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My humorous thoughts about life.

"My Humorous and Helpful Thoughts About Teaching / Educational Resources for Your Classroom / Music and Random Fun"

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Individual Characters

Hit CounterAs a writer, I've always struggled with making my characters unique with their own dialects and mannerisms. Many kids books are successful at this difficult skill, such as Lynn Reid Banks', "Indian in The Cupboard," Ingrid Law's "Savvy," and the sixteen different characters from Paul Fleishman's "Bull Run." But the author who's done this most recently is Kathryn Stockett with her best selling novel, "The Help."

This story is told from three different view points. Although she only labels the first chapter of a few when she changes the point of view, it's easy to pick up the book and know whose head you're in because each character is so unique. Sometimes when authors make the best seller list, I question the writer's talents, but not with Stockett. Her prominent place on the book shelves is well deserved.

Monday, November 2, 2009

Long Time- No See

Some folks say, "If you can't blog well, don't do it at all." This is a struggle during the busy time of the day job. Is there such a thing as seasonal blogging? Sounds like allergies. Sorry for the lack of words to catch. I'll pick her up when the job settles down.

With Love,
Joyce

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Help me Choose books for Kids

I am a teacher and have been asked to choose books for my students to read each quarter. I would really appreciate your advice on which books to choose.

For fifth grade, we are already enjoying Ingrid Law's Savvy and will read Paul Fleishman's Bull Run starting in October. But what about second semester? I must choose one book from each of these lists.

3rd quarter
The Great Depression

Bud Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
The Happy Yellow Car by Polly Horvath
A Long Way to Chicago by Richard Peck
Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor

For the fourth quarter I plan to have the fifth graders read Number the Stars by Lois Lowry.

Fourth grade is already loving Indian in the Cupboard but the future options include
2nd Quarter
American Revolution

The Fighting Ground by Avi
George Washington's Socks by Elvira Woodruff
Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes
My Brother Sam is Dead by JHames and Christopher Collier
Sarah Bishop by Scott O'Dell
Tolliver's Secret by Ester Wood Brady

I've already had two votes for Scott O'Dell.

3rd Quarter
Westward Expansion

Captain's Dog: My Journey with the Lewis and Clark Tribe by Roland Smith
Dear Levi: Letters for the Overland Trail by Elvira Woodruff
Streams To The River, River To The Sea by Scott O'Dell

4th Quarter
Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden
The Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
The Road to Memphis by Mildred D. Taylor
The Castle Corona by Sharon Creech
The Door in the Wall by Marguerite De Angeli
Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!: Voices fro a Medieval Village by Laura Amy Schlitz
Igraine the Brave by Cornelia Funke
Princess Academy by Shannon Hale

I'd appreciate your comments on these books. Thanks so much!
Joyce