Summertime Reading for Teachers & Parents

Looking for a good vacation read?

Check out these titles from the NY Times best sellers list.

Hardcover Fiction:

1. TRIBUTE, by Nora Roberts

2. THE STORY OF EDGAR SAWTELLE, by David Wroblewski

3. RULES OF DECEPTION, by Christopher Reich

4. THE HOST, by Stephenie Meyer

5. THE LAST PATRIOT, by Brad Thor

Paperback Fiction: Great to take to the beach or on the airplane

1. STEP ON A CRACK, by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge

2. DOUBLE TAKE, by Catherine Coulter

3. LEAN MEAN THIRTEEN, by Janet Evanovich

4. THE NAVIGATOR, by Clive Cussler with Paul Kemprecos

5. THE WHEEL OF DARKNESS, by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

Paperback Non-Fiction:

1. THREE CUPS OF TEA, by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin

2. EAT, PRAY, LOVE, by Elizabeth Gilbert

3. The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch with Jeff Zaslow

4. WISDOM OF OUR FATHERS, by Tim Russert

5. THE AUDACITY OF HOPE, by Barack Obama

ENJOY!!

Check Out The New Spring Arrivals Joining Our Library Collection

Realistic Fiction:
Eggs by Jerry Spinelli
Sand Dollar Summer by Kimberly K. Jones
Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen
Undercover by Beth Kephart
Zen and the Art of Faking it by Jordan Sonnenblick
Leap Day by Wendy Mass
I Conquer Britain by Dyan Sheldon
The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl by Barry Lyga
Right Behind You by Gail Giles

Historical Fiction:
Run, Boy, Run by Uri Orlev
Song of the Sparrow by Lisa Ann Sandell
Singing Hands by Delia Ray
A Drowned Maiden’s Hair: A Melodrama by Laura Amy Schlitz
Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy by Gary D. Schmidt
Runner by Robert Newton

Multicultural:
Bearwalker by Joseph Bruchac
Quicksand Pony by Alison Lester
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
Standing Against the Wind by Traci L. Jones
When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr
Zia by Scott O’Dell
Camel Rider by Prue Mason

Science Fiction:
Dark Ground #3: The Nightmare Game by Gillian Cross
The Secret Under My Skin by Janet Mcnaughton
Epic by Conor Kostick

Fantasy:
Darkwing by Kenneth Oppel

Horror:
Eighth Grade Bites (Chronicles of Vladimir Tod, Book 1) by Heather Brewer

Humanities Project- Children's Book

Over the next few weeks, 8th grade Social Studies students will work with a partner to create a children's book that incorporates a topic from American History. This will be a combined English/History project and it is expected that students will include thematic aspects from each discipline in the creation of their story.

Requirements:

1. The book must have an original story that is written from an audience between the ages of nine and sixteen (4th-10th grade). The students need to select an age group and write for it. A book for a fifth grader will have language and visuals that are different from a book for a tenth grader.

2. The book should include illustrations to enhance the story. These may be drawn or cut out (magzines, clip art, etc.)

3. The book should have a cover that includes the story title, author's name(s) and an illustration.

4. The story should be creative and based on an original idea. It also needs to incoporate a theme or topic from American History. Possible suggestions include:

• American culture and holidays


• Immigration


• Civil Rights Movement


• Heroes from American History


• Key Eras (Progressive Era, Roaring Twenties, Great Depression, etc.)
  

5. The book must reflect Literary Elements as dicussed in English Class (i.e. plot structure, descriptive language, characterization/setting, proper dialogue format).

6. Students will receive a grade for their English class as well as your history class for this assignment.

Note: 1. The story should be 10-12 pages long. 2. Once a topic is selected, it will need to be approved. 3. Time will be set aside in both English and History classes to work on the assignment.

Also, it is a good idea to create a rough draft before you move on to a finished product.

Library Information Resources for this Project:

• VRC (Virtual Reference Collection) is available. (The Teaching Books link has examples of children's book creation by various authors.

In addition students can utilize various encyclopedias and magazines/newspapers for historical information.)

• Work Citation format sheets are available at the circulation desk if needed.


• Noodle Tool accounts can be utilized. See Ms. Hatcher for assistance.


• Various information on American History can be found in 900's section of the library book shelves.
  

Researchers Link Higher Test Scores with Certified Librarians in Schools

New York state schools with certified librarians have higher scores on average on the fourth-grade ELA test than those who don't, according to findings of researchers Ruth Small and others at Syracuse University. This preliminary report reaffirms what 19 other state studies have shown, that school libraries staffed by cerfified librarians and equipped with current books and technology can have a positive impact on student academic achievement, says Michael Borges, executive director of the New York Library Association.

Mr. Worthington- Music, Art and Literature of the Postclassical World

The music, art and literature of a group of people often portray important values of a culture. They act as teaching guides for the people of a community. For this project, students are to research a specific aspect of the postclassical era.

Areas of focus: (500CE-1450 CE)
- Rise and Spread of Islam - African Kingdoms( Ghana, Mali and Songhay) (966.2)
- Byzantine Empire (949.5) - Mesoamerican Civilizations (Inca, Mayan and Aztec)
- Middle Ages in Europe (909.07) - Tang and Song Dynasties in China (509.51)
- Impact of Islam on India - Rise of the mongols (921 Kha, 921 Gen, etc.)
- Japenese Feudalism (952)

Mrs. Van Zandt- Islamic Civilization Achievements

Document Based Question Assignment: What were the most important Islamic achievements? Why were the Muslims able to make such great contributions and how did these contributions impact their world?
Areas of Achievement are: Chemistry and Medicine, Art and Architecture, Philosophy and History, Astronomy and Geography, Literature, Mathematics.

*Print Resource Materials for these topics are on display in the Gelinas Information Center.
Some titles available are: - Science in Medieval Islam (Call #509 Tur)
- The Atlas of Islam (REF 911 Mor)
- The Muslim Almanac (REF 297 Mus)
-The Islamic World: Past and Present (REF 509 Esp)

Book Group Buzz: A Booklist Blog

Catch the buzz! Booklist has a one-stop book group resource. "Book Group Buzz" is a blog that keeps you up to date on all things book group. "A corps of bloggers posts about books that worked well (or books that bombed) and provides organizational tips and read-alike insights. The blog also points you to Web sites that offer book club ideas, reading guides, and other helpful resources."