Why is Cornbread Beatin' on Stuff?

First of all, let me tell you why I wrote this book. I have been teaching 5th graders for the past 13 years, and one thing that has stayed constant over the years is their love for music. Regardless of race or gender, I ALWAYS seem to encounter students that persist to pound on their desk. Initially, I thought this was done out of disrespect, especially since they were told of the class rules; however, it was clear that MUSIC was just innately a part of them.


So I wanted to share how students, particularly Cornbread, had an affinity for music and how he couldn’t control it in so many ways. Cornbread consistently found things to beat on even after his teacher, dad, and everyone else begged him not to. After reading the story, you’ll see a major repercussion revealed.

The theme definitely revolves around following directions, but its purpose is two-fold. I wanted adults to feel Cornbread’s passion and know that his 'annoying' habit is because of his love of music and not because of disrespect. Let me hear your thoughts.

CORNBREAD DANCES TO HIS OWN TUNE - "WHO IS HE?"

It's so funny to see Cornbread when he interacts with students during school visits. Oh! Cornbread will be back to show off some more of his dance moves (lol). Do you all have a dance you would like to see him do?

http://www.cornbreadseries.com/

Why Do Our Young Males Struggle with Reading Comprehension?

I think it's imperative that literature reflects the children that read it. Too often, males are becoming struggling readers because of the disconnection they are having with the books they are presented.


It is not that our boys can't comprehend what they are reading or don't have an understanding of various reading performance standards; they are simply not ENGAGED with the literature which causes numerous challenges in the classroom. And as an educator for 13 years, I’ve immersed myself in various reading methodologies that address this very concern.


Research has shown how maximum comprehension capacity is built on background knowledge as well as personal experiences. So when our young males fall significantly behind our young girls in reading, it’s because many of them are not able to identify with the text that’s in front of them. This disconnection causes a tremendous academic gap between the two genders.


My attempt to close this unfortunate gap lies in the creation of literature that features a male protagonist named Cornbread. Cornbread is a children's chapter book series that engages our young guys and allow them to develop an affinity for reading by seeing themselves, a male, in print.

Each book is child-centered so that students will become interested in the text the entire 8 chapters. However, it also appeals to parents because of its emphasis on family and having a children's book with a positive role model.


The series consist of Cornbread Runs for Class President and Cornbread Has a Bad Habit. The third book, which will be released December 2008, will be entitled Cornbread Faces the School Bully. The target audience for these intriguing books is elementary students; however, they’re available to anyone who loves a great story.

You can learn more about the series at http://www.cornbreadseries.com/.