Mysteries in the Classroom: : Nancy J. Polette: Libraries Unlimited

Mysteries in the Classroom

Description

Celebrated author Nancy Polette offers a complete mystery literature guide for primary, intermediate, and middle school mysteries.

Librarians and teachers alike will find this engaging title from popular author Nancy Polette a joy to use, and the information it offers is a sure way to engage students in literature. Mysteries in the Classroom introduces 23 reading strategies tied to the National Standards in Reading, Language Arts, and Social Studies that can be used with any mystery.

Booktalks and activities are presented for 17 favorite mystery series and 6 favorite authors. The book includes hands-on activities to introduce each series and author, booktalks for the Edgar Allan Poe Juvenile Mystery Award winners from 1979 to 2008, and step-by-step directions for turning booktalks into readers theatre presentations. An especially exciting feature is a section contributed by Newberry-award winning author Richard Peck in which he guides budding young writers in coauthoring a mystery with him.

Grades 1-6

Introduction
National Standards for Reading, Language Arts, and Social Studies
Part One: Strategies for Any Mystery
Summarizing Events
I Have/Who Has Game
Evaluation
Applying the Strategies
Introducing the Series: Hidden Titles
Answers to Hidden Titles
Part Two: Mystery Literature Guides
Grade One
Vocabulary Match
A Pre-Reading Journal
Questions to Think About
Learn About Pigs, Goats, and Rabbits
Activity: Alliteration
Phonics Songs
Take a Poll
Catch the Clue
The Farm
Grades Two and Three
Pre-Reading Vocabulary Activities
Pre-Reading Journal Sentence Starters
Higher Order Questions
Similes
About Feelings
A Character-Writing Pattern
A Game for Two
Grades Four through Six
Introducing Vocabulary
Anticipation Guide
Discussion Questions
About Dollhouses
About Dollhouses Acrostic
Fact or Fiction?
Obituaries
Activity: Aunt Clare's Attic
Superstitions
A Writing Project: What's Really Scary?
Part Three: Favorite Mystery Series and Authors
Reading Guide for Mysteries
Series
Introducing the I Can Read Mysteries
Introducing the Flatfoot Fox Series
Introducing the Nate the Great Series
More Nate the Great Titles
Introducing the Cam Jansen Mysteries
Try These Cam Jansen Mysteries
Animal Detectives
Introducing the Sebastian (Super Sleuth) Mysteries
Sebastian (Super Sleuth) Mysteries Hidden Titles Key
More Sebastian (Super Sleuth) Mysteries
Introducing the Hank the Cowdog Series
Introducing the A to Z Mysteries
A to Z Mysteries Hidden Titles Key
Try These A to Z Mysteries
Introducing the Encyclopedia Brown Series
Try These Encyclopedia Brown Mysteries
Smarter Than an Encyclopedia
Introducing the Boxcar Children Mysteries
Try These Boxcar Children Mysteries
Introducing the Vesper Holly Mysteries and Other Books
Vesper Holly Mysteries and Other Books Hidden Titles Key
Stopping a Crime with Vesper Holly!
Stopping a Crime with Vesper Holly Answer Key
Introducing the Great Brain Series
Try These Great Brain Mysteries
Introducing Books by Jean Craighead George
Books by Jean Craighead George Hidden Titles Key
A Jean Craighead George Ecology Mystery
Jean Craighead George Acrostic
Try These Related Titles by Jean Craighead George
Introducing the Chet Gecko Mysteries
Introducing the Enola Holmes Mysteries
Introducing the Sammy Keyes Mysteries
Authors
Introducing Mysteries by Mary Downing Hahn
Mary Downing Hahn Hidden Titles Key
Introducing Mysteries by Peg Kehret
Mysteries by Peg Kehret Hidden Titles Key
Try These Peg Kehret Mysteries
Introducing Mysteries by Joan Lowery Nixon
Lowery Nixon Mysteries Hidden Titles Key
Try These Mysteries by Joan Lowery Nixon
Introducing Mysteries by Willo Davis Roberts
Mysteries by Willo Davis Roberts Hidden Titles Key
How Mean Can You Get?
Try These Books by Willo Davis Roberts
Introducing Mysteries by Betty Ren Wright
Betty Ren Wright Mysteries Hidden Titles Key
Try These Mystery Titles by Betty Ren Wright
Newbery Award-Winning Mystery
Solve a Puzzler!
Part Four: Edgar Allan Poe Award Winners
Creating Readers Theatre Booktalks with Edgar Allan Poe Juvenile Award Winners
Example One
Example Two
The Edgar Allan Poe Award Complete Winner and Nominee List, 1961–2008
Part Five: A Unique Opportunity!
Write a Ghost Story with Richard Peck
Looking Around Yourself to Sharpen Your People-Watching Skills
It Was a Dark and Stormy Night
Hidden Titles by Richard Peck
Key to Hidden Titles by Richard Peck
Index

Product details

Published	27 Oct 2009
Format	Ebook (PDF)
Edition	1st
Extent	228
ISBN	9781591589327
Imprint	Libraries Unlimited
Publisher	Bloomsbury Publishing

This guide to using classic and contemporary mystery novels in elementary and middle school classrooms includes a section by Newberry winner Richard Peck, guiding students to co-author a mystery with him. Part I presents 27 reading strategies tied to the National Standards in Reading, Language Arts, and Social Studies, which can be used with any mystery. Both primary and intermediate grade examples are given. Part II offers literature guides for picture books and novels for grades 1-6, and Part III provides hands-on activities, games, and accompanying reproducibles for 15 mystery series and 5 popular authors. Part IV supplies booktalks for Edgar Allan Poe Juvenile Mystery Award winners from 1979 to 2008, and also includes directions for turning booktalks into readers' theater presentations.

Reference & Research Book News
This guide to using mysteries in the classroom to teach reading strategies for grades one through six is filled with useful material. . . . The book is very attractively laid out, and the activities are age appropriate and fun as well as tools for learning. This would be a way of freshening up a unit on mysteries or just updating reading instruction overall. Librarians who teach elementary students for library time could probably use the lessons and ideas to their advantage as well. Recommended.

Library Media Connection
This is a very complete guide for teachers who want to use mystery books in their reading programs. With the activities and evaluations given, I think other genres could be incorporated, although, obviously, teachers would have to find their
own titles and authors for other genres. For those looking for suggestions for guided reading titles and activities, this book would be an excellent resource. Recommended for elementary and middle school teachers.

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