Point of view

Hello Room 2308 Readers!
It has been a while since we have blogged about our reading.  We are well on our way into Rules by Cynthia Lord.  The story is told from Katherine's point of view, and we have discussed what she is struggling with in her life.
Tonight, choose another two characters and discuss how the story would change if it was told from their point of view.  What would their main struggle or tensions be?  What would their opinion of Catherine and the other characters be?
You could choose from:
David
David's mom
David's dad
Ryan
Kristy
Jason

Good luck and happy blogging!
MRs. S

Crash by Jerry Spinelli

Hello Students!
We hope you are enjoying "Crash" by Jerry Spinelli!  This is the second book we have read as a class by the same author.  The first was "Maniac Magee".  The two main characters are very interesting indeed.   Today we would like you to compare the  main characters from each book.  To compare means to tell what things are similar, and what things are different.


Discussion Points:
1.  Compare Manaic Magee and Crash Coogan.  Explain at least three ways that they are similar, and three ways that they are different.  We would like you to push your thinking.  That means, the fact that they are both boys is a very superficial similarity.  Look for more in depth ways that they are the same.......character traits or personality traits for example.

2. Compare the main character from the book you are reading to both Maniac and Crash.

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!

This Book is not Good For You

This is the third novel in the Secret Series.  It is 390 pages and is sure to make your taste buds tingle!

Cass and Max-Ernest learn of an ancient abject used by the Aztecs to make food taste like anything.  Will the midnight sun manipulate Cass for it?

This book's strong points are the Great Escape, and the dark and devious night in a "blind", Chef's restaurant.

If you want taste, you need smell and hearing, get The Name of This Book is Secret, and If You're Reading This, It's Too Late.

Captives are held, secrets are told, and lots of chocolate ( dark chocolate) is eaten. I'd think twice before biting this tasty novel.

By Paul

Better or Worse?

Yikes, during the last two chapters of Schooled, we heard from Hugh and from Zach.  Neither of them are very happy with Cap right now.  Things seem to be going better and better for Cap, and not so well for both of them.

Discussion Points:
1. Give some examples of how things seem to be getting better for Cap, and worse for Hugh and Zach.
2. What do you predict will be the high part of the story mountain, or the turning point in this story? Be sure to explain your thoughts fully and use examples( or evidence0 whenever possible.

12-12-12

Hello  2308 Readers!
What a fun day we had today celebrating the number 12! For today's blog post, in honor of 12-12-12, let's list twelve of our favorite books!

Here is my list:
1. The Last of the Really Great Wangdoodles
2. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
3. Mandy
4. Maniac Magee
5. Charlotte's Web
6. The Phantom Tollbooth
7. The Black Stallion
8. Misty of Chincoteague
9. James and the Giant Peach
10. The BFG
11.Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
12. The Hunger Games

Gosh, there are many more that I love, but there are 12 books I love anyways.  I can't wait to read your lists........
Happy Reading and 12-12-12!

Mrs. S

Magyk Book Talk

I rate Magyk by Angie Sage a ten because how she explains the scene, characters, and the way they feel.  Magyk is an adventurous novel with action, adventure, and excitement bursting out of the seams.  In this book you will meet Jenna who is actually is the princess, you will also meet boy 412, and Jenna's "brothers" and family.  This book is about first finding the seventh son of the seventh son, and saving Jenna from the assassins trying to kill her so she will not take over the throne, because the supreme custodian wants the throne to belong to him forever until he dies.  This book is part of a five book series and I am on the second named Flyte and I am really looking forward to reading the rest of the series.  So do you love it or hate it?  If you ahte it I suggest you change your philosophy and at least try it because it is good, really good.


Discussion Points:

1.  Please share what you noticed and liked about this book talk.  Remember to reference the 5 S's......Specifics, summary, strong points, suggestions, and selling point.
2.  Give any feedback for grammar and editing points that you notice.  Please remember to give feedback in a respectful and helpful way.

Character Changes

In our class read aloud, we talked about how we noticed some characters changing their attitudes.  Character development is something we are working on in our writing as well.

In Maniac Magee, one of our earlier read alouds, one of the characters, Mars Bar, started out as quite a bully.  He was nasty to Maniac.  Throughout the story, Maniac had various interactions with Mars Bar.  Towards the end of the story, Mars Bar begins to respect Maniac, and they really become friends.

Discussion Points:

1. From Schooled, pick a character and talk about any small changes that they may have made recently.  Be sure to give examples from our reading.

2.  From your own reading, or from a previous book you have read independently, discuss how a character changed throughout the story.  Be sure to use examples from your reading to back up your claim.

Story Mountains

Hello Crazy Room 2308 Readers!
What an exciting chapter we read today!  I can't believe things could get worse for Cap, poor guy! Not only is he the butt of everyone's jokes, gets things thrown at him at every moment....now he is in the back of a police car when he was only trying to help.

We have been talking about story mountains in our writing class, and mapped out our last read aloud together, "Witches" by Roald Dahl.  Today we briefly talked about where today's chapter would be on a story mountain.

Discussion points:
1.  Where do you think this chapter falls on a story mountain?  Tell me why you think what you do, using at least one example from the story.
2.  What is happening in the book you are reading now?  Where do you think you are on your independent book's story mountain? Use examples from your book to back up what you say.
3.  Hugh Winkleman's point of view was expressed today in one of the chapters.  What do you think of him?  Is he a good character or a bad one? Give examples from the book to back up your answer.

What Makes a Good Story?

Hmmmm, what makes a good story?  Check out the interview below with Gordan Korman, the author of our class read-aloud, "Schooled". 

www.nbclearn.com/writersspeak

Discussion Points:

1.  What did you think about the interview?  Did you agree with Mr. Korman?
2.  What ideas did you get from the interview that you could use in your own fiction story you are working on in writing?
3.  What other books have you read by Gordan Korman?  If you have not, what ones look interesting to you?  You can see more about the author at http://www.gordonkorman.com/

Capricorn

Capricorn Anderson is turning out to be an interesting character in our class read aloud "Schooled".  Today in writing class we made t-charts and focused on developing our own main characters before we start writing our fiction stories.  We discussed internal and external characteristics. 

Discussion Points:
1. I know we have only read a few chapters, but, based on what we have read, what are some internal and external characteristics that we could say describe Capricorn?

2. Does Capricorn remind you of any other characters from other books you have read?  How so? Are there ways that he is different?

The Sister's Grimm

Discussion Points:

1.  What did you like about this book talk?
2. Is this a book you might add to your "What's Next" list?
3. What other books have you read in the fantasy genre?

Book Talk from Mr. G

Hello Class of Readers!
So happy you were able to get all your book talks recorded today! I can't wait to watch them!
For today's blog, I would like you to visit Mr. G's blog, Bloggin with your Noggin, and read his latest post.  It is a book talk on a great book. 

The link to connect to this is http://blogginwithyournoggin.blogspot.com/, which is also at the side of our blog.
You will notice the look of his blog is a bit different than ours, and you will want to click on the picture that says "Judy Blume". 

After you have read the post, answer the discussion questions here......
Happy Blogging!

Discussion Points:
a. Can you find any of the writing strategies we've been learning to use in class, in this book talk? Which ones?
b. Have you read Freckle Juice?
c. If so, what did you think of it? Why?
d. SPECIFIC feedback on this booktalk?
e. What did you like or not like about it?

The Garden of Abdul Gasazi

 

Today we read a book by one of my favorite authors, Chris Van Allsburg.  You probably all know one of his other books, "The Polar Express". He has written many others, including "Zathura", "Jumanji", and "The Stranger".

Discussion points

1. Have you read any other Chris Van Allsburg books?  If so, which ones?

2. Imagine that Fritz didn't come back to Miss Hester's house. What would Alan have done? Or imagine that Fritz did come back but he remained a duck. How would Alan have explained that to Miss Hester?

3. The author gives a great picture of what the character of the dog is like.  He does not describe the dog, or tell you what he is like, but shows you in other ways.  How would you describe the dog?  Tell me how the author shows you that.

First or Third?

Hello Room Full of Readers!

What an exciting day, the day after the election! I enjoyed our advisory time today, hearing your thoughts, comments and reflections about this year's election and issues.
I also enjoyed our workshop on point of view.  I am so glad you enjoyed "Voices in the Park", and am looking forward to reading it again with you tomorrow and focusing on the pictures and tone of each voice.
We talked today about first-person  and third-person points of view.  Brianna mentioned that "Voices" is told in multiple first-person voices. We also read the beginning of "Charlotte's Web" and decided that that was told in third-person, as if someone was looking down on a story and telling what was happening without being "in" the story.

Discussion Points:

1.  What type of story is the one you are reading for your independent book, is it first or third- person?  Give me an example why, quoting from the book.  ( remember to use quotations if you are using exact words)

2.  Why do you think an author chooses first person or third person over the other type.  Is there one type you prefer to read, or think you have read more of?

3.  Have you ever read a second-person story?  If so, let us know what it was and if you enjoyed it.
How was it different?

Happy Reading!

Witches....First Person

Witches is told from the point of view of a child.  We don't know his name, or exactly how old he is, but we do know he is a kid. 
When we read a story told from someone's point of view, when they use "I", then that is called first person.

Discussion points:
1.  Why do you think Roald Dahl chose to tell the story from the boy's point of view?  How would it change if it was told from the Grandmother's point of view?

2.  What other types of points of view, or perspectives, can stories be told from?  How do they differ from first person perspective?

3.  What perspective is your independent book written from?


Happy Reading and Blogging!
Mrs. S

Witches

Hello Smelly Children!
I am having so much fun sharing one of my favorite books with you.  I know, I know....I have a lot of favorite books........what can I say? I do so love Roald Dahl though, and especially like reading "Witches" this time of year.
I want to hear your thoughts on the story so far.  

Discussion Points:

1.  How were you feeling about the book before we started it? Do you feel different now that we have read a few chapters?  How so?

2.  What other Roald Dahl books have you read or know the stories to? What are your favorites? Have you read them or seen the movies perhaps?

3. What genre would you use to describe this book?

Happy Reading tonight.....watch out for women with gloves and blue spit.....:)
Mrs. S