A great short story collection that my 8th graders love is "13: Thirteen Stories About the Agony and the Ecstasy of Being 13" edited by James Howe. It includes great stories by Bruce Coville, Meg Cabot, Howe, Todd Strasser, Ellen Wittlinger, Alex Sanchez and other popular YA authors. We start with a short story unit and I always start the year by reading one or two of these aloud. Then they read a few that I assign and a couple they choose themselves, and we talk about the common themes of being 13. Finally we segue into writing your own "13" story.
________________________________ From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] on behalf of Julie Johnson Sent: Thu 6/26/2008 4:52 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [LIT] lit Digest, Vol 32, Issue 6 Does anyone have a great short story (or other method) to start the school year? This will be my 2nd time teaching 8th grade Language Arts. My first year with 8th grade (we loop with our kids so it was 2 years ago) I used "Who Moved My Cheese?" and did a goal-setting writing assignment with it. I'm just wanting something different and something that excites me more to start out the school year. Please send any ideas and suggestions of how you start your school year! Thank you!! Julie 8th Grade Language Arts -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] on behalf of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thu 6/26/2008 11:00 AM To: [email protected] Subject: lit Digest, Vol 32, Issue 6 Send lit mailing list submissions to [email protected] To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/listinfo/lit_literacyworkshop.org or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can reach the person managing the list at [EMAIL PROTECTED] When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of lit digest..." Today's Topics: 1. 8th grade classroom library (McGivern, Liz) 2. Re: 8th grade classroom library (Heather Poland) 3. Re: 8th grade classroom library (Ljackson) 4. Summer Reading (Vivian) 5. Re: 8th grade classroom library ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) 6. Re: 8th grade classroom library ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2008 19:39:39 -0400 From: "McGivern, Liz" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [LIT] 8th grade classroom library To: <[email protected]> Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" WOW! Thanks so much for all the responses. I love the "Poland's Picks" idea and I think I'll add a bin with some adaptation of that. The Chicken Soup books are a good idea, too -- that might be a good addition to the "short stories" bin. The Bluford High series is so popular that I ordered a whole set from Townsend -- that's a great site!! We have Touching Spirit Bear in our book room, so I might swipe a few battered copies from there...the kids aren't thrilled with that one when they have to read it with the class, but I bet they'd love to read it if it was a choice book. I have one library-type table-display shelf that I rotate books through, and it's true that those books get read more often. I'd love to do the rain gutter bookshelves, but I can't afford them. Does anyone have ideas about how I can further divide my "Teen Issues" novels? They just seem so overwhelming, and the boys just don't go there, but I bet there are a bunch of books that guys would get into. I just got some of the Korman & Kidnapped series in my latest Scholastic order (that came AFTER the end of school) so I'm psyched about that. I'll have to check into the Dear America books!! THANK YOU THANK YOU for all your help and advice. You gave me some good meat to chew upon, but keep the thoughts coming. Ms. Liz McGivern 8th grade Language Arts Hudson Memorial School ------------------------------ Message: 2 Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:53:06 -0700 From: "Heather Poland" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [LIT] 8th grade classroom library To: "A list for improving literacy with focus on middle grades." <[email protected]> Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=WINDOWS-1252 Hmmm, not sure how to further divide the teen issues. Maybe a Guy Stuff bin? Oh I also had one labeled "Books Most Likely to Walk Away" I kept this by my desk, but they could still see it. I would put all the popular books in it- the ones always stolen! I hoped that this bin would allow me to retain more of them. I did somewhat, but the better part was all the students HAD to have those books! On Wed, Jun 25, 2008 at 4:39 PM, McGivern, Liz <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > WOW! Thanks so much for all the responses. > > I love the "Poland's Picks" idea and I think I'll add a bin with some > adaptation of that. The Chicken Soup books are a good idea, too -- that > might be a good addition to the "short stories" bin. The Bluford High series > is so popular that I ordered a whole set from Townsend -- that's a great > site!! We have Touching Spirit Bear in our book room, so I might swipe a > few battered copies from there...the kids aren't thrilled with that one when > they have to read it with the class, but I bet they'd love to read it if it > was a choice book. > > I have one library-type table-display shelf that I rotate books through, > and it's true that those books get read more often. I'd love to do the rain > gutter bookshelves, but I can't afford them. > > Does anyone have ideas about how I can further divide my "Teen Issues" > novels? They just seem so overwhelming, and the boys just don't go there, > but I bet there are a bunch of books that guys would get into. > > I just got some of the Korman & Kidnapped series in my latest Scholastic > order (that came AFTER the end of school) so I'm psyched about that. I'll > have to check into the Dear America books!! > > THANK YOU THANK YOU for all your help and advice. You gave me some good > meat to chew upon, but keep the thoughts coming. > > Ms. Liz McGivern > 8th grade Language Arts > Hudson Memorial School > > > > _______________________________________________ > The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org > <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 "DIBELS is the worst thing to happen to the teaching of reading since the development of flash cards." - P. David Pearson" "When our children fail competency tests the schools lose funding. When our missiles fail tests, we increase funding. " ?Dennis Kucinich, Democratic Presidential Candidate ------------------------------ Message: 3 Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2008 18:21:28 -0600 From: Ljackson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [LIT] 8th grade classroom library To: "A list for improving literacy with focus on middle grades." <[email protected]> Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" The rain gutters are really NOT expensive. Installation can be problematic with cinder block walls. My recommendation with that is to install 1x4 boards (really need help with this-masonary bits and anchors, and most likely permission from an administrator) and then anchor you rain gutters here. If you should leave, abandon the boards and take the rain gutters. I have to caution against the Dear America books, at least with regards to the Native American ones. They are troublesome in terms of cultural and historical accuracy. Lori Jackson District Literacy Coach and Mentor Todd County School District Box 87 Mission SD 5755 ----- Original message ----- From: McGivern, Liz <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [email protected] Date: Wednesday, June 25, 2008 5:44 PM Subject: [LIT] 8th grade classroom library > WOW! Thanks so much for all the responses. > > I love the "Poland's Picks" idea and I think I'll add a bin with some > adaptation of that. The Chicken Soup books are a good idea, too -- that might > be a good addition to the "short stories" bin. The Bluford High series is so > popular that I ordered a whole set from Townsend -- that's a great site!! We > have Touching Spirit Bear in our book room, so I might swipe a few battered > copies from there...the kids aren't thrilled with that one when they have to > read it with the class, but I bet they'd love to read it if it was a choice > book. > > I have one library-type table-display shelf that I rotate books through, and > it's true that those books get read more often. I'd love to do the rain > gutter bookshelves, but I can't afford them. > > Does anyone have ideas about how I can further divide my "Teen Issues" > novels? They just seem so overwhelming, and the boys just don't go there, but > I bet there are a bunch of books that guys would get into. > > I just got some of the Korman & Kidnapped series in my latest Scholastic > order (that came AFTER the end of school) so I'm psyched about that. I'll > have to check into the Dear America books!! > > THANK YOU THANK YOU for all your help and advice. You gave me some good meat > to chew upon, but keep the thoughts coming. > > Ms. Liz McGivern > 8th grade Language Arts > Hudson Memorial School > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org > <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 > > ------------------------------ Message: 4 Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2008 20:43:03 -0400 From: Vivian <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [LIT] Summer Reading To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [email protected] Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Will there be a summer reading book?club?list that we can work?on during the summer? ?I read last year's The Reading Zone, and found it?very useful and practical.? ? Vivian "...I doesn't cost a thing to smile, you don't have to pay to laugh..." India.Arie ------------------------------ Message: 5 Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2008 21:06:50 -0400 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [LIT] 8th grade classroom library To: [email protected] Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" How about "Girl Picks" or"Chick Picks" and "Guy Reads".? There's a good book out "Guys Write, Guy Read" - it's all male authors writing about growing up. I also have a survival shelf with Paulsen books and Man v Nature themes.? There are also war-time books- Under the Blood Red Sun, Holocaust books, war diaries, Code Talkers...sci fi, historical fiction.? Karen Onyx Carusi Middle School -----Original Message----- From: McGivern, Liz <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [email protected] Sent: Wed, 25 Jun 2008 7:39 pm Subject: [LIT] 8th grade classroom library WOW! Thanks so much for all the responses. I love the "Poland's Picks" idea and I think I'll add a bin with some adaptation of that. The Chicken Soup books are a good idea, too -- that might be a good addition to the "short stories" bin. The Bluford High series is so popular that I ordered a whole set from Townsend -- that's a great site!! We have Touching Spirit Bear in our book room, so I might swipe a few battered copies from there...the kids aren't thrilled with that one when they have to read it with the class, but I bet they'd love to read it if it was a choice book. I have one library-type table-display shelf that I rotate books through, and it's true that those books get read more often. I'd love to do the rain gutter bookshelves, but I can't afford them. Does anyone have ideas about how I can further divide my "Teen Issues" novels? They just seem so overwhelming, and the boys just don't go there, but I bet there are a bunch of books that guys would get into. I just got some of the Korman & Kidnapped series in my latest Scholastic order (that came AFTER the end of school) so I'm psyched about that. I'll have to check into the Dear America books!! THANK YOU THANK YOU for all your help and advice. You gave me some good meat to chew upon, but keep the thoughts coming. Ms. Liz McGivern 8th grade Language Arts Hudson Memorial School _______________________________________________ The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org <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 ------------------------------ Message: 6 Date: Thu, 26 Jun 2008 01:51:15 -0400 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [LIT] 8th grade classroom library To: [email protected] Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Boys usually like the Roland Smith Books ...adventure and suspense? Jake's Run being one of the books Zoe -----Original Message----- From: Ljackson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: A list for improving literacy with focus on middle grades. <[email protected]> Sent: Wed, 25 Jun 2008 5:21 pm Subject: Re: [LIT] 8th grade classroom library The rain gutters are really NOT expensive. Installation can be problematic with cinder block walls. My recommendation with that is to install 1x4 boards (really need help with this-masonary bits and anchors, and most likely permission from an administrator) and then anchor you rain gutters here. If you should leave, abandon the boards and take the rain gutters. I have to caution against the Dear America books, at least with regards to the Native American ones. They are troublesome in terms of cultural and historical accuracy. Lori Jackson District Literacy Coach and Mentor Todd County School District Box 87 Mission SD 5755 ----- Original message ----- From: McGivern, Liz <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [email protected] Date: Wednesday, June 25, 2008 5:44 PM Subject: [LIT] 8th grade classroom library > WOW! Thanks so much for all the responses. > > I love the "Poland's Picks" idea and I think I'll add a bin with some adaptation of that. The Chicken Soup books are a good idea, too -- that might be a good addition to the "short stories" bin. The Bluford High series is so popular that I ordered a whole set from Townsend -- that's a great site!! We have Touching Spirit Bear in our book room, so I might swipe a few battered copies from there...the kids aren't thrilled with that one when they have to read it with the class, but I bet they'd love to read it if it was a choice book. > > I have one library-type table-display shelf that I rotate books through, and it's true that those books get read more often. I'd love to do the rain gutter bookshelves, but I can't afford them. > > Does anyone have ideas about how I can further divide my "Teen Issues" novels? They just seem so overwhelming, and the boys just don't go there, but I bet there are a bunch of books that guys would get into. > > I just got some of the Korman & Kidnapped series in my latest Scholastic order (that came AFTER the end of school) so I'm psyched about that. I'll have to check into the Dear America books!! > > THANK YOU THANK YOU for all your help and advice. You gave me some good meat to chew upon, but keep the thoughts coming. > > Ms. Liz McGivern > 8th grade Language Arts > Hudson Memorial School > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org > <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 > > _______________________________________________ The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org <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 ------------------------------ _______________________________________________ The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org <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. End of lit Digest, Vol 32, Issue 6 ********************************** _______________________________________________ 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
