Bad Kitty Runs for President

Hilariously Educational!

Nick Bruel takes us on a hilariously entertaining (yet educational) journey with Bad Kitty as she learns about the election process in Bad Kitty for President. This children's graphic novel if filled with fantastic (an also hilarious) illustrations as the narrator talks Bad Kitty through the election she is running in against Big Kitty, since Old Kitty has already served his 8 years and can't run again. Big Kitty hits the campaign trail: kissing babies, throwing fits, getting donations and more. But does Bad Kitty (or Big Kitty) have what it takes to become president? Find out who wins, while learning an awful lot about our own election process, I promise you will laugh (and probably learn something too)! And seriously teachers, what better way to teach your kiddos about the election if it is an election year or if teaching voting is in your Social Studies curriculum (like it was for me in 2nd grade this past year!)

Reading Level: DRA 40
                      Lexile 690L
                      Guided Reading R
*I think the reading level is so high because of all the content vocabulary, my second graders loved this book and could handle reading it with some help on the content words.*

Teachers... here are some resources to help you to use this book in your classroom...

Web Resources:

• Activities: This link provides some fun activities you can do with your class after reading.
• Trailer: Show your class this hilarious book trailer video before reading!
• Series Website: Find out about the author and the other Bad Kitty books here!

Vocabulary: All these words (with really fantastically funny definitions from Edna) are in the back of the book. Be sure to directly teach these words as without vocabulary instruction this book will be difficult for many 2nd and 3rd graders.
President, office, primary, election, nominee, party, delegates, convention, caucus, 527 group, debate, moderator, polling station, ballot, write-in candidate, register, absentee ballot, democracy

Activities:
Before Reading: Create a KWL with your class with the title: Voting and Elections. Have your kiddos generate responses for what they know and want to learn about elections.

During Reading: (This could work as an after reading activity too)
Have your kiddos create a vocabulary journal for an election.
Students can write the word, write their own definition then draw a picture to help remind them what the word means.
When I teach with a book with so much vocabulary, I often break the class into 4-6 groups and give each group a word. Each member will write the word, their own definition and draw a picture. When the groups are done, they will "jigsaw" (mix the groups up so one member of each word group is now in the mixed group i.e. you have a group for president, office, primary and election, there are 4 kiddos in each group. When they jigsaw EACH group will have one member from president, office, primary and election)
The kiddos teach their new group about THEIR word. If there is time, the students can choose one or more of the words they learned from a group member and add the word to their vocab journal.

After Reading: Finish the L from your KWL, having students generate responses to what they learned about elections.
Discussion/Journal: Do you agree with who became the Cat's president? Why or why not?

Cross Curricular: Social Studies
You are already teaching a Social Studies concept just by reading this book to your class, but why not take it a step further?

• Have a class election: Read some other great election books such a Duck for President or Grace for President. Have your kiddos run for president of the class. What kind of power will the president have? How will the class hold the election? You can have lots of fun with this!
• Instead of voting for a person, vote for what the class can do as an extra activity. The trick is, the class has to figure out how they can get the ideas down to only 2 to vote for. How will they promote their favorite idea? How will they tally the votes?
• Find out if your local town hall will give your students a tour through the voting process: standing in line to vote, filling out the voting card, submitting it into the machine, etc. Maybe they will even let your kiddos vote in a mock election!

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever

Stuck with your family all winter break...

Okay, it is completely official that I am in love with Jeff Kinney's work and absolutely love the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. As I said back when I read the first in the series, every reader no matter how old (or young) can relate to Greg Heffley's ridiculous antics. We've all been there, we've all seen it, done it but never has anyone written it down in such a hilarious manner. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever, did not disappoint at all, and I laughed the whole way through. Cabin Fever is set in the winter months and Greg has a few issues to deal with. For starters, Christmas is coming and Greg has a bad feeling that the only time Santa checks up on him are the "few" times he isn't on his best behavior. On top of trying to please Santa, Greg is trying to keep his Kritterz pet happy, but he's run out of tokens and has to find a way to make money and buy more tokens, and to make matters worse, his mom says he needs to use his own money to buy Christmas presents this year! Greg needs to earn money, fast! Greg's determination to earn money earns Greg the spot as prime suspect when school property is vandalized. Just when Greg thinks his life is over, a blizzard hits and strands his family indoors. Now Greg has to sit and wonder what punishment awaits him when the snow is cleared. Do yourself a favor and enjoy "Christmas in July" and read Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever!

Reading Level: AR: 5.8

Teachers: Here are some resources to help you use this book in your class...

Web Resources:

• Event Kit: In this event kit/launch party, Jeff Kinney came up with some great Wimpy Kid games and activities that relate the Cabin Fever. Use these games to launch this book in your class, or think about throwing a Wimpy Kid party as a classroom reward.
• Interview: Here you will find a TIME for Kids article that consists of an interview of Jeff Kinney regarding his newest Wimpy Kid book, Cabin Fever.

Vocabulary: Here are some words I picked out... leverage, legitimate, confiscated, revenge, decoy, anguish, duped, hyperactive, petition, forgery, vandalism, perpetrators, culprits, dignity

Activities:
Before Reading: Discussion: What does "cabin fever" mean? If you're not sure, use the picture on the cover of the book for a clue. Have you ever felt like you had "cabin fever?" Based on other Wimpy Kid books, predict what kind of trouble you think Greg might get into in this book?

During Reading: Journal/Discussion Questions: Greg is responsible for the vandalism to the school, but he didn't mean for any of it to happen. Do you think it is still Greg's fault? Should he be punished for what he did?
Have you ever done anything without meaning to harm something or someone, but did anyway? What did you do? If you were Greg, would you turn yourself in?

After Reading: In this book, Greg and Rowley create their own newspaper. In small groups, create a newspaper. Decide who should write what sections, what you will write about, who you think will read your paper, etc.

Kinney, J. (2011). Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever. New York: Amulet Books.

Happy Reading (& Running) =)

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth

Greg just does not cease to make me laugh out loud!

If you've read my blog before, you know I just can't get enough of Jeff Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. The Ugly Truth is no different... hilarious, witty, relate-able and just pure genius. I apologize to any of you who are not a fan of Greg and his antics, for me, it just doesn't get old... Don't worry though, I promise to give it a rest and post about something very different next time, ha! But back to The Ugly Truth... after a falling out with Rowley, Greg is in search of a new best friend at the beginning of this story. Greg is still wanting desperately to grow up and dreams of his fame and fortune but throughout the story Greg finds reasons why growing up may not be the best thing in the world. Between dealing with boy-girl parties, having to take responsibility for himself while his mom goes back to school and Rowley getting his first zit before Greg, there are certainly some changes taking place in Greg's life. Will Greg figure out what growing up is all about and will he find a new best friend or end up back where he always does, next to Rowley? Find out in Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth.

Reading Level: Fountus and Pinnell: S; Lexile: 1000L; DRA: 40; Interest level: Ages 9 and up

Teachers: Here are some resources to help you teach this book...

Web Resources:

• Resource Pack: This "resource pack" has tons of ideas that would be fun to use in a classroom or at an after school "Wimpy Kid Night"
• Event Guide: Play some games with your class like Greg does at his "lock in" or host a Wimpy Kid Night Lock In at school and use these games! (You do not need to register to view this page)
•  Wimpy Kid Wiki: Check out this great Wiki site, learn about the characters, movie, books and more in a fun, kid friendly site.

Vocabulary:As always, the language is pretty easy to understand, but here are a few words I picked out... discriminate, suspicious, responsibility, culprit, paranoid, reliable, domestic, immaculate, posterior

Activites:
Before Reading: Small Group Discussion: In this story, Greg learns some of the "ugly truths" about growing up. In your group, discuss what some of the "ugly truths" you've learned in the past few years.

During Reading: Journal: Greg and his family are asked to take some more responsibilities when his mom goes back to school. What are some responsibilities you have at your house? What are some responsibilities your other family members have?
Discussion: Is it fair for kids to have certain responsibilities at home?

After Reading: Create a cartoon or "Graphic Novel" to depict your week.

Kinney, J. (2009). Diary of a Wimpy Kid, The Last Straw. London: Puffin. 

Happy Reading (& Running) =)

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days

Greg is back... and he wants the perfect summer!

Greg Heffley is back in Jeff Kinney's Dairy of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, the 4th book in the Wimpy Kid series. I have decided what I like most about Greg Heffley's stories is how easy they are to relate to. I know students as young as 3rd grade and as old as 8th grade who have greatly enjoyed reading the series. I also know quite a few adults who got a kick out of reading them and remembering some of their childhood in the process. In this book, Greg is on summer vacation and finding himself quite miserable. All he wants to do is shut himself up in his dark room playing video games, but his mother will not have it! Between his family not having enough money for vacation, terrors at the town pool and a falling out with Rowley all Greg wants is the perfect summer. Too bad his mother's idea of a perfect summer might just ruin Greg's summer all together. Will anyone end up with a perfect summer? Read to find out, I bet you'll find yourself laughing a whole lot while you do!

Reading Level: Fountas and Pinnell: T
                        Lexile: 1010L

Teachers... Here are some resources to help you teach this book...

Web Resources:

• Event Kit: This site was created to help kids have a party for the release of Dog Days. However, there are lots of fun Wimpy Kid games that could be easily used in a classroom.
• Through the Year:This site offers a variety of Wimpy Kid activities that relate to the first 4 Wimpy Kid books. The activities are meant to be used throughout the year. Click on "Click to read" to enlarge (you do not have to subscribe to read).
• Teacher's Guide: This is a really great teacher's guide with activities, writing prompts, quizzes, etc. for teaching Dog Days.

Vocabulary: If you need to preteach these will depend on the age level of your students... traumatic, sermon, paranoid, drastic, confiscated, confession, scam, nauseous

Activities:
Before Reading: In this story Greg and his mom both want to have the perfect summer. What is your idea of a perfect summer?

During Reading: Create a 2 column entry in your journal. As you read, compare Greg's idea of a perfect summer with his mom's idea of a perfect summer.

After Reading: At the end of the book, Greg says: "I guess the person who takes the pictures is the one who gets to tell the story." What do you think Greg means? In partnerships or groups pick a common event, memory, etc. and have each person write a description about that event, day, etc. See how different your descriptions are.

Kinney, J. (2009). Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days. New York: Amulet Books.

Happy Reading (&Running) =)

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules

Will Rodrick spill the beans and ruin Greg's reputation at school?

A new school year brings new opportunities for Greg in Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules. But, with his brother Rodrick knowing about a very embarrassing moment that happened over the summer, it is questionable whether or not Greg will be able to get past those summer months. Once again Jeff Kinney brings us a graphic novel with one of our favorite characters Greg Heffley. Filled with cartoon drawings and laugh out loud funny incidents we go for a journey through Greg's second year of middle school. Between a new vow of truth, learning how to play Magick and Monsters and many other events that unravel, we see the same unsure Greg we saw in Kinney's first of this series. A must read series!

Teachers: Here are some resources and ideas that will help you teach this graphic novel.

Web Resources:

• Autobiographical Comics: This website discusses a classroom activity where students learn that comics are not just about superheroes. Comics can be about an every day person like a student. This discussion about comics would be great to have as a pre-reading activity. Making ones' own autobiographical comic would be a great post-reading activity.
• Journal Prompts: This site has 30 different journal prompts students could use if they want to create a journal just like Greg.

Vocabulary: Overall, there are very few vocabulary words that students would have difficulty with but here are some words that may need to be pretaught: umpire, blanks (fired from a starting gun), fad, civil, safari, decoy, totem pole, liberating, allegory, mead, habitat, extinct, circulation, accomplice.

Activities:
Before Reading: I would suggest having students read the first in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series before reading Rodrick Rules. Have students in small groups make predictions about what they think will happen to Greg this year in school. Ask students to relate these predictions to what they remember from the first book in the series.

During Reading: Sometimes Greg makes decisions that hurt other people (and sometimes doesn't even realize it). As students read, ask them to pick 3-4 decisions Greg made that they would have made differently. Have students write 1-2 paragraphs about what they would have done differently.

After Reading:

• Writing: Have students incorporate comics/drawings into their journals. Or, if students do not have journals that they write in regularly, incorporate journaling into class time.
• Make a class venn diagram comparing and contrasting the first two books in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series.

Kinney, J. (2008). Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules. New York: Amulet Books.

Happy Reading (&Running) =)

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

 Because one day Greg will be rich and famous...

I found myself incredibly happy that I chose Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney as my next children's novel to read. With a movie out based off the novel and elementary students talking about it non-stop, it was about time I cracked it open.
Greg is a typical middle school student, but how typical is it for a boy to be writing a "journal" definitely NOT a "diary" about the things that happen to him on a day to day basis? Greg is a small, "wimpy" kid who finds it foolish to have to go to school along side guys who are 5 times his size and have to shave every day. His antics will have you laughing out loud. He is constantly trying to find a way to raise his standings on the popularity stage where he has estimated himself being about 52nd or 53rd most popular in his class. When we first meet Greg's best friend Rowley, Rowley is more like 150th most popular.  Greg's plans to rise up in the popularity standards are constantly backfiring and when it seems to be Rowley who is rising in the ranks, their friendship is tested. The cartoon drawings that are included within the journal/diary add to the hilarity of Greg's stories and leave you wanting more. It's a good thing Kinney has written 3 other books in the series, with another coming out next month, because I know at least I can't get enough!

The Wimpy Kid Website

Teachers: Here are some resources and ideas to help you teach this novel...

Web Resources:

• Enrichment Activities: This site offers some activities that a student could do as a book project, for an extension or even just for fun.
• Comic Creator: I also featured this comic generator in my blog on The Popularity Papers. This is a fun way for students to start their own comic journal like Greg's journal.

Vocabulary: I found the vocabulary in this novel to be fairly easy as well as many of the words can be decoded using context clues. However, here are some words that may need to be pre-taught: ambush, anonymous, audition, bandit, campaign, chaperone, contributor, culprit, dismantle, embroidered, expectations, fabrications, gimmicks, humiliate, immortal, ironic, lecture, legitimate, logic, perk, promotion, psyched, refund, regimen, resolution, sarcastic, sod, soprano, taunt, treasurer

Activities:
Before Reading: Ask students to predict what kind of character traits Greg will have based on the title Diary of a Wimpy Kid. The implications of the word diary and wimpy may have students coming up with all kinds of ideas about Greg and what he will be like throughout his story.

During Reading: Have students take note of events that happen to Greg that they can relate to. They can use these notes after reading for a writing prompt/essay.

After Reading/Writing:

•  Have students use their notes on events they can relate to that they took while reading for this activity. Using these notes have students write a compare/contrast writing prompt about one of the events they could relate to and how they related to it. Encourage students to point out the similarities and differences between Greg's event and their own.
• Ask students to write a journal using comic pictures or the comic generator from readwritethink (link above) in the style of Greg, keeping track of events that have happened over a week's time (or longer if you choose).

In case you didn't know, there's a movie that goes along with this book. It doesn't follow the book exactly, but what movie does? I found it hysterical and have watched it more than once! Check it out!

Kinney, J. (2007). Diary of a Wimpy Kid. New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers.

Happy Reading (&Running) =)

The Popularity Papers

What does it take to be popular?
Graphic Novels are fun to read! 

Lydia and Julie want more than anything to figure out what it is that makes certain girls popular, and other girls like themselves anything but popular. They decide the only way to figure it all out is to observe the popular girls, do experiments testing their observations, and after a lot of experiments, they will finally find what makes certain girls... popular. Lydia wants to be a theater star but is constantly beat out by Jane, one of the popular girls. Julie on the other hand is shy but goes along with her friend Lydia for the project, providing neat handwriting and awesome artwork. They record their observations and experiments in this journal entitled: The Popularity Papers: Research for the Social Improvement and General Betterment of Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang actually written by Amy Ignatow, although the way this graphic novel is presented, you would swear it was written by the two girls in 5th grade! 

If you remember reading and loving the Amelia's Notebook series by Marissa Moss, you will find this book just as witty and awesome for adolescent girls and preteens.

A page from the graphic novel so you can get the idea of how much this looks like a real journal written by two 5th grade girls:

Teachers: Resources and ideas to aide you in teaching The Popularity Papers...

 Web Resources:

• Comic Generator: This site from readwritethink is a comic generator. You may choose to have students write their own short graphic novel/comic in response to The Popularity Papers. Some students may choose to do their comic strip/graphic novel response using this interactive. 
• Graphic Novel Guide for Teachers & Librarians: Not sure about teaching a graphic novel in the classroom? Not sure exactly what constitutes as a graphic novel? Well, if I can't convince you that The Popularity Papers (& other graphic novels) can be used in the classroom, maybe this article from Scholastic will help to convince you =) 

Key Vocabulary: I found this book to be very reader friendly with not very many difficult words that are not explained to the reader by Lydia or Julie. However, here are a few words I found that may need to be pre-taught or may need their definitions expanded on despite Lydia or Julie's explanations:  ogle, skein, basting, revolution, baroness, Norse, haiku, vintage, scarab, infirmary, eskrima, mutual, campaign, sanctum, dyslexic, garb, counterculture, mancala 
 
Activities:
Before Reading: Make a KWL chart with students to find out what students know about the graphic novel genre and what they want to know about graphic novels. It is not a common place for students to read graphic novels in school, but you may find students know a lot about graphic novels because they read them at home.

During Reading: Before Lydia and Julie do any of their experiments, write down what you predict will happen when the girls go through with the experiment.

After Reading/Writing: 

• Choose one of the "coolest people you know" like Lydia and Julie do at the end of their notebook. Write a persuasive essay in which you explain to the audience why this person deserves the title of one of the coolest people you know.
• Use the comic creator link above, or pencils and paper to make your own short graphic novel about an incident that happened at school or in response to The Popularity Papers.
• Finish the KWL chart with what students have learned about graphic novels through reading The Popularity Papers.
• Write a haiku like Julie did, in response to The Popularity Papers choosing a topic such as: who is the most popular character in the novel? What experiment did you like the best? Will Lydia and Julie end up being popular in Junior High? Or any other response you can think of.

Ignatow, A. (2010). The Popularity Papers: Research for the Social Improvement and General Betterment of Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang. New York: Amulet Books.

Happy Reading (& Running) =)