Tugg and Teeny: Book Two

Not long ago, I shared with you a new series for early readers written by Poet Laureate, J Patrick Lewis.  I'm happy to announce that Tugg and Teeny Book Two: Jungle Surprises is now available. Once again these two loveable characters take us on a reading adventure full of surprises.  Like Book One, Jungle Surprises is a collection of three stories.  I particularly like the first story "A Great Gusting Mystery" because it will inspire young writers to write their own mystery stories.  Students will love the surprise ending in "The Zig-Zag Race," and delight in going "Wind-Fishing" with Tugg and Teeny's friend Violet. Older students could go on a scavenger hunt to search for examples of alliteration, repetition, personification, and onomatopeia.  There are other teaching ideas and activities on the publisher's  website here and here.  I can't wait to see what Tugg and Teeny will be up to in Book Three!

Poetry Friday: Reading Poetry in the Middle Grades

"As teachers today, everything we teach has to be turbocharged with skills and the promise of advancing our students academically.  I know that. And here's the cool thing:  poetry can get you there. "  This quote comes from the introduction of Paul Janeczko's new book, Reading Poetry in the Middle Grades, and he's right on the money with it. Teachers today have to be able to justify everything we teach.  The content of our lessons must address the ELA core standards. There's just no room in our jam-packed curriculum for anything else.  I'm all for having common core standards, but many teachers already shy away from teaching poetry because they don't feel comfortbable with it.  Asking teachers to search for poems, match them to the core standards, create a lesson plan that  includes a writing activity, companion poems, a graphic organizer, and online resources is enough to turn off even the most devoted poetry lover. Thanks to  Reading Poetry in the Middle Grades, we don't have to.  Paul has done that for us.

The first poem in the book is Ted Kooser's "Abandoned Farmhouse."  Okay, Paul had me hooked right  there. I mean it's Ted Kooser! I want my students to know and love Ted Kooser as much as I do.  Paul makes it easy, guiding us every step of the way from the initial reading of the poem to a sampling of questions to get a discussion going.   We' re not analyzing the poem or plucking it's feathers until it's bare.  No!  We're talking about how it made us feel and noticing the word choices the poet used to create a mood. Paul teaches us how to engage our students and make personal connections.  He also offers a broad selection of writing activities from a journal entry to imitating the poet by rewrititng several lines of the poem to help readers internalize and make the poem their own.

When I used "Abandoned Farmhouse" with my students, I showed them an online video of Ted Kooser reading the poem. There is nothing more motivating then bringing the poet right into the classroom!  Students debated reasons the man in the poem left and what might have happened to him. They wrote about their own possessions and  what those possessions say about them.  Students started making connections (without my prompting) to other stories, poems, and articles we've read this year. One student said that maybe the man lived in the Dust Bowl and that was the reason he couldn't make it as a farmer (We just finished reading Out of the Dust).   All of this from reading one poem! 

I've been using Paul's anthologies and teacher resource books for many years because students love the poems and the pre-planned activities save me time.  I keep Reading Poetry in the Middle Grades on my desk beside Opening a Door: Reading Poetry in the Middle School Classroom (also by Paul Janeczko).  These excellent resources are not just valuable for teachers; they are also fantastic for writers.   You can read more about Paul Janeczko and his books here.

Happy National Poetry Month!

April means flowering trees, egg hunts, spring break, and a month-long celebration of poetry!  I'm so excited! I can't wait to see what everyone will be posting this month..  My contribution will be to share some new and some not-so-new verse novels, teacher resource books, and favorite poems.  I hope you'll drop by and join in the conversation.

Today, I'm sharing a poem I read on Your Daily Poem.  I think most young girls love horses. I sure did.  I used to dream of owning a horse farm.  My life took a different direction, but this poem reminds just how amazing it would've have been.

Foal
by Linda Lee (Konichek)


The wonder of it all…
almost a year of waiting
a week of sleepless nights

Finally this
the mare presents
one tiny perfect hoof

encased in an iridescent bubble
as magical as those we blew
through childhood’s wands


We wait breathless
for one more miniature hoof
Next the milky sphere reveals


a baby nose,
nostrils already flaring
trying to breathe.


Read the rest of the poem here.

Poetry Friday: Tugg and Teeny

As a teacher, I'm always looking for books that will excite and motivate young readers.  I'm especailly looking for books that will interest boys.  I'm happy to share a fantastic new book with you that readers of all ages are going to love.  Tugg and Teeny, Sleeping Bear Press,  is a new beginning reader written by one of our favorite poets, J. Patrick Lewis.  Tugg, a gorilla, and Teeny, a monkey, are two lovable characters who, along with their friends,  live in the jungle and help each other through life's challenges.

In this first of the three book series, Teeny strives to achieve his dreams. He tackles a different goal (becoming a musician, an artist, a poet) in each of three chapters. No matter what he decides to try,   his best friend, Tugg, is always by his side to lend a hand or offer advice.

I especially love the way Teeny takes risks and tries new things. I think this sends an important message to kids that it's okay to step out of their comfort zone, and try something new. Even though Teeny doesn't always succeed at first, with the encouragement of his friend Tugg, he continues to try. Tugg is the kind of friend we all hope for: dependable, loyal, and supportive.

Reader of all ages will enjoy the three separate stories in this early chapter book.  The brightly-colored illustrations by Chistopher Denise help bring life to these adorable characters.  (He did a fabulous job of showing their personalities.) Although the book is written with beginning readers (grades 2-3)  in mind, I think the stories will work as excellent models to teach writing skills (dialogue, point-of-view, plot, etc.) to my middle school students. 

As I mentioned above, Tugg and Teeny is part of a three-book series.  I love that because once kids are introduced to these characters, they'll be ravenous readers begging for each book that follows. The next book, Jungle Surpries, comes out May 2011. I can't wait!  Check out the  Tugg and Teeny website  for more about upcoming titles in the series and activity pages. Tugg and Teeny is sure to put a smile on your face.  If you've read it, I've love to hear ways you're using it with your students and/or your own children.  I have a feeling this series is going to be very popular!

Poetry Friday

I subscribe to American Life in Poetry, and it's helped me discover some wonderful poets.  This week's poem was "Veil" by Todd Davis.  It was the first time I'd read anything by Mr. Davis.   I enjoyed "Veil" and wanted learn more about the poet.  His website includes several sample poems including the title poem for his collection Some Heaven. I was very touched by the emotion and spirituality of his poems.

Veil


In this low place between mountains
fog settles with the dark of evening.
Every year it takes some of those
we love—a car full of teenagers
on the way home from a dance, or
a father on his way to the paper mill,
nightshift the only opening.

-Todd Davis, all rights reserved
You can read the rest of the poem here.

Some Heaven



The rabbit’s head is caught
between the slats of the fence,
and in its struggle it has turned
so the hind legs nearly touch
the nose—neck broken, lungs failing.
My boys ask me to do something
but see no mercy in my plan.

-Todd Davis, all rights reserved

You can read the rest of the poem here. This link will take you to Todd Davis' homepage. 

POETRY FRIDAY

Bullying has been in the news a lot lately. Most of us have been bullied. Bullying isn’t new, but it seems to be increasing in intensity.

For the past two years, our school has participated in an anti-bullying program. Through role-playing activities, students and teachers are taught about the effects of bullying and how they can help stop it. Kids are still being bullied, but we've seen an increase in reporting it by the victims and by kids who witness it. When bullying is reported, all the kids that were involved (the bully, the target, bystanders, etc.) receive counseling. We are working hard to make our school a safe place for all kids.

Over the years, I've known many kids who have been the victims of bullying. It's a heartbreaking part of my job. Last night, I couldn't sleep so I wrote this poem. My hope is to work on it some more so when my students read it, they'll see that they can take an active role in stopping a bully. Wonderful readers, your suggestions are much appreciated.


Jamie

Some guys at school
make fun of Jamie
because he’s overweight.
Guys who used to be his friend
before Billy came to our school
and decided he didn’t like Jamie.

Now they call him ugly names
make faces at him
laugh when he walks by—
“ Oink” at him in the hall.

Jamie is always alone,
sits alone, works alone,
eats lunch alone.
Everyone stays away—
too afraid to be his friend.

I stay away too- afraid.
But Jamie is nice to me.
He offered to help when
I didn’t understand fractions.
He gave me a pencil when
I lost mine.

I feel sorry for him
but I don’t know what to do,
so I do nothing—

I’m afraid
if I speak up
they will pick on me too.
I’m afraid I’ll be called a snitch
I’m afraid I’ll end up alone—
just like Jamie.

Then tonight
I heard on TV
about a kid like Jamie
who ended his life
because he couldn’t take
being bullied
any longer.

I thought about Jamie
the way his eyes always
look so sad
The way he always
looks so scared.

And I decided
tomorrow
I’m telling
somebody.

Best Books: First Dog's White House Christmas

First Dog is back, and he is ready to celebrate Christmas. I hadn’t planned on blogging today,  but when this adorable picture book arrived on my doorstep, I had to tell you about it. This is the second First Dog book written by father-daughter team J Patrick Lewis and Beth Zappitello. It is not a collection of poems, but since one of our most beloved poets wrote it, I thought it deserved a spot on Poetry Friday.

It all starts when First Dog invites his friends from around the world to celebrate Christmas at the White House. He asks each of them to share a Christmas tradition from their country. Through the  warmth and humor of First Dog, readers learn some pretty cool facts about this special holiday. For instance, did you know that in Germany, they hang a glass pickle on the tree and the first child to find it gets an extra present? I can’t wait to hear my students’ reactions when I read them this book in December. It will fit perfectly with the essay they write about their own family traditions.

Another thing I love about this book is that readers learn about a breed of dog from each country. The descriptions of the dogs along with Tim Bowers’ gorgeous illustrations reveal each canine's personality and had me laughing out loud. Just picture this lovable character, “The visitor from Italy, the Neapolitan Mastiff, had a face that looked like a map of the Alps— without the snow.” He really is very cute.

This book was so much fun to read, I hope more First Dog books will follow. Thanks Pat and Beth for a book my grand-daughter is sure to love for years to come.