Literature Teachers Chatboard

Join Teachers.Net

Chatboards

Recent Groups

Literature

MEMBERS

6 Members

+ Join Group

Pinned Posts

ALLAll Teachers

Teachers.Net LIVE CHAT Support group - Tues eve!

Featured Jobs

Full-timeMontessori Teacher

Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada

TemporaryTeachers, rural schools

Peace River North School District

Full-timeHead Teacher: 2nd/3rd Grades – Mills College Children’s School

Mills College

Teaching Jobs on Teachers.Net

Featured Job special only $39!

https://teachers.net/jobs

Become a Teachers.Net sponsor!

Literature Teachers Chatboard

reading recommendations for 7th &8th grades

by newbie

May 16, 2009

I have been asked to take over a Junior High language arts class for next year. Any suggestions on some good reads?

Comment

(5)

report post

view previous comments

Lit As a class, my 7th graders read "The Outsiders" by S.E. Hinton for their last unit of the year. Other novels I've taught in 7th are "Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry" by Mildred Taylor, "Holes" by Louis Sachar, "Where the Red Fern Grows," "The Witch of Blackbird Pond" by Elizabeth George Speare.

I also do a big unit on "A Christmas Carol" (pl...See More

Aug 12, 2009

report post

few more ideas Novels: - Stargirl by Spinelli - Freak the Mighty (forgot) - Hatchet by Paulson

Short Stories: - On the Fringe (forgot) - The Lottery by Jackson - Monkey's Paw (forgot) - Hearts & Hands by O Henry - La Guera by Soto - Most Dangerous Game (what's his name? Connel? or something)

Aug 21, 2009

report post

One Book, One School

by Nancy

May 16, 2009

I was wondering if someone could suggest some books to use for One Book, One School with 5-8 graders.

Comment

(1)

report post

Becki I second the vote on Walk Two Moons

On 5/16/09, Nancy wrote: > I was wondering if someone could suggest some books to use > for One Book, One School with 5-8 graders.

May 17, 2009

report post

need 4th grade guided reading titles

by Tonia

May 26, 2009

We have been given some money to spend on guided reading books for fourth grade. I have to have the list by June 1st. Any ideas of book titles?

Comment

(2)

report post

Dani Miller On 5/26/09, Tonia wrote: > We have been given some money to spend on guided reading > books for fourth grade. I have to have the list by June 1st. > Any ideas of book titles?

our fourth graders have done the following books. Sometimes I do one book in all of my groupsd and sometimes I do a ddifferent book in each Guided reading gr...See More

May 27, 2009

report post

amy Check out the books at childrenscomprehension.com I personally love the BFG! On 5/27/09, Dani Miller wrote: > On 5/26/09, Tonia wrote: >> We have been given some money to spend on guided reading >> books for fourth grade. I have to have the list by June 1st. >> Any ideas of book titles? > > > our fourth graders have do...See More

Jul 23, 2009

report post

Middle School ELA - how do you teach humor?

by Louisiannie

Jun 15, 2009

We have a humor unit. What stories, resources, ideas do you have to teach humor? We have practically nothing in our textbook.

HELP!

Comment

(5)

report post

view previous comments

Steve Mc I use Mark Twain, especially excerpts from "Life on the Mississippi." He is hoot! And the students learn about American history and culture at the same time!

Jun 24, 2009

report post

Bet On 6/24/09, Steve Mc wrote: > I use Mark Twain, especially excerpts from "Life on the > Mississippi." He is hoot! And the students learn about > American history and culture at the same time!

I use Welty's "Why I Live at the P.O." for both humor and to illustrate an unreliable narrator. I read from Clyde Edgerton's "Floatplane No...See More

Jun 30, 2009

report post

Shakespeare for kids

by teacher

Jun 17, 2009

Hi,

My prinicipal wants me to plan a unit on Shakespeare for my Third Grade class. I would appreciate any ideas or websites! Thanks in advance for any help.

Comment

(5)

report post

view previous comments

Cathy Evert I would also look into the sonnets - 3rd graders can handle the poems and draw pictures as you read them aloud. The sonnets are as deep as you want them to be and you can teach rhyming patterns, etc.

Just a suggestion! Cathy

>> My principal wants me to plan a unit on Shakespeare for my >> Third Grade class. I would app...See More

Jul 17, 2009

report post

Travlinjen Lois Burdett wrote the "Shakespeare for Kids" series. There is also a book called "Shakespeare for Kids: His Life and Times, 21 Activities". Two Grade 3 classes at my school studied Romeo and Juliet a few years ago, finishing with a full production in June.

On 7/17/09, Cathy Evert wrote: > I would also look into the sonnets - 3rd grader...See More

Jul 22, 2009

report post

Using Storybooks

by Nicolle

Jun 19, 2009

Looking for how teachers are using storybooks for teaching literacy in there classrooms.

Comment

(5)

report post

view previous comments

EllenG59 raline:

Thanks for the link! Very cool website full of great resources.

Miss J: Thanks for the tips on the Trait Trackers! I'm going to purchase a set!

On 7/07/09, Praline wrote: > > [link removed];

Jul 9, 2009

report post

Pat [link removed].

Aug 26, 2009

report post

Middle School Drama

by kevo

Jun 24, 2009

Hello, all! I don't know if this is the right forum for this post, but I'll give it a shot. I am a middle school choir director who has been recruited to build our school's Drama Club. I need suggestions for resources for plays, as well as other activities, that middle schoolers are capable of latching onto and completing with success. I am complet...See More

Comment

(2)

report post

tle Check out Improvisation for the Theater 3E: A Handbook of Teaching and Directing Techniques by Viola Spolin. It has exercises and games in it that work for all ages (from very young through high school). They'd work great for Middle School. It goes through everything from orientation first day activities on through play rehearsals. I used them for ...See More

Jun 25, 2009

report post

KP On 6/24/09, kevo wrote: > Hello, all! I don't know if this is the right forum for > this post, but I'll give it a shot. I am a middle school > choir director who has been recruited to build our school's > Drama Club. I need suggestions for resources for plays, as > well as other activities, that middle schoolers are capable > of l...See MoreOn 6/24/09, kevo wrote: > Hello, all! I don't know if this is the right forum for > this post, but I'll give it a shot. I am a middle school > choir director who has been recruited to build our school's > Drama Club. I need suggestions for resources for plays, as > well as other activities, that middle schoolers are capable > of latching onto and completing with success. I am > completely new to this field and am looking for all the > resources I can get my hands on. Thanks so much!

Here are the names and links to several middle school plays that I wrote specifically for that age. They are all fun and easy to produce. The bottom 3 have very large casts. Break - a- leg! ------------------------

Juliet’s Ghost Published by Playscripts. Inc. (Script available to read online.) Short Comedy, 45-60 minutes 7 females, 6 males [link removed]

On Halloween night, a group of students sneak into their high school theater to borrow costumes, but instead find themselves wrapped up in a mix of unexpected guests, unrequited love, and unexplained phenomena. A legendary tale of a teenage ghost lures them into to an exciting evening of Shakespeare, Spin-the-Bottle, and other scary things...

-------------------------- The Real Me Published by Playscripts. Inc. (Script available to read online soon.) Short Comedy, 45-60 minutes 7 females, 6 males [link removed]

Annie entertains the audience with monologues of her romantic misadventures. Across stage, Annie Two and a collection of characters bring the comedic moments to life. Annie Two’s pursuit of dream-guy Dustin is derailed by misguided schemes, misplaced notes, and misinterpreted flirtations, while Annie’s narration is interrupted by her wisecracking brother, Jess. When Jess flirts with Annie Two’s fast-talking friend, Fran, he breaks the wall between realities, creating chaos for everyone on stage. As characters ponder their existence, surprise visitors from the audience reveal the truth, restore the order, and resolve the romance in a heartwarming and hilarious manner.

NOTE: Performance rights now available. Books available soon. ------------------------

Alienated Published by Contemporary Drama Service Short Comedy, 45 minutes 16 females, 10 males, many roles flexible. [link removed]

Twenty-six typical wise-cracking seniors gather to solve the mystery of a bright light that has occurred every six years of their lives: the year they were born, kindergarten, sixth and now twelfth grade. Rumor has it that one of the students is an alien receiving communications. Is it the diva, the jock, the slacker, the nerd, the actor or one of the others? Everyone has something weird to hide. Each deflects suspicion onto another until they realize that everyone's alienated in their own way: a surprising fact, but not nearly as surprising as the revelation of the true alien secret. ==========================

SPY TV Published by Contemporary Drama Service Short Comedy, 45 minutes 15 females, 7 males, many roles flexible. [link removed]

Bradbury High is a typical American classroom until Principal Orwell signs a cable television deal to broadcast the daily activities live over the air. Some students revel in newfound celebrity while others cringe at having their daily mishaps broadcast to the world. A comical clash between the stars and those who wish the cameras were removed leads to an ingenuous plot to take back the school. A humorous, lively commentary on reality TV.

================================== Wishful Thinking Published by Contemporary Drama Service Short Comedy, 30 minutes 13 females, 8 males, many roles flexible. [link removed]

In a typical, English classroom, a group of students are scheduled to take a big test on "The Monkey's Paw," the short story about making wishes. The appearance of a mysterious and quirky substitute and a rabbit's foot the works monkey's paw-like magic leads to hilarious debates on what to wish for, ironic results from each attempt, and comical karma for those who dare to tempt fate. ===========================

Sep 3, 2009

report post

Bud, Not Buddy and Touching Spirit Bear

by bookpusher

Jun 26, 2009

Will be using these two novels in summer school. Will have students for one and one half hours each day for 2 weeks. Anyone have any fun, hands-on activity ideas for this book? Thanks so much! (an hour and half can be a loong time! lol)

Comment

report post

Read Aloud Book

by Cindi Manske

Jun 30, 2009

I am looking for a good short book to read to 4th graders about September llth. I remember last year someone posted a book title about this, but I can't remember the title. I think the book title had the words "twim towers" in it. Just looking for a good book(s) to use.

Comment

report post