Literacy and The Top 10 Ways to Ruin the First Day of School
A Top Ten Literacy Activity
THE TOP TEN SIGNS YOU DON’T KNOW ENOUGH
by Darby (a former student from the American International School of Budapest)
by Darby (a former student from the American International School of Budapest)
After reading The Top Ten Ways to Ruin the First Day Of 5th Grade/School students can write their own humorous top ten lists and then publish their lists in various formats such as in print, in podcasts, and in videos. This activity is a favorite of students and is always a great success. Note: I wish to give special thanks to Darby for letting me publish her video on my web site.
This much appreciated email from Holland Elementary School (in Virginia Beach, Virginia) is testimony that zany books have educational merit.
December 22, 2009
Dear Ken,
My name is Ms. Parise and I am a fourth grade teacher at Holland Elementary in Virginia Beach, Virginia. My fourth grade students are surrounding me at the computer right now, as I type this. We read your book during our guided reading groups (20 minute small reading groups that meet once a day) and just finished last week!
Today is our last day of school before the Christmas break and we thought we’d take the opportunity to tell you how much we enjoyed reading The Top 10 Ways To Ruin The First Day of School. We thought Tony Baloney was a hilarious character and grew to love him more and more each day. The kids thought the “hinder photocopying incident” was especially hilarious and that certainly put me in an interesting discussion I’ve never found myself in before, so thanks for keeping me on my toes.
The kids want to know how you came up with the character Tony Baloney. Also, do you have any other books or any that are going to be published soon? We’d love to follow you through your literary career!
Attached is a picture of us with your fantastic book. Thanks for all of the laughs. We enjoyed our time with you and your characters.
Sincerely,
Ms. Parise, Alayzha, Destiny, Suzie, Christian, Michael, Deshaun, Eli, Kimmy and Josh
***email and photos reprinted with permission***
December 22, 2009
Dear Ken,
My name is Ms. Parise and I am a fourth grade teacher at Holland Elementary in Virginia Beach, Virginia. My fourth grade students are surrounding me at the computer right now, as I type this. We read your book during our guided reading groups (20 minute small reading groups that meet once a day) and just finished last week!
Today is our last day of school before the Christmas break and we thought we’d take the opportunity to tell you how much we enjoyed reading The Top 10 Ways To Ruin The First Day of School. We thought Tony Baloney was a hilarious character and grew to love him more and more each day. The kids thought the “hinder photocopying incident” was especially hilarious and that certainly put me in an interesting discussion I’ve never found myself in before, so thanks for keeping me on my toes.
The kids want to know how you came up with the character Tony Baloney. Also, do you have any other books or any that are going to be published soon? We’d love to follow you through your literary career!
Attached is a picture of us with your fantastic book. Thanks for all of the laughs. We enjoyed our time with you and your characters.
Sincerely,
Ms. Parise, Alayzha, Destiny, Suzie, Christian, Michael, Deshaun, Eli, Kimmy and Josh
***email and photos reprinted with permission***
An excerpt from Choice Literacy (a provider of literacy leadership via the Internet):
READ ALOUDS FOR THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
“ . . . A fifth grade teacher, Tony, noticed that some students' interest in reading begins to wane in fifth grade. The students have gotten over the thrill of being able to read chapter books. It is likely that they are beginning to get a little bored with the series they started reading back in the third or fourth grade. They're still smarting from trudging through the content area textbooks that were introduced in fourth grade. He is always looking for books for students who think they don't like reading anymore. Tony's "can't fail" first day of school read aloud book is The Top Ten Ways to Ruin the First Day of School (Derby, 2004). Before he starts the book, he invites his fifth graders to generate their own top ten lists. Tony reports that this book is falling-on-the-floor, laughing-until-your-sides-hurt funny. He wants to remind his students that reading is fun and they are going to have a lot of fun reading in fifth grade. Tony reports that it is just a coincidence that he and the book's protagonist have the same name.”
---by Shari Frost, Text copyright © 2006-2008, Choiceliteracy.com
***reprinted with permission***
READ ALOUDS FOR THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
“ . . . A fifth grade teacher, Tony, noticed that some students' interest in reading begins to wane in fifth grade. The students have gotten over the thrill of being able to read chapter books. It is likely that they are beginning to get a little bored with the series they started reading back in the third or fourth grade. They're still smarting from trudging through the content area textbooks that were introduced in fourth grade. He is always looking for books for students who think they don't like reading anymore. Tony's "can't fail" first day of school read aloud book is The Top Ten Ways to Ruin the First Day of School (Derby, 2004). Before he starts the book, he invites his fifth graders to generate their own top ten lists. Tony reports that this book is falling-on-the-floor, laughing-until-your-sides-hurt funny. He wants to remind his students that reading is fun and they are going to have a lot of fun reading in fifth grade. Tony reports that it is just a coincidence that he and the book's protagonist have the same name.”
---by Shari Frost, Text copyright © 2006-2008, Choiceliteracy.com
***reprinted with permission***
The Top 10 Ways to Ruin the First Day of School is listed as a favorite book on a fifth grade reading list at GreatSchools.net.