School and Community Fall 2022

just remember to think outside the box... or book! You can also use teachingbooks.net for resources and ideas. There are 19 total resources for “Linked” on the site, including an audio excerpt, book trailer, meet the author recordings, vocabulary and other activities. Search the site by subject and locate books to go along with your current topic. TeachingBooks.net is free to all Missouri schools and residents, provided by the Missouri State Library. Many books, from picture books to narrative nonfiction, can be the perfect companion to a unit. Use them as the starting point. Incorporate the book throughout the unit. Read with an open mind of “Where/how could I use this in my classroom?” Even better, “Who could I work with to create a cross-curricular unit?”

Trust me, you will have students come to you years later, beginning their conversation with, “Hey Mrs. T (of course, insert your name here) do you remember when we did (xyz) in the library (or classroom)?” And that conversation will continue with your former student sharing what they learned – because you made learning exciting. Still wondering about the “secret” history of the town? You’ll just have to read this one to find out. Bonus, it is on the recently released preliminary reading list for the 2023/2024 Mark Twain Readers Award. You and your students will already have one of the titles completed if it makes the final list. Lysha Thompson is a retired school librarian and currently works as the Youth Services Consultant for the Missouri State Library. You can contact her at lysha. thompson@sos.mo.gov.

For additional information, please check out MSTA’s Reading Circle at readingcircle.org or contact an RC member: Brenda Steffens, bulldogreads@gmail.com , reviews lower elementary, PK-3; Jenn Baldwin, Jennifer. baldwin@jasper.k12.mo.us , reviews upper elementary, 4-6; Lysha Thompson, lysha.thompson@sos.mo.gov , reviews middle school, 6-8; and Kayla Gilmore, freyk15@gmail.com , reviews high school.

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