Book Title: The Giver
Author: Lois Lowry
Publish Date: 1993
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Series: The Giver Quartet
The Giver Book Review | Elements of Elementary
The Giver by Lois Lowry

Awards: 1994 Newbery Award

Suggested Grade: 6th, 7th, 8th, High School

Suggested Format: Whole Group, Small Group, Independent Reading

Synopsis: 
Jonah lives in a perfect world: no pain, no war, no fear. Everyone has a role in the Community, and everyone lives in harmony. Every year, a rite of passage assigns 12-year-olds to training for their future jobs in the Community. At the ritual, however, Jonas' name is passed by. He is singled out instead to become an apprentice to the Giver, the man who holds all of the Community's memories and history. As Jonas learns the truth, however, his world will never be the same again.


Teacher's Notes: 
This is a wonderful book for older students, and has quickly become a staple of the Junior High classroom. A lighter version of the dystopian/utopian concept, this is a great lead into more complex and meaningful discussions in the classroom. A must read for all students.


Overall: 10/10

How I Got the Book: Purchased for my collection

Suggested Interests: Dystopia, Fiction, Fantasy
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Book Title: The War Within These Walls
Author: Aline Sax
Illustrator: Caryl Strzelecki
Publish Date: 2013
Publisher: Eerdman's Books for Young Readers
The War Within These Walls Book Review | Elements of Elementary
The War Within These Walls by Aline Sax


Suggested Grade: 7th, 8th, High School

Suggested Format: Independent Reading, Small Group

Synopsis: 
The War Within These Walls is a compelling read about the Holocaust of World War II. The narrator is a young (teenage) Jew living in Warsaw, Poland. The story starts when the first relocation of Jews in Poland began after the German occupation, and ends in the rebellion of Jews still remaining in the walled ghetto of Warsaw.
This book is very true to the nature of the cruelties that children lived through during this time. Holocaust, injury, genocide, torture, and death are all present. While it is written in a fictional format, it is very much a non-fiction tale of what really happened.


Teacher's Notes: 
For classroom use, however, this book will be on my personal bookshelf. It will only be shared with students who are ready (and whose parents agree are ready) to read the book with an understanding of the dark, stark factual representation of death that occurred. While the reading level is fairly simple, most of my students are not emotionally ready for the portrayal of death in this story.

A wonderful read for mature students and adults, however, this book is a reminder of the horrors of history that are often glazed over in history class.

Overall: 10/10

How I Got the Book: ARC from publisher through LibraryThing

Suggested Interests: War, Historical Fiction
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Book Title: A Wrinkle in Time
Author: Madeline L'Engle
Publish Date: 1962
Publisher: Dell Publishing Company
Series: A Wrinkle in Time series #1
A Wrinkle in Time Book Review | Elements of Elementary
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle

Awards: Newbery Winner

Suggested Grade: 5th, 6th, 7th grade and up

Suggested Format: Whole class, Independent reading, Small group

Synopsis: 
Meg Murray feels like a misfit. No one at school understands her, her teachers think she's dumb, her peers think she's weird, and to top it all off, the adults are all whispering behind her back that her dad has run off. It's true, Meg's dad is missing. But he was working on a super-secret project as a physicist, and Meg just knows he's going to return soon. And then there's Charles Wallace, her genius little brother who won't talk around anyone but family. Meg isn't sure how she is going to make it through school until one wild and stormy night when Charles Wallace introduces her to Mrs. Whatsit. 
Meg is thrown into a whirlwind of events where she meets Calvin, a student a few grades ahead of her at school, three "stars," Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which, and is tessered across the universe in search of her father. With the help of her brother and her new friends, Meg must figure out how to use the wrinkles in time and her own uniqueness to save her father.

Teacher's Notes: 
I haven't put this book down since I was in 5th grade! (I read it at least once a year, sometimes more) I wholly recommend it for anyone, including adults! The concepts are a bit tricky, so I would suggest 5th grade unless the reader has a voracious vocabulary. Well, written, creative, positive, and perfectly balanced, this is a definite 10/10.


Overall: 10/10

How I Got the Book: Purchased for my collection

Suggested Interests: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Fiction
6:00 AM
Here it is, ready or not: Back to School Orientation for parents. You have everything out, you're excited, you're nervous, and then that one parent walks in the door. You know the one that I mean. The one who wants to find fault with everything, or tell everyone about their old school, or argue that that isn't they way they learned it, or even the one with 12 kids around their legs (or pets, heaven forbid!) who spend the evening undoing your nice neat classroom. And you're stuck holding the bag, with an orientation that is disrupted and miserable for everyone involved. We've all been there, or at least, I'd like to think we have. I'd hate to be alone!

It's time for teachers to take back these parent sessions! I'm here to provide information, answer questions, and help parents. I am doing my job if I do not give in to the few parents who would, intentionally or unintentionally, derail the meeting. 

8 Ways to Own Your Parent Orientation | Elements of Elementary
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Book Title: The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
Author: Kate DiCamillo
Illustrator: Bagram Ibatoulline
Publish Date: 2007
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Edward Tulane Book Review | Elements of Elementary
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo


Suggested Grade: 3rd, 4th, 5th grade

Suggested Format: Independent reading

Synopsis: 
Edward Toulane is a very vain china rabbit, with no thought for anyone or anything but himself. He is given the best of everything, and has no reason to change his thinking until one day when he is lost over the side of a boat and sinks to the ocean floor. Feeling an emotion other than pride and smugness for the first time in his life, Edward is afraid. He is found by a fisherman, and finally begins to feel something for people, when he is discarded by another. This book chronicles his tragic and wonderful travels as he journeys through love, pain, fear, and sadness to discover what it truly means to be.

Teacher's Notes: 
This book is beautifully illustrated, and will catch the eye of even some of the more reluctant readers in your classroom. It is a very sad book, with many emotional journeys. As an adult, I cried when I read the book. I would suggest that 3rd grade teachers and parents consider their individual child before selecting this book for them, as it can come across as a bit depressing, although it details a very realistic emotional journey through life.

Overall: 9/10

How I Got the Book: Purchased for my classroom

Suggested Interests: Fiction, Toys
7:00 AM


I'm sure I'm not the only one who is putting off Back to School planning by "planning" on Pinterest! Today while I was in one of those wandering, searching modes on Pinterest, I realized I was trying to repin ideas I had found last year. Even more embarrassing for myself-they were great ideas that I had never used in my classroom because I forgot they were there!

If I'm trying to save this great idea more than once, I MUST really like it, right? So I decided to make a list of my top 10. What pins have been repinned and shared the most this month, and what pins am I still wanting to use for Back to School? 

Here are my Top 10:

1. A Peek at the Week: A great free resource to help get us organized for Back to School! Original Blog post by Ms. Houser here.



2. Back to School Read Alouds for Big Kids: I can't wait to try some of these out! Original blog post by Mrs. Beer's Language Arts Class here.



3. 9 Math YouTube Channels for Kids: Do I even need to explain this one? :) Original post by IGameMom here.



4. 10 Rhetorical Questions Teachers Shouldn't Ask, & 10 Effective Replacements: This is something I always need to work on! Original blog post by Blair Turner here.



5. Grungeball: A fun way to engage kiddos in multiple subject areas. Original blog post on To Engage them All here.



6. 7 Great Apps for Social Studies: With a 1-1 classroom, I'm always looking for great new apps. Original article on EdTech Review here.



7. Team building activities for Back to School: I really want to incorporate more team building and group activities this year. Original blog post on Runde's Room here.





8. Make Thinking Visible - Tug of War: I am trying this on DAY ONE with my class! (I have tried to repin this so many times lately, so I must really want to try it!) Original blog post by Secondgradealicious here.



9. Order of Operations Madness: It's back and better than ever! Math that my boys (and girls!) LOVE. I am definitely utilizing this again this year! TPT product link here.



10. Close Reading in general. This one was a tie, so I included a pin that links to lots of great Close Reading activities. I use all of these in the classroom every year, some as whole group activities, and some as small group intervention or assessment. TPT product link here.



There you are, (and there I am!) my Top 10 Pinterest Pins from July 2015. I can't wait to utilize these in...17 days! YIKES!

What are your top 10 pins for the month? I would love for you to share in the comments below!


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