Longer Pieces of Literature

Call It Courage: Or first novel of the year, with five chapters in seven sections, recommended for how it captures the imagination. This Newbery Award winning novel is consistently a favorite with students for the adventure of the tale and with the teacher for the the opportunity to teach targeted skills. 

The Iliad and Greek Mythology: 

We read aloud several plays written by Zachary Hamby. Zachary Hamby is an educator who, when he took out Edith Hamilton's Mythology, discovered a pit created by academic language. Mr. Hamby sought a new way to explore this fantastic material that students might actually be able to understand and enjoy. 

Reading the plays allows students to become part of the story, interact witht the text, and with other people. In addition, we were able to connect to what they have learned in social studies with Andrew Bergang, and make real the world of Greece as it existed thousands of years ago; a land of fantastic tales and living people. 

Fever 1793: We are reading the novel, completing comprehension questions, and writing journals all based on the book by Laurie Halse Anderson.

This novel was chosen for its excellence and its connection to infectious disease, which is part of the 6th grade science curriculum. It is realistic, historical fiction, a story told through the experiences and observations of Mattie Cook, who is living a fairly ordinary life in Philadelpha until the Yellow Fever Epidemic strikes. 

Students will be allowed to keep one copy of the book at home and use a copy off the shelves here at school if they wish.

Love that Dog:

Shorter Pieces of Literature

Street Magic by

What is a Hero

Why Books are Dangerous

Poetry