PPBF: Bitter And Sweet

Today I'm excited because I'm traveling home to Wisconsin, to visit family and take in the beauty of Autumn. I get this longing for Fall every year, because I miss the magic of my favorite season; lately, my longings turn toward my season with these beautiful kindness advocates.

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One Little Word, One Big Impact

Today I'm excited because of THIS, the visual that our friends at FJH created using the #oneword plates they designed in our training.

Imagine the incredible potential for its inspiration and influence.

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PPBF: Bowls Of Happiness

Today I'm delighted to add a cultural gem to our ever-growing PPBF list.

Title: Bowls of Happiness: Treasures from China and the Forbidden City

Author: Brian Tse

Illustrator: Alice Mak

Translation: Ben Wang
Publisher: China Institute in America

Date: November 17, 2015

Suitable for ages: 4-8

Genre: Cultural Studies

Themes: Chinese culture, happiness, prosperity

Brief synopsis from Simon & Schuster: Piggy's mom loves her so much that she has decided to make a special porcelain bowl just for her. As mom makes the bowl, Piggy enters the world being painted on its outside. There she meets and learns about the animals used on these Chinese artworks and the messages of happiness and good-fortune that they convey.

Opening page: 

Mommy says, "At the sight of Piggy, my heart leaps with joy!" That's because my nickname is Piggy.

Mommy remembers when she picked me up, right after I was born, with my pink body, my wide cheeks, and my large nostrils. "Oink, oink, oink!" I cried and cried, just like a piggy. So Dad said, "Might as well call her Piggy!"

Resources: 

*Check out the five reviews from Good Reads {here}. 

*Read a thoughtful endorsement from Unleashing Readers {here}.

*Compare and contrast Bowls of Happiness with a blog post I wrote a few years back called The Bowl.

*Let Piggy's story spark a discussion about nicknames.

Do you have a nickname?

What is it?

How did you get it?

Who gets to call you by that name?

Is there anyone who does not get to call you that?

What do you think of Piggy's nickname?

If you could pick your own nickname, what would it be?

Why I like this book:  As a character educator, I am always looking for enrichment resources that support cultural traditions and awareness, especially when it's time for a special celebration like Chinese New Year. Though the publisher recommends it for children ages 4-8, I actually read it with a fourth-grade boy and I think he may have even connected with it more than I did.

This book holds so many possible directions to springboard. In the second part of the book after Piggy's creative fantasy through the pictures on Mom's bowl, the reader gets a peek into the cultural beliefs about happiness in the Chinese world. Then, some challenging imagery and insight about the symbolism behind the bowls among the Chinese Emperors, more historic engagement, and a challenge: Make your own bowl. 

And while it'd be really cool to have students color the template in the book or make a papier-mâché bowl, imagine the extension possibilities 

if your child(ren) could paint images on a porcelain bowl 

or, better yet, sculpt and fire a clay bowl.

If you're looking for a service component to enrich the reading of this book, plan a soup supper and decide whom you want to feed. My friend Tina in Missouri does this very thing in her Art classes with a project called Bowls For Hunger. Ask your students how they might mimic that project or use that service-learning idea for something they could do as a class, like host an International Epicurean day. Whom would they invite and what would they serve?

Finally, open up a discussion about the differences between happiness and joy.

For a list of today's PPBF picks, visit Susana's blog next. 

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Master Classroom Management

Today I'm excited because I've got three whole days {without too much planned} that I can spend digesting the treasures in this book I've been reading.

From the publisher: Dr. Jerry Evanski’s approach stems from a simple and practical idea: that classroom management is based on teaching methods that keep your students interested and engaged, not on disciplining students when they misbehave. As he says, “Poor teaching strategies can trigger behavior problems. You can prevent problems before they occur.”

Based on significant review of educational research that is sprinkled throughout the book, Dr. Evanski has developed a program that offers one simple skill a day to build a repertoire of classroom management techniques. After eight weeks, teachers have mastered 40 new skills that cover the key teaching areas of:

-       Getting attention

-       Keeping attention

-       Engaging students

-       Teaching the lesson

-       Getting participation

-       Giving directions

-       Communicating

-       Transitioning

Here is a sample of some of the skills covered in the book:

-       Your Teaching Spot - Teach students to associate specific locations in your classroom with different messages—one spot for teaching, one spot for announcements, etc.

-       The Big Picture – Help students establish the context for what you’re teaching by showing them how it fits into what they are learning throughout the year.

-       Acknowledge the Effort – Encourage participation by teaching students how to enthusiastically acknowledge the effort of their classmates.

Why I'm loving this resource: The first thing that draws me to this book is that Dr. Evanski's ideas, many of which are backed by brain research, 

exude engagement, motivation and fun. I have a feeling that educators like me will learn and grow by leaps and bounds as they tailor these tips to fit the needs of the students in their classroom families. 

The second sticking point is how the book is set up, with an idea to test-drive every day of the week for eight weeks, to facilitate learning and implementation. 

The third-and-equally-important reason I'm endorsing Dr. Evanski's work is that it's a tool that supports my firm belief in disciplining through proactive modeling, teaching and practicing of skills rather than with a reactive punishing of skill deficits. Isn't that what our students deserve from us? And isn't that how we hope they'll lead when they're in charge? 

Check out this book; I predict it'll be a positive influence and support as you work with intention to create a culture of dignity, caring and respect in your 

character building.

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Empathy & Chocolate Milk, Por Favor

Happy Sunday.
What does empathy have to do with chocolate milk?
Make room for Chocolate Milk, Por Favor!

Today I'm delighted because I get to introduce you to the beautiful

Maria Dismondy multicultural newcomer for your book shelves.

Check out the book's brief synopsis on the back cover, left side.

Love Maria's tag line: Actions speak louder than words. Truth!

My son wrote this essay in 5th grade on that very maxim.

Our personal, classroom and community libraries simply can not have enough diversity titles as we help our littlest leaders learn about, appreciate and celebrate cultural and other differences. Check out this flavorful find and see what happens when two unlikely things ~ soccer and chocolate milk ~ connect these boys and help them speak one common language.

Use a double-bubble map to compare and contrast Chocolate Milk, Por Favor with I Hate English! by Ellen Levine or The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig.

Dismondy's Gabe, Levine's Mei Mei, and Ludwig's Brian are all  thrown into a situation where they're having to not only navigate a new culture, but also master a new language and/or different school situation. How are their stories similar? How are they different? How would you help each of them if they were in your class? What would you want? What would you need? 

For other compare/contrast titles, my alma mater has made this list of 50 multicultural tales available. And check out my friend Shawna's refreshingly comprehensive extension and enrichment ideas for Maria's book {here}. Then read 5 Ways to Cultivate Empathy from our friends at Happify.

Use Maria's signature Tips For Teachers/Parents page, written by my friend Elizabeth from Fun In Room 4B, to connect with and assist English Language Learners like Gabe as they learn and grow.

Follow Maria for more inspiration:

Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram ~ Pinterest ~ Google+

And for the real deal, listen to Maria reading her newest delicacy!

Author Bio: Maria Dismondy is an award-winning author, specializing in books about challenges children face. A topic close to her heart, Maria’s own childhood experience inspired her first book, Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun. Maria’s dedication to empowering children with courage and confidence has reached new heights, touching the hearts and hands of children the world over. Grounded in her belief that all children deserve a voice, Maria’s latest book, Chocolate Milk, Por Favor, drives home the important message of celebrating diversity with kindness, inclusion and empathy. As a sought-after speaker, Maria spreads her message by presenting at schools and conferences across the country. She holds degrees in education and child development. Maria lives in southeastern Michigan with her husband, Dave, and their three book-loving children.

Are you still reading? If so, you just stumbled on the secret bonus: Maria has graciously offered to give away a signed copy of her delicious treasure to one of you, my fabulous readers. Just leave a comment below (or on my book's Facebook page) telling us your favorite children's book with a diversity theme for a chance to win. 

{It will also help if you leave your email, but if I know how to find you, no need.} 

We'll put all of the comments into the Gruener Generator and select a winner this Wednesday, April 15th (Tax Day in the USA) after school, at 4 pm CST, to be announced in my Wednesday evening blog post.

Won't you join me in lifting our glasses to Maria to toast her efforts in 

elevating empathy and celebrating diversity

one kind act at a time,

one child at a time,

one book at a time,

to make our world a better, more peaceful place to be.

Oh, and don't forget to stop visit my friend Sylvia at

Learning With Mrs. Parker for tomorrow's tour stop. 

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PPBF: The Greatest Power

Happy Friday, the 13th. 

Today I'm delighted because in a week my billboard {in partnership with 

The Joy Team} will be going up on Commerce St. in San Antonio.

It's super exciting to be a part of this inspirational campaign! 

Who is your superhero?

What is their superpower?

And what, do you think, is the greatest power in the world? 

That's a nice segue into today's PPBF,

which attempts to answer just that.

Title: The Greatest Power

Author & Illustrator: Demi

Publisher: McElderry Books 

Date: March 1, 2004

Suitable for ages: 5 - 8 (and older!)

Themes: harmony, wisdom, culture

Fiction

Brief synopsis: In search of a wise Prime Minister to help bring harmony to his kingdom, Emperor Ping, of Demi's The Empty Pot fame, sends the children on a year-long quest to find and bring back the greatest power to him.

Opening page:  A long time ago in China there was a boy emperor named Ping who was known throughout the kingdom for his honesty and his love of harmony. The boy emperor enjoyed climbing to the top of the palace and looking through his big telescope at the heavens.

Resources: Read a review at Simon & Schuster {here}.

Visit You Tube {here} to learn more about the book.

Download The Quest lesson plan by Nancy Sheehan {here}.

Click {here} to integrate some Chinese Culture. 

Why I like this book:  Books by Demi challenge me to think "outside the box" and go beyond the words to find deeper meanings. And since my one little word for 2015 is harmony, you can imagine my surprise and delight when I uncovered this Demi treasure that I'd never heard about before at Half Price Books a few weeks back. Ping's story continues with a challenge {sort of like the one he took in The Empty Pot} that sends the children in search of something special: The Greatest Power. Could it be weapons or wealth? Fortune or fame? Young Sing is certain that it's bigger than all of those things because of what Ping told them: 

A wise person must be able to see the unseen

 and know the unknown.

I can see posing this inquiry ~ What is The Greatest Power? ~ to my students prior to reading what the author proposes as her answer. You could have students write their answer in Chinese lettering and create a billboard ad, kind of like this:

The title also begs for some Chinese cultural integration and celebration; integrate costumes or currency, food or fun into an enrichment event as you and your students celebrate The Greatest Power. {Have you guessed yet what it is?}

Check out this book; I think you'll be intrigued to find out what Ping sees as the greatest power in his kingdom and for his people. Then head to Susanna's blog to read the other blogger's PPBF picks.

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PPBF: Talking Walls

My stars, check out the nearly-finished visual display in our cafeteria, courtesy of some of our leaders in Student Council. Each star responds to the inquiry: 

How will you make 2015 better?

I'm going to keep looking for new PPBF titles to share;

today's pick, at more than 20 years old, is actually new to me.

Title: Talking Walls

Author: Margy Burns Knight

Illustrator: Anne Sibley O'Brien

Publisher: Tillbury House Publishers

Date: January 1, 1992 (reprint edition)

Suitable for: ages 8 and up

Non-Fiction

Themes: culture, history, landmarks

Brief Synopsis: Explore fourteen walls around the world and learn the story behind why they were built and what they represent and symbolize.

Opening page:  According to an old tale, the only structure on earth that can be seen from the moon is the magnificent Great Wall of China. For about fifteen hundred miles this ancient fortress twists and turns like a massive stone serpent across the mountains, plains, and deserts of China. Chinese children and their families and people from many other countries love to visit the wall where they walk along a path, as wide as five horses, that winds along the top of the wall. 

More than two thousand years ago, large stones and granite boulders were used to construct much of the wall's eastern side. Bricks that were formed by pounding together moistened dirt made up sections of the western side. Some say the Great Wall was built to keep out invaders. Others say it was built to keep the Chinese at home.

Resources:  Visit the author's website {here}.

Download Curriculum Activity Page - ASCD Educational Leadership {here}.

Connect with the For Action Initiative Lesson Plan {here}.

Get details for my Wall of Trust activity {here}.

Why I like this book: Not only is this book such an interesting read about so many noteworthy walls globally, it's also got potential for a reflective discussion about the literal as well as figurative walls that people build. I connected with the philosophical questions at the back of the book and could totally see using them to spark discussions or as journal-entry prompts:

Do you know about other walls?

Are they visible or invisible?

Are they monuments?

Do they tell stories?

How are walls built?

Do they need to stay up or come down?

Do you build walls?

Would you tear them down?
Can you imagine a world without walls?

Since this book isn't necessarily a read-aloud but more of a resource guide, I would pair students and assign them each one of the walls showcased in this masterpiece. How far away from the wall do you live? How long would it take to get there? Let students plan a trip there, complete with the financial calculations for such an adventure. Encourage them to make a travel brochure or present their findings to the class aloud. Suggest a debate or a persuasive paper or talk answering the question: Should this great wall be on someone's bucket list? Why or why not? 

For more PPBF picks, visit Susanna's blog.

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PPBF: 'Twas Nochebuena

Today I'm delighted to share this Buy One Get One offer that I heard about this week from Laurie Jacobs, the author of Silly Frilly Grandma Tillie. It's a fun way to keep a copy and share this intergenerational whimsy with your school. I'm also psyched about PPBF because last week I was unplugged for Thanksgiving and missed it. Look at the gem I found at our Book Fair yesterday.

Title: 'Twas Nochebuena

Author: Roseanne Greenfield Thong

Illustrator: Sara Palacios

Publisher: Viking Juvenile

Date: October 16, 2014

Suitable for: ages 4-8

Themes: Christmas, culture, traditions

Realistic Fiction

Brief synopsis: Travel with a family south of the border as they make their preparations for a Nochebuena (Christmas Eve) celebration.

Opening page:

'Twas Nochebuena and all through our casa, 

every creature was kneading tamale masa. 

For one of our holiday tradiciones, 

is making tamales - not one, but montones!

Resources: Read a Kirkus review {here}.

See it on a list of holiday newcomers {here}.

Why I like this book:  When I picked up this eye-catching text and started to read it, it took me back to a Spanglish poem I used to read aloud with my students when I was a Spanish teacher many moons ago. I still remember the opening lines: 'Twas la noche before Christmas and all through la casa, not a creature was stirring, caramba, ¿qué pasa? 

I recently came across this version of that very poem:

So I'm drawn in by the nostalgia of what was for me, but also by the cultural celebration that is for this Latino family. The book beautifully shares these Navidad traditions in an English/Spanish rhyme and just begs for its readers to make tamales, host a Posada, serve chocolaty champurrado, 

and sing a few spirited canciones. 

Let students make a word search from the words in the Glossary of Spanish Terms in back. Divvy up the poem and ask each student to memorize a verse for a festive oral presentation of the text. Invite them to compare and contrast the customs in the book with their own traditions a la Christmas Around The Class. 

For enrichment, break out a copy of Tomie dePaolo's The Legend of the Poinsettia. It might also be a fun time to have students try their hand at making a decorative piñata. Blow up a balloon and cover it with strips of paper coated in liquid starch. Once the paper strips have dried, paint or decorate with crepe paper. Finally, sing Jingle Bells together in Spanish:

Cascabeles

Cascabeles, cascabeles

Hoy es navidad.

Es un día de alegria

Y felicidad (x2).

O navidad hermosa, o noche sin igual.

Tus luces iluminan con lumbre celestial.

Mensaje dulce y claro que al mundo da la paz.

O navidad hermosa, o noche sin igual.

Check out this tesoro; I think you'll be muy contento that you did.

And don't forget to peek at today's other PPBF picks {here}.

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PPBF: Maurice's Valises

Today's PPBF - the last until September - is actually a new series for which I've been helping write teacher activities, so you can imagine that it's a product I firmly enjoy and endorse!

Title: Maurice's Valises: Moral Tails in an Immoral World

Author: J.S. Friedman

Illustrator: Chris Beatrice

Publisher: Mouse Prints Press

Date: September 3, 2013

Suitable for ages: K-grade 4

Fiction

Themes: integrity, empathy, honesty, trust

Brief Synopsis: Travel with Maurice, the mouse, as his journeys take him through the fables. In the first of this book's series, Maurice, a master storyteller, recounts his story of The Rat Who Cried Skunk, a nice parallel to the Aesop's Fable, The Boy Who Cried Wolf, to help his offspring learn the value of telling the truth.

Opening pages: Since my office is being cleaned for the summer, I'm unable to get to my copy of the book so that I can share the opening pages.

Resources:  Visit the author's website {here}.

Activity ideas and an App for adults {here}.

Check out the book's Facebook page {here}.

Enjoy the illustrator's beautiful work {here}.

Download it or listen to a sample at iTunes {here}.

Using a double bubble graphic organizer, compare and contrast Aesop's The Boy Who Cried Wolf with the skunk tale in this story.

Why I like this book: I find it delightful revisiting the old fables coupled with this author's entertaining twists through the eyes of a Mouse. New vocabulary introduced and the moral scrolls both cleverly tie the present back to the past. The valise totally lends itself to a discussion about a Character Case, so my activity suggestions {available soon} revolve around what a student would put in his/her character case were they to travel the world like Maurice. I can see it being used as a wonderful springboard for cultural integration as well.

Check out this series; 

I think you'll enjoy this Mentor Mouse 

and his lessons learned.

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Since Father's Day is just around the corner, 

I wanted to take this opportunity to share a recent father-child outing. Here's a seven-minute musical clip from a small polka band that John put together for the local German Restaurant.

Enjoy John Loessin on trombone,

My husband on tuba, 

our son, Jacob, on trumpet,

and our daughter, Kaitlyn, on clarinet.

Notice that in the last song, a K student from my school

tried his hand at directing, then came back with 

a dollar looking for "the money jar." It was tooooooo cute!

Then visit our friends at Happify to see the interesting facts 

that they shared on their Dad's Infographic.

I'm going off the grid for a little bit, so

here's to all the Dandy Dads out there; 

enJOY your special day on Sunday!

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PPBF: Josias, Hold the Book

Today I'm excited to share a book that connects with me all the way back to my roots on the farm. Prepare to fall in love with Josias. He's one responsible kid! 


Title: Josias, Hold the Book
Author: Jennifer Riesmeyer Elvgren
Illustrator: Nicole Tadgell
Publisher: Boyds Mills Press
Date: 2006 (reprint edition January 1, 2011)
Suitable for: grades 1-4
Themes: Haitian culture, responsibility, poverty
Realistic Fiction
Brief synopsis: A young Haitian gardener, Josias can't help but notice that his family's beans aren't growing like they used to. Though his friends invite him every day to "hold the book" - an expression that means attend school to learn - Josias repeatedly declines because he's working diligently on the family farm to find a solution to their issue with the beans. Is it possible that if Josias agrees to "hold the book" he'd be able to research other options and save his bean crop?

Opening pages:  Josias frowned at the bare rows of dirt between the sweet potatoes and peas in his family's tiny garden. "The beans have grown well here every year. Why not this one?" He wiped the sweat from his brow as the Haitian sun climbed higher in the sky.

Resources:  

Read a Kirkus review {here}.

Why I like this book and how I would use it:  

First-grade teacher Margaret Limmer first introduced me to this book a few years ago during their farm unit. She said that it reminded her of me since I, too, grew up working on a farm. She also said it was an excellent book to teach problem solving and responsibility. After reading it, however, my first question had to do with fairness: Was it fair that Josias had to work and wasn't able to "hold the book" like his friend Chrislove? That led to my next inquiry: Is education a right or a privilege? These would be interesting writing prompts or discussion points before reading Josias' story aloud to your class. 

While reading aloud, ask students to keep track of the ways in which Josias attempts to help his beans grow. What, if anything, would they have done differently to solve that problem?

Might the books that his friends are reading at school hold the solution to this problem? Is not being able to hold the book holding Josias back? A teacher helps by explaining about crop rotation, and Josias learns a valuable lesson that could even help modernize his family. An author's note at the end of the book gives her readers an insider's look into the plight of the Haitian farmer and the schooling issues that rural children face in that third-world nation. 

Have students compare and contract their life with Josias' way of living. What, if anything, is the same? And what do they note is different? This might also lead to a study of the people, customs, and traditions in Haiti and could even springboard a service project. What is one of the needs that we could help fill there? After the earthquake there, we collected gently-used shoes and sent them through Soles 4 Souls, an organization designed to wear out poverty. Seize this opportunity to find out what they understand about poverty. Are Josias and his family rich or poor? How do they know?

Follow up the story with a writing lesson. What would your students say in a letter to Josias? Tell him about your country and ask him about his. What are your responsibilities as a student? As a family member? As a friend? What are his? 

Want a science experiment? Plant some beans and try watering them with different liquids: water, milk, coffee, lemonade, cola. What do your student predict might happen? Write a hypothesis, then plant those seeds. Help students keep data; measure and document. Track growth and other reactions to the treatment and care. Let students discuss their observations and outcomes.

Check out this book and the other gems on our PPBF list.

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