California Educator

April 2017

Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/812811

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 9 of 57

Our Place in the World Students will love these #californiareads book selections for spring and summer 2017. Beauty is the wild bald eagle that made headlines when she received a 3-D–printed prosthetic beak after her own was shot off by a poacher in 2007. Beauty and the Beak (grades 3-5), by Deborah Lee Rose and raptor specialist Jane Veltkamp, shows the spirit and courage of this bird and America's national symbol ― saved from extinction by environmental con- servation. It also details remarkable advances in 3-D printing and prosthetics that have given Beauty, and other animals and humans, a new life. The book's summer release celebrates the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Endan- gered Species Act. In Gabi, A Girl in Pieces (grades 9-12), by Isabel Quintero, high school senior Gabi Her- nandez chronicles experiences in her life and those of her friends and family in her journal: struggles with body image, growing up Mexi- can-American, teen pregnancy, drug addiction, rape, coming out, first love, and death. As she tries to figure out her place in the world, Gabi meets every chal- lenge head-on, writing with raw humor and honesty. In All Families Are Special (pre-K , kindergarten), by Norma Simon and illustrated by Teresa Flavin, Mrs. Mack tells her class she will soon be a grandmother, and students eagerly talk about their own families: Sarah's sister Rachel was adopted from China; Christopher 's parents are divorced, but they 're still a family, and he and his brother split their time between two homes; Nick lives with his parents, five siblings and grandparents; and Hannah loves to garden with her two moms. See cta.org/californiareads for more teacher-recommended book selections. Love the Librar y Every April, school librari- ans host activities to help their school and commu- nity celebrate the essential role that strong school library programs play in transforming learning. Sponsored by the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), this year 's School Library Month national spokesperson is Northern Califor- nia author Andy Weir, who says the library was his refuge when he was bullied in high school. AASL praises the main character in Weir 's best-selling book, The Martian, for his creativity and persever- ance (qualities librarians try to instill in students) as he fights to survive on Mars. The 2017 theme is "Because School Libraries Empower Students." Read more at ala.org/aasl/slm, and use #slm17. Time to Appreciate Educators Educators' impact on students extends far beyond the classroom and can last a lifetime. Coming up is that time of year to let yourself bask in a little well-deserved attention. May 7–13 is Teacher Appreciation Week, May 9 is National Teacher Day, May 10 is California Day of the Teacher and also School Nurse Day, May 21–27 is Education Support Professionals Week, and May 23 is CTA ESP Day. California Day of the Teacher arose from legisla- tion co-sponsored by CTA and the Association of Mexican American Educators in 1982. This year 's theme is "California Teachers: Advocates for the Public Education All Students Deserve" — find the poster inside the back cover. For ideas on how to celebrate, see cta.org/dayoftheteacher. calendar in the know For more information on School Library Month, plus activities and resources to help you celebrate how school libraries empower students, visit WWW.ALA.ORG/AASL/SLM. students Because school libraries 8 cta.org

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of California Educator - April 2017