Generically Newbery
Inspiration Book:Merci Suarez changes gears by Medina, Meg — Candlewick Press, 2018 -Fic-; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 6.3. Merci Suarez knew that sixth grade would be different, but she had no idea just how different. For starters, Merci has never been like the other kids at her private school in Florida, because she and her older brother, Roli, are scholarship students. They don't have a big house or a fancy boat, and they have to do extra community service to make up for their free tuition. So when bossy Edna Santos sets her sights on the new boy who happens to be Merci's school-assigned Sunshine Buddy, Merci becomes the target of Edna's jealousy. Things aren't going well at home, either: Merci's grandfather and most trusted ally, Lolo, has been acting strangely lately -- forgetting important things, falling from his bike, and getting angry over nothing. No one in her family will tell Merci what's going on, so she's left to her own worries, while also feeling all on her own at school. Newbery Award 2019. FREE Teaching Resources available for download at www.titlewave.com
Rationale: When the new year turns, when it’s back to school time after Winter Break, when the American Library Association announces its annual awards, in other words, when it’s January, I frequently hold a Newbery Readathon. While Merci Suarez Changes Gears can easily be studied on its own as a stand alone piece of literature, I’ve instead chosen to share a more generic approach to the Newbery Award. There are so many themes within Merci that are valid and valuable to pursue, themes like grandparent- grandchild relationships, private and public schools, generational living, middle schools, bullying, mean girls, aging, etc. as part of a thematic study as well. You will find Teacher Resources, and a Related Books List below if you choose to do a study-alone of Merci.
What is a Newbery Readathon? During a given period of time, usually a month, and usually in January or at the very end of the school year or even at the very beginning of the year, whenever the teacher(s) involved want to pursue the event, the entire class(es) devote their language arts time to reading and sharing as many Newbery Award winners as possible.
Where is the Newbery Readathon held? Since this is a joint effort, it is held in the classroom(s) and the library and students move freely during their language arts time between the two rooms. The library serves as the supply source, check-out location, recommendation site (students, teachers, and librarian, or whoever is available offer reading ideas), reading site, and sharing location. The classroom serves similarly, but also is the location point for specific student and teacher interaction.
Who can benefit from a Newbery Readathon? The majority of Newbery books are for Grades 4 and above, thus appropriate reading for upper grade students. I have used the method for students in Grades 5-8, in other words, the middle school grade range. It seems to work well for them because classes are often departmentalized with different teachers and a set period of time is allocated each day for language arts.
Why do we do a Newbery Readathon? The contemporary classroom curricula is so programmed and so stuffed with filling and meeting required standards that students rarely have the time to learn the important life skill of reading for enjoyment and become a lifetime reader. A Newbery Readathon allows students to read books of topics or themes of interest to them and at their reading level, thus providing for individual differences. Books students may not ordinarily read on their own accord become possibilities. Many of the Newbery books stretch a student’s usual reading depth and move them out of a reading rut.
How do we do a Newbery Readathon? The basic construct is the same each year, but the exact method may be tweaked based on the specific students, the time of year, and the amount of time available. Note the quote below from Blended by Sharon Draper in which I describe a class reading program.
“Once upon a time, a long time ago, my school had a class devoted to only reading. Everyday students came to that class to read. They read and read and read and kept a daily diary of the titles and number of pages read. In fact, part of their grade was based on the number of pages read. At the end of each week students spent fifteen minutes writing about one aspect of their weekly reading: characters, plot, style, mood, etc. And, I thought, “Oh, Mr. Westfall, what an easy class to teach.” What was Mr. Westfall doing during that class? He was reading and collecting books to share with the class. If a student really liked a book, he’d locate and recommend a similar book, and that book became available on his library table, set aside, at least for the week, for the student who needed or wanted the book. The table was always changing. Sometimes it featured an author; sometimes a theme; sometimes random choices. Based on comments in the students’ weekly writing, Mr. Westfall had individual conferences with each student, not weekly, but at least every other week. Mr. Westfall knew his students and the result was a very individualized class. Mr. Westfall created a love for reading and a class of readers. Perhaps some librarian should recommend that a class like this “once upon a time” class be re-established in middle schools and high schools.” https://www.mybooksalive.com/2020/01/blended-by-sharon-m-draper-2018.html
The structure is basically the same as the program above, but I sometimes make some structural modifications when I set up the program. Some years I label the reading level of each title; some years I sort by theme or genre; and some years I add the honor books, especially if all students grades 5-8 are involved in the Newbery Readathon at the same time. There are some years when only one grade participates--often the eighth grade asks for their own Newbery Readathon.
It’s the method of sharing or the culminating activity that varies from year to year or grade to grade or even individually. Below are a few ideas for the sharing aspect that have proven to be the most popular and effective:
- Make a scrapbook page for the main character, plot, or setting
- Make a webpage for the book with links to additional resources
- Make an advertizing poster
- Prepare a sales speech promoting the book
- Dress as the main character and introduce the character
- Make a list of “read alike” books
- Write a reader’s theater script for one scene and recruit friends to perform it
- Make a shoebox diorama
- Make a mural that emphasizes the setting
- If more than one student has read the book, have each student write interview questions and interview the other
- Add to our library media podcast
- Find two other students who have read a book about a similar plot and have a panel discussion
- Make a book diary
- Three Wishes--how would the student change the story and why--written or oral
- Student choice, especially if the suggestion includes technology
TEACHER RESOURCES FOR CLASSROOM STUDY OF MERCI:
Curriculum Connections from Vermont Department of Libraries https://libraries.vermont.gov/sites/libraries/files/DCFBookReviewsQuestions19-20.pdf#page=44
Teachers’s Guide from Candlewick Press https://www.teachingbooks.net/media/pdf/Candlewick/MerciSuarez_TG.pdf
Discussion Guide from Candlewick Press https://www.teachingbooks.net/media/pdf/Candlewick/MerciSuarez_TG.pdf
Teaching Ideas from Classroom Bookshelf http://www.theclassroombookshelf.com/2018/10/merci-suarez-changes-gears/
Audio Excerpt narrated by Frankie Corzo https://www.teachingbooks.net/book_reading.cgi?id=15451
Word lists, definitions, and example sentences on Vocabulary.com https://www.vocabulary.com/lists/2638946
Meet-the-Author Recoding with Meg Medina about Merci Suarez Changes Gears (4:15 min.) https://www.teachingbooks.net/book_reading.cgi?id=15789
Personal Website for Meg Medina https://megmedina.com
Winning the Newbery Medal Interview with Meg Medina on Publishers Weekly https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79135-meg-medina-on-her-newbery-win.html
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