History Fix- Writing & History Lessons

It's been a lazy, rainy afternoon in the Whitehair household. My to-do list has been a mile long for awhile now, but the weather today made for the perfect accompaniment to a movie afternoon with the hubby, so that's what we did. Now I'm off to try to knock a few things off that list, but not before linking up with Amanda & Stacia for their mentor text linky! {It's Amanda's birthday too, so be sure to head to their blog and leave her some birthday love!}

A quick blip, from my friends at Amazon:

Clover's mom says it isn't safe to cross the fence that segregates their African-American side of town from the white side where Anna lives. But the two girls strike up a friendship, and get around the grown-ups' rules by sitting on top of the fence together.

It's a simple, but powerful story, that opens the door to talking about civil rights and racism.

This last year, one teacher I co-taught with introduced me to WritingFix a website full of great lesson ideas, a few of which we used/tweaked to switch things up. Today, as I was wracking my brain for a book to share, I stumbled upon another part of this website: HistoryFix.

A sister site to WritingFix, HistoryFix combines history topics with potential writing prompts. Almost 30 book and lessons are currently posted. Worth a look during plan times :)The Other Side is included in one of the lesson ideas and can be found here.

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Mentor Text Linky: The Flag We Love

Summer is just completely flying by! I cannot believe that this is the last week of June!

One of my favorite link-ups is with the great gals from Collaboration Cuties. With all of my books in disarray still from trying to get them all scanned in (this little project keeps getting bumped down on my to-do list), I've neglected to link up (too hard to try and remember a good book to share.) However, I've been to the library this week and I'm back with a great patriotic find; just in time to usher in July.

From the School Library Journal:

"A poetical history of the U.S. flag. Each double-page spread features a four-line, rhymed verse of mediocre quality and a box of well- and little-known trivia on the left, and a full-page painting on the right. The stronger illustrations include such moving scenes as the train carrying Lincoln's coffin, the Vietnam War Memorial, and an astronaut walking on the moon with a U.S. flag reflected in his visor."

With the upcoming holiday, I thought that this could be a good read to share. I enjoy Pam Munoz Ryan's books and this was one I hadn't discovered before. The illustrations do great to showcase the simple, yet moving poetic works. The trivia along the side adds a bit of fun along the way with more in depth information.

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Mentor Text: Wants vs. Needs

Happy Memorial Day everyone! I've been enjoying the day with family and friends and I'm so very thankful to live in this country, with the freedoms I have, thanks to all of the military members past and present. To all active military and veterans, thank you!

I've been slacking a bit with blogging here of late. School was out for students last Wednesday (crazy that in just a couple of days a week of summer will have already come and gone!) I've spent a lot of time catching up with the last of my college friends that were finishing up school before they move around the state and across the country. I've also been pinning away a ton of summer project todo's and lesson ideas for ELA this next year. Be on the look out this week for all sorts of todo's, reflections, and fun stuff along the way.

I'm linking up a little late with the Collaboration Cuties for the great linkup. (I cannot wait to look back over all of the previous link up... major book order coming soon!) This week's topic is Social Studies. Since I haven't taught social studies since practicums during my undergraduate work, some weeks I have to scratch my head and think before a book comes to me. This week I finally remembered one from those good ol' practicums days: Those Shoes.

All Jeremy wants is a pair of "those shoes", you know the ones... the ones that everyone at school seems to be wearing. Unfortunately Jeremy's grandma says they don't have room for "wants" just "needs". When his old shoes fall apart at school we wants "those shoes" even more. After various attempts Jereme soon see the things that he does have, warm boots, a grandma who loves him, and the chance to help others out--- things that are worth more than "those shoes".

It was a cute book (the illustrations really showcase the text well) with a great message. Whether the students in your class are those with or without those shoes or whatever the "hot" item might be, I feel that they can sympathize with Jeremy and be glad with the choices that he eventually makes. 

A great conversation starter for the wants and needs of life. 

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Blogs, Bagels, & Books!

For those of you who have followed this blog for awhile now, you may now that I am a big fan of Donna from Math Coach's Corner. I've bought several of her products and have used them with even my students who struggle the most; the great part is through her attention to detail in lessons and games my students "get it." It's amazing.

Something else that I find a little amazing is the fact that Donna bopped by my blog this week. Not only that, but she contacted me last night to tell me she is featuring that post on her Blogs & Bagels weekly spot today! I was just a wee bit excited when I read that last night. I'm not sure my husband truly understood why I had the level of excitement that I did.

 

If you would like to see my math games post that was featured you can click on the picture below. Or, an even better idea, click to go back to Donna's blog, read up on my post and four others and then click to follow for more great math ideas throughout the week!

Onward now to a great linky that is going to hurt my wallet in the very near future: Mentor Texts with the Collaboration Cuties. (Scholastic Warehouse sale is coming up in a couple of weeks and my wishlist has grown exponentially due to this linky, and garage sales are popping up...)

This week the topic is social studies. I tried very hard this week to narrow it down to just one book; this was not an easy feat! I have a deep love for history, so I have worked hard to include engaging nonfiction and historical fiction books within my classroom library. Today I'm highlighting a book from one of my all time favorite children's authors: Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco.

Below is what Leah Polacco shared about the book, I think she does a much more fitting job than I do of telling about this heartwarming story.

 Pink and Say highlights the brief but intimate friendship of two young boys, Pinkus Aylee (Pink) and Sheldon Curtis (Say), during the Civil War. When wounded attempting to escape his unit, Say is rescued by Pink, who carries him back to his Georgia home where he and his family were slaves. While the frightened soldier is nursed back to health under the care of Pink’s mother, Moe Moe Bay, he begins to understand why his new found friend is so adamant on returning to the war; to fight against "the sickness" that is slavery. However it isn’t until marauders take Moe Moe Bay’s life, that Say is driven to fight. Although ultimately, both boys are taken prisoners of the Confederate Army, fortunately Say survives and was unable to pass along the story of Pink and Say to his daughter Rosa, Patricia Polacco’s great grandmother. As it was told, Pink was hanged just shortly after being taken prisoner, therefore Patricia’s book "serves as a written memory" of him. At the end of the story Patricia bids the reader, "Before you put this book down, say his name (Pinkus Aylee) out loud and vow to remember him always."

One of the more heartwarming moments of the story is when Say tells Pink and his mother that he once shook the hand of Abraham Lincoln. Convinced that his encounter is a "sign" of hope, Say reaches for Pink’s hand, exclaiming, "Now you can say you touched the hand that shook the hand of Abraham Lincoln!" At the end of the story when the boys are separated, Pink reaches for Say one last time to touch his hand.
After hearing this story from Patricia Polacco in the words of generations preceding, I eagerly touched her hand; the hand that has touched the hand, that has touched the hand… I can assure you, the hope is still alive!

One last resource that I want to share with you. The Smithsonian's History Explorer has over 300 books cataloged that would be great to draw from for any social studies unit. This site seems to be updated frequently as well. Each book has a brief synopsis, whether it's fiction or nonfiction, and a grade level band that the book would be appropriate for. This is just one little segment of a website with a wealth of information. 

Be sure to link up and share your favorite social studies texts with the Collaboration Cuties!

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Chicka-Chicka-Boom-Boom!

Chicka-Chicka-Boom-Boom... A project from a Kindergarten classroom!

I've always enjoyed this particular alphabet book, and in my years working with toddlers it was always a big hit with the kiddos. I couldn't help sharing a project I noticed this week that incorporated this book! I'm not sure if this is Pinterest inspired or how this project got to rolling, but I had to share.

The teacher has a massive alphabet tree outside her room. Her class is corresponding with classrooms allover the country who send letters telling about their class as well as sending a letter for the tree as well. How cool is that?

If you would like more information on this project just comment and I'll get the details from this Kindergarten teacher. What a fun way to review the alphabet throughout the year and a little bit of social studies too!

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