Summer Reading – Elementary & Middle School Grades

Entering Grades 1 & 2                    

Henkes – Wemberly Worried

Lobel -Frog & Toad

Kline – Horrible Harry Series

Park – Junnie B. Jones Series

Henkes – Sheila Rae, the Brave

Henkes – Owen

Hong – The Empress and the Silkworm

Demi – The Empty Pot

Dr. Suess- The Lorax

Barton – Shark vs. Train

Lichtenheld – Bridget’s Beret

Lichtenheld – What Are You So Grumpy About

Munsch – The Paper Bag Princess

Henkes – Chrysanthemum

Henkes – Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse

Low – Summer                                         

Willems – Can I Play Too?

Williems – Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late

Henkes – Kitten’s First Full Moon

 

Entering Grade 3

Pilkey – Ricky Rocotta’s Mighty Robot

Osborne – Magic Tree House Series

MacLachlan – What You Know First

Muth – The Three Questions

Estes – The Hundred Dresses

Hoffman – Amazin Grace

 

Entering Grade 4

The 100-Year Old Secret by Tracy Barrett                  

Blume – Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing

DiTerlizzi – The Spiderwick Chronicles Series

Hiaasen – Hoot

McDonald – Judy Moody Series

Bunting – Fly Away Home

Lord – Touch Blue

Lombard- Drita My Homegirl

Spinelli – Fourth Grade Rats

Holm – Turtle In Paradise

 

Entering 5th Grade

Cummings – Red Kayak

Henkes – Bird Lake Moon

Selznick – Hugo Cabret                      

Ryan – Esparanza Rising

Clements – A Week in the Woods

Avi – The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle

Lasky – Visions of Beauty

Garcia – One Carzy Summer

Mass- 11 Birthdays

 

Grades 6-8

Carl Hiaasen – Scat

Henkes – Bird Lake Moon

Henkes – Olive’s Ocean

Jones – Sand Dollar Summer

Alvarez – Before We Were Free

Selznik – Hugo Cabret

Park – A Long Walk To Water

Prosek – The Day My Mother Left

“A Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle – Lesson Plan Grade 2

” A Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle    

Butterfly Life Cycle – Metamorphosis

Grade Level - 2nd Grade

Subject Area - Science

Benchmark Description: Observe and describe major stages in the life cycle of a butterfly.

Objectives:

Students will understand life cycle of a butterfly. Students will be able to describe life cycle/stages of a butterfly verbally and in written form. Students will have knowledge of lesson related vocabulary, metamorphosis, pupa, larva, chrysalis, etc.

Materials:

“A Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle

Markers and pencils

Stickers as rewards for participation

Procedures:

Activate studentsʼ knowledge on butterflies. Ask about observed caterpillars, chrysalis, butterflies, butterfly habitat, butterfly season, butterfly color, butterfly size, etc. Introduce terms metamorphosis, larva, pupa, and chrysalis. Before you start reading, show your students the cover page and the first page of the book. Ask them if they can guess what is the round white ball on the leaf?

Read “A Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle. As you read, ask your students if they have noticed caterpillars during the summer in their backyard. Caterpillars eat a lot of leafs. Ask students if they have ever noticed what leaves look like once caterpillars are done eating them? What happened on Saturday after the very hungry caterpillar ate all kinds of food? Ask students if they ever had a stomach ache after eating too much food? Ask students to guess what will the caterpillar turn into after he comes out of his cocoon.

Discuss further questions that students thought of. Students who pose additional questions on the topic get a sticker.

Assessment:

Students will write and illustrate a story about butterfly life cycle (metamorphosis) in their journals.

Extension Activities:

1. Rereading of “A Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle not only teaches butterfly life states but it builds reading fluency. Visit the school library to obtain additional informational books on butterflies for further research.

“Bird Lake Moon” by Kevin Henkes

Interest Level: 8 -11                 

Lexile Framework: 740L

Grade Level Equivalent: 4.5

Age: 8 – 12

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Subject: Copying with Death, Grief and Loss,

Friends and Friendships, Feelings and Emotions, Adolescence, Honesty.

“Bird Lake Moon” by Kevin Henkes is a novel about two boys, Mitch Sinclair and Spencer, each dealing with his own loss. Mitch is a 12 year old boy who is spending the summer at his grandparents due to his father’s leaving, while Spencer is visiting his family cottage at the Bird Lake for the first time after his brother’s death eight years ago.   Even though Mitch and his mother are welcomed by the grandparents, their stay results in strained relationships all around.

For a week long novel unit/lesson plan go to:

http://tinyurl.com/7lh6qer

“The Day My Mother Left”- by James Prosek

 

When it comes to books about a parent leaving, there is no pitch-perfect picks for children and youth.

Well, there is nothing perfect about a subject of divorce and giving your child/student a book that shows a happy crocodile on it, will only result in irritation.  Also, many books that deal with parent loss and divorce are books written for girls. Girls read more books that deal with emotions, which it makes it imperative to provide boys with books that will help them get through personal and family struggle of adjusting to a new life without one of the parents. Since boys are less willing to discuss their emotions than girls, reading a book that relates to their daily life serves as a form of therapy (also referred to as bibliotherapy).

Recently, I reviewed two engaging and greatly written books about divorce in which the main characters were boys. In “The Day My Mother Left” a 10 year old boy Jeremy is dealing with his mothers’ sudden abandonment that lasted for more than three years. Jeremy is faced with coping not only with his own feelings of loss, anger, and grief; but is left with a father, who is too devastated and depressed to even address Jeremy’s basic needs. In effort to deal with his new reality, Jeremy immerses himself into his drawings. The author,James Prosek created an almost too real narrative about a boy who at the very fragile stage in his life is left with unanswered questions and feelings of unexplainable loss, yet he perseveres.

 

Interest Level: 9 & Up

Age: 9-12             Grade Level Equivalent: 4.5

Genre: Realistic Fiction

 

Subject: Family, Divorce, Feelings and Emotions, Adolescence, Friendships.

 

 

 

 

 

“The Way a Door Closes” by Hope Anita Smith

Interest Level: Grade 3 – Grade 7    

Grade Level Equivalent: 4.0

Genre/Theme:

Poetry and Rhymes

Verse Novels

Topics:

African American

Parents

Feelings and Emotions

Understanding Self and Others

Summary: “The Way a Door Closes” is a book of poems that tell a story about a family in which a father suddenly leaves. C.J., a 13 year old boy and the rest of his family deal with grief and new reality the best they can. The poems are beautifully written with outpour of emotion on every page. This collection of poems had deservingly received Coretta Scott King Award in 2004.

For “The Way a Door Closes” Lesson Plan go to:

http://tinyurl.com/d6onp6l

“I Was So Mad” Little Critter – iPod / iPhone App for Kids

Children simply love the Little Critter Series by Mercer Mayer. They are easy and fun reads that go beyond mere words of the story. The illustrations in each storybook tell the story of their own. I personally love all of Little Critter stories. Children 2-4 love to have Little Critter Series read to them, and early readers from 5-7 can still use these books while learning to read. By the time children are done with Little Critter Series books, they will be worn out but loved. At the same time, Little Critter Series books are ideal for teaching inferencing to emerging readers. So seeing a Little Critter Series book, “I Was So Mad” available in an app, was great. The “I Was So Mad” story app is set up like most other story apps where a child gets to chose if the story is going to be read or if he/she wants to read the story. But this app is a bit different. The best thing about this app is that it’s narrated by a child. It makes it so much more authentic, and the story is also accompanied by sounds. The kindergartners just loved this app. And once they were done they asked for another Little Critter story . Nonetheless, the “I Was So Mad” app is played numerous times in a day and all I hear is laughing.

“Fly Away Home” by Eve Bunting- Lesson Plan Grades 4 & Up

Grade Level Equivalent: 4.3   

Lexile® measure: 450L

DRA: 28

Guided Reading: M

Genre/Theme: Realistic Fiction

Topics: Parents, Homelessness and Poverty

Summary: “Fly Away Home” by Even Bunting, is a story about a homeless father and a son who live in an airport, moving from terminal to terminal day and night, trying to stay unnoticed. During a story, the boy experiences emotions of fear, sadness, but mostly hope due to a little brown bird who “flies away home” after being stuck in the terminal for a while.

The Scholastic has given this book an interest level of K-2, but this story is likely to be more appropriate for students in grades 3 & 4. Homelessness, especially homelessness of children and families is a growing problem and breaking common stereotypes against homeless people will teach both critical thinking and compassion.

For “Fly Away Home” Lesson Plan – Grades 4 & Up

go to: http://tinyurl.com/6q4j9fb

4th Grade Math Worksheets – Long Division – Singapore Math

For a download go to : http://tinyurl.com/7av93hd

“Successfully Learning Mathematics – Grade 4” IPod App

Grade 4 is perhaps one of the most important years of elementary school. Primarily, in grade 4, students and school districts experience the “4th grade slump”. This slump is caused by the increased difficulty of material, which is presented at the erratic rate.

Most North American students (U.S. and Canada) are taught long division for the first time in the 4th grade. A single unit, which spans 2-3 weeks, introduces multiplication tables and long division. At the end, students are expected to memorize time tables up to a 100 and be able to complete long division with remainders.  Cramming this much new material in the single unit overloads cognitive capacity and does not allow the sufficient time for learning to be internalized and properly processed in the long term memory. To make things worse, students are not taught a traditional way to complete long division. They are taught how to use sticks and circles to solve long division problems. This is a fact in both U.S. and Canada. Since both countries use the same mathematics curriculum. To be able to fully understand the inadequacy of this type of instruction, an educator or a parent has to observe this process first hand. It is obvious to all that students will eventually have to be taught the right way of solving long division and that using sticks and squares will only confuse young learner and hold them back. Many of course wonder why children are taught long division in this unusual way, and why don’t we allow the 4th graders to figure mathematics on their own? The answer I got is that teachers fall back to primary elementary teaching techniques at the first sign of students struggling. Disregarding at the same time that when true learning takes place it is often frustrating and time consuming. Deciding to take the easy way only harms students. There is no shortcuts in math.

The “Successfully Learning Mathematics – Grade 4” app is a great math app, but it is not an app that students in North American schools can do. And chances are they are not going to be able to complete this app before middle school. This at the same time can be a good app for the mathematically gifted.

BrainPop – The Best Learning App Out There

This is the only app that my students choose (on their own) over Angry Birds app. This is especially true for boys. The app is rich with content yet easy to navigate. What makes this app great is the use of visual literacy and proper cognitive stimulation, which keeps students’ interest and engagement without “funny voices” or long pauses.

BrainPop.com website is more suitable for classroom use. Along with each short movie, there are activities, quiz, and frequently asked questions that go with it.

This app gets 5 stars.

You can sign up for a free trial, which will allow you to use the website and the iPod app.

The app link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/brainpop-featured-movie/id364894352?mt=8

It’s ideal for K-12 students and all styles of learning. Great for enrichment of gifted students.

Definitely worth your time.

Lena, M. Ed.             

“Touch Blue”- by Cynthia Lord – Novel Study – Grades 3-5

  Interest Level: Grade 3 – Grade 5

Grade Level Equivalent: 4.6

Lexile® measure: 750L

Genre/Theme:

Communities and Ways of Life, Families and Social Structures, Foster Care, Middle School

In “Touch Blue” by Cynthia Lord, eleven year old Tess, realizes that

“Good luck does float out there in the world, sticking fast to some people and leaving others behind.” 

Tess is coming of age and starting to understand and appreciate her life a lot more once her family home becomes a foster home to Aaron, a 13 year old boy.

What I love about this book as a teacher and a former foster-care counselor is that it really brings to life the predicament that Aaron is in and it allows students to step into someone else’s shoes (which is tough and new for 10 year olds).

As the story develops, both Tess and Aaron learn to “make their own luck” in a way by letting go of trying to control life and hold on to the idea of what life should be like and embrace their life while making the best out of it.

For a week long novel “Touch Blue” unit go to: http://tinyurl.com/6mvah7l

And once they all understand how tough Aaron has it, students can read “Joshua of Gaia: The Lost Elderzamia” by M.G. Russell and learn about Joshua’s life in an orphanage where life equates survival.

Happy Reading! 

“The more that you read the more things you will know.

The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”

                                 – Dr. Seuss 

“Olive’s Ocean” -By Henkes – Novel Unit- Lesson Plan

Lexile Measure: 680L       

Guided Reading Level: V

Grades: 6 & up

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Subject: Death, Grief, and Loss, Extended Families, Friends and Friendship, Bullying, Understanding Self and Others.

Summary:

Olive’s Ocean by Kevin Henkes – is a wonderful story of Martha Boyle, a 12 year old girl, who is dealing with death and grief during her coming of age summer vacation. The novel explores a number of themes; bullying, grief, family dynamics, emotions, and understanding of self and others. A Newbery Award winner of 2004, “Olive Ocean” is a gem.

For a week long novel unit/lesson plan go to:

http://tinyurl.com/783mhpa

Similar books: “Sand Dollar Summer” by Kimberly Jones

Kids Read Coming to BlackBerry App World!

Kids Read is in the process of making a learning BlackBerry App, and you will be first to hear about when it comes out. Once the App is released, I will begin to include reviews of BlackBerry learning apps and content. Plus, I will post a link to the BlackBerry App World, where you will get a free download.

Looking forward to effective merging of education and technology.

Lena, M. Ed.
 

“The Night Sky” – IPod App for Kids and everyone else…

“The Night Sky” IPod app is really amazing.

 As you take picture of the night sky, it identifies stars

and planets you can see. Here are some pictures we’ve taken.  

 

It’s ideal for kids who are studying constellations and fun for everyone else.

Hope you have more than once device handy .

For more info about this awesome app go to:

 

http://www.iCandiApps.com/iCandi_Apps_LLP/Our_Blog/Entries/2011/10/26_The_Night_Sky.html

“Visions of Beauty” by Lasky – The Story of Sarah Breedlove Walker

Interest Level: Grade 4 – Grade 7             

Grade Level Equivalent: 5.3

Lexile® measure: 870L

DRA: 38

Guided Reading: P

Genre/Theme: Biography, General Nonfiction, African American History, Women’s History

“Visions of Beauty” is a true story of Sarah Breedlove Walker, a famous African American business woman, civil rights supporter/activist, and philanthropist, who defied the odds, and in spite of growing up poor and orphaned, became first African American woman millionaire and extremely successful entrepreneur. Sarah’s life was hard but she overcame it all, with her positive attitude, determination, and hard work. This book is an inspiration to all girls and women of all races and ages.

For the “Visions of Beauty” lesson plan grades 4-7 go to:

http://tinyurl.com/7mvzwm8

“The Lorax” Movie – How awesome!

“The Lorax” Movie? – This is awesome news! This movie should be great and it comes out in March right in time for Read Across America, Dr. Seuss’ Birthday, and Earth Day.

…”I am the Lorax who speaks for the trees

which you seem to be chopping as fast as you please.
But I’m also in charge of the Brown Bar-ba-loots
who played in the shade in their Bar-ba-loot suits
and happily lived, eating Truffula Fruits.

“NOW… thanks to your hacking my trees to the ground,
there’s not enough Truffula Fruit to go ’round.
And my poor Bar-ba-loots are all getting the crummies
because they have gas, and no food, in their tummies!

“They loved living here. But I can’t let them stay.
They’ll have to find food. And I hope that they may.
Good luck, boys,” he cried. And he sent them away.

I, the old Once-ler, felt sad
as I watched them all go.
BUT…
business is business!
And business must grow
regardless of crummies in tummies, you know….

Dr. Seuss

For “The Lorax” Lesson Plan – Grades 2-4 go to:

http://tinyurl.com/869wclq

MathGirl Addition House – IPod Apps for Kids

MathGirl Addition House App is an ideal math app for girls. It’s visually appealing with flowers, hearts, balloons, hearts… Your child will get a house which she can then decorate and change (with animals, flowers, paint, etc) as she progresses through levels.  Everything little girls love, especially 5 and 8 years olds.

But beyond all cute girly stuff, this app will build a number sense foundation that is crucial for mathematics, but yet not practiced enough in school. You can walk into any primary school in North America and you will see students using their fingers to add and/or subtract and taking a long time to come up with math answers.

Due to lack of number knowledge, students are so overwhelmed by mere addition that they fail to effectively progress to the next level. Numbers “sense”/”knowledge”, “mental math” or whatever you want to call it, is a foundation to mastering mathematics. We stress reading fluency and even time students reading speed, but completely fail to build math number fluency.

Anyhow, apps like MathGirl are a great way to use technology in an educational and fun way where your children/students won’t even notice how much they are learning in the process.    

Have fun with Apps !

Lena M. Ed.

Harold and the Purple Crayon – IPod Apps for Kids

If your child loves “Harold and the Purple Crayon”, by Crockett Johnson, he/she will definitely enjoy the “Harold at the North Pole” IPhone / IPhone App.

As an educator and a parent, I prefer real books to e-books, but this app is not just a story. It’s an engaging story telling app.

Harold really comes to life, exactly as he always is, adorable, with his purple crayon and great imagination.

The app has three options, “Touch Tale” where your child gets to color in pages before the story proceedes (the coloring part is greatly enjoyed by 2-4 year olds), then there is “Read to Me” option where your child can listen to the story, and then there is a “Read Alone” option. Great IPod or IPhone app that will be used daily.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret- by Brian Selznick

Grade Level Equivalent: 5.2        

Lexile Measure: 820L

Guided Reading Level: NR

Age: Age 9-12

Genre: Fiction, Mystery and Suspense, Graphic Novels,

Subject: Cleverness, Creativity and Imagination, Movies, Overcoming Obstacles

“The Invention of Hugo Cabret” by Brian Selznick, is an amazing story about a twelve year old orphan boy, Hugo Cabret, who after loosing his father tries to revive a broken automaton in hopes to get answers to his many questions. Selznik tells the story of Hugo through both words and illustrations. The illustrations are a work of art on their own and tweens greatly enjoy flipping thorough the pages of drawings which not only enhance the story but increase students reading comprehension. Chances are, 9 year old readers of Hugo Cabret are for the first time experiencing such a complex and engaging story telling, which offers a great teaching opportunity in terms of teaching reading comprehension skills (predicting, inferencing, summarizing, etc.). At the same time, Selznik uses rich vocabulary (Lexile measure 820L) which further offers great instructional moments.

This novel is a true treasure.

For the lesson plan/novel unit go to:  http://tinyurl.com/8xczvvk

Lena M. Ed.

 

Lego is for Girls… Is this a joke?

 

…. There’s now arguably a “Lego phase” for school-age boys that’s as consuming as the princess phase. But unlike tiaras and pink chiffon, Lego play develops spatial, mathematical, and fine motor skills, and lets kids build almost anything they can imagine, often leading to hours of quiet, independent play. Which is why Lego’s focus on boys has left many parents—especially moms like Orenstein—frustrated that their daughters are missing out. “The last time I was in a Lego store, there was this little pink ghetto over in one corner,” Orenstein says. “And I thought, really? This is the best you can do?”

For the whole story go to:

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/lego-is-for-girls-12142011.html?campaign_id=rss_topStories