Miss Gothard's Book Blog

How will hide from a witch? Gritch the Witch wants to make piggie pie, but Gritch does not have all of the ingredients. Gritch travels to a farm to gather her ingredients, but the pigs see her coming. The pigs disguise themselves as different animals to hide from the witch. The book provides many opportunities to do activities with your students. I would have my students disguise a pig and write a story about the pig and its disguise. 

Reading Level: Lexile 490L

Grades K-3

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie is a story about a generous boy sharing a cookie with a mouse. By sharing the cookie, the boy started a chain of events that keeps him busy all day. Children find the story humorous and can identify the wants and needs of the mouse. As a teacher, I would have students (lower grades) to create a sequencing map or have students act out each part and determine the placement of each part. For the higher grades, I will use this story to introduce cause and effect, which students can apply to other subjects and real world experiences. 

Reading Level: Lexile AD410L

Grades PreK-2

R. J. Palacio's Wonder is an example of how everyone is unique and extraordinary. The main character, Auggie, is born with a facial deformity and dreams to be an "ordinary" boy. Throughout the novel, the reader begins to see Auggie through the other's characters' eyes. With the completion of Wonder, Auggie learns he is unique and special to the world and his peers recognize him with a heart, brain, and great strength. This novel would be great to be used in the classroom. One activity that could be done is asking students to write one unique aspect of their classmates that they admire. Another activity is for students to identify the character they relate and why they relate to the character. 

Reading Level: Lexile 790L

Grades 3-8

A Wrinkle in Time introduces many themes, ideas, and concepts. This books is thought provoking through the use of the theme good vs. evil and the idea our parents are only human and can’t always fix everything. A Wrinkle in Time also celebrates individuality, nonconformity, friendship, and courage. Children will learn that everyone is different, but by celebrating that difference we can achieve anything. There are many activities that can be done in regards to this book. Students can explain what a tesseract is and include an illustration. Students could be creative by writing about a time travel trip and what they accomplished. 

• Lexile Reading Level: 740L

Grades 3-8