Azzi in Between is a phenomenal graphic novel that explains the plight of refugees in a way that all children can understand. “There was a country at war, and that is where this story begins…” There is no mention of the country at war. There doesn’t need to be. Unfortunately, war is a fact of life in the world. This is a realistic story about a family who escapes a war-torn country and finds a host country. The main character, a little girl named Azzi, explains the hardships of her family’s escape and life in a new country. The pictures are rich with detail, adding the anxieties and hopes that all refugees have in common. Amnesty International endorsed this book. I created a “Guided Reading” packet to use with students in grades 3-6.

Maya Angelou was a celebrated poet and author. She wrote a poem for President Bill Clinton when he was inaugurated, and a tribute for Nelson Mandella, the first black president of South Africa, when he died. She also wrote poems for children. Her voice and delivery of her “messages” were powerful and clear. She died in 2014, but her poetry and life messages will live on all over the world! This mini-unit includes three poems for elementary students to read/hear and respond to. In addition, students will use Maya Angelou as a poet “mentor” to write their own poems.

This is a true story how William Kamkwamba brought light and water to his village in Malawi by building a windmill. People thought William’s dreams were crazy, but William did not give up and at fourteen years old, brought light to a dark village. Later, another windmill he built brought food to a ravaged land where drought nearly starved its people. The teacher will read this book to the students and pause while students answer questions in this packet. This packet includes vocabulary development, parts of speech, visual images, recall questions, making inferences, and critical thinking. There is a TedTalk included where students can hear William as an adult. There is a writing assignment at the end.

The beginning of this PowerPoint introduces various maps of Mexico to young children so they can tell the "stories" of each map. "Mexico has land that juts out into the water." "Mexico has many mountain ranges." "Mexico is south of the US and north of Central America." The rest of the PowerPoint focuses on various landforms and pictures of rural and urban places in Mexico. The main question on each slide is "What do you see in this picture?" From this PowerPoint, students derive some knowledge about Mexico before they delve into aspects of Mexico's culture in greater detail.

Why Poetry All Year? Children LOVE writing poetry! It is less taxing for their hands and more demanding on their creativity and brains. Writing poetry is “critical thinking” at its best! Children don’t often think of poetry books as an option for independent reading time. This unit changes their thinking. I have a huge bin of poetry books, and as we study different units throughout the year, I read poems to complement each unit. I will give you, the teachers, the EXAMPLES as to how I teach poetry all year long. You can change it up, depending on what curriculum you are teaching, no matter what the grade level. I believe that poetry should be integrated into your yearly curriculum. Students love to apply their knowledge in creative ways! Writing poetry is one of the best “formative assessments” I know of in order to determine what students know and remember. Writing poetry helps students recall information, retell information more creatively, and use the poetic strategies I teach them to apply what they know. Reading their own poems to the class, or for a “Final Exhibition” helps students learn to read clearly and dramatically, with expression. Reading poetry helps students listen and speak to the public. (Speaking and listening is a part of the Common Core Standards). There is no greater way to promote literacy to a diverse group of students than to teach children how to read and write poetry. Poetry writing allows students to express themselves in ways they did not think possible. For ELL students, poetry writing helps them learn new vocabulary, repeat the vocabulary using “comeback or repeated lines,” and write succinctly with success. Poetry reading and writing is a gift that teachers can give to all of their students, not just in April during Poetry Month, but all year long! Note : At the back of the packet are some templates that you can use with your students to write various kinds of poems about various subjects.

Why do people call Nairobi a "city of contrasts?" What makes Nairobi unique from other cities? What do the places in or near Nairobi look like? What is a Tea Estate? The photographs and maps in this PowerPoint will help students visually answer these questions. At the end of this PowerPoint is an opportunity for students to research the places in or near Nairobi, (within a 50 mile radius).

This is a wonderful biography about Charles Darwin’s journey to South America and the Galapagos Islands. In an age-appropriate language that children in grades 2,3,4 and 5 will understand, students will learn the places where Charles Darwin observed so many interesting organisms. Students will learn the questions Charles Darwin had. They will learn about Charles Darwin’s discoveries that led him to become a famous scientist!!!! This packet includes map skills of the beautiful maps included in this book, guided reading comprehension strategies, and research of chosen organisms Charles Darwin saw and studied. (I provided internet sites that are age-appropriate for students to use when researching). For Post-Reading Activities, students are provided with a Bio-Poem template about C.D. or an Acrostic Poem or more research.

Castle Crenshaw is a boy who lives on the poor side of town. His father was an alcoholic. When his mom finally grabbed Castle to run away from the dad, the dad tried to shoot at both of them. Castle had rage inside of him. He was always in trouble at school, unable to control his rage when others made disparaging remarks about him, his life, or his mom. When Castle joins a track team, his life, (inside and out), starts to change… This student packet contains reading comprehension strategies, reflections, and critical thinking. Students are expected to back up their answers with evidence from the story.

What are the sources of light? What makes a shadow? How can shadows change? What kinds of hand shadows can you make, large and small? This bundle of plans helps students find the answers to these questions through inquiry and discovery. There are indoor and outdoor activities included in this unit as well as suggested read alouds or small group heterogeneous readings.

I am thrilled that Nelson Mandela’s Long Walk to Freedom was rewritten as a student’s version! Students will begin their study of Nelson Mandela by filling out a KWL chart. Before they start reading, they will observe three photographs, one of Robbin’s Island, one of Mandela and DeClerk shaking hands to free the South African black people, and one of the larger than life statue of Nelson Mandela. Students will observe each photograph and fill out “image analysis” worksheets. (Students can be split up to analyze only one picture as well). Then students will read the book, or the book can be read to them. After that, students will fill out a graphic organizer, describing Nelson’s life as depicted in this novel. Finally, students will write a Biopoem about Nelson Mandela, a powerful tool to synthesize their knowledge about this great man!

This PowerPoint focuses on good reading strategies, starting with visuals, the "primary sources" that help students learn. This PowerPoint contains aerial views and pictures taken within the Forbidden City. Rather than give information about the Forbidden City, students look at the pictures and tell what they "notice," and start to make "inferences" about groups of pictures. Students also have a chance throughout the PowerPoint to ask questions about the Forbidden City. Students will use their questions to do internet research, (the "leveled" sites are given), and there are choices of activities that students can choose to show what they learn.

Students will find out where Tibet is prior to the reading. They will tell the “story” of Tibet by looking at a variety of maps. Students will view a video to give students information about Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world. Students will record three facts about Mount Everest from the video. Next students will do a “Guided Reading” around the book Namaste in order to find out the cultural experiences/traditions of Tibetan people. There are many activities that students can choose to synthesize/enrich their knowledge of cultural aspects of Tibetan life.

This is a sixth grade Hero unit. This packet was adapted for a small group of students who would be reading The Adventures of Odysseus by Hugh Lipton, in order to understand the six elements of a “Hero” genre. The six elements are: a call to adventure, a mentor, an obstacle(s), fulfilling the quest, the return of the hero, and the transformation of the hero. In The Adventures of Odysseus, the hero remains the same, but the obstacles are countless! After each chapter, students will write a summary of the chapter and fill out a chart to note what the six elements are, and see what elements have changed/not changed. There is a lot of scaffolding to provide students with who the characters are, as they are referred to in the “Prologue” and “Chapter One.” There is background information about the Trojan War, which leads into The Adventures of Odysseus. There is also a lot of background provided about one “mentor,” Athena, whose name appears in The Adventures of Odysseus. Students will get a sense of Athena as they work on “Visual Thinking Strategies” as they look at various Greek art work depicting Athena, (coin, relief, vase, statue). For the Final Exhibition, students will make a poster, depicting the six elements of the “hero” in The Adventures of Odysseus. There are clear directions for this poster and a rubric included.

This guided reading packet focuses on maps of Ghana to show students the journey Emmanuel took and what he saw on his journey. There is a large emphasis on Emmanuel’s character – What is his dream? Is he a national hero? Why, why not? Students need to provide evidence throughout the story by explaining why Emmanuel was “useful,” instead of “disabled.” Students will see two videos of the real Emmanuel to learn more about his accomplishments and awards. A final activity is that students will trace a BIG map of Ghana and show the places, people, and landmarks Emmanuel saw on his journey. Students will also write in their own words what Emmanuel’s quote means, “In this world, we are not perfect. We can only do our best.”

This is the story about the child, Louis Braille. It is written in the first person, making Louis feel closer to his readers. The book is rich with language. I have created a student packet that includes reading comprehension strategies, critical thinking, and writing activities. As a post reading activity, students will try writing Braille messages to classmates about Louis Braille.

This is a fascinating biography of E.B. White, fresh off the presses. It is easy for students, as they hear this story as teachers read, or they read it themselves, to find the simplicity and passions of a man’s life in the stories that he writes. Although the packet I created accompanies this particular biography of E.B. White, it could very well be the beginning of an author’s study of three of E.B. White’s books – Stuart Little, Charlotte’s Web, and The Trumpet of the Swan. This packet includes reading comprehension strategies, activities, and meaningful writing assignments. It also includes research of a Trumpeter Swan. Most of all, students will be able to relate E.B. White’s life to the classic stories he wrote. Hopefully, they will also learn some of the elements of writing, as described through E.B. White’s words.

Japanese Food is an important part of Japanese culture. This is a PowerPoint that will explain the essential ingredients in a variety of Japanese dishes. Students will use Japan's geography to predict what food the Japanese eat. The "food" pictures I took while I was in Japan are interesting and engaging, geared to intrigue young children. A trip to a Japanese restaurant will reinforce the Japanese foods students will learn about! Or parents can help teachers make sushi in small groups right in the classroom. I've done both.

More and more, there are students who need graphic organizers to arrange their thoughts, sequence events, and include the details of a well developed personal narrative. THIS IS IT!

Li Bai is a famous Chinese poet. He revered the moon. This is a fairly simple poem about the moon, perfect to teach what a “metaphor” is to young students. Students will read “The Moon” by Li Bai, discuss the metaphor in his poem, and challenge themselves to write a poem in Li Bai’s style about the moon or something else, applying their knowledge of metaphors.