Thursday, June 28, 2012

Read to me challenge 9: Hop! Plop!

A couple of months back I won the book Me Want Pet by Tammi Sauer after visiting Corey Rosen Schwartz's blog. A month later Corey sent me her own book, HOP! PLOP! So I am paying it forward and sharing her book with you. Enjoy!!




Why I liked this book:
Corey didn't know it, but her book came during a time I was having an observation done by my principal. I had chosen to do a Math lesson on balanced equations using a balanced scale. I love to sneak in a  reading a book whenever I can, with that said, I couldn't find a book. Then HOP! PLOP! arrived.  I read the book, yes during my math observation, focusing on the beginning of the book. The kids immediately made real world math connections. The important theme of the book is friendship but it was a great read aloud for my Math lesson.  And I have to say my principal loved it!!!!!

Critique from 502:
First of all, my class loved the characters. The first thing they noticed was the title. Ok, when 8 year olds say," Look Mrs. Velasquez those are vivid verbs, I was beaming just a little bit. For some reason they had thought that Elephants are afraid of mice... and could never be friend. They loved the fact that they had to work together to overcome challenges. The book is simple but the theme of Friendship is HUGE! I ask my students, "whats was your favorite part of the book."  They replied, "when Elephant uses his trunk as a slide for Mouse, he was showing compassion."  My second graders are so insightful! HOP! PLOP! gets a thumbs up all around.

P.S. The very next day my students were using vivid verbs in their writing... thanks Corey!

Corey also has a new blog co- hosted with Tiffany Strelitz Haber called Meter Maids. If rhyming is your passion, even if you are not good at it... like me, please be sure to stop by.  http://www.themetermaids.blogspot.com/   LOOK for her new book coming out soon SEPT. 2012!! The Three Ninja Pigs


Happy reading and writing!



12 comments:

  1. Thanks for a great post on Corey's work and sharing your class' insights! I so miss volunteering and being around younger kids!

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    1. Julie, thanks for stopping by and if you are ever in Tampa, you are welcome to visit my class anytime:)

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  2. Oh, thanks! I am so happy to hear that you used it for a math lesson! (I used to be a math teacher! :)

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    1. Corey, thanks for sharing your book with me. I can't wait to get my copy of The Three Ninja Pigs. My boys will love it.

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  3. Hop Plop sounds adorable - and perfect for my daughters! Thanks for sharing your review with us!

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  4. Great choice, Cheryl! I love Hop Plop.

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  5. So glad the observation went so well. I want to read Hop Plop now and I love your class's response!

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    1. Yes my principal loved the fact that I started my math lesson with a read aloud!!!!

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  6. How perfect to use "Hop! Plop!" in the classroom...and good to hear the critique from the kids themselves, Cheryl!

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