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Cultivating Meaningful Learning Communities through Literacy

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Units of Study Reading Link
https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=units%20of%20study%20in%20reading&epa=SEARCH_BOXhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/TCRWP.WUOS/

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Units of Study in Writing TCRWP | Facebook

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This group is for teachers and administrators to talk and share all about the units of study that you are doing in Writing Workshops!

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National Council of Teachers of English 2019
http://www2.ncte.org/resources/summer-reading/

 Council of Teachers 2018 list.http://www2.ncte.org/blog/2018/04/2018-book-recommendations-ya-adult-fiction/

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For English teachers, picking a favorite book is almost impossible! But we asked them to do exactly that during our January #NCTEchat, New Year/New Ideas. During the chat, we asked educators to share one text (poem, book, novel) that they would recommend every teacher (or student) read in 2018. As you might expect, we received HUNDREDS of wonderful recommendations!

Get ready to add to your To Be Read pile, because over the next few weeks we'll be sharing all of the recommendations we received. This week we'll be sharing recommended YA and adult fiction books. If you're wondering why you don't see some of your favorite YA novels, they might be coming in our next post about poems and verse and poetry books!

Be sure to check out the other blog posts in this series so far, professional development and children's book recommendations.

If we missed one of your favorites, be sure to let us know on Twitter! All recommendations were pulled from January's #NCTEchat archive, which you can find here.
Book descriptions are taken from the Goodreads website.
Young Adult

Turtles All the Way Down by John Green

Sixteen-year-old Aza never intended to pursue the mystery of fugitive billionaire Russell Pickett, but there's a hundred-thousand-dollar reward at stake and her Best and Most Fearless Friend, Daisy, is eager to investigate. So together they navigate the short distance and broad divides that separate them from Russell Pickett's son, Davis.

Why you should read this book: Amazing voice for mental health awareness. Friendship. Romance. An honest portrayal of a strong adolescent living with mental illness.

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez

Perfect Mexican daughters do not go away to college. And they do not move out of their parents' house after high school graduation. Perfect Mexican daughters never abandon their family. But Julia is not your perfect Mexican daughter. That was Olga's role.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, illustrated by Ellen Forney

Bestselling author Sherman Alexie tells the story of Junior, a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Determined to take his future into his own hands, Junior leaves his troubled school on the rez to attend an all-white farm town high school where the only other Indian is the school mascot.

Tyler Johnson Was Here by Jay Coles

When Marvin Johnson's twin, Tyler, goes to a party, Marvin decides to tag along to keep an eye on his brother. But what starts as harmless fun turns into a shooting, followed by a police raid.

Josef is a Jewish boy in 1930s Nazi Germany. Isabel is a Cuban girl in 1994. Mahmoud is a Syrian boy in 2015. All three young people will go on harrowing journeys in search of refuge.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.

Why you should read this book: It shows multiple perspectives of social justice. Powerful YA, good writing, and a timely topic.

by Brendan Kiely

Prestigious. Powerful. Privileged. This is Fullbrook Academy, an elite prep school where history looms in the leafy branches over its brick walkways. But some traditions upheld in its hallowed halls are profoundly dangerous.

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

Winter 1945. WWII. Four refugees. Four stories. Each one born of a different homeland; each one hunted, and haunted, by tragedy, lies, war. As thousands desperately flock to the coast in the midst of a Soviet advance, four paths converge, vying for passage aboard the Wilhelm Gustloff, a ship that promises safety and freedom. But not all promises can be kept. . . .

Justyce McAllister is top of his class and set for the Ivy League-but none of that matters to the police officer who just put him in handcuffs. And despite leaving his rough neighborhood behind, he can't escape the scorn of his former peers or the ridicule of his new classmates.

I Am Alfonso Jones by Tony Medina, illustrated by Stacey Robinson and John Jennings

Alfonso Jones can't wait to play the role of Hamlet in his school's hip-hop rendition of the classic Shakespearean play. He also wants to let his best friend, Danetta, know how he really feels about her. But as he is buying his first suit, an off-duty police officer mistakes a clothes hanger for a gun, and he shoots Alfonso.

Why you should read this book: It's a no-holds-barred story about the racial divide in our country and how we can all be a part of the solution.

Speak: The Graphic Novel by Laurie Halse Anderson, illustrated by Emily Carroll

From the first moment of her freshman year at Merryweather High, Melinda knows that "Speak up for yourself" is a big fat lie, part of the nonsense of high school. She is friendless-an outcast-because she busted an end-of-summer party by calling the cops, so now nobody will talk to her, let alone listen to her.

The Smell of Other People's Houses by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock

In Alaska, 1970, being a teenager isn't like being a teenager anywhere else. Ruth has a secret that she can't hide forever. Dora wonders if she can ever truly escape where she comes from, even when good luck strikes. Alyce is trying to reconcile her desire to dance with the life she's always known on her family's fishing boat. Hank and his brothers decide it's safer to run away than to stay home-until one of them ends up in terrible danger.

Incognegro by Mat Johnson, illustrated by Warren Pleece

In the early 20th century, when lynchings were commonplace in the American South, a few brave reporters-light-skinned African Americans-risked their lives to expose the truth. This undercover work was known as "going incognegro." Zane Pinchback's latest case hits close to home: his brother has been arrested for murder.

Goodbye Days by Jeff Zentner

One day Carver Briggs had it all-three best friends, a supportive family, and a reputation as a talented writer at his high school, Nashville Academy for the Arts. The next day he lost it all when he sent a simple text to his friend Mars, right before Mars, Eli, and Blake were killed in a car crash.

Want even more recommendations? Check out this list of 2018 MG/YA releases from IPOC (Indigenous/People of Color) authors, which was shared during the chat.

Adult

Two half-sisters, Effia and Esi, are born into different villages in eighteenth-century Ghana. Effia is married off to an Englishman and lives in comfort in the palatial rooms of Cape Coast Castle. Unbeknownst to Effia, her sister, Esi, is imprisoned beneath her in the castle's dungeons, sold with thousands of others into the Gold Coast's booming slave trade, and shipped off to America, where her children and grandchildren will be raised in slavery.

Why you should read this book: It's a work of fiction that provides the best example I've seen of how slavery affects our country today. [Gyasi] does a vignette per generation for both Africa and North America. Push through the first two chapters.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

A gripping, heart-wrenching, and wholly remarkable tale of coming of age in a South poisoned by virulent prejudice, it views a world of great beauty and savage inequities through the eyes of a young girl, as her father-a crusading local lawyer-risks everything to defend a black man unjustly accused of a terrible crime.

Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

Sterling is a small, ordinary New Hampshire town where nothing ever happens-until the day its complacency is shattered by a shocking act of violence. In the aftermath, the town's residents must not only seek justice in order to begin healing but also come to terms with the role they played in the tragedy.

Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler

Lauren Olamina and her family live in one of the only safe neighborhoods remaining on the outskirts of Los Angeles. Behind the walls of their defended enclave, Lauren's father, a preacher, and a handful of other citizens try to salvage what remains of a culture that has been destroyed by drugs, disease, war, and chronic water shortages.

Why you should read this book: It opens up so many conversations about resilience, responsibility, and fear because the story mirrors a lot of what's going on right now. It has a Black female protagonist whose interior story you get to see up close.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Obsessed with discovering the cause of generation and life and bestowing animation upon lifeless matter, Frankenstein assembles a human being from stolen body parts but, upon bringing it to life, he recoils in horror at the creature's hideousness.

Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward

A hurricane is building over the Gulf of Mexico, threatening the coastal town of Bois Sauvage, Mississippi, and Esch's father is growing concerned. A hard drinker, largely absent, he doesn't show concern for much else. Esch and her three brothers are stocking food, but there isn't much to save.

In the Country by Mia Alvar

These nine globe-trotting, unforgettable stories from Mia Alvar, a remarkable new literary talent, vividly give voice to the women and men of the Filipino diaspora.

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Guy Montag is a fireman. His job is to burn books, which are forbidden, being the source of all discord and unhappiness. Are books hidden in his house? The Mechanical Hound of the Fire Department, armed with a lethal hypodermic, escorted by helicopters, is ready to track down those dissidents who defy society to preserve and read books.

Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders

February 1862. The Civil War is less than one year old. The fighting has begun in earnest, and the nation has begun to realize it is in for a long, bloody struggle. Meanwhile, President Lincoln's beloved eleven-year-old son, Willie, lies upstairs in the White House, gravely ill.

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

In the year 2045, reality is an ugly place. The only time teenage Wade Watts really feels alive is when he's jacked into the virtual utopia known as the OASIS.

In 1984, London is a grim city in the totalitarian state of Oceania, where Big Brother is always watching you and the Thought Police can practically read your mind. Winston Smith is a man in grave danger for the simple reason that his memory still functions.

Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger

On the surface, Ordinary Grace is the story of the murder of a beautiful young woman, a beloved daughter and sister. At heart, it's the story of what that tragedy does to a boy, his family, and ultimately the fabric of the small town in which he lives.

The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

In Whitehead's ingenious conception, the Underground Railroad is no mere metaphor- engineers and conductors operate a secret network of tracks and tunnels beneath the Southern soil.

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

The compelling story of two outsiders striving to find their place in an unforgiving world. Drifters in search of work, George and his simple-minded friend Lennie have nothing in the world except each other and a dream-a dream that one day they will have some land of their own.

You love so many of these books and want to use them in your classroom. We can help.

Be sure to check out NCTE's store for hundreds of books and journals related to teaching reading and literature in the classroom! Some recent favorites have included:

Teaching Reading with YA Literature: Complex Texts, Complex Lives by Jennifer Buehler

Jennifer Buehler shows how to implement a YA pedagogy-one that revolves around student motivation while upholding the goals of rigor and complexity.

Workshopping the Canon by Mary E. Styslinger

Workshopping the Canon introduces practicing and preservice English language arts teachers to a process for planning and teaching the most frequently taught texts in middle and secondary classrooms using a workshop approach.

Building Literacy Connections with Graphic Novels: Page by Page, Panel by Panel by James Bucky Carter

This collection of essays by classroom teachers demonstrates how to pair graphic novels with classic literature (including both canonical and YA lit) in ways that enrich students' understanding of both and that thoroughly engage them in literacy.

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2018 Book Recommendations: YA and Adult Fiction - NCTE

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For English teachers, picking a favorite book is almost impossible! But we asked them to do exactly that during our January #NCTEchat, New Year/New Ideas. During the chat, we asked educators to share one text (poem, book, novel) that they would recommend every teacher (or student) read in 2018.

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The Yarn Author Podcast Interviews:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-yarn/id1028877816?mt=2

Book Talks:
https://www.mrcolbysharp.com/

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Literacy advocates with a deep passion for books bestselling author Donalyn Miller and 5th grade teacher Colby Sharp showcase the power of children s access to books, providing teachers and administrators with the tools and information they need to increase children s meaningful interaction with books and to launch or sustain book access initiatives in their communities. Through research and testimonials from voices in the field and their own classroom experiences, Miller and Sharp provide practical and resourceful information on a range of topics and areas, (including successful school and classroom libraries, the power of book ownership, the importance of cultural and social access to books, and meaningful family-community reading engagement) designed to help dramatically increase children s access to and life-changing engagement with books.

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https://pernillesripp.com/2018/06/30/my-favorite-books-of-2018/

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Every year I post an end of the year favorite book list but I thought this year, inspired by Colby Sharp, I thought it would be fun to add the titles as I discovered them. Now, these may have come out in 2018 or simply have been read by me in 2018. So here you are, in no particular order, my favorite books of 2018. To follow along with these live follow me on Instagram.

PS: My Favorite Picture Books of 2018 can be found here.

Middle Grade or Younger
Beatrice Zinker, Upside Down Thinker by Shelley Johannes Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes Greetings from Witness Protection by Jake Burt The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani Rebound by Kwame Alexander The Wild Robot Escapes by Peter Brown Enginerds by Jarrett Lerner Winnie's Great War by Lindsay Mattick and Josh Greenhut, art by Sophie Blackall The Science of Breakable Things by Tae Keller Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World by Ashley Herring Blake Lions and Liars by Kate Beasley Tight by Torrey Maldonado Mac B. Kid Spy by Mac Barnett illustrated by Mike Lowery Louisiana's Way Home by Kate DiCamillo Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson The Unicorn Rescue Society by Adam Gidwitz, illustrated by Hatem Aly The Endling by Katherine Applegate
Graphic Novels
Mary's Monster by Lita Judge

Speak - The Graphic Novel by Laurie Halse Anderson The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang Click by Kayla Miller All Summer Long by Hope Larson Be Prepared by Vera Brosgol The Unwanted: Stories of the Syrian Refugees
Young Adult
Dread Nation by Justina Ireland One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus Love, Hate, and Other Filters by Samira Ahmed Girl Made of Stars by Ashley Herring Blake You Bring the Distant Near by Mitali Perkins The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco Tradition by Brendan Kiely Day of Tears by Julius Lester The Fandom by Anna Day Give Me Some Truth by Eric Gansworth Tyler Johnson Was Here by Jay Coles #Murdertrending by Gretchen McNeil Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse
Non-Fiction
Dog Days of History by Sarah Albee #NotYourPrincess - Voices of Native American Women edited by Lisa Charlieboy and Mary Beth Leatherdale Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

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Every year I post an end of the year favorite book list but I thought this year, inspired by Colby Sharp, I thought it would be fun to add the titles as I discovered them. Now, these may have come...

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https://theglobalreadaloud.com/blog/

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The project was created in 2010 with a simple goal in mind; one book to connect the world. From its humble beginnings, the GRA has grown to make a truly global connection with milllions of students having participated.

What is it?

The premise is simple; we pick a book to read aloud to our students during a set 6-week period and during that time we try to make as many global connections as possible. Each teacher decides how much time they would like to dedicate and how involved they would like to be. Some people choose to connect with just one class, while others go for as many as possible. The scope and depth of the project is up to you. While there are commonly used such as Skype, Twitter, Padlet, or Flipgrid, you choose the tools that will make the most sense for you. Teachers get a community of other educators to do a global project with, hopefully inspiring them to continue these connections through the year.

When is it?

Once a year, starting in early October and running through mid-November. Due to the time commitment, this is only a once a year project, however, two fantastic spin-off projects run at other times; the New Zealand Read Aloud and the French version of GRA, Ecouter Lire le Monde.

I have questions as a Participant

Please see " For Participants" to have all of your questions answered.

I have questions as an Author

Please see "For Authors" to have all of your questions answered.

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To see the blog with the latest news and ideas, go here. To join our Facebook Community, go here - this is how you sign up The project was created in 2010 with a simple goal in mind; one book to connect the world. From its humble beginnings, the GRA has grown to make a...

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Poetry and lessons for children of all ages by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater for classrooms or homeschools to teach literacy and writing workshop instruction

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I'm children's author Laura Purdie Salas! I write books for thoughtful and bold readers, and I'm happy you're here! My various books include science, poetry, verse, information, and imagination. Here are some of my books, which I wrote and a variety of wonderfully talented artists illustrated them. I have three books coming out this spring: Snowman - Cold = Puddle: Spring Equations; In the Middle of the Night: Poems from a Wide Awake House; and Lion of the Sky: Haiku for All Seasons! (If you hover the cursor over a picture, it will pause it. For many of the slides, if you click on one, it will lead to more info on my site.) Feel free to explore the links in the menu above and the sidebar to the right to learn more about me and my writing life. Thanks!

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I'm children's author Laura Purdie Salas! I write books for thoughtful and bold readers, and I'm happy you're here! My various books include science, poetry, verse, information, and imagination. Here are some of my books, which I wrote and a variety of wonderfully talented artists illustrated them.

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or a boy in 1913 Birmingham, Alabama determined to meet an elephant named Miss Fancy... I first dive into the sea of imagination. And guess what I've discovered? That sea is teeming with empathy, roiling with emotion and those are the very things that connect us as living beings.

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Melissa Stewart

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Copyright 2001- Melissa Stewart. All rights reserved. All materials on this site may be copied for classroom or library use but may not be reprinted or resold for commercial purposes. This website is COPPA compliant. If you are a child under age 13 and wish to contact Melissa Stewart, please use the email address of a teacher, librarian, or parent with that adult's permission. Webhost Privacy Policy.

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Copyright 2001- Melissa Stewart. All rights reserved. All materials on this site may be copied for classroom or library use but may not be reprinted or resold for commercial purposes. This website is COPPA compliant. If you are a child under age 13 and wish to contact Melissa Stewart, please use the email address of a teacher, librarian, or parent with that adult's permission.

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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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Scholastic Book Wizard Book Leveling App

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Scholastic Book Wizard Book Leveling App

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A quick way to find a book or a level for a book.

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Book Wizard: Find and Level Books for Your Classroom | Scholastic

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Level your classroom library, create book lists, and find the right book at just the right reading level for students with Book Wizard.

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News ELA for Informational Reading Practice

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News ELA for Informational Reading Practice

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https://newsela.com/articles/#/rule/latest

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Newsela is an Instructional Content Platform that supercharges reading engagement and learning in every subject.

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Wonderopolis for Informational Reading Practice

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Wonderopolis for Informational Reading Practice

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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

Based on information from the Wonder, what was Lou Castro known for when he was alive?

Test your knowledge

What is an okapi?

Where do okapis live?

What do okapis eat?

Find it out

How can I use Wonderopolis?

What are the parts of a Wonder?

How do writers make a Wonder?

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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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DOGO News - Kids news articles! Kids current events; plus kids news on science, sports, and more!

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DOGO News has fun articles for kids on current events, science, sports, and more! There are also lots of stories, pictures, videos, games and the DOGO news map for kids! Add your comments, read reviews of cool websites, and more!

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SeymourSimon.com : Award-Winning Children’s Science Author –

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Exceptional non-fiction content for children, families and educators on this Webby Honoree website from best-selling children’s science writer Seymour Simon.

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The SAG-AFTRA Foundation's Daytime Emmy-nominated, Storyline Online, features celebrated actors reading children's books to inspire a love of reading in millions of children worldwide.

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Elvis Costello

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Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Everyday I Write The Book (Official Music Video)

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© COPYRIGHT 2005-2021. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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Book Reviews by the School Library Journal-

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Book Reviews by the School Library Journal-

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The Classroom Bookshelf:

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As the first picture book on Stonewall, timed for the 50th anniversary, Stonewall: A Building. An Uprising. A Revolution provides teachers, librarians, parents, and children with an entry point into the history of the Gay Rights Movement, to be explored in the context of other books, those written and yet-to-be-written, and digital texts as well.

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The Classroom Bookshelf - A School Library Journal Blog

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As the first picture book on Stonewall, timed for the 50th anniversary, Stonewall: A Building. An Uprising. A Revolution provides teachers, librarians, parents, and children with an entry point into the history of the Gay Rights Movement, to be explored in the context of other books, those written and yet-to-be-written, and digital texts as well.