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Strange Birds: A Field Guide to Ruffling Feathers
Celia C. Pérez

Strange Birds: A Field Guide to Ruffling Feathers

Genre:
Fiction
Age Level:
Middle Grade

When three very different girls find a mysterious invitation to a lavish mansion, the promise of adventure and mischief is too intriguing to pass up. Ofelia Castillo (a budding journalist), Aster Douglas (a bookish foodie), and Cat Garcia (a rule-abiding birdwatcher) meet the kid behind the invite, Lane DiSanti, and it isn’t love at first sight. But they soon bond over a shared mission to get the Floras, their local Scouts, to ditch an outdated tradition. In their quest for justice, independence, and an unforgettable summer, the girls form their own troop and find something they didn’t know they needed: sisterhood.

 

gold filligree moth against a blue sky

Strange the Dreamer

Genre:
Fantasy
Age Level:
YA

The dream chooses the dreamer, not the other way around—and Lazlo Strange, war orphan and junior librarian, has always feared his dream chose poorly. Since he was just five years old, he’s been obsessed with the mythic lost city of Weep, but it would take someone bolder than he to cross half the world in search of it. Then a stunning opportunity presents itself, in the form of a hero called the Godslayer and a band of legendary warriors, and he has to seize his chance or lose his dream forever.

Strategies to Improve High Schools

Research suggests six reform strategies that may help high schools better prepare students for college-level work and the workforce: planning at the state and district levels; rigorous curricula; real-world relevant curricula; improving student relationships and personalization; improving transitions to 9th grade, college, and work; and data-driven decision-making. This article lists key actions and offers practical examples and additional resources.

Strategies to Understand the Question

What are some strategies to help a student understand what the question is demanding?

One excellent research-based strategy to help students understand what the question is demanding is called the Question-Answer relationship (QAR). This strategy helps students decipher where the answer to the question can be found:  “right there” in the text, whether it’s a question asking them to pull together pieces of information found throughout the text, whether they need to answer based on their own experience, or a little of each of those! Typically it’s the questions based on implicit information that gives students the most difficulty.

street love
Walter Dean Myers (1937-2014)

Street Love

Genre:
Fiction, Poetry, Romance
Age Level:
YA

Damien, the star of the basketball team is headed to college. Junice is trying to hold her family together after tragedy. When these two meet, there is nothing but love, even if Damien’s parents are less than thrilled with his choice. As the drama unfolds, each character tells his/her story through verse, leaving the reader to wonder if Damien and Junice be able to rise above the adversity that surrounds them.

Strong Inside
Andrew Maraniss

Strong Inside (Young Readers Edition): The True Story of How Perry Wallace Broke College Basketball's Color Line

Genre:
Biography
Age Level:
Middle Grade

When Perry Wallace enrolled in high school, his sensational jumping, dunking, and rebounding abilities quickly earned him the attention of college basketball recruiters from top schools across the nation. Following Vanderbilt University’s recruitment, he courageously accepted the assignment to desegregate the Southeastern Conference. The hateful experiences he would endure on campus and in the hostile gymnasiums of the Deep South turned out to be the stuff of nightmares. Yet Wallace persisted, endured, and met this unthinkable challenge head on. This insightful biography digs deep beneath the surface to reveal a complicated, profound, and inspiring story of an athlete turned civil rights trailblazer. 

 

A Strong Right Arm: The Story of Mamie "Peanut" Johnson
Michelle Green

A Strong Right Arm: The Story of Mamie "Peanut" Johnson

Genre:
Biography
Age Level:
Middle Grade

In the 1950’s, current Marylander Mamie Johnson became one of only a handful of women to play professional baseball when she signed for the Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro Leagues. Sports fans and those who like stories about strong young women will find this equally appealing.

Struggling 10-year Old

My son will be 10 in two months and can’t read and can barely do simple addition and subtraction. What can I do?

It sounds as though this would be a terrific time to schedule a conference with your son’s classroom teacher and the school’s special education teacher. The purpose of the meeting should be to review your son’s present level of performance and what can be done to support his needs. It may be time to see whether his needs are being met by the level of support he’s receiving. It would also be appropriate for you to find out whether your son should participate in testing for special education.

Close up of author Stuart H. Brody sitting on a bench wearing a cowboy hat.
Author

Stuart H. Brody

“The test we must set for ourselves is not to march alone but to march in such a way that others will wish to join us.” ― Hubert Humphrey