More History

Countdown by Deborah Wiles (ISBN 978-0545106054)

This one was in my to-read pile for a long time. Deborah Wiles calls it a "documentary novel." The narrative is interspersed with historical photographs and short biographies of people important to the events of 1962. It's not exactly multi-media, but almost. Actually, it would be cool if they included a cd of the music of the time, since Franny, the main character talks a lot about it. 1962 was the year of the Cuban Missile Crisis, and since Franny's dad is in the Air Force, the crisis is very real to her. The book is an effective way for kids of 2012 to learn what this was all about, and to marvel at what it must have been like to "duck and cover" in school (maybe not so different from the post-Columbine lock-down drills we do today?) Franny is a realistic kid, trying to work through growing up while being terrified that she'll never have a chance to.

Legend of the Blue Frog by Dianne de las Casas (ISBN 978-1455614592)
This one was disappointing. I always do a kindergarten lesson on the origin of chocolate around Valentine's Day, and I thought this would be a good addition. However, the story is too simplistic, and there is a very significant TYPO that actually changes the pattern of the story!  Can't spend the money on this one.

A Framework for Understanding Poverty by Ruby K. Payne (ISBN 978-1929229482)
Every summer I pick a theme for professional development, read and take notes on the theme, and plan ways to implement what I learn in the coming year. This summer my theme is poverty and how it effects kids in school. This was a great introduction. Payne describes an "additive" model (vs. a "deficit" model) that posits that we all have strengths when we are immersed in the culture we grow up in, but when we move outside that culture we struggle. She describes the techniques teachers can use to add to our students skills, rather than demeaning them or writing them off as hopeless.