The First Days of School

My mentor teacher told me this is a must read for all teachers -- novice or veteran. I'm reading right now and finding it extremely practical. The premise is that the success of your teaching year hinges on what takes place the first few days of class. Though one of many topics, I was thrilled to see SEVERAL chapters on classroom management.  The Wongs know their stuff! This book is a gold mine for all instructors, particularly pre-service teachers.

Promising Practices for Urban Literacy Instruction

This is probably the best text on reading instruction that I've come across. The editors compiled several studies on said topic, many which focus specifically on the African American community. One chapter offers a rubric for selecting culturally authentic African American children's literature. It is accompanied by a list of recommended texts. Promising Practices also describes effective ways to maximize our literacy-rich environment, as well as how to effectively incorporate parents into the general classroom. It's a must read!

A Pet for Pat

What does owning a pet entail? Lots of high frequency words and phonics practice. This is an early reader from the Rookie Reader series.

Multicultural Folk Tales

As the cover lists, this text is a resource for literature based instruction. Some of the Social Studies info is out of date, but the folk tales do provide context for teaching across the content areas. Visual learners will appreciate the graphic organizers galore! On the flip side, teachers who despise creating the former will really appreciate this text.

Just Jump

Mabel E. Singletary is a seasoned elementary school teacher who writes authentic children's fiction. The premiere book in the Double Dutch series introduces six friends: Tanya, Ming, Rachel, Carla, Lindsey, and Nancy. The girls enter pursue their favorite passtime by entering the statewide Double Dutch competition. Forming a winning team challenges the girls to unite. These elementary students learn to appreciate their strength in diversity, working towards a common goal.

The Road To Mephis

It's 1941 and prejudice is alive in well in Mississippi. The racial tension has not changed, but the Logan children have grown into men and women. This final novel in Roll of Thunder trilogy is a thrilling man-against-society narrative. Cassie is nearly grown up, and finishing school. Stacey is a working man with his own car. When a lazy afternoon goes terribly wrong, Cassie and Stacey find themselves whisking away a dear friend on a whirlwind journey to Memphis, desperately attempting to save his life. The long journey only takes a matter of hours, but the travelers find themselves altered forever once they reach their destination. In this Coretta Scott King Award-winning novel, World War II, unplanned pregnancy, and substance abuse collide against to backdrop of deeply divided South.

Let the Circle Be Unbroken

Times are hard for everyone during the Great Depression, but Black share-croppers suffer uniquely under economic oppression. The Logans face more pressure than ever before to sell their land. But Papa will never let the family land change hands, no matter what the cost. As Mama and Papa labor to keep the family afloat, Cassie and her brothers struggle to navigate the world as young adults. Being a young woman means that Cassie doesn't get to do everything with the guys as she's always done. Becoming a young man puts Cassie's older brother at odds with his parents – to the point of running away from home. The Logans fight to keep hold their family together as internal division and external pressure threaten to rip their fragile relationships apart. Cassie learns that it is worth the effort, because family is all that matters in the end.