What Are You Reading? (May Edition)

A little glimpse into my messy world - fueled by coffee.

Here is what we're reading right now:

Jaimie is reading:

• A Guide to the Common Core Writing Workshop: Intermediate Grades and A Guide to the Common Core Writing Workshop: Primary Grades both by Lucy Calkins (Heinemann, 2013)

Heather is reading:

• Making Content Comprehensible for English Learners: The SIOP Model by Jana Echevarria , MaryEllen Vogt, Deborah J. Short. This book goes back to the basics of solid teaching strategies not only for ELL students, but for all students.  I flagged parts in this book that talked about content objectives, text-dependent questions accommodations, and teaching examples with rubrics to tie into Danielson’s framework.
• “Put Reading First- Kindergarten through Grade 3” http://lincs.ed.gov/publications/pdf/PRFbooklet.pdf This document provides a review of reading instruction in primary grades.
• Wonder by RJ Palacio. This young adult book shares the story of August Pullman is a kid who has a facial deformity since birth and who has been home-schooled up until fifth grade.  He is now about to enter the world of school and a whole new journey in his life.
• Divergent by Veronica Roth. Beatrice lives in a society split up into five factions.  At the age of 16, all teens in this society get to decide what faction they want to join.  Beatrice makes a decision that changes her life and unfolds into this popular novel.

a note from Barb:
I'm leaving on a jet plane very, very soon to attend the International Reading Association convention. I'm looking forward to getting some reading done while I'm there and, inevitably, picking up a few more professional books for my collection. I'm reading If I Ever Get Out of Here by Eric Gansworth for sure. I'm also excited to get into Professional Capital: Transforming Teaching in Every School by Andy Hargreaves and Michael Fullan.

Andrea is reading:

• Buidling Academic Language: Essential Practices for Content Classrooms, Grades 5 - 12 by Jeff Zwiers
• Ashfall by Mike Mullin
• Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Carrie is reading:

• Mechanically Inclined by Jeff Anderson. Great mini-lessons, resources, and teaching tips for making grammar fun and functional! Jeff Anderson is also an inspiring and engaging speaker. . . go see him if you ever get the chance!

a note from Julie:

I am currently reading through Lucy Calkin's new Units of Study in Opinion, Information, and Narrative Writing K - 5. Each grade's series contains:

• A Guide to the Common Core Writing Workshop
• Four Common Core aligned units of study
• A book of alternate and additional units
• A book for assessing writing
• A CD-ROM of Resources for Teaching Writing

The intent of this series is to support students' abilities to be strategic writers who use particular processes to achieve their purpose as writers.