BOOK CLUB

This week we had our Book Club. We met at St. James in Avilla for this fun event. Our assignment this time was to read a book by Gary Paulsen. What we all noticed was how many different ways he writes. It was such an interesting night. Here are three of the books the members shared.This is a book from the viewpoint of the rifle. It takes it from when it was made clear through it's life. What a great way to teach point of view to students. Let them pick an object and write like that object. This is probably a middle school age book.
Another book that was shared is Tucket's Travels. This book again is for 5-8 grades. There is a whole series of Tucket books. As you can tell from the cover, it is a western!

The last book that I will share is Lawn Boy. This looks like such a fun book. It is for 4th - 7th graders. It is all about free market economy and a rags to riches story. When the hero's grandmother gives him a riding lawn mower for his 12th birthday, the adventure begins.

Our next book is by Sherman Alexie. It is called: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. This is the author's first novel for young adults. It chronicles the contemporary adolescence of one unlucky boy trying to rise above the life everyone expects him to live. Why not read along with us!

Summer Book Read

This weekend I have been working on our book for my book club. Yes, I know the meeting date isn't until the last week in June. Yes, I know I should at least wait until summer vacation to start it. Yes, I know I should be reading professional books now. But I couldn't wait. The cover called to me. The title called to me. I AM reading the book NOW!
The book is called The Cater Street Hangman by Anne Perry. I am hooked. I won't tell you a summary or anything about it since some other members of our club may sneak a peek at this page. This I will tell you: it has me on the Edge of My Seat!
I also will tell you that I am using my comprehension skills. I thought it would be fun to use some metacognition as I read. I took a notebook that I keep as a Reading Notebook. I put the title and date at the top of a page. I then began with Questions I had BEFORE I read the book. As I read each chapter I underline and make notes in the margins of the book. (I only paid $.01 for it, so I think I can do that.) At the end of each chapter, I transfer those notes into the notebook. I write my questions, my connections, my predictions. I write all the new words I am learning. This is a Victorian mystery set in London in 1881. There are lots of words I don't know! I am learning so much. I will have so much to talk about.
I can't wait to talk about the book. I can't wait to see who done it! I can't wait to read another book by this author. The cover says: "They were the finest of families--until murder set skeletons rattling in their closets..." Why don't you add this book to your summer beach list and then we, too, can talk about it! Happy Reading!

The Book Club

Have you ever had something fit the minute you tried it on? That's the way I felt last night. No, I didn't get a new dress, new shoes or even new jeans. My fit was a brand new Book Club.
There are five of us--all teachers--all lovers of books. We drove up to the new Starbucks in Auburn clutching notebooks, bags of books and datebooks. As we piled out of cars, the chatter was sporatic.
"How've you been?"
"How have the last days of school been for you?"
"When is your last day?"
After grabbing our favorite drinks from the counter we gathered outside--it was so warm--on couches and chairs with a coffee table in front of us. Then the serious business began. We had so much to decide.
We past books. We looked over handouts of book information. We made lists of possible titles. Finally, we made a book pick, figured out a future meeting date and place, and even made a promise to keep our eyes open for future reads.
As we were winding down we talked about personal plans for the rest of the school year and summer. We all loaded into our cars with new dates in our books, addresses to look up on the web and dreams of the newest read to start. As I pulled out of Starbucks, I felt so intelligent, but also so comfortable knowing that my friends would all be reading the same book and then we could talk!
Now, I can't wait to share the experience of a book club with my fourth grade students at Waynedale. They are starting book clubs and I had told them about mine. They had asked, "Why are we going to do book clubs?" My answer: "Because they are so much fun!"
And they are!!!