Amplified (High School Readers)

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Image taken from the Amplified website

 Book Information:

Title: Amplified

Author: Tara Kelly

Publisher: Henry Holt and Company

Publication Date: 2011

Pages: 304

Summary: A 17-year old girl named Jasmine gets kicked out of her house for not wanting to follow her father’s plans for her. She takes the little that she has and moves to Santa Cruz, California to pursue a music career. Jasmine soon finds a house with three male roommates and convinces them to joins their band as the lead guitarist. There’s just one down fall…..she has stage fright. She struggles to overcome her fear and follow her dream.

Grade Level: The book is intended for high school readers.

Ideas for using Amplified:

• Students can choose a character from the story and write a blog or a Facebook page as if they were that person. The Amplified website provides more insight on each band members.
• Students can keep a diary or journal of Jasmine’s thoughts about her struggles to become a musician.
• Poetry can be used with this book. Students can write a poem or song from Jasmine’s point of view.
• Students can keep a Reader Response Log while reading the book.
• The book can lead good teen talk discussion about rebellion, determination, and following your dreams.
• Students can compare and contrast characters in the book or compare and contrast themselves to Jasmine.

Why I recommend this book

I think high school students would like this book because they can relate to Jasmine. Many teens love music and dream of joining a band or being famous. On the other hand teens can also relate to how it feels to argue with parents over plans after high school and some may know what it’s like to get kicked out of their home. Overall, I think Jasmine serves as a good role model because she shows that anything can happen if you persevere and follow your dreams. Get a sneak peak at the first chapter of Amplified and get hooked!

Reviews on Amplified

• My Review on Barnes and Nobles
• Good Reads
• Candace Reviews
• Mundie Moms

 My own personal book trailer for Amplified!

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Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Middle School Readers)

Image taken from the Diary of a Wimpy Kid website

 Book Information:

Title: Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Author: Jeff Kinney

Publisher: Amulet Books

Publication Date: 2007

Pages: 266

Summary: Greg Heffley enters middle school and shares his life through words and drawings in his diary. He tells us his feelings and opinions on his embarrassing mom and dad, his not so cool little brother Manny, his mean older brother Rodrick, his goofy best friend Rowley, and his adventures of middle school.  Greg shares the good, the bad, and the ugly moments of middle school.

Grade Level: The book is intended for grades 5-8.

Ideas for using Diary of a Wimpy Kid:

• Students can write questions to ask Greg Heffley if they were to interview him. The students can interview each other using their questions and respond as if they are Greg.
• Students can keep a diary or journal of like Greg. Students can even make themselves into a cartoon like Greg’s sketch on the Wimp Yourself link.
• The book is told through Greg Heffley’s eyes. The student can choose a section in the book to write from Rowley’s point of view.
• Many middle school students can relate to this book in some way or another. Students can choose an event from the story that they can connect to write about it.
• Students can compare and contrast themselves to Greg.

Website with more Diary of a Wimpy Kid activities:

• Teacher Vision provides free activities to use with the series.
• This site offers games that based on the books.

Why I recommend this book

This cartoon like graphic novel is funny and keeps kids entertained through drawings, talking bubbles, and journal entries. I have read the series with fifth grade students and the books are always a favorite. It proves to be popular as it has been on the New York Best Sellers list since hitting the shelves and movies have been made for four out of the six books so far. These books offer authentic reading experiences for all types of readers. Learn more about the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series on it’s very own website!

Reviews on Diary of a Wimpy Kid

• PBS Kids
• Amazon
• Focus On The Family

Read a few pages of Diary of a Wimpy Kid  and watch the Diary of a Wimpy Kid Book Trailer to see what all the fuss is about!

Bone (3-4 Readers)

 

 

Image taken from Fantastic Firsts

Book Information:

Title: Bone

Author: Jeff Smith

Publisher: Scholastic

Publication Date: 2004

Pages: 1300 (All 9 books compiled into 1 anthology)

Summary: This comic series is about three cartoon cousins-Fone Bone, Phoney bone, and Smiley Bone who get lost in a valley. On their journey trying to find home they manage to make a few friends while encountering many dangerous creatures and embarking on many adventures. The book titles include: Out From Boneville, The Great Cow Race, Eyes of the Storm, The Dragon Slayer, Rock Jaws: Master of the Eastern Border, Old Man’s Cave, Ghost Circles, Treasure Hunters, Crown of Horns.

Grade Level: The book is geared towards 3^rd-4^th grade.

Ideas for using Bone:

• To promotes reading and writing, students can create their own comic and put it into a comic maker at Make Belief Comix or Bone Comic Builder.
• Students can write a letter or part of the story from one of the character’s point of view.
• Students work in a group to write a play script from an event in the story to perform for the class.
• Readwritethink.org is a website that can be used for many different activities with this comic series such as:

• Story Mapping: students can choose from a variety of graphic organizers for post reading comprehension.
• Story Cubes: students create their own cube to summarize one of the stories.
• Character Trading Cards- students choose a character  in the book series to create a trading card.
• Timelines-students can create a detailed timeline from events in the story
• Newspaper-students can choose an event in one of the stories to write a newspaper column.

Websites with more Bone activities:

•  Lesson Plan for the Bone Series by Jeff Smith offers activities for pre, during, and post reading.
• Book Rags offers lesson plans for purchase.

Why I recommend this book

The Bones books are entertaining and would be a great addition for a classroom library. I believe at-risk readers would enjoy both these comic books because they keep the audience entertained through a variety of action packed illustrations and print. They offer a reading experience that differs from traditional reading and provide authentic reading experiences for students. The Bone series is great for any reader and can be used for academic or authentic reading purposes. The series is actually in the making of becoming a 3D animated movie trilogy. My students and I always enjoy comparing and contrasting the book to the movie. Click here for more reason why comics and graphic novels should be used in the classroom.

Bone Reviews

• Bone is a Thrilling Fantasy for Everyone
• Good Reads

Watch a book trailer on the Bone series.

More graphic novels and comics for elementary students.

 

Chalk (K-2 Readers)

Image taken from Bill Thomson Illustration Blogspot

Book Information:

Title: Chalk

Author: Bill Thomson

Publisher:Marshall Cavendish

Publication date: 2010

Pages: 40

Summary: This wordless picture book is about three kids who discover a bag of chalk while walking in the park on a rainy day. As they begin drawing with the chalk, they discover it’s magical chalk as their pictures come to life!

Grade Level: The book is listed for first grade and up. It can be used for any age as the activities that can be used with this book are endless.

Ideas for using Chalk:

• This book allows students to use their imagination. It would be an exciting story for students to continue after the book is over.
• Students can tell and write a story that goes along with each page.
• Writing prompts such as: What would you draw if you found magical chalk?
• Many fun activities can be used with the lessons in Creative Writing Through Wordless Picture Books by Laurie Henry. The lessons are different and target all types of learners as they allow students to work as a class, small group, with a partner, and individually.

Website with more Chalk activities:

• Educational Activities for a Lesson Plan for Chalk by Bill Thomson includes reading comprehension ideas.
• Chalk: A Simple Activity for Kids with Big Imagination gives directions on how to make your own chalk. It also suggests using The Chalk Box Kids by Clyde Robert Bulla for older kids.

Why I recommend this book

Wordless picture books can be used for students of all ages and all levels because anyone can use their imagination. I think using wordless picture books would be very beneficial to at-risk readers because they can let the pictures guide them versus struggling to read the words.  I also think students will become motivated as they become the author to a story. The book supports reading and writing as students are encouraged to use their imagination to write their own words to the story.  Here is a list of wordless picture books.

Here are reviews on Chalk and information about Bill Thomas and his books.

Watch a sneak peak of Chalk on Youtube.

Will teacher book blogs help at-risk readers?

As a teacher, I am always searching for ways to help my struggling readers. I find it helpful when I stumble across new ideas, techniques or strategies that will increase my students’ motivation to read. Do I think teacher book blogs will help at-risk readers? Of course! The key to motivating a reader is offering lots of different kinds of books and providing children with many opportunities to read them. A great way to help fellow teachers reach reluctant readers is by sharing books that will motivate students to read. That is the purpose of this blog. It is for any teacher or parent who is looking for books to help motivate children to read. What At-Risk Readers Need is a great article from Educational Leadership that gives more insight on how to help at-risk readers.

Now let’s get blogging and don’t hesitate to share!