What I'm Reading Wednesday

A couple weeks ago CNN aired a special documentary marking the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.  One of the men featured, Martin Greenfield, survived Auschwitz as a child and is now one of the most popular suit makers/tailors, making suits for presidents, movie sets, and other well known leaders.

He wrote a memoir about his life growing up and how he became who he is today. I had to go out and buy it right away, and I was not disappointed.  Martin's book, Measure of a Man, is a great story about how people can overcome horrible situations and experiences.  Martin's story is inspiring, even though reading about his childhood is very sad. He has such appositive outlook on life, it is contagious!   If you like memoirs, holocaust history and inspirational stories you should read this book!

At school, I am reading the book Forge by Laurie Halse Anderson as my class read aloud right now.  This is the sequel to the book Chains (which we also read, and loved!).  Forge is a historical fiction novel set during the Revolutionary War and tells the tale of Curzon, a former slave/servant who escaped jail and joined the Patriot army to fight at Valley Forge.  American history is the main focus of our social studies curriculum and this book is a wonderful tie in to all the things we are reading and learning about in social studies.  The kids learn so much about day to day life, different perspectives, and what fighting for freedom was really like- things they wouldn't learn from just reading a textbook.  The story is a page turner and has the kids saying "nooooooo.....don't stop reading!" every day.  Even if you aren't studying American history I would strongly recommend this book as a strong work of historical fiction that includes internal and external conflict, a great plot, and strong characters.

What are you reading right now?  Any suggestions of good books I should add to my reading list?

15 Favorite Read Aloud Books for 5th Grade

There are so many great books available, how do you decide which ones to use as your class read aloud books?  Here is a list of 15 of my favorite read aloud books that my class has loved!

1. 100 Cupboards by N.D. Wilson-  This book brings together a little fantasy, some mystery and just the right amount of spookiness. Henry discovers a wall full of odd cupboards hidden behind the plaster in his bedroom.  As he uncovers them he discovers hidden worlds, good and bad, and meets many interesting characters, good and bad, along the way.  Everything is fine until his cousin Henrietta goes missing.

2. The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis- this is a wonderful piece of historical/current event fiction.  11 year old Parvana is a girl living in Afghanistan under the control of the Taliban.  To help her family survive, and do things as basic as going to the market to buy food, she has to dress like a boy so she is allowed out on the streets without an escort.  The kids really love this book and are surprised and furious about how Parvana has to live her day to day life.

3. The Candymakers by Wendy Maas- this is a fun book told from four different perspectives.  Four children gather together to prepare for a candymaking competition and they all have their secrets.  An important candy secret is stolen and bit by bit each of the four characters reveal a little more about themselves.  I like how this book tells the story from four perspectives.  It shows how different people experience and perceive the same situation differently.

4. The Candy Shop War by Brandon Mull- a fantasy/suspense book that follows four kids as they discover the good and bad sides of local candy and ice cream makers.  Magic candy, and a little danger draw the kids into this story.  There is now a second book “The Candy Shop War-  Arcade Catastrophe” that your kids will want to read once you finish!

5. Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson- LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this book for historical fiction when we are studying the American Revolution.  The book follows Isabel who thought she was about to get freedom only to be sold off to a horrible family.  My kiddos beg me to keep reading every day!  I especially like that each chapter starts with a snippet from a primary source from that time period that somehow connects to the events in the chapter.  It is a fun way for kids to hear pieces of real letters and documents from that time. Continue Isabels story in the book Forge.

6. Flying Solo by Ralph Fletcher- The teacher is sick, the sub is sick, and no one knows there is no teacher in the 6th grade classroom.  The book rotates being told from several classmates perspectives and includes a well rounded group of students (characters) that the kids in your class will be able to connect with. 

7. Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life by Wendy Maas- When Jeremy’s dad died he left a box for him to open on his 13th birthday.  But…they keys have been lost.  Jeremy and his best friend Lizzy go on an adventure around town trying to find the missing keys and learning a lot about life in the process.

8. Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper- great book for students to see life through the eyes of a student with a disability, but also many abilities that they have not noticed because they only see she is a wheelchair and cannot talk.  Melody is the main character whose story teaches kids to have empathy for others and to not judge people based on what you see. The boys and giirls enjoyed this book.

9. The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart- this is a long book, but it doesn’t seem long as you read it.  4 intelligent kids are sent on an adventure that takes all of their personal strengths to complete. 

10. The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster – classic fantasy book that encourages kids to see the fun in life and that you can make your own adventure in life.

11. Rules by Cynthia Lord- this is another book that helps students see life through the eyes of a family that includes 12 year old Catherine and her younger brother David who has autism.

12. Skinnybones by Barbara Park-  I love to read this at the beginning of the year.  This is a short book packed with humor and relatable characters. 

13. Stolen Children by Peg Kehret-  If your class is in the mood for a book with suspense and a little fear, they will enjoy this book.  Babysitter Amy, and 3 year old Kendra are kidnapped and brought to a cabin in the woods.  This book does a good job of portraying the kidnapping without being too scary. 

14. A Whole Nother Story by Dr. Cuthbert Soup- SO funny!  This book includes so many memorable characters and such a fantastic story line your class will not want you to stop reading.  There are 2 or 3 books that continue the adventures of the Cheeseman family that your students are sure to be eager to read.

15. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle- another classis book that is always a favorite with the kids.  Has a strong female protagonist in Meg and is part of a five book series.

What are your favorite read aloud books?

What I am Reading

One thing I love about winter break is the free time I have to read, read, read!
Here is what I am reading right now:

2nd Chance by James Patterson - My hairstylist recommended this series the last time I saw her, so I downloaded the first book onto my Nook to check it out.  This is a series of crime/mystery books that take place in San Francisco and the lead characters are four female friends who come together to create the Women's Murder Club where they work together to solve crimes.  I was hesitant at first, but so far I like the series.  It is an easy read, short chapters, the plot keeps moving and holds my interest.

Without You There Is No Us by Suki Kim - This is a memoir written by a journalist who temporarily taught at a North Korean university.  This book is VERY interesting,  I find everything about North Korea to be mind boggling.  It is hard to imagine day to day life in that environment.  As a teacher it is also interesting to see North Koreas education system (university) and how vastly different it is from what I experienced.

Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson -  I am not currently reading this, but I have read it three times in the past and it is going to be my read aloud when school starts up after winter break.  This book is amazing, and if you teach American History it is a great story that will have your students begging you to read more!  It follows the story of Isabel, a slave who was promised freedom, but it doesn't happen.  You get to see her day to day life, struggles, thoughts...as she lives through the Revolutionary War time period.  There is a second book- Forge- that contuse that story.

What are you reading right now?  Do you have any suggestions to add to my personal or school book list?

Hello Good Books!

This summer I have been trying to read some books that have been student favorites (that I hadn't previously read) and some new books that I thought looked interesting.  Here is a summary of some of the books I have read:

1.  Divergent and Insurgent by Veronica Roth

     I really enjoyed both of these books and am excited to read the third book in the series when it comes out. It is a dystopian story about citizens being split into communities based on a certain skill, with some being "factionless" which means they don't belong to any group.  I was hoping to purchase these for my classroom, but there is some mature content that I don't think would be good for a 5th grade room.

2.  Boys Without Names by Kashmira Sheth

     This story takes place in India, where the main character is kidnapped and forced into working for a man keeping him locked up in a warehouse making picture frames for his "boss".  He is joined by several other boys who remain "nameless" (hence the title) because the boss doesn't let them speak.  It is sad to know that things like this really happen in other parts of the world, and it is a really good book for kids (gr 5 and up) to get a view of how kids in other parts of the world live.

3.  The Fault in Our Stars by Johns Green

     Super book!  However, not age appropriate for my 5th grade classroom.  I heard a lot about this book, and heard the movie was coming out, so I wanted to read it first.  Two teenage cancer survivors find each other and fall in love.  They go through many ups and downs with their cancer throughout the book, but are always there for each other.  Have the kleenex close by, this one is a tear jerker!

4.  Jefferson's Sons by Kimberly Bradley

     I love finding good historical fiction that ties in with U.S. History and what I teach in my classroom.  This book is about Jefferson's sons that he had with one of his slaves.  Very interesting account of how the different groups, kids, races interacted at that time, and how the sons were viewed.

Happy Reading!