Online Book: Edward and the Pirates

Edward and the Pirates

David McPhail
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 1997

Kids.AOL.com

Summary:  Edward loves to read; and when he reads, his imagination runs wild.  But when he reads a book about treasure maps, real pirates come to claim their booty.  Will Edward give up the book?

Lesson:  This online book is found on AOL Kids, along with several other stories.  As the narrator reads the story, the words are highlighted for the student reading along.  I chose this of all the stories because it showed the power of reading.  Afterwards, we made a list of the types of adventures it would be fun to read about.  Then the students used the online catalog to search for books about the subject they chose.  [I did this the week after teaching how to use the online catalog.]  This story is found at AOL Kids

Level:  PreK-3rd

OFF THE SHELF -- I Read It, But I Don't Get It

I Read It, But I Don't Get It

by Cris Tovani

Stenhouse Publishers

This book is another gift to my fellow teachers who are preparing to start another year of teaching.  Even if you don't teach reading, even if you don't teach adolescents--this book will help you to create focus in your students as they read your lessons.  It is full of strategies and theories that will be immediately useful, and that will show results. I am a Tovani fan! We all know people who read the page but have no idea what they just read.  Help them focus by incorporating these strategies.

Level:  Professional

OFF THE SHELF---Mini-Lessons for Literature Circles

Mini-lessons for Literature Circles

by Harvey Daniels , Nancy Steineke

Heinemann, 2004

Teachers and Student Interns often ask where I get some of my creative ideas.  I have to give a lot of credit to Harvey Daniels and Nancy Steineke's Mini-lessons for Literature Circles.  While Mr. Daniels previous books on literature circles provided a lot of theory behind the practice, this book provided actual lessons that could be quickly adopted or modified.  It is probably the single most influential professional text for activities that I have read.  I have adapted its tenets for other subject areas and units. 
Level: Professional

How Rocket Learned to Read

How Rocket Learned to Read

by Tad Hills

Random House, 2010

Summary:  In this delightful tale, Rocket is taught to read by his teacher, a yellow bird.  When she flies south for the winter, Rocket continues to practice his reading skills during his vacation. 

Lesson:  This was the last story I read to the Kinder and 1st graders before summer vacation.  They enjoyed sounding out the words with Rocket, showing that they too had learned to read.  At the end, we talked about practicing their reading during their vacation. 

Level:  Pre-K - 2nd