Thank you Cathy Mere at
Reflect and Refine and Mandy Robek at
Enjoy and Embrace for organizing the 4th annual #pb10for10. I look forward to this event each summer. It helps to build my excitement for the coming school year.
Several years ago at the All Write! Conference I heard Katie Wood Ray speak. She asked the audience to think about books. She asked us what books we have that we can use over and over again for different purposes. These will be my "go to" books this year.
Earrings by Judith Viorst
I used this book last year as mentor text with our persuasive writing unit. I love all the reasons the girl in the book gives for getting her ears pierced.
Forest Has a Song by Amy Ludwig Vanderwater
This is a series of poems that tell a story about the forest. Along with Amy's website
The Poem Farm, I will be using the book as a mentor text for writing different kinds of poetry. I've also been reflecting on exposing my students to more books about nature and using nature observations for writing. We will be having some discussions about this using the poems in Amy's book.
Are Trees Alive? by Debbie S. Miller
I love how this book compares trees to humans, often using similes. I will be using this book in science and as a mentor text when talking about similes and patterns in text.
Fly Free! by Roseanne Thong
This is a Vietnamese tale about a girl who wanted to set sparrows free, but doesn't have enough money. She does a nice dead that is paid forward until it comes back to the girl when a man sets the sparrows free. I will use the book at the beginning of the year to talk about "paying it forward" I will also use it to discuss repeated phrases in text. The phrase, "Fly free, fly free in the sky so blue. When you do a good deed, it will com back to you." is after each act of kindness is finished. I will also use it talk about adding details to text or showing, not just telling. One example from the book is "The shoes were the rich, read color of pomegranates".
Hello! Hello! by Matthew Cordell
This is a great book about what happens when a girl gives up her electronics and explores outside.
The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds
I will be using this book at the beginning of the year to discuss how students can make their own "mark". We will also be participating in
International Dot Day on September 15thish.
Saturdays and Teacakes by Lester Laminack
This is a great book for reading and writing. I use it when talking about personal narratives, adding details and word choice. It is also a great story to use when talking about setting. Kids love discussing how the illustrations give us evidence about the setting.
The Okay Book by Todd Parr
I use this book to talk about differences and that our differences are "okay". Even 2nd graders can appreciate the simple text. We also Skye with Todd Parr at the beginning of the year. He does a wonderful Skype where he talks about how he gets his ideas for his books. He Skypes from his studio and his dogs even make an appearance.
Another great book about being ourselves that I will share at the beginning of the year to help build community in the classroom. I will also be revisiting this book on Dot Day!
Rain School by James Rumford
I found this book while browsing last year at my local library. I shared it with my class and they loved it. The book is about students in Chad, Africa who build their school only to have it destroyed when the rains come. I wish I had taped the discussion my class had about this book last year after reading it. I'm excited to share it with another group of 2nd graders this year.
