Partner Texts.

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    • July 24, 2019 at 8:14 pm #2167
      mcastner
      Participant

      One of the things I’ve reached out to Ann about is how this book relates to other books, like Genesis Begins Again by Alicia D. Williams. Genesis is a girl who is struggling with color-ism and the lack of stability in her life due to her families poverty. I would love to get other educator’s feedback on how you think these two books could work together to address how poverty affects all children regardless of their culture. What other books are out there featuring characters of color, indigenous, or LGTBQ+ stories where you see an intersection with poverty. I love the idea of challenging students to see the commonalities and differences between books tackling this issue.

    • August 23, 2019 at 10:46 am #2321
      tbreeden
      Participant

      The Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus is about Aven who must find her inner strength to overcome the obstacle of not having arms. In addition, she befriends a student who has tourette’s syndrome and helps him to find his voice and inner strength.

      • August 31, 2019 at 6:53 pm #2402
        swilcox
        Participant

        I would also suggest The Front Desk

    • August 23, 2019 at 1:18 pm #2327
      jessicatiara
      Participant

      Great idea to pair those books together! Great Project LIT dove tail with these books!

    • August 23, 2019 at 1:23 pm #2328
      jessicatiara
      Participant

      Our ELL students read ESPERANZA RISING. I think this book could connect well with this book. Esperanza must find her inner strength and adjust to a new country and social class. Both characters discover that it is not about what they have (or don’t have), it is about who they are and finding the beauty that we all hold.

    • August 25, 2019 at 12:21 pm #2361
      jenniferow16
      Participant

      It sounds like these books will be paired well together! We also love Esperanza Rising.

    • August 31, 2019 at 11:39 am #2393
      jdepler2
      Participant

      I’ve been thinking about how to make some books more exciting to those students who usually only look at the covers before deciding whether or not to read them. Using the cover of my personal copy of The Benefits of Being an Octopus as a discussion starter my class last year helped my students understand that covers don’t always tell us the whole story.

      I’d love to use other books with similar color covers/ animals on the cover as partner texts. Although the underlying themes in the texts may not necessarily connect, the overall idea of books being more than just their covers is one that really inspires me.

      • August 31, 2019 at 6:50 pm #2401
        swilcox
        Participant

        I’ve started to have my students write to future readers of the books in my classroom. At the end of the year, each student picks a book they enjoyed and write a letter to the future readers about why they liked the book without giving away major details. I print the letters on labels and place them on the inside covers. Students can browse the books and read the letters to help them decide if they want to read the book.

        • September 1, 2019 at 11:08 pm #2422
          jerrenp
          Participant

          I’ve been planning to use Octopus with my advisory class since I’m actually a science teacher so there isn’t a good way for me to use it with curriculum. I’d love to have students write notes to future students about the book and what they thought of it.

    • August 31, 2019 at 8:54 pm #2405
      Aakerr
      Participant

      I agree with the above – Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus and Front Desk! Maybe Ghost to have a male main character?

    • September 1, 2019 at 11:06 pm #2421
      jerrenp
      Participant

      I really like this idea. One of my goals for my classroom library this year has been to bring more diversity to the books that I offer my students. I’m almost done with Octopus now, and have Genesis to begin next. I’d love to see what other options there might be.

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