{the books i adore (to read aloud)}
Here is a list of some books that I read aloud (or
plan to read) in 5th grade. I
truly LOVE each one of these books. I
copy and pasted from Good Reads a little summary. In blue I wrote about why or how I wrote the
book. I hope it helps. Just remember we all have different likes and
just because I LOVE the book doesn’t mean you will too. There’s a lot of power when you read books
you are passionate about or have a strong connection to. It looks like a lot, but I really just copy
and pasted! I hope it helps you
out! Happy reading!
"Julia
Song and her friend Patrick want to team up to win a blue ribbon at the state
fair, but they can't agree on the perfect project. Then Julia's mother suggests
they raise silkworms as she did years ago in Korea. The optimistic twosome
quickly realizes that raising silkworms is a lot tougher than they thought. And
Julia never suspected that she'd be discussing the fate of her and Patrick's
project with Ms. Park, the author of this book!"
This book was me as a kid. Having a house smell like kimchee and a boy
as a best friend. I just wanted to be an
all American girl and didn’t want to stand out as being “too Korean” just like
Julia. This was the first book I ever
read where I actually “saw” myself as the character and that character looked
like me. I start the year with this book
because it allows the kids to get to know me and it totally goes with the theme
Where We are in Place and Time.
Love
That Dog (Jack #1) by Sharon Creech
"Jack hates poetry. Only girls write it and every time he tries to, his brain feels empty. But his teacher, Ms. Stretchberry, won't stop giving her class poetry assignments -- and Jack can't avoid them. But then something amazing happens. The more he writes, the more he learns he does have something to say."
"Jack hates poetry. Only girls write it and every time he tries to, his brain feels empty. But his teacher, Ms. Stretchberry, won't stop giving her class poetry assignments -- and Jack can't avoid them. But then something amazing happens. The more he writes, the more he learns he does have something to say."
I have the students journal with
Jack and I base my poetry writing/reading unit off of this book. We play with language and words. We goes through Jack’s poetic journey with
him and learn about the true power of connection and words. I have some cool stuff that goes with this if
you are interested.
"From
the critically acclaimed author of Anything But Typical comes a touching look
at the days leading up to the tragic events of September 11, 2001 and how that
day impacted the lives of four middle schoolers. Ask anyone: September 11,
2001, was serene and lovely, a perfect day—until a plane struck the World Trade
Center.
But right now it is a few days earlier, and four kids in different parts of the country are going about their lives. Sergio, who lives in Brooklyn, is struggling to come to terms with the absentee father he hates and the grandmother he loves. Will’s father is gone, too, killed in a car accident that has left the family reeling. Nadira has never before felt uncomfortable about being Muslim, but at her new school she’s getting funny looks because of the head scarf she wears. Amy is starting a new school in a new city and missing her mom, who has to fly to New York on business. These four don’t know one another, but their lives are about to intersect in ways they never could have imagined. Award-winning author Nora Raleigh Baskin weaves together their stories into an unforgettable novel about that seemingly perfect September day—the day our world changed forever."
But right now it is a few days earlier, and four kids in different parts of the country are going about their lives. Sergio, who lives in Brooklyn, is struggling to come to terms with the absentee father he hates and the grandmother he loves. Will’s father is gone, too, killed in a car accident that has left the family reeling. Nadira has never before felt uncomfortable about being Muslim, but at her new school she’s getting funny looks because of the head scarf she wears. Amy is starting a new school in a new city and missing her mom, who has to fly to New York on business. These four don’t know one another, but their lives are about to intersect in ways they never could have imagined. Award-winning author Nora Raleigh Baskin weaves together their stories into an unforgettable novel about that seemingly perfect September day—the day our world changed forever."
My
first year of teaching was 2001 and the attacks occurred my second week of
teaching. This book is the first book on
9/11 that I felt would be appropriate and powerful to read in my class as a
read aloud. I just read it for the first
time over winter break. I plan to start
the year with this book next year and I hope to plan it out and finish it on
9/11.
"Join
Joey and his sister Mary Alice as they spend nine unforgettable summers with
the worst influence imaginable--their grandmother!"
Grandma
Dowdel is one of my all-time favorite characters!!! I love reading her aloud! We have many conversations about how
“principled” she is.
"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. But 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 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 the incredible journey of the human spirit."
A
powerful book to tie into How We Express Ourselves. It is written in first person during the
whole chapters (Mark’s point of view) and third person during the ½
chapters. You’ll need a tissue for this
book! I had a student last week tell me
I earned an Oscar for this one!
"Features
seven narrators, each with a unique story, and each with a different
perspective on what makes their teacher so special. It’s
the start of fifth grade for seven kids at Snow Hill School. There’s . . . Jessica, the
new girl, smart and perceptive, who’s having a hard time fitting in; Alexia, a
bully, your friend one second, your enemy the next; Peter, class
prankster and troublemaker; Luke, the brain; Danielle, who
never stands up for herself; shy Anna, whose home situation
makes her an outcast; and Jeffrey, who hates school. Only Mr. Terupt, their new and energetic teacher, seems to know how to deal
with them all. He makes the classroom a fun place, even if he doesn’t let them
get away with much . . . until the snowy winter day when an accident changes
everything—and everyone."
An important, powerful book for
fifth graders. Want the class to make
connections? This book is your book!
"A
Long Walk to Water begins
as two stories, told in alternating sections, about a girl in Sudan in 2008 and
a boy in Sudan in 1985. The girl, Nya, is fetching water from a pond that is
two hours’ walk from her home: she makes two trips to the pond every day. The
boy, Salva, becomes one of the "lost boys" of Sudan, refugees who
cover the African continent on foot as they search for their families and for a
safe place to stay. Enduring every hardship from loneliness to attack by armed
rebels to contact with killer lions and crocodiles, Salva is a survivor, and
his story goes on to intersect with Nya’s in an astonishing and moving way."
A
fictional story and a true story cross paths.
We will read this book in our unit Sharing the Planet to kick off
Exhibition and taking action. There are
interviews and videos of Linda Sue Park and Salva Dut available on You Tube!
"A
Mississippi town in 1964 gets riled when tempers flare at the segregated public
pool. As much as Gloriana June Hemphill, or Glory as everyone knows her, wants
to turn twelve, there are times when Glory wishes she could turn back the clock
a year. Jesslyn, her sister and former confidante, no longer has the time of
day for her now that she’ll be entering high school. Then there’s her best
friend, Frankie. Things have always been so easy with Frankie, and now suddenly
they aren’t. Maybe it’s the new girl from the North that’s got everyone out of
sorts. Or maybe it’s the debate about whether or not the town should keep the
segregated public pool open.
Augusta Scattergood has drawn on real-life events to create a memorable novel about family, friendship, and choices that aren’t always easy."
Augusta Scattergood has drawn on real-life events to create a memorable novel about family, friendship, and choices that aren’t always easy."
I
have read this book at the end of the year to promote taking action and I like
the southern, summer vibe of the book.
"Jessie
lives with her family in the frontier village of Clifton, Indiana. When
diphtheria strikes the village and the children of Clifton start dying,
Jessie's mother sends her on a dangerous mission to bring back help. But beyond
the walls of Clifton, Jessie discovers a world even more alien and threatening
than she could have imagined, and soon she finds her own life in jeopardy. Can
she get help before the children of Clifton, and Jessie herself, run out of
time?"
An oldie, but a goodie! I hide the cover of this and talk a lot about
genre. It starts off historical fiction,
but then changes as Jessie finds out it’s not 1840…it’s actually 1996! Okay…is that still historical fiction by
today’s standards? It’s fun to talk
about my childhood and the differences between 1840, 1996, and today.
"From New
York Times bestselling author Jennifer A. Nielsen comes a stunning
thriller about a girl who must escape to freedom after the Berlin Wall divides
her family between east and west.
With the rise of the Berlin Wall, twelve-year-old Gerta finds her family divided overnight. She, her mother, and her brother Fritz live on the eastern side, controlled by the Soviets. Her father and middle brother, who had gone west in search of work, cannot return home. Gerta knows it is dangerous to watch the wall, to think forbidden thoughts of freedom, yet she can't help herself. She sees the East German soldiers with their guns trained on their own citizens; she, her family, her neighbors and friends are prisoners in their own city.
With the rise of the Berlin Wall, twelve-year-old Gerta finds her family divided overnight. She, her mother, and her brother Fritz live on the eastern side, controlled by the Soviets. Her father and middle brother, who had gone west in search of work, cannot return home. Gerta knows it is dangerous to watch the wall, to think forbidden thoughts of freedom, yet she can't help herself. She sees the East German soldiers with their guns trained on their own citizens; she, her family, her neighbors and friends are prisoners in their own city.
Amazing book! I just read it for the first time last
year! I also just read Cloud and
Wallfish and it would connect so well with this book because this one is about
the wall coming down!
From
Leslie Connor, award-winning author of Waiting for Normal and Crunch,
comes a soaring and heartfelt story about love, forgiveness, and how innocence
makes us all rise up. All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook is
a powerful story, perfect for fans of Wonder and When
You Reach Me.
Eleven-year-old Perry was born and raised by his mom at the Blue River Co-ed Correctional Facility in tiny Surprise, Nebraska. His mom is a resident on Cell Block C, and so far Warden Daugherty has made it possible for them to be together. That is, until a new district attorney discovers the truth—and Perry is removed from the facility and forced into a foster home.
When Perry moves to the “outside” world, he feels trapped. Desperate to be reunited with his mom, Perry goes on a quest for answers about her past crime. As he gets closer to the truth, he will discover that love makes people resilient no matter where they come from . . . but can he find a way to tell everyone what home truly means?"
Eleven-year-old Perry was born and raised by his mom at the Blue River Co-ed Correctional Facility in tiny Surprise, Nebraska. His mom is a resident on Cell Block C, and so far Warden Daugherty has made it possible for them to be together. That is, until a new district attorney discovers the truth—and Perry is removed from the facility and forced into a foster home.
When Perry moves to the “outside” world, he feels trapped. Desperate to be reunited with his mom, Perry goes on a quest for answers about her past crime. As he gets closer to the truth, he will discover that love makes people resilient no matter where they come from . . . but can he find a way to tell everyone what home truly means?"
I did this with my summer book
club kiddos and it is amazing!! Don’t
judge a book by its cover!
{Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea}
This is one of the most powerful books you can read to fifth graders. I highly suggest it as a read aloud because the class discussions are amazing! It will hold the readers' and listeners' attention and each person will find powerful connections to this book. Below is a math extension you can connect to the book called Dollar Words.
Dollar Words by Maryanne Oxenrider Lipovsky on Scribd
{explore our world: differentiated lesson}
Here is a literature circle lesson with four inspirational books. The literature circle role sheets, character learner profile evaluation and assessment are included.
Here is a generic literature guide that can be used with any fiction novel. The title might seem odd, but my version says Lipovsky World's Lovely Literature Guide. When I created it we were working with alliteration. I like to use this guide to allow students to work with different strategies including characterization, conflict, point of view, connections and more. Here's the link to download the full version http://www.scribd.com/doc/125895955/lovely-literature-study. Enjoy!
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