Book Round-Up for June 27: Exploring Superheroes

I've always been intrigued by literary criticism and analysis of popular culture, and lately, I've been indulging this interest by reading books that examine the meaning and reach of superheroes. In many ways, these books act both as literary analysis and social commentary. While literature, and the arts and humanities, have always shaped and reflected culture, this seems to be especially true when it comes to thinking about comics. Superman, Batman, and others not only cater to the needs and interests of their readers, they also leave indelible marks on popular culture and society's mindset.

The following books would be great to offer as options for independent reading or as a way of engaging reluctant readers (even though they are a bit on the long side). Additionally, they can provide a fun way of introducing students to literary criticism and analysis while using texts and subjects students are familiar with.

Book Round-Up for June 6, 2016

After dedicating the first book round-up post on nonfiction picture books, I thought that this second post would be a great time to write about nonfiction YAL. I have long enjoyed nonfiction (in fact, I often prefer nonfiction to fiction), and I especially love the nonfiction YAL that is available. Besides being engagingly written, these books offer some great opportunities for interdisciplinary connections and readings in various subject areas.

A few notes regarding these book round-ups, if you have any suggestions for books I should feature, please let me know! Also, I plan on posting these semi-regularly. I initially planned on doing them on a weekly basis, but given other responsibilities, I've decided to do them a minimum of once a month.

picture from Sarah Miller's website

Book Round-Up for May 30, 2016

Over the past few months, I've been fortunate to receive a number of books from Macmillan and other sources, and I've been trying to think of a way to share my thoughts on these books and help others learn about them. To do this, I'm experimenting with an ongoing series of posts for this blog in the form of a semi-regular book round-up. These will consist of quick takes and some brief reviews on books that I find interesting and/or notable. Many of these books will be new, some will be new-to-me, and others will be some of my old favorites.

September's Professional Development Opportunities

In August, #nctechat's topic was professional learning networks (PLNs), which is near and dear to my heart. Near the end of the chat, the participants were asked to share their goals regarding PLNs in the next school year. One of my goals is to keep active in my PLN, which is easier said than done. Based on the first week of classes, this looks to be a busy semester! Luckily, there are some great professional development opportunities this month to help keep me engaged with my network and to provide support, ideas, and enthusiasm, even as things get busy.

So Much to Read, So Little Time - October 2014

Since my school is having its fall break this week, I've been playing catch-up with all of the work that has been backlogged during the first half of the semester. Besides straitening my office, planning lessons, and grading papers, I've also been trying to do some more reading. I'm teaching a content-area reading course for the first time, and while it has required a lot of preparation and work, I've really enjoyed it. A new course is a great way to keep teaching fresh, since it forces me to start from scratch with the class objectives, assignments, readings, and activities. This particular course presents an additional challenge because I wanted to dedicate several weeks to supplementing content-area textbooks with articles and trade books. Consequently, I've been trying to do some extra reading in order to be able to share books with my students. Here's a partial list of books I've read this fall for my content area reading course:

Angel Island: Gateway to Gold Mountain - Intended for middle school students, this book examines the legacy of Angel Island, which some called the "Ellis Island of the West." However, despite this nickname, the immigrants who passed through Angel Island were often treated very differently than those who came through Ellis Island. This would be a great resource to use with middle school students who are studying immigration.

The End of the Line - This is an elementary/middle grade fictional story set in Amsterdam during World War II, and it follows two elderly brothers as they try to protect and care for a young Jewish girl whose mother is taken away by the Nazis. While the premise sounds intense, the book manages to provide accurate information about life during the Holocaust without being too graphic. However, I'm not certain that this is a book I'd use in an elementary or middle school class (the publisher page notes that it is intended for ages 8 - 11). Some elementary students might not be ready for such a heavy topic while middle school students might find the book too simple. That said, The End of the Line might work well as an alternative text in a middle school social studies class because it offers a perspective not always included in textbooks (the experiences of civilians during war) and because it could be a good text for struggling readers.

Kid Presidents: True Tales of Childhood from America's Presidents - I received this book through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program, and while it seems a little young for middle school, it has some interesting and fun trivia. For middle schoolers, I'd probably use the trivia at the beginning of the unit (or throughout it) to engage the students with the different presidents. Additionally, the book could be a good model for a final project where students would find trivia on the different presidents and compile it in a children's book for elementary students.

In the Shadow of No Towers - Unlike the previous books, this book is definitely more suited for high school students. Written and illustrated by Art Spiegleman, In the Shadow of No Towers examines the events and aftermath of September 11 from a New Yorker's point of view. The book has some adult themes and language, so it might not work for all high schools, but it is work reading and examining because of the way it captures the experience of being in New York during those dark and troubling times.

Do the Math: Secrets, Lies, and Algebra - One distinct challenge about reading in the content areas is finding fictional books that would appeal to teens while also fitting in a particular subject. Do the Math manages to have a (relatively) strong connection with math while also being an engaging and accessible read. In it, Tess, an eighth grader who loves math and thinks about people and situations in terms of math problems, must deal with the social drama that comes with middle school while also confronting some moral dilemmas.

Math Doesn't Suck: How to Survive Middle School Math without Losing Your Mind or Breaking a Nail - Danica McKellar (aka Winnie Cooper on The Wonder Years) wrote this nonfiction book to show girls that math can be approachable and fun. I applaud the effort, and McKellar does a nice job explaining and walking the reader through different mathematical concepts in a way that is understandable, even for people who aren't that skilled in the subject. However, I'm torn about the way the information is presented, since it could be a little too girly or cutesy for some. That said, I could see it being effective for a specific group of students.

What have you been reading this fall? Do you have any suggestions for books that might work in a middle or high school content classroom? Please leave your comments and thoughts below!