LITERATURE and READING PAGE
Look at What We are Reading Now: Fall 2019
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Cornell Notes are a great note-taking device that help students take notes on tough subject matter, recognizing the central idea, and then summarizing that information into their own words, which helps students synthesize new information and make it their own. Cornell Notes are a great tool for all subject matter, and a great study tool when used regularly. |
READer's response journal
All students should be reading a minimum of one million words per year. There is a direct link between academic success and reading at home outside of school. In one statistic, students who were in the 90th percentile of all children in that age group were reading as much as 2,500,000 words a year.
Directions: Students are encouraged to read one of the books from the "Award Winning Books" listed below. There are multiple copies of the books in Mr. Miller's classroom. All students should read daily for 30 or more minutes and reflect or respond to that daily reading for another 10 minutes in their composition book. All students should strive to read 25 chapter books and 25 informational books within the school year to reach a million words read.
The Reader's Response Journal entry will be divided up into halves. On the left side of the page, you will provide a brief summary of your daily reading, which should be about 2 - 3 sentences. On the right side you will then reflect or respond on what you read, which should be about 5 - 7 sentences. You may also apply Post-its to your daily entries that summarize, have a central idea, something unusual or unexpected, and/or ideas you may want to write about. . Each entry should look SOMETHING like this:
The Reader's Response Journal entry will be divided up into halves. On the left side of the page, you will provide a brief summary of your daily reading, which should be about 2 - 3 sentences. On the right side you will then reflect or respond on what you read, which should be about 5 - 7 sentences. You may also apply Post-its to your daily entries that summarize, have a central idea, something unusual or unexpected, and/or ideas you may want to write about. . Each entry should look SOMETHING like this:
Award Winning Books
by Guided Reading Level
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MULTIPLE COPIES OF ALL OF THE BOOKS LISTED BELOW ARE AVAILABLE IN MR. MILLER'S CLASSROOM. I HAVE PLACED A STAR, (*), BY THE BOOKS THAT I HAVE ESPECIALLY ENJOYED. TO THE LEFT IS A GUIDED READING LEVELING CHART, WHICH ILLUSTRATES 5TH GRADE READING LEVELS: |
MR. MILLER'S CLASSROOM LIBRARY
All students have access to an amazing library of more than 75 award-winning titles and authors. I encourage students to check out a book, take it home and leave it at home until he or she has completed the book, and then return the book to school. These books were purchased by me at great expense, so please be mindful and responsible with my books. The following is a list of books provided:
GUIDED READING LEVEL: P
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JOYFUL NOISE is a very brief book of poetry designed for two people to be read together. The poetry tries to give a voice to the insect world. If you are a fan of insects, or if you enjoy reading poetry aloud with your pals, then this book is designed for you in mind.
Amazon rating: 5 stars Miller's rating: 2.5 stars |
GUIDED READING LEVEL: Q
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CRENSHAW by Katherine Applegate is a story about a boy, Jackson, and his family. They are facing eviction and the possibility of living in their minivan. Crenshaw is a giant imaginary cat that comes back into the boy's life to help him cope with his personal struggles.
Amazon rating: 4.5 stars Miller's rating: 2.5 stars |
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BUNNICULA is the story of a rabbit that Toby takes home after having seen Dracula. The story is told from the point of view of Harold, the Monroe's Family dog. Chester, the family cat, fears the bunny may indeed be some sort of bunny vampire.
Amazon rating: 4.5 stars Miller's rating: 3.5 stars |
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THE MIRACULOUS JOURNEY OF EDWARD TULANE is a story about a selfish little china rabbit that is lost at sea. He encounters several people on his journey to developing a better outlook in life, and defies all kinds of obstacles only to find love once again.
Amazon rating: 5 stars Miller's rating: 5+ stars |
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BLESS THIS MOUSE by Lois Lowry is an entertaining little story about a colony of church mice and their very unique relationship to the structure as well as mini-members of the congregation. They face danger after danger, especially the "Great X."
Amazon rating: 4.5 stars Miller's rating: 4 stars |
GUIDED READING LEVEL: R
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SADAKO: AND THE THOUSAND PAPER CRANES by Eleanor Coerr is a story about a very athletic little girl growing up in post World War II and the bombing of Hiroshima, Japan. Sadako is diagnosed with leukemia and vows to create 1000 paper cranes before she dies.
Amazon rating: 4.5 stars Miller's rating: 5 stars |
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THE WHIPPING BOY is a great tale about a young orphan named Jemmy, whom is beaten in place of the young prince when Prince Brat acts up. Jemmy wishes to run away but soon finds that the prince is interested in coming along. a very funny fast read.
Amazon rating: 4 stars Miller's rating: 4.5 stars |
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HATCHET is a story about a boy named Brian whom must learn to survive on his own in the Canadian wilderness after his plane goes down. Brian is coping with the wedge of parental divorce and taking a scientific approach to survival.
Amazon rating: 4.5 stars Miller's rating: 4.5 stars |
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CHARLOTTE'S WEB is a classic book that must be read by everyone at some time in their life. It is a book about a pig, Wilbur, who as a runt was saved by Fern. All Wilbur wants is a friend and finds one in Charlotte, the spider in the rafters.
Amazon rating: 5 stars Miller's rating: 5 stars |
GUIDED READING LEVEL: S
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THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN is a story about a gorilla living at a mall zoo. The "true" story is told from his perspective and is about how he learns to communicate to the outside world through his paintings. This is a great story.
Amazon rating: 5 stars Miller's rating: 5 stars |
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FROM THE MIXED UP FILES OF MRS. BASIL E. FRANKWEILER is a book about a girl named Claudia who decides to run away to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. There she finds a statue with a unique story, and she is determined to figure it out.
Amazon rating: 4.5 stars Miller's rating: |
GUIDED READING LEVEL: T
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PENNY FROM HEAVEN is the story of a little Italian American girl growing up after World War II. The story delves into the everyday real drama of life within this Italian family's struggles and triumphs and how they faced overcoming some prejudice as the former enemy.
Amazon rating: 4.5 stars Miller's rating: 4.5 stars |
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WHERE THE MOUNTAIN MEETS THE MOON is a story about Minli, a Chinese girl growing up in the valley of Fruitless Mountain. Her mother is a realist, but her father tells her all these great folktales at night, which intrigues her to find the truth. On her journey she encounters lots of characters.
Amazon rating: 5 stars Miller's rating: 5 stars |
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KIRA-KIRA is the story of two Japanese-American sisters growing up in post World War II. The family moves from Iowa to Georgia. They experience racial prejudice in and out of their poultry plant as well as come to terms with the reality of familial life as well.
Amazon rating: 4 stars Miller's rating: 4.5 stars |
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THE CROSSING, as told by Jim Murphy, unveils George Washington and his transition from farmer to a brilliant general in this transforming moment in history. This fast-paced read will put into perspective how our country began to emerge from under British rule.
Amazon rating: 5 stars Miller's rating: 5+ stars |
GUIDED READING LEVEL: U
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BUD, NOT BUDDY is a great book about one boy, orphaned by his mother's passing, who sets out to find his father. He is armed with little information, but is determined to track him down despite several obstacles. A very heart-felt moving piece of literature.
Amazon rating: 4.5 stars Miller's rating: 5+ stars |
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NUMBER THE STARS is a book about a Danish girl caught up in World War II and the threat of the Nazis coming into their world to take away her best friend, Ellen. The book reveals little known facts of the countries resolve to stand up to Adolf Hitler.
Amazon rating: 4.5 stars Miller's rating: 5+ stars |
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FLORA AND ULYSSES is a book about a squirrel that gets sucked up into a vacuum only to be rescued by Flora. Ulysses, the squirrel, discovers he has super powers and not only can he fly, but type his story as well.
Amazon rating: 4.5 stars Miller's rating: |
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A SINGLE SHARD is about a Korean boy in the 12th century who yearns to become a master potter. When one potter, Min, takes him under his tutelage, the boy discovers the hard work of apprenticeship as he tries to secure a commission for his master.
Amazon rating: 4.5 stars Miller's rating: |
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JULIE OF THE WOLVES is a story about a 13 year old orphaned Eskimo girl, Miyax or Julie, who runs away from her husband and culture, but she gets lost in the Alaskan tundra. There she meets up with a pack of wolves and seeks acceptance in her desire to survive the harsh conditions.
Amazon rating: 4 stars Miller's rating: 5 stars |
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CHARLEY SKEDADDLE is story is about a New Yorker from the Five Points who wants to avenge his brother's death, at the hands of the Confederates. He finds that war is not at all glorious and finds refuge in an unlikely friend and the real courage in what it takes to be a man.
Amazon rating: 4 stars Miller's rating: 5+ stars |
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MY SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN is another great survival story about Sam who runs away from his home in New York to the Catskill Mountains. There he fashions a home out of a hollowed-out tree and befriends some animals in his desire for independence.
Amazon rating: 4.5 stars Miller's rating: 5 stars |
GUIDED READING LEVEL: V
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LINCOLN: A PHOTOBIOGRAPHY, by Russell Freedman, reveals our 16th President from beginning to end. He was born in a humble home, and educated himself despite tremendous obstacles. A real life example of what hard work can do for you.
Amazon rating: 4.5 stars Miller's rating: 5+ stars |
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ISLAND OF THE BLUE DOLPHINS is the fictional story of Karana, a real person who was abandoned on an island off the coast of California only to be rediscovered some 18 years later. The story is filled with adventure and a will to survive.
Amazon rating: 4.5 stars Miller's rating: 5+ stars |
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AN AMERICAN PLAGUE by Jim Murphy is a fantastic book about the Yellow Fever that ravaged Philadelphia in 1793. The book is an investigative piece in which Murphy examines early medicine's role in the survival of a young nation and how individuals reacted at the onset and through it.
Amazon rating: 4 stars Miller's rating: 5 stars |
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SHOOTING KABUL is a story about a family escaping Afghanistan. In the process they leave a family member behind. The story is heart felt and warm, and teaches the importance of being open minded. They remain hopeful in being reunited as they acclimate to living in California.
Amazon rating: 4.5 stars Miller's rating: 5+ stars |
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WONDER is one of the highest reviewed books written. All my students love the story of Auggie Pullman. The story is about Auggie, a fifth grader, who until recently had been home schooled. He wants to be just a normal kid, but others are having a hard time accepting him.
Amazon rating: 5 stars Miller's rating: 5+ stars |
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HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE is the story of a young Harry Potter who is whisked away from his oppressive aunt and uncle to attend a school for wizards. Here Harry finds his true calling and along with a cast of characters is whisked off into adventure.
Amazon rating: 4.5 stars Miller's rating: 5+ stars |
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HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS is an adventurous story of Harry's second year at Hogwarts. After a summer with the Dursleys, Harry enters school despite being warned of disaster. The school is under attack and everyone is terrified and suspicious.
Amazon rating: 5 stars Miller's rating: |
GUIDED READING LEVEL: W
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HOME OF THE BRAVE is a great book about a boy, named Kek,who comes from the Sudan in Africa and lands in Minnesota. He struggles to make friends at first and is worrying about his mother back home, but soon Kek embraces his new home with the help of some.
Amazon rating: 4.5 stars Miller's rating: 5 stars |
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CRISPIN: THE CROSS OF LEAD is a book about a boy caught up in the 14th century world of Medieval England. The author, Avi, spends time revealing the world of feudalism as the protagonist stricken with grief over his mother's death learns of his true identity.
Amazon rating: 4 stars Miller's rating: 4 stars |
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CRISPIN: AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD is a sequel to the other Crispin title and the story takes off right after. The story is about Crispin and Bear on the run again and this time to save Bear from being captured as a traitor. The story is thoughtful and examines family, war, and religion.
Amazon rating: 4 stars Miller's rating: |
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LAFAYETTE AND THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION is about the Marquis De Lafayette. He was very young when he joined the American colonists and is a recognized hero and champion of our freedoms, but when he returned to France he faced challenges and hardship.
Amazon rating: 5 stars Miller's rating: 5+ stars |
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INSIDE OUT & BACK AGAIN is the story of a young girl growing up in Vietnam. The Vietnam War breaks out and she emigrates to the Alabama. The reader gets an inside peek into what it means to be a refugee and the linguistic and cultural challenges that immigrants face upon entering.
Amazon rating: 4.5 stars Miller's rating: 5+ stars |
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THE BOY ON THE WOODEN BOX is one of the greatest books I have read for children. Leon Lesson is a young Polish Jew who is forced into a concentration camp with his family. He is the youngest survivor to be found on Oskar Schindler's list, and one of the great stories on perseverance.
Amazon rating: 5 stars Miller's rating: 5++ stars |
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THE GREAT FIRE is another great piece of nonfiction by Jim Murphy. Here he introduces the fire that ravaged the city of Chicago in 1871. The fire was so bad that people were not sure Chicago would ever rise again, but of course it did, and in the process came up with lots of innovations.
Amazon rating: 4.5 stars Miller's rating: 4.5 stars |
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HEART OF A SAMURAI is a great combination of Japanese culture and the American whaling industry of the 1800's. It's the story of Manjiro who is deserted on an island only to be rescued by a whaler intent on taking him back to New England. He tries it out, but eventually returns to Japan.
Amazon rating: 4.5 stars Miller's rating: 5+ stars |
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MOON OVER MANIFEST is a story about a 12 year old girl who is sent off to live with her father's friend Pastor Shady in Kansas in 1936. While there in a coal miner's town filled with immigrants, Abilene discovers a box of keepsakes from WW I, and gives us a look at two different eras.
Amazon rating: 4.5 stars Miller's rating: |
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THE LIGHTNING THIEF is the first installment of Rick Riordan's series on Percy Jackson. The story begins with a struggling preteen, but soon Percy is thrust into the world of Greek mythical gods, Mt. Olympus is now in Manhattan, New York, and eventually finds out he is the son of Poseidon.
Amazon rating: 4.5 stars Miller's rating: 5 stars |
GUIDED READING LEVEL: X
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GROWING UP IN COAL COUNTRY is a fast read about the coal mining communities here in the United States. Bartoletti takes the reader into a community of miners and their families where even the five year olds are working and scavenging for bits of coal.
Amazon rating: 4.5 stars Miller's rating: 5 stars |
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THE GRAVEYARD BOOK is a tale for any kid with an overactive imagination. This story is about Bod, a living boy who is raised by the various ghosts in the cemetery from histories past. Here inside and out of the cemetery he learns life's lessons while being hunted down.
Amazon rating: 4.5 stars Miller's rating: 5 stars |
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THE MOSTLY TRUE ADVENTURES OF HOMER P. FIGG is about a boy trying to save his older brother from the Civil War because he is too young. Homer tells tall tales and survives some before finding himself in the middle of the Battle of Gettysburg and the reality of war.
Amazon rating: 4.5 stars Miller's rating: 5 stars |
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WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS is the quintessential book for any kid about a boy and his dog(s). The story is about a boy who saves his money, a penny at a time, to buy two dogs and his relationship and care for them, but most importantly the love they share in taking care of one another.
Amazon rating: 4.5 stars Miller's rating: 5++ stars |
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CALL IT COURAGE is the story of Mafatu, the son of a chief, who has been made fun of as long as he can remember. At age fifteen he takes off in a world of discovery inland around the Pacific islands. There, through various experiences, he grows confident and returns home.
Amazon rating: 4 stars Miller's rating: 4.5 stars |
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LISTEN, SLOWLY is about a Vietnamese American girl name Mai who is disconnected with her culture and the language of her ancestry. She is forced temporarily to go to Vietnam with her grandmother and in the process discovers the beauty of her culture.
Amazon rating: 4.5 stars Miller's rating: |
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D'AULAIRES' BOOK OF GREEK MYTHS is an excellent resource for understanding the Greek gods and myths associated with them. The book addresses all the major gods, heroes, and monsters, in a two-three page format that makes it very accessible and fun.
Amazon rating: 4.5 stars Miller's rating: 5 stars |
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TREASURY OF EGYPTIAN MYTHOLOGY is a text designed to introduce young readers to Egyptian mythology. The book gives insight to the gods and their purpose and offers a voice to them, because the subject of Egyptian mythology is often ignored, yet kids are interested.
Amazon rating: 4.5 stars Miller's rating: 4 stars |
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THE EGYPT GAME is a story about two girls that both love anything to do with Ancient Egypt. They get together and dress up, along with others, in a deserted storage yard and begin to play the Egypt game, which involves an oracle. They decide to give up the game after things go awry.
Amazon rating: 4 stars Miller's rating: |
GUIDED READING LEVEL: Y
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DOLL BONES is fairly entertaining. It is about three preteens who have imagined that a doll (The Great Queen) in one of the kids homes is locked away in a cabinet. The three friends go on a journey to return the doll to its rightful resting place.
Amazon rating: 4.5 stars Miller's rating: 3.5 stars |
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MY BROTHER SAM IS DEAD, is a great book that looks at the complexities families faced during the American Revolution in being a rebel fighting Revolutionary or a British sympathizing Loyalist. You can not go wrong with works of historical fiction written by the Collier brothers.
Amazon rating: 4 stars Miller's rating: 5 stars |
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THE VOICE THAT CHALLENGED A NATION is a great book about the singer, Marian Anderson, whom fought for equal rights for African American people in the 1920-60's. It's a tough read, but if you listen to some of her singing along with reading about her grit, then you'll like it.
Amazon rating: 4.5 stars Miller's rating: 5 stars |
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DEAD END IN NORVELT won the Newbery Award in 2012. It is basically a humorous look at a young boy who is grounded for the summer and the adventures he ends up participating in including writing up obituaries, Girl Scout Cookies, Hell's Angels, and maybe even a murder.
Amazon rating: 4 stars Miller's rating: |
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THE EVOLUTION OF CALPURNIA TATE is one of my favorite books for students and especially girls. The setting is the 1900's and Calpurnia struggles with all the social norms society wants to place on a little girl. She fights it all the time and inspired by her grandfather seeks out her own adventures.
Amazon rating: 4.5 stars Miller's rating: 5.5 stars |
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THE GIVER is a must read for children, because it is one of the greatest pieces of literature for them. Newly 12, Jonas, is given his job assignment for the community in which he resides. He has a very special job in which he learns the value of love from an old man.
Amazon rating: 4.5 stars Miller's rating: 5++ stars |
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BLIZZARD! THE STORM THAT CHANGED AMERICA is a historical account of the winter storm that hit the eastern seaboard cities in mid March, 1888. This storm brought 21 inches of snow within just a few hours bringing the city to a standstill. Jim Murphy is always good.
Amazon rating: 4.5 stars Miller's rating: 5 stars |
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THE NOTORIOUS BENEDICT ARNOLD is a book about a young heroic patriot whom is driven to make a name for himself. He eventually becomes a traitor to the colonies by giving the British knowledge on the fort at West Point. New York. This is an advanced reading level book.
Amazon rating: 4.5 stars Miller's rating: |
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INDIAN CHIEFS by Russell Freedman was a much needed book for young history readers. It includes biographies of six Western Indian Chiefs who were confronted by pioneers and forced to decide to fight or make peace with the onslaught of people.
Amazon rating: 4 stars Miller's rating: 4.5 stars |
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HOW THEY CROAKED is a super interesting book about how some very famous people died and the knowledge of medicine at the time. You will learn about people like King Tut, Henry VIII, Christopher Columbus and what eventually became of Albert Einstein's brain.
Amazon rating: 4.5 stars Miller's rating: 5 stars |
GUIDED READING LEVEL: Z
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CROSSOVER is one of the great books for aspiring athletes. Kwame Alexander won the Newbery award for this, and it's a super fast read about twins, Josh and Jordan Bell, who play basketball. The twins face all kinds of challenges. Alexander's text is free verse poetry and every kid loves this book.
Amazon rating: 4.5 stars Miller's rating: 5++ stars |
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Parent Permission is
required to read this text HITLER YOUTH is a text about young Germans growing up under the Nazis. The book emphasizes the Hitler Youth movement and its role in the rise of Nazism. Amazon rating: 4.5 stars Miller's rating: 5++ stars |
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OTHER GREAT BOOKS
WITH NO IDENTIFIED GUIDED READING LEVEL
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Using Notice and Note as a Tool for Understanding Fiction
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Using Reading Nonfiction as a tool
for understanding Nonfiction better
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Close Reading, or Annotation, of Text
The whole purpose for close reading is to gain a deeper understanding of the text we are reading. These are the guidelines that demonstrate what close reading might look like:
1. Read the text for comprehension and just the general enjoyment of the text
2. Annotate, which is a fancy word for writing down your thoughts as you read the text a second
time, which is basically your interaction with the material. The purpose for this is to understand
the text on a deeper level, and to be able to identify interests and concerns as you read.
3. Identify the main idea of the text, characters or people's names, vocabulary words, and any
important ideas or events that happen within the text.
4. College kids write important notes in the margins of their books, so that is what we are asking you
to do.
A) Make connections, ask questions, react to the text, underline important words or phrases,
identify the confusion, and figure out exactly what the author wants you to know
Below is an example of what that may look like:
1. Read the text for comprehension and just the general enjoyment of the text
2. Annotate, which is a fancy word for writing down your thoughts as you read the text a second
time, which is basically your interaction with the material. The purpose for this is to understand
the text on a deeper level, and to be able to identify interests and concerns as you read.
3. Identify the main idea of the text, characters or people's names, vocabulary words, and any
important ideas or events that happen within the text.
4. College kids write important notes in the margins of their books, so that is what we are asking you
to do.
A) Make connections, ask questions, react to the text, underline important words or phrases,
identify the confusion, and figure out exactly what the author wants you to know
Below is an example of what that may look like:
