Book Club, Boys’ Edition: Gary Paulsen’s “Lawn Boy”

Last month the boys read Gary Paulsen’s Lawn Boy for book club.  Maybe this seems like a strange choice for January, because it’s really about just what it sounds: a boy who creates a summer job mowing for lawns, but for our purposes, the winter weather suited us just fine. In the book, the main… Continue reading Book Club, Boys’ Edition: Gary Paulsen’s “Lawn Boy”

A Roarin’ ’20s Book Club: “Isabel Feeney, Star Reporter”

Some books just scream out for a special event, and that’s exactly what happened when I read Isabel Feeney, Star Reporter.  I knew it would make a fantastic book club pick – not only because it offers myriads of possibilities for a special event, but because Fantaskey did an amazing job writing a book that… Continue reading A Roarin’ ’20s Book Club: “Isabel Feeney, Star Reporter”

Book Club, Girls’ Edition: “Tuesdays at the Castle”

  We read an exciting fantasy book this month called Tuesdays at the Castle.  It’s about a castle with feelings that grows and shifts on its own and the potential takeover of the kingdom from other lands when the king and queen go missing.  Heirs Rolf, Lilah, and Celie work to find their parents, learn… Continue reading Book Club, Girls’ Edition: “Tuesdays at the Castle”

Girls’ Book Club: “The Last Holiday Concert”

The girls’ book club met this week, and it was all about Christmas as we talked about Andrew Clements’ The Last Holiday Concert.  It’s a great story about a boy who ends up in charge of his middle school’s holiday concert just as the music teacher is laid off.  We had a great discussion about… Continue reading Girls’ Book Club: “The Last Holiday Concert”

Book Clubbing in the Wild West: Climbing Mountains

I love being able to make hands-on plans for book club.  I love that we’re not only about books and discussion but about really getting into the books with all of our senses.  That’s why I was so excited for the kids to read Missing on Superstition Mountain by Elise Broach this month, and just… Continue reading Book Clubbing in the Wild West: Climbing Mountains

Book Clubbing on the Orphan Train: “A Family Apart”

This month’s girls’ book club selection was one I’ve had for years:  about twenty years, in fact.  We read A Family Apart by Joan Lowry Nixon, the first in the Orphan Train Adventure series. The story opens in New York City with an Irish family whose father has died.  Ma is trying hard to keep everyone… Continue reading Book Clubbing on the Orphan Train: “A Family Apart”

Book Clubbing and STEMing with Mr. Lemoncello

Our book club year has started off with a bang – with Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Olympics!  We combined the boys’ and girls’ clubs to interact with this fun Chris Grabenstein bestseller. We started out by summarizing the book and then discussing the choices made by the characters.  After that, we split up into teams of… Continue reading Book Clubbing and STEMing with Mr. Lemoncello

NEW! Literacy & STEM Challenges for “Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Olympics”

You might have noticed that we’re big fans of Chris Grabenstein’s Lemoncello books around here.  That’s because they’re chalk-ful of learning opportunities.  There are so many ways that you can learn with these books – and that’s why I’ve written another series of lesson plans for Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Olympics.   These lessons are different… Continue reading NEW! Literacy & STEM Challenges for “Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Olympics”

NEW! Questions & Writing Prompts for “Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Olympics”

It’s no secret – we’re big Chris Grabenstein fans around here, and our favorites are the Lemoncello books. That’s why I’ve written a series of discussion questions organized by chapter and writing prompts designed to make students think logically and critically.  I love when learning is fun, and nothing is more amusing that wacky Mr.… Continue reading NEW! Questions & Writing Prompts for “Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Olympics”

New! A Linked Novel Study for ‘Isabel Feeney, Star Reporter’

I’ve been hard at work writing a new novel study, and it’s ready!  Beth Fantaskey‘s newest book Isabel Feeney, Star Reporter is a great way for tweens to learn about the Roarin’ ’20s.  Isabel is a ten-year-old who skips school to sell papers for the Tribune to help her mother when she hears a murder… Continue reading New! A Linked Novel Study for ‘Isabel Feeney, Star Reporter’

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