This presentation was first presented at the 2010 MCSS Conference in St. Louis on February 19, 2010.

2. Teach 8 th grade American History at South Valley Jr. High in Liberty, Missouri

3. Adjunct faculty at Park University teaching graduate course “Technology for the Classroom”

4. Currently working on my doctorate at Walden University in Teacher Leadership

5. All notes and links from this presentation can be found online at: www.speakingofhistory.com/novel Please share with others

7. First 20 minutes of the day – Monday thru Thursday SSR Silent Sustained Reading

8. EVERYONE in the building reads for enjoyment Most powerful initiative I have ever seen in education

9. The History Geeks will read 5 historical novels this year in the book club and 1 in class

10. Guns for General Washington by Seymour Reit

11. George Washington, Spymaster by Thomas B. Allen

12. Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson

13. Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson

14. Counting on Grace by Elizabeth Winthrop

15. Guerrilla Season by Pat Hughes

16. Guerrilla Season describes life in Missouri at the start of the Civil War Fits curriculum perfectly and engaging book

18. NCSS Annual Notable Trade Books for Young People

19. School Library Journal Monthly lists reviews of books

20. Getting your books: Check existing collections Barnes and Noble – 20% discount Amazon – also used books

22. Set up a schedule for your book club Create a pacing guide Helps everyone stay on the “same page”

24. Invite people other than students to read join the book club Other teachers, parents, principals, community leaders

25. Spark interest in your book club by reading a section out loud in class as a teaser

26. Bring a coffee maker into the classroom and have hot chocolate for the participants

28. Interview an author

29. Resource for finding authors who are willing to conduct a video chat with your students

31. Create a place to discuss the novel online

32. One option is to utilize existing message boards – like BlackBoard or Moodle

33. A more public option is a site like Wallwisher

34. Extend the novel using a variety of final projects students can create Give students a variety of options, make it fun

35. Write an alternate ending to the novel

36. Create a movie poster for the novel Great online tool from a site at FlickrToys

37. Conduct an interview with one of the characters Write transcript and record if possible

38. Create a comic strip of one scene in the novel

39. Design a new book cover for the novel

40. Write a poem or song about the novel

41. If you have an online site post the final projects from the students Guerrilla Season by Hanna The night is dark and still, But you know they are there, Maybe they aren’t there to get you, but they’re after someone. After lying still for hours he hears it, the sounds that no fifteen year old should have to wake up to in the night. He grabs his gun and runs outside, he is the man of the house and he has to defend his love ones, whether he wants to or not. It’s too late, the flames are in the clouds, The scream pierces his ears as he runs towards the only light in the cold dark night, He stops as hears the gun shots and even more screams, After running toward the flames he now can’t move, He knows what had just happened. Now, so close to the house he sees the monsters that have done this, Knowing they are proud with sinful smiles on their faces he turns around knowing there is nothing he can do for this family.

42. All notes and links from this presentation can be found online at: www.speakingofhistory.com/novel Please share with others

43. Eric Langhorst 8 th Grade American History South Valley Jr. High School Liberty, Missouri [email_address] www.speakingofhistory.com Twitter : elanghorst Skype : elanghorst