Ellin Keene is coming to Chicago in April!!!!!! Her workshop is entitled:
Tapping the Power of Thinking to Teach Reading Comprehension. Here's the
info! I'm signing up right now! I'd love to meet face to face with any of
you who will be there!!! Let me know!
http://www.heinemann.com/shared/products/030424EKIL.asp
Ginger
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From: "Donna Baker" <baker@sprint.ca>
Subject: Re: [mosaic] Because of Winn Dixie
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2003 05:55:06 -0500
I am thinking of ordering sets of this book because it is featured in
Scholastic. I have heard it mentioned many times, but I have not read it
yet. Could anyone give me a synopsis and tell me if it would be suitable
to fifth grade.
Please reply to me personally because I seem to be missing many of the
posts.
Thanks,
Donna
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Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2003 06:20:06 -0600
Subject: Re: [mosaic] Because of Winn Dixie
From: Datsauer <datsauer@chartermi.net>
This is a wonderful book in which a girl (about 11 I think) has to cope with
a distracted father, an absent mother, few friends, and many worries. She
adopts a dog found running in the supermarket (Winn-Dixie is the name of the
store and she gives the same name to the dog), and as a result of owning the
dog solves problems, makes friends, and has some surprises in her life. The
girl is plucky, creative, loving, and the book is so well-written my fifth
graders regarded her as very real. It was my first read aloud, and was a
great choice. Go for it! Debbie in Duluth
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Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2003 06:34:15 -0800
From: Lori Jackson <ljackson@gwtc.net>
Subject: Re: [mosaic] Because of Winn Dixie
This book is incredible. It is the story of a little girl recently moved to
a
'backwater' Florida town with her minister father. She is struggling to
remember her mother and understand why she left the family. She is
lonely and confused and her father, in his grief, has pulled inside himself.
And then comes Winn Dixie, a dog destined to change every life he
touches for the better. Her love for this dog leads her to friendship and
acceptance with a strange collage of interesting characters. I read this
book to my first grade class in the fall, somewhat fearful it would be too
difficult and counseled by some that the social issues would be too tough
for my little ones. My little ones are children of extreme poverty,
addiction
and many have had a parent leave them (through death, abandonment and
social service separation). I decided this book was no harder than their
lives and because I had this large group of dog lovers, we read it. My
children now compare EVERYTHING we read to Winn Dixiie. Everyone
cried as we read the second to last chapter but one boy cried particularily
hard during the last chapter, one of reconsiliation and hope. We asked him
why and his tearful reply was that he was crying because the book was over.
Two children asked for and received copies for Christmas. Are they ready
to read it? One is in and someday the other will be. It was spoken of so
highly that two parents borrowed. My children wrote long letters to
friends in other classrooms and my copies have been on loan every since.
This book is suitable for fifth grade readers, what book club conversation
it would generate! Buy this book Donna.
Lori Jackson
PS We read Love That Dog after this and I was amazed to see that once
my kids had a taste of the good stuff, they could listen and were eager to
listen to and discuss that book as well. Had to track down full text of
all referenced books.
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From: palapins@mail.volusia.k12.fl.us
Subject: RE: [mosaic] Because of Winn Dixie
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2003 07:33:42 -0500
It would be easy reading for fifth graders but it is a great book for
character analysis. Patti
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From: MEHitzel@aol.com
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2003 07:57:53 EST
Subject: Re: [mosaic] Because of Winn Dixie
My kids, too, all love this book. I have just recently read The Tiger Rising
by the same author and really liked it. I'm planning on using it during my
questioning strategy study this quarter as it has a lot of potential for all
kinds of questioning.
Martha/AZ/4/5
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From: "Chris Preston" <Christine.Preston@verizon.net>
Subject: Re: [mosaic] Because of Winn Dixie
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2003 05:18:19 -0800
This is a great book. I have used it as a read aloud for a 4-5 but not with
book clubs.
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From: JLabar1026@aol.com
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2003 16:59:41 EST
Subject: Re: [mosaic] Because of Winn Dixie
In a message dated 1/10/03 7:40:04 AM Eastern Standard Time,
ljackson@gwtc.net writes:
> She is
> lonely and confused and her father, in his grief, has pulled inside
> himself.
> And then comes Winn Dixie, a dog destined to change every life he
> touches for the better.
Winn Dixie is on my all time favorite list.
Please consider the following list for ages 10-11. The intent is for these
children to read to their moms who are incarcerated. The readings will be
completed on tape. In turn, moms will read a chapter to their children- also
on Tape. Sort of like a good version of OZ.
Please add to this list.
GRADE SIX
Crash Jerry Spinelli
Shiloh Phyllis R. Naylor
Bridge to Terabithia Katherine Paterson
Where the Red Fern Grows Wilson Rawls
The Secret Garden Frances Burnett
Swiss Family Robinson Johann David Wyss
The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe C.S. Lewis
Belle Prater's Boy Ruth White
Stone Fox John Reynolds Gardiner
Call it Courage Armstrong Sperry
Bud, not Buddy Christopher Paul Curtis
My Life in Dog Years Gary Paulsen
Hatchet Gary Paulsen
Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries Franklin W. Dixon/Carolyn Keene
The Whipping Boy Sid Fleischman
Holes Louis Sachar
There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom Louis Sachar
Maniac Magee Jerry Spinelli
The Phantom Tollbooth Norman Juster
The Watsons go to Birmingham Christopher Paul Curtis
Cay Theodore Taylor
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Roald Dahl
Danny The Champion of the World Roald Dahl
Matilda Roald Dahl
The BFG Roald Dahl
Island of the Blue Dolphins Scott O'Dell
Westing Game Ellen Raskin
Tuck Everlasting Natalie Babbitt
Because of Winn-Dixie Kate DiCamillo
Landmark Biographical Series
Please add to this list. We are currently ordfering books for moms and
children.
BG
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Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2003 16:37:23 -0800
From: Lori Jackson <ljackson@gwtc.net>
Subject: Re: [mosaic] Because of Winn Dixie
Love That Dog Creech
I Was A Rat Phiip Pullman
The Winter Room Paulson
Just a thought, but it is possible that the literacy levels of some
incarcerated parents
won't match this list. You might consider some meaningful picture books
as well.
Lori Jackson
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From: JLabar1026@aol.com
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2003 20:50:57 EST
Subject: Re: [mosaic] Because of Winn Dixie
In a message dated 1/10/03 5:41:08 PM Eastern Standard Time,
ljackson@gwtc.net writes:
> it is possible that the literacy levels of some
> incarcerated parents
> won't match this list. You might consider some meaningful picture books
> as well.
>
>
True- I will be searching for meaningful picture books as well. I do have a
list of the 100 Favorites- teachers & children.
BG- thanks for the suggestions.
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From: JLabar1026@aol.com
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2003 20:55:16 EST
Subject: Re: [mosaic] Because of Winn Dixie
In a message dated 1/10/03 8:02:22 AM Eastern Standard Time,
MEHitzel@aol.com
writes:
> I have just recently read The Tiger Rising by the same author and really
> liked it.
My son just read this one, too. Positive review from an 11 year old.
BG
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From: "Donna Baker" <baker@sprint.ca>
Subject: Re: [mosaic] Because of Winn Dixie
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 06:36:01 -0500
Reply-To: mosaic@u46teachers.org
Thanks to everyone for their feedback. I will definately purchase the
book!
Donna
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From: MAMASWIRLZ@aol.com
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 08:57:44 EST
Subject: [mosaic] Incarcerated Parents
A group of students from my school attended an award ceremony for books
that=
=20
promote peace and social justice. One of the winning books was "Amber Was=20
Brave, Essie Was Smart" by Vera B. Williams (A Chair For My Mother and=20
others). It is about 2 sisters whose father is in prison. Vera Williams=20
visited our school this week and she was wonderful.
Click Here:
http://www.bookwire.com/bookwire/MeettheAuthor/Interview_Vera_Williams.htm
There is another book, Visiting Day (I have to get the author) about a
child=
=20
visiting her father in prison. These books may be useful with your
students=
.
Naomi
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Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 19:38:03 -0500
From: Carroll Hockman <johcar79@comcast.net>
Subject: Re: [mosaic] Ellin Keene coming to Chicago
I went to this same workshop last April when she was in Baltimore. It was a
day well spent. She
speaks just like she comes across in MOT.
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