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 What's Your Problem: Strategy 5.8 Problem:  Molly is accused of the murder of Mr. Black. The Grand Regency Hotel is where Molly works.  It is where Mr. Black dies, and where she interacts with people on a daily basis.  Molly is on the autistic spectrum.  Because the way her brain works, she has difficulty reading social cues.  In the past, her Gran would help her, but since her passing she does not have anyone to help navigate and interpret the events that are going on around her.  As a result, when she is questioned by the police regarding discovering Mr. Black's body. Though she is truthful, she is not forthcoming about all she has seen and heard.  In addition, because she is lonely and wants to fit in, she misinterprets other's actions, and therefore trusts the wrong people. Theme:  Prejudice Most people think of prejudice as a race or a culture thing.  But prejudice also occurs against people who go go against the grain, that function differently the the norm.  Molly i

  The Radius of Us by Marie Marquardt is about Gretchen and Phoenix.  Both have experienced extreme trauma resulting in mental health issues that plague them and prevent them from moving forward in life. Despite Phoenix inadvertently triggering a panic attach in Gretchen, they come together and support one another as they battle through extreme anxiety and halting guilt.   What I loved about the book was that the author, Marie Marquardt, is an active member at El Refugio - a non profit that serves detained immigrants.  When she tells Phoenix's story as he makes his way out of El Salvador with his younger brother, and awaits the US Courts decisions about remaining in the US, it is authentic.  She knows the stories of people like Phoenix and writes his story with compassion and empathy. What I did not understand was why Gretchen seeks out Phoenix, after fleeing from him when he appears out of nowhere at the park.  Not only does she take off with her little cousins, but she has a full

On a different no As I progress through The Reading Strategies book by Jennifer Serravalino, I stumble through new and familiar strategies.  Strategy 5.4 is the good old plot map.  I added it to my sketch notes, in order to turn my sketch notes into a one pager.  Depending on the reader, this is an activity that be done as the reader progresses through the book, or at the end of the reading.  In the past, I have asked students to pick the five most important events only.  After, students can write a summary of the book if required. On a different note, at one of our professional developments, Penny Kittle spoke.  She briefed over thematic notebooks, in which students write to the theme based off the book they are reading.  Because books hold various themes throughout them, students can write to theme prompts reading a singular book.  (At least this is my understanding).  I created several theme notebooks to practice this.  I try to just pick the next notebook in the pile, as if it was

  This summer, I have been trying to go through Jennifer Serravallo's book The Reading Strategies.  I have always been a big fan of sketch-notes/one pagers, and have incorporated many of her strategies into them.   Strategy 2.16 Choose Books with your ID in Mind      I really liked this strategy because knowing what your likes and dislikes are, it is easier for students to find a genre that will interest them, thus making it easier for them to read.  If I think about building a reading habit, and thinking of James Clear's Atomic Habits , he states that habits should be attractive and satisfying.  Knowing what you like, and finding a book that fits your identity, not only makes the book both attractive and satisfying, but also allows the reader to better connect to the story and want to pick another book when completed.     2.17 Visualize to Focus This a great strategy to help readers visualize and make a movie in their mind's eye while reading.  It is not an unknown strateg