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| Robert F. Sibert Award Honor, among other awards |
we moved into the New York State Theater.
We rehearsed and rehearsed.
Then we'd perform what we'd been
rehearsing all these months- on stage.
This was LINCOLN CENTER!
There would be THOUSANDS
of people in the audience!
It's true, what they say about the butterflies.
Nerves feel like butterflies
fluttering in your stomach, every time.
Your heart beats fast.
You're breathing harder.
It's very hard to stand still..."
To dance is: Inspirational, Spectacular, Creative, Exciting, and Encouraging
To Dance: A Ballerina's Graphic Novel
memoir by Siena Cherson Siegel and illustrated by Mark Siegel
A Richard Jackson Book
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Simon & Schuster
Reading Level:
Lexile: GN610L
Grade Level(s): 3-6
Suggested Delivery: Independent Read, Guided Reading
Summary:
Young Siena had always loved to move her body and dance wherever she could. When Siena's doctor told her she had flat feet she decided to take a dance class. Her dance teacher told her that Maya Plisetskaya, a famous ballerina was coming to Boston to perform so Siena went saw her. At the performance, Siena fell in love with ballet and wanted to one day be on stage like Maya. Siena began intensifying her dance classes and soon auditioned and was accepted into the School of American Ballet. Here Siena would dedicate most of her childhood and teenage years to perfecting her technique. Siena's life became focused around dance- she absolutely loved it and she used it as a tool to help her through some difficult changes in her personal life. In this graphic novel, one can see the dedication, determination and love that Siena had for dance.
Electronic Resources for Educators:
https://www.sab.org/
This is the School of American Ballet where Siena attended dance school. Students can read about the history of the school as well as get to know about what is happening at the school now.
http://misserinmarie.blogspot.com/2008/05/sbbt-interview-siena-cherson-siegel.html
This is an interview that a blogger conducted with Siena Cherson Siegel about her experience and motives behind writing her graphic novel.
This is the School of American Ballet where Siena attended dance school. Students can read about the history of the school as well as get to know about what is happening at the school now.
http://misserinmarie.blogspot.com/2008/05/sbbt-interview-siena-cherson-siegel.html
This is an interview that a blogger conducted with Siena Cherson Siegel about her experience and motives behind writing her graphic novel.
Teaching Suggestions:
Key Vocabulary:
Comprehension Activities for the Classroom Teacher:
Before Reading Activity-Watch-Write-Pair- Share
Let your students know this book is about a young girl who falls in love with dancing after she sees Maya Plisetskaya perform a ballet piece in the Dying Swan. The youtube link below is a video of Plisetskaya performing the very piece that made young Siena want to become a ballerina. You may want to show the clip to your students and then have them write about why they think this performance would make someone want to become a dancer. After they write have them pair up with a partner and share their thoughts with each other.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcDwxJMxm8w
Let your students know this book is about a young girl who falls in love with dancing after she sees Maya Plisetskaya perform a ballet piece in the Dying Swan. The youtube link below is a video of Plisetskaya performing the very piece that made young Siena want to become a ballerina. You may want to show the clip to your students and then have them write about why they think this performance would make someone want to become a dancer. After they write have them pair up with a partner and share their thoughts with each other.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcDwxJMxm8w
During Reading Activity-Directed Reading Thinking Activity
This is an activity where students have to be active readers to complete this assignment. They must use their critical thinking skills and reading strategies to be successful. Students make predictions before each chapter or section of reading and then while they read they look for evidence to support or oppose their prediction.
Direct- Before students read each section or chapter of the book have them look through the graphics and predict what might happen in that particular section of the book. Students may need some directing in forming predictions. Ask them questions such as: What does it look like Siena is doing in these graphics? What is the setting? Who might the other pictured characters be? After looking through the graphics, what do you think will happen in this chapter? Use questioning to guide their predictions and what you want your students to notice.
Reading-While students read they should take notes that either support or oppose their predictions. A great way for students to take notes is to either use sticky notes or the following log.
http://www.readingrockets.org/content/pdfs/DRTA%20Prediction%20Log.pdf
Thinking- After your students have finished reading an assigned section, they will use their notes or look back into the text to find evidence that either extends and supports their predictions or they will modify their predictions to fit the story. This is also the point in the activity where the teacher asks students questions to deepen their understanding of their reading. Example questions: What do you think about your predictions now that you have read the chapter? What events or evidence caused you to change your prediction?
Post Reading Activity-
Questioning the Author: teach students to develop and critique authors writing. Ask your students what they want to know that was not stated in the text. Do they have questions for the author about why she included or did not include something? This activity is meant to help students infer. You could even write a letter to the author asking her questions about her story.
This is an activity where students have to be active readers to complete this assignment. They must use their critical thinking skills and reading strategies to be successful. Students make predictions before each chapter or section of reading and then while they read they look for evidence to support or oppose their prediction.
Direct- Before students read each section or chapter of the book have them look through the graphics and predict what might happen in that particular section of the book. Students may need some directing in forming predictions. Ask them questions such as: What does it look like Siena is doing in these graphics? What is the setting? Who might the other pictured characters be? After looking through the graphics, what do you think will happen in this chapter? Use questioning to guide their predictions and what you want your students to notice.
Reading-While students read they should take notes that either support or oppose their predictions. A great way for students to take notes is to either use sticky notes or the following log.
http://www.readingrockets.org/content/pdfs/DRTA%20Prediction%20Log.pdf
Thinking- After your students have finished reading an assigned section, they will use their notes or look back into the text to find evidence that either extends and supports their predictions or they will modify their predictions to fit the story. This is also the point in the activity where the teacher asks students questions to deepen their understanding of their reading. Example questions: What do you think about your predictions now that you have read the chapter? What events or evidence caused you to change your prediction?
Post Reading Activity-
Questioning the Author: teach students to develop and critique authors writing. Ask your students what they want to know that was not stated in the text. Do they have questions for the author about why she included or did not include something? This activity is meant to help students infer. You could even write a letter to the author asking her questions about her story.
Writing Activity- Write about the questions that the Voki asks you.
http://www.voki.com/pickup.php?scid=11115106&height=267&width=200
http://www.voki.com/pickup.php?scid=11115106&height=267&width=200
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