The Purpose

1
The Purpose

• To develop an awareness of the voice of the
  author Avi by studying his life and his works.
• To become more aware of our own voices through
  studying the voice of Avi.
• The presentation is divided into activities that
  students will complete in cooperative groups.
• The slideshow will be presented to students in
  the Media Center as part of classwork in the
  course I teach called, Media. The slideshow will
  also be available to students from the Media
  Center web site for use as a resource during work
  on the activities.
• The unit will be taught as a collaboration with
  the 5th grade classroom teacher who suggested
  that students complete a poster for the product.

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The Author Who Is Avi

• Suzanne Martin
• Media Specialist
• Columbus School

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Introduction

• Avi is a very prolific author. At this time he
  has written at least 50 books.
• Avi has won many awards
• Newbery Award for Crispin
• Newbery Honors
• Horn Book Award
• Click on the link below to view a list of Avis
  books from the Avi web site.
• http//www.avi-writer.com/booklist.html

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New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards
Addressed- L. Arts

• Reading
• 3.1G Comprehension Skills and Response to Text
• 1. Identify authors purpose, views, and beliefs
• 16. Read regularly in materials appropriate for
  their independent reading level.
• 3.1H. Inquiry and Research
• 1. Use library classification systems, print or
  electronic, to locate information.
• 3. Use multiple sources to locate information
  relevant to research questions.
• 7. Summarize and organize information by taking
  notes, outlining ideas, and/or making charts.
• 8. Produce projects and reports, using visuals,
  media, and/or technology to show learning and
  support the learning of an audience.

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New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards
Addressed Language Arts

• Writing
• 3.2 A Writing as a Process (prewriting, drafting,
  revising, editing, postwriting)
• 4. Develop an awareness of form, structure, and
  authors voice in various genres.
• 3.2 D. Writing Forms, Audiences, and Purposes
  (exploring a variety of forms)
• 2. Gather, select, and organize information
  appropriate to a topic, task, and audience.
• 14. Use relevant graphics in writing (e.g., maps,
  charts, illustrations, graphs, photographs).

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What is an authors voice?

• Author's voice refers to qualities of writing
  that reveal the person behind the keyboard. When
  we sense the tone or mood of a piece, when we are
  able to gauge the author's emotions about the
  topic or the story, we have detected voice. How
  the author undertakes to engage the reader is
  also a facet of voice. (Buehl, 1999)

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The Purpose of this Unit

• To develop an awareness of the voice of the
  author Avi by studying his life and his works.
• To become more aware of our own voices through
  studying the voice of Avi.

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Who is Avi?
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Assignment 1 Biographical Graphic Organizer

• Use a variety of materials to research
  information about Avi.
• Complete a graphic organizer with your partners.
  You may use Kidspiration or Microsoft Word.
• Organizer Example
• Scoring Rubric

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Biographical Resources

• These resources can help you to get started. You
  should use other resources as well. Be sure to
  cite all resources that you use.
• Web Links
• The Official Avi Website
• Scholastic Biography of Avi
• Reading Rockets Biography of Avi
• Film
• A Talk with Avi
  
  In this film, Avi takes the viewer on a tour of
  his home and talks about his writing (located in
  our library)

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The Works!
12
The Works

• Avi has written over 50 books. He is a very
  eclectic author because he writes books at many
  reading levels and in many genres.
• His books have won many awards including a
  Newbery Medal for Crispin, Cross of Lead in 2003.

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Activity 2 - Poster

• Browse through the books written by Avi. If you
  would like more information about his books read
  the reviews at Kids Book Shelf
• Select a book to read independently. The next
  few activities will involve the book you choose.
• List of Avi Books available in our library

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Team Work

• Find 2 partners who have chosen a book that has
  something in common with your book. You will work
  together on the poster activity.
• Examples include
• Books in the same genre Historical Fiction,
  Mystery, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Fairy Tale,
  etc.
• Books that involve magic
• Books about animals
• Your own idea

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The Poster Assignment

• As you read your books your group will create a
  poster about Avis books to promote them to
  others.
• The purpose of your poster is to promote Avis
  books that are similar to those being read by
  your group. For example, your group could create
  a poster that promotes Avis historical fiction
  books. Another group might promote his books
  about animals.

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Poster Slogan

• Work with your partners to develop a slogan for
  your poster that will entice others to read books
  by Avi that are similar to those your group is
  reading.
• To Read some examples checkout these sites
• Advertising Slogans- University of Texas
• How Ads and Slogans Work

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Poster Book Summaries

• Each team member must write a summary of the book
  he/she is reading independently.
• Summaries should be word processed and printed so
  they can be added to the poster.

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The Poster Requirements
Slogan
Summary
Summary
Summary

• Each poster should include
• Slogan enticing others to read Avis books
• Image or images that illustrate the meaning of
  the poster (digital photos, original drawing or
  clipart)
• Summaries of books read by team members
• A citation page attached to the back of the
  poster and a list of group members names.
• Your poster should be at least 1 yard wide by 1.5
  yards long. (Paper will be available on rolls.)
• View the poster rubric

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Summing It Up

• Each student is required to complete an
  evaluation rubric for
• Biographical Graphic Organizer
• His/her groups poster
• Each poster from the other groups

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Works Cited

• Buehl, Doug. "Author Voice Listening as You
  Read." Wisconsin Literacy Education and Reading
  Network Source. 5 Feb. 1999. Madison East High
  School. 26 Apr. 2006 apps/Default.asp?cid146.
• "2003 Newbery Medal and Honor Books." ALSC.
  American Library Association. 27 Apr. 2006
  teraryawds/newberymedal/newberyhonors/2003newberym
  edal.htm.
• "Avi." Breakfast Serials. 27 Apr. 2006
  authorID39.

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Images

• Slide 3, 12 "Avi." Avi. 2006. 27 Apr. 2006
  .
• Slide 11 "2003 Newbery Medal and Honor Books."
  ALSC. American Library Association. 27 Apr. 2006
  teraryawds/newberymedal/newberyhonors/2003newberym
  edal.htm.