Posts Tagged librarians

The Spooky Season is Almost Here! (Let’s get ready)

By on September 12, 2024   /   Book Lists, For Kids  

As Halloween creeps closer, it’s the perfect time to gather some spooky middle-grade reads to get into the eerie spirit! Here’s a roundup of five novels that will have young readers on the edge of their seats—but not too scared to sleep!

The Ghost Rules by Adam Rosenbaum

Why: Rosenbaum expertly walks the line between hilarious and heartbreaking.

Twelve-year-old Elwood McGee has the rare ability to see ghosts, and while they’re more nosy than scary, he’s determined to use his power to reconnect with his late brother. With the help of two friends, Elwood embarks on a heartwarming and humorous journey (the world of ghosts is surprisingly funny!) through the ghostly realm, learning about grief and letting go.

Hart & Souls by Lisa Schmid

Why: No one captures the middle-grade voice better than Lisa Schmid!

Stix Hart just wants to fly under the radar in middle school, but things take a spooky turn when he discovers three ghostly students who need his help. Now, Stix must summon his courage to solve the mystery of their decades-long stay and help them move on—before time runs out.

The Inn Between by Marina Cohen

Why: Scary and thought-provoking in equal measure.

Eleven-year-old Quinn embarks on a trip with her best friend, Kara, and Kara’s family, only to find themselves stranded in a creepy Victorian hotel where strange disappearances and eerie happenings unfold. As Quinn and Kara search for Kara’s missing family, they must unravel the hotel’s dark secrets before it’s too late.

Midnight at the Barclay Hotel by Fleur Bradley

Why: Bradley is a masterful mystery writer.

When JJ Jacobson’s weekend ghost-hunting trip turns into a real-life murder mystery, he must team up with his new friends to clear his mother’s name. With a killer on the loose and the possibility of meeting ghosts, this is one getaway JJ will never forget.

The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier

Why: Auxier creates a creepy atmosphere that leaps right off the page.

Two abandoned Irish siblings find work at a decaying English manor, only to discover a haunting specter and an ancient curse that threatens their lives. This Victorian ghost story weaves a chilling tale of greed and the power of storytelling, delivering a mesmerizing, timeless read.

These five books will add just the right amount of spooky fun to any reader’s fall reading list, making them perfect companions for a thrilling Halloween season!

This is my last post for MUF! While I’ve had a blast sharing favorite titles with you over the years, I’ll be shifting my focus to writing (and finishing!) novels and book coaching. Hope to see you out in the real world sometime soon but in the meantime visit my linktree and let’s connect! Happy reading and writing, friends!

 

 

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STEM Tuesday — Inventions that Changed the World — In the Classroom

By on September 10, 2024   /   Inventors / Inventions, STEM Tuesday  

 

Inventions are new ideas or things that people create to make life easier or more fun. They help solve problems and improve how we live, like how light bulbs give us light or airplanes help us fly. Inventions make the world a better and exciting place! How have inventions changed your life? These books explore inventors and their inventions. They make a great starting point for invention classroom discussions and activities!

Invent It!
Written by Rob Beattie

This fun and informative guide walks readers through the entire invention process, from brainstorming and prototyping all the way through production and marketing. Kids can follow along with their own ideas, learning practical tips along the way while being inspired by some of history’s best breakthroughs…and biggest flops!

 

Classroom Activity

We use inventions every day, at home, work, and school. Ask students walk about the classroom and write down the inventions they find. Have each student pick one invention and answer the following questions:

  • What is the invention?
  • What problem does it solve?
  • How was this problem addressed before this invention existed?
  • What else solves this problem?
  • How does this invention make life easier?

Tell students to imagine the invention does not exist. Have them brainstorm an alternate way or new invention to solve the problem.

 

Engineered!: Engineering Design at Work
Written by Shannon Hunt & illustrated by James Gulliver Hancock

This book is eye-opening because it shows young readers that engineering can solve many problems, from how to land a rover on Mars to saving a herd of caribou from potential extinction. A helpful seven-step flowchart of the engineering design process is also featured, encouraging future engineers.

Classroom Activity

Everyone can be an inventor! Most inventions are created to solve a problem. Have students identify a problem and brainstorm possible solutions. Students can design an invention to solve the problem. Students should follow the step-by-step engineering design process. Next, students can build a prototype of their invention using common classroom or home materials. When the prototypes are built, students can demonstrate them for the class. In their classroom demonstration, students should answer the following questions: How does their invention work? What problem does it solve? How will their invention make life easier?

 

Black Inventors: 15 Inventions that Changed the World
by Kathy Trusty

This biography compilation chronicles the journeys of 15 incredible inventors who changed the world with products like hair brushes, traffic lights, and home security systems. Each chapter includes a short biography of an inventor, information about the significance of their invention, and follow-up questions for reflection and further investigation.

 

How to Become an Accidental Genius
Written by Elizabeth MacLeod and Frieda Wishinsky, & illustrated by Jenn Playford

Structured as a how-to guide for would-be inventors, this fun book cultivates the mindsets needed for innovation. The chapters are organized to highlight the role that experimentation, failure, and coincidences can play in the engineering process and the importance of being open to new possibilities. The inventor profiles feature a mix of well-known pioneers, like George Washington Carver; lesser-known historical figures, like Hedy Lamarr; and contemporary young people, like Hayley Todesco.

Classroom Activity

Inventors have changed the world with their inventions. Students can select a famous or lesser-known inventor to research. Ask them to investigate their inventor’s personal history, challenges, and contributions to the world. Using the information they have learned; students can create a homemade replica of one of the inventor’s inventions. Students can create a presentation about their inventor and his/her inventions for the class.

 

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Carla Mooney loves to explore the world around us and discover the details about how it works. An award-winning author of numerous nonfiction science books for kids and teens, she hopes to spark a healthy curiosity and love of science in today’s young people. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, three kids, and dog. Find her at http://www.carlamooney.com, on Facebook @carlamooneyauthor, or on X @carlawrites.

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MG Novel and Nonfiction Study: Visual, Auditory, and Kinesthetic Strategies

By on September 5, 2024   /   For Teachers  

Writing JournalDo you enjoy maps and diagrams more than directions told to you aloud? Do you love listening to an audiobook while driving, cooking, or gardening? Do your hobbies include crafting, sculpting, building models, woodworking, or jigsaw puzzles?

It’s been theorized that our interests, preferences, and hobbies may point to a “type” or “style” of learning we enjoy. Different theories about learning styles exist; for example, multiple intelligence theory discusses our different “intelligences” (pathways that help us learn) such as logical-mathematical, visual-spatial, and inter- and intrapersonal. And researchers continue to study the possible ways that areas of the brain might be responsible for different styles of learning.  

Another much-discussed learning styles theory is the VAK typology: visual, auditory, kinesthetic. While evidence has not proven that overall learning is greatly impacted by one particular style of gaining knowledge, offering a variety of learning strategies with visual, auditory, and kinesthetic components may promote interest in lessons and activities, including novel and nonfiction study.

The study of charts, graphs, and tables, for example, is generally considered a visual learning technique; taking notes, typing, and flipping flashcards can be ways to get “in touch” with tactile learning options. And individuals who prefer read-aloud time or a lecture may gravitate toward auditory learning techniques.

Teachers, parents, librarians, and homeschoolers of middle graders as well as writers looking for new ways to promote their MG works might consider kicking off the new school year with some reflection on the VAK model and how it relates to a middle grader’s experience with the text in their hands. Since some readers may enjoy different “types” of learning, a varied approach with options for strategies and assessment may be most helpful in promoting interest and engagement.

As with all classroom suggestions, be sure to account for sensitivity considerations for those with individualized learning needs.

Strategies and Activities for Kinesthetic Skills Practice:

  • Use sticky notes to handwrite annotations and reader reactions; peel and stick in place in a class copy of a novel. Trade copies with a partner to flip through their thoughts.
  • Build a model of a setting. What tactile materials might be used, for example, to represent the rocky desert conditions near Alamo Lake in Dusti Bowling’s Across the Desert? What objects could be used to show main character Jolene’s path to rescue Addie and escape from the desert?
  • Copy physical descriptions from the text onto paper, then cut and paste individual descriptive phrases onto a drawn or 3-D model of a key figure, an object, or a setting. Three-dimensional models work well to show different sides of a character and the ways they change throughout the story.
  • Construct prototypes or to-scale models for nonfiction units on inventions, planets, technology, and many other subjects.

Strategies and Activities for Visual Skills Practice:

  • Find, create, study, or model artwork associated with a text, such as select Vermeer works for those reading Blue Balliett’s Chasing Vermeer.
  • Study and compare the cover art for a novel with different editions.
  • Offer texts with some illustrations at the MG level, as well as texts with a typeface that offers a change of pace – think David Walliams’s Demon Dentist with its whole-page boldfaced character reactions, its use of page layout for onomatopoetic effects, and its use of bulleted lists.
  • Read, write, and share graphic novels. Kelly Yang’s Finally Seen may lead to exploration of several published graphic novels as main character Lina becomes a fan.
  • Chart or graph the visual context clues in illustrations from a graphic novel that are not included in the text.

Strategies and Activities for Auditory Skills Practice:

  • Turn dialogue into a script for dramatized oral readings.
  • Incorporate discussions and Socratic seminars for small and large classroom groups.
  • Record an exciting passage of a novel read aloud, using vocal tone, pace, and pauses to represent suspense.
  • Perform a radio show-style scene from the MG work, complete with sound effects and music cues. A spooky tale might work nicely here, or a paranormal adventure like Joe McGee’s The Haunted Mustache.

 

Thanks for reading, and a great school year to all MG readers, writers, teachers, and parents!

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