Personal Connections

" If you remain calm in the midst of great chaos, it is the surest guarantee that it will eventually subside."  - Professor Savant from "The Last of the Really Great Wangdoodles" by Julie Andrews Edwards.



Wow, Lindy, Ben and Tom sure had a scare today at the end of chapter two into chapter three of part two of our read aloud.  What are your personal and/or literary connections to what we read today?

Discussion Points:

1. Personal connections to today's reading....
2. Literary connections to today's reading.......

Be sure to explain your thoughts fully, with evidence and examples.  Also, make sure you edit for capital letters and correct punctuation!

Happy Reading in your independent selections tonight!
Mrs. S

Words, Words, Words.......

In today's reading, Professor Savant asked the kids their three favorite words.
Lindy's were "Yellow. Sunshine. Mother of Pearl."
Ben just gave one, "Acetylsalicylic."
Tom also just gave one, "Antidisestablishmentarianism."


Professor Savant's favorite word was "Papilionaceous", from  Latin, meaning resembling a butterfly, or shaped like a butterfly.  The French word for butterfly, "papillon",  is similar.

Discussion Points:

What are three words that you really like?  Why do you like them so much?

What do you do when you are reading and come across a word that you have never seen before?

Nobody Bothers to Look

"Well, that's just my point. Nobody bothers to look."  These were some of Professor Savant's words to the children today in their first lesson with him. 
"Think of being as small as an ant down there.  Look at it as if you were indeed a beetle or a worm.  Wouldn't the Earth be different to you then? Wouldn't it be a whole new countryside? The lumps of clay would be mountains and the blades of grass would be a forest."

Today, I want you to look as the professor encouraged Ben, Tom and Lindy to look at the world today in chapter 4.  Look up.  Look down.  Look at the world as you have never looked at it before.

Discussion points:

What did you notice? Describe the wondrous, surprising, amazing things that you saw.  Think of the professor, and especially Lindy as you write.

The Last of the Really Great Wangdoodles by Julie Andrews Edwards

Hello Room Full of Readers!
I am so excited to be reading you one of my all-time favorite books!  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did at your age. 
We have read to chapter 5, and have met the main characters and a few others.  I am curious to hear your impressions of those characters so far.

Discussion Points:
1.  Tell me who your favorite character is so far and why.  Make sure you give me examples from the book to back up your claim.
2. Who is your least favorite character so far, and why?
3. Who is the character you are the most curious about, and why?

Happy Reading!