Teaching with Tamara: ELA Edition

  In this book, the Bailey School Kids are holding an election in their class to mimic the current Presidential election. Their teacher assigns them to go listen to the speech of the presidential candidate who is coming to their town. They go and they see him with Mr. Jenkins, a man they believe to be a werewolf. They notice that Mr. Youngblood (the presidential candidate) is very hairy like Mr. Jenkins so he must be a werewolf too. Mr. Youngblood changes the school schedule and the lunch, they think it is dog food. The children hold a protest to make their parents listen but it doesn’t work. At a debate between the two candidates, the students speak up and Mr. Youngblood ends up not getting elected. Some classroom activities that could be done are discussing the Bill of Rights or having the class create a campaign for a cause.

The Bailey School Kids was a really popular book series when I was growing up and it makes my heart so happy that they are being republished! Students were drawn to the older books because the characters were relatable and the books were short. The newly published ones are being made into graphic novels which is even more exciting! Third graders at Bailey Elementary School were getting a new teacher because the class clown and troublemaker, Eddie, drove their other teacher nuts! The principal comes in to introduce their new teacher, Mrs. Jeepers. She had moved from Romania into the creepy house in the neighborhood and had a strange accent. With her glowing green eyes and matching brooch, the group is convinced that she's a vampire!  The book refers to Miss Viola Swamp, which is a character in Miss Nelson is Missing. I read it every year on the first day of school and my students and I make a list of student behaviors that made Miss Swamp show up. I refer back to that lesson the res

 I had every intention of reading Stella Díaz Has Something to Say by Angela Dominguez this week, but due to a nasty case of the stomach bug, I'm sharing a favorite novel of mine instead.  I first encountered this book in Mrs. Blodgett's eighth grade language arts class and I still remember the experience I had to this day. It spoke straight to my soul. And the ending... Well, it has sparked fury in the hearts and minds of my students as well as my own.  WARNING: IF YOU START READING THIS BOOK, YOU MUST FINISH IT! Nothing but the Truth  is a great way to teach the types of conflict because it is centered around an issue between ninth grader, Phillip Malloy, and his English teacher, Miss Margaret Narwin. Phillip dreams of going out for the track team but cannot because his failing grade in English makes him ineligible. He devises a plan to be switched out of her homeroom and into an “easier” English class. The situation quickly gets out of hand and is soon picked up by the schoo

In 1921 Pura Belpré leaves San Juan to travel to New York for her sister's wedding. She ends up making it her home.  Pura works in a garment factory at first, but then sees that the library needs a bilingual assistant.  She gets the job and notices that there are no folktales from Puerto Rico. She starts a story hour for the children and lights a candle before she begins. At the end of the story, the children blow out the candle. Pura learns to make puppets too.  She ends up writing her  stories down and mailing them to a publisher.  Soon she is a published author and travels all over planting her story seeds in the hearts and minds of children new to the island of New York. Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré is a great children's book to read aloud as an introduction to the Pura Belpré Award.  The Pura Belpré Award was established in 1996 and is a recognition presented to a Latino or Latina author and illustrator whose work best portrays the La