I WONDER Who the Next Amazing Character Will Be?

Wonder by R.J. Palacio - I can't help but wonder what I would have done if I would have met a character like August Pullman.  I have read a lot of books in the past few years, and I am happy to say that this isn't the first time I have been pulled into a character like I was as I read, Wonder by R.J. Palacio. I still wonder what happened with Donald Zinkoff in Jerry Spinelli's book, Loser.  I wonder how long the legacy of Petey Corbin stuck to the people who were able see inside his severely handicapped body in the book, Petey by Ben Mikaelsen. I wonder if Melody found her real voice in the book, Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper. Finally, I can't leave out Kevin in Rodman Philbrick's book, Freak the Mighty. I am sure that I am missing other great characters and other great books.  I hope some of my readers get personally into the characters of their great books the way I was able to hang with August Pullman and his family.

August Pullman is severely deformed.  That might be an understatement. He has a severe case of what is called, Mandibulofacial Dysostosis. R.J. Palacio doesn't describe the extent of his handicap right away, leaving the reader to wonder, "How bad could it be?" Auggie is going to to middle school for the first time.  If there was anywhere that courage is tested, it would be in middle school, especially since up until this time, Auggie has been home schooled by his overprotective mother. Auggie has the love and support of his family to see him through this new adventure where potential bullies and friends mix together testing not only Auggie's courage, but the courage of his family, and anyone who dares to see through his severe deformities.  The unique style of Palacio depicting the effects of living with a brother and friend like Auggie, makes the reader reflect within, searching for their own empathy and wondering, "How would I react if I met Auggie for the first time? Could I be a friend like that?"

Same Gender Classes: A Cost Effective Way to Increase Test Scores

Same gender classes may be cost effective, but at what cost?  Recently there have been many different budget crunching unconventional alternatives in education that promise low cost opportunities that will increase student performance.  Online classes, flipped classes, home school academies, one-to-one technology initiatives, are a few different ways given as education innovations. All of them have their positives and negatives, and some may not be so cost effective.  Same gender classes  might be an option that, with some creative scheduling, may offer a learning option statistically supported to increase student performance and scores.

Separating girls and boys in the public school generates debate into how different students think, and some even wonder if it is discrimination. GreatSchools.org says that there are many factors that must be considered when discussing same gender classes.  The physical and mental development of the whole child needs to be examined to determine if a single gender class is the perfect set up before a move like this should be made. Professional development for teachers will also need consideration for teachers to understand the differences in male and female learners.

The idea of same gender classes is fascinating discussion, and it was presented to the sixth grade students at our school.  Each class was given some of the resources attached to this blog to build their background knowledge on what the pros and cons of same gender classes might be.  For one entire class period, our sixth graders were separated and taught in a single gender atmosphere.  The lesson involved three levels of learning, considering silent reading and responding individually, working in pairs to complete a task, and finally in small groups to end the hour and provide a summary to the lesson.  All of these parts may make up the lessons of a mixed gender class almost every day.

What were the results?  As part of this assignment, I am asking my sixth graders to express their thinking on the topic of same gender classes. As a participant of our activity, what did you think?  Did you change your mind about same gender classes?  What was the most powerful thing you noticed? Let the discussion begin.

Check out our November post from last year. See what kids had to say last year.

As a reader and observer of this post, check out the resources attached. Feel free to comment on what you think about same gender classes as a cost effective way for schools to improve student performance.

Cyber Bullying - A 21st Century Dilemma

Headlines: Half of teens 15 to 18 bullied someone in the last year!
It's almost hard to believe the data.  First of all, who would admit to being a bully? According to this headline, is anybody safe in our high schools?  Like a lot of articles, the headlines can be a little deceiving.  Many of us will admit that we didn't treat someone as nice as we should have, or we have been made to feel inadequate by someone else. That doesn't make a bully. Many of those same people are outstanding citizens. The problem comes with the definition of what a bully truly is. According to Stopbullying.gov:

Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. Both kids who are bullied and who bully others may have serious, lasting problems. 

I Am Number Four - This year's series for young readers

I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore:  How about another exciting science fiction thriller series where all of your main characters have supper powers, and must overcome tremendous odds in order to stay alive, save the planet against some of the most ruthless beasts imaginable, and salvage relationships with potential allies and each other?  That sounds like a lot, but it is not unlike some of the most popular young adult series' on the shelves today.  Hunger Games by Susanne Collins, The Maze Runner by James Dashner, Maximum Ride by James Patterson, and Dust Lands by Moira Young all share similarities in plot details. Earth may be in a post apocalyptic condition, environmentally or socially destroyed, with rogue governments seeking to rule or destroy it, but these teen characters are given the gifts needed to overcome all evil, and perhaps promise a future of peace and tranquility.

Interesting Photo, Your Caption

Created by Shamus Clisset

In Readers Digest they have a feature where the magazine publishes an interesting photo, and the readers submit what they think the caption or headline will be. My challenge for you is to be creative and fun with this interesting photo. Be original.  I'll start it.  You continue it.  Don't be afraid to praise creative comments as well.

Check out some of our past photos and comments: snake  and  house

More Political Cartoon Ponderings

Political cartoons are a fun way to get a new perspective on issues and current events.  Artists creatively use metaphors of language to make readers have to think beyond the literal.  It is a great visual activity to promote your thinking. Study the political cartoon.  How is the author using this cartoon of a teenager to send a message?  Be sure to explain  your thinking.  Can you think of another way the author could creatively display a similar message?

Teaching 9/11 to Students Who Don't Know Enough to Care

It has been 12 years since the tragic day of September 11, 2001 when America fell victim to a massive east coast terrorist attack that shocked our nation and lured us into a brutal 10 year war. I am sure that classrooms around the country commemorated the event with various lessons and activities. In my class we read various articles that discuss 9/11 from different points of view as well as videos that show some of the most important images of that day and the days that followed. The question is, should 9/11 finally move into the pages of the regular history books, or should it still be given special regard, ceremonies, and extra class time?

A Good Book For Reluctant Male Readers

Monster by Walter Dean Myers: 

Steve Harmon is facing one of the most terrifying situations of his life.  He is looking at possible life in prison; an adult prison.  Steve is only 16 years old. Steve got caught up in the inner city life of New York City where poverty, gangs, drugs, and violent crime influence urban survival for many kids every day.  While waiting for his trial to take place, Steve starts to write down his experiences and feelings in jail waiting with some of the cities hardest criminals.  He reflects on the series of events that led to the shooting on the fateful day.  Steve’s writes in the genre of a movie script which includes all the mood details of each scene right down to the camera angles. The reader follows Steve and his emotional trip through the entire trial, witness examinations, opening and closing arguments, and taking the stand in his own defense. The reader can judge Steve like the jury and decide what his fate should be.

More Teen Characters Dealing with Adult Issues

Peeled by Joan  Bauer:  Sometimes an author gets into a theme that seems to play out in all of the books they write.  It's almost like some of the popular book series that are out their now, but each book is actually different.  The thing that connects all of the books are the types of problems, the type of characters, and how the problems are solved.  This is the case with Joan Bauer's book, "Peeled".  Joan  Bauer has over 12 books published that are all different, but all contain some kind of wayward teenager, a bit of disfunctionalism in the family, an adult mentoring character, and best friends. The most common denominator in  her books seem to be the fact that the adults in the stories seem to be ignorant, incompetent, misguided, and dependent on the teens to solve the major problems in the community.

Can We Take Living In America For Granted?

Behind the Mountains by Edwidge Danticat:
I have read a lot of books about refugees from countries that are torn by war and political strife.  Vietnam, Germany, Russia, the Middle East, and various African nations are just some of the regions that have become the setting for popular young adult novels in recent years.  This summer I  had the opportunity to read a few books about refugees from Haiti and Cuba. Learning about the political history of some of the countries in the Caribbean was a eye opener.  I am familiar with the published history book versions.  The books I read gave me a perspective into the hardships of families surviving political turmoil, the desire to move to the Untied States to escape persecution, and the sometimesunderhanded role the United States may have played in the region. This often times leads to new hardships in a country that was supposed to be so full of promise.