For non-fiction: Oh Yuck! is a big book, but it has yucky facts. Everyone loves it! They also have other ones in that series
There is a series that on the front says "High Interest" but I can't remember the publisher! They have books like Rat Attacks and they are really great! Oh also the diary type books are always popular and also A Child Called It. On 10/21/07, Lucinda Marcello <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Thanks for the great list of books for those uninterested readers, > Heather! > > Do you have any ideas for non-fiction as well? Let me know! > > Some have loved Soul Surfer about the girl in the shark attact who got > back > onboard. Author Bethany Hamilton. > > http://www.bethanyhamilton.com/ > > Lucinda > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Heather Poland" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: "A list for improving literacy with focus on middle grades." > <[email protected]> > Sent: Sunday, October 21, 2007 5:03 PM > Subject: Re: [LIT] Reading Question > > > There are some Gary Soto books that are great - Taking Sides, The > Afterlife, > Pacific Crossing > > Orca press has some great high interest/low level books, but there are > some > that may not be appropriate for middle school, so check them out first. > > Stuck in Neutral, Cruise Control, and Inside Out by Terry Trueman are also > great. > > Most of my reluctant readers love Cirque Du Freak and the Lord Loss series > and don't care about the length. > > On 10/21/07, Lucinda Marcello <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > Yes, the freedom to drop with a deadline looming is a challenge. I am > > going > > to rethink and rearrange what I am doing. > > Thanks for all of the feedback today. > > > > I need a list of shorter books for those students who are not successful > > with any book yet. I have many who "drop" as many as they pick up. It > > would > > be great to hear of others who know of good middle school books (short) > > for > > those students who are already behind in reading levels. Usually boys > but > > not always. > > > > I will check out Rewind and Into the Dream. Many are liking the Cirque > Du > > Freak series by Darren Shan. I am not a horror fan but some students > just > > love it (girls and boys!) and are inhaling these books! I would never > have > > read a "vampire" book but picked up Twilight since I heard raves. Oh my, > > the > > relationship between this normal teen girl and unique guy was so > > refreshing. > > I loved Bella and Edward. Miss them now that the series is awaiting the > > 4th > > book. By taking a chance, I was under the spell. Isn't that what we want > > for > > our reading students? Enchanted by reading for pleasure, information, > and > > learning! I want them to fall in love with reading like I have...... > > Lucinda > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > To: <[email protected]> > > Sent: Sunday, October 21, 2007 3:25 PM > > Subject: Re: [LIT] Reading Question > > > > > > > Most have read 3-5 books.? I have one girl that read through the > Golden > > > Compass series, the Lightning Thief books,?and the last of the Harry > > > Potters.? She's not the norm, but it is exciting to watch her. > > > > > > I also have a group that have "dropped" 7 or 8 books that I have > working > > > on short "chapter books" so they have at least 1 book under their > > belts.? > > > Most of these tend to be guys so I have them reading Rewind, Into the > > > Dream and some short sports-themed books. It's hard to maintain the > > > "freedom to drop" when you know they need to finish something to get > the > > > idea. > > > > > > > > > Karen Onyx > > > Carusi Middle School > > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: Lucinda Marcello <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > To: A list for improving literacy with focus on middle grades. > > > <[email protected]> > > > Sent: Sun, 21 Oct 2007 6:07 pm > > > Subject: Re: [LIT] Reading Question > > > > > > > > > > > > Wow. Your students have finished 8-10 books since September? We need > to > > > readjust in my class! > > > > > > I am thinking we need to read more non-fiction since others have > posted > > > their use of non-fiction. > > > > > > Do you read 20 minutes in class every day? If we did more independent > > > reading in class, I wonder if it would be more effective. Many do not > do > > > any > > > homework. I am beginning to rethink the amount of reading and writing > > > homework, as well. Homework seems to be a nightmare for some parents, > a > > > blow-off for some students, a copy-it-over-lunch solution for some > > > students, > > > a few faithful who will do it and who is benefiting? > > > > > > I agree with all of you about choose your genre and drop it if it is > not > > > working. Good thought about letting friends read the same book then > > > discuss > > > it. I like the idea of writing a letter in response to a book. Maybe a > > > persuasive letter since that is our next benchmark. > > > > > > Great ideas, thanks so much for sharing today! > > > > > > Lucinda > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > To: <[email protected]> > > > Sent: Sunday, October 21, 2007 12:31 PM > > > Subject: Re: [LIT] Reading Question > > > > > > > > >> > > >> Bill, > > >> > > >> I'm finding the very same thing.?Choice is the key, as well as the > > >> freedom > > >> to drop.? I'm using 20 minutes of my 50 minutes class and 20 minutes > at > > >> home for independent reading.? I've been logging in pages and book > > titles > > >> each day for accountablility.? Although I have several students still > > >> working on their first books, I also have quite a few on their 8th or > > >> 10th > > >> book since since September. > > >> > > >> It's sort of funny; I've had several ask if they can read the same > book > > >> together so they can talk about it.? Who am I to say no to such a > > >> request? > > >> > > >> I have asked them to write 2 letters and a book recommendation so > far. > > >> > > >> I'm also working doing the reading skills work on non-fiction or > > picture > > >> books.? We've talked quite a bit about efferent and aestetic reading > > and > > >> are currently trying to figure out how to best read texbooks.? The > math > > >> textbook discussions have been quite interesting.? My thinking is > that > > if > > >> we can develop the skills on non-fiction text, it will carry over to > > the > > >> fiction without breaking into their enjoyment and focus.? Am I crazy? > > or > > >> at least on the right track? > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> Karen Onyx > > >> Carusi Middle School > > >> > > >> > > >> -----Original Message----- > > >> From: Bill IVEY <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > >> Bcc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > >> Sent: Sun, 21 Oct 2007 3:04 pm > > >> Subject: Re: [LIT] Reading Question > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> Hi! > > >> > > >> I love this group - so many answers so quickly, and such strong > > answers! > > >> I > > >> honestly don't think I have much to add, though I will say that I > think > > >> one of the most fundamental elements in building interest in reading > is > > >> the part about just letting them read what they want to. I often get, > > >> "Wait, you mean I can just read (fill in the blank - often a Meg > Cabot > > >> title) and that's okay?" Also, the idea that they can drop the book > if > > >> they lose interest in it. > > >> > > >> Although I think my kids do enjoy having group discussions of books, > > >> several have told me that they are much happier reading on their own > > then > > >> reading something I've picked out for them, or even something they've > > >> picked out as a group book from a number of choices. > > >> > > >> Oh, I did just think about "morning reading" - i.e. read-alouds. I > > think > > >> that has been huge in my class, for generally building interest in > > >> reading, for helping students learn from each other about how to > think > > >> about reading, and for just enjoying being together ("building > > >> community"). > > >> > > >> Take care, > > >> Bill Ivey > > >> Stoneleigh-Burnham School > > >> > > >> > > >> _______________________________________________ > > >> The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org > > >> > > >> To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > > >> http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org. > > >> > > >> Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive > > >> > > >> > > >> > > ________________________________________________________________________ > > >> Email and AIM finally together. You've gotta check out free AOL Mail! > - > > >> http://mail.aol.com > > >> _______________________________________________ > > >> The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org > > >> > > >> To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > > >> http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org. > > >> > > >> Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive > > >> > > >> > > >> -- > > >> No virus found in this incoming message. > > >> Checked by AVG Free Edition. > > >> Version: 7.5.488 / Virus Database: 269.15.3/1082 - Release Date: > > >> 10/20/2007 2:59 PM > > >> > > >> > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org > > > > > > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > > > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org. > > > > > > Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive > > > > > > > > > > ________________________________________________________________________ > > > Email and AIM finally together. You've gotta check out free AOL Mail! > - > > > http://mail.aol.com > > > _______________________________________________ > > > The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org > > > > > > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > > > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org. > > > > > > Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive > > > > > > > > > -- > > > No virus found in this incoming message. > > > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > > > Version: 7.5.488 / Virus Database: 269.15.3/1082 - Release Date: > > > 10/20/2007 2:59 PM > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org > > > > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org. > > > > Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive > > > > > > -- > - Heather > > "The world of books is the most remarkable creation of > man. Nothing else that he builds ever lasts. Monuments > fall; nations perish; civilizations grow old and die out; > new races build others. But in the world of books are > volumes that have seen this happen again and again and yet > live on. Still young, still as fresh as the day they were > written, still telling men's hearts of the hearts of men > centuries dead." --Clarence Day > > "While the rhetoric is highly effective, remarkably little > good evidence exists that there's any educational substance > behind the accountability and testing movement." > —Peter Sacks, Standardized Minds > > "When our children fail competency tests the schools lose > funding. When our missiles fail tests, we increase > funding. " > —Dennis Kucinich, Democratic Presidential Candidate > _______________________________________________ > The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org > > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org. > > Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.488 / Virus Database: 269.15.3/1082 - Release Date: > 10/20/2007 > 2:59 PM > > > > _______________________________________________ > The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org > > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org. > > Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive > -- - Heather "The world of books is the most remarkable creation of man. Nothing else that he builds ever lasts. Monuments fall; nations perish; civilizations grow old and die out; new races build others. But in the world of books are volumes that have seen this happen again and again and yet live on. Still young, still as fresh as the day they were written, still telling men's hearts of the hearts of men centuries dead." --Clarence Day "While the rhetoric is highly effective, remarkably little good evidence exists that there's any educational substance behind the accountability and testing movement." —Peter Sacks, Standardized Minds "When our children fail competency tests the schools lose funding. When our missiles fail tests, we increase funding. " —Dennis Kucinich, Democratic Presidential Candidate _______________________________________________ The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org. Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive
