It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a community of bloggers who link up to share what they are reading.  For more information check out the host blogs: Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers.

What I Read This Week…

I read two picture books about whales.  Both were narratives and told about rescue efforts to save a whale that was in danger.  Although telling very different stories, both books focused on the interaction between humans and animals and showed the vulnerability of such a large creature.

                    

The Stranded Whale by Jane Yolen 

This story definitely pulls at the heartstrings.  It is set in 1971 and Sally and her brother are walking along the dunes when they discover a beached whale.  While they wait for help they try to keep the whale wet by wringing out their sweaters that they soaked in the ocean water.  Others come to help, but they are unable to push the whale out into the ocean.  Yolen writes beautifully, capturing the desperation of the situation and the anger and sadness Sally feels when the whale can’t be saved.  Yolen explains in the Author’s Note that the majority of stranded whales do end up dying, making this an honest and realistic tale. 

Trapped: A Whale’s Rescue by Robert Burleigh

This is a story, based on an actual event, in which a humpback whale becomes trapped in a fishing net.  Rescuers dive into the water to cut the ropes away from the whale’s body and soon the creature is free.  This text is also beautifully written, sounding almost poetic.  Readers will feel empathy for the whale and understand the danger the rescuers put themselves in to free the whale.  The illustrations are beautiful as well.  Information about the incident this story is based on and humpback whales is included at the end of the book.

A Tale of Two Beasts by Fiona Roberton

This picture book is divided into two parts, telling two very different perspectives of a story.  In Part One, "The Strange Beast", the girl recounts how she rescued a strange beast from the woods and brought him home.  In Part Two, "The Terrible Beast", the creature recounts how he was ambushed in the woods and taken to the girl’s lair.  The beasts see the world differently, but in the end they are able to get along with each other.  This book can start conversations about perspective and how we understand each other.

Everyone Loves Bacon by Kelly Dipucchio

Bacon seems to be everywhere these days so it shouldn’t be a surprise that bacon has ended up as the main character in a picture book.  Breakfast foods and other delicacies are personified in this story that tells about Bacon, the most popular food of them all, and how the fame goes to his head.  Bacon tells charming stories, plays the ukulele, and drives a fancy car, but he also forgets all about his friends.  The joke in the end, depicted by an empty plate, shows what really happens to Bacon when everyone loves him.  Bacon lovers will love this one.

Adventures with Waffles by Maria Parr

This novel written for grades three through five focuses on friendship.  Trille has many adventures with Lena, his friend and neighbor, but he wonders if she really is his best friend.  They have many adventures, some of which end in visits to the hospital, but are always entertaining.  The story addresses other aspects of being a child – the yearning for a dad, the loss of a family member, and the sadness when a friend moves away.  The story is set in Norway, where the author lives, providing a glimpse into life in another part of the world.  

My Professional Reading This Week...

Teaching the Core Skills of Listening and Speaking by Erik Palmer

This book has been on my to-read list for quite some time. This week I finally decided to read it since I have been asked to facilitate a curriculum meeting to help teachers understand the speaking and listening standards and align them to instruction. I thought the book would be a good starting place to grow my own understanding of the Common Core Speaking and Listening Standards and how to teach them.  After reading it, I have found that is has helped me understand the shifts that are necessary in teaching speaking and listening. Palmer explains that rather than simply involve students in discussions, we have to ensure that the discussions are collaborative.  There should be a purpose to the discussion and it should help to move students thinking forward.  Palmer also stressed that listening is not a skill we should take for granted and we have to teach students how to do it so that they truly understand what they are hearing.  Another take away from the book is the distinction Palmer makes between activities and instruction.  We can provide activities that involve speaking and listening, but we won't expand students ability to speak and listen unless we provide instruction on how to be better at speaking and listening.  Erik Palmer has a brief video, called Effective Communication, highlighting some important ideas related to teaching speaking and listening.  This book has been useful in helping me understand the expectations of each of the six speaking and listening standards and has provided me with ideas for instruction to address each standard.