This is the third book in the trilogy called March – Book Three. This graphic novel continues the struggle of African-Americans during the Civil Rights Movement. The focus of this novel is the fight for the right for African-American to register and vote in southern states. John Lewis is the chairman of one minority group called the SNCC, but he also joins the minority group Martin Luther King Jr. is affiliated with to pursue equal rights. John Lewis tells the movements’ stories with truth, frustration, grace, and thankfulness. Both the words and the graphic pictures tell and show students every powerful story in this time period of the pursuit of justice to obtain the right for African-Americans to vote. I have added some sites and videos for students to see to help clarify the events explained in the book. I have also integrated writing and speech assignments into this one giant social studies’ period of time.

Peter H. Reynolds was a HAPPY DREAMER who became a creative and beloved children’s writer. Not all grown-ups are happy with the “dreamers.” Peter gives the message that even though some teachers are not happy with “dreamers” in their class, or some parents are not happy with the “messiness” of creativity, with love and caring, that HAPPY DREAMER will grow up to be a creative successful adult.

We’re All Wonders is about the main character, Auggie, in the older version of Wonder, by R.J. Palacio. Palacio gives a powerful message to younger primary students in this book. She lets students FEEL the unhappiness that runs through Auggie’s very being when he is made fun of and stared at by other people. Auggie feels the need to fly to Pluto with his beloved dog, Daisy, so he can play with others as unique as he is. When he looks back at Earth, he has hopes that kindness will prevail and he and everyone will be looked upon for their “wonder.” This student directed guide, including the best of reading comprehension strategies, will help all students to be “kinder” throughout the year.

Birds Make Nests is a gorgeous book that clearly shows detailed pictures of different kinds of birds and the nests they make. In fifth grade, students study birds in Science. I made this packet for an ELL student who has limited to some English language to keep him included in the Bird studies and present a project with other students in the class. Students in grades one and two can also use this book as the season of spring approaches. This packet relies heavily on sentence frames, drawing, labeling, and answering questions using a simple sentence structure.

This informative text teaches students where the president lives, and what his/her job is. This Guided Reading packet will help pairs of students read and find important presidential information. Students will learn just as much from the visuals/photographs as reading the words. For a culmination activity, students will create a poster with a frame, drawings, captions, and information boxes to synthesize what they have learned.

March Book One tells of the events that shaped Congressman John Lewis’ life and his struggle against injustice in United States history. Book One describes the leaders and events that inspired John Lewis to take action for Civil Rights. This is a graphic historical novel. Graphic novels empower the struggling readers. This particular novel grabs students’ attention because it is true. John Lewis continues to live and is a powerful voice in our present history. It is a must read for Middle School students so that they can find their voices and work towards a peaceful, equitable existence in their own lives. John Lewis will inspire students. In addition, students will use strategic comprehension skills and critical thinking as they read this compelling story. (There are two sequels I will be creating units for to continue John Lewis’ true stories).

March Book Two is the continuation of John Lewis’ struggle, along with Martin Luther King Jr., to fight for equal rights. Included in the second of John’s trilogy is his fight as a freedom rider, his fight against police brutality, and his role in convincing Robert and John F. Kennedy that his people needed more help and should write a more comprehensive Civil Rights Bill. Last, but not least in this book, John Lewis was the third speaker at the March on Washington. He is the only one alive today who spoke at that famous event. Students will use their reading strategies and critical thinking to learn about the Civil Rights Movement and challenging American history events in the sixties. In conclusion, students will be expected to rehash the events from March, Books One and Two, to write their own speech as if they were to be speakers at the March on Washington.

Wonder is a must read for fifth graders. Students need to learn empathy and inclusiveness. They need to learn to be true to themselves, and not bend to peer pressure in middle school. In my opinion, there is no better book than Wonder to help students think about being upstanders instead of bystanders. Studying Mr. Browne’s precepts helps students evaluate their daily behavior and encourage them to reach high. In this comprehensive packet, students will use their reading comprehension strategies, while critically thinking about events, characters, and their reactions in the story. In addition, students will start to wonder about what the movie will be like, what parts must be included, how characters should act, etc. There are differentiated post-reading activities that will help students synthesize and evaluate their learning, while anticipating what the movie will be like. When the movie does come out, there are critical questions to help students compare the book and the movie.

This PowerPoint explains, slide by slide, ten jobs the president of the United States has, according to the U.S. Constitution. Vocabulary is explained, and the sentences in each slide are worded so that first and second graders can comprehend difficult material.

Now, more than ever, students need to learn about the various cultures of the world in order to promote a peaceful future, filled with knowledge and understanding. Under the Ramadan Moon helps students understand the month long observance of Ramadan by their fellow classmates. While promoting a global awareness, students will also learn about verbs and repetitive lines in poems, in addition to answering comprehension questions. As a culmination, students will write their own poem to portray the month long Muslim observance of Ramadan by a modern family.

As children, Phil the groundhog and his shadow were inseparable! They loved to play. When Phil became an adult, his life changed, and his shadow started to embarass Phil because his shadow was acting "offkey." When Phil tells his shadow to leave him, shadow uses this chance to travel and do what he wants without Phil. Phil misses his shadow. The shadow misses Phil. Will they reunite? My Guided Reading packet includes reading comprehension strategies, vocabulary building, a Venn Diagram, an Author's Message, and a narrative writing assignment. What a fun way to spend Groundhog Day, or any day!

This book is an exquisite visual experience as students learn about the Muslim culture through colors. Students will use reading comprehension strategies, build vocabulary, and begin to understand the beautiful world that surrounds the Muslim culture.

Full of Beans just received The 2017 Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction! The New Dealers came to a dilapidated Key West to help make it a spectacular tourist attraction. Students will learn what The Great Depression was and how children and adults were affected by it. Beans, the main character in this book made choices, either good or bad, to help make money for his mom during this trying time. This study guide will help students comprehend and critically think about the events and choices Beans makes in this story. I have offered a variety of differentiated activities at the end of the packet that will appeal to the interests of a diversity of students.

Most students look forward to Snow Days!!! They hope it snows and snows so there is no school. They make plans in their minds what they will do inside and outside on a snow day. This is a perfect book for students to make text-to-self connections while paying attention to similes and interesting verbs. Students will have a chance to write their own Snow Day poem, using the structure of the book.

Sachiko is the story of a child caught with her family in Nagasaki during the U.S. atomic bombing in 1945. The suffering and hardship of Sachiko’s family is representative of the suffering and hardship of many that were survivors of the nuclear attacks. The atomic bombings caused a lifetime of hardship for those who suffered through the radiation sickness. Kudos to Sachiko for finding her voice to tell her story to hopefully insure a more peaceful world… This is an unusual book in that Sachiko’s story is woven with chapters of the actual events of the war. Reading a textbook is dry. Reading portions of a textbook with the real story of an atomic bomb survivor brings history alive. Caren Stelson interwove Sachiko’s story with the textbook facts was brilliant! This packet includes reading comprehension strategies, critical thinking, a timeline activity and various writing assignments that will synthesize the students’ learning in a meaningful way. The students will participate in a Gallery Walk as a Culminating Activity. A template is included.

This magazine article was written by a woman who recalls her life as a little girl when the Great Depression occurred. This article engages students in ways a textbook does not. With leading reading comprehension strategies and critical thinking, students will start to understand what the Great Depression was and how it affected a great majority of people. I would use this article after introducing my Great Depression Powerpoint - Visual Thinking Strategies. Then I would introduce reading groups where the main characters face adversity, one being Bud, Not Buddy.

Younger students understand reading about famous people when they were young because they identify with those similar in age. My Brother Martin is told by his sister. The story shows how Martin lived and reacted as a young child in Atlanta when a neighbor would not let his white children play with Martin any more. Students will use reading comprehension strategies as they listen to this read aloud. The rooms illustrated in this story are the actual rooms of Martin’s home. I have provided the website where students can take a virtual tour of each room in Martin’s childhood home. Students will fill in a graphic organizer, a two-column organizer I have made to describe what the family did in each and every room of Martin’s home. Students will then “synthesize” all of the information they have learned and write a letter to Martin as if he were still a child. (I have included a letter format). In Martin’s “I Have a Dream” speech, students can highlight words and phrases they understand as they read as a class to put them into a poem, (Found Poetry). I have included directions how to write a “Found Poem.” The poems and letters can be put on display to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. Or students can share their letters and poems at an assembly or parent breakfast.

Nadia Comaneci was one of the world’s best Olympic gymnast. She did not get there by accident. Her “Growth Mindset,” her energy, determination and practice vaulted her to the top of her sport. This student guide includes the geography of Romania, (including the use of Google Earth), reading comprehension strategies, and post reading activities that will synthesize students’ thinking.

There are many books that are great for fifth grade students to read in school about "facing adversity." One book that I read in book group was Bud, Not Buddy. I found that having "background knowledge" about The Great Depression was helpful when different references were made in the book about this time in history. Using Visual Thinking Strategies allows students to "reconstruct" a period of time independently by thinking deeply about each "Primary Source" photograph. With visual images as background knowledge, the story about Bud, or any other character during this time, helps students engage well with the storyline.