Notebook Connections by Aimee Buckner

Notebook Connections

Aimee Buckner
Stenhouse Publishers

The thing I like about Aimee is that she doesn't hold back.  She's completely honest about herself and her teaching - her struggles and successes.  When you read one of Aimee's books, you feel like you're having a thoughtful conversation with a colleague down the hallway.  But that's the great thing about Stenhouse authors  - they're teachers.  These authors/teachers are using current theory and tying them to authentic classroom practices.  

Notebook Connections shows us how Aimee has incorporated notebooks into her reading workshops.  In chapter 2, Aimee shows us how easily notebooks can be used to better know your students are readers.  Throughout the year, you can have students respond in their notebooks using guided questions or prompts.  These entries help us get inside our students' heads - to understand how they view themselves as readers and thinkers.  Chapter 3 is full of strategy lessons that help connect comprehension strategies to notebook writing.  Aimee does a great job of getting her students to think about their thinking.  The strategies she uses with her students push them towards deeper and more responsive thinking.  Chapter 5 focuses on finding the "hidden layers" of a text.  One of my favorite lessons she shares deals with character connections.  By studying the connections between characters, readers are invited to infer deeper about their relationships - and ultimately about the theme of the story.  Aimee closes her book with a chapter on assessment.  She understands that teachers must find a balance between their personal lives and school lives.  She provides realistic guidelines for assessment that give valuable feedback to students and parents, while at the same time prevents teachers from spending their entire Saturday reading notebooks. 

I'm ready to try out some of these notebook strategies in my classroom.  My students keep reading notebooks - they've become extremely valuable places to record our thinking, reflections, and book lists. But Aimee has pushed me to use notebooks in more thoughtful ways.  I'm looking forward to seeing what happens!  

Igniting A Passion for Reading

Igniting A Passion for Reading
Steven L. Layne
Stenhouse Publishers

One of the things I love about Spring Break is that it provides me an opportunity to catch up on some professional reading.  Igniting A Passion for Reading has been sitting on my shelf for a few months, and it's the first book I put into my "Spring Break Book Stack" last Friday.  Steven Layne begins the book by introducing us to the idea that teaching reading should go beyond just teaching reading skills.  A complete reader is someone who has mastery of fluency, phonetics, comprehension, semantics, syntax, AND shows evidence of interest, motivation, and engagement.  He argues that our curriculum should go beyond the skills mandated by our states curriculum.  We should be teaching the affective domain of reading as well.  He provides a startling statistic - over half of Americans ages 18 to 24 reported reading no books for pleasure in 2002.  We are producing kids who can read, but choose not to.  The rate of aliteracy (being able to read but choosing not to) is growing at a faster rate than illiteracy!  If we want to create real readers, we must begin addressing this problem.

Each of Steven's chapters provide extremely practical ways to develop engaged readers in your classroom.  One of my favorite chapters was about knowing your students.  In the beginning of the year, I always use interest inventories and meet with my students individually to get to know them better as readers.  But what do I do with this information?  Steven says the most important words we can say to readers is, "I thought of you."  When I read a children's book, do I think of the student who it would be just right for?  For my struggling readers, am I actively looking for books that will match their interests?  He challenged me to know my students better, and to use that knowledge more effectively.  He also provides some extremely practical advice in regards to goal setting.  We must make our goals public (post them in a place everyone can see), return to them often, and set new goals each quarter.  Has my goal setting become another "teacher thing" that we forget about after a few weeks, or is it something that matters to my kids?

Another chapter talks about "book chats."  I read a lot of children's books, and I keep a reading notebook with all my ratings and impressions of the books I've read.  But Steven's book made me realize how I keep all these "chats" to myself.  I need to be sharing my notebook with my students on a more consistent basis.  I need to display the books I love - talk about them in front of my students.  I have a lot of individual "chats" with students, but I need to create a classroom culture that is continually talking up books.  Steven's "golden shelf" idea is brilliant (chapter 8).

I think this is an extremely important book for our times.  In today's educational climate of testing, testing, testing - we can't forget our ultimate goals.  I teach because I want to see children grow into readers, writers, scientists, and thinkers.  Igniting A Passion for Reading reminds us of what is truly important about teaching and learning.

Sustaining New Teachers

A Sense of Belonging: Sustaining and Retaining New Teachers
by Jennifer Allen

I’m not an administrator or an instructional coach. I’m just a regular classroom teacher. So when I picked up this book, I thought that it might be a bit irrelevant to me – I was wrong. The first chapter of the book brought me back to the fall of 1999 when I met my first class of third graders. That was ten years ago, and somehow I had forgotten how hard it was to be a first year teacher. But Jennifer Allen helped me remember - the assessments, lesson planning, pacing, and behavior management were overwhelming. It was a hard year. As I look back, I’m actually amazed that I survived! Did you know that almost half of all teachers leave the profession after 5 years of teaching? In this book, Jennifer tackles this important issue. She describes how her school has supported new teachers in their first three years. When I finished the book, I was excited about the possibilities. If more schools adopted these practices, I believe new teachers would be incredibly more successful. Jennifer describes how she supports teachers within the classroom, using a gradual release of responsibility. New teachers are able to see her demonstrate a series of lessons each week, and then build on those lessons at the end of the week. Jennifer also shares detailed descriptions of her meetings with new teachers. She shows us exactly how to set up an environment that is supportive, inviting, and challenging all at once. I was particularly impressed with the study groups that Jennifer initiates. She once again gives detailed descriptions on how to create successful groups – from how to offer the courses to how to set an agenda. This is one of the most practical and important professional books I have read. I recommend it to anyone in our profession.

Favorite New Series

Shredderman #1: Secret Identity
by Wendelin Van Draanen

I've found a favorite new series. Bubba is the 5th grade bully who terrorizes everyone and gives his classmates terrible nicknames. Bubba has given Nolan Byrd the nickname "Nerd," a label that Nick does not want to define him. Inspired by a class project, Nolan decides to become "Shredderman" - a secret identity he will use to expose Bubba's bullying behavior on an internet site.

I love how Nolan changes through this story, and there are some incredible themes that can be explored (bullying, standing up for oneself, the power of the group, changing the culture of your classroom). The illustrations are really fun, and there are several in every chapter. Boys, I think you will really like this book (Girls, you'd like it, too). There are three more in the series, and I hope to read them as the summer progresses.

Clementine, Clementine, Clementine

The Talented Clementine
Clementine's Letter
by Sara Pennypacker

We all know how incredible the Clementine books are, so I won't go on and on and on about them. Instead, I'll just share some of my favorite lines from these books:

I have noticed that teachers get exciting confused with boring a lot. But when my teacher said, "Class, we have an exciting project to talk about," I listened anyway.

In my classroom, a surprise was waiting: we had a substitute. Mrs. Righty-O. I call her that because she always sayd "Righty-O." Also, okay, fine, because I can't ever remember her name.

Whenever my teacher needs someone to run an errand to the principal's office, he sends me. This is because I am so responsible. Okay, fine, it's also because I get sent so often I could find my way with my eyes closed. Which I tried once. You'd be amazed at how many bruises you can get from just one water fountain.

If you haven't read the Clementine series - do so now! There are so many laugh out loud parts in the story. Clementine is one of the most original and funny characters I have met in a long time.

How To Steal a Dog

How to Steal a Dog
by Barbara O'Connor

Georgina Hayes, her brother Toby, and their mom live in their car. Georgina's dad left the family penniless and they had no where else to go. Georgina's mom is doing the best she can to get the family back on their feet, but it takes time to save enough money for a deposit on a rental home. Georgina is embarrassed and tired of living out of a car, never knowing where they will spend their next night. She develops a plan to steal a dog...a dog that is owned by a wealthy person who will pay a BIG reward to get their dog back. But Georgina's scheme does not turn out exactly like she thought it would. In fact, she seems to get deeper and deeper and deeper into a big ol' mess. I think our 4th graders would love this book. There are so many deep themes to explore - homelessness, how we treat people different from ourselves, how we view the poor and the rich, doing what is right even when it's hard. There's lots of humor and laughs in the book, as well as lots of places that make you stop and think. I highly recommend this book - put this on your "To Read" list! Emily V. read another book by Barbara O'Connor at the end of the school year - Me and Rupert Goody. I remember her telling me how much she enjoyed it.

Remember Maniac Magee?

Remember Maniac Magee? We all loved this incredible story from Jerry Spinelli. Well, how many of you knew that Jerry's wife is an author as well? Here are two of her books that I've read this summer...

Summerhouse Time
by Eileen Spinelli

I'm a big fan of Love That Dog by Sharon Creech. I love reading a novel in verse - it's a fun experience. When I heard that Summerhouse Time was in a similar format, I reserved it from the Greenville Public Library. Sophie is counting down the days to Summerhouse Time - her favorite time of the year. Her entire family goes to the beach for a month! Her perfect expectations of Summerhouse Time begin to collapse when her cousin Colleen won't speak to her, her aunt and uncle fight, and her dad has a panic attack. Sophie learns that life is not perfect, but you have to make the most of it. The story had layers of meaning that would make it perfect for a book club discussion.

Where I Live
by Eileen Spinelli

Just like Summerhouse Time, this is a story written in verse. But unlike Summerhouse Time, many of these poems could really stand on their own. The first half of the story shows us Diana - and how much she loves her home, friends, and school. When her dad loses her job, they are forced to move. The second half of the story shows how Diana deals with this difficult circumstance. Diana is a wonderful character. She's smart, funny, and sees herself as a poet. She learns to keep a writer's notebook with her at all times - to capture the poetry that happens all around her. The illustrations are really incredible; they add a lot to the story. I think Where I Live was my favorite out of the two. I like how Diana uses poetry and writing to deal with the hardships in her life. It also has an incredible example of a circular ending. Make sure you compare the first and last poem in the book. I think lots of kids in our class will appreciate this book.

One for the Guys, One for the Girls

One for the guys...
Star Jumper: Journal of a Cardboard Genius
by Frank Asch

Alex is a genius who can build anything from cardboard boxes and everyday household materials. His goal is to get as far away as possible from his younger pesky brother, Jonathan. So he builds a spaceship. I know what you're thinking - It's all in his mind, right? He's a kid with a great imagination, right? Wrong. He actually builds a spaceship out of cardboard boxes. But it's not as simple as that. As Alex prepares for his journey across the univers, he encounters some obstacles. He continually has to create new inventions (out of cardboard boxes) to overcome these hurdles. This book was different from any other book I've read. Not just the content, but the style of writing. It's not really told step-by-step like many others. It gives us Alex's thoughts as he writes them down in his journal (or really...his writer's notebook). There are lots of cool sketches throughout the book, and I love how the story is told in Alex's own voice. This is the first book in the series - there are three in all. Boys - I think you will like this one.

One for the girls...
Paint the Wind
by Pam Munoz Ryan

Usually I am NOT tempted to pick up books about horses. I have never read any of Marguerite Henry's books, and I have never really wanted to. They just don't appeal to guys! But I love Pam Munoz Ryan. She wrote Becoming Naomi Leon, which I thought was an incredible read. So, with all my trust in Pam, I decided to read this book. I was not disappointed. Maya's parents passed away when she was five years old. Since then, she's been living with her overly protective grandmother. When the grandmother dies unexpectantly, Maya goes to live with her family on her mother's side. She spends the summer living in a teepee on the shores of the Sweet River (in Wyoming). I love this story became Maya goes through some incredible changes. AND there's plenty of action and humor to go along with it (which I was a little surprised about...I didn't know horse stories would be this good). Don't be intimidated by the size of this book. It's 316 pages, but there are BIG spaces between each line and the margins are wide, too - it's not a long book. You don't have like horses to enjoy this book. Trust me.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

The Invention of Hugo Cabret
by Brian Selznik

I've never experienced a book like this. The story is told not only through text, but also through pictures. Brian Selznik has created incredible black and white sketches that capture the action of the story - incredible enough to win the Caldecott Award for this year.

It's 1931 and Hugo Cabret lives within the walls of a Paris train station. You are immediately filled with tons of questions - Where are his parents? Why does he look after the clocks? Why is his notebook so important to him? Why did the old man at the toy booth become so angry when he saw Hugo's notebook? What are the drawings in Hugo's notebook? Why are they important to him? These questions begin your action-filled journey with Hugo. Trust me - you will not want to put this book down. The story was like a puzzle to me - as I read, I continued to gather small clues that I tried to piece together. I love how the story unfolded. Don't let the thickness of the book intimidate you. There are over 200 pages of illustrations, so it's a really quick read. Boys - I think you'll like it. Girls - you'll probably like it, too. If you have a chance to read it this summer, let me know what you think.

Belle Prater's Boy

Belle Prater's Boy
by Ruth White

This is one of the best books I've read in a while. I loved Ruth White's Buttermilk Hill, but I think Belle Prater's Boy is even better. It's the early 1950's in a small coal town in the hills of Virginia. Woodrow Prater's mom disappears one day. Since his father is not handling it very well, Woodrow comes down from the hills and lives in town with his grandparents. Gypsy, Woodrow's cousin, lives next door and the two of them become fast friends. Woodrow and Gypsy are two of the most endearing and likable characters I've met in a while. Woodrow is hilarious, compassionate, and loyal. As the story unfolds, you learn more clues about Woodrow's mom and the struggles she faced. You learn more about Gypsy's family - and how she comes to grips with her own past. I really didn't want the story to end, and that's why I'm so glad there is a sequel - The Search for Belle Prater. I know that Naomi and Anna C. have both read this book and enjoyed it as much as I did. I remember Anna C. reading it during our end of the year testing - I watched her laugh and smile as she read (always a good sign).

Hank Zipzer - Niagra Falls, or Does It?

Hank Zipzer - Niagara Falls, or Does It?
by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver

A former colleague of mine always reads this book to her 4th grade class. I now see why. Hank is funny, quick witted, creative, smart, and very true-to-life. At the start of his 4th grade year, Hank's teacher asks the class to describe their summer using a five paragraph essay. Instead of writing, which is extremely difficult for Hank, he decides to create a "living" essay of his family trip to Niagara Falls. When he brings his 3-D model into class, chaos breaks out.

I think a lot of the boys in my class would enjoy this book. It has a boy main character, lots of humor, and is a fairly quick read (only 133 pages). I'm looking forward to reading more in the series - I think there are about 10 books out right now. (And for you parents - yes, the "Fonz" wrote this book!)

A Dog's Life

A Dog's Life
by Ann Martin

This book came recommended to me by Madison (one of our own members of Room 241). I was excited to read something by Ann Martin. Ann Martin wrote all of the Babysitter Club books (which I'm not a huge fan of), but she's branched out and has actually won numerous awards for her writing. She did not disappoint.

Squirrel (the dog you see on the front cover) is born a stray. He is born in an old shed behind a summer house located in the country. He and his brother learn to hunt in the forest and knock over trash cans in order to find food. Their mother teaches them to be extremely wary of humans - which turns out to be incredibly good advice. One day Squirrel is forced to leave his home and this begins his journey. He is constantly on the move, meeting humans, other animals, towns, cities, farms, forests, and all kinds of weather. There is very little narration in the story as Squirrel describes his journey from one place to the next. You really get to see and understand how an animal survives in the wild. It developed a lot of compassion within me for all kinds of animals. If you are an animal lover, you will connect to this book. It wasn't my favorite book of the summer so far, but it was a good read. Thanks Madison!

What Are You Reading?

In our classroom, we are continually talking about books. Students are always sharing their reading life with their friends - always on the lookout for an incredible book. I was able to do a lot of reading this weekend, so I thought I'd share with you some of my reading life (in hopes that you will share about yours!).

The Shack
by William P. Young
Fiction

A good friend of mine recommended this book to me - it really impacted his life. In the story, a horrific tragedy strikes Mack's family when his daughter is kidnapped. Several years later, Mack gets a mysterious note in the mail from God - inviting him to meet and talk. Not knowing exactly what to think, Mack steps out and accepts the invitation. The rest of the story shows Mack and his conversations with God. It's an amazing dialogue that really challenged a lot of my previous thinking. Mack and God talk about evil, independence, relationships, and forgiveness. It's a book that covers a lot of ideas - I'm looking forward to working through it all. If you'd read this book, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Gossamer
by Lois Lowry
Young Adult Fiction (Fantasy)

I've always loved Lois Lowry. Number the Stars and The Giver have always been two of my favorites. I was finally able to order Gossamer through Scholastic, and it did not disappoint. Littlest One is a dream-giver, and she and Thin Elderly visit an older woman's home each night. Littlest One learns to collect "fragments" by touching objects in the home, collecting memories to bestow to the older woman in her dreams. The older woman takes in an eight year old foster child with a troubled past - and along with the foster child comes the Sinisteeds, who bestow nightmares upon their victims. Littlest One and Thin Elderly decide to stand up against the Sinisteeds and protect the young boy and older woman. I know it all sounds a little strange (my wife put the book down after just a few chapters), but it really puts forth a good message. The boy (John) had a terrible home life, but the older woman loves him unconditionally. It's a story about good being stronger than evil, and love being able to heal pain.

The Year of the Dog
by Grace Lin
Children's Fiction

I've heard great reviews about this book from several blogs, so I was ecstatic when Virginia donated it to our classroom library. Grace is the only Taiwanese-American in her elementary school. It's the Year of the Dog, which her mother explains is a good year to find true friends and to find yourself. Grace sets out to accomplish both. Each story tells a different story from Grace's life. I loved reading about the various traditions her family practiced and the different types of food they ate - so much centered around food! It was also very interesting to see how Grace was pulled between two cultures, and how she dealt with being the only Asian girl in her school. There were lots of strong messages in this story. I recommend it to all my students!

What are you reading? What's on your "to-read" list? Parents, friends, educators, students - please let us know what you're reading by leaving a comment below. As we wind the school year down, this is a great chance for all our blog readers (whoever you may be) to connect to one another. We look forward to hearing about your reading life!

Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key

This story is told from Joey's perspective, an upper elementary kid with severe ADHD. SEVERE ADHD. I've never read a book like this - a book that so clearly gives you a perspective of what it's like to have ADHD. Actually, I saw myself in some of the people in Joey's life - people who didn't "get" Joey. A big theme that was brought out to me was how we view other people, how we accept other people. After reading this book, I feel like I have much greater grace and understanding for others.

Joey comes from a very real family - a family with its own troubles. Joey is sent to an alternative school after a series of "accidents" he is involved in. Most of the accidents occur because of his impulsive behavior, and it's so interesting to see how people around him react.

There is so much humor in the story. Several times while I was reading I laughed out loud and several times I dropped my jaw in disbelief. You really have to read it to believe it. It's won several awards, and its sequel has too - Joe Pigza Loses Control. I recommend reading Swallowed the Key first, it will give you the background knowledge to understand the second book.

The Lightning Thief

Krae read this book while he was in my class, and I always thought it had an intriguing premise. Percy (the main character) finds out he is son of Poseidon and that the Greek gods are alive and well on Mount Olympus (which happens to be found at the very top of the Empire State Building). Zeus' master lightning bolt has been stolen, and the gods are blaming Percy. Percy is sent on a quest (as all heroes are) to retrieve the lightning bolt from Hades, who Percy believes has stolen it. It's full of adventure and excitement - two elements I know my boy readers love. If you're a fan of the fantasy genre, this book will be right up your alley.

I loved learning about Greek mythology. I've heard several of the stories before, but I found myself going back to the Internet to get background knowledge on the various gods. This book was a lot different from the other books I read this summer, and I really enjoyed it. It was a little on the long side (375 pages), but it was very fast-paced. Due to its length, it might be better suited for some of the more fluent readers in our class.

If you like this book, make sure you check out its sequel, A Sea of Monsters (which I have in our classroom library and is on my "To Read" list).

Mick Harte Was Here

Barbara Park nails what it's like to grieve. I recommend this book to anyone who has ever lost a loved one. Phoebe (age 13) loses her brother Mick (age 12) in a bicycle accident. Phoebe describes the 4-5 days after Mick dies, and while she describes the grief she and her parents are going through, she interweaves stories about Mick. You really get to know Mick. He's a hilarious person, and you come to love him. The more you read, the more you love Mick. You realize what a special person he was.

Even though this book is sad, it has that same voice and humor found in her book Skinnybones, a perennial favorite in our classroom. I don't have a copy of this book yet, but I have a feeling it will show up in our classroom library soon. At 90 pages, it's a short but very powerful read.

Walk Two Moons

One of the best books I've read. Seriously. But here's the thing - I read this book about seven years ago and didn't like it at all. I forced myself through it, and I remember asking myself, "What's the big deal about this book? It's not that great." My only answer is that I just wasn't ready for it. It wasn't a just-right book for me seven years ago. But I'm glad I was ready for it now.

Here's the major problem in the story - Sal's mom has left her and Sal's father. Sharon Creech brilliantly weaves three stories together: 1)Sal and her grandparents are going to Idaho, and Sal hopes to bring her mother back. 2)Sal's good friend Phoebe has family problems. HER mother disappears as well. 3)You get the "back" story - the story of Sal's family before her mother left. By telling and understanding Phoebe's story, Sal begins to understand her own story. The characters are quirky, interesting, and loveable. I was mesmerized by Gram and Grandpa - they are people who live life to the fullest. And there are so many themes woven into the story! I laughed and cried and laughed and cried all throughout the book.

Sharon Creech is also the author of Love That Dog and Heartbeat, two incredible books.

Love, Ruby Lavender

At the end of last school year, Audrey mentioned this book to me. She said it was one of her all-time favorites. I have great faith in Audrey's tastes for books, so I picked this one up at a used book store this summer. It did not disappoint.

Ruby and her grandmother, Ms. Eula, are two peas in a pod. The story starts with the two of them "saving" local chickens at the chicken farm. They live in a small town in Mississippi that is full of quirky and larger-than-life characters. Right at the beginning of the story, Ruby mentions an "accident" that occurred a year ago. As you read the story, you learn more details about the accident and how Ruby was involved. I don't want to give too much away. I love the way the story unfolds, and I really don't want to ruin it for you.

If you liked Buttermilk Hill or Becoming Naomi Leon, you'll probably like this book, too. Deborah Wiles (the author) also wrote a book called Each Little Bird That Sings. It's sitting on my bedside table right now, and I'm really looking forward to reading it. Emmeline read it during the school year, and she highly recommends it.

Poppy

TJ, one of my former students, loved this series. I taught TJ in third grade, but he loved to stop by and visit while he was in 4th and 5th grades. When he would come by my classroom, he loved to tell me about this series. He would relay the stories to me with such excitement - it was evident how much he enjoyed the action, characters, and events of this book.

Poppy (a field mouse) and her family live in the Gray House, but they need to move to the New House because of an expanding family and the need for more room. Mr. Oxcat, the owl, does not allow the mouse family to move (he is the protector of the mice...hmm). Poppy believes that Mr. Oxcat is afraid of something at the New House, and she sets out to figure out this mystery.

I know, I know. What's the big whoop? Trust me. It's fast-paced, exciting, with incredible characters. Although there are many girls who will like it, I think the boys in our class will really connect to it. Look for it in the "L" box!

Wringer

This book came recommended to me from a professional book I read by Franki Sibberson. She's a 4th grade teacher in Ohio, and she uses this book as a read-aloud for her class. I'm a big Jerry Spinelli fan, and I had picked this book up several times before - but the plot had never interested me. Once again, I had to trust the recommendation. Once I got a few pages into the story, I was hooked.

Every year in Palmer's hometown, they have a pigeon shoot (sounds crazy, doesn't it?). Boys who are 10 and older are assigned to be "wringers," having the job of wringing pigeons' necks who are wounded during the shoot. Palmer is terrified of being a wringer. But at the same time, Palmer wants to be part of the gang of boys in his neighborhood, who are fanatical about being wringers. Palmer is pulled in two directions. Should he follow his heart or be part of the group? It's a great book that deals with lots of interesting issues, and you really put yourself in Palmer's shoes when reading the story.

I don't have the book in our classroom library right now, but I plan on ordering it very soon. I have a feeling it might become a class read aloud! Jerry Spinelli has written some of my favorite books: Maniac Magee (might be my all-time favorite), Loser, The Library Card, and Crash.