George

George by Alex Gino
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Copyright: 2015

Citation: Gino, A. (2015). George. Scholastic Press.

Literary Awards, Honors, and/or Nominations

1. 2015 Goodreads Choice Awards Best Middle Grade and Children's: Nominee

Reading Level:
Grade Level Equivalent: 6
Lexile: 790L
DRA: 60
Guided Reading: X

-Original description of the book
Alex Gino does a phenomenal job writing about the problems that transgender children struggle with on a daily basis. Yet while this book talks about a serious matter, Alex Gino goes about this matter in an engaging and funny way by making the reader become an ally to George.

-Corresponding Common Core State Standard
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.2: Determine a theme or central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.3: Describe how a particular story's or drama's plot unfolds in a series of episodes as well as how the characters respond or change as the plot moves toward a resolution.

-Suggested delivery
1) Independent Read
2) Read Aloud

-2 electronic resources
1) Alex Gino Interview
2) Alex Gino talks about Wonder and more

-3 teaching suggestions for grades 4-6
1) George introduces the LGBT issues that face many people throughout our community. Bringing up these conversations aren’t very common in a classroom, but it could work with older students. However, it is important that the students understand that people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transsexual are a community and a group of people who can relate and support one another. It is also important for students to understand that talking about this topic can keep people safe. Some websites that describe how to discuss this topic are: Edutopia, Lifeway, Teaching Tolerance, and Human Rights Campaign.

2) George also brings up the problem that students have with bullies. It is important to talk to students and have them understand what bullying is. Knowing what bullying is can help students because they will know what to look for if they know someone who is being bullied or how they can help someone who is being bullied. By discussing this topic, students may feel more comfortable talking with their parents or someone they trust about any problems they might be having at school. There are some really well written websites that clearly state what bullying is, how to prevent and stop it. I have listed three websites that do this: Stop Bullying Homepage, How to talk about bullying, Parental Information.

3) This book largely focuses on friendship. Students who are part of the LGBT community and are going through hardships struggle finding a steady support system. By teaching students about the skills and choices they can make to be a good friend can give these students a support system in and out of school. Here are a few online resources that describe how students can do this: Being a good friend, learning positive friendship skills, Friendship activities.

-Key vocabulary
1) Transgender: denoting or relating to a person whose self-identity does not conform unambiguously to conventional notions of male or female gender
2) Melancholy: a feeling of pensive sadness, typically with no obvious cause
3) Incredulously: unwilling or unable to believe something
4) Transitioning: the process of changing one's gender presentation permanently to accord with one's internal sense of one's gender
5) Ebullience: the quality of being cheerful and full of energy
6) Indignant: feeling or showing anger or annoyance at what is perceived as unfair treatment
7) Sesquipedalian: characterized by long words; polysyllabic

-An inferential comprehension writing activity
Have students create a character diary and have them write in it once a major event occurs to their character of choice. Students must keep in mind that their character’s thoughts and emotions are needed for a well-written diary entry. Students will write about the event and mark down where it occurs in the book (What chapter or page(s) does the event(s) happen on?).

-Before Reading Comprehension Activity: Students will engage in a first line reading activity. The first line of George will be read and the students must make predictions about what the book is about and what might happen in the book. Here is a brief explanation about the activity and how to use first lines.

-During Reading Comprehension Activity: Have the students pick chapters randomly and have them create a synopsis of what happened in their specific chapter(s). Students will present their chapters, in numerical order, to the class once they are finished.

-After Reading Comprehension Activity: The students will create a collage or poster that consist of pictures, 3-D items, and/or self-made items that are related to the book. The students will have to write at least two sentences about what that item is and how it is related or significant to the book or main character.