Memoir

A memoir is a historical account or biography written from personal knowledge or special sources. When selecting books in this genre it is important to get books that are visually appealing to the students. The quality of the information should enhance student learning and it should be presented in a way that can be easily understood by the students. It is important that the pictures and graphics appeal to the students.  It is also important that they are grade and ability level appropriate. When choosing texts, it is important that the information that is presented enhances the learning of the students. It should also be presented in a way that the students can easily understand. The teacher should make sure to choose books that match the standard that they are trying to teach. If choosing websites you want to make sure that they are acceptable for the students in the classroom. It is good to provide books that allow students to gain an understanding of background information that pertains to the concept.

One Boy From Kosovo

Marx, T., & Karp, C. (2000). One boy from Kosovo. New York, NY: Lothrop, Lee &                 Shepard Books.

A lexile level for the text could not be found. This book would be good for fourth to fifth grade levels. “One Boy from Kosovo” has many themes. Some of them are refuges, violence in foreign countries, and the country of Kosovo. This text has real pictures and captions. The captions provide additional understandings of the concepts depicted through the pictures. The text also has large texts that provide pronunciations within the text. This helps with words that students may not know. Global issues that can create a connection for students include violence in the Middle East. At the beginning, the book gives background knowledge about Kosovo.  Because the book provides background knowledge about Kosovo, students might only need support when it comes to the discussion on violence in the Middle East.

The Boy on the Wooden Box

Leyson, L., & Harran, M. (2013). The boy on the wooden box. Prince Frederick,                 MD: Recorded Books. 

This book has a lexile level of 1000L. It would be a seventh grade independent reading level and it could be used between fifth and seventh for interest or as a read aloud. The theme of this book is desperation. The book starts out as a story of a perfectly normal scene out of any child’s summer. This encompasses the desperation that will soon be the reality of a child’s life. The text does not include a lot of graphics or illustrations to go along with the text. The text is also smaller so it would be best for older students. Students may need extra help when it comes to the vocabulary in the text. Much of the vocabulary that is used is true for the time period of the book. Other than vocabulary, students would need little support when reading this text.