Margin Notes

EVERYTHING IS TUBERCULOSIS by JOHN GREEN

Oct
07

John Green, well-known author of Paper Towns, The Fault in Our Stars, and Anthropocene Reviewed, is back with another epic book about, of all things, tuberculosis. This book has the same feel as his last book, Anthropocene Reviewed, but instead of being a book of essays on a variety of different topics, this one is a deep dive into one very specific topic. If you haven’t given much thought to tuberculosis in the past (because why would you think about a disease that we think of as basically cured?), I can assure you that, after you read this book, you will think of nothing else for quite a while.

Everything is Tuberculosis is a sweeping narrative that spans the history of tuberculosis. John Green cleverly lays out the impact that tuberculosis has had on different aspects of society – everything from New Mexico becoming a state to how The Beatles became The Beatles.

I was moved by how John Green weaves in the story of Henry, a young boy from Sierra Leone dealing with drug-resistant-tuberculosis, throughout the book – making the story both personal and placing it within the context of human lives and how wealth inequality makes eradicating tuberculosis more challenging.

Everything is Tuberculosis is, at its heart, a book about marginalized people. The most vulnerable in society are affected by something that has been curable for longer than I’ve been alive. This book is well-researched and packs an emotional punch. I highly recommend it.

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THE HISTORY OF INFORMATION BY CHRIS HAUGHTON

Sep
09

I am always fascinated by all the different ways authors decide to organize information. The choices that authors make are so important for readability and engagement. I think this is especially true when writing non-fiction. The History of Information, by Chris Haughton, is a great example of a book with very thoughtful organization of ideas and engaging content for both kids and adults. 

Chris Haughton is best known as a writer/illustrator of picture books. I love his book Shh! We Have a Plan. His art style is unique – with great use of bold colours and lines.

The idea to write this book came to Chris 17 years ago, when he found out that UC Berkeley had started putting some lectures online to listen to for free. One of the free lectures was called “The History of Information”. After he listened to the lecture, he contacted the professors, Paul Duguid and Geoff Nunberg. He got their reading list for the course and started to think about how he could turn this course into a book.  Over the years, they graciously helped him with editing the book. It was truly a labour of love. 

In The History of Information, Haughton combines both print and illustrations in delightful ways. Through the use of short bursts of information, eye-catching timelines and interesting tidbits, Haughton takes us through the fascinating history of information – spanning from the advent of “language and communication” hundreds of thousands of years ago to present day. 

Throughout the book, Haughton does a great job explaining things, some of which I had never even heard of before! His view of history is expansive and takes us around the globe, noting the contributions of many different continents and cultures. I appreciated his ability to synthesize and explain ideas and concepts in such an entertaining way. This book would be a fantastic mentor text for multi-modal writing, the creation of infographics, or even paragraph writing. 

To learn more about Chris Haughton and The History of Information, click here. 

 

 

 

 

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IN FINE FORM: A CONTEMPORARY LOOK AT CANADIAN FORM POETRY

Apr
29

Spanning a range of poets and time-periods, In Fine Form: A Contemporary Look at Form Poetry includes 180+ poems organized by their form. There are the usual suspects such as ballads, acrostic poems, haikus, and sonnets. However, there are some other forms that I had never come across before.  I was also introduced to Canadian poets that were unfamiliar to me.

The editors, Kate Braid and Sandy Shreve, have done a wonderful job creating a collection that, I think, is perfect for high school ELA teachers. Each chapter of the book begins with a brief introduction of the form’s origins, a description of how the form works, as well as traditional and non-traditional examples of the form by a range of poets. There are New Brunswick poets included in this anthology as well. There are two Stanzas by Bliss Carman, an Epigram by Alden Nowlen, and a Madrigal and a Sonnet by Herménégilde Chiasson.

I could see ELA teachers using this book in a variety of ways:

  • as mentor texts for any poetry form you are teaching
  • as part of an author study
  • to study a well-crafted essay (The introduction of the book is beautifully written)
  • as part of a unit on Canadian poets

There is so much richness to be found in this book that I highly recommend you add it to your poetry shelf and use it frequently in the classroom!

 

 

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TRY THIS TOMORROW: POETRY PAUSE

Apr
24

The League of Canadian Poets’ mandate is to “elevate the cultural significance of poetry and champion the role of poets. Working to nurture and expand poetry communities and audiences, the organization cultivates the local, national, and international publication, performance, and recognition of poetry…”

As part of their work to expand audiences for Canadian poetry, they have a daily email service called “Poetry Pause”. Each day, subscribers receive a poem in their inbox.

This is a fantastic way to become more familiar with current Canadian poets and also grow your pool of possible poems for use in the classroom. It also gives up-and-coming poets an audience for their work!

You can subscribe for Poetry Pause here.

Try this tomorrow!

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TRY THIS TOMORROW: USELESS ETYMOLOGY

Feb
13

 

Jess Zafarris is an author, podcaster, and Tiktok Creator who loves to talk about, and share her knowledge of, the etymology (origins) of words. Some of her works lean towards the naughtier side of language, which makes for some great entertainment for adults.

However, I think her blog, “Useless Etymology”, could be a source of fascination and knowledge-building for high school students. With in-depth posts on the surprising origins of words like “electric”, “nostalgia”, and “dude”, students will broaden their vocabulary and deepen their understanding of the roots of the English language. (While at the same time being entertained by Jess’s GIF game!)

First, you could use a strategy like Vocabulary Rating to determine if students are familiar with the word, then have students fill in a Frayer Model with their current knowledge of the word. Following that, read the blog post together and then see how their understanding of the word changes after the reading. Then, students could go back to the Frayer Model that they completed and see what they could add.

I’m sure students would then be inspired to write about the etymology of their own “useless” words. Etymonline.com is wonderful resource for researching the origins of words (and it’s available as an app as well).

As Steven Stahl (2005) puts it, “Vocabulary knowledge is knowledge; the knowledge of a word not only implies a definition, but also implies how that word fits into the world.” Blogs like “Useless Etymology” can help students figure out how words fit into their world.

Try this tomorrow!

 

 

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TRY THIS TOMORROW: THE 54321 BOOK CHALLENGE

Jan
23

Next week, high school teachers will meet their second semester students, and the 54321 Book Challenge is a fun way to get to know students’ reading identities. 

A current trend on social media, the 54321 Book Challenge engages readers and inspires book discussions by sharing both new and favorite titles with others. For my book challenge I used:

5: List 5 of your favourite books

4: List 4 books on your TBR list

3: List 3 books you always recommend

2: List 2 recent 5-star reads

1: List 1 book you are currently reading

 

There are variations to this challenge, such as one on bookstagram asking for:

5- List 5 books you love

4 – List 4 Autobuy authors

3 – List your 3 favourite genres

2 – List your 2 favourite places to read

1 – List the next book you are going to read

Whichever variation you choose, this is a fun activity that can be used for students and teachers to share their reading lives.

Thank you to Franki Sibberson for the inspiration! 

 

 

 

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TRY THIS TOMORROW: “JUICY” SENTENCE PROTOCOL

Jan
16

The “Juicy” Sentence Protocol by Dr. Lily Wong Fillmore is a great strategy teachers can use to help students make sense of challenging text. In this activity, teachers pull one “juicy” sentence from a text. Through examining this one sentence, students learn to deconstruct sentences and better understand how different language features contribute to meaning. This can become a routine practice in your ELA class; one that you can use for any “stretch text”.

Here is an example of the protocol in action using a sentence from David Suzuki’s speech “30 Years of Global Warming”:

“We now are the most numerous, ubiquitous large mammal on the planet, but we are like no other animal that ever existed, because we are armed with the incredible muscle power of science and technology.”

Chunk the sentence into meaningful parts and then discuss (possible discussion points in brackets¹):

We now are

(The subject of the main clause is “We”…

Who is “we”? 

“are” is a linking verb to the subject complement. )

the most numerous, ubiquitous large mammal on the planet,

(This is the subject complement…

Discuss the word “ubiquitous”, which means “present, appearing, or found everywhere”…

Discuss the word “numerous” and the -ous suffix (characterized by; of the nature of)

Alliteration: “most numerous, ubiquitous.” The repetition of the “u” sound creates a pleasing sound pattern and emphasizes the extent of human presence.

What mammal is he is referring to?

Is this an example of hyperbole?)

but we are like no other animal that ever existed,

(The main clause’s subject is “We,” and its predicate is “are like no other animal.”

“Like” is a preposition introducing the comparison.

“No other animal” is the object of the preposition “like.”

“That ever existed” is a modifier of “animal.”

Use of Parallelism: “We now are the most numerous, ubiquitous large mammal on the planet, but we are like no other animal that ever existed.” This structure creates balance and rhythm in the sentence by presenting two contrasting ideas in parallel form.)

because we are armed with the incredible muscle power of science and technology.

(The subordinate clause’s subject is “we,” and its predicate is “are armed with the incredible muscle power of science and technology.”

“Because” is a subordinating conjunction introducing the reason for the comparison.

“We are armed” is the main verb phrase of the subordinate clause. “

With” is a particle indicating the tool or instrument

“the incredible muscle power” is the direct object of the verb phrase

“of science and technology” is a modifier of “power.”

“armed with the incredible muscle power of science and technology.” This metaphor  compares humans’ possession of scientific and technological advancements to being equipped with physical weaponry.

This is the opening sentence in the speech. What do you think the main thesis of his speech is going to be? )

Here are some things to look for in a “juicy” sentence:

The sentence should contain some of the following: complex noun phrases (nouns that are modified or expanded by other phrases), adverbial clauses, the use of passive voice, includes linking phrases, or introduces a metaphor.

Not every sentence is going to contain all things, nor does it need to. You just want to ensure that the sentence you choose for this protocol is complex enough to spend time discussing. It should also help you teach the skills you are focusing on in the curriculum.

Additional suggestions for implementing the “Juicy” Sentence Protocol can be found here and here. And, Dr. Wong Fillmore explains the protocol in detail in this presentation.

This protocol will give students the tools they need to make meaning in sentences that use the same syntax, grammar, and vocabulary…opening access to even the most challenging of texts. Try this tomorrow!

 

¹I used ChatGPT to help me chunk the sentence, label parts of speech and name the literary devices. 

 

 

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CRAFT STUDIO: WHEN WOMEN WERE DRAGONS BY KELLY BARNHILL

Nov
28

What I was reading:

Kelly Barnhill’s When Women Were Dragons is a novel that tells the story of young Alex whose mother and aunt were part in the “mass dragoning” event of 1955. During this event, over 600,000 women turned into dragons. Alex then must help raise her young cousin, Beatrice. The book was named as one of the best science fiction and fantasy books of 2022.

In the first chapter of the book, I was struck by the following passage:

“It was the very end of July when I met the dragon, on an oppressively hot and humid afternoon. One of those days when thunderstorms linger just at the edge of the sky, hulking in raggedy murmurs for hours, waiting to bring in their whirlwinds of opposites—making the light dark, howling at silences, and wringing all the wetness out of the air like a great, soaked sponge. At this moment, though, the storm had not yet hit, and the whole world simply waited. The air was so damp and warm that it was nearly solid. My scalp sweated into my braids, and my smocked dress had become crinkled with my grubby handprints.

I remember the staccato barking of a neighborhood dog.

I remember the far-off rumble of a revving engine. This was likely my aunt, fixing yet another neighbor’s car. My aunt was a mechanic, and people said she had magic hands. She could take any broken machine and make it live again.

I remember the strange, electric hum of cicadas calling to one another from tree to tree to tree.

I remember the floating motes of dust and pollen hanging in the air, glinting in the slant of light.

I remember a series of sounds from my neighbor’s backyard. A man’s roar. A woman’s scream. A panicked gasping. A scrabble and a thud. And then, a quiet, awestruck Oh!”

What Moves I Notice the Author Making:

  • Barnhill starts the first paragraph by stating the memory, then describing the weather with lots of great figurative language. 
  • The next several paragraphs repeat the phrase “I remember”
  • Each paragraph is describing either a visual or auditory memory. 
  • The first paragraph is quite long, with all the subsequent paragraphs being very short. 
  • The last paragraph ends with a series of short punchy sentences “A man’s roar. A woman’s scream. A panicked gasping. A scrabble and a thud.” 

Possibilities for Writers:

  • Writers could write their own memory using this format:

    First paragraph starts with the memory and then a description of the weather on the day (or it could be other sensory details). The subsequent short paragraphs start with “I remember” and then describe a visual or auditory detail. 

    I remember _________________.

    I remember _________________.

    I remember the _______________.

    I remember the ______________.

    I remember a ________________.

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TRY THIS TOMORROW: A LIST OF THINGS BY THEIR RATEDNESS

Oct
10

John Green, author of many books such as The Anthropocene Reviewed and Turtles all the Way Down, has quite an active Twitter/X account. Recently, he posted about the fact that he has never created a PowerPoint on his own before…which is honestly quite surprising! However, as surprising as that was, it was the screen grab from the PowerPoint that caught my eye.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This would make for a fun QuickWrite: create a list of things you believe are either overrated or underrated.

Here is my list (views expressed are my own):

  • Elvis Presley – Overrated
  • Soccer – Overrated
  • Using your manners – Underrated
  • The effect a good book can have on a person – wildly underrated
  • Influencers – Overrated

Try this tomorrow!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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THE EYES & THE IMPOSSIBLE BY DAVE EGGERS

Sep
24

Some books surprise you in the best way. The Eyes & The Impossible by Dave Eggers is one of those books for me. When this book was announced as the winner of the Newbery Medal, I was initially surprised because it was a book I had never heard of. Immediately, I ordered a copy and I am so glad I did!

This captivating and lyrically written book is about Johannes, a free dog, who spends his days exploring the island that he lives on and reporting the goings-on to the Bison who live in an enclosure. He also has other animal friends who he talks with and shares his days. He also loves Pupusus.

One day, these strange, colourful, rectangles appear on part of the island and Johannes is entranced. So much so, that he pauses a little too long to get a closer look. From that point on, Johannes is a wanted dog…and his freedom is in peril.

Beautifully and cleverly illustrated by Shawn Harris, this book would make a wonderful read aloud for Elementary and Middle Block classrooms.

Here is the book trailer:

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