tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post5830314161709869533..comments2024-03-15T09:26:02.796-05:00Comments on PROJECT MAYHEM: My classroom library is a car dealership, by Mike WinchellProject Mayhemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05154342399869089664noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-41435048826994136992013-07-03T10:40:20.617-05:002013-07-03T10:40:20.617-05:00Stress "slightly" please.Stress "slightly" please.Mike Winchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11771482167997501541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-60161950427804862122013-07-03T10:40:01.738-05:002013-07-03T10:40:01.738-05:00I will grab that one then. Thanks.I will grab that one then. Thanks.Mike Winchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11771482167997501541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-22884512918921806092013-07-03T10:30:54.462-05:002013-07-03T10:30:54.462-05:00Mike, you might be slightly older than me, so that...Mike, you might be slightly older than me, so that makes you the original. Darn!!!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05514067724256745623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-16098059134635495982013-07-03T10:29:52.520-05:002013-07-03T10:29:52.520-05:00Kids seem to like The Wednesday Wars the best. It&...Kids seem to like The Wednesday Wars the best. It's fast paced, the voice is perfect, and it's hilarious with an emotional appeal. Get em with heart and humor. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05514067724256745623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-77375904770790158732013-07-02T08:08:00.262-05:002013-07-02T08:08:00.262-05:00Clones? Which is the original? You know, I've ...Clones? Which is the original? You know, I've never read a Gary Schmidt book and don't believe I have one in my library. Which do you recommend I start with?Mike Winchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11771482167997501541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-51043883922277728952013-07-01T16:09:42.789-05:002013-07-01T16:09:42.789-05:00Love this post. I am convinced that we are clones....Love this post. I am convinced that we are clones. Gary Schmidt, must have for boys! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05514067724256745623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-16857448211801045042013-07-01T07:05:29.248-05:002013-07-01T07:05:29.248-05:00Nice to meet you too, Elliot. Gaiman is always a g...Nice to meet you too, Elliot. Gaiman is always a good choice. GRAVEYARD BOOK was an instant classic in my opinion. I've been able to sell it to more than a few students.Mike Winchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11771482167997501541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-35883789848456179992013-06-30T18:42:03.846-05:002013-06-30T18:42:03.846-05:00...tough question, (and very nice to meet you ;), ......tough question, (and very nice to meet you ;), I'd go with Gaiman's MG novels. Even the least interested will surely pay attention.<br /><br />ElElliot Gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06319271528871804399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-8359469261333895172013-06-30T15:03:18.729-05:002013-06-30T15:03:18.729-05:00The Dark is Rising series was one of the best of m...The Dark is Rising series was one of the best of my childhood. Better than Chronicles of Narnia, I think, because it didn't beat you over the head with the religious themes.<br /><br />Whoa! Hope you like it! *Spoilers* Nobody dies!Shaun Hutchinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01480241164653893038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-40909870969574562982013-06-28T19:09:17.521-05:002013-06-28T19:09:17.521-05:00Love MANIAC MAGEE. Haven't read DEAD END... ye...Love MANIAC MAGEE. Haven't read DEAD END... yet. Not sure why, but will have to.Mike Winchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11771482167997501541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-76611682710985850452013-06-28T16:35:34.359-05:002013-06-28T16:35:34.359-05:00It's wonderful to hear from a teacher who is s...It's wonderful to hear from a teacher who is so enthusiastic about teaching and encouraging reading!<br /><br />My MG book suggestions: Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli and Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech and Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin. Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos is another good one, especially for reluctant readers because it's so hilarious!<br /><br />Happy reading and writing! from <a href="http://lauramarcella.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Laura Marcella @ Wavy Lines</a>Laura S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13934230198562773803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-77023202987292190122013-06-28T14:13:45.110-05:002013-06-28T14:13:45.110-05:00That's funny. Makes me think of HUGO CABRET bo...That's funny. Makes me think of HUGO CABRET book, with looks huge, but is only due to the MANY amazing drawings. The book is only around 25K words, but is 533 pages. Turns kids off unless a teacher or librarian is there to say, "Wait, give it a chance. See..." Mike Winchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11771482167997501541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-76476532543429465612013-06-28T12:30:17.249-05:002013-06-28T12:30:17.249-05:00That does make sense. And it LOOKS even longer tha...That does make sense. And it LOOKS even longer than it is, which doesn't help.Matthew MacNishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264738483763244969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-28941929486395366052013-06-28T12:25:26.333-05:002013-06-28T12:25:26.333-05:00Thanks, Matt. Haven't read the KEEPER books ye...Thanks, Matt. Haven't read the KEEPER books yet. The only problem I'd say with reluctant readers and those books would be the length. It is so hard to push a book to reluctant readers that, although good, is incredibly long. My dedicated readers, no problem. In keeping with my car salesman analogy, it's like trying to sell a bus to a new driver who barely knows how to operate a vehicle.Mike Winchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11771482167997501541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-808437310088639922013-06-28T12:14:34.570-05:002013-06-28T12:14:34.570-05:00Wow this is a tough question. I would second Shaun...Wow this is a tough question. I would second Shaun's notion of The Graveyard Book, especially for reluctant boys. Going by my own daughter, who is suddenly "too old for MG," Shannon Messenger's Keeper series seems to be pretty popular for girls.Matthew MacNishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264738483763244969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-88435443200995307672013-06-28T12:02:37.364-05:002013-06-28T12:02:37.364-05:00Graphic novels are something I had to embrace in m...Graphic novels are something I had to embrace in my classroom with the growth of their popularity. I had a policy long ago that stated no graphic-reliant literature (comic books) would could toward independent reading, but with the surge of graphic novels, I was in danger of taking "choice" away and pushing kids away from reading. I had to adjust my expectations and embrace graphic novels as literature, and once I did, I learned to appreciate the storytelling involved.<br /><br />Great choices, by the way. You alluded to one of my top 2 must-haves: Riordan, LIGHTNING THIEF. I have sort of a man-crush on Riordan.Mike Winchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11771482167997501541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-70880602541245577652013-06-28T08:33:52.413-05:002013-06-28T08:33:52.413-05:00You sound like you run your classroom how I used t...You sound like you run your classroom how I used to. I'm such a big believer in not trashing anyone's reading choices. With that in mind, I love graphic novels like the Bone series and I still love Diary of a Wimpy Kid and I love Planet Tad even more. Kimberley Griffiths Little has such a way with MG voice and I've read some YA like Rules for Disappearing that my 16 y.o. devoured (but doesn't have anything offensive in it, really, that younger kids couldn't read). I've never been a reader of these, but kids seem to love Rick Riordan and James Patterson (mine did, anyway). I usually had some short story anthology available with Poe or O. Henry, too, for kids who liked that. And, last but certainly not least, I think every library should have Harry Potter and The Hunger Games. Alisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10502196403104788957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-35622472294386755272013-06-28T06:38:54.121-05:002013-06-28T06:38:54.121-05:00Yes, you are right. There are so many great MG boo...Yes, you are right. There are so many great MG books. I love your choices. You cover the boy and girl demographic with your 2 selections, and I absolutely love Horowitz and the Alex Rider series. He writes what boys crave in a books, and I wish more publishers would recognoze that it is so, so important to give the kids what they want...if we want to create lifelong readers.<br /><br />I would feel confident allowing you to stock my classroom library!Mike Winchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11771482167997501541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-58657115670631354602013-06-28T06:32:36.850-05:002013-06-28T06:32:36.850-05:00Graveyard Book. Awesome choice.
I hate to admit ...Graveyard Book. Awesome choice.<br /><br /> I hate to admit I have not read Dark is Rising. Based on your comment, I assume I need to read it. I will add it to my TBR pile, which is topped off by...<br /><br />FML, in bookstores now, and in my hands.Mike Winchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11771482167997501541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-14246464178621529492013-06-28T06:23:50.128-05:002013-06-28T06:23:50.128-05:00Horowitz's Stormbreaker and Ally Carter's ...Horowitz's Stormbreaker and Ally Carter's I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You. A lot of kids who never even thought they'd like spy books get hooked after reading those. But there are so many good MG books out there!Ms. Yinglinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17805324364289597178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-74567984005719424072013-06-28T06:15:47.986-05:002013-06-28T06:15:47.986-05:00That sounds like an awesome classroom! Congrats!
...That sounds like an awesome classroom! Congrats!<br /><br />Middle grade huh...<br /><br />The Dark is Rising series by Susan Cooper and The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman.Shaun Hutchinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01480241164653893038noreply@blogger.com