Ballet for Martha: Making Appalachian Spring

 

(Greenberg, J., Jordan, S., & Floca, B. (2010). Ballet for Martha: making Appalachian Spring. New York: RB/Flash Point.)

Summary: Greenberg and Jordan write based on the true story of the creation of Appalachian Spring. Accompanied by Floca’s illustrations, the authors give the reader a behind the scenes view of the collaboration that occurred between Martha Graham’s vision, Aaron Copeland’s compositions, and Isamu Noguchi’s set along with the dancers’ clear dedication and rigorous practice. They paint a story that captures the attention of dancers and non-dancers alike.

 

Reading Level: Lexile AD710L / Ages 5 to 8

Suggested Delivery: Read Aloud/Shared Reading

Electronic Resources:

1.      Appalachian Spring Video

2.      Authors Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan’s Website

Teaching Suggestions:

Key Vocabulary:

1.      Composer

2.      Choreographer

3.      Transforms 

4.      Unusual

5.      Severe

   Reading Strategies:

          Before: Briefly introduce the idea of a ballet or a play. What goes into the creation of a     performance such as these? Who is involved? What makes the play a success?

            During: Have students come up with questions about productions and dance that they will write down while listening to the story.    

            After: The students will turn to a partner and share their questions. The students will attempt to answer each other’s questions. After a bit of time, the students will share the questions with the rest of the class. The questions will be written on a large sheet of   paper.

   Writing Activity:

            The students will pick one of the questions and research by asking an expert and looking up online.  The students will construct a short paragraph which answers their question. These answers will be shared with the rest of the class and posted for all to read.

 Sandra Jordan 

  



Jan Greenberg



 

Dear Blue Sky / Shooting the Moon

 

I recently started reading Dear Blue Sky and I realized the parallels to Shooting the Moon are incredible. I read Shooting the Moon several years ago and a student of mine is currently reading it.  In both books, the main character is a girl whose brother has gone off to war, supported by the father. Both books also have a character with a disability, in Shooting the Moon, a neighbor, and in Dear Blue Sky, her brother. Another key similarity is that both main characters perspectives on the war evolves throughout the book. In Shooting the Moon, Jamie’s brother is in Vietnam and he sends her rolls of film instead of letters. Through developing them, she is able to see into the reality of the Vietnam War. In Cassie’s story, she read an Iraqi girls blog and sees how the war affect the Iraqi population.  Both are using technology of the day to see the true story of the war. Both books could be used together, or separately to highlight the effect war has on families back home.

Dear Blue Sky:
(Sullivan, M. (2012). Dear Blue Sky. New York: Nancy Paulsen Books. )

 Reading Level: Ages 10 and up

Suggesting Reading Style: Small Group or Partners

Technology Resources:  A Prezi created about Dear Blue Sky, sharing highlights about the author, reviews, and the book itself.

Shooting the Moon:

(Dowell, F. O. (2008). Shooting the moon. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.)

 Reading Level: Lexile 890L/ Ages 10 and up

Suggesting Reading Style: Small Group or Partners

Technology Resources:The official website of Frances O'Roarke Dowell offers readers information about her books, a bio, and a journal written by the author.

Jake and Lily

(Spinelli, J. (2012). Jake and Lily. New York: Balzer + Bray)

Summary: Like Flipped (by  Wendelin Van Draanenas), Jake and Lily shows two sides of the same story. Written by Jerry Spinelli (the wonderful author of Stargirl. Love, Stargirl and Eggs), he describes twins, Jake and Lily Wambold summer vacation. The twins share a deep connection and memories but as they enter adolescence, Jake begins hanging out with who Lily views as the neighborhood bully, Bump and his group of friends. Although it appears Jake is more mature and Lily is struggling behind, both characters by the end of the book have learned lessons about who they are as people, separate and together as twins.

Reading Level: Ages 8 -10; Lexile 480L

Suggested Delivery: Independent Read

 Technology Resources:
1. In this Youtube video, Meet the Author, Jerry Spinelli talks about his books and his experience winning the Newbery Medal for Maniac Magee.

2. This book, Jake and Lily, is also available as an audio book.


 

Jerry Spinelli