What's Mr. Giso Making "Room to Read" Pick 11

Title:  Sometimes People March

Author/Illustrator:  Tessa Allen

Publication Information:  2020, Balzer & Bray

Received or Recommended By:  Amazon

Number of Pages:  28

Level/Target Audience:  PreK-adult

Genre:  Picture Book/ Narrative Nonfiction

Date Finished:  February 2, 2022

Part of a Series?:  No.

First Lines:  Sometimes ants march.  Sometimes bands march.  Sometimes people march.

Last Lines:  And together we find the courage to march.

Quotable Quotes: 

•People march for the freedom to love and live and learn.

•People are more powerful together.

Teaching Points:  This book is great tool to launch a study of historic movements and marches of both the past and the present.  The end pages include supplemental information to all the key figures and featured marches throughout the text and illustrations including the Woman's Suffrage Movement (1776-1920), the Greensboro Sit-Ins (1960), Loving v. Virginia (1967), the Black Lives Matter movement (2018-present), the Pride Parade (1970-present) and the People's Climate March (2017).

Author Tessa Allen dedicates this book to her family "who have always encouraged [her] me to be feisty and curious."  It introduces young readers to a familiar use of the word "march" as something both ant and bands do.  From there, it expands the idea to marches that occur in order to resist injustice, create change, gain freedom, and protect the earth.  The carefully placed illustrations help show that people can show resistance in many ways besides marching.  These ways include using voice, typed words, songs, or art.  In addition to marching, this picture book cleverly shows how people resit by having meetings, standing up, sitting down, or even taking a knee.  This book carries the theme that even though the road may not be easy, problems may become too complex, and one may grow pretty tired and feel defeated people, when together, can make a difference.  This is book leaves the reader hopeful, inspired and empowered.  It celebrates the heroes who have stood proud for us and have fought for us to receive the many rights we have today.

What's Mr. Giso Making "Room to Read" Pick 10

Title:  Harbor Me

Author:  Jacquelin Woodson

Publication Information:  2018, Puffin Books

Received or Recommended By:  4th and 5th grade ELA teachers at my school

Number of Pages:  176

Level/Target Audience:  Grades 5-8

Genre:  Realistic Fiction

Date Finished:  January 30, 2022

Part of a Series?:  No.

First Lines:  We think they took my papi.  It's over now.  Or maybe it isn't.  Maybe, even as I sit on my bed in the dying light of the late afternoon, it's beginning again.  Maybe Ms. Laverne is looking over the new class list, her finger moving down the row of names.

Last Lines:  Me too, I say.  And when I rest my head against his arm, when the music circles around us, when my uncle stopped packing and joins in with his guitar and we pool up the song as if we'd always been singing it, what I know for sure now is that this is the end of one of many stories.  And also a beginning.

Quotable Quotes: 

•But what's unfamiliar shouldn't be scary.  And it shouldn't be avoided either.

•None of us really knew about forevers yet.  We were still just learning how things could change in a minute--how you could be in the middle of putting plates on the table when the phone rings with bad news.

•I want you to know that we are all flawed, he said.  We all have those days when we don't want to show up.  Days we just want to forget the world.  Doesn't make us bad people.  Just makes us people.  And time moves as it moves.  In a month, this moment won't be anything.

•Tragedy is strange.  It takes away.  And it gives too.

Teaching Points:  Immigration, social justice/injustice, author's craft and structure (use of dialogue), poetry, diverse family structure, character development, social emotional learning, bullying, death and dying

This is the story of Hayley, Holly, Esteban, Tiago, Amari and Ashton--classmates in what appears to be a sub-separate middle school classroom.  It's set in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn.  Their endearing teacher, Ms. Laverne, gives them the last hour of Friday to sit in a circle, alone, and "talk."  Things start off with an awkward silence among the six classmates who couldn't appear to be more different.  Over time, however, they grow into a tight circle of friends who realize that they all share experiencing loss, wanting to belong, seeking to be free, and more importantly, looking to be "harbored" when in need.  The group shares their darkest secrets in their ARTT Room (A Room to Talk). This book is a mirror book to young adolescents dealing with incarceration, death of a parent, diverse learning styles, racial identity, socioeconomic imbalances and deportation.  This book serves as a powerful window to those that may not directly relate to the characters in this book.  Reading this invokes a feeling of empathy during a time when we need it most.  When asked why she wrote this book, Woodson notes "I have so many questions.  Sometimes, writing is the only way I can answer them."

Mr. Giso's Ways to Learn at Home #10

"The Oldest Student ~ How Mary Walker Learned to Read" 

Read Aloud, "I Am" Biography Activity, and 

What Would You Love to Learn Journal

Hello, readers!

I'm so excited about this tenth "Ways to Learn at Home" because it's the TRUE story of a hero born enslaved, named Mary Walker.  At 15 she, along with her family were freed.  At 20, she married and had her first of three children.  At 68, she continued to work in order to raise money for her church.  At 114, she was the only one left living out of her whole, entire family.  Lastly, are you ready for this one?  At 116, she LEARNED TO READ!  

Please enjoy Mary's story written by Rita Lorraine Hubbard and illustrated by Oge Mora by clicking HERE.  Get ready to learn the lesson that you are NEVER too old to learn.

Complete This "I Am" Biography Activity

As you know, this book is a biography--a true story of someone's life.  Find a biography or use the biography I just read to you.  As you read your biography, or re-watch the video, fill out the spots in this template.  You can print it out by clicking HERE or just copy over the boxes and titles on a piece of paper you have at home.  Have fun learning about the life of someone.  When we study biographies, remember to ask yourself, "What lesson can I learn from studying this person's life."  

Write in a Daily Journal after Reading

Mr. Giso's Journal Idea #10

After reading and listening to the book by Rita Lorraine Hubbard, journal about what you would like to learn how to do.  Mary Walker said "You're never too old to learn," so this may be something that will take you a very, very, long time to learn. That's OK.  After all, Mary was 116 when she learned to read her Bible.  Mr. Giso always says,  reading does not come easy for everyone at the same time.  This is something that's true with so many tricky things.

Print out my "Journal Pages" by clicking HERE if you'd like to have some paper.  Thank you, Ms. Cipoletti!

Mr. Giso's Ways to Learn at Home #9

"Good Dogs, Great Listeners" 

Read Aloud, Genre Bingo, and What Made You Love Reading Journal

Hello, readers!

This "Ways to Learn at Home" celebrates how we are a community of readers.  Miss Cipoletti is back with a read aloud of the book by Renata Bowers called Good Dogs, Great Listeners.  This book is about a main character named Charlotte.  Charlotte isn't really being a good listener--ever!  She floods the house, gets in to her mom's makeup and has a romping good time that ends up with a leg injury!  What she doesn't do, however, is read.  Charlotte has not yet found her "groove" in her reading community.  Find out about her mischief and reading life by clicking HERE.

Play 3 Levels of Genre Bingo! 

With Your Family

After listening to this book, you learn how Charlotte turned her injury into a positive by reading to her "pets."  One of the things I have taught you about being a good reader is that readers keep track of their reading lives and set goals for reading.  After reading this book, you can start to play my version of Genre Bingo.  To play, just print out the Bingo Boards or list the categories on some scrap paper--you don't need to have a printer, you can just make your own Bingo Boards like the ones I made by clicking HERE.  Remember that a book's genre is the kind of book it is.  There are two categories of genre--fiction and nonfiction.

Write in a Daily Journal after Reading

Mr. Giso's Journal Idea #9

After reading and listening to the book by Renata Bowers, Miss Cipoletti gave you a topic to write about.  In your journal, write about what made you love reading and how you got interested in books.  If you don't consider reading to be one of your favorite things to do...yet... that is OK too.  Write about that too.  Reading is does not come easy for everyone at the same time.

Print out my "Journal Pages" by clicking HERE if you'd like to have some paper.  Thank you, Ms. Cipoletti!

Mr. Giso's Ways to Learn at Home #8

"Math Curse" 

Read Aloud, Draw It, Place It & Read It! Game, and Numbers All Around Us Journal

Hello, hello mathematicians!

This "Ways to Learn at Home" is about mathematics.  To get us thinking about how mathematics is all around us ALL the time, I have picked an animated version of the fun book Math Curse written by Jon Scieszka (below) and illustrated by Lane Smith.  This adventure begins with Ms. Fibonacci announcing in class that "You can think of almost anything as a math problem."  Click HERE

to listen and watch the story.  As you listen, be thinking about your home and the world around you.  Where do you see mathematics?  Think numbers, shapes, patterns, measurements and fractions, OH MY!

                                                

                                        

Play Draw It, Place It & Read It! 

With Your Family

After listening to Math Curse, I bet you are ready to play around with some numbers.  I have a really fun game.  To get ready to play this game you need about 3 sets of cards with the digits 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 written on them (only one digit on a card).  Mix the cards up and place them in a bag, bowl or even a pillow case.  Before you cut the cards, they could look something line this.

Once you have the cards, you can either make a chart for each player to record your numbers like the chart below, or print out a chart for each player by clicking HERE.

To play the game:

1.  Choose one person to be the caller.  For each round, the caller draws 3 numbers for a digit in the    

         hundreds, or four cards for a digit in the thousands etc.  Decide this ahead of time.  Place an "x" 

         in the spots you will NOT be using.

2.  After each draw, players record the digit that was drawn in any column on the first row of the place value chart below.  Once a digit is recorded, it can’t be changed. Use a marker.  Strategize!

3.  After all the places are filled, the person who makes and reads the highest number earns a point.  Move to the next row on the place value chart for the next round.

4.  Keep playing until the paper is filled.  The person with the most number of points wins.  As a challenge, play again.  This time award points for making the smallest number.

In the comments section of this post, let me know who is the winner.  Of course, learning a strategy for making the largest or smallest number is the point.  Having fun is a lot more important than winning.

Write in a Daily Journal after Reading

Mr. Giso's Journal Idea #8

After reading and listening to "Math Curse," search around your home pretending that you have "caught the curse!"  Where do you see mathematics?  Describe what you see and how you know it's connected to mathematics.  What do you realize has a little bit of math in it, after listening to the book?  I can't wait to hear your thoughts.  You can also write me to explain the strategy you discovered in the game.  Be specific and use an example.

Print out my "Journal Pages" by clicking HERE if you'd like to have some paper.  There's a spot for an illustration, too.

Mr. Giso's Ways to Learn At Home #7

"Miss Rumphius" 

Read Aloud, Write a Post Card and Journal about Leaving Your Mark/ Making the World a More Beautiful Place

Hi, my friends!  

Our fantastic Community Volunteer is featured today.  We are so excited to hear Mrs. Karam read aloud a book for us that shines with unique illustrations and beautiful messages.  It's one of my favorites.  Special thank you to Mrs. Karam for taking the time to put this read aloud together.  Be sure to notice the framed print on the wall to the right of Mrs. Karam; it connects to the story so nicely.  The main character in this story is Miss Rumphius.  The book is both written and illustrated by Barbara Cooney.

Miss Rumphius travels far and wide in search of a way to leave her legacy to the world.  She does find a way to make the world a more beautiful place thanks to a certain type of flower.  Mrs. Karam wants to share her connection to the story, as she too, enjoys working in her garden just like the main character you are about to meet.

Enjoy listening to the travels of Miss Rumphius.  Tell someone in your family what you think the theme of the story is.  What lesson does the author want you to take away?  Here is Mrs. Karam in one of her many travels just like Miss Rumphius.  She is hiking the Pacific Coast Trail in the state of California.  Click HERE to listen to Mrs. Karam read our story.

Pack Your Bags and Write a Postcard!

After listening to this story we know two things.  Miss Rumphius traveled near and far and took the time to appreciate what was around her.  The setting of this story appears to change on every page.  I'd like you to pretend that you are traveling.  Pick a place.  It can be to a place you have traveled to OR a place you would like to visit.  It can be near like the park or a place far away like Antarctica!

Write a postcard to someone about what you see.  What sights do you take in?  What do you hear?  What do you smell?  You can even design your own stamp in the upper right hand corner that resembles your place too.  On the back draw the scenery you see.  You don't need a printer at home to do this; just draw a postcard like the picture below.  If you want to, though, print out my postcard by clicking HERE.  

Write in a Daily Journal after Reading

Mr. Giso's Journal Idea #7 

After reading and listening to "Miss Rumphius," write about what you think you can do to make the world a better place.  You may be young, but there are so many simple things you can do around your house these days to make someone smile.  Imagine that you are now 20 or more years older.  What do you see yourself doing to leave your mark like Miss Rumphius? We can't wait to hear what you have to say.  Your thoughts are important.  They matter.  Thank you again, Mrs. Karam!

Print out my "Journal Pages" by clicking HERE if you'd like to have some paper.  There's a spot for an illustration, too.  Thank you, Mrs. Karam!