ESU 11 2016-2017 Battle of the Books
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  • Absolutely Almost
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  • Beneath
  • Blackbird Fly
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  • Family Romanov
  • Fish in a Tree
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  • The Giver
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  • League of Seven
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  • A Long Walk to Water
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  • The Lost Hero
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  • Night of the Twisters
  • The One and Only Ivan
  • Red Queen
  • Saving Mr. Terupt
  • The Summer I Saved the World in 65 Days
  • Summer of the Monkeys
  • The Trouble in Me
  • Tuck Everlasting
  • Ungifted
  • Wonder
  • Woods Runner

Fish in a Tree
               Grades 3-5

A​lly has been smart enough to fool a lot of smart people. Every time she lands in a new school, she is able to hide her inability to read by creating clever yet disruptive distractions.  She is afraid to ask for help; after all, how can you cure dumb? However, her newest teacher Mr. Daniels sees the bright, creative kid underneath the trouble maker. With his help, Ally learns not to be so hard on herself and that dyslexia is nothing to be ashamed of. As her confidence grows, Ally feels free to be herself and the world starts opening up with possibilities. She discovers that there’s a lot more to her—and to everyone—than a label, and that great minds don’t always think​ alike.

Book Level 3.7; 7 points
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​Ally had dyslexia, a problem when she read. It made all of the other students think she wasn't very smart. It is actually a problem with the brain and they think that it is passed down from generation to generation (genetically). She was, however, VERY smart! Here are three activities to do with the book. If you decide you'd like to do an alternate activity, just check with me first to make sure it is okay.

Ally is awesome, don't you agree!

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Activity One

These are some of the people who are believed to have had dyslexia. There were no tests at the time to check and make sure they did, but all signs showed they did.
  • Leonardo DaVinci 
  • W. Woolworth 
  • George Patton 
  • Auguste Rodin  
  • Winston Churchill
  • Harvey Cushing
  • Fred Astaire 
  • Enrico Caruso 
  • Albert Einstein 
  • Choose one of these people, or someone else who was believed to have had dyslexia, and research them. You can share your research by a web, picture, report, audio presentation, or any other creative way of sharing. Think about those students who stumble when they read, give them a break!
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Activity Two

Make a friendship bracelet to share with someone, maybe someone who you usually don't share with. Take a picture of your gift giving and share it with Mrs. Jack (jjack@esu11.org). How does this make you feel? Remember, this gift is FREE!!
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Activity Three

Make a great design for your soup can, and name it after one of the characters from FIAT. Then write a list of "ingredients" that your soup has by using words to describe your character. You'll have to make sure you include Grit if you choose Ally, and many of the other characters as well. Take a picture of your can and share it with Mrs. Jack, or better yet, save it and give it to her when she comes to your school to visit.
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