So, last year I started teaching reading using the Daily 5/CAFE model. I have loved it immensely, for the record. I usually start us off by modeling one of the cafe strategies using a read-aloud. Occasionally this will be a picture book, but more often than not it is a chapter book. I'm kind of mixing our "read aloud just for pleasure" with an intro to a strategy. It's relatively low key, about 10 minutes of reading at a time and the kids do not necessarily have a copy of the text to follow along with. Anyway, this year I flip-flopped our read-aloud between a unit related historical fiction to a high interest fiction chosen by the kids from a pool of six or so books. I found this to be hit or miss for a couple reasons. Sometimes the kids who didn't vote for the winner would be reluctant to enjoy the chosen book. More importantly, we would choose the book about a week before we started reading it and I often scrambled to get materials ready and to match the book up to the CAFE strategies. This year I'm still going to read historical fiction and then another fiction every other time. But I think I am going to have set books. So far I'm thinking: Holes, Fake Mustache, Hatchet, Number the Stars, The Phantom Tollbooth and Bridge to Terabithia are all options. Any other high interest fiction favorites I'm missing? Any picture books that match up well with specific CAFE strategies?
I highly recommend No Talking by Andrew Clements. It's a fantastic book about fifth graders who have a competition between the boys and the girls to see who can go for 2 days without talking. It's very funny, and the kids really enjoy it. I also usually do a writing lesson that ties into the book by making the kids create a class story where they can each only contribute 3 words at a time. It turns into a great lesson about focusing in on a small seed and being descriptive rather than just adding fluff.
Here are novels that my 5th graders love! 1. Because of Winn Dixie 2. Bridge to Terabithia 3. The Mysterious Matter of I.M. Fine 4. The Wednesday Wars 5. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe 6. Measle and the Wrathmonk 7. Loser by Jerry Spinelli 8. Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie (a few bad words though) 9. The Girl Who Owned a City Good Luck!
Wonder is also an excellent book that I hope to use this year. It just came out in 2012 and it is excellent.
I love reading aloud Tuck Everlasting and anything by Roald Dahl. Other good choices... Crash The Watsons Go to Birmingham Bud, Not Buddy Pictures of Hollis Woods Mick Harte Was Here When Zachary Beaver Came to Town I Survived Hurricane Katrina Harriet the Spy Blubber Extra Credit Shiloh Esperanza Rising Holes Letters From Rivka The Fighting Ground
Popular read alouds that last year's class loved- Number the Stars Bridge to Terabithia Indian in the Cupboard The Witch of Blackbird Pond (the girls especially- there is a love triangle involved) Among the Hidden This year I am going to be doing Holes and When You Reach Me plus some of the titles above.
after you read Holes I see this post is fairly old, but I have to recommend a great set of activities relating to Holes at Flashlight Readers. Even if your kids read this a while ago they will still enjoy this site. http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/flashlightreaders/main.asp?bookpass=2
My all time favorite read aloud (for 5th grade) that all of the students loved is "There's a Boy in the Girl's Bathroom". I went back to that book for theme, plot, subplot, character development, etc. We could discuss that book so much because it resonated with the students. My other read alouds were Number the Stars, Crash, there is more, but my mind just went blank.
Read Alouds I am familiar with almost all of those books you've mentioned. I have been reading the following books aloud and the students love them: 1. Peter and the Starcatchers 2. Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat 3. Powerless I love all of those books. Peter and the Starcatchers is going to be made into a movie in a few years. Powerless is a FANTASTIC superhero story about a group of kids with special powers. It has all the action and suspense of a blockbuster movie.
A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck is a wonderful read aloud. Other favorites I have done in 5th grade: The Skin I'm In (bully content0 My Teacher is an Alien A Wrinkle in Time Pictures of Hollis Woods Anything by Andrew Clements
I always read aloud for 20 to 30 minutes. Every day - and even for 5th graders. It was the best part of our day. I didn't let them vote on the books. I said that when I read, it's my choice. When they read, it's their choice. Because of Winn Dixie Number the Stars Maniac Magee Freak the Mighty Frindle My Side of the Mountain
The Giver Gathering Blue Messenger Son The City of Ember Wringer Anything by Chris Van Allsburgh -tnv
Wringer Maniac Magee On My Honor How to Beat a Bully Without Even Trying My Life as a Stunt Boy Escaping the Giant Wave
I'm starting with The Mysterious Benedict Society. It has great problem solving lessons. I think I'll follow it with Hook. Awesome look at a 'villian' from a different angle.
My kids love Bud Not Buddy. Also, the Island Trilogy by Gordon Korman were very fun to read through with my 6th graders.
I didn't read all of the follow up posts, but just in case it hasn't been said, you must read Wonder to your kids!! It is amazing! My kids also like The House with the Clock in the Walls, The Witches, Punished and Mudshark.
Here are some I did with 4th graders that your 5th graders will definitely love (and lead to good book talk!) : 1. Tuck Everlasting (all time favorite) 2. Bud, Not Buddy 3. The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe 4. Charlie & The Chocolate Factory 5. The Chocolate Touch (a little easy for 5th but has a great message, maybe good for the beginning of the year.) 6. The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler 7. Shiloh 8. Pippi Longstocking (Another all time favorite) 9. The Indian in the Cupboard 10. When Zachary Beaver Came To Town (loved this as a kid- read it in 1 day!)
Just realized I replied to this in 2012 as well, haha, I guess I still enjoy most of the same books. There's never enough time for all the read alouds I want to do!
I really love seeing what everyone's reading. I would add to the list these two fabulous titles: The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle (boys and girls love this) The Wolves of Willoughby Chase Both these have a terrific historical context and lend to discussions of the role of girls in the 19th century.
I am reading Wonder to my fifth grade class and they BEG me to read another chapter any time we have a few minutes! I passed the suggestion of Wonder onto another fifth grade teacher and she started reading it as well...her students LOVE it too! Great book with many opportunities for discussion questions and writing prompts!
That is an amazing book that can teach so much, yet can leave the students rolling in the aisles laughing.:lol:
I just finished Wonder with my fifth grade....I can't say enough about the book. My students LOVED it...begged me every day to keep reading. We had many discussion questions and writing prompts about the book as well. A definite read for our grade level! Seriously a great book!
I feel the best true story for 5th graders is A Shining Season by James Buchanon. Also, my favorite book about a teacher.
I've done a few donorschoose projects for copies of these books, so each student can follow along while doing read alouds. They love having a copy, and many of them take it home to read ahead. I don't mind- whatever gets them reading! I just tell them they can't tell anyone about what happens! Hatchet Chasing Vermeer The City of Ember Running Out of Time (My all-time favorite to read with 5th graders!) Among the Hidden The Lightning Thief Wait Till Helen Comes Shiloh Read aloud is my favorite time of day! I have my students keep a simple read aloud log, which asks them a question or a certain skill each day. Just a small thing they write down, then we share them on a class document. It really gets kids thinking without taking away the excitement of the story with a big packet of work!
