Peter W. Schroeder and Dagmar Schroeder-Hildebrand have written a very easy to read book about one small town's creation of Holocaust Memorial. 8th grade students, participating in an after-school, voluntary class about the Holocaust have difficulty quantifying the figure of 6 million. In an attempt to better understand the horrific statistic, the students begin to collect 6 million paper clips. What began as a simple idea to visualize a number, became a world-wide labor of love. Students in Whitwell, Tennessee eventually collected close to 30 million paper clips.
The students built a memorial. An authentic cattle car houses 11 million paper clips, while a second memorial houses an additional 11 million. The remaining paper clips are sent to other children who are also attempting to collect the millions of paper clips necessary to honor the victims of the genocide.
Six Million Paper Clips is a phenomenal story of learning about and teaching tolerance.
Monday, May 31, 2010
One Candle
At the Scholastic Book Fair I found a tremendous amount of Holocaust related books. I was looking for materials for my lower-level students and came across some wonderful paperback stories. As the majority of my students are Christian and aren't familiar with Jewish customs and holidays, Eve Bunting's One Candle, serves two purposes.
One Candle is a beautifully written picture book about a Hanukkah celebration that is so much more than just a miracle of light. A family retells the Hanukkah that was celebrated during "the bad time". The beautiful images created by K. Wendy Popp that accompany Bunting's story are haunting. This is a wonderful story to emphasize just how important it is to remember the past and celebrate the future.
One Candle is a beautifully written picture book about a Hanukkah celebration that is so much more than just a miracle of light. A family retells the Hanukkah that was celebrated during "the bad time". The beautiful images created by K. Wendy Popp that accompany Bunting's story are haunting. This is a wonderful story to emphasize just how important it is to remember the past and celebrate the future.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Thirteen Reasons Why
At the forefront of my mind, whenever I am teaching, is the impact my words and my actions have on my students. I try to teach students that although they may say, "Just kidding," or "I was only playing," that their words and actions have already had an impact. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher drives my point home.
Hannah has committed suicide; however, before she died, she created a set of tapes explaining why she felt she had no other choice but to kill herself. 13 reasons why - thirteen people who contributed to her helplessness. She entrusted the tapes to a bystander to insure that the tapes made their journey to each of the thirteen people. The novel follows Clay, as he listens to the tapes and learns the role he played in Hannah's life and ultimately, her death.
In Hannah's story, each person's role is not earth-shattering. Each person who is a part of her story probably didn't even think that he or she was a contributing factor. The fact that their part in her suicide was so small, almost innocuous is important. It is the culmination of a series of "just kidding" or "it's a joke" comments that ultimately led Hannah to her final outcome. Through the tapes, Hannah wanted those people to know that those little things DO matter. I am hopeful that perhaps one or two of the characters learn from their mistakes.
Working with teenagers is a challenge and a huge responsibility. This novel had such an impact on me, reinforcing my already steadfast belief that students need to know and understand that words had repercussions. While this novel contains many adult situations that I consider far too mature for my 8th grade students, I think I can work around the situations and still share this book with them. I truly hope that this book ends up on summer reading lists and perhaps even part of a curriculum.
Hannah has committed suicide; however, before she died, she created a set of tapes explaining why she felt she had no other choice but to kill herself. 13 reasons why - thirteen people who contributed to her helplessness. She entrusted the tapes to a bystander to insure that the tapes made their journey to each of the thirteen people. The novel follows Clay, as he listens to the tapes and learns the role he played in Hannah's life and ultimately, her death.
In Hannah's story, each person's role is not earth-shattering. Each person who is a part of her story probably didn't even think that he or she was a contributing factor. The fact that their part in her suicide was so small, almost innocuous is important. It is the culmination of a series of "just kidding" or "it's a joke" comments that ultimately led Hannah to her final outcome. Through the tapes, Hannah wanted those people to know that those little things DO matter. I am hopeful that perhaps one or two of the characters learn from their mistakes.
Working with teenagers is a challenge and a huge responsibility. This novel had such an impact on me, reinforcing my already steadfast belief that students need to know and understand that words had repercussions. While this novel contains many adult situations that I consider far too mature for my 8th grade students, I think I can work around the situations and still share this book with them. I truly hope that this book ends up on summer reading lists and perhaps even part of a curriculum.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Annie's Ghosts: A Journey into a Family Secret
I bought this book on an impulse, an honestly because the subject of The Holocaust popped up in one of the reviews on the back cover. The Holocaust plays such a minute role in the novel, but despite that fact, I became totally engaged in the story. Annie's Ghosts: A Journey into a Family Secret is an engaging story of one man's attempt to unravel the secrets his mother had kept for her entire life.
After his mother's death, Steve finds out his mother had a sister. As the details of his mysterious aunt unravel, Steve discovered more about his family than just a missing aunt. Steve gently balances his role as both investigative journalist and son. His compelling journey takes him through Michigan's public health system and its many challenges and changes.
Luxenberg's story has sparked my interest in learning more about America's treatment of people with special needs and more tragically, the cases of eugenics in the 1920s. The story was a captivating read and I was unable to put it down as I truly wanted to learn more about the mysterious Annie.
After his mother's death, Steve finds out his mother had a sister. As the details of his mysterious aunt unravel, Steve discovered more about his family than just a missing aunt. Steve gently balances his role as both investigative journalist and son. His compelling journey takes him through Michigan's public health system and its many challenges and changes.
Luxenberg's story has sparked my interest in learning more about America's treatment of people with special needs and more tragically, the cases of eugenics in the 1920s. The story was a captivating read and I was unable to put it down as I truly wanted to learn more about the mysterious Annie.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
The Mysteries of Harris Burdick (Portfolio Edition)
Each year at my school we host a visiting author. As a part of that author visit, teachers create workshops that focus on different aspects of writing. Over the years, I've tried a variety of workshops -- none of them particularly interesting or well attended. This year, I decided to try something new!
The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg is a truly unique book. The preface to the story is that the drawings that followed were a part of a book that was lost. Unfortunately, no one has been able to track down the originator of the drawings or find the text. Each picture does have an interesting caption. But, the caption isn't enough to truly explain all that is going on in the picture. And, with that idea, a workshop is born!
My workshop idea isn't unique at all. It's been done before, but Van Allsburg stunning picture book provides a wonderful opportunity to help get students writing. In fact his pictures have inspired the likes of Stephen King! A short story based on one of the Burdick illustrations was included in one of King's short story compilations.
The portfolio edition is fabulous to use with students! The drawings are poster sized, so students can see the illustrations in closer detail. Using the details, student created some of the most phenomenal short stories. I was truly impressed. This book will surely get anyone's imagination going!
The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg is a truly unique book. The preface to the story is that the drawings that followed were a part of a book that was lost. Unfortunately, no one has been able to track down the originator of the drawings or find the text. Each picture does have an interesting caption. But, the caption isn't enough to truly explain all that is going on in the picture. And, with that idea, a workshop is born!
My workshop idea isn't unique at all. It's been done before, but Van Allsburg stunning picture book provides a wonderful opportunity to help get students writing. In fact his pictures have inspired the likes of Stephen King! A short story based on one of the Burdick illustrations was included in one of King's short story compilations.
The portfolio edition is fabulous to use with students! The drawings are poster sized, so students can see the illustrations in closer detail. Using the details, student created some of the most phenomenal short stories. I was truly impressed. This book will surely get anyone's imagination going!
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Every Man Dies Alone
I believe I started Every Man Dies Alone in February... maybe March. Being an avid reader of Holocaust literature, I was intrigued by the story. Hans Fallada has an intriguing story: husband and wife write postcards in an attempt to show resistance to the Nazi government. In addition, while Fallada's story is fiction, it is based on a real-life couple. Furthermore, Fallada was imprisoned by the Nazi's for a time, wrote this book in 24 days and then died.
All of the above notwithstanding, but the story just drags and drags and it took me a LONG time to force my way through it. Fallada's attention to detail is, at times, overwhelming. Although, I'm not sure if it is Fallada's failure or that of the translator, but at times the language just does not flow. The novel was touted as "the greatest story of German resistance to Nazism". I'm not sure if that is true. What is certainly true that there were too many sub-plots and characters, and not enough action. It is, after all, a story of nearly passive resistance.
All of the above notwithstanding, but the story just drags and drags and it took me a LONG time to force my way through it. Fallada's attention to detail is, at times, overwhelming. Although, I'm not sure if it is Fallada's failure or that of the translator, but at times the language just does not flow. The novel was touted as "the greatest story of German resistance to Nazism". I'm not sure if that is true. What is certainly true that there were too many sub-plots and characters, and not enough action. It is, after all, a story of nearly passive resistance.
May 2010
April showers bring May flowers! I love the month of May. Five years ago, I got married on a beautiful day in May. My husband has sent me flowers for our anniversary several times. The purple Dendrobium Orchids he sent me from Proflowers a few years ago were my absolute favorite. The flowers were simply gorgeous and lasted for-ev-or!
The beautiful weather we sometimes get in Chicago, not to mention the insanely busy work schedule, makes it a challenge to read. However, having great books lined up to read for the month makes that challenge much, much easier. I also belong to two book clubs. When I'm held accountable to someone else, I tend to reach my goals a bit more easily.
I found yet another way to motivate myself to read more. "One Book, One Twitter" (#1b1t). The winning title is Neil Gaiman's American Gods. I'm excited as I've read a few of Gaiman's novels, but not this particular title. For more information check out 1b1t
Last, but not least, Scholastic Books, Inc. holds a warehouse sale every May (usually August and December too) and I enjoy picking up books for my students and myself. I picked up a large box of books! I'm hoping the new books will keep me occupied throughout my long summer (of 4 weeks)!
Happy Reading!
53. Every Man Dies Alone by Hans Fallada
54. The Mysteries of Harris Burdick (Portfolio Edition) by Chris Van Allsburg
55. Annie's Ghosts: A Journey into a Family Secret by Steve Luxenberg
56. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
57. One Candle by Eve Bunting illustrated by K. Wendy Pop
58. Six Million Paper Clips: The Making of a Children's Holocaust Memorial by Peter W. Schroeder and Dagmar Schroeder-Hildebrand
The beautiful weather we sometimes get in Chicago, not to mention the insanely busy work schedule, makes it a challenge to read. However, having great books lined up to read for the month makes that challenge much, much easier. I also belong to two book clubs. When I'm held accountable to someone else, I tend to reach my goals a bit more easily.
I found yet another way to motivate myself to read more. "One Book, One Twitter" (#1b1t). The winning title is Neil Gaiman's American Gods. I'm excited as I've read a few of Gaiman's novels, but not this particular title. For more information check out 1b1t
Last, but not least, Scholastic Books, Inc. holds a warehouse sale every May (usually August and December too) and I enjoy picking up books for my students and myself. I picked up a large box of books! I'm hoping the new books will keep me occupied throughout my long summer (of 4 weeks)!
Happy Reading!
53. Every Man Dies Alone by Hans Fallada
54. The Mysteries of Harris Burdick (Portfolio Edition) by Chris Van Allsburg
55. Annie's Ghosts: A Journey into a Family Secret by Steve Luxenberg
56. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
57. One Candle by Eve Bunting illustrated by K. Wendy Pop
58. Six Million Paper Clips: The Making of a Children's Holocaust Memorial by Peter W. Schroeder and Dagmar Schroeder-Hildebrand
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