I have come across some interesting links this weekend on the topic of “close reading.”  As students are required to use more complex text in their work, this topic seems important.   

This is as clear a definition as I expect to find:

 Douglas Fisher

Close Reading and the CCSS: Part 1

“Close reading is a careful and purposeful re-reading of a text.”

http://www.schooltube.com/video/2586a181320549d687f4/

Close Reading is linked to the demand for more complex texts in the classroom.  If you are going to read challenging texts, then the teacher must coach the students on how to approach them.

 

Dr. Timothy Shanahan on Complex Texts. and the Implications in the Classroom

Teachers will have to “shift stance away from ‘can I find an easiest text’ to ‘what kind of supports and scaffolds could I use that will allow kids to handle the really hard text.’  So now they will have to read text closely themselves to figure out what’s challenging about it and think of what kinds of supports or scaffolds that would allow a youngster to [read the text.]  

 http://www.schooltube.com/video/c06b25c976d22dadf36e/

So, what could this really look like in a classroom?  Notice that in these sample lessons one text is worked with over two to three days, including homework.

Readings with sample lessons –  Some models of close reading lessons.

http://www.achievethecore.org/steal-these-tools/close-reading-exemplars

Bankstreet Book Fest

Saturday was the the Backstreet Book Fest.
It was a wonderful day.  I got to talk to many people who share my day-to-day experiences. The whole group presentations were wonderful.  When there is video I promise to put a link here - I learned a lot about Laura Ingalls Wilder and her Little House books.  Mary Pope Osborne deserves a big thank you for her generous offer!

The best part of my day was the mock Geisel  award workshop. This was led by Caroline Ward who literally "wrote the book" for the Geisel award criteria. The Geisel award is for "a book for beginning readers who, through their literary and artistic achievements, demonstrate creativity and imagination to engage children in reading." We examined and discussed some of the contenders for this year's Geisel award.  Talking about literary excellence and the needs of beginning readers is something I don't often get a chance to do at a professional level.  Many fine librarians are hesitant to explore what beginning readers need.  It seems to smack a little to much of censorship to say that a reader needs books at a particular level or written in a particular way. But, realistically, what beginning readers really want are books that will support them as they learn to read. 

The verdict was unanimous.  Kevin Henkes Penny and her Doll is the best book for beginning reader that we looked at.  However it is very pink... For boys, Elephant and Piggy is still the best of the best.  We showed the most recent entry Let's Go For a Drive a lot of love. 

The problem is that writing really good books in a way that supports children who are learning how to read is really, really, hard.  We need more excellent authors to take up this gauntlet.  Thank you Kate Dicamillo for doing something that is hard, when you could just keep writing great books for older readers.  If you haven't read Bink and Golly, buy one for yourself and one for a friend. 

Three Little Pumpkins

On my circulation desk I have three miniature pumpkins. The first question is always "is it real?"  Usually a student will pick up a pumpkin when they ask this question.  Because this is often asked while students are on line to check out books, I answer briefly "yes, they are real pumpkins."  Many students will then identify them (a la three bears) as big, medium, and little.  Here I have some fun, saying that (picking up the largest of the three) this is a small pumpkin.  (pointing to the next) this is a smaller pumpkin, and this is my smallest pumpkin.  This explanation usually echoes back through the check out line, as students explain this to each other.  The pumpkins were 69cents each.  I'm glad I bought them.

Halloween and Sandy

Hello Sandy!  My do-list for tomorrow is rounding up materials to help students better understand storms and hurricanes, so I can be better prepared on Wednesday when we return to work.  Wednesday is also Halloween.  It will be a high impact day for the school librarian

Update on Sandy - no school on Halloween!  I hope to be back by Thursday.


 

I haven't stopped reading, even if blogging fell off the radar!

Two yummy books from Net Galley:

Pale by Chris Wooding was exciting and thought provoking - until I realized it was a tease, and I only had the first few chapters!  So far, it seems like it would need almost no salesmanship - a book that could easily go viral.   This is an edgy take on some of the same themes from Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt.  A serum makes it possible for people come back from the dead and live for ever.  The only problem is that it only works for certain people and it is very expensive.  People are angry at the "pales" (people who are brought back and live forever) and society is crumbling.  I definitely want to finish the book!

Another delicious book:
The boy Sherlock Holmes; His Final Case.  by Shane Peacock

This is the end of a series that delivers on its promises.  I find that when watching a Sherlock Holmes TV take off, my mind wanders into the back story stunningly and believably provided here.  However, I feel that this would be a hard sell in my library.  Fun for me partly because I have enough background information to summon old London up in all its creepy glory.  (The description of Graves End is worth the price of admission! )  For kids who don't already know and love S.H.  - it just wouldn't be the same experience.

My Summer Reading

Tomorrow I go back to work, so today is the last day of summer vacation.  (sob)

On the general principal that I don't want to ask students to do anything I wouldn't do myself, here is my summer reading log. 

2012 Summer Reading

Words in parentheses are tags.  Interest level (picture book, elementary, middle grades – i.e. 4^th-6^th, YA, adult) genre, comments, abandoned (books that I read more than half but didn’t finish), review means I reviewed the book either on this blog or submitted to Library Media Connection. ( LMC is an excellent magazine from Linworth Publishers.  They send me boxes of goodies several times during the year that I get to keep in exchange for sending them words.)

Tally

Adult fiction 1

Adult nonfiction 1

YA fiction 3 (I classified Captain Blood as YA.  Do you agree?

Middle grade fiction 6

Middle grade nonfiction 1

Elementary fiction 4

Picture book nonfiction 3

Captain Blood by Rafael Sabatini  (YA, old fashioned, historical fiction, fun)

The Trouble with Chickens by Doreen Cronin (elementary, fantasy, noir, detective, animals, funny)

Capture the Flag by Kate Messner (middle grades, realistic fiction, action, review)

Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z. by Kate Messner (middle grades, realistic, bullying, family, death, memory loss)

Inside out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai (middle grades, poetry, historical fiction, Vietnam)

The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory (adult, historical fiction, entertaining, long)

The Game of Silence by Louise Erdrich (middle grades, historical fiction, Native Americans, sequel)

Unlocking the Spell by E.D. Baker (middle grades, fractured fairy tale, happy ending, review)

Invisible Inkling by Emily Jenkins (elementary, invisible friend, bullying, school)

Flat Broke by Gary Paulsen (middle grades, realistic fiction, abandoned)

Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns by Hena Khan (picture book, color book, Muslim)

Ivy and Bean; What’s the big idea? by Annie Barrow (elementary, realistic fiction, science, family)

Jasper John Dooley: Star of the Week by Caroline Adderson (elementary, realistic fiction, family, new baby, review)

Lincoln Tells a Joke by Kathleen Krull (picture book, biography, Lincoln)

Octavia Boones Big Questions about Life the Universe and Everything by Rebecca Rupp (middle grades, realistic fiction, family, divorce, religion)

Okay for Now by gary D. Schmidt (middle grades, YA, realistic fiction, historical fiction, Vietnam, art, thought provoking)

Two and Twenty Dark Tales edited by Georgia McBride (YA, short stories, fractured fairy tale, dark, review)

Republic of Noise by Diana Senechal (adult, nonfiction, professional, thought provoking)

No Ordinary Apple by Sara Marlowe (picture book, nonfiction, mindful eating, review)

Just Write by Walter Dean Myers (middle grades, YA, adult, writing, how to, reflection)

Looking at what I read this summer, I will try to read more extended nonfiction - picture books almost don't even count! (I didn't list picture book fiction)  I also want to read a bit more contemporary adult fiction.  I just finished a free sample of Anthill by Edward O. Wilson and think I might order the book for my Nook.

No Ordinary Apple

Marlowe, Sara.  No Ordinary Apple: A story about eating mindfully. Wisdom Publications.  June 2013.

Yes - 2013!  Time is flying!

I was completely prepared to be annoyed at this book. It's subtitle sounded more than a little preachy!  But I was curious enough to request it from Netgalley, and was pleasantly surprised.  The story about Elliot and his caregiver, Carmen is a little contrived.  Elliot expressed his disappointment in the apple Carmen offers for a snack and tells her he was hoping for candy.  But the story is just an excuse for a lovely, detailed, sensory description of the experience of eating an apple.  The writing was much more fun than I expected.  Like Elliot, I could barely wait to go try some other foods, maybe even some I don't like, just to see what they smell, sound, and taste like.  I especially liked the concept of tasting in all the different parts of my mouth.