Comments on: No Rest for the Weary http://blogs.slj.com/heavymedal/2010/01/04/no-rest-for-the-weary-2/ A Mock Newbery Blog Tue, 16 Apr 2013 01:12:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Ms Martha http://blogs.slj.com/heavymedal/2010/01/04/no-rest-for-the-weary-2/#comment-2249 Ms Martha Mon, 11 Jan 2010 11:21:14 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/heavymedal/2010/01/04/no-rest-for-the-weary-2/#comment-2249 The Eva Perry Mock decision is scheduled for Jan. 15, so blog/website should be updated before official announcement made Monday. (The blog is updated now as well.) We require 3 opinions before a title is eliminated from What We Are Reading. We read 287 titles this year, a lot of those non-fiction. Our kids just did not like the non-fiction this year, but described them all as dull or text-book style, or depending too much on illustrations. The Eva Perry Mock decision is scheduled for Jan. 15, so blog/website should be updated before official announcement made Monday. (The blog is updated now as well.) We require 3 opinions before a title is eliminated from What We Are Reading. We read 287 titles this year, a lot of those non-fiction. Our kids just did not like the non-fiction this year, but described them all as dull or text-book style, or depending too much on illustrations.

]]> By: Kathi Appelt http://blogs.slj.com/heavymedal/2010/01/04/no-rest-for-the-weary-2/#comment-2250 Kathi Appelt Wed, 06 Jan 2010 14:52:21 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/heavymedal/2010/01/04/no-rest-for-the-weary-2/#comment-2250 I'll chime in too, Jonathan and Nina! I've learned so much from reading your posts, as well as from the thoughtful comments. Thank you for providing this forum. xoK I’ll chime in too, Jonathan and Nina! I’ve learned so much from reading your posts, as well as from the thoughtful comments. Thank you for providing this forum.

xoK

]]> By: Nina http://blogs.slj.com/heavymedal/2010/01/04/no-rest-for-the-weary-2/#comment-2251 Nina Wed, 06 Jan 2010 13:13:39 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/heavymedal/2010/01/04/no-rest-for-the-weary-2/#comment-2251 [OMG...a little love fest provoked by Nancy Werlin. Boy, did I need that today. I'll just float happily through the rest of my meetings and tuna fish sandwich now...] [OMG...a little love fest provoked by Nancy Werlin. Boy, did I need that today. I'll just float happily through the rest of my meetings and tuna fish sandwich now...]

]]> By: Kate Messner http://blogs.slj.com/heavymedal/2010/01/04/no-rest-for-the-weary-2/#comment-2252 Kate Messner Wed, 06 Jan 2010 12:31:24 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/heavymedal/2010/01/04/no-rest-for-the-weary-2/#comment-2252 What Nancy said... These conversations have been thought-provoking and fantastic. Thanks! What Nancy said… These conversations have been thought-provoking and fantastic. Thanks!

]]> By: Jonathan Hunt http://blogs.slj.com/heavymedal/2010/01/04/no-rest-for-the-weary-2/#comment-2253 Jonathan Hunt Wed, 06 Jan 2010 12:29:20 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/heavymedal/2010/01/04/no-rest-for-the-weary-2/#comment-2253 Thanks, Nancy! Kris, my students overwhelmingly gravitate toward fiction, too (although I do have a fourth grade boy who reads about 50% nonfiction). We do have several nonfiction titles on our student-created shortlist (CLAUDETTE COLVIN, TRUCE, and MOONSHOT), but none of them have very much support. I think TRUCE has the best shot, and is picking up steam. No girl readers on it yet, but five boys and counting . . . Thanks, Nancy!

Kris, my students overwhelmingly gravitate toward fiction, too (although I do have a fourth grade boy who reads about 50% nonfiction). We do have several nonfiction titles on our student-created shortlist (CLAUDETTE COLVIN, TRUCE, and MOONSHOT), but none of them have very much support. I think TRUCE has the best shot, and is picking up steam. No girl readers on it yet, but five boys and counting . . .

]]> By: Kris http://blogs.slj.com/heavymedal/2010/01/04/no-rest-for-the-weary-2/#comment-2254 Kris Wed, 06 Jan 2010 12:00:49 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/heavymedal/2010/01/04/no-rest-for-the-weary-2/#comment-2254 Hi Jonathan! Thanks for the compliment. We're in our 4th year of doing a Mock Newbery Club and we refine and improve each year. I had a great intern this year helping me create the list (yay Kathy--check out her blog at brainlair.blogspot.com) , based on reviews from review journals & blogs, as well as looking for big name authors who were publishing, and titles that I knew the students would love--the latest Percy Jackson, the latest Mysterious Benedict Society, for example. I'll be blogging about this tomorrow for our library, but right now The Last Olympian and Catching Fire are the most lauded books (based on the number of nominations I received from the 19 students). But I was pleasantly surprised by a good # of nominations for The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate and When You Reach Me. Unfortunately the students avoided the nonfiction titles, but I did get a few to read Claudette Colvin and they said they were glad they did. It is always harder for me to get them to read nonfiction--they love to read fiction, especially fantasy, so nonfiction is a real stretch and I'm sure feels a bit like something they'd read for schoolwork instead of enjoyment. Hi Jonathan! Thanks for the compliment. We’re in our 4th year of doing a Mock Newbery Club and we refine and improve each year. I had a great intern this year helping me create the list (yay Kathy–check out her blog at brainlair.blogspot.com) , based on reviews from review journals & blogs, as well as looking for big name authors who were publishing, and titles that I knew the students would love–the latest Percy Jackson, the latest Mysterious Benedict Society, for example. I’ll be blogging about this tomorrow for our library, but right now The Last Olympian and Catching Fire are the most lauded books (based on the number of nominations I received from the 19 students). But I was pleasantly surprised by a good # of nominations for The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate and When You Reach Me. Unfortunately the students avoided the nonfiction titles, but I did get a few to read Claudette Colvin and they said they were glad they did. It is always harder for me to get them to read nonfiction–they love to read fiction, especially fantasy, so nonfiction is a real stretch and I’m sure feels a bit like something they’d read for schoolwork instead of enjoyment.

]]> By: a teacher http://blogs.slj.com/heavymedal/2010/01/04/no-rest-for-the-weary-2/#comment-2255 a teacher Wed, 06 Jan 2010 11:41:05 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/heavymedal/2010/01/04/no-rest-for-the-weary-2/#comment-2255 DITTO! Discussions get lively at times, but as an elementary teacher stuck in the middle of the country and with no real outlet to expressive my interest in children's literature, this blog has been awesome! Thanks!!! DITTO!

Discussions get lively at times, but as an elementary teacher stuck in the middle of the country and with no real outlet to expressive my interest in children’s literature, this blog has been awesome!

Thanks!!!

]]> By: Nancy Werlin http://blogs.slj.com/heavymedal/2010/01/04/no-rest-for-the-weary-2/#comment-2256 Nancy Werlin Wed, 06 Jan 2010 11:15:53 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/heavymedal/2010/01/04/no-rest-for-the-weary-2/#comment-2256 This seems as good a place as any for a little love-note directed to Nina and Jonathan, with thanks to them, to SLJ, and to all those who have commented for conducting such a lively and provocative discussion. I check daily and have thoroughly enjoyed every post and every comment. One more week to go--keep it up! This seems as good a place as any for a little love-note directed to Nina and Jonathan, with thanks to them, to SLJ, and to all those who have commented for conducting such a lively and provocative discussion. I check daily and have thoroughly enjoyed every post and every comment. One more week to go–keep it up!

]]> By: steven http://blogs.slj.com/heavymedal/2010/01/04/no-rest-for-the-weary-2/#comment-2257 steven Tue, 05 Jan 2010 11:03:48 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/heavymedal/2010/01/04/no-rest-for-the-weary-2/#comment-2257 The Oregon Library Association, the Washington Library Association, and Multnomah County Library are presenting a Mock Newbery program on January 9th in Portland. We'll be discussing 8 books: Almost Astronauts, Heart of a Shepherd, How Oliver Olson Changed the World, The Magician's Elephant, Red Sings from Treetops, When You Reach Me, and Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. And we'll get the added treat of hearing Newbery insights from three former committee members: Nell Colburn, Ellen Fader, and Katie O'Dell. We'll share results next week. The Oregon Library Association, the Washington Library Association, and Multnomah County Library are presenting a Mock Newbery program on January 9th in Portland. We’ll be discussing 8 books: Almost Astronauts, Heart of a Shepherd, How Oliver Olson Changed the World, The Magician’s Elephant, Red Sings from Treetops, When You Reach Me, and Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. And we’ll get the added treat of hearing Newbery insights from three former committee members: Nell Colburn, Ellen Fader, and Katie O’Dell. We’ll share results next week.

]]> By: Jonathan Hunt http://blogs.slj.com/heavymedal/2010/01/04/no-rest-for-the-weary-2/#comment-2258 Jonathan Hunt Tue, 05 Jan 2010 08:54:16 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/heavymedal/2010/01/04/no-rest-for-the-weary-2/#comment-2258 Anderson's Book Shop has 25 shortlisted titles, but not a single nonfiction title. Rhode Island has 16 shortlisted titles, but no nonfiction. Allen County has several, which is a break from past practice when the nonfiction was lumped solely in their mock Sibert. Good job, Allen County. Eva Perry has 29 titles, but no nonfiction. My own student-driven mock Newbery has three nonfiction titles (out of ten) so I wonder what role the Eva Perry organizers play in shaping the student nominations. Far and away, the most eclectic and diverse list (nonfiction, picture books, poetry, YA) and therefore the one that should most closely resemble what the Newbery is actually considering is St. Joseph's. Well done, Kris Springer! :-) Anderson’s Book Shop has 25 shortlisted titles, but not a single nonfiction title. Rhode Island has 16 shortlisted titles, but no nonfiction. Allen County has several, which is a break from past practice when the nonfiction was lumped solely in their mock Sibert. Good job, Allen County. Eva Perry has 29 titles, but no nonfiction. My own student-driven mock Newbery has three nonfiction titles (out of ten) so I wonder what role the Eva Perry organizers play in shaping the student nominations. Far and away, the most eclectic and diverse list (nonfiction, picture books, poetry, YA) and therefore the one that should most closely resemble what the Newbery is actually considering is St. Joseph’s. Well done, Kris Springer! :-)

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