Twelve Rounds to Glory: The story of Muhammad Ali

By: Charles R. Smith Jr.

Determination, Faith, Love, Hope, Injury
Suggested Delivery: Small Group Reading

This book tells the reader about Muhammad Ali’s life on a trip through twelve rounds of glory. It leads you through a journey through his childhood and to when he became a three-time champion. It also describes his struggle, but at the same time the blessings in his life.
Lexile Reading Level: NP

Electronic Resources:

Timeline

Students will use this interactive online tool to create a timeline on 12 events which are important in Muhammad Ali’s life. They will do this after they read the book.

Fast Facts

This is a website which gives general facts about Muhammad Ali. This can be used before they read the book, to get some background information about Muhammad Ali.

Key Vocabulary:

This vocabulary should be taught before reading the book.

Trained

Conqueror

Olympics

Heavyweight Champion

Soar

Protest

Eruption

Champion

Reading Strategies:

Students will complete a KWL chart before and after they read this book. Students will write down prior knowledge of Muhammad Ali on the board. As a class they will decide what they want to learn about Muhammad Ali. They will also write what they have learned from the book.

Writing Activity that demonstrates Inferential Comprehension:

Students will respond to the quote “bathed in Beautiful light” (Smith, 2007, p. 76). Have the students write what they believe the meaning of this quote is referring to Muhammad Ali in two paragraphs.

Twelve rounds to glory: the story of Muhammad Ali. Cambridge : Candlewick Press.

 

On the Road

By Lucy Nolan Illustrated By: Mike Reed

Suggested Delivery: Read Aloud

Lexile Reading Level: 380L

Adventurous, animated, seeing through a different lens, Day in the life a dog, day in the life an owner of a dog

This is a humorous book of life as a dog who likes to travel. See through a dog’s eyes what he thinks compared to what his owner thinks about his actions in at the places they go.

Electronic Resources:

Comic Maker 

Before they read students can create their own comic. They will do a comic describing a situation which could be named On the Road. This will have the students making prediction what this book is about.

Venn diagram 

This is an interactive Venn diagram. Students can compare and contrast the dog and the owner’s views in the book. They can do this after they read the book.

Key Vocabulary:

This vocabulary should be taught before reading the book.

Awfully

Bury

Hummed

Accident

Embarrass

Terrier

Reading Strategies:

Have the class make predictions on the board what they think will happen in this book before they read the book. The students can do a picture walk to help them make predictions.

Students will complete a concept map while they are reading describing a character of their choice using specific examples from the text.

Writing Activity that demonstrates Inferential Comprehension

Students will write two paragraphs explaining what could happen in real life and what cannot happen in real life.

Nolan, L. A., & Reed, M. (2005). On the road. Tarrytown, NY: Marshall Cavendish Children.

Red Sings from the Treetops a year in colors

 By: Joyce Sidman
Lexile Reading Level: AD570L

Spring, Winter, Fall, Summer, Colors

In this book, specific colors are used to describe the four seasons. These poems uses description so the reader can really picture what is happening in the book.
Suggested Delivery: Small Group Reading

Electronic Resources:

Meet the Author

This is Joyce Sidman’s website, where students can find information on her and her book. There are questions that tell about her life and how she started writing. This can be used before the students read the book, so they can get to know the author.

Wordle

Students will pick one of the season, described in the book. They will create a word cloud describing the colors and different events that happen in each season. This will be done after they read this book.

Key Vocabulary:

This vocabulary should be taught before reading the book.

Rhubarb

Squirms

Mossy-soft

Goldfinches

Honking

Waxing

Waning

Reading Strategies:

Students will answer an anticipation guide to see what they know about poems in general and about the poems in the book. Students will do this before they read and answered the statements true or false.

All poems need to rhyme. False

Colors can be used to describe seasons. True

The color red resembles the sun. True

The color while only stands for winter. False

After the students have read the poems in the book, they will create their own found poem. The students will use words or phrases from the poems to create their own poems.

Writing Activity that demonstrates Inferential Comprehension:

Students will pick a season that they enjoy the most to write about. They will use the colors in the book which describes this season and they will describe what each color represents.

Sidman, J., & Sidman, J. (2009). Red sings from treetops: a year in colors. Cookery: Houghton Mifflin Books For Children.

Our U.S. Capital

By: Mary Firestone

U.S. Capital, Interesting Facts about the Capital, During war, Expanding, Congress

This book takes you on a tour of the U.S. Capital. It gives you the history on what the original design was of the building and how they expanded it. It also shows they read what the Capital is used for.

Suggested Delivery: Read Aloud
Lexile Reading Level: 7301G

Electronic Resources:

Architect of the Capital

This website shows the details of the architecture of the capital. It also has different parts of the capital where students can explore. This will be used before students of read the book. This will give them basis information so they better under the book.

Timeline

Students will use this online interactive timeline maker. They will use the significant events on the U.S. Capital and out them on the timeline.

Key Vocabulary:

This vocabulary should be taught before reading the book.

Chamber

Restored

Architect

Rotunda

War of 1812

Democracy

Civil War

Reading Strategy:

Students will complete a KWL chart. They write what they know about the U.S. Capital before they explore the website and read the book. Then they come with information they want to find out as a whole class. After they explore the website and read the book, they can find out what they learned.

Writing Activity that demonstrates Inferential Comprehension:

Have students write two paragraphs on what they learned about the U.S. Capital that they did not already know. They will put what they found most interesting about the Capital in their writing piece.

Firestone, M. (2008). Our U.S. Capital. Minneapolis: Picture Widow Books.

Amelia Earhart: This Broad Ocean

By: Sarah Stewart Taylor and Ben Towle
Suggested Delivery: Independent Read

Courage, Hope, Love of flying, Determined, Woman Pilot, Alantic Ocean

Amelia Earhart is a young woman who loves to fly airplanes. She does not let the fact that she is a woman stop her dream of flying across the Atlantic. She is a courageous and determined  to fly. There is a young reporter named Grace who helps tell Amelia Earhart Story.
Lexile Reading Level: GN1080L

Electronic Resources:

Comic Creator

Before the students read this graphic novel about a hero named Amelia Earhart, students will create their own comic of a real or fictional hero.

The Flight of Amelia Earhart

 This is an interactive timeline. It takes you through Amelia’s Life along with world history at that time. This will be done after students read the graphic novel to learn more about Amelia Earhart and how she is a hero.

Key Vocabulary:

This vocabulary should be taught before reading the book.

Determination
Trepasses
Shipwrecks
Telegram
Cheerio
Tension
Exclusive
Publisher
Reading Strategy:

As a whole class students will create a KWL chart. This will be done on the board. This will include what they already know about Amelia Earhart before they read, what they want to know as they read, and what they have learned.

Writing Activity that demonstrates Inferential Comprehension:

Students will write a journal entry in how Amelia Earhart made a difference. They will include how Amelia Earhart changed how people think of what women should do with their life.

Taylor, S. S., & Towle, B. (2010). Amelia Earhart: this broad ocean. New York: Disney/Hyperion Books .

Al Capone Does My Shirts

By: Gennifer Choldenko

Lexile Reading: 600 L

Suggested Delivery: Independent Read

Adventurous, Friendship, Eye opening, History, Love between a sister and a brother

Twelve year old Mouse Flanagan moves to the island prison of Alcatraz. He moves their due to his Dad getting a job as an electrician and a guard. He has an older sister who is autistic. At first Moose does not like his new home, but he meets good friends, and realizes he has a never ending friendship with his sister. The famous Al Capone is a prisoner at Alcatraz and does Moose’s laundry. Al Capone helps Mouse’s sister on her way to getting educated.

Electronic Resources:

Meet me at the Corner

This is about a minute and a half long video introducing the book. It gives brief background information to help the students know the basis of the book before they start reading it.

Al Capone on Alcatraz

This website is great for your students to explore. It has information about the author. It also gives information on who Al Capone was and how he ended up at Alcatraz. It also describes about autism and what inspired Miss Choldenko to include Natalie in the story. Students can explore this website after they read the book.

Key Vocabulary:

This vocabulary should be taught before reading the book.

Alcatraz

Poison oak

Runt

Convict

Quarters

Laundering

Warden

Reading Strategies:

Before the student have read this book, students will complete an anticipation guide on the book. They will answer these questions by saying true or false.

Al Capone was arrested and put into Alcatraz. True

Alcatraz is not on an island. False

Families of the guard of Alcatraz live near the prison. True

After the students have read, they will create a timeline containing five significant events which occur in the story. They will do this in groups of five.

Writing Activity that demonstrates Inferential Comprehension:

Write a journal entry as if you were a child living in Alcatraz. How would you feel? What characters would be your friends? What would you do for fun?

Choldenko, G. (2004). Al Capone does my shirts. New York: G.p. Putnam's Sons.

Recommended by my 12 year old sister Erin

Matilda

By: Roald Dahl and Illustrated By: Quentin Blake

Lexile Reading: 840L
Suggested Delivery: Read Aloud

Dahl, R., & Blake, Q. (1988). Matilda. New York: Viking Kestrel.

Powers, being different, Doing what is right, justice, friendship, love

Summary: Matilda is a magical bright young girl who is very misunderstood in her family. Matilda loves to learn and read unlike her family members who are in love with making as much money as possible and watching the television for many hours. Matilda life changes when she goes to school. At school she meets Miss Honey who supports Matilda and loves for who she is. She also meets the strong and mean head mistress of the school, Miss Trunchbull, who needs to be taught a lesson. 

Electronic Resources:

Matilda Quiz

This is an online quiz, which focuses on key points from the book. This can be used after the students read the book, to test how well their comprehended the book.

Wordle

Students will create a word cloud. The class will create a wordle describing Miss Trunchbull. Students can add how she treated the kids and Miss Honey. The students can also make a wordle on Miss Honey describing her personality and what she has been through.

Key Vocabulary:

This vocabulary should be taught before reading the book.

Glorious                                                      

Old-Day

Cloakroom

Devising

Blaring

Imitation

Devouring

Arithmetic

Subtle

Reading Strategies:

Students will create a word wall off of the vocabulary words on the list. Students will put the definition, synonym on the card, with how it is use. The students will also write a sentence using the word. Students will do this before they read this book.

After the students read the book, they will have a popcorn review discussion. The discussion will be directed with a set of discussion questions.

 Discussion Questions used in the popcorn discussion:

Why does Matilda put super glue in her Father’s hat and die his hair blonde?

Why is Matilda misunderstood in her family?

Why is Matilda a genius?

Do you think it is good or bad that Miss Trunchbull is feared by all? Why?

If you could be any character in this book, who would you be? Why?

How does Miss Honey influence Matilda to be a better person?

Writing Activity that demonstrates Inferential Comprehension:

 Students will write a four paragraph essay on how would you feel is you were in Matilda's place, living in the Wormwood household?

Amber Brown is Green with Envy

By: Paula Danziger

Lexile Reading Level: 600L

Suggested Delivery: Independent Read

Danziger, P., & Ross, T. (2003). Amber Brown is green with envy. New York: G.p. Putnam's Sons.

Envy, The grass is always greener on the other side, everyone can relate to in some way, friendship, compensation
Amber Brown is green with envy because she is having a hard time dealing with her parent's divorce. She is green with envy for people who do not have divorced parents.

Electronic Resources:

 Graphic Map

This is an interactive online graphic map. This can be used to show the different events that happen in Amber Brown’s life which makes her Green with Envy. This can be used for the students after they finish reading the book.

Scholastic Paula Danziger Interview Transcript

This can be used before students read the book. It gives background about the author and how she started writing. It also will inspire students to write and read a lot like the author.

Key Vocabulary:

This vocabulary should be taught before reading the book.

Punch line

Accordion

Envy

Teasing

Shared-custody

Goopy

Strikes

Torture

Reading Strategies:

Before the students read the book, have them make predictions of what Amber Brown is green with envy about. Students can do this as a whole class, and write their predictions on the board.

After the students read the book, have them have a popcorn review on the book. The students will focus on how was Amber Brown green with envy?

Writing Activity that demonstrates Inferential Comprehension: Have students write about when they been green with envy and compare and contrast it to how Amber Brown was green with envy.

When Heaven Fell

By: Carolyn Marsden

Suggested Delivery:

Small groups reading
Lexile Reading Level: 710 L

Marsden, C. (2007). When heaven fell. Cambridge : Candlewick Press.

 Captivating, see Vietnam through different lens before and after the war, Innocence, Love, patient, the meaning of family, jealously, the grass is always greener

This is a captivating book about Vietnamese culture. This story is told by a 9 year old Vietnamese girl named Binh. Binh learns about American culture and she realizes it is different than what she thought. Her American Aunt comes to visit and learns a lot about Vietnamese culture and life.

Electronic Resources:

Cultural Facts

This website can be used before students read the book. It gives some basic information of Vietnamese culture and the definitions of the Vietnamese words which are used throughout the book. This website can be used before the students read to give them some background information about Vietnamese culture.

Wordle

Students will create a word cloud on a character of their choice describing them and their view on different cultures and how it changed throught the book. This will be done after the students read the book.

Key Vocabulary:

This vocabulary should be taught before reading the book.

Communist

Subtitles

Ba- father

Di-Aunt prounounced yee

Con-child

Non la- Vietnam- cone-shaped straw hat

Viet-kieu-Vietnamese who live abroad

Reading Strategies:

An anticipation guide will be used before  the students read a book. This will done in a true or false fashion. This will help the teacher see what the students know about the Vietnam culture and other important points made in this book.

In small groups have the students complete a Venn diagram comparing and contrasting Vietnamese and American life using examples of the book. This will be done after they read the book.

Writing Activity that demonstrates Inferential Comprehension:

Have students use the raft method to write a few paragraphs of the point of view on any character in this book which they can choose. Have the students compare and contrast their point of view to the characters.

One Crazy Summer

By: Rita Williams-Garcia

Lexile Reading Level: 750L

Garcia, R. (2010). One crazy summer. New York: Amistad.

Inspirational, courage, power to the people, hope, judgment, segregation, pride

This book is about three sisters who take the trip to California to visit their Mother. They learn about the Black Panthers and what they stand for. The sisters make new friends and learn how important it is to be themselves and stand up for what they believe in.

Electronic Resources:

History on Black Panthers
This website tells history about the Black Panthers and what they stand for. This website can be used while the students are reading to learn more about the Black Panthers that the three sisters meet.
Voki
This website allows students to create a talking avatar. Students can write a script and record their voice in order to create this avatar. Students can create a talking avatar based on the point of view  of

Delphine, Vonetta, Fern, or of their mother. The students can include how the character feels about an event that happen during their summer. This will be done after the students read the book.

Key Vocabulary:

This vocabulary should be taught before reading the book.

Black Panthers

Surging

 Towering

 Humiliation

 Claim

 Rightfully

 Clutching

Revolution

Squatted

 Queasy

Reading Strategy:

Students will create vocabulary cards on the words on the vocabulary list. On these cards they will include the definition, and a sentence using the word. Students should also draw a picture which describe the definition of the book. These will be created before they read the book, so they can better comprehend the text.

While Students are reading the book, they will do a think pair share. Students will read the assigned chapter. They will think about the significant events which occurred during the story. Then they will meet in small groups to discussion what events happened in the chapter that they believe are significant and why.

After the students read the book, they will create a Poem for Two Voices. They will use inferential comprehension along with explicit details from the text to create a poem. This will compare and contrasts two different character's point of view. This will completed in pairs.

Writing Activity that demonstrates Inferential Comprehension:

Students will write a journal entry as if they were Delphine or her mother. They will include how they  believe the character felt during a certain time or situation. They will use details from the book to support their answers. 

Savvy

By: Ingrid Law

Law, I. (2008). Savvy. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers.

Lexile Reading Level: 1070 L

Witty, adventure, love, magical, heart warming, something is not always how it seems

This is a magical story of a family with very special talents. This family is unique because they have all have savvys. The family can create thunder storms, create electricity, and be perfect. On Mibs thirteen birthday she finds out what her savvy is. Her savvy takes her on an adventure, where she makes new friends, and saves her Father’s life.

Suggested Delivery: Independent Read

Electronic Resources:

Wordle

Students will create a word cloud on a character of their choice describing them and their savvy. This will be done after the students read the book.

Flip Book

This is an interactive site, which guides the students step by step on how to create a flip book. It can be printed in color or black and white. It is easy and fun to use. Students can create a flip book as they read on the important events which happen in the story. They can write down notes on the important events in the book as they read that they would like to include in their flip book. Once they have gotten at least ten events they will create their flip book.

Key Vocabulary:

This vocabulary should be taught before reading the book.

Awkwardly

Sassing

Congregating

Sassing

Admiration

Concentration

Hickering

Reading Strategies:

Before the students read the book have them create a word wall with the vocabulary words from the list that need to be taught before they read the text. They will put the word, definition, and a synonym of each word.

While students are reading the book, have them write predictions using context clues what will happen to the characters in the bus and what will happen to Mibs’ Dad. They will do this in homogenous reading groups. They will write their predictions on one side of the T chart. After they have finished reading the book they will fill in the other side of the T chart with what really happeded to Mibs’ Dad.

Writing Activity that demonstrates Inferential Comprehension:

Students will write two paragraphs on their definition of a savvy. They must use examples from different character’s savvy in the book.
Recommended by my 12 year old sister Erin

 

What To Do About Alice?

By: Barbara Kelly

Kelly, B. (2008). What to do about Alice?. Scholastic Press: Scholastic Press.

Lexile Reading Level: 800L

Women’s Rights, Theodore Roosevelt office life and family, eating up and enjoying the world, exploring, mischief, love, history

Theodore Roosevelt has a daughter named Alice who is always getting into trouble and makes it difficult for Teddy Roosevelt to control her and be the President of the United States. Alice loves to explore new countries and make new friends. She is ahead of many woman of her time. Alice likes to live at the moment and not worry about what others think of her actions.

Suggested Delivery: Read Aloud
Electronic Resources:

Read Write Think Online Timeline:
This is an online timeline machine made just for students. The students can create a timeline of Alice’s life because they are so many of her father Teddy’s but not as many of hers.


Timeline of Teddy Rossevelt:

Students can learn more about Teddy Roosevelt’s life before after and during his term as President from this easy to read timeline. 

Key Vocabulary:

This vocabulary should be taught before reading the book.

Leg braces

Eat up the world

Unruly

Inconsiderable

Shriveled

Boarding school

Publicity

Inauguration

Trinkets

Reading Strategy:

Have the students make predictions of “what eat the world means.” Put this phrase on the word wall in addition to the other vocabulary words that students are not familar with. This will be done before reading the book. 

The students create a fishbone concept map on Alice’s adventures. This will be done after the students read the book.

Writing Activity that demonstrates Inferential Comprehension:

Have the students write a persuasive essay on how Alice “ate up the world” and changed Teddy’s Rooselvelts life for the better. The students should include tradition words and specific details from the story. This will be four paragraphs with a opening sentence which grabs the readers attention.