Category Archives: Book Trailers

Reel Reading for Real Readers: The Good Soldiers by David Finkel

20130207-190708My own sons love to read books on war. That’s the main reason I have so many in my classroom library.   My twin sons Zach and Chase both plan to enlist in the military after they serve two year missions for our church. Every once in a while they will come home from Barnes and Noble with a new book. Chase brought this one home just yesterday:

Every once in a while I come across a book that I surprise them with, and usually they argue over who gets to read it first. Good Soldiers by David Finkel is one of those books.

My sons were reluctant readers in middle school and most of high school. The majority of their teachers stuck to the required reading of classical literature and rarely talked about books other than those they were reading for class. Chase finally found books as a way to escape bullying, and Zach found he liked a lot of the books Chase was reading. They became readers on their own, which I am grateful for, but I still think “what if?” What if a teacher had taken the time to learn of their interests in the military, in war stories, in patriotism? What if a teacher had let them read where their passions lay? Maybe they would have had a much more enriching experience in high school English.

I haven’t read Good Soldiers yet, but Chase has. He read it in a day.

Good Soldiers Audio Book Review:

David Finkel reads an excerpt:

Reel Reading for Real Readers: Behind the Beautiful Forevers

20130207-190708This one is still on my TBR list, but just reading this excerpt at NPR has made me think of the many ways I can use Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity by Katherine Boo in my English classes this year. Look at the sentence structure, the word, choice, the imagery, the power and beauty of the language. Oh, wow!

Many of my students know next to nothing about life outside of Carrolton, TX–or if they do, it’s the best exits to take for fast food and restroom breaks on their long drives from here to Mexico where they go to visit family. It’s not all their fault. They do not come from families of world travelers. They do not even come from families of readers.

One goal I have this year is to read more world literature myself. If I read it more, I will talk about it more, and I can hopefully get my students reading it more. There are so many wonderful stories, heartwarming and heart-wrenching stories, and I want my students to experience them.

Here’s Katherine Boo explaining her book. I just love her!

Reel Reading for Real Readers: Pride and Prejudice

20130207-190708.jpgSome of my colleagues might think I am anti-classics, but this is assuredly not so. I just hate how we commit what Kelly Gallagher calls Readicide by reading them to death in English classes. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is my all time favorite:  book and movie. The characters speak to me, and I’d know them on the street; I’ve read of them so many times. I even fantasize about living in turn of the century rural England. Well, maybe not fantasize, but I would like to travel to the English countryside someday.

Official Movie Trailer:  Pride and Prejudice

I want students to read this book. I do not want them to hate it. Therefore, I will talk it up. Quote some characters, show them this movie trailer, and offer a bribe or two if I have to: “I’ll bake you tiny cakes and bring you tea.” Whatever.

“My good opinion once lost is lost forever.” — Darcy, Pride and Prejudice

Do you remember that scene in You Got Mail? Meg Ryan’s character has praised Elizabeth Bennett and in subtle ways thrown down the challenge to Tom Hank’s character to read the book. He tries. For her. It’s the sweetest thing ever.

My daughters and I love all things Jane Austen. When the movie Becoming Jane came out, we were on a girls’ trip in Florida where the drivers love their horns, and we shook hands with a young man named Mr. Stubbs who was missing half a finger. The four of us walked into the movie theater, and we waltzed out humming the score and discussing literature. This mother’s perfect evening, surrounded by loving daughters who talk about books.

I’m all about building relationships with my students. By sharing my love of Pride and Prejudice with them– and why I love it, they will see a glimpse into me. The me outside the English class. The me who loves being a mom. Who goes to the movies. Who takes her girls to Florida on vacation. Who finds irony in people’s names.

If my students know me, I have a better chance of knowing them. Books and literature are so much more than reading material.

So, let’s play a bit here. What’s your favorite CLASSIC text, and why?

Reel Reading for Real Readers: Columbine by Dave Cullen

20130207-190708By far the best book I read this summer was Columbine by Dave Cullen. As part of my class at #UNHLit13, I chose to read this book and study it for craft with three other teachers. Maybe that’s why it’s my favorite.

I’ve been in book clubs before, and I’ve had my students conducting literature circles for a long while now, but I’ve never experienced the power of studying a book like this one.  Maybe it was the subject matter. Maybe it was the amazing group of professionals who were invested in the process as much as I was. Whatever it was, Dave Cullen has crafted a masterful piece that moved me.

I want my students to experience this kind of emotion when they read a book. I also want them to see the art in crafting language. (I’ll use excerpts in mini-lessons throughout the year.)

These are the first clips I will show my students this year, and I guarantee my copy of Columbine will land in a student’s hand, and the waiting list will start out long. I better prep the school library to get their copy ready, too.

Reel Reading: How about these book trailers?

20130207-190708It’s been a long time coming, but my students have finally produced some pretty good book trailers. I began showing trailers as a way to introduce books and encourage reading at the beginning of the year. Every Friday was silent reading day, and every Friday I chatted with kids about books they’d finished. We wrote on sticky notes and made a “recommendations” wall. We stood up and “testified” to the truth in books and how they touched our souls. No doubt, since I promoted reading more during class time this year, I created more readers.

Evidence? STAAR EOC scores are in. Almost every student who passed their reading test has been vocal in our classroom conversations about books this year. (One kiddo surprised me and scored satisfactorily–his average is a 26, but he passed the reading test. Go figure.)

I know. I know. Test scores are not everything. But… my readers certainly scored better than my non-readers.

On my classroom wall, I have my own six word memoir:  “Reading makes you smarter. Try it.” Those who did have done better than those who have not.

2 reading smarter

Our book trailer project is the culmination of our reading efforts this year. I wish we would have more time to polish them up, make sure we cited image sources, spelled words correctly and all that, but exams are next week, and bell schedules are crazy with awards assemblies, etc. Our time is gone.

Here’s a sampling of the most interesting of my student-made book trailers. Although not perfect, remember, these are 9th graders in an on-level English I class, Title I school. I’m a little proud.

Crackback by John Coy, created by Brandon. He used photos from our own football team.

Brandon Crackback

Unwind by Neal Shusterman, created by Heidi. Look at her hook!

Heidi –Unwind

A Child Called “It” by Dave Pelzer, created by Biridiana. She learned the medium on her own and came up with this!

Child Called It- Biri

The Lifeguard by Deborah Blumenthal, created by Kristen. Okay, so the trailer’s not great, but the video of the girl is Kristen herself. Cool.

The Lifeguard- Kristen

See You at Harry’s by Jo Knowles, created by Brenda. The use of quotes from the book creates the book’s selling points.

See You at Harry’s- Brenda

Reaction by Lesley Choyce, created by Ashley. Other than her characterization using Juno… <smile>

Reaction by Ashley

My Friend Dahmer by Derf Backderf, created by Jonathan. This one got traction when we showed it to the class. Wish it had more umph at the end.

Dahmer- Jonathan

I’d love to hear your ideas of using book trailers to create readers– or anything else you can teach me about books, kids, and reading!

Reel Reading for Real Readers: Summer YA Book Trailers

20130207-190708Pinterest, I love thee!

I didn’t think I would, but when my daughter told me that people were refurbishing and painting “old and ugly furniture like you have in the house, and you can learn how to do it on Pinterest,” I took a peek.

Yeah, ideas galore. (I even took my daughter’s advice, and who knew I could paint such beautiful furniture?)

But, here’s the thing:  There are boards for almost Everything. Even Summer Reading ideas for YA.

Oh, yes, please!

So, #ReelReading will take a break until school starts up next fall, and in the mean time– go check out this awesome board. I’m sharing it with my students next week.

Pinterest

Reel Reading: A Child Called ‘It’

20130207-190708.jpgI’d love to get my students to do some of this cool typography. Since they will be making their book trailers this week, I wanted to show them this option for their creations.

I’ve had great success getting even the most reluctant readers to read A Child Called ‘It’ by Dave Pelzer.

See? Isn’t all that letter and word movement cool?

If students like the topic of abuse (which I don’t quite understand), they might also like Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons. I haven’t seen the movie, but this trailer looks like it’s pretty well done.

Maybe next time I’ll look for happy topics.

Sheesh, Amy. This is depressing stuff.

Reel Reading: ROOM. Oh, my sweet Jack!

20130207-190708Few books hit me in the gut and make me weep, but ROOM by Emma Donoghue did just that. Told from the point of view of just just turned 5-year old Jack, this story of abuse, survival, and enduring love packs a punch that leaves you gasping.

Soon after I read ROOM, I heard the real life story of Jaycee Dugard and hurried to the book store to buy the book that shares her story, A Stolen Life.  Oh, my! Terrifying, horrifying, and. . . hopeful.

A Stolen Life

I have students, mostly my reluctant readers, who devour the book A Child Called ‘It‘. These kids often enjoy (or at least have a love/hate relationship) with  these other titles, too.

What is it within us that makes us want to learn of others’ suffering so?

Reel Reading: The House of the Scorpion

20130207-190708I love to watch student-made book trailers, especially when the students are not mine, and I’ve already read the book. I guess I see with a teacher’s eye:  Did the student get the gist of the book? Did she love it and want others to read it as much as I did?

I felt a thrill when I watched this trailer for Nancy Farmer’s The House of the Scorpion. The images and music parallel one another nicely, adding that touch of intrigue, which parallels the adventures in the book. The few errors in writing make me smile– my students will do that, too.

My kids will soon start creating their own book trailers. They got to choose the books they read. They get to figure out how to format and create a trailer that will get others to want to read that book. Should be interesting to see what they come up with.

I cannot wait.

Reel Reading: If I Stay by Gayle Forman

20130207-190708For their final project my English I students are to create their own book trailers. We’ve watched enough of them this year that they should have a pretty good idea of what an effective trailer should do:  compel someone to read the book.

In a last ditch effort to get my kids to understand the task, we are watching student-made book trailers for the next little while. These are a couple that are done very well about the book IF I STAY by Gayle Forman.

In my experience, if you can get a kid to read just one of Forman’s books, she will read them all.