Bridge to Terabithia

Jesse woke up early and worked all summer so that he could be the fastest runner at school. But then on the first day of school the new girl beat him! Jesse did not know who she was and at the time had no idea how great of a impact she would have on his life.

Teachers: Here are some resources to help you teach ..

Bridge to Terabithia This is Katherine Paterson's official website and my favorite part is the question/answers that give an insight into why she did certain things while writing the book.
Study Guide for Bridge to Terabithia This is such a great website with before reading, active reading and responding activities.


Vocabulary: Study Guide for Bridge to Terabithia Page 12 has a list of vocabulary words from the text.


Teaching Suggestions:

2. During Reading Have students make a web as they read about Jesse Aaron and what kind of person he is. Use the web during full class discussions.

3. After Reading Have the students write an essay about what made Leslie different than Jesse's other classmate.

Paterson, Katherine. Bridge to Terabithia. New York: HarperCollins, 1977. 

Attack of the Bandit Cats by Geronimo Stilton

After Mouse City's phone book is published with many mistakes Geronimo's best bet is to get out of town as quickly as possible. He takes a trip to the legendary island covered in silver. But shortly after arriving Geronimo and his family members are attacked by a ship of cats! Will they make it out with their lives or become dinner?

Teachers: Here are some resources to help you teach ..

Geronimo Stilton Since this is a book in a series this website maybe helpful if you need to take a look at the Stilton family tree or many other things.
Complete List of Series Here is a complete list of all the books in the series by Geronimo Stilton. If a student likes this one you may want to suggest others.

Teaching Suggestions:

1. Before Reading Before reading it may be helpful to go over the Stilton family tree and other information since this is a book in a series and all the children may not be familiar with it. 

2. During Reading While reading the students should write down the silly words that have been altered and replace them with the right words. Then as a class or in pairs discuss why the author decided to change the words and which way they liked it better.

3. After Reading Have the students pick another animal and ask them to write several clever sentences using their animal.

Stilton, Geronimo. Attack of the Bandit Cats. New York: Scholastic, 2004. 

My Name Is Maria Isabel by Alma Flor Ada

This is the story of a young Hispanic girl growing up in the United States. It goes through her struggle, that many minority students deal with, with biculturalism and self identity. The title comes from the struggle caused by her teacher calling her Mary in class. The teacher does not understand why Maria has such a hard time responding until the teacher reads her essay on "My Greatest Wish". 


Teachers: Here are some resources to help you teach..
My Name is Maria Isabel-Power Point This link will bring you to search results. Click on the first link which is a power point made by a teacher, Michelle Krill. This power point is so great because it provides vocabulary and prediction questions.
For this next resource ..I do not have a link. I went to google and searched "No Name-Calling Week Elementary Lesson Plans". The first PDF document that came up was very helpful. It is lesson plans from GLSEN and NAESP and it gave me the idea that this book could be used in conjunction with No Name Calling Week.


Vocabulary: Mrs. Taylor's Fourth Grade Class Website At the bottom of this page are five vocabulary words that should be covered so that students can better understand how Maria Isabel was feeling throughout the book.

Teaching Suggestions:

2. During Reading Change all the students names in the class for the day. Call them all by the different names. To make it easier you may want to make them wear name tags. After this experience, the next day, have them write an essay explaining how they felt throughout this day.

3. After Reading Quia Quiz Here is a quiz that you can give to you students after they have completed reading the book to test their comprehension.


Ada, Alma Flor. My Name Is Maria Isabel. New York: Aladdin, 1995.

Judy Moody Declares Independence by Megan McDonald

-Judy Moody takes a trip to Boston
-American Revolution
-independence, liberty, freedom


Teachers: Here are some resources to help you teach ..

Welcome to Judy Moody This website has all kinds of fun stuff for students to access from games and activities to the ability to read excerpts from several books. Students can become part of the Judy Moody fan club or learn more about Judy on this website. 
Megan McDonald The layout of this site is just as much fun as the previous site except instead of being focused around Judy Moody this site is focused around the author Megan McDonald.


Teaching Suggestions:

1. Before Reading Before students start reading this book it may be a good idea to cover certain key terms such as liberty, independence, American Revolution, etc.
2.During Reading Judy Moody Activities taken from this site.. Responsibility In Judy Moody Declares Independence, Judy wants to be just like Sybil Ludington — responsible and independent. Discuss what it means to be responsible. What things does Judy do to prove to her parents that she is responsible? What kinds of things can and should kids do to act responsibly? 
3. After Reading Chatterpack On this page is a suggested idea from Megan McDonald and a print out that the students can use during this activity.

McDonald, Megan. Judy Moody Declares Independence. Cambridge : Candlewick Press, 2005. 

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

This is the story of Sayuri Nitta, who grew up in a poor fishing village until at nine years old her father sold her. She gives us a look into a world where appearance is held above all else and love is an illusion.


Teachers: Here are some resources to help you teach ..
Teacher's Notes Here is a resource that has teacher's notes chapter by chapter along with a summary and a great deal of discussion questions. It also has some during reading activities as well as extra activities if you have extra time.
Memoirs of a Geisha This is a link to the Memoirs of a Geisha movie page. The maybe helpful to visually show clips depending on your activities. It may also be helpful to discuss the differences between a book and film and the importance of text.


Teaching Suggestions:

1. Before Reading Dictionary definition of Geisha Before beginning to read the book it is important that the students know what the title means. Here is a link to the Dictionary.com definition of a geisha.
2. During Reading Book Club Questions Here are some more questions that can be used to guide discussions while reading to further understanding. The first teacher's resource also has a good number of really excellent discussion questions.

3. After Reading After completing the reading of the book students can watch the movie as a class (if appropriate for age level and parents approve) and they can write a compare/contrast about the differences between the book and film.

Golden, Arthur. Memoirs of a Geisha. New York: Random House, 1999. 

Monday with a Man Genius by Mary Pope Osborne

-Jack and Annie adventure
-second of four secrets of happiness
-Renaissance time period
-Leonardo da Vinci


Teachers: Here are some resources to help you teach.. 
Magic Tree House-Random House This website had activities and a page about the author along with lesson ideas.


Vocabulary: Magic Tree House-Google This is actually something you can find in the back of the book but this link brings you to the book online. It has vocabulary words and breaks them down to the Latin roots in them.

Teaching Suggestions:

1. Before Reading Before the students begin to read as a class you should flip through the picture in the book and see if you can get an idea of what information you can gather.

2. During Reading While reading you should do some research either individually or as a class on the Renaissance time period so that the students have a better understanding.

Osborne, Mary Pope. Magic Tree House #38: Monday with a Mad Genius. New York: Random House, 2007. 

House Rules by Jodi Picoult

The hallmark signs of Asperger's Syndrome; tics and twitches, avoiding eye contact. These are the very behaviors that get the police's attention pointing to Jacob Hunt as the prime suspect in his tutor's murder investigation. This book takes a look at our legal system, it's flaws, and how autism affects a family.

Teachers: Here are some resources to help you teach..

Jodi Picoult's website This website is very helpful to get an insight into the author. It also has book club discussion questions and background information on Asperger's Syndrome.
Your Little Professor This website has lots of information on Asperger's Syndrome that can not only help you understand but help you help your students learn more.


Teaching Suggestions:

1. Before Reading Have the students beginning a KWL on what they already know about Asperger's Syndrome.

2. During Reading Have them research about Asperger's Syndrome and not only fill in their KWL chart but also create another graph with two columns, in one column place traits that are common for people with Asperger's and in the other have them list Jacob's traits.

3. After Reading When the students have completed reading the book have them list all the reasons they thought Jacob was the prime suspect and then write ways that these misconceptions could be avoided.

Picoult, Jodi. House Rules: A Novel. New York: Washington Square Press, 2010.

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

This is the heart warming story of young Annemarie growing up in Copenhagen in 1943 with food storages and Nazi soldiers. She and her friend Ellen are old enough to remember before the war but still too young to understand everything going on now. But when Jews are being "relocated" Ellen pretends to be one of the family while they take a trip to visit Annemarie's uncle. During the trip Annemarie is asked to grow up quick and take on a mission that risks her well being but will save her best friends life.

Teachers: Here are a few resources to help you teach this book...

Number the Stars Website This site is great with comprehension questions and activities for each chapter.

Teaching Suggestions:

1. Before Reading Things to Notice and Talk About The first bulleted activity would be a good idea to get the students to start discussions about the book either as a whole class or in pairs.

3. After Reading Mapmakers I would use an idea from this website, giving the students a map and having them color the places that the girls traveled through and then I would also have the students color a map of where they have moved. Afterward I would ask them to write several paragraph about how they felt about their moves and relate it to the girls, if they haven't moved talk about how they think the girls must have felt.

Lowry, Lois. Number the Stars. New York: Yearling Books, 1990. Print.

Walk Too Moons by Sharon Creech

This is three stories in one. The first being the trip 13 year-old Salamanca is taking across country with her Gram and Gramps. The second is of a girl Phoebe and her mother's disappearance and the third and final story is the underlying story of Sal's loss of her own mother.

Teachers: Here are some resources to help you teach Walk Two Moons..

Sharon Creech This is a link to Sharon Creech's website. This website offers everything from information on Creech, including a biliography, photographs, interview questions and answers, and contact information, to what I found most helpful, the Teacher's Guide.
Carol Hurst Children's Literature Site Everything from reviews to discussion starters and activities.

Vocabulary: Flashcards As a teacher you can go over these words before beginning to read so that the students are comfortable with worlds that maybe unknown or difficult.

Teaching Suggestions:

1. During Reading It might be a good idea to have a whole group or paired discussions addressing the importance of Sal telling Phoebe's story. Talking about sometimes it is hard for people to realize or share things that are too close or involve too many feelings and discuss the different ways people share things that are hard to talk about, how they work through their problems.

2. After Reading Students can write a story about something that has happened in their life while mixing in another story that has a similar story line, working in details from their own story in the other story. The story can be non-fiction or fiction depending on the students comfort level with sharing information.

Creech, Sharon. Walk Two Moons. New York: HarperCollins, 2001.

Red Scarf Girl By Ji-Li Jiang

This is the memoir of a little girl, Ji-li Jiang, who grew up during the Chinese Cultural Revolution trying to make sense of the world around her. We follow along as Ji-li struggles between being a good revolutionist following Chairman Mao and betraying her beloved family and friends who have been there for her all along. In this heart wrenching story you watch Ji-li start off as a little girl and grow into a woman.

Teachers: Here are some resources to help you with this book...
Ji-Li Jiang's Home Page Since this book is written based on Ji-Lin Jiang's actual life experience it might be nice as a teacher to get more information on the author which is provided on this page. There is also information on school visits if you are interested.
Study Guide This link goes directly to a study guide that summarizes a lot of good information from the book. It lists some vocabulary words that have the page number they appear on listed next to them. It also provides background knowledge and a list of the main characters. I found that since the names are so unfamiliar it was hard to keep track of them so I found this helpful. I also did not know anything about the Chinese Cultural Revolution until I read this book so if you too do not have previous knowledge this little blurb on background knowledge may help.


Vocabulary:List of Vocabulary Words This website lists not only vocabulary words and their definitions but also provides games for students to use to practice learning the meanings of the words and become more familiar with them.


Teaching Suggestions:
1. Before Reading Before beginning reading it may be important for students to create a KWL chart that they keep with them throughout the reading of this book about the Chinese Cultural Revolution.
2. During Reading While reading I would ask the students to write down on a sticky note the words that they are unsure of or do not know the meaning of at all and together as a class we can go over them since there is a lot of unfamiliar vocabulary in this book. It is important that students understand the history and time that this book is set in to understand what young Ji-li is going through. This book would offer a good experience for a teacher to tie literacy into social studies.
3. After Reading/Writing After reading the students could use the information they have gathered while reading and create a da-zi-boa. If the students do not feel that they have enough information about da-zi-boas from the reading they can do a little research of their own before they create them.


Jiang, Ji-Li. Red Scarf Girl. New York: HarperCollins, 1997. 

A Poem A Day by Helen H. Moore

This book is a compilation of poems covering a range of topics from adjectives to friendships. Not only does this book have a poem that can connect to any lesson, school, life or otherwise, it also has lesson plans listed along with the poems in the book for teachers to use or modify and use for ideas to create their own lesson plans.


Teachers: Here are some resources to help you use this book...
Helen H. Moore JacketFlap Profile This website has information on the author and other works by her if you like this book.
A Poem a Day On this website you can find not only a book description, ratings and reviews but also links to other blogs that posted about this book.


Vocabulary: The vocabulary in this book is fairly simple, however, the Seasons and Special Days section of poems may bring up topics that will include vocabulary that may need a little bit of explanation. For example the poems cover, Kwanzaa, MLK Jr., Mr. Lincoln, and other topics that may include vocabulary that may need to be explained. An example of one word may be Civil Rights.


Teaching Suggestions:
1. Before Reading The students should examine the title of the poem and predict what they think the poem and its message will be before reading it.
2. During Reading While reading the poems it is important that the teacher model appropriate reading of a poem. It can not be assumed that the students will know the right way to read a poem and it maybe useful pass out copies of the poem and have the students mark with single or double slashes depending on how long it is appropriate to pause and then have students read the poems aloud together as a class.
3. After Reading/Writing Book Preview Follow this link to amazon.com and you can take a look inside the book. If you go to the first pages you can see a sample of what is in the book. It has the poem followed by an activity or booklink.


Moore, Helen H.. A Poem a Day (Grades K-3). New York: Scholastic, 1999.

Bloomability by Sharon Creech

From Kentucky to Oklahoma, Texas to California, New Mexico to... Switzerland?! Dinnie has been 'kidnapped' by her Aunt Sandy and Uncle Max or given an opportunity, as her Father puts it. Which ever the case Dinnie is not thrilled about being taken away from her family, the only thing that has remained constant during the first 12 years of her nomadic life. Of all the places her travels have taken her it is here in Switzerland that Dinnie discovers all the 'bloomabilities' life holds.

Teachers: Here are some resources to help you teach Bloomability..

Reading Group Guide This link is to a page that provides a summary of the book, 12 good thinking questions for discussion, a list of Creech's other works as well as information on a Bloomability writing contest.

Sharon Creech This is a link to Sharon Creech's website. This website offers everything from information on Creech, including a biliography, photographs, interview questions and answers, and contact information, to what I found most helpful, the Teacher's Guide.


Teaching Suggestions:
1. Before Reading Have the student break down the word 'bloomability' and have them look up unfamiliar words in the dictionary to predict the meaning of this made up word and discuss the author's reason for using this title.
2. During Reading Talk about the significance of Dinnie's family not writing to her often while she was away and then ask the students to write letters from one of her family members writing what they think this character would have said if they had written.
3. After Reading The book ends without Dinnie making her choice whether or not she will return to Switzerland in the fall. Ask the students to use their imagination to write another chapter or two, either about happens when Dinnie returns home or picking up in the fall explaining her choice.


Creech, Sharon. Bloomability. New York: HarperTrophy, 1998.