To ease you off the hammock this August, we've lined up an inviting group of recommendations. Suggestions on back-to-school picture books, multimedia resources about graphic fiction and nonfiction, guides to teaching tech-savvy students, and information about (and some cool web resources from) the National Archives top our list, while authors' contributions include a blog entry by Mariko Tamiko, and an interview with Jewell Parker Rhodes.
If these features don't get you into the swing of the new academic year, well frankly, we don't know what will. Enjoy!
Sincerely,
Daryl Grabarek,
Editor, Curriculum Connections
dgrabarek@mediasourceinc.com
P.S. We asked, you answered. Readers share their favorite first-day-of-school read alouds.
Make These Curriculum Connections
School Is Cool: Fabulous Books for Reading Aloud
Burgeoning with optimism and unadulterated fun, these gold-star picture books are sure to alleviate students' first-day worries, generate enthusiasm for things to come, and set the tone for the best school year ever. It will be smiles all around as children enjoy stories that blend realistic back-to-school situations and emotions with a bit of whimsy here, a comfortingly upbeat touch there, and an always-satisfying resolution. In addition to solid storytelling, these books also feature eye-catching illustrations in an array of vivid hues and varied artistic styles. Share these tales to welcome your students, reel in their boisterous energy, and begin to build a classroom community. more » » »
Nick's Picks
Nick's Picks: Selected Resources from TeachingBooks.net
Whether they are used to hook reluctant readers or to present topics in a different format, graphic fiction and nonfiction represent some of the exciting new resources available to today's educators. The multimedia materials recommended in this month's column will provide you with instructional support as you integrate sequential art into lesson plans. more » » »
Interview
The Magic and Mystery of Jewell Parker Rhodes's Ninth Ward
Jewell Parker Rhodes was raised by her grandmother, "a southern girl," who, states the author, provided her with the perfect entrée "to understanding the complicated, magical, and mystical world of New Orleans." This world is palpable in several of the American Book Award recipient's titles for adults and in her first book for children, Ninth Ward. New Orleans and its ghosts play a role in that book, as do Mama Ya-Ya, Lanesha, and TaShon, characters who find themselves in a parish below the levees as Hurricane Katrina makes its way toward the Louisiana Delta. In this interview Rhodes discusses her influences and characters, New Orleans, and the aspects of the novel that make it, ultimately, "joyful." more » » »
A Virtual Field Trip
Exploring Regional History at the National Archives
If you only associate the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) with Washington, DC, you're in for a pleasant surprise. NARA also operates Regional Archives at 13 locations around the United States, maybe one right in your own backyard! Each Regional Archive preserves records produced and collected by federal agencies within a specific multi-state area, creating a treasure trove of regional history. more » » »
Behind the Books
Behind the Books...Mariko Tamaki on "Voice in Comic Strips"
The incredible thing about comics, to me, is the medium's diversity. Some people hear the word "comics" and are reminded of newsprint pages filled with superheroes. Others see shelves of manga tightly stacked, while some readers are more familiar with hardbound graphic novels and nonfiction volumes. All of these formats and types of books rightly describe comics. Read more at TeachingBooks.net » » »
Professional Shelf
Tech-Savvy Teachers
Spend an hour at the local mall, in a suburban park, or on a busy city street and it's soon apparent that technology is a can't-do-without feature of our students' lives. From video games to MP3 players to smartphones, kids are connected, while some schools struggle to keep pace with technology. Many teachers (and parents) worry about the negative impact of these electronic marvels, and others long to tap into their educational potential. No matter where you stand in this debate, it's clear that technology is influencing how and what we teach. more » » »
In this Issue
It's only four letters, but her name confuses many people. Author An Na clarifies.
Born to be Wild: Young adult author Libba Bray offers the low-down on music, cow suits, and Going Bovine.
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