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Rules
Rules | Cynthia Lord
Frustrated at life with an autistic brother, twelve-year-old Catherine longs for a normal existence but her world is further complicated by a friendship with a young paraplegic.
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Karisimo
Rules | Cynthia Lord
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It's Autism Awareness Month and I'm happy to say there are so many good choices to fit this category! I chose a classic story of a girl growing up with her brother who is on the spectrum. #middlegrademonday

Daisey I haven‘t seen your hashtag before, but I think it‘s a great idea. I‘ll try to peruse my shelves and come up with a post for today. 4w
Karisimo @Daisey thanks!! It‘s been a while since I‘ve posted a prompt! 4w
24 likes2 comments
review
Loganfairbanks
Rules | Cynthia Lord
Pickpick

This book was published in 2006 and is a fictional chapter book. This book was awarded the Schneider Family Book Award in 2007, and was also a Newberry Honor Book. This book is about a girl who has a brother with autism. He has a lot of rules that he follows to feel secure. She also meets a boy who uses an AAC device, and becomes friends with him. This is a heartwarming book that teaches about disabilities. I would definitely use this book!

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kallikramer
Rules | Cynthia Lord
Pickpick

This story is about a twelve year old girl who has a brother with autism. This little girl creates rules for her brother to follow throughout his life. As she gets older she starts to question, “What is normal?“. This story was published in 2006. It won the Newberry book award, Schneider Family book Award, and a few others. I would read this story to students because I think it is a great story that talks about how there is no “normal“.

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ehrmans
Rules | Cynthia Lord
Pickpick

This is the story of Catherine, a 12-year-old girl, who is torn between caring for her brother David, who has autism and finding her own place in life. Her daily life one summer is usually occupied by caring for David and trying her best to keep him out of trouble. To help her navigate this, Catherine creates numerous rules for David. The story follows the siblings and friends that they make through out the summer.

ehrmans Author: Cynthia Lord. Publication date: 2006. Genre: fiction, children's literature. Awards: Schneider Family Book Award, John Newbery Medal, Dorthy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award.
2y
1 comment
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Kshakal
Rules | Cynthia Lord
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Pickpick

A book that every family should have on their bookshelf! A raw look at what it is to be different in todays world and how important it is to be accepting of everyone. The differences we have is what makes this world a beautiful place!

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CameoD
Rules | Cynthia Lord
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Pickpick

Rules, written by Cynthia Lord, was awarded two honors for being such a terrific book. It was awarded the Newbery Honor, and the Schneider Family Book Award. This is a novel every family should keep on their bookshelf. It‘s a terrific book that encompasses what it means to truly accept others, be honest, and kind. Diversity and differences in this world are so special and must be celebrated. Students should learn at a young age. #ucflae3414su20

CameoD UDL principle 8.3 aligns with this book because it is a prime example of promoting a community of kindness, and fostering acceptance in young students. Esol strategy 20 would fit nicely with this book, you could discuss some of the key ideas or phrases from the book, and what they mean to each student. This is a wonderful discussion guide tool I found. http://www.cynthialord.com/pdf/rules_discuss.pdf 4y
DrSpalding Your favorite... I will be back to provide more feedback. Excellent choice. 4y
DrSpalding No teaching strategy? Would you use this book as a literature circle option or read it aloud after lunch? You are missing the teaching strategies in each of your posts! 4y
3 likes3 comments
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Eggs
Rules | Cynthia Lord
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Twelve-year-old Catherine just wants a normal life. Which is near impossible when you have a brother with autism and a family that revolves around his disability. Catherine learns how to be honest without losing #integrity
#reallyrandomfebruary
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@OriginalCyn620

OriginalCyn620 Sounds good! 4y
Come-read-with-me @Eggs I just started a book club with my under-grad and graduate students, with all books focusing on some aspect of individuals with different needs. This sounds like a great place to begin! Thanks for the recommendation. 4y
Eggs @Come-read-with-me You‘re welcome! There are many great ones out there: (edited) 4y
See All 20 Comments
Eggs @Come-read-with-me And (edited) 4y
Eggs @Come-read-with-me and of course 4y
Eggs It is, thanks🤗 @OriginalCyn620 4y
Come-read-with-me @eggs Those are both great suggestions - thanks! I also like The Diving Bell and the Butterfly and My Stroke of Insight. They are both really powerful reads! 4y
Eggs Thanks for the recommendations of those-they‘re new to me @Come-read-with-me 4y
Come-read-with-me @Eggs The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is about a man with locked-in-syndrome following a stroke. It ripped my heart out. Another essay I really love is An Anthropologist on Mars. It is an interview by Oliver Sacks (he wrote Awakening and The Man who Mistook His Wife for a Hat) with Temple Grandin. AMAZING!!! It‘s in a book be the same name- all of the essays are good, but his interview with her is stunning! 4y
Come-read-with-me @Eggs Ok - now I‘m really filling up your comments! Two more I suggest are The Reason I Jump and The Boy Who Loved Windows. Both are about children with ASD and are great family insights into the disorder. Happy reading Sherri! 4y
Eggs @Come-read-with-me Love T. Grandin books😌 I was fortunate to hear her speak about 6 years ago ! Thanks for this convo ❣️ 4y
Come-read-with-me @eggs She is amazing. I too was able to hear her speak was was just so impressed with the breadth of her knowledge and determination of spirit. What an inspiring person! 4y
Eggs @Come-read-with-me 👏🏻🤗👏🏻 4y
Come-read-with-me @Eggs Have you read her book “Thinking in Pictures@? It‘s great! 4y
Eggs @Come-read-with-me Yes! ❤️❤️ 4y
71 likes2 stack adds20 comments
review
cosmicv1bes
Rules | Cynthia Lord
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Pickpick

finished this a couple days ago, and it was great! i‘m pretty sure i read it before but i‘m not sure. a great quick read and heartwarming all through the book. highly recommend!

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bernadette
Rules | Cynthia Lord
Pickpick

Read this for 5th grade lit group and thought it was a nicely done book about communication and social interactions in general and understanding kids with disabilities. I was a little surprised at the make-up and beginnings of dating for 12 year olds but still very appropriate for middle grade readers.

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shannontevis
Rules | Cynthia Lord

“No toys in the fish tank“ This is one of Catherine's rules for David.

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shannontevis
Rules | Cynthia Lord

I'd include this book in my library for fourth grade and up. I think that is the age when children can handle the length and subject matter of the book. I think this book could also lead to great class discussions about acceptance, diversity, and inclusion.

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shannontevis
Rules | Cynthia Lord
Pickpick

“Rules“ by Cynthia Lord, 2008. Realistic fiction chapter book. I read this book in fourth grade, and absolutely loved reading it again. This book follows 12 year old Catherine, who is growing up with a brother with autism. I think this book gives an accurate representation of autism, and also challenges children to widen their perspectives and be more accepting.

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fquadri
Rules | Cynthia Lord
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed reading this RF called Rules. This book has won many awards such as the Newberry Honor and Sunshine State Young Readers award. This book is about a girl named Catherine and her struggles as she has to take care of and defend her brother David from rude individuals, as her brother has autism.

fquadri It is a struggle for Catherine to go on her day to day life and also deal with her brother who she loves and wants to help so she creates a set of rules that can help her brother fit in society. This book is about love and patience and is quite a rollercoaster but I loved every bit of it. IR can be assigned for this book as it is a book that contains many lessons and homework assignments can be assigned after IR. 5y
fquadri EL strategy 15 can be used for this book by reinforcing a common idea that is reoccurring throughout the book such as patience. UDL strategy 2.4 can be used so that it is easier for ELs to understand the main idea of the book.
This website is good for helping students understand the different characters from the book and their characteristics. https://study.com/academy/lesson/rules-by-cynthia-lord-characters.html
5y
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Bwhitley222 Reinforcing that theme of patience is a great strategy for teaching this book. I love this book and really enjoyed reading through the link you included. 5y
fquadri @Bwhitley222 Thankyou! 5y
DrSpalding You got some very nice peer feedback on this post. This is an excellent book and would make an excellent literature circle option. Nice alignment to the principles and strategies to meet the needs of all students. 5y
1 like6 comments
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TracyHayes
Rules | Cynthia Lord
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Pickpick

This book RF book offers insight about what it is like when someone has autism. It is a great way to show perspective. It can open the door to have conversations about autism and inclusion. I would use this as a RA in lower grades and a LC in older grades. #UCFSU19 Newberry Honor & Schneider Family Book Award
UDL: 3.1
EL: link lesson to prior knowledge
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/What-Do-I-Know-About-Autism-292631

KDrake I would like to read this book myself to gain more insight & knowledge on what it truly is like for someone with autism. There are many people with autism and it's important for educators to be aware of this disorder. 5y
Kayladvazquez I believe this would be a great literature circle for older grade levels. I have read this book and have enjoyed it. I felt it gave me more insight into how people with autism live/feel. The resource you gave is perfect to give the students beforehand. If the fill out the sheet first then when listening to the story they can fill out any blanks they had left. 5y
4 likes2 comments
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erincox
Rules | Cynthia Lord

“... choosing words is harder than I thought.”

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erincox
Rules | Cynthia Lord

I really enjoy how this book touches on autism and how it not only affects the child who has it themselves but also their families. i also think that younger children even if they don‘t have an autistic brother can relate with the “finding yourself” aspect of this book.

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erincox
Rules | Cynthia Lord
Pickpick

Contemporary Realistic Fiction Published in 2006
This story is about a twelve year old girl who has an autistic brother. She spends a lot of time taking care of him. She‘s torn between caring for him and finding her own place in life.

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Christinak
Rules | Cynthia Lord
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In the 70‘s I had a goldfish named #Barracuda
#MarchIntoThe70s

Cinfhen Such a great name...my kids always had names like “Goldie” “rainbow” “lucky” 🙄 5y
Cinfhen And trust me, lucky was a terrible name. Those goldfish never lived very long😬 5y
48 likes2 comments
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Kelwg8
Rules | Cynthia Lord
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4/60 After a long, heavy, read I‘m ready for a relaxed middle grade story for my next prompt: a newberry award winner

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AJones
Rules | Cynthia Lord
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1. “Rules” written by Cynthia Lord. I read this novel last year for one of my classes and I absolutely enjoyed it. Please see my previous post.
2. I would love to travel to Ireland. 🇮🇪
3. @kellyann28

Litsy #Giveaway

kellyann28 Thanks for entering! ❤ 6y
5 likes1 comment
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Eggs
Rules | Cynthia Lord
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@MinDea
1 will follow
2 I'm at 444 right now but I'll still get 1 or 2 done before Christmas
3 pillow
4 food at market
5 Austin Texas

benchley1 Love festive ironman!! 6y
MinDea You have read 444 books?! What?!?! Craziness! 6y
Eggs @MinDea I know it sounds crazy but it's real. My goal was to read an average of 1 book a day but I got so engaged in reading the numbers kept rising. I tracked # of pages read the last few months, but I wish I'd done it all year 6y
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MinDea Whoa! How? How? How are you able to read a book a day... more than a book a day?! So in awe! Are you a super fast reader? Were they shorter books? Do you get paid to read books? I have so many questions!!! 😆😆😆 6y
Eggs This year I was laid up w shingles, later I retired, I often read book in 1 sitting, I do read fast, I binge read. except for my kids and grands, I'm an introvert and live with another introvert, often I shirk chores for reading; though our home is usually quite tidy until the grands are here 😜. Yes some books are shorter (YA or verse), most are 300 ish. That's why I think # of pages is more indicative of reading activity. 6y
MinDea I am sorry to hear you had to deal with shingles earlier this year. I have heard they are painful. Wow. I am envious that you can finish a book in one sitting! Congrats on going over your reading goal of 1 book a day. So cool! 6y
Eggs Shingles are painful and exhausting! Thank you so much for your kindness and your words💕💕I've been a book girl since i could read; it has saved me and soothed me!☺️ 6y
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review
JordanHull
Rules | Cynthia Lord
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Pickpick

#UCFLae3414F17 Rules is a touching RF text, written by Cynthia Lord. The book was a recipient of a Newbery award. The story depicts a young 13-year-old girl, Catherine, and her brother David who has autism. The story starts with Catherine babysitting David and we soon realize that this is a common occurrence. Throughout the story Catherine teaches David rules like “chew with your mouth closed” and “a peach is not a funny-looking apple.” Catherine

JordanHull meets another boy named Jason at David‘s OT and becomes friends with him. Her friend Kristi volunteers with them, but she is mean to Jason due to her friendship with Ryan. Ryan bullies David and Jason and Catherine must learn who her real friends are. Eventually Jason gets Catherine to dance in front of him, breaking one of her many rules. This and other situation cause her to change her frigid look on rules. This story would be a great LC book.

6y
JordanHull The link above takes you to an audio version of the text. For struggling readers this could be helpful for following on and increased comprehension. Having access to this online tool after or during reading will accomplish ESOL 21 and provide the student with an audio version to listen to slower or repeatedly if necessary. This would also accomplish UDL 1.2, offering different auditory information.

6y
CaseyL I‘m reading this book right now! I love that you have a link to an audio version of the book! 6y
KayleeC This is such a great book! I think having the audio book as an option is great! 6y
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Floribelg
Rules | Cynthia Lord
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Pickpick

Rules is a Newbery, Schneider Family and Dorthy Canfield Fisher award winning RF novel by Cynthia Lord. This novel can be used as a LC or SR. Catherine is a 12 year old with a brother (David) with autism wishing she had a normal life. The book captures a lot of raw moments Catherine, her mother, her father, and others encounter with their David. Throughout the book are rules that Catherine makes for David and rules even adults can learn from.

Floribelg I also liked how the book had references to other books that students may be interested to read. http://www.cynthialord.com/pdf/rules_discuss.pdf the link provides discussion questions from the authors website with included links to other useful resources; and can help UDL 3.1 supply background knowledge. Be aware to use ESOL 22 by giving time for students to answer the discussion questions. #UCFLAE3414F17 (edited) 6y
EricaG This sounds like a great book, and I like that it has rules in it that we can all learn from! I also like that website includes different resources too. 6y
Radams The website you included is great! This is a book that I definitely want to read. 6y
KayleeC I own this book but i have never read it! It sounds like such a great book and i defiantly want to read it now. I like the discussion questions as well as the different resources listed. 6y
DrSpalding Obviously an excellent choice having won so many awards! Nice job utilizing the author‘s website as your resource. You easily align your principles and strategies to meet the needs of all students. 6y
3 likes1 stack add5 comments
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jvinas2
Rules | Cynthia Lord
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This RF novel written by Cynthia Lord has won the Newbery Honor and Schneider Family Book Awards among others, and is a great LC or IR book to have in the classroom. This novel is about a 12-year-old girl who has an autistic brother (David), and constantly has to create ‘rules‘ for David to follow. Meanwhile, she is attempting to find her own place in life as any other preteen is, but she also has an internal struggle while trying to

jvinas2 find out who her true friends are. This novel is very relatable and is excellent to make readers evaluate themselves to see if they are being their true selves and valuing the most important things in their lives, their family and true friends. I personally related to many parts of the text, as I have a little sister with ADHD among other mental disabilities. 6y
jvinas2 ESOL strategies 3, 4 & 7 and UDL guidelines 3.1-3.3 are great to use in conjunction with the reading to check comprehension of the narrative and to use the students‘ prior knowledge to help them make connections with the text. This link has many discussion questions to talk about throughout the reading, and extra teacher resources to use with the novel: http://www.cynthialord.com/pdf/rules_discuss.pdf ; #UCFLAE3414F17 6y
Beths You gave this book a very good description. It seems like it has a very important message in the story. I enjoyed the resource you provided. It gave great insight on how to guide the story with your students from beginning, middle, and end. 6y
DrSpalding Using the author‘s site is the best way to go. This is a relatable novel and one that I believe is valuable to use in today‘s classrooms. Your personal connection is one that many individuals currently have. Bringing to light the many facets of attention deficit hyper activity disorder through the use of a good book is an effective strategy. 6y
1 like4 comments
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mayahearn
Rules | Cynthia Lord
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Rules was written by Cynthia Lord and won the Newbery Award for the amazing story it tells about a sister who has a sibling with a disability and how she handles it. https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/lesson-plans/teaching-content/rules-storia-t... has great lesson plans for the book. UDL: 1.1- offer ways of customizing the display of information, EL: give enough wait time for second language learners to respond to questions.

1 like1 comment
review
Kat.Kao
Rules | Cynthia Lord
Pickpick

This is a heartfelt look at growing up with a sibling with disabilities–one that doesn‘t gloss over the resentment and jealousy that can occur when a 12 year old has spent much of her childhood expected to make sacrifices because of her sibling.

Full review: http://mrskaoreads.com/book/rules/

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AJones
Rules | Cynthia Lord
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I just finished "Rules" by Cynthia Lord, and I don't want to spoil this excellent book by giving away too much information. So here goes. . .It's about a twelve-year-old girl named Catherine and her hectic life. She wants a normal life so bad, much like her friends, but it isn't so simple because her younger brother David is autistic. In the end she embraces her not so traditional life just the way it is. This book is a must read for any age!

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LibrarianRyan
Rules | Cynthia Lord
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Pickpick

Love this book. Full of heart. Deserves every award it's received. #photodaynov16 #disabilities

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syasutake
Rules | Cynthia Lord
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"If you need to borrow words, Arnold Lobel wrote some good ones."

BookBabe I used to love that as a kid! 🐸 8y
syasutake @BookBabe Love the frog! I don't remember reading Lobel's books as a kid, but I must have read them aloud to my daughters hundreds of times. In Rules, Cynthia Lord weaves lines from Frog and Toad Are Friends into the story of a 12-y.o. girl whose younger brother has autism. 8y
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intothehallofbooks
Rules | Cynthia Lord
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Pickpick

My 10 year old challenged me to read this because he loves it 😊

A glimpse into this one family's day-to-day with an autistic 8 yr old. I loved Catherine's perspective, the older sister, as she is an adolescent juggling sisterhood, friendship, independence. I see why this is a Newbery. Loved!

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