Mrs. McGriff’s Reading Blog

Welcome to my blog!

Aug 29th, 2011
by Mrs. McGriff.
2 comments

I am organizing my blog to make it easier to find exactly what you need for class.  Since my morning and afternoon classes are moving at different speeds, I’ve seperated their assignments.  Here’s what you need to do to find your assignments for the week:

  1. Move your mouse over “Class Assignments” on the menu just under the blog title. 
  2. Move the mouse over each period (2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th) that shows below until you find your class period.
  3. Click on your class period.  That will bring up all the posts for you class on one page.  The most recent assignments will be on top.

If you want to read my book responses or other random thoughts, click on my name.  You can also find your Language Arts Binder and other useful pages on this menu as well.

Posted in: Class Assignments, Mrs. McGriff.

Ain’t Nothing But a Man by Scott Reynolds Nelson

Jan 27th, 2012
by Mrs. McGriff.
2 comments

Instead of writing a response to this book, I tried my hand at creating a book trailer.  Enjoy!

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Lawn Boy Returns by Gary Paulsen

Jan 26th, 2012
by Mrs. McGriff.
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Lawn Boy is back with more adventures, more success, and more problems.  Gary Paulsen began the story with Lawn Boy.  Now Lawn Boy Returns (Scholastic 2010) wraps up the wild ride with a very satisfying conclusion.

Lawn Boy’s troubles start the morning his grandmother and his very own prizefighter show up with Zed, supposedly a long-lost cousin.  Lawn Boy suspects that Zed is nothing but trouble, and he is right.  The next thing you know, the media get wind of Lawn Boy’s story (how one twelve-year-old went from mowing lawns to running a business) and business really starts booming.  Arnold, the genius stockbroker who advises Lawn Boy, brings on more staff to deal with the mounting troubles.  The IRS wants to know how he made so much money so fast.  Shady business men want Joey Pow to throw his next fight.  Lawyers want to sue–anyone or everyone.  Not to mention, just how is he to explain the strange turns his life has taken to his two best friends, now home from summer vacation and camp?

Before long it gets to be too much and Lawn Boy just wants to get back to mowing lawns to clear his head.  Can he clear out all these problems and get his life back before his parents get back home?  The ending just might surprise you, but the journey certainly will make you laugh.

Like Lawn Boy, Lawn Boy Returns is a quick and easy read.  It will not only have you laughing, it just might teach you something about capitalism.  According to Arnold, “Capitalism plus publicity equals monster commerce.”  He forgets to mention the monster problems, too.

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Graphic Novels

Jan 25th, 2012
by Mrs. McGriff.
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I am coming late to graphic novels, and I’m still not sure I like all of them.  Actually, I know I don’t like all of them, but I am finding some I do like.  Here are some I picked up at the book fair.  They’re coming your way.

Moby Dick adapted by Lance Stahlberg and illustrated by Lalit Kumar Singh (Campfire 2010)

First, a confession.  I tried to read the original Moby Dick by Herman Melville, but gave up about 1/3 of the way into it.  I simply couldn’t take any more of the overblown description.  I stopped just after meeting Captain Ahab and deciding he was completely nuts.  I still am not a fan of the story (seriously, who decided this one gets classics status?), but at least I could get through the graphic novel adaptation and learn what happened to the crazy Captain, Queehog, and our fearless narrator.  The color illustrations enlivened the story, and the dialogue captured just enough feel of the writing to bring back nightmares.  Highlight the next sentence if you don’t mind a spoiler.  The whale wins again.    Hey, can I say I’ve read Moby Dick now?

 

WarCraft:  The Sunwell Trilogy:  Ghostlands by Richard A. Knaak and Jae-Hwan Kim (TokoyoPop 2007)

First, a confession:  I have never played a World of Warcraft game or read any of the many books coming from the games.  I do have lots of students who play and read these, so when the book fair offered a deal, I snatched it up.  I’ve head several students come up to talk with me about it since they’ve seen me reading it.  I was a little lost reading this one, probably because it is the third and final book in a trilogy in the middle of an entire series.  Even so, I can see why it appeals to fantasy fans.  It has elves and magic and dragons and evil lords and people who aren’t what they first appear.  It is still not my favorite thing to read, but I have a line of students waiting for it.

 

 Simpsons Comics:  Get Some Fancy Book Learnin’ by Matt Groening and others (Harper 2001)

I picked this one up for me.  Yes, I like the Simpsons even though I don’t watch regularly.  I was just too tempted to see how the Simpsons would skewer the great stories from the past, and I wasn’t disappointed.  The Simpsons start with the ancient Greeks, from the gods to Aesop.  Moving across the continent, they give a hilarious twist to fairy tales and nursery rhymes.  Aladdin washes his hands of the genie in “Arabian Nuts.”  Old Bill Shakespeare may be rolling in his grave by the end of his plays in comic form.  Finally, Bart goes to Sunday School, where somehow, the Prodigal Son ends up at the Tower of Babel.  I laughed my way through this collection, but the jokes are much funnier if you already know the stories.

 Zeus:  King of the Gods by George O’Connor ( First Second 2010)

I’ve been hearing such good things about this series, and now I understand why.  This is an excellent introduction to Greek mythology, starting at the very beginning and ending with the reign of Zeus.  I love the “superhero” portrayal of the gods.  After all, they were among the first superheros, and in the back O’Connor shares the modern legacies of gods introduced in this series, including their influence on modern comic book superheroes.  How cool is that?  I will definitely be recommending this one to all the fans of Rick Riordan in my classes.  I can’t wait to get the rest of the series.

I have more graphic novels waiting for me to read, but I want to share theses now.  It’s funny.  As soon as I put each out on my bookshelves, it was snatched up by a reader.

 

 

 

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The Blind Side by Michael Lewis

Jan 24th, 2012
by Mrs. McGriff.
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I loved the movie The Blind Side, and I’m embarrassed to say that I didn’t even know there was a book until long after I watched it. (Shame on me.)  Once I discovered that Michael Lewis had written a book first, I knew I wanted to read it, and now I have.  I do think the movie did a good job of capturing the book, but the book can go into so much more detail.  Here are some of the things I loved about this book:

  • I was delighted to discover that some of my favorite scenes from the movie are straight from the book and honest-to-goodness true events from Michael Oher’s life.  Yes, he picked up an opposing football player and carried right off the field and almost to the bus.  Yes, SJ asked football coaches what was in it for him–season passes, locker room access–and the coaches delivered.
  • I am even more impressed with the drive and courage shown by Michael Oher to show up and stick it out at Briarcrest.  The gap between where he started academically and where he ended is hard to imagine, but he never gave up.  I am also inspired by the teachers who didn’t give up on him.  Can I remember to look for that potential in each of my students?
  • I enjoyed learning more about the Tuoys and why they so quickly took Micheal into their lives.
  • I am not a football fan, and know almost nothing about it, so it was a challenge to read through the sections on football history, theory, and statistics.  It is a credit to Michael Lewis that I read those parts and learned something:  Bill Walsh changed the passing game while coaching the 49ers.  Lawrence Taylor threatened quarterbacks on the blind side and increased the importance of the left tackle position.  Lemming created his own job from his passion of evaluation high school football players.
  • Again, I was impressed with how Michael Oher combined things he couldn’t control (his size and shape) with things he could (constant practice to improve his speed and agility to be the next Michael Jordan) to be ready to succeed even when his circumstances would have said to give up.

Now I want to read Michal Oher’s story in his own words.  Anyone want to lend me their copy of I Beat the Odds?

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2nd, 3rd, 5th Week at a Glance: January 23 – 27

Jan 23rd, 2012
by Mrs. McGriff.
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Monday

What makes a good discussion?  Brainstorm what a good discussion would look and sound like.  I’ll be watching for those things during your discussions today.  Take a few minutes to prepare to discuss your story.     Then talk about what’s going on in your story.
Homework: Read. Choose five words for Weekly Word Study.

Tuesday

Read first 15 minutes of class.  Since it has been so long, we will complete one word from your word study together to review the steps.  On Friday, you will present a selection from your books to the class with an oral reading or Reader’s Theater performance.  As you read today, look for important scenes in your books.  Mark them with a sticky note or write down the page numbers.
Homework: Read.  Complete Weekly Word Study.

Wednesday

Read first fifteen minutes of class.  Share the scenes you chose with your group.  Which ones seem to have something in common or go together in some way?  Write an introduction that introduces your author and explains how the selections connect.  Decide on the order and write transitions between each selection.  If your group is reading the same title, you will write a Reader’s Theater script to perform.
Homework: Read.  Complete Weekly Word Study. 

Thursday

Read first 15 minutes of class. Complete Word Study quizzes. Continue working on your introduction and transitions.
Homework: Read.  Weekly Word Study due.

Friday

Final Presentations:  Oral reading/Reader’s Theater.
Homework: Read.

Posted in: 2nd Period, 3rd Period, 5th period, Class Assignments.
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5th, 6th, 7th Week at a Glance: January 23 – 27

Jan 23rd, 2012
by Mrs. McGriff.
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Monday

Read first 15 minutes of class.  On Friday, your group will perform a Reader’s Theater production of a scene from your book.  Choose a scene that is dramatic and shows something important about the book.  We will discuss what you need to include in your presentation:  an introduction, parts for every group member (characters and narrators), a script with lines broken up, possible choral parts (where more than one person speaks the same line), repeated lines for emphasis, vocal expression when you read.  Once you have chosen a 2-3 page scene for your presentation, let me know so I can copy the pages for you.  If you are one of the groups reading different books, you will each choose a short section to read from your individual books.  Look for selections that show things in common between the books.
Homework: Read. Choose five words for Weekly Word Study.

Tuesday

Read first 15 minutes of class. Look for a scene that you think is important to share with the class for your presentation. Mark the page with a sticky note or write down the page number.  Since it has been a while, we will complete the word study steps for one of your words together.
Homework: Read.  Five words due for Weekly Word Study.  Complete Weekly Word Study.

Wednesday

Read first fifteen minutes of class.  Share the scenes you have selected with your group.  Explain why you selected the scene and why it is important to the story.  Decide which one you will share. Begin writing an introduction to set the stage for your chosen scene.
Homework: Read.  Complete Weekly Word Study. 

Thursday

Read first 15 minutes of class. Complete Word Study quizzes. Begin writing script for your Reader’s Theater.  Be sure to include a part for everyone.  We will make copies of the script once it is written, so everyone has a part.  If you haven’t finished reading your book, you will get to read during class.
Homework: Read.  Weekly Word Study due.

Friday

Final book presentation:   Reader’s Theater performances.  Practice your performance and then we will share them with the class.

Homework: Read.

Posted in: 5th period, 6th period, 7th Period, Class Assignments.
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A Million Suns by Beth Revis

Jan 19th, 2012
by Mrs. McGriff.
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Can a sequel live up to or even surpass a fantastic first book?  In the case of Beth Revis, a million times yes! I enjoyed  A Millions Suns (Razor Bill 2012) even more than Across the Universe.  Just to give you an idea of how good this book is, my copy arrived in my mailbox Saturday afternoon, and it is already on its fourth reader (and we didn’t have school on Monday, and my students are involved in another book for class right now).

Amy and Elder are still on Godspeed, but chaos threatens to destroy the ship and its carefully controlled society.  Now that the crew is no longer taking Phydus, emotions rage and sometimes erupt.  Elder spends his time running from one crisis to another.  Food is not as plentiful.  People are choosing not to work.  The ship is not-so-slowly falling apart.  People are even being murdered.  Amy knows she can’t go back to her past life, but she is still desperate to learn the truth, no matter the cost.  When she discovers a series of clues left by Orion, she begins a quest for answers that could change the destiny of the entire ship.  Will she and Elder discover the truth before it is too late?  Will the truth explode what little hope is left on Godspeed?

This sequel has even more surprises and secrets than the first book.  The lies are more dangerous and deadly.  The relationships are messier and more complicated.  (Can you love someone if you don’t have any other choices? )   The motivations are murkier.  It’s no wonder it doesn’t take readers long to get to the bottom of the story–or at least the last page.  All I have to say is, I’m ready for Shades of Earth.

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Soldier’s Heart by Gary Paulsen

Jan 19th, 2012
by Mrs. McGriff.
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I can’t believe I waited so long to read Soldier’s Heart (Laurel Leaf Books 1998) by Gary Paulsen.  I heard all the buzz when it first came out, but just never got around to it.  Now some of my students chose to read this one for literature circles, so I figured I’d better get with it.  I’m glad I did.  Soldier’s Heart lived up to the good reviews that came with it.

As the Civil War begins, Charley Goddard is just fifteen, but he feels that he is a man and wants to act like a man.  That means he signs up for the Minnesota volunteer regiment even though he’s not sure what the war is all about or what war is.  At first, he waits and practices and waits some more.  Eventually he boards a train to head south and take on the rebels.  Charley is surprised by what he sees from the girls giving him baked goods (he’s sure he falls in love more than once) to the abject poverty of poor farms.

Nothing, though, could prepare Charley or the rest of the volunteers for the horror they found at Bull Run–the sounds of bullets and screams, the smoke from rifles and cannons, the stench of blood and death.  After that first day, Charley is sure that he could never face battle again, but he does through battle after battle until Gettysburg.  Charley learns to endure the tedium of camp life and the horror of battle, but it changes him in ways that we are still struggling to understand.

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6th, 7th Week at a Glance: January 17 – 20

Jan 17th, 2012
by Mrs. McGriff.
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Monday

For the first time in a long time, we get today off for a holiday instead of making up a snow day.  Enjoy your day off and find time to read your new books.
Homework: Read. Choose five words for Weekly Word Study.

Tuesday

By now you should have read the first chapter.  If you’ve read more, look back at the first chapter.  Draw a picture of something you think is important from that first chapter.  It might be a character or a place or an event.  You’ll have time today to share your pictures and discuss the beginning of your book.  Make sure everyone is on track.  As you read, take notes to share with your group during discussion.  You might include questions, connections, vocabulary, or favorite passages.
Homework: Read.  Complete Weekly Word Study.

Wednesday

Read first fifteen minutes of class.  Character study.  How does an author create a character?  Write your answer, and then we’ll discuss.  After each example I read in class, what do you learn about the character?  How trustworthy is that information?  You will track one of the important characters through your novel.  Create a chart that has three columns.  Label the first column “Page #,” the second column “Character Description/Action,” and the third column “Insight/Reaction.”  As you learn something important about your character, fill out the information in the chart.
Homework: Read.  Complete Weekly Word Study. 

Thursday

Read first 15 minutes of class. Complete Word Study quizzes. The Envelope, Please:  Predicting Plot and Character.  Fill out the “The Envelop Please” on your on.  Take a few minutes to compare notes with the others in your group.  Then collect the papers and seal them in an envelope.  You’ll get them back after you finish the book.
Homework: Read.  Weekly Word Study due.

Friday

What makes a good discussion?  Brainstorm what a good discussion would look and sound like.  I’ll be watching for those things during your discussions today.  Take a few minutes to prepare to discuss your story.     Then talk about what’s going on in your story.
Homework: Read.

Posted in: 6th period, 7th Period, Class Assignments.

2nd, 3rd, 5th Week at a Glance: January 17 – 20

Jan 17th, 2012
by Mrs. McGriff.
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Monday

For the first time in a long time, we get today off for a holiday instead of making up a snow day.  Enjoy your day off and find time to read.
Homework: Read. Choose five words for Weekly Word Study.

Tuesday

Hang on for a little organized chaos in the library.  We will meet directly in the library and select your authors and books for the upcoming research project.  Step 1 is to choose your author and book and then read.  You will have two weeks to read your book.  I will check for words for your Word Study!
Homework: Read.  Complete Weekly Word Study.

Wednesday

Read first fifteen minutes of class.  Character study.  How does an author create a character?  Write your answer, and then we’ll discuss.  After each example I read in class, what do you learn about the character?  How trustworthy is that information?  You will track one of the important characters through your novel.  Create a chart that has three columns.  Label the first column “Page #,” the second column “Character Description/Action,” and the third column “Insight/Reaction.”  As you learn something important about your character, fill out the information in the chart.
Homework: Read.  Complete Weekly Word Study. 

Thursday

Read first 15 minutes of class. Complete Word Study quizzes. The Envelope, Please:  Predicting Plot and Character.  Fill out the “The Envelop Please” on your on.  Take a few minutes to compare notes with the others in your group.  Then collect the papers and seal them in an envelope.  You’ll get them back after you finish the book.
Homework: Read.  Weekly Word Study due.

Friday

What makes a good discussion?  Brainstorm what a good discussion would look and sound like.  I’ll be watching for those things during your discussions today.  Take a few minutes to prepare to share your story with your group so you can begin looking for connections.  Bring your character notes (they will be turned in at the end of class.)  Describe the setting:  when and where does your story take place.  Summarize the plot.  What is the main problem in your story?
Homework: Read.

Posted in: 2nd Period, 3rd Period, 5th period, Class Assignments.

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