Teacher Resources
Free Downloads
Discussion Guides:
May B. Educator’s Guide
Blue Birds Educator’s Guide
Over in the Wetlands Discussion Guide and Activity Sheets
Jasper and the Riddle of Riley’s Mine Discussion and Activity Guide
Ride On, Will Cody! Teacher’s Guide
Miraculous Discussion Guide
The Burning Season Educator’s Guide
Handouts and Classroom Resources:
Lost Colony timeline
Stickman Character Development handout
Going Deep with Young Readers
10 Things I Wish I’d Known About Writing While in the Classroom
Where in the World Are We Reading? (see below)
The Notebook Series: A Behind-the-Scenes Glimpse Into my Writing Process
May B.
Blue Birds
Over in the Wetlands
Jasper and the Riddle of Riley’s Mine
Ride On, Will Cody!
A Race Around the World
Miraculous
The Burning Season
Where in the World Are We Reading?
Where in the World Are We Reading? is an easy interdisciplinary assignment I developed to be used in both language arts and social studies classrooms. It is an effective way to keep students reading a variety of books, allows students to select books on their own reading and interest levels, works easily in upper elementary and middle-school classrooms, assesses students’ understanding of character growth, motivation, goals, and challenges, and allows students to explore people, places, and historical periods in depth.
1. Students select books from the following genres:
- historical fiction
- biography
- contemporary fiction set outside of the United States
- non-fiction based on historical event
2. While reading, students fill out a Travel Log.
Here are some additional ideas to consider including in your own classroom:
- Have students mark their book’s setting on a wall map.
- Require students to read a book from a different continent or country for each travel log.
- Allow students to follow their interests and read a variety of books on one person, place, or historical period. (This is especially effective for schools that participate in the Social Studies Fair).
- Use travel logs as a framework for writing book reports or essays.
- Ask students to fill in travel logs as they read class novels.
State Reading Awards
Did you know teachers, librarians, parents, and students can nominate books for state reading awards? These awards are meant to celebrate reading, expose young readers to new books, and give kids a voice — they get to vote for their favorite book at the end of the season. Any school-aged reader can participate. States provide separate lists for readers K-12. Click through to nominate your favorite recent reads!
Classroom Connections and Straight from the Source Interviews
Classroom Connections is a series of interviews I started in 2011 that are meant to introduce teachers, parents, and librarians to new books. In 2014, I started a second interview series called Straight from the Source. In this series authors of historical fiction and non-fiction discuss their creative processes from idea to research to writing to publication.
There are hundreds of interviews to choose from. Enjoy!
Professional Development Interviews
THE BOOK WHISPERER: An Interview with Donalyn Miller, Part I
THE BOOK WHISPERER: An Interview with Donalyn Miller, Part II
READING IN THE WILD: 5 Things Wild Readers Do
Wild Readers Dedicate Time and Self-Select
Wild Readers Share Books and Have Reading Plans
Wild Readers Show Preferences