October 2012 archive

October books read

Here are the books I read in October.  Lots of good reads, but my favorites were Between Shades of Gray and Temple Grandin: How the Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the World.  Thanks to fall break #bookaday challenge, I’m back on track to meet my yearly goal of 200 books – just 35 more to go.

148)  The Thirteenth Child by Patricia Wrede – a wild and wooly combination of magic and an alternative history of the frontier

149) Underworld by Meg Cabot – I enjoyed this one even more than the first one

150) Bar Code Prophecy by Suzanne Weyn – an exciting conclusion to this dystopian trilogy though it gives me the willies when I think about how much of my life is already being tracked

151) Caught by Margaret Peterson Haddix – more time troubles and twists and I still don’t know which missing child from history Jonah is

152) The Statistical Probability of Falling in Love by Jennifer E. Smith – an improbable love story that was great fun to read

153) Pinned by Alfred C. Martino – I hate the ending, but it does give an inside look at wrestling

154) The Notorious Benedict Arnold by Steve Sheinkin. – As war hero and traitor, Arnold earned his place in history

155) Through Georgia’s Eyes by Rachel Victoria Rodriguez and Julie Paschkis – a simple introduction to Georgia O’Keefe’s life and art

156) My Name Is Georgia by Jeannette Winter – another look at the life and art of Georgia O’Keefe

157) Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life by James Patterson and Chris Tebbets – Rafe has a plan that leads to disastrously funny results.

158) Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys – One of the most powerful historical fiction novels I’ve read

159) The Kill Order by James Dashner – still not my favorite series, but it is popular in my classroom

160) Envy by Sandra Brown – a definite page turner

161) Temple Grandin: How the Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the World  by Sy Montgomery – one of the best biographies of one of the most inspiring people I’ve ever read

162) Nerd Girls: A Catastrophe of Nerdish Proportions by Alan Sitomer – funny and timely look at bullying

163) Sweet Shadows by Tera Lynn Childs – lots of monsters and mayhem as the time of the prophecy draws closer.

164)  Mal and Chad:  The Biggest, Bestest Time Ever! by Stephen McCranie – wild adventures with cool inventions

165) Mal and Chad: Food Fight by Stephen McCranie – more adventures, this time through a dream portal

What good books have you read this month?

More book trailers

After much frustration dealing with multiple technical difficulties, I am very proud to show the last of the book trailers created by my students over the memoirs they read.  I am most impressed with the determination and perseverance they showed in completing these.

The first trailer is for the book Night by Elie Weisel:

The second trailer is also for the book Night by Elie Weisel:

The last trailer is over Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank:

Nerd Girls: A Catastrophe of Nerdish Proportions

The battle between the Nerd Girls and the ThreePees has finally gone too far.  Principal Mazer is determined to end the feud before any more damage is done.  (You should have seen the art room once the ThreePees attacked the Nerd Girls locked inside.). Now all six girls must work together to represent the Aardvarks at the Academic Septathlon.  If they don’t pull together, there will be consequences.

What I love about this story is the quirky characters.  Meet the Nerd Girls and their nemeses.

  • Maureen hides her insecurities behind a sarcastic humor. In addition try planning revenge on the ThreePees, Maureen has problems at home.  Her missing-for-years dad has suddenly reappeared and wants to fill up some holes.”  Somehow, she manages to inspire others without knowing it.  She just might be a leader
  • Beanpole is the enthusiastic cheerleader and peacemaker and total clutz. Even though her clothes are organized by temperature, she can’t help but see the good in everyone.  Too bad it’s not always there.  Besides on want her “Department Store Mom” to come take care off me.
  • Q is brilliant and stubborn.  She may be their secret weapon if she can survive her allergies and her attempt to cure herself.  She has a fascination with the rules and the word Aardvark.
  • Kiki, leader of the ThreePees, is the ultimate mean girl.  The only thing worse than having to work with the Nerd Girls is having to be beaten yet again by Wynston from Saint Dianne’s.
  • Brittany follows wherever Kiki leads with the constant refrain of “My dad’s a lawyer.”
  • Sofes may not be the brightest crayon in the box, but she knows hair.  She also has a big decision to make That makes her my favorite character.

Now go get your nerd on and pick up a copy to read today.  Did I tell you my copy is even autographed?  Check it out!

2, 3 Week at a Glance: October 29 – November 2

Monday

Read first 15 minutes of class. DPG Week 5 (Daily Grammar Practice):  parts of speech. Read a collection of student written book reviews.  What do you notice about how they are written?  How do they start?  How do they end?  What kind of information is given?  What is not given?  How are they organized?
Homework: Read.  

Tuesday

Read first fifteen minutes of class. DPG – Sentence parts and phrases. Use a planning sheet to think on paper.  What information from and opinions about your book do you want to include in your review?  Make a list of ideas.  Once you have written down what you want to include, think about how you want to organize it and start drafting.
Homework: Read.

Wednesday

Read first fifteen minutes of class. DPG – Clauses and sentence types.  Write a lead for your review.  Try a couple of different approaches and choose the one you like best.  Then finish your review.
Homework: Read.

Thursday

Read first fifteen minutes of class. DPG – punctuation and capitalization. Where do people publish reviews?  Think about who might be interested in your review and write for them.  Finish drafting your review.
Homework: Read.  

Friday

Read first fifteen minutes of class. DPG – Diagramming sentences. Add links for each of your Blog Buddies.  Leave comments on at least one post for each of your blog buddies.  Copy each comment into a Google Docs document so you can print them out on one page and turn in for a grade.
Homework: Read. First book reflection blog post due.

5, 6, 7 Week at a Glance: October 29 – November 2

Monday

Read first 15 minutes of class. DPG Week 5 (Daily Grammar Practice):  parts of speech.   What do good readers do when encountering difficult text.  We will read and answer questions about a nonsense story.  What strategies did you use to make sense of a story that makes no sense?
Homework: Read.  

Tuesday

Read first fifteen minutes of class. DPG – Sentence parts and phrases. Read “Does Fame Drive You Nuts?” in the SCOPE magazine.  What is the author’s attitude toward fame in this article?  Read “Nobody” by Emily Dickinson.  Would the speaker in the poem agree with the article?  Why or why not?  Use details from both to support your answer.  Complete the Paired Text Quiz.  Use RATS to answer the constructed response questions.
Homework: Read.

Wednesday

Read first fifteen minutes of class. DPG – Clauses and sentence types.  Read the article “High School Dropouts Costly to American Economy.”  Show evidence of close reading by using the marking symbols to record your thinking.  Discuss the article in your group.
Homework: Read.

Thursday

Read first fifteen minutes of class. DPG – punctuation and capitalization. Write a blog post in response to the article “High School Dropouts Costly to American Economy.”  You may answer one of the questions at the bottom of the article or come up with you own idea.  Be sure to include information from the article in your response.
Homework: Read.  Typed draft of memoir due Tuesday.

Friday

Read first fifteen minutes of class. DPG – Diagramming sentences.  Brainstorm ideas for editorials:   What issues do you have opinions about?  Think about issues that affect you at school, in the community, and in society.
Homework: Read.

We met Stephen McCranie!

Graphic novelist Stephen McCranie met with my sixth period language arts class on Tuesday afternoon thanks to Skype.  It was amazing and fantastic For this class is filled with talented artists.  They also devour graphic novels, so I thought they would enjoy seeing an artist at work.  I was right!  Here is my class with Stephen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I wish everyone could have seen Stephen and my students create a story together about a girl who wanted a boyfriend with pudding.  To escape her oh-so-embarrassing parents, she rides a crazy horse to school.  It was like magic to see the characters come to life before our eyes on the big screen.  Check out the pictures from our visit by clicking on the link below. After several more drawings and lots of questions, it was time to say goodbye.

MsMcGriffsClass

I can’t wait to share the Mal and Chad books with the class.  Come back soon to find out what they think of the books.  In the meantime, you can check out what Stephen is up to by clicking on the links above or by following him on Twitter @stephenmccranie.

Example reading post

I’ve recently discovered Marcus Zusak, an Australian writer. The two books I’ve read are very different (The Book Thief is historical fiction), but both share an offbeat, intelligent humor. I Am the Messenger is a contemporary realistic fiction novel that explores what it means to truly live—not just exist from day to day. One of the themes of the books is that anyone, no matter how ordinary, can overcome and achieve by learning to care.

I Am the Messenger tells the story of Ed Kennedy, your classic slacker and the obvious example of ordinariness. Ed’s life consists of driving a taxi, playing cards with his friends, hanging out with his dog Doorman, and having a secret crush on his best friend Audrey. He seems destined to grow up just like his father (as his mother bitterly complains)—a complete loser who accomplishes nothing in life.

All that changes the day Ed interrupts an incompetent bank robber and becomes an unlikely hero. At the trial, the bank robber tells Ed, “You’re a dead man…Remember it everyday when you look in the mirror. A dead man.” (Zusak 38). Is it a threat or just a simple statement of fact?

Zusak creates the rest of the plot around random playing cards (all aces) that arrive in Ed’s life after the bank robbery. It seems random at first, but it matches the randomness of Ed’s life so far. He has been just drifting along, letting life happen to him. The first card is the ace of diamonds with four addresses on it. The rest of the aces follow in turn, each with its own cryptic clues. What is Ed supposed to do with these assignments? As Ed struggles to figure it out, he learns that he is supposed to see and to care. Some of the assignments are easy: to cheer on a girl who runs, to buy ice cream for a single mom, to string up Christmas lights for a family, to visit a lonely widow. Others are more difficult: to confront (or kill) an abusive husband, to be beaten up by fighting brothers. The most difficult ones are the ones that come close to home. The ace of hearts directs him to Marv, Ritchie, and Audrey. How much does he really know about his best friends?

Ed’s quirky voice throughout the book holds the seemingly random events together. Ed is clueless and so are we. Ed’s confidence grows as he succeeds at the cards’ assignments, but he still seems unsure—especially about why he was chosen. Here Ed shows his new confidence in his life before the cards deliver one last surprise.

 

Twelve messages have been delivered.
Four aces have been completed.
This feels like the greatest day of my life.
I’m alive, I think. I won. I feel freedom for the first time in months, and an air of contentedness wanders next to me all the way home. It even remains as I walk through the front door, kiss the Doorman, and make us some coffee in the kitchen.
We’re halfway through it when another feeling finds its way to my stomach, winds up, and spills.
I don’t know why I feel it, but any contentment vanishes instantly as the Doorman looks up at me. We hear a latch open and shut from outside and a person rush off.
* * *
I walk slowly out the door, down the porch steps, and onto the front yard.
My letter box stands there. Slightly crooked. It looks guilty.
My heart shakes.
 
I walk on and shudder as I open the letter box.
Oh no, I think. No, no. No!
 
My hands reach in and my fingers take hold of one last envelope. My names’ on it, and inside I can already see it.
There’s one last card.
One last address.
I close my eyes and fall to my knees on my front lawn.
My thoughts stammer.
 
One last card.
 
Without thinking, I gradually open the envelope, and when my eyes find the address, all thoughts are cut down and left there to die.
It reads:
 
26 Shipping Street
 
The address is my address.
The last message is for me (Zusak 353).

This passage shows Ed’s unique way of seeing the world and reflecting on it. Zusak combines Ed’s thoughts with surprising physical description and reaction. This voice carries through the entire novel and often made me laugh.

The ending left me confused at first. I had to read it twice to make any sense of it at all, and it still leaves me asking questions. Zusak never clearly answers—for Ed or the reader—who is behind the cards. Like Ed, I was left wondering who is really in charge of his life. Is there someone out there writing the script for him to live? Or is Ed a lesson to us all? If Ed can rise up and learn to care, maybe there is hope for everyone “to live beyond what they’re capable of” (Zusak 353). I think I like being left asking these questions that reflect important themes. I like being able to search for my own answers.

Zusak’s language did take some getting used to. As an Australian writer, he uses some phrases my American ears did not know. For example, a slippery dip is a slide. I also had to adjust to Christmas (December) being hot instead of snowy. Overall, though, the Australian words didn’t interfere with my understanding. They just gave more flavor to Ed’s voice.

I’m looking forward to reading Zusak’s other books. I’m definitely adding him to my favorite young adult authors.

 

Reviewing a candy bar

A good review shows your opinion brith specific details.  Eat your candy bar and note the specific smells, tastes, textures, sounds, and sights.  Use those details to show your opinion of the candy bar.  Here’s how it works.

  • The breath taking scent of chocolate filled my head. The chocolate rainbow funneled into the back of my throat as as it melts. The Milk Duds get stuck to your teeth, so you use your tongue to get it out.
  • A cold warmth envelopes my mouth as if Zeus is playing badminton on my taste buds. A moment so epic it’s like a unicorn puking in my mouth. A chocolate smile spreads across my face after every bite of a M&M.
  • As the  ooey-gooey caramel, milk chocolate, and non-salty peanuts hit my tongue, a smile comes to my face.  A Snickers  bar candy bar makes my day amazing.
  • I bite into a creamy York Peppermint Patty, and a lightning flash of chocolate with a thunderous applause of fresh minty deliciousness fills my mouth like a flood of sweet nectar!
  • As I open the wrapper, the strong aroma fills the air around me.  As my nose pulls in the smell, the candy grows closer and closer to my mouth.  I pull the Twix in my mouth; the smooth chocolate coating and stringy caramel filling melt almost instantaneously.  Practially gone by the time my teeth roughly crunch into the savory cookie section of the Twix, it only reminds me that the Twix is almost gone.  I hope the last bite never comes.

Pay attention to how your point of view affects your reader.  One is not any better than the other.  It depends on your purpose for writing:

  • First person (I, me) shares a personal experience and is more intimate.
  • Second person (you) draws the reader into the experience
  • Third person (it) creates more distance and seems more objective.

Please share your reviews in the comments below, and enjoy the pictures!

Blog Buddies

Part of the fun of blogging is interacting with other bloggers.  To help you get started, I’ve set up blog buddies for you.  You may not know all your blog buddies yet, but you will get to know them as you share your reading and writing.  All of them are students in my afternoon language arts classes.  (Don’t worry, my morning classes will get their own blog buddies later.)

Here’s how to add links to you blog to those of your blog buddies:

  1. Copy the URL address for one of your blog buddies (given below).
  2. Log into your blog and go to YOUR dashboard.
  3. From the gray bar across the top, choose +New – Link.
  4. Type your blog buddy’s first name in the NAME box. Please use correct capital letters and spelling.
  5. Paste the URL address in the WEB ADDRESS box.
  6. Click the blue button that says ADD LINK (on the right hand side).
  7. Repeat steps 1 – 6 for each of your blog buddies.

Here are your Blog Buddies!

Group 1

  • Ashley G (5) – http://17ashleygjcms5.edublogs.org/
  • Juanita B (5)- http://17juanitabjcms5.edublogs.org/
  • Nicole R (7) – http://17nicolerjcms7.edublogs.org/
  • Renae D (7) – http://17samanthadjcms5.edublogs.org/
  • Seairra F (6) – http://17seairrafjcms6.edublogs.org/
  • Victoria B (6) – http://17victoriabjcms6.edublogs.org/

Group 2

  • Arlena D (6) – http://17arlenadjcms6.edublogs.org/
  • Chris M (6) – http://17christophermjcms6.edublogs.org/
  • Dakota S (7) – http://17dakotasjcms7.edublogs.org/
  • Frank B (7) – http://17frankbjcms7.edublogs.org/
  • Haley G – http://17haleygjcms7.edublogs.org/
  • Jake M (5) – http://17jacobmjcms5.edublogs.org/
  • Katy C (5) – http://17katiehjcms6.edublogs.org/

Group 3

  • Brendan s (5) – http://17brendansjcms5.edublogs.org/
  • Kayla R (7) – http://17kaylarjcms7.edublogs.org/
  • Lance D (5) – http://17lancedjcms5.edublogs.org/
  • Mckenzie R (7) – http://17mckenzierjcms7.edublogs.org/
  • Meranda M (6) – http://17merandamjcms6.edublogs.org/
  • Skyann L (6) – http://17skyannljcms6.edublogs.org/
  • Danzic P (6) – http://17danzicpjcms7.edublogs.org/

Group 4

  • Andrew P (5) –  http://17andrewpjcms5.edublogs.org/
  • Dylan D (6) – http://17dylandjcms6.edublogs.org/
  • Henry S (5) – http://17henrysjcms5.edublogs.org/
  • Jacob B (6) – http://17jacobbjcms6.edublogs.org/
  • Justina W (6) – http://17justinawjcms6.edublogs.org/
  • Kameron (5) – http://17kamerondjcms5.edublogs.org/
  • Megan M (6) – http://17meganmjcms6.edublogs.org/

Group 5

  • Ben A (6) – http://17benjamimajcms6.edublogs.org/
  • Darius S (7) – http://17dariussjcms7.edublogs.org/
  • Devin L (6) – http://17devinljcms6.edublogs.org/
  • Jayson F (5) – http://17jaysonfjcms5.edublogs.org/
  • Jaylon D (5) –  http://17jaylondjcms5.edublogs.org/
  • Jonny S (5) – http://17jonathansjcms5.edublogs.org/
  • Shawn V (7) – http://17shawnvjcms7.edublogs.org/

Group 6

  • Haysanna C (6) – http://17haysannacjcms6.edublogs.org/
  • Klayton B (7) – http://17klaytonbjcms7.edublogs.org/
  • Logan E (6) – http://17loganejcms6.edublogs.org/
  • Luis S (5) –  http://17luissjcms5.edublogs.org/
  • Luke M (6) – http://17lukemjcms6.edublogs.org/
  • Maisie J (5) – http://17maisiejjcms5.edublogs.org/
  • Taylor W (5) – http://17taylorwjcms5.edublogs.org/

Group 7

  • Austin K (7) – http://17austinkjcms7.edublogs.org/
  • Bruce C (7) – http://17brucecjcms7.edublogs.org/
  • Cory H (7) – http://17coryhjcms7.edublogs.org/
  • James S (5) – http://17jamessjcms5.edublogs.org/
  • Lance A (7) – http://17lanceajcms7.edublogs.org/
  • Noah G (7) – http://17noahgjcms7.edublogs.org/
  • Wayne K (5) – http://17waynekjcms5.edublogs.org/

Group 8

  • Cody B (6) – http://17codybjcms6.edublogs.org/
  • Derek H (7) – http://17derekhjcms7.edublogs.org/
  • Jacob M (7) – http://17jacobmjcms7.edublogs.org/
  • Michael M – http://17michaelmjcms5.edublogs.org/
  • Robert Y (5) – http://17robertyjcms5.edublogs.org/
  • Sam W (5) – http://17samuelwjcms5.edublogs.org/
  • Tylor B (6) – http://17tylorbjcms6.edublogs.org/

Group 9

  • Brooke V (5) – http://17brookevjcms5.edublogs.org/
  • Daneila F (5) – http://17danielafjcms5.edublogs.org/
  • Diana B (7) – http://17dianabjcms7.edublogs.org/
  • Emily B (6) – http://17emilybjcms6.edublogs.org/
  • Emma H (6) – http://17emmahjcms6.edublogs.org/
  • Santana T (5) – http://17santanatjcms5.edublogs.org/
  • Tori S (7) – http://17victoriasjcms7.edublogs.org/

Group 10

  • Brooke M (6) – http://17brookemjcms6.edublogs.org/
  • Danielle G (7) – http://17daniellegjcms7.edublogs.org/
  • Elora P (5) – http://17elorapjcms5.edublogs.org/
  • Kourtney G (6) – http://17kourtneygjcms6.edublogs.org/
  • Molly S (5) – http://17mollysjcms5.edublogs.org/
  • Payton G (7) – http://17paytongjcms7.edublogs.org/

Group 11

  • Auston P (5) – http://17austonpjcms5.edublogs.org/
  • Carl H (5) – http://17carlhjcms6.edublogs.org/
  • Dalton C (7) – http://17daltoncjcms7.edublogs.org/
  • Dalton W (6) – http://17daltonwjcms6.edublogs.org/
  • Jaden M (5) – http://17jadenmjcms5.edublogs.org/
  • Jarred B (7) – http://17jarredbjcms7.edublogs.org/
  • Michael B (7) –  http://17michaelbjcms7.edublogs.org/

Group 12

  • Anthony S (7) – http://17anthonysjcms7.edublogs.org/
  • Austin M (6) – http://17austinmjcms6.edublogs.org/
  • Joe L (6) – http://17josephljcms6.edublogs.org/
  • Kasen R (7) – http://17kasenrjcms7.edublogs.org/
  • Peyton D (7) – http://17peytondjcms7.edublogs.org/
  • Travis T (5) – http://17travistjcms5.edublogs.org/

Group 13

  • Ally H (6) – http://17alexandrahjcms6.edublogs.org/
  • Haley H (6) – http://17haleyhjcms6.edublogs.org/
  • Hannah J (6) – http://17hannahjjcms6.edublogs.org/
  • Katie H (5) – http://17katiehjcms6.edublogs.org/
  • Makayla S (7) – http://17makaylasjcms7.edublogs.org/
  • Pateince V (5) – http://17pateincevjcms5.edublogs.org/

Scare up a good book!

Here’s the deal. You can order great books through Scholastic. Sometimes they even give you a great deal. (Always check out the $1 book on the front page.) An even better deal, the more books you order, the more free books I can get for our classroom library. There are two ways to order:

1) Fill out the paper form and bring it with your money (checks made out to Scholastic) by Friday, October 26.

2) Order online at Scholastic (for parents only). On the parent page, click the “REGISTER” button under “First time here,” then register for your own user name and password. When prompted, enter the one-time activation code code (GPBPV). This code ensures that your orders are sent to me. Select the books you want from over 500 titles. Take advantage of on-line only discounts and specials. You will also get a coupon for $5 for your next book order.  SEND your order to me on-line. I will deliver the books in class.

Here are some of my favorites:

  • The Raven and Other Poems by Edgar Alan Poe – spooky and only $1
  • Son by Lois Lowry – finally there is a sequel to The Giver
  • Cardboard by Doug TenNapel – another graphic novel
  • The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch – a haunting dystopian novel
  • Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu – a fairy tale like you haven’t read before
  • How They Croaked by Georgia Bragg – informational text that explains how famous people died
  • Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs – some very peculiar things are going on
  • The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan – third (and final?) book in the Heroes of Olympus series
  • A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz – what really happened with Hansel and Gretel?
  • Flush and Hoot by Carl Hiaasen – funny environmental mysteries
  • Planet Middle School by Nikki Grimes – basketball, boys, and changes–all told in poetry
  • Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie and After Ever After by Jordan Sonnenblick – two of the funniest books about cancer you’ll ever read
  • The Batboy, The Big Field, and Heat by Mike Lupica – lots of baseball action
  • Woods Runner by Gary Paulsen – Samuel must use his tracking skills to rescue his parents from the British
  • The Red Kayak and The Journey Back by Priscilla Cummings – Will Brady find the courage to speak the truth?  Will Digger break out of juvenile hall to save his family?

 

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