Finally!

I finished my first book, Dead End in Norvelt!  I just wanted to report that I did indeed finish it, and although I found the book very delightful and a fun read, I wasn't too keen on the ending.  Don't want to spoil it but I think Gantos ended a Masterpiece in a very unusual way, that didn't sit well with me.

Here are some online ideas I found online to use in teaching this book in the classroom:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_PIRA9vcJg.  This link shows the youtube “trailer” for the book.  A great way to give an anticipatory guide before reading.  It includes photos of the author and other notable characters in the book.

http://media.us.macmillan.com/teachersguides/9780374379933TG.pdf  This is a fabulous FREE book guide to use with reading this novel.  It includes great pre-reading activities like writing an obituary of an old toy.  It offers activities and questions that go along with each theme of the book:  family relationships, friendships, loyalty, lying, etc.  Additionally, it suggests vocabulary and many strategies for diverse learners

On the other hand, I am almost finished with my first book on CD, Crispin: the Cross of Lead.  Now this book is an edge of your seat kind of read and I've been very enthralled in the book that I look for excuses to drive somewhere just so I can listen to it.  Really looking forward to finding out what happens when I finish the book and am ready to move on to the next book in its series!