Help me give my students a quirky, high interest nonfiction book that we can read and study together as we work on nonfiction reading skills and strategies.
A welcome mat, house plants, curtains, reading pillows--I have worked hard and searched many yard sales to create a warm and welcoming environment in my "Reading Room" for the struggling readers and writers that walk through my door every day. I know their names, their interests, and their daily battle with literacy. I believe in them and know they can succeed armed with a positive attitude, a little patience, and the right tools.
I am the Reading and Writing Specialist at a large middle school in the fourth most populous community in the state of New Hampshire.
My students come from all walks of life, with varying abilities, disabilities, cultures, income, and interests. This year, they have taught me words in Swahili, Arabic, Spanish, and German. In return, I would like to help them break the code of the English language, equip them with tools for success, and instill in them a love of literacy and learning.
My Project
It is not a day in middle school unless some strange bodily function comes up, whether literally (oh the flatulence!) or conversationally (did you really just say duty?). Middle school is an odd time in our lives, full of odd memories, odd curiosities, and odd interests. Middle school is also a critical time for learning. Rigor increases as students hit middle school and start to prepare for the challenges of high school and beyond. Now is the time to engage them and give them the skills they will need to succeed as their independence as learners increases.
Finding texts that engage the middle school mind, especially for low readers, can be a challenge.
I would like to purchase a classroom set of this book (They Lost Their Heads! What Happened to Washington's Teeth, Einstein's Brain, and Other Famous Body Parts) for my small group Reading Strategies classes. The book, while quirky and absolutely appealing to the odd interests of a middle school student, also brings up many scientific and historical topics that we can research further as we explore the book together. Little do they know that they will be learning nonfiction reading skills and strategies all along the way that will further help them in their content area classes!
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