Hello teacher friends! Vibrant reading cultures may look different from classroom to classroom, but a defining feature is the accessibility of desirable books. These weekly newsletters share wonderful titles for you to add to your classroom library.
On the shelf today: A middle grade adventure novel that challenges our notion of "discovery"
Genre: Adventure
Age Range: 9-13
Bring The Last Mapmaker into your classroom as an...
Independent Reading Selection. Our protagonist, twelve-year-old Sai, is keen to make a name for herself in the rigid, hierarchical, imperialistic Kingdom of Mangkon. As the assistant to a legendary mapmaker, Sai's opportunity comes when the Queen sets forth a challenge to explore (and colonize) unchartered territory. Tween readers, with their keen sense of fairness and growing understanding of their individual role in a collective world, will empathize with how Sai navigates the tension between her individual ambition and the common good.
Resource of the Week
Story Skeleton
When writing narratives, teach students to attend to the story elements by describing the main characters, setting, conflict, and theme BEFORE writing their first draft. Start with this one-page "story skeleton" handout and their final stories will be delightful to read.
Have a good one and learn everything you can,
Hannah
