Saturday, September 8, 2018

Trilogies for a middle school classroom

+JMJ


Have you ever stacked your classroom with books only to find out that your middle schoolers want more trilogies and duologies? (separate from a book series)

Below are the trilogies (duologies coming later, as well as notable series for a classroom library) I recommend for middle school, but most importantly for those in 8th grade. While I recommend the popular ones (Hunger Games, Divergent, Maze Runner, Narnia, Lord of the Rings, etc) this list consists of trilogies that weren't on my radar initially. But I am SO HAPPY they are now! I'll keep this updated as I come across more trilogies!


The Testing Trilogy 
 It’s graduation day for sixteen-year-old Malencia Vale, and the entire Five Lakes Colony (the former Great Lakes) is celebrating. All Cia can think about—hope for—is whether she’ll be chosen for The Testing, a United Commonwealth program that selects the best and brightest new graduates to become possible leaders of the slowly revitalizing post-war civilization. When Cia is chosen, her father finally tells her about his own nightmarish half-memories of The Testing. Armed with his dire warnings (”Cia, trust no one”), she bravely heads off to Tosu City, far away from friends and family, perhaps forever. Danger, romance—and sheer terror—await.


The Dragon of Trelian


Calen, a lonely young mage-to-be, never dreamed that Princess Meglynne would become his friend. And impulsive Meg never imagined that tending a baby dragon would “link” her to the creature — for life. Can a girl, a boy, and a dragon merge their magic and strength to bring down a powerful traitor in time to save the kingdom of Trelian?

Frostblood Trilogy




Enter a world where fire and ice are mortal enemies...

Ruby is a Fireblood. In a land ruled by frost, her very existence is a crime. She's spent her whole life in hiding.
Until the day Frostblood soldiers raid her village and kill her mother. The day she swears to avenge her people.
She must travel deep into the heart of the enemy, to the court of the Frost King, with only the mysterious warrior Arcus - a Frostblood rebel - by her side. But with alliances between flame and ice strictly forbidden, is Arcus friend or foe?
Ruby will only have one chance to destroy the maniacal ruler who took everything from her. But she has no idea just how hot her fire will burn...



   How far would you go for revenge if someone killed your father?
   If someone destroyed your city?
   If everything you ever loved was taken from you?
   David Charleston will go to any lengths to stop Steelheart. But to exact revenge in Steelheart’s world, David will need the Reckoners—a shadowy group of rebels bent on maintaining justice. 
   And it turns out that the Reckoners might just need David too.

Legend


What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

The Falconer Trilogy



Edinburgh, 1844. Beautiful Aileana Kameron only looks the part of an aristocratic young lady. In fact, she's spent the year since her mother died developing her ability to sense the presence of sìthichean, a faery race bent on slaughtering humans. She has a secret mission: to destroy the faery who murdered her mother. But when she learns she's a Falconer, the last in a line of female warriors and the sole hope of preventing a powerful faery population from massacring all of humanity, her quest for revenge gets a whole lot more complicated. Now in paperback, this electrifying thriller—the first volume of a trilogy from an exciting new voice in young adult fantasy—blends romance and action with steampunk technology and Scottish lore in a deliciously addictive read.

Snow Like Ashes



Sixteen years ago the Kingdom of Winter was conquered and its citizens enslaved, leaving them without magic or a monarch. Now the Winterians' only hope for freedom is the eight survivors who managed to escape, and who have been waiting for the opportunity to steal back Winter's magic and rebuild the kingdom ever since.
Orphaned as an infant during Winter's defeat, Meira has lived her whole life as a refugee. Training to be a warrior—and desperately in love with her best friend, Winter's future king—she would do anything to help Winter rise to power again.
So when scouts discover the location of the ancient locket that can restore Winter's magic, Meira decides to go after it herself—only to find herself thrust into a world of evil magic and dangerous politics—and ultimately comes to realize that her destiny is not, never has been, her own.




One shocking afternoon, computers around the globe shut down in a viral catastrophe. At sixteen-year-old Adam Daley's high school, the problem first seems to be a typical electrical outage, until students discover that cell phones are down, municipal utilities are failing, and a few computer-free cars like Adam's are the only vehicles that function. Driving home, Adam encounters a storm tide of anger and fear as the region becomes paralyzed. Soon―as resources dwindle, crises mount, and chaos descends―he will see his suburban neighborhood band together for protection. And Adam will understand that having a police captain for a mother and a retired government spy living next door are not just the facts of his life but the keys to his survival, in The Rule of Three by Eric Walters.



There will come a day... when love will mark you as a traitor.

In a society where emotions are nothing and function is everything, Avlyn Lark is just trying to blend in.
She's lucky to be alive, unlike her twin brother Ben who died when they were four. And she's lucky to have been taken from her biological parents and assigned to a Level Two family. But mastering her emotions? That's a problem,especially when a rebel bomb blows up a building right in front of her.
Then on Configuration Day, Avlyn's official transition to adulthood, she starts seeing strange visions. And instead of being placed with a low-level tech company where she could hide away, she's hired by Genesis Technologies, the government firm that monitors every citizen.
Now, instead of blending in, Avlyn fears she'll be exposed for what she really is. If Gen Tech finds out how deeply she feels, it will ruin her life. And if they find out about her secret meetings with a mysterious but handsome member of the rebel forces, her life will be more than ruined.
It will be over.


While the other girls in the walled city-state of Baalboden learn to sew and dance, Rachel Adams learns to track and hunt. While they bend like reeds to the will of their male Protectors, she uses hers for sparring practice.
When Rachel's father fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the city's brutal Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector: her father's apprentice, Logan—the boy she declared her love to and who turned her down two years before. Left with nothing but fierce belief in her father's survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself.
As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can't be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making.


Mysterious Benedict Society 



"Are you a gifted child looking for special opportunities?" When this peculiar ad appears in the newspaper, dozens of children enroll to take a series of mysterious, mind-bending tests. (And you, dear reader, can test your wits right alongside them.) But in the end just four very special children will succeed. Their challenge: to go on a secret mission that only the most intelligent and resourceful children could complete. To accomplish it they will have to go undercover at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, where the only rule is that there are no rules. As our heroes face physical and mental trials beyond their wildest imaginations, they have no choice but to turn to each other for support. But with their newfound friendship at stake, will they be able to pass the most important test of all?

Wildwood (Wildwood Chronicles)




In Wildwood, Prue and her friend Curtis uncover a secret world in the midst of violent upheaval—a world full of warring creatures, peaceable mystics, and powerful figures with the darkest intentions. And what begins as a rescue mission becomes something much greater as the two friends find themselves entwined in a struggle for the very freedom of this wilderness. A wilderness the locals call Wildwood.

A brave and unusual girl named Serafina lives secretly in the basement of the grand Biltmore Estate amidst the splendor of the Gilded Age. Serafina's pa, the estate's maintenance man, has warned her to keep herself hidden from the fancy folk who live on the floors above, but when children at the estate start disappearing, Serafina and her friend Braeden Vanderbilt must work together to solve a dark and dangerous mystery. 

Miss Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children


A mysterious island.An abandoned orphanage.A strange collection of very curious photographs.It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive. A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows.

Leviathan Trilogy


It is the cusp of World War I, and all the European powers are arming up. The Austro-Hungarians and Germans have their Clankers, steam-driven iron machines loaded with guns and ammunition. The British Darwinists employ fabricated animals as their weaponry. Their Leviathan is a whale airship, and the most masterful beast in the British fleet. 

Aleksandar Ferdinand, prince of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, is on the run. His own people have turned on him. His title is worthless. All he has is a battle-torn Stormwalker and a loyal crew of men. 

Deryn Sharp is a commoner, a girl disguised as a boy in the British Air Service. She's a brilliant airman. But her secret is in constant danger of being discovered. 

With the Great War brewing, Alek's and Deryn's paths cross in the most unexpected way...taking them both aboard the Leviathan on a fantastical, around-the-world adventure. One that will change both their lives forever.

Mister Max: The Book of Lost Things Trilogy

Max's parents are missing. They are actors, and thus unpredictable, but sailing away, leaving Max with only a cryptic note, is unusual even for them. Did they intend to leave him behind? Have they been kidnapped? 

Until he can figure it out, Max feels it's safer to keep a low profile. Hiding out is no problem for a child of the theater. Max has played many roles, he can be whoever he needs to be to blend in. But finding a job is tricky, no matter what costume he dons.

Ironically, it turns out Max has a talent for finding things. He finds a runaway child, a stray dog, a missing heirloom, a lost love. . . . So is he a finder? A detective? No, it's more. Max finds a way to solve people's problems—he engineers better outcomes for them. He becomes Mister Max,  Solutioneer.  

Now if only he could find a solution to his own problems . . .

Wednesday, January 17, 2018

Building your Classroom Library: Judge a Book by it's Cover

+JMJ

I'm building something.



It may look like I'm building a classroom library. But it's more than that. So much more.

It means so much more now. The stakes are higher. The innocence that was there in elementary, gone. The reality of their lives, with all it's struggles and heartbreaks, ever present. But there is hope. And new learning. And new meaning. I may not be able to control what is going on at home, but I can provide an experience of literacy that is fun, exciting and nurtures a love of reading. I can help them make connections to characters that display loyalty, sacrifice, perseverance and how lessons that we read help shape who we are and want to become.

What we do for elementary kids, introduce books, make it fun, do quick read alouds, make crafts, are so much more VITAL in middle school. These kids need the newest books. The prettiest covers. Education and literacy can and does change lives. Since July, we have so many students reading. Sharing. Having book conversations. Recently, during one of these conversations, several students said they wanted more historical fiction. Boys will literally say, "If you find a football book, can you get it?"

Students make different bookmarks for their current reading each 6 weeks

The answer is yes. Our school library has many books in circulation. Several of my students were waiting for certain titles, and I just told them I'd get them a copy. And that's when the snowball effect of books happened.

Students preview all new books which are usually student requests






Ask your students to pick books for your classroom library. Which books would they like to see? And get them. Find a way. I am constantly at Half Price Books & Barnes & Noble. I am also always ordering books from Scholastic.

They have such amazing deals on so many books. Barnes and Noble can offer some amazing deals as well. My go-to is Amazon and Ebay right now. I am constantly looking for the lowest price for hardcovers. Recently I wrote a grant for our grade level for more books. I also helped my sister write a grant as well for her third grade class. We were awarded about $1000 each for our classroom libraries. And what did we do with that grant?

Above picture for a third grade classroom funded by a grant

 Bottom line, pretty books, new books, amazing covers need to make a great first impression. And if you build it, they will read. Display your books. Have students preview books. Make perusing books fun, enjoyable, and while it may be hard to get books, find a way. Ask for help. Start with buying one book at a time. Ask for donations. You'd be surprised at how many good people want to help you, your students and the community.

Create attractive displays
Bookstands are $1 at the Dollar Tree


Change displays
Students actually asked for books on makeup & fashion & other things
"New" used books were $2.00 each at Half Price Books



Visit the bookstore OFTEN
You never know what will show up in the clearance section. I can find trilogies in hardbacks for $2 each! Usually, if I already have the book, I raffle off the copy to students.

Make your classroom library inviting





Preview your books with purpose
Picture on left is geared for K-5 while picture on right is geared for grades 6 & up

When we get in a new stack of books, or need to preview our classroom library for books, we do so with the purpose of taking note of which titles we actually want to read. Thus, kids make a #bookstack of books they want to read throughout the year. This can be updated every 6 weeks or every quarter. Kids love this activity because most don't know what your classroom library holds. Also, it's a good reminder of the books they haven't gotten to yet. 

Overall, we all long to go on an adventure, learn to be a better person and help our world become a better place. 

As teachers, we can help our students do that. 



Tuesday, October 3, 2017

Dear Hate

+JMJ



[Verse 1]
Dear Hate,
I saw you on the news today.
Like a shock that takes my breath away,
You fall like rain, cover us in drops of paint.
I’m afraid that we just might drown.
[Verse 2]
Dear Hate,
Well, you sure are colorblind,
Your kiss is the cruelest kind,
You could poison any mind,
Just look at mine.
Don’t know how this world keeps spinning ’round and round.
[Chorus]
You were there in the garden like a snake in the grass.
I see you in the morning staring through the looking glass.
You whisper down through history and echo through these halls.
But I hate to tell you, love’s gonna conquer all.
[Verse 3 – Vince Gill]
Dear Hate,
You were smiling from that Selma bridge;
In Dallas, when that bullet hit, and Jackie cried;
You pulled those towers from the sky;
But even on our darkest nights, we’ll keep spinning ’round.
[Chorus]
You were there in the garden like a snake in the grass;
I see you in the morning staring through the looking glass;
You whisper down through history and echo through these halls;
But I hate to tell you, love’s gonna conquer all.
[Coda]
Dear Love,
Just when I think you’ve given up,
You were there in the garden when I ran from your voice;
I hear you every morning through the chaos and the noise;
You still whisper down through history and echo through these halls;
And tell me love’s gonna conquer all,
Gonna conquer all.

Saturday, September 30, 2017

Middle School Architect + Rebuilding a love of reading

+JMJ

(student comes in after school to return a book)

Currently, I am teaching my first year in middle school.

Eighth grade.

This is my 14th year teaching. But this is the first time where my mouth has hung open in absolute astonishment. You see, I taught elementary for so long, you take things for granted.

Like, for instance, the LOVE of just learning that comes so easily with younger students. You don't have to work so hard to "hook" them. Don't get me wrong, I've taught elementary so long, I'm not downplaying the struggling readers or the reluctant readers.

But middle school is different.

I don't think I properly understood how important middle school is. When you literally, NOT figuratively, have MOST, if not all your classes, openly and honestly, DESPISE, if not call it torture, reading, you tend to take a few steps back.

Wait, what?



First, for the record, the students are AHHHHHHMAZING! I feel as though I have found my niche. But it wasn't always that way. The first couple of weeks, I felt like this wasn't for me. I'm going to be honest. I have never seen so much apathy before in kids. Don't get me wrong, these kids are good kids. Brutally honest.

"Miss, I don't like reading. Please don't make me read."

"Miss, I haven't read a novel since the fourth grade."

"Miss, are we ACTUALLY going to read? Like a novel? Can we just do worksheets?"



At first, with over 100 students, I thought this was it. I had made a mistake. Like, I literally felt sick for awhile. Why? Because I get my enthusiasm from my students. I LOVE teaching because I love the excitement THEY feel. Introduce a new book, kids LOVE it! Read Aloud? Yes, please! Students are excited, the younger they are, they don't have the social confines of being cool yet.

Yet.



So, when they got depressed that I was introducing a novel, they literally groaned, and I doubted whether I could do this. It wasn't the book. It wasn't even me. It was almost a learned behavior. "We don't read" is protocol. And this is where we, and I say WE, as teachers get it so wrong.

If you want kids to read, you MUST give them opportunities to read. IN CLASS. In elementary, it's SO INCREDIBLY easy. You have them for longer periods of time. In middle school? You have 55 minutes. So you MUST prioritize. You must give them great, inspiring, amazing books to foster thought, ideas and compassion. You give them the best. Not the left overs. You build that classroom library as if your life depended on it.



Because, people, middle school libraries are almost like cemeteries for books. At least compared to elementary schools. It's not inviting. In fact, my librarian told me these kids don't read. In front of them. She told them, "If you don't like to read, I have these short stories right here! They are great for non-readers".


I'm pretty sure my mouth hung open when she said that. But at least she was honest.

So when backed into a corner, I do what I do best. I share MY love of reading. We started Wonder. I've spent so much money on books, and book shelves, it's insane. But it's worth it. Why? Because today, they were brutally honest again.

"Miss, this is the first book since fourth grade I actually finished a whole novel. Do you have the next book?"

"Miss, do you have more books like Prisoner B-3087? You do?! Can I take this home to finish it so I can start on Monday?"

"Miss, do you mind if I take one of your books home? Can I check it out?"


We write. We respond. My bellringers are out the door. I'm using thier novels as the bell ringer/warm up of the day. We look for different things in novels. Character traits, summaries, text evidence, inferences, everything. I did a quick survey.

Out of 100 students, 12 are reading books from the school library. 2 are reading personal books from thier homes. The rest? From my classroom library.

This was our "display area" for the first six weeks.



Now, we don't have a big display on the top of our shelf anymore.










And our novel? Students are loving this story of Auggies! Especially since this year, I've included videos!





Students want amazing new, colorful, visually appealing, books. I am SO THANKFUL that publishers are publishing classics with newer and modern covers. I am thankful that so many books have incredible covers. Why? Because that old saying, "Don't judge a book by its cover" is EXACTLY why a student either picks something up or doesn't. They live in a world with technology and instantly getting what they need. Technology isn't always what they need. It's a tool to be used but it doesn't dictate everything. Yes, I may sound old-fashioned, but a real book gives students a sense of accomplishment. Literally having a book, is a visual reminder that they are accomplishing something. It's not in an app. It's not in a chat. Everyone can see that  you are reading, and when you are done, something happens intrinsically. We talked about it all the time in elementary. Well, you have NOTHING but intrinsic motivation up in the middle school.

Bottom line, I've learned that middle school students ARE just like elementary students. But you have to put some thought, time and even MORE love into it. In the end, its worth it. Students are crazy ready to share what they are reading. Middle schoolers are SO sensitive and LOVE when you think of them or a book they may enjoy. I don't think we give middle school teachers enough credit. This is so incredibly challenging, and I have nothing but respect for middle school teachers. But building a love of reading in middle school is worth it. I can honestly say I have NEVER felt so happy teaching students reading in my entire teaching career. I LOVE these kids and I LOVE what I do! (I just wish I had more money for books! Thank you Scholastic Bonus Points & Half Price books! LOL!)

A teacher just has to be willing to share the love of reading and be a true architect. Its just we are building a love of reading.