepting one another, I have found that students refer back to that book/books the rest of the year. Here are my top ten middle grade books to do as read alouds in the first couple of weeks in grades 3-6.

A Whole New Ballgame by Phil Bildner

A Whole New Ballgame is all about change and how that can be for the better. Rip & Red are experiencing major changes during their 5 th grade year. New staff, new homeroom teacher, new coach... as much as changes can be for the worst, they learn that it can also be a very positive thing. AWNB can set the tone for teamwork and how important it is to work together as a class team. Great for 3 rd/4 th grade students!

Posted by John David Anderson

The whole school is turned upside down when cell phones are banned. A new girl comes and interrupts a tribe of 4 boys who have been close friends for years. Then sticky notes start to be the main source of communication amongst students, only to be banned later. This is a story of the importance of words and how imprinting the use of them can be, both positive and negative. This is the read aloud I plan for the beginning of 5 th grade year to have discussions on how to choose our words wisely.

Sticks & Stones by Abby Cooper

Sticks & Stones puts a fantasy twist on a story about a girl who has words appear on her body when they are negatively said about her. The twist is that even if she thinks badly about herself, those words also appear on her skin... and they itch. Once again, this is a great novel to use for students to have discussions on the importance of positive self talk as well as positive remarks to others.

Stargirl by Jerry Spinnelli

When I was in middle school, Stargirl is the book that allowed me to understand that being different/weird is totally okay. This book saved me. Too many students, especially girls, seem to conform to what others want them to be, yet in Stargirl she has to learn and accept that being normal is being yourself.

Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

As a teacher, this book is something that I hope all students who have difficulties in anything academically read. Fish in a Tree is a fantastic novel about a young girl who has been able to "slide by" her teachers for many years until one teacher realizes that it's not that she's dumb or doesn't understand, but that she has dyslexia, which is nothing to be ashamed of. Ally discovers there's a lot more to yourself than just a label.

Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt

This story is primarily for older middle grade students, but I think it would be a fantastic start for those who know they have students dealing with family issues that my feel alone. This opens eyes to those that what you see on the outside only graces the surface of someone. This book not only will touch you deeply, but it will allow some intense deep thinking conversations amongst students.

Restart by Gordon Kormon

Restart is all about a young boy, Chase, who experiences an accident that leaves him in the hospital not remembering a single thing. Most of all, never remembering that HE was the bully. He doesn't understand why some are afraid of him and why some people hate him. This is a book that really made me think even as a young adult about my actions that I may have been blind to. I think it's a great start for 5 th/6 th graders who are starting to find their way but may need some understanding of bad ways that young kids can go.

Rules by Cynthia Lord

I feel like Rules is a classic in the acceptance department of books. Catherine in the story wants to be normal, but her life is far from normal. She has a brother with autism and her entire families lives revolve around him. She goes through the story developing friendships and finding acceptance and realizing that normal is not the same in everyone's world. Great for 4 th-5 th grade students.

Wishtree by Katherine Applegate

Applegate's newest novel is told from the tree's point of view. It's a great story about how actions and words mean so much, but so does being silent. In a world where the tree never speaks to humans, he finds himself in a predicament where he NEEDS to speak up. This is a great story for 3 rd-5 th graders to open up discussions on why speaking up for other's is important and why staying silent can sometimes be the worse end of the stick.

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Wonder. The book of the decade. In a world where everyone is focused on material things it seems, and how looks and self appearance really start to be a "thing" in middle grades, Wonder provides students comfort in knowing that there is no perfect way to look, and that differences are what make you who you are. All grades can't go wrong with Wonder. There are so many conversations to be held reading this novel aloud.
Cassie Thomas is a 5th grade reading teacher and blogger who shares her love of reading for a living with students and blogs about her book recommendations to teachers at TeachersWhoRead.com. She lives in Cibolo, TX, with her husband and son and stacks of books in every room that need to find their own home on a shelf. She can be found on Twitter @mrs_cmt1489.

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Top Ten MG Books to Use as Read Alouds Beginning of Year by Cassie Thomas

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When students enter the classroom at the first of the year, a lot of schools are spending days/weeks on ensuring respect, understanding, and creating a classroom culture of family. To do this more effectively and spark conversation, I have learned that opening each year with a book that touches on character traits such as respecting...

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My 3rd novel, Scar Island, will be released January 3rd, 2017! It's a gripping, gritty adventure of survival and unlikely friendship. Here's the official summary:

"Jonathan Grisby is the newest arrival at the Slabhenge Reformatory School for Troubled Boys-an ancient, crumbling fortress of gray stone rising up from the ocean. It is dark, damp, and dismal. And it is just the place Jonathan figures he deserves.
Because Jonathan has done something terrible. And he's willing to accept whatever punishment he has coming.
Just as he's getting used to his new situation, however, a freak accident leaves the troubled boys of Slabhenge without any adult supervision. Suddenly the kids are free, with an entire island to themselves. But freedom brings unexpected danger. And if Jonathan can't come to terms with the sins of his past and lead his new friends to safety... then every boy on the island is doomed."

Scar Island received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews, and School Library Journal called it "a poignant, action-packed story." Grab it at your favorite local bookstore, or at any of these places:

INDIEBOUND BARNES & NOBLE AMAZON iTUNES

My second book, Some Kind of Courage, came out in January, 2016. It's a rugged, white-knuckle historical western adventure. Here's a summary:

" Joseph Johnson has lost just about everyone he's ever loved. He lost his pa in an accident. He lost his ma and his little sister to sickness. And now, he's lost his pony-fast, fierce, beautiful Sarah, taken away by a man who had no right to take her.
Joseph can sure enough get her back, though. The odds are stacked against him, but he isn't about to give up. He will face down deadly animals, dangerous men, and the fury of nature itself on his quest to be reunited with the only family he has left.
Because Joseph Johnson may have lost just about everything. But he hasn't lost hope. And he hasn't lost the fire in his belly that says he's getting his Sarah back-no matter what. "

Some Kind of Courage received starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews and Booklist, and was an Amazon Book of the Month. The audiobook version won an Earphones Award from AudioFile Magazine. Grab it at your favorite local bookstore, or at any of these places:

INDIEBOUND BARNES & NOBLE AMAZON iTUNES

My debut middle grade book, The Honest Truth, came out in January 2015! It's a moving, fast-paced adventure about a boy, his dog, and the adventure of a lifetime. Here's the gist:

" In all the ways that matter, Mark is a normal kid. He's got a dog named Beau and a best friend, Jessie. He likes to take photos and write haiku poems in his notebook. He dreams of climbing a mountain one day. IBut in one important way, Mark is not like other kids at all. Mark is sick. The kind of sick that means hospitals. And treatments. The kind of sick some people never get better from. So Mark runs away. He leaves home with his camera, his notebook, his dog, and a plan. A plan to reach the top of Mount Rainier. Even if it's the last thing he ever does. The Honest Truth is a rare and extraordinary novel about big questions, small moments, and one incredible journey."

The Honest Truth is a very important book to me. It was an ABA Kids' Indies Next Pick, an Amazon Book of the Month, and received a starred review from Publisher's Weekly. I hope you enjoy it.

It is available in hardcover, paperback, as an ebook, as an audiobook CD, or a digital audiobook. You can buy it from your local independent bookstore, or by clicking any of these links:

INDIEBOUND BARNES & NOBLE AMAZON iTUNES

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My 3rd novel, Scar Island, will be released January 3rd, 2017! It's a gripping, gritty adventure of survival and unlikely friendship. Here's the official summary: "Jonathan Grisby is the newest arrival at the Slabhenge Reformatory School for Troubled Boys-an ancient, crumbling fortress of gray stone rising up from the ocean.

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What's the best college in the US?

What about the best car?

Best stereo speakers? Best pizza?

The answer is always the same: It depends.

People hate that. "It depends" puts you on the hook, requires you to have priorities and a point of view.

A forced ranking is freeing. It tells you exactly what to expect, and if things don't work out, well, blame the system. A forced ranking brings status along with it, because, apparently, if you care enough or are rich enough to have the best, then you must be the best.

When we compress 100 variables into just one linear measure, we add enormous amounts of editorial tweaking and lose a ton of nuance. If you want to study aeronautical engineering, Harvard isn't going to be a good choice. If you're gluten-free or diabetic, that pizza place might not work out so well for you. And if your definition of a good car includes safety, fuel efficiency or the ability to move your family around, that McLaren isn't going to make you happy.

Forced rankings abandon multiple variables, and they magnify differences that aren't statistically significant. "Well, there has to be one winner," they say, but of course, this isn't true. It's not a linear race, and the very concept of a single winner is forced.

When the US News college list started to get traction, plenty of college presidents spoke out in opposition. Over time, though, they discovered that being well ranked was profitable, and in an industry that touches billions of dollars a year, status leads to money and money leads to more status... Today, many colleges are intentionally gaming the system by changing what they originally stood for simply to move up.

High rankings do more than distort the behavior of those that seek to move up. High rankings attract the sort of people who don't want to discover their own 'best'. Who want to be around others that care about high rankings. Who will run to the next high rank the moment the world changes. And those that are attracted to the winner of a forced ranking change the very tenor of the place they chose. So now, that restaurant that used to be special is merely crowded. Now the company that only keeps its top performers is a horrible place to work.

The biggest problem with a forced ranking is that it's forced.

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What's the best college in the US? What about the best car? Best stereo speakers? Best pizza? The answer is always the same: It depends. People hate that. "It depends" puts you on the hook, requires you to have priorities and a point of view. A forced ranking is freeing.

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Google Community - Picture Book 10 for 10

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Google Community - Picture Book 10 for 10

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New community features for Google Chat and an update on Currents

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Note: This blog post outlines upcoming changes to Google Currents for Workspace users. For information on the previous deprecation of Googl…

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What is a multiple?

How do multiples get used in everyday life?

How can you determine a number's multiples?

Find it out

Who was Mary Anning?

What did Mary Anning discover?

What is Jurassic Coast?

Find it out

Have you ever tasted an Arab taco?

When was the Arab taco invented?

What is shawarma?

Find it out

How are currency exchange rates determined?

What was the gold standard?

Which type of currency exchange rate system does the U.S. use?

Find it out
Which of the following is usually NOT a factor in determining currency exchange rates?

Test your knowledge

How can I use Wonderopolis?

What are the parts of a Wonder?

How do writers make a Wonder?

Find it out

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Where the Wonders of Learning Never Cease | Wonderopolis

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Where the Wonders of Learning Never Cease

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A meeting place for a world of reflective writers.

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Tony and Scott asked a few teachers, media specialists and other participants of March Book Madness 2017 to write a blog post documenting their MBM experience. Here is one of those blog posts......

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Do you like to read true stories about animals? If you do then you should check out Ivan : The Remarkable True Story of the Shopping Mall Gorilla by Katherine Applegate. The story is about a gorilla named Ivan who was captured in the wild and sent to a shopping mall in Washington. He lived there alone for many years. Read to find out what happened in Ivan's life.

Ivan's home in the shopping mall.

In our opinion, we think e Remarkable True Story of the Shopping Mall Gorilla is a really good book. To start with, this book had lots of emotion in it. At some points in the book you are sad and at other times happy. Another reason is the book had amazing illustrations. You can tell what is happening by looking at the detailed illustrations. Finally, the author used descriptive language. For example, the author wrote, "In leafy calm and gentle arms a gorilla's life began." As you can see, he Remarkable True Story of the Shopping Mall Gorilla, is a great book that we think you should read.

Book Review by Mrs. Hayes' Second Grade Class

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Learning, Growing and Reflecting Educator

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I started this blog to help me capture and reflect on the learning that takes place alongside my students. I enjoy reading a variety of books and I love to share books with others. I will blog about books I use in my classroom and professional books that push my thinking.

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Happy Monday! Just One Flake , written and illustrated by Travis Jonker, releases tomorrow. I'm grateful Travis stopped by to finish my sentences. We discussed Just One Flake 's book trailer, Liam, Pete's a Pizza , and more. I wrote the words in purple, and Travis wrote the words in black . Thank you, Travis ! Just One Flake' s book trailer fulfills my life goal of using the 2001: A Space Odyssey music for a completely silly purpose. Design Credit: Heather Kelly Just One Flake tells the story of a boy named Liam who has one goal: to catch a snowflake on his tongue. His attempts get increasingly ridiculous, with no success. In the end, Liam doesn't get exactly what he wants - he gets something even better. The whole story came out of a spontaneous drawing I made on February 6, 2021: Just One Flake's illustrations were made with a brush pen on watercolor paper, scanned, and then painted digitally. This is my author/illustrator debut, and before I began, I made a list of

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Exploring Children's Literature through Interviews and Book Trailers

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Disclaimer: All blog posts, opinions, grammatical errors, and spelling mistakes are our own.

Franki and Mary Lee are both teachers, and have been for more than 20 years.

Franki is a fifth grade teacher. She is the author of Beyond Leveled Books (Stenhouse), Still Learning to Read (Stenhouse), and Day-to-Day Assessment in the Reading Workshop (Scholastic).

Mary Lee is a fifth grade teacher. She is the author of Reconsidering Read-Aloud (Stenhouse) and has poems in the Poetry Friday Anthology, the Poetry Friday Anthology for Middle School, the Poetry Friday Anthology for Science, the Poetry Friday Anthology for Celebrations ( Pomelo Books), Dear Tomato: An International Crop of Food and Agriculture Poems, National Geographic Books of Nature Poems, The Best of Today's Little Ditty (2014-15 and 2016), Amy Ludwig VanDerwater's Poems are Teachers, National Geographic's The Poetry of US, and IMPERFECT: Poems About Mistakes.

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Disclaimer: All blog posts, opinions, grammatical errors, and spelling mistakes are our own. Franki and Mary Lee are both teachers, and have been for more than 20 years. Franki is a fifth grade teacher. She is the author of Beyond Leveled Books (Stenhouse), Still Learning to Read (Stenhouse), and Day-to-Day Assessment in the Reading Workshop (Scholastic).