Blog Posts

Class Act by Jerry Craft

Companion to the Newbery Medal Winner "New Kid" The first page of this graphic novel by Jerry Craft makes the theme perfectly clear: Be kind. Be fair. Be you. While this sounds like a simple request, "Class Act" shows the struggles students face while navigating racial and cultural differences. The prestigious Riverdale Academy has students… Continue reading Class Act by Jerry Craft

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The List of Things That Will Not Change by Rebecca Stead

Sixth grade students use digital notebooks to track their thinking. When the school year started, I struggled with how to continue book clubs in our new, hybrid model of teaching. Paper was discouraged, we couldn't read notebooks unless they were "isolated" for 3 days, students were sitting six feet apart, in rows, with masks, facing… Continue reading The List of Things That Will Not Change by Rebecca Stead

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Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller, illustrated by Jen Hill

“Be Kind” ~ How often have you heard those words? How often have you said them? We spend hour after hour sharing the importance of being kind and trying to teach our students the value of kindness. But what does it mean to be kind? Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller takes the concept of… Continue reading Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller, illustrated by Jen Hill