Tag Archives: reel reading

Reel Reading for Real Readers: Fahrenheit 451

Amy Rasmussen, Book Trailers, Books October 10, 2013 1 Comment

ReelReading2Today a student asked me, “What would you do if there were no books?”

I responded, “You mean if someone burned them?”

Another student chimed in, “You mean like in Fahrenheit 451?”

“Exactly,” I said, turning to the first student, “Do you know that book?”

“No, I was just wondering.”

“In the book Fahrenheit 451, the firemen burn books. Sound interesting?”

And then that little sparkle in the eye that says yes louder than any words could.

Much to my surprise while scrolling through my Twitter feed this afternoon, I saw this headline from Glen Beck’s show:  A warning to the world’: Glen shares an excerpt from Fahrenheit 451. Of course, I stopped, and clicked the link.

Check this out–it doesn’t matter if you are a Glen Beck fan, it’s a great way to introduce students to this great little classic. I think our students will “get” it.

‘A Warning to the World’

Reel Reading for Real Readers: Columbine by Dave Cullen

Amy Rasmussen, AP English, Book Trailers, Readers Workshop August 29, 2013 Leave a comment

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: A Child Called ‘It’

Book Trailers, Books, Readers Workshop May 16, 2013 Leave a comment

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: The House of the Scorpion

Book Trailers, Readers Workshop May 1, 2013 Leave a comment

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

Book Trailers, Readers Workshop April 25, 2013 Comments: 3

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.

 

Reel Reading: Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your A**

Book Trailers, Readers Workshop February 28, 2013 1 Comment

20130207-190708

Gritty. Real. Not to mention a killer title. Exactly what my students like and want to read. Check out today’s book trailer for Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass by Meg Medina.

If you’re new to Reel Reading for Real Readers, here’s the low down:

What:  Weekly posts of book trailers of our favorite and most student-engaging YA books.
Why:   Visual images can intrigue the most reluctant and even hostile readers.
When: Thursdays so you can find the book in preparation for showing the trailer on Fridays. (We might get some traction with weekend readers here.)
How:  We’ll post ours. You post yours, using the meme Reel Reading for Real Readers. Leave us a comment with your blog link, so others can add to their book trailer libraries.
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Teachers and YA book lovers, we’d love for you to join us.