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Comment by Tammy Gillmore on September 13, 2008 at 4:05pm

I am going to use Nineteen Minutes in my next thematic unit entitled Antibullying...I'll also assign Salem Falls while in lit circles. Jodi Picoult touches on issues that affect us now...very real to our students.

Is there enough interest to set up a weekly/bi-weekly study of Mechanically Inclined? For those of us who have read Write Beside Them, might include that also...as an inplementation study...discuss how we are actually using the books within our classrooms.

For example, while reviewing the four sentence types, I created a sheet of what I call the sentence formulas, printed four per page, cut them up, and then had the students paste one in the upper left corner of a blank sheet of paper. There they had their notes from me and then plenty of room to take additional notes.

Here's confirmation that it works: One student said on Thursday, "I didn't get this when we studied it last year. Now I understand."

This is confirmation for me that I should always be seeking new..or different...or various methods to use. Never know which one is going to cause that light bulb to go off for some students.

Personally...those "light bulb" moments are the highlight of my day...or week!

Comment by Melanie McDonald on September 13, 2008 at 11:37am

Just finished discussing Nineteen Minutes w/my English 12 students. This was one of the most successful summer reading titles I have ever used. Many parents also commended the book at our version of "Back to School Night." Coincidentally, our student senate is hosting a Rachel's Challenge event (created by the father of a Columbine victim), which includes an assembly, student training session, and community meeting. Can't say enough good about this book.

Comment by Jodi Douglas on September 6, 2008 at 6:33pm

I have found Mechanically Inclined to be worth the money. I've used several ideas from the book in my classroom already.

Comment by Ann Ballard on September 5, 2008 at 9:32pm

A book implementation study sounds intriguing. I have the book.

Comment by Tammy Gillmore on September 4, 2008 at 9:04pm

Nineteen Minutes is powerful. It's one of the books I assign during lit circle time when we do the Anti-bullying unit...also assign Salem Falls, which does parallel very nicely with The Crucible.

Another book everyone should read...parents, administrators, teachers, students...is Th1rteen R3esons. This book will change you! It will change how you listen to kids when they talk to you.

Lisa and I have been talking about Mechanically Inclined...think she is ready to purchase the book! Anyone interested in a book study...a book implementation study?

Comment by Ann Ballard on September 3, 2008 at 10:28pm

Who has read Nineteen Minutes by Picoult? I know Lisa read it. I really believe it should be a required read for all teachers and administrators, however disturbing the information. I will never listen to a student bullying or insulting another without reflecting back on this book.

Comment by Tammy Gillmore on August 3, 2008 at 9:12am

Just went and previewed Lessons That Change Writers...I really like it! Going to see if our school will purchase...if not, may have to personally invest.

I also liked the poetry binder. This would be helpful as I continue to create my thematic multi-genre units...we no longer have textbooks, so I am always looking for pieces to add to my units.

With my 10th and 11th graders, I start with types of sentences, then phrases and clauses. This year, I, too, am planning to have mini-lessons on all the topics they have "forgotten," for I know they were taught it at some point. (I really think some of this forgetting has to do with 1) lack of brain development and 2) no real application of all these rules in their writings.)

Another book I purchased this summer is (based on a recommendation by Dana Huff...thanks!) Quick and Dirty Tips: Grammar Girl by Megan Fog, who has a website where she has many podcasts! This would be great to use during a mini-lesson.

I showed this book to a peer who said, "We all need a copy of this in our classrooms."

Comment by Nick Senger on August 2, 2008 at 10:20pm

Write Beside Them looks good, too. I'm taking a huge leap this year and committing to a writer's workshop-style instructional style. I'm using Atwell's new resource Lessons That Change Writers. It's a 3-ring binder and teaching guide that comes with a year's worth of mini-lessons and suggestions for when to use them. I'm very nervous about the change, since it's not really my natural teaching style; however, I really want to get my students writing quality pieces, and I think I can lean pretty heavily on Atwell's resource this year.

Comment by Tammy Gillmore on August 2, 2008 at 7:55pm

I have Mechanically Inclined, and it's great. I need to spend some time going back through and highlighting what I would like to use this year. This would be a good one for an online discussion.

I also have In the Middle, read some of it yesterday while in a workshop (shhh! For some reason, the book was more interesting than the speaker!)

I'll check into In the Zone.

I would also recommend Write Beside Them...great book!

Comment by Nick Senger on August 2, 2008 at 11:12am

@Tammy: I have Mechanically Inclined but I haven't read it yet. Do you want me to give it a quick glance for you? I remember liking it enough in the bookstore to buy it (and it's more than I usually pay for a book, so I must have thought it looked pretty good). I just haven't gotten around to it yet. I'm pouring over Atwell's In the Zone and In the Middle right now as I get ready for the new school year. I highly recommend In the Zone. I'm going to be basing my 8th grade reading instruction on it this year. I would love for every high school English teacher to read it, especially Chapter 9: High School.

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