YA Historical Fiction Challenge

Are you ready for a new reading challenge in 2011? I've decided to take part in the YA Historical Fiction Challenge hosted by YA Bliss. In this challenge you read and review books that are either MG or YA historical fiction. This is my favorite genre as both a reader and writer. I've been on a roll in 2010 reading YA historical fiction, so this is the perfect challenge in which to continue my reading consumption.

The challenge is open to anyone. All you have to do is read, review, post, and link (on a blog or Goodreads) the MG/YA historical fiction books that you read between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2011. The books do not have to be 2011 releases. For more information go to YA Bliss.

Facilitating Book Clubs (Literature Circles)

In the beginning of book clubs (formerly known as literature circles), I assigned five to six groups of students to a book on their reading level. They selected the number of pages to read by a certain date, filled out role sheets, and committed to themselves to assigned tasks. Over time I collected more books and allowed students to choose their book for their book club. The role sheets continued and the tasks turned into elaborate projects. Eventually I dumped the role sheets and projects.

I've moved forward in my ideas about book clubs. I still group students whose reading abilities are close and interests are similar, but now they choose a book together from a large selection, or we gather copies of a book they are all dying to read. I have a group of three girls waiting to read Princess Academy by Shannon Hale We received the third copy right before the winter break (borrowed from another school library).

One of the biggest changes I made to my book clubs is the time period for reading and discussing. Instead of students choosing how many pages or chapters they will read by a certain date, I now ask them to read the entire book. They talk about how long they think they need to read the book cover to cover, and the we set a meeting date on my calendar. Instead of all of my groups meeting at the same time while I walk from group to group, each club meets separately so that I can devote my complete attention to their group.

And this is where things begin to pop. You see, I read the book too. I listen more than I talk, but I do participate in the discussion. I help facilitate the talk by asking leading questions or bringing up an interesting point. Our discussions last ten to twenty minutes, but I find that giving my time to each group allows me to assess my students informally, get to know them better, and helps to keep their discussions on task.

My higher readers tend to have meatier discussions without my input. I can sit and listen and enjoy their conversations. My lower readers learn how to converse about books with me acting as a facilitator. I help lead them into deeper talk through questioning and sharing my own ideas about the book. Over time I can talk less and listen more.

The goal of facilitation in book clubs is to lead the discussion not as a teacher, but as a reader. We become a community of readers rather than "teacher and students." My role is to model book conversations through prompting, questioning, input, and listening. Our book club discussions sound more and more like "real" book clubs, and less like a teaching and learning situation. The best part is that students really are learning, but in a natural reader to reader environment.

Book Talk Packet for Elementary and Middle Grades

Book Recommendation Program for Reading / ELA Classes

Independent Reading Elementary Pack

Read a Book a Day Over the Winter Break

Can it be done? Can I do it? A book a day plus everything else I need to do over the winter break? I've decided to take the challenge. I confess I'm not 100% sure how the challenge works, but I'm on it like an ornament on a tree. According to #bookaday on twitter the leader of the gang is The Book Whisperer -Donalyn Miller. The tweet popped up and grabbed my reading attention, so I started gathering my holiday reading list.

I thought I would begin with Scumble by Ingrid Law, the sequel to Savvy, but I haven't made it to Barnes and Noble yet. I do have a gift card (courtesy of a wonderful student) begging to be spent. In the meantime I've been dying to start I Was Jane Austen's Best Friend by Cora Harrison. I'm quite the Regency/Austenite fan. I'm looking forward to going back in time.

It occurs to me that I should be able to read a middle grade / young adult book every two to three days. So what should I read in between? Picture books of course!

Winter Break Reading List

Picture Books

The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg I'm saving this beautiful book for Christmas day. I can hear the bell ringing. Can you? Do you believe?

Dust Devil by Anne Isaacs I love reading aloud Swamp Angel to my students, so I can't wait to read Issacs newest tall tale!

The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According To Susy) by Barbara Kerley This book caught the attention of my muse. Perhaps I will find inspiration through the pages of this book.

The Clever Stick by John Lechner I've heard this book is not only clever, but imaginative in a William Steig kind of way.

Too Many Frogs by Sandy Asher This book has been on my list since the summer. I had the opportunity to spend time with Sandy in Chautauqua at the Highlight's Foundation Children's Writer's Workshop. I've heard it's a "croaking" good book.

Which Shoes Would YOU Choose? by Betsy R. Rosenthal This title appeals to my happy girl feet.

Davy Crockett Gets Hitched by Bobbi Miller This book is on Nancy Polette's "Best of 2009-2010" list. Since I teach 4th grade Texas history, I am always looking for picture books to accompany my curriculum.

Middle Grade / Young Adult Books

I Was Jane Austen's Best Friend by Cora Harrison I love to read and write in the Regency period (Jane Austen's time and place). I'm currently working on a Regency YA. There isn't much out there to read, so I hope this book will give me inspiration and hope for my favorite genre.

Scumble by Ingrid Law That Barnes and Noble gift card is burning a hole in my pocket. I loved Savvy. I can't wait to read Scumble and share it with my fourth graders next year.

Masters of Disaster by Gary Paulson Have I mentioned that I'm a Paulson fan? I love how he breaks all the rules -brilliantly!

Alchemy and Meggy Swann by Karen Cushman I am drawn to anything set in England in the past. Another medieval young adult novel by Cushman -isn't it grand?

Lady Macbeth's Daughter by Lisa Klein So many books, so little time. This book has been on my shelf ever since I finished Klein's Ophelia -which I loved. Klein knows how to give a dose of Shakespeare with a twist.

As I write this I am sitting here looking at my pile of books. The pile is much bigger than this list. I think I'll stop before I overwhelm myself. I still have cleaning and shopping and wrapping and baking and writing to do. Not to mention creating and crafting and blogging and posting and twittering... Happy Winter Break! May books keep you company.

Twittering Teachers

Do you tweet? A tweet is a 140 character message you can send in your twitter account to your followers. You have the option of allowing anyone to follow you or you can choose to approve your followers. You can also follow other tweeters. You simply search for tweeters by name or company, or click "follow me" from their websites. You can link your followers to different websites, retweet messages, and send private messages. You can join chats or follow trends. What you tweet and how much you tweet is up to you. Tweeting is a fun, efficient, and quick way to share information. You can even tweet from your phone!

Who Should You Follow?

In general, you can follow anyone you choose. You might follow people you know personally, companies or websites you frequent, politicians you back, movie stars you enjoy, people or companies with something in common (like education), organizations you belong to, authors you read, or any other personal or professional interest. As a teacher, I follow educators, authors, publishers, and educational organizations or websites. I also follow Macy's to get the latest coupon!

What Should You Tweet?

It's up to you, but I recommend tweeting useful or interesting information. No one wants to read a dozen tweets about your morning coffee and the laundry pile. Read my top ten tweets ideas:

1. Inspirational Quotes - A positive thought goes a long way to help someone through a tough day.

2. Recommended Books - I like to share favorite children's books, young adult books, professional books, and an occasional adult book.

3. News Articles - If I find a news article, video, or blog post that I think my followers would enjoy I will send it as a tweet.

4. Website / Product Updates - If you have a website, create products, or write books or articles, then tweeting is a must. You can tweet updates to your followers.

5. Education News - If I get wind of something in education that I think is important I'll share it by tweeting or retweeting the information.

6. Retweets - I follow top educators, education companies, authors, and education organizations. Sometimes they tweet something worth retweeting to my followers.

7. Freebies - If I create a free resource or find one, I'm more than happy to let my followers know about it.

8. Great Websites - If I find or know of a great website that would be beneficial to my followers, I'll tweet a link.

9. Awesome Sale or Coupon - I don't tweet sales or coupons often, but if I find one worth passing on, I send it out.

10. Education Conference News - Tweeters who attended NCTE lit up the tweet boards with news and information from the conference (for the rest of us poor souls who didn't get to go).

Tweeting is a powerful tool for sending and receiving information fast.

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