For Teachers

“Finding My Way”: Teaching with Themed Literature Units

By on December 12, 2012   /   Book Lists, For Teachers  

Speak your mind, even if your voice shakes.
Virginia Euwer Wolff

Each of us must find ways to live with courage and hope in an imperfect world. Middle grade students, in particular, stand on the cusp of self-discovery but are often uncertain how to navigate their path through adolescence.  Many care deeply about fairness, justice, and reaching out to others, yet they wonder Where do I fit in?  How can I make a difference?

In my writing and in my work with beginning teachers, I’ve been inspired by National Book Award-winning author Virginia Euwer Wolff and her quote above.  She goes on, “It’s the kids with the faltering voices … many of us are writing for them.  Not to change them into different kids, but to keep them company while they evolve.”  Books raise questions, offer a sense of life’s complexities, and illustrate how people make decisions under less-than-perfect circumstances.  Fiction and nonfiction can help middle grade readers develop empathy and gain insight into how people – real and imagined – deal with challenges no matter who they are, or where or when they live.  And often, it’s a teacher or librarian who puts the book into a reader’s hands that helps her find her voice.

My job is to help beginning teachers learn how to open the world of literacy to students in kindergarten through eighth grades.  One of the most meaningful assignments we undertake is a Themed Literature Unit, a structured unit of study designed to develop crucial literacy skills as students read, write about, discuss, and sometimes respond artistically to high-quality children’s literature.  Each unit is focused on what I call a “human issues theme” (e.g., working for justice, reaching out to others, persevering despite obstacles, caring for the environment), vital challenges that we all face as members of a democratic and global society.

Here are three examples of units my graduate students will be teaching this winter:

Adapting to New Situations ~ 4th grade
Susie Henderson teaches at a highly diverse urban school in Seattle.  Her students and their families come from all over the world and have had to face the challenges of adapting to new environments.

Here’s how she explains the goal of this unit: “It is my hope that students will make connections to their own experiences and mature/grow in their understanding of the real world through the exploration of this theme. Given that adapting to new situations is a vital skill for all of us, the unit will pave a path for students to explore what it means to adapt and also realize that this is something that all humans do.” 

Big Ideas
The unit guides students to understand three big ideas:
Adapting to a new situation or environment means we find a way to belong in an unfamiliar place or with different people;
It takes courage to adapt to new situations; and
In order to adapt, we must be willing to reach out to others and get to know them.

Book List
Because of Winn Dixie by Kate Di Camillo.  A young girl, India Opal, moves to a new town with her father. Her mother left when she was just a baby, so she is lonely when her father, a preacher, is too busy to spend much time with her. India tells a story of how she came to be friends with many interesting people, all because of a big dog that falls into her lap one summer day shortly after moving to her new Florida town.  I will offer this as one of our book club choices.

My Name is Maria Isabel by Alma Flor Ada. Maria is a new girl in the United States, who has just moved from Puerto Rico. Her teacher insists on calling her Mary, but she wants badly to be called by her real name, which tells a lot about her family and her past. Book club choice.

Seaglass Summer by Anjali Banarjee. Poppy Ray wants to be a veterinarian. She gets to go spend the summer with her uncle on an island in Washington, which tells her a lot about what it is really like to be an animal doctor. Through this experience, she starts to reconsider if this is what she wants to do with her life. Book club choice.

Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan. Born into a wealthy family in Mexico, young Esperanza has lived a good life,. But things change all of a sudden, and Esperanza has to move to California with her mother where they no longer have the life they have always known. Esperanza realizes quickly that her life might never be the same. Book club choice.

The Trouble Begins by Linda Himelblau. A young Vietnamese boy immigrates to the USA with his grandmother to meet up with the rest of the family. He has a lot of catching up to do to adapt to a new life, a new language, and a new school. Book club choice.

Riding Freedom by Pam Muñoz Ryan. Charlotte, a young orphan in New Hampshire, wants to run away from the orphanage and ride horses. She is a very good rider, but since she is a girl, she is not allowed to in the 19th century. She disguises herself as a boy in order to be able to ride. Book club choice.

Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan. Caleb and Anna are excited when their father gets a mail-order bride to come live with them. They really love her and hope she will stay, but she is not so sure about the prairie life. Book club choice.

 

 

Taking Risks to Help Others ~ 5th grade
Toby Steers teaches fifth grade across an open-concept “hallway” from Susie.  He wanted to help his fifth graders get ready for the challenges that lie ahead next year in middle school.

Toby explained the unit in a letter to families: “While reading books, students will learn about dangerous times and places where people showed great bravery to help other people.  Students will also learn that, when they stand up to a bully on the playground or apologize when they have hurt someone, they are taking important risks too. The goal of this unit is to learn about how to take important ideas from reading that help students make important decisions in their lives.”

Big Ideas
Taking risks to help others means accepting that bad things might happen to you;
We need courage and determination to take risks to help others; and
Taking risks means overcoming doubts.

Book List
An Apple for Harriet Tubman by Glennette Tilley Turner. A picture book exploring the early life of Harriet Tubman and connecting with her open heart and courage to help others as she became an adult.    From this book, students will learn that we need courage and determination to help others. I will read this aloud to get students thinking about risks at the beginning of the unit.

The Librarian of Basra: A True Story from Iraq by Jeanette Winter.  An amazing Iraqi librarian risks her life to save the cultural heritage of her country.  From this book, students will learn that taking risks to help others means that we accept that bad things might happen to us.  I will use this book in a literacy strategy lesson on identifying character traits that different risk-takers have in common

Crossing the Wire by Will Hobbs.   A boy leaves his family in Mexico to try to cross the border into the United States to earn and send money back to his family.  Along the way, he takes many dangerous risks, always remembering the hunger and poverty of his family that he is trying to help.  From this book, students learn that we need courage and determination to help others.  I will use it as a longer read-aloud over the course of the unit.

The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis.  Parvana lives in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan and must dress as a boy to work in the market to support her family.  At this time, girls and women were not allowed to be in public by themselves and, since her father is under arrest, none of her family can safely leave the house.  From this book, students will learn that taking risks to help others means overcoming doubts.  Book club choice.

Return to Sender by Julia Alvarez.  Tyler makes friends with a girl whose parents are undocumented farm workers on his father’s Vermont farm.  When Mari is threatened with deportation, how will their friendship survive?  From this book, students will learn that taking risks means accepting that bad things might happen to us. Book club choice.

 

Courage is Inside All of Us ~ 5th grade
Mo Newton’s fifth graders are also facing the big step from elementary into middle school.  Like Toby, she wanted to help them develop the inner strengths and skills we all need to face big challenges.  She chose to focus on the power of finding the courage that lies within each of us.

Big Ideas
We all can build the strength to be courageous;
Even though we are afraid, we can still show courage; and
We can show courage in big and small ways.

Book List
Call it Courage by Armstrong Sperry. Mafutu is afraid of the sea and is taunted by his community for being a coward. When he can’t handle the teasing anymore he decides that he has to conquer his fear and show his community that he can be brave. This story shows Mafatu’s journey and how he was able to discover courage.  One choice for students to read and discuss in book clubs.

The Dandelion Seed by Joseph Anthony.  A beautifully illustrated picture book about a dandelion seed that is afraid to let go. The seed decides to find the courage to allow the wind to carry it on a remarkable journey.  I will use this book to teach several of the literacy skills in our unit.

Fire from the Rock by Sharon Draper. In 1957 in Little Rock, Arkansas, Sylvia Patterson is asked to be one of the first African American students to enroll in Central High School. While she is trying to decide if she can summon the courage to do this, racial tension and violence explode throughout the city. The time has come for Sylvia to gather up the strength to walk through the doors of Central High School.  Book club choice.

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry. In 1943, ten-year-old Annemarie and her best friend, Ellen, live in Copenhagen, Denmark. Ellen is Jewish, and her religion makes her a target for the Nazi soldiers. For protection she moves in with Annemarie, pretending to be part of her family. Annemarie finds herself in a dangerous situation where she has to find the courage to help Ellen escape. Book club choice.

Something to Hold  by Katherine Schlick Noe. Kitty’s family has recently moved to an Indian Reservation in Warm Springs, Oregon, where she is one of the few white children. She struggles with feelings of loneliness, wanting desperately to be accepted, but feeling like she does not fit in anywhere. Throughout the year, Kitty faces many challenges that force her to discover that even she has courage inside.  This will be our class read aloud during the unit.

Research tells us that learning experiences that are personally meaningful and engaging also may be more memorable and long lasting.  Themed Literature Units can be one way to engage students with learning that stretches their hearts as well as feeds their minds.  You can learn more about teaching with thematic literature at the Literature Circles Resource Center (click on “Themed Literature Units”).  And please contact me if you would like more information about any of these particular units!

 

Katherine Schlick Noe teaches beginning and experienced teachers at Seattle University. Her debut novel, Something to Hold (Clarion, 2011) won the 2012 Washington State Book Award for the middle grade/young adult and has been named a 2012 Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People.  Visit her at http://katherineschlicknoe.com.

 

Back to Top

A new page for ravenous readers

By on November 15, 2012   /   Book Lists, For Kids, For Librarians, For Parents, For Teachers  

Has this ever happened to you? Your favorite middle-grade reader has finished reading the latest stack of books from the library.

“More!” your reader says to you. “I want more! Give me more books!”

“Fine,” you say. You’ve already gone through all the book lists and book list blog posts on our site, so you browse aimlessly through your library’s online catalog. “What kind of book do you want?”

“I like sports and I like science. I want girl power. I want it to be funny, but not too hard to read. And it can’t have any of that icky stuff we learned about in Human Growth and Development.”

 

Where do you start?

 You can start here, at our new page, What should I read next?

Although we here at From the Mixed-Up Files of Middle-Grade Authors think we have a pretty good site, there are lots more out there and we all have one goal in common–getting great books into the hands of readers. To help bring the resources of the online middle-grade community together, we’ve collected links to sites that review and categorize middle-grade books. Some are searchable, some are specialized, some are by kids, some are by librarians. Try out the sites and find the sites that are right for you. And if you have a favorite, please let us know so we can add it.

 

Jacqueline Houtman is a very slow reader, and her to-be-read pile is taking over her house. 

Back to Top

Ten Things Writers Can Learn from a Quick Trip on the Titanic

By on October 19, 2012   /   Book Lists, For Teachers  

 

Why is it 100 years later, the Titanic still captures our attention? Could it be because it was one of the worst maritime disasters in history? Or maybe it’s because the Titanic, which was considered “unsinkable”, did the un-thinkable — it sank on its maiden voyage.  Whatever the reason, the story of  Titanic has enthralled authors, screenwriters, and readers of all ages. Hundreds of books – both fiction and nonfiction — have been written on the Titanic. Of course, the most famous version of its “story” is the block-buster movie directed by James Cameron that was released in 1997.  It is the second highest-grossing movies of all time. Just this year, Mr. Cameron re- released the movie in 3-D and people still flocked to the theatres.

                         

What is it about this story? For me, it’s been an up close and personal view of it. In July of this year I was able to attend a travelling exhibition of original artifacts from the Titanic and in September, I visited the actual drydock in Belfast, N. Ireland where the Titanic was built. Both exhibitions were amazing — and very humbling. As I walked among the tattered clothes, broken dishware and even a few waterlogged journals, I could feel the history and emotions of the people around me. And even though I don’t really have any plans to write about the Titanic, the writer in me promptly took out my notebook and began writing down my impressions. It was fascinating to see all of the objects recovered from the wreck of the Titanic almost 2 miles deep in the ocean.

The tale of the Titanic has everything: the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. There are lessons to be learned from this great tragedy – even for us writers. So, I invite you to take your ticket and join me on a short “trip” on the Titanic. I hope you will enjoy the ride. (This one promises to be dry and warm).

 

 

 

Imagine yourself as a passenger on the Titanic. It is a bright sunny day as you prepare to board an unforgettable trip on the world’s largest ship.  As a passenger you might do these things– and as a writer approaching your novel, these are some tips you should consider:

1.  Pack all of the essentials  in your trunk

As a writer, when you begin a new manuscript, you should arm yourself with the essentials of your craft.  That might be a pen and paper or just a laptop and keyboard. Whatever you use, make sure you have everything you need. Some extra things to consider would be additional help in the form of books for reference.

.

Award-winning author Donna Gephart recently posted a list of the reference books she has on hand when she sits down to write a new novel

 

 

They include:
                       

To see the full list, check out Donna’s website at:  http://www.donnagephart.blogspot.com/

*** Titanic notes – Not only did passengers bring their luggage aboard with them, they also brought 9 dogs, 2 French roosters and 2 hens.   ***

 

2.  Walk firmly up the gangplank

When you are ready to write, confidently sit down and put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard. Don’t hesistate. Don’t second guess. And don’t revise as you write. That can get you frustrated and confused. Just get the first draft down on paper. If it’s bad, no problem. You can always erase it later. (That is why your pencil has an eraser and your keyboard has a delete function).  Starting your novel with confidence helps you to see that it has direction and will help you to keep focus.

*** Titanic notes – Each class of passengers boarded via their own gangplanks, so they didn’t have to mingle with each other.  ***

 

3.  Get settled into your stateroom

Once you start writing, keep at it. Try to get a rhythm for writing. If you can, set aside the same amount of time every day to work. Minimize distractions. Don’t text or email while writing. Even turn off the phone if possible.  You want to feel comfortable when you write, not hurried or rushed.

*** Titanic notes —  First and second class passengers had to share bathrooms with only a few people. But the third class passengers shared with 10 or more.  The worst part? All 710 third-class passengers had to share only 2 bathtubs.    ***

 

4.  Take a walk around the deck

Be sure to offer your readers a look around your story. Introduce different characters – some will be important (like the first class passengers) and others may be more minor, like the 2nd or 3rd class passengers of Titanic. Offer all your characters their due and any attention that you have . Give your reader a well-rounded view of them all.

*** Titanic Notes — The first class  and second class passengers had their own decks with many activities, but the third class passengers were kept to the “poop” deck.  Which, thankfully, does not mean what the name implies, merely that it’s the highest outdoor deck on the stern (back end) of the ship. ***

 

5.  Enjoy a nice dinner in the formal dining room

Okay, so maybe this isn’t a writing tip, but when you are in the middle of a novel, be sure to stop to eat.  For me, my family is not always happy when I’m knee-deep in a novel because that means they are on their own for dinner. It’s not so bad, they are teenagers and they will eat pretty much everything. But when I know I’m going to be writing, I stock up on frozen pizza, tacos, and anything that can be made in a snap.  For extra nutrition, I use bags of salad and fresh veggies. Whatever I have to do to get back to the computer. The characters talking in my head are not to be ignored!

 *** Titanic Notes: The best part for everyone on the ship was the dining. The Titanic carried over 75,000 pound of meat, 11,000 pounds of fresh fish, 40,000 eggs and 1,750 quarts of ice cream. Plus, they had enough cooks to prepare all this food. Wish they could come to your house? I do! ***

 

6.  Avoid  the iceberg

(Come on, you knew this one was coming)  For writers, this means to make sure your plot is complete. Sometimes when I write, I really don’t have any idea where the story is going. Because of this,  I have occasionally written myself into an iceberg, so to speak.  The plot needs to go from A to B to C, but somehow I ended up at point C before I got to B. Or maybe I’ve gotten completely off-track and ended up at point F. It happens.  While it is important to listen to what your characters say, it also helps to write up a story arc or some plotting points.

For some really good information on plotting, try these websites:

Write 4 Kids Magazine    http://www.write4kids.com/blog/tag/plot/

Author Darcy Pattinson    http://www.darcypattison.com/plot/outline-level-of-plot/

Our very own Mixed Up Files ‘For Writers’ Page

 *** Titanic Notes:  The Titanic actually ignored more than five warnings that icebergs were in the area they were sailing. That includes one that came at 1:42pm on April 12th from another ship that said an iceberg was on the path 250 miles in front of the Titanic. Not a good decision!  ***

 

7.  Run — don’t walk — for the lifeboats

So if you can’t avoid the iceberg because you don’t see it coming, then you need to do some quick changes. Go back to the books you started out with if you get stuck. Or try brainstorming.  Here are some suggestions for your writing “lifeboat”. Can’t find the right word, take a look a this book:



 

Take a look at this book if you need ideas or are not sure where your story is heading.

 


I just got this book to the right to  help with dialogue.  It’s so my characters do something besides “sigh” and “roll their eyes” all the time. 

 

These books are your lifeboats. Thankfully for you, they don’t have to be able to float.

*** Titanic Note:  Orginally, the plan was to have 64 lifeboats on the Titanic – enough to carry the 2500 passengers and crew. But head of the White Star Line didn’t want the decks cluttered with the big boats, so the number was reduced to 32 and then 16 plus 4 collapsible boats. A very bad decision indeed. ***

 

8.  Plunge into the icy waters

For the times when you are really stuck on a scene and the books aren’t any help, my suggestion is to plunge right in. Don’t think, just write it how you see it. If it doesn’t work, try re-writing the scene from a different point of view. Or maybe with more action – or less.  Turn the idea upside-down.  Instead of a typical scene where the geeky boy is really smart and loves science, have him be really good at art instead. Or maybe the jock is really smart and loves to tutor kids in math. Mix things up! You might be surprised where this leads you.

*** Titanic Notes: The water temperature that night was 28 degrees Farenheit. Most people would have succumbed to hypothermia in twenty minutes or less.  ***

 

9.  Cut dead weight to avoid being pulled down

This is primarily for when you are revising.  Sometimes a scene just doesn’t work. It slows down the action or is an unnecessary side-track to the main plot. Ask yourself some questions:

Does this scene make the story flow?

Does it increase the action?

Does it help me get to the next scene or tell me something important about the charcter or story?

If the answers are no, then cut it. I know it’s hard. Some of my favorite scenes end up in my trash bin. I’ve had it happen before and I’m sure it will happen again. But if you want your manuscript to stay afloat and be viable, you need to cut the dead weight.

Check out this link for some great ideas on revising from Cheryl Klein, executive editor at Arthur A. Levine Books

http://www.cherylklein.com/id21.html

*** Titanic Notes:  The Titanic itself actually cracked in half because the water entered the bow of the ship. The weight of the water in the front half of the ship caused the stern to rise out of the water until the ship broke. The two halves descended to the bottom separately. ***

 

10.  Be the captain of your ship

This is probably the most important one.  Take ownership of your manuscript. Yes, you need to have other people critique your work – people  you trust. But if you believe that a part of it should stay when they say it should be cut, don’t do it. Stand up for yourself.  Be willing to take a stand for your manuscript. I let one agent I submitted my manuscript to convince me that my beginning was horrible. So, I changed it. I spent the next year trying to figure out just the right beginning. Finally, I went back to the original. I took the manuscript to a conference and to my stunned surprise an editor loved it. See, you never know…

 *** Titanic Notes:  Captain Smith was due to retire at the end of this maiden voyage, instead he went down with the ship. ***

 

I hope you’ve enjoyed this little history lesson on the Titanic and have found the tips useful.  The Titanic notes came from this very cool book I found:

(And finally, HUGE thank yous to author Donna Gephart for letting me showcase some of her resources.)

One final tip, if you ever get the chance to visit Belfast, I highly recommend stopping at the Titanic Museum. If nothing else, they have the best chocolate cake I’ve ever tasted. And who isn’t inspired by chocolate?

If there are any fellow history buffs out there,  please comment below on a museum or event you’ve visited that inspired you or touched you deeply.

 

 

Jennifer Swanson is a closet history freak and makes her family visit tons of museums on vacation. To the dismay of her teenagers, she believes every trip is an opportunity to learn.  You can find Jennifer at www.JenniferSwansonBooks.com

Back to Top