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Spring Branch Independent School District |
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May 8th Meeting about Great Books! |
Librarian’s Leadership Meeting
Wednesday, May 8, 2002
Sue McGowen, the Past President of the Children’s Round Table is looking for a chairperson for the Children’s Breakfast at next year’s conference in Houston. Jim Hundemer, of Houston ISD, graciously volunteered one of his librarians. They will need to attend Annual Assembly in Austin this July to plan.
Principals have received information from Region IV regarding the formation of a Library Committee to meet and develop programs to meet the needs of librarians in our region. Principals have been asked to recommend librarians to serve.
The Region IV web site has staff development for librarians already posted for next school year.
Region IV is looking at an Alternative Certification Program on the Master’s Level for librarians in conjunction with the University of St, Thomas. Barry Bishop has communicated with Sam Houston State University; U of H Clear Lake and North Texas State University to determine how many librarians each of their programs is producing yearly to see if an alternative program was warranted. The discussion of the group determined that it might be better to wait a year to see how the present programs develop before pursuing another program.
Karen Flavin, has been named Alief Coordinator for Information Literacy, an administrative position recently approved by their school board. Congratulations and a positive step forward for librarians!
The majority of the meeting was well spent listening to Dr. Teri Lesesne of Sam Houston State booktalk books that address the new TEKS. The following contains notes about the books that she shared. This supplements the handouts Dr. Lesesne shared with us.
Testing Miss Malarky a wonderful book that expresses the TAAS, TEKS, TEAMS, TABS testing experience.
Dr. Lesesne shared with us that the TAKS test will have students responding to real literature, including passages of fiction and nonfiction. It is imperative that we help our teachers find literature to share with their students. She suggested biographies from David Adler and Diane Stanley. She also suggested science books that have good text to expose students to expository text.
They Call Me Wooly: What Animal Names Can Tell Us This book has simple text and big pictures. It gets kids thinking about expository text. It shows them how to look at names in bold face or italicized type. It has beautiful illustrations that can be used for elaboration on art education.
Sandra Markel’s – Growing Up Wild: Penguins is a good expository text for 2nd or 3rd graders. It can be used to teach map skills, sequencing (the birth/life cycle), and how to attack small bits of text at a time. There is a pronunciation key and index to help teach research skills. The illustrations are stunning.
Bug Scientist by Donna M. Jackson - Highlights 3 individuals who work with bugs. The bug ambassador is trying to take the “ug” out of “bug”. The forensic pathologist tells of gross, disgusting bugs that help tell the time of death or location of a body. Sure to please the boys. The last scientist studies ants. There is a glossary and an Amazing Insect Information section with “Buzz” words and “Gone Buggy” for additional titles to read. It has a denser text to read for older students.
Cassie’s Word Quilt by Faith Ringgold uses illustrations from her other books to help teach the vocabulary presented. Use this book as a stepping stone to her other books. The art can be used to introduce the different types of art she uses.
Poetry Books: (3 go into the content areas)
Arithmetickle: An Even Number of Odd Riddle Rhymes by J. Patrick Lewis - A book of great math riddles students can figure out then write their own. A wonderful way to grow your library collection.
Math For All Seasons: Mind-Stretching Math Riddles by Greg Tang. The illustrations help tremendously in this book. It teaches kids to group and add. Students need to have a basic knowledge of math skills. The book helps them look for patterns and combine things. It gives the answers in the back!
World of Wonders: Geographic Travels in Verse and Rhyme by J. Patrick Lewis. Presents acrostics and riddles that tell about Magellan, cities, geography, latitude/ longitude, stalactites /stalagmites, etc. A great resource for social studies classrooms.
Love to Langston by Tony Medina is perfect for the English classroom. You can read it to 1st grade. It tells of the Jim Crow laws/Civil Rights. There is a poem about libraries that would be neat to post in the library.
There will probably be many books published this year celebrating the 100th birthday anniversary of Langston Hughes.
Goin’ Someplace Special by Patricia McKissak received a Coretta Scott King Award for illustrations. The main character dresses up to go to the library - her special place. Tells a history lesson set in the times of Jim Crow laws. In the author’s note she relates that this is her story and that the Nashville Public Library quietly integrated their library before the repeal of those laws.
Multicultural Books-
Matzoh Man: A Passover Story a Jewish Gingerbread story by Naomi Howland uses Yiddish terms and twists in this pattern story with references to the Jewish culture. Can be used with the Cajun Gingerbread Boy by Bev Pavus - another cultural reference pattern book.
Home At Last by Susan Middleton Elva tells the story of Ana and her family who have moved to the United States. Her mother prefers to speak Spanish, but after an incident realizes the importance of learning English and how powerful it is to be able to communicate in both languages.
Blue Roses “New Voices Award Winner” Rosalie and PaPa (her grandfather) have a strong relationship in this book by Linda Boyden. When her PaPa dies, she finds the blue roses they planted together and thought would never grow. (An intergenerational story that would be a great introduction to Esperanza Rising.)
Bubba and Beau: Best Friends by Kathi Appelt The 1st of 5 in the series of chapter books about a redneck baby and hound. The book has great illustrations with humorous items accentuating the story. Kathi said, “It’s about time somebody wrote about rednecks.”
A Fine, Fine School by Sharon Creech. The principal declares they should have school on Saturdays, then during vacations because they have such a fine, fine school. The comic tale returns to a normal school year after a young girl points out to the principal all the learning experiences that are being missed because they are at school all the time. Wonderful humor in the illustrations makes it as fun to look at as to read.
Books for Older Students
Breaking Point by Alex Flinn Charlie, a good guy, tries to prove his friendship through increasingly more dangerous and violent activities. He is guided astray by peer pressure and ends up in jail. High School.
Shattering Glass by Gail Giles. A cutting-edge YA book that depicts Glass as a prototypical nerd in school who the popular boys decide to make the most popular. Glass has his own agenda. The book is a great example of the mentality of groups.
The Rag and Bone Shop by Robert Cormier. The book only has two characters that relate the story of Jason, who has learning disabilities, and his involvement in the death of his only friend, a young girl in his neighborhood. An incredibly intense novel where the police interrogator must secure a confession from an innocent boy. Mature readers.
Damage by A.M. Jenkins A great High School football book. Austin Reed is the pride of the football team and the town and he suffers from depression. The novel deals with the reality of depression.
Paula Danzinger’s United Tates of America is a funny, poignant story of the Tate family going on a trip. The book has a scrapbook of their trip in the back. It is a travel book with a nice story.
Adventures of Super Diaper Baby by Dav Pilkey. An extraordinary baby with funny villains doing the crazy stuff you come to expect in David’s books. The kids will not get some of the humor, but parents/adults will. An absolutely hysterically funny low-level bathroom humor book.
Everything on a Waffle A Newbery Honor Book by Polly Horvath. This novel has the cruel humor in the flavor of the Lemony Snicket books. The book has recipes throughout and ends happily. It is not a book that kids will pick up, but will read and enjoy if talked about.
Princess Diaries: Princess in the Spotlight and Princess in Love continue the story Mia’s training to become the princess of Genovia.
Goose Chase, a Lone Star selection for 2002-2003, by Patrice Kindl picks up on the fairytale motif. A strong YA novel with a strong female character.
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashears. There is a great audio recording of this book available. The book has good humor with serious issues told in a light inviting way.
The Misfits by James Howe Tells of 4 friends who call themselves the “Group of 5”. They are bright kids who others would call names. They begin the “No Name Party” campaigning for a day in junior high where no one would be called names. Telling that names can hurt in a non-didactic or preachy way.
Gospel According to Larry By Janet Tashijian. A student sets up a website posting sermons about anti-consumerism to the site and receives numerous hits. He discusses timely issues regarding Channel 1, advertising on the body and the Coke/Pepsi School war. It is a funny book with a serious undertone.
Slap Your Sides by M.E. Kerr An historical fiction novel about Shakers who are contientious objectors. The oldest son works in an insane asylum instead of enlisting. He falls in love with the daughter of a patriotic supporter. He has an aunt who believes in the Shaker beliefs, yet asks how a person could not fight for their country? There are many conflicts and issues that will lead to good discussions. Here is a character that is strong enough to stay above the fray.
Mississippi Trial, 1955 by Chris Crowe. The author is a Mormon who believes strongly in intellectual freedom. This novel depicts the true story of an African American boy who is found dead in a river after whistling at a white woman. The story is of a white boy who has to come to terms with his racist grandfather.
Spellbound by by Janet McDonald. The main character drops out of school after becoming pregnant. She has to stay home to care for her son. She has to win a spelling bee to win a 4 -year college scholarship. Her determination to make something of herself in order to do the same for her child is wonderful.
On the Fringe by Donald R. Gallo. A story collection of stories about characters that are picked on. These are different, not expected, yet timely topics.
Handbook For Boys by Walter Dean Myers Selection of short stories of a neighborhood mentoring program where young men learn about life in the stories and parables shared while they work. One young man heeds the stories lessons - one does not.
Hole in My Life by Jack Gantos. His life story about the time he spent in prison for smuggling hashish into the United States. It tells how he realized his real calling in life.
WWJD: What Would Joey Do? is his next sequel in the Joey Pigza series - coming soon.
Loser by Jerry Spinelli. This novel follows the main character from kindergarten until he realizes that he is a loser. The book deals with self-awareness in the vein of Wringer and Slakes Limbo.
Matchit by Martha Moore. Matchit is left behind when his father takes off for a fling leaving him with a misfit group of characters who form an unusual family. A beautiful story of learning to trust.
God of Beer a high school book by Garret Kelzer. Deals with peer pressure and alcohol. A great read for the social studies classroom.
Big Mouth & Ugly Girl by Joyce Carol Oates. An unusual friendship occurs when an ugly girl goes to the defense of a big mouth boy. He assumes that they will become an item and she immediately sets him straight. What evolves is a friendship of sorts.
One Hot Second: Stories About Desire - definitely High School. Not just short stories on physical desire, but other desires as well. Ex: the first time behind the wheel of a car alone, etc.
Poetry:
Fearless Fernie: Hanging Out With Fernie And Me by Gary Soto. Unusual illustrations, but cute, neat poems!
If I Were In Charge The Rules Would Be Different! By James Proimos. Told in the vein of Prelutsky. Very funny.
What My Mother Doesn’t Know by Sonja Sones A novel poem that deals with interesting issues in the lives of girls.
Say Yes by Audrey Couloumbis. This is her new book and is very different from what she usually writes.
Odder Than Ever is a story collection of funny stories in paperback.
Professional books:
Queen Bees and Wannabees by Rosalind Wiseman. A thick, imposing book but written in an easy, everyday vocabulary. This is good for teachers, parents, and counselors. It has good advice for all types of girl issues with common sense information.
We’re Not Monsters by Sabrina Solin Weill. Teens speak out about teens in trouble. Covers bullying, depression, drugs with statistics interspersed with actual teen voices.
November 2, 2002 will be the 25th Annual Children’s Book Festival/16th Annual YA Conference at Sam Houston State University.
This year’s featured authors will be:
Richard Peck - A Year Down Yonder
Sonya Sones - Stop Pretending: What Really Happened When My Sister Went Crazy
Kimberly Willis Holt - When Zachary Beaver Came To Town
Audrey Couloumbis - Getting Near to Baby
Bruce Coville - Armegeddon Summer
This is a great opportunity for your librarians and reading teachers to network and learn more about novels and reading!
The 2003 Conference will be on November 1st with the likes of David Dimisky, Todd Strasser, Brian Collier and others. Mark your calendars now.
The Three Questions based on a Tolstoy story. Good for YA/ Adults. A picture book not necessarily for kids which answers the three questions posed with:
Only one important time - now
Only one important person - the one you are with
Only one important thing to do - do good for the person who is right next to you right now.
Written and illustrated by Jon Muth.
Ideas for presentations for next year’s meetings:
Repeat of Dr. Lesesne at the last meeting to continue booktalking.
TAKS presentation from TLA conference.
Children’s author visits/library visits. Have the author of the schoolvisit.com website come and speak.
Setting up book clubs
Contests - Name that Book/ Battle of the Books, Inter/Intra school contests
