Archive for April, 2010

Sky by Ariane Dewey and Twister by Darleen Bailey Beard

Schema:  clouds, things that we see in the sky, different types of precipitation Text-to-Text Connections: Both books are about weather and the sky. The rhymes in Sky will make a connections from nursery rhymes. Text-to-Self Connections: Some kids will have seen a double rainbow, snow, fireworks, and tornadoes. Sequencing: Notice in Sky that there is [...]

Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate

Schema: civil wars, traveling alone, the title which is a phrase from the U. S. National Anthem Before beginning, read the guide produced by the publisher which provides a background for understanding: Author’s purpose: The author takes us into the world of a refugee and helps refugee’s to see that they are not alone. POV: [...]

14 Cows for America by Carmen Agra Deedy

“To heal a sorrowing heart, give something that is dear to your own.”   from the Note from Kimeli Naiyomah at the end of the book. Schema: cows, feeling sorrow for someone’s pain Text-to-self connection: remembering or hearing about September 11, 2001;  being kind to others; feeling the emotion of something being “sweet and sad” because [...]

The Hinky Pink An Old Tale Retold by Megan McDonald

Schema:  favorite colors, pastas, princesses Text-to-Text Connections:  books with a mischievous fairy or sprite. The term “hudgin” is not very common so “hobgoblin or sprite” might be a better term to use in explaining what it is. Text-to-text connection: “glass slipper” for Cinderella, locked in tower-other princess stories such as Sleeping Beauty and Rapunzel.  The [...]