Book Discussion Skype

To wrap up Global Read Aloud, our ELA class 3/4 Skyped with our blogging partners in Ms. Pinnigar's class.  Students skyped in small groups, and took turns asking each other questions about the book One for the Murphy's.

Students worked together to create the questions they wanted to discuss. Here's some highlights of the questions they came up with:

• How did you feel about the ending?
• What do you think would have happened if.....?
• How do you think the story would have been different if Carley had been a boy?
• How do you think Mrs. Murphy feels about Carley's mother?

I was impressed with how deeply the students were thinking about the book.  It was great to see how invested they were in the plot and the characters!

Here's some more photos from the Skype:

The other class had to go a bit early, so we will be finishing up this Skype sometime next week.  A blogging partner Skype for ELA 5/6 will be coming up next week as well!

Google Hangout with Author Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Friday Nov. 14th, we participated in a Live Google Hangout with Lynda Mullaly Hunt.  Students from around the world sent in questions to Pernille Ripp, the creator of Global Read Aloud, and Mrs. Ripp asked Hunt the questions.  We learned everything from what motivated Hunt to write the book (Starwars!  We couldn't believe it!) to how she got the inspiration for Carly (Hunt was in foster homes growing up too!)  

It was so interesting to hear more about Hunt's writing process, and how she makes the characters come alive.  My favorite part of the Hangout was when Hunt told us the epilogue to the book....we got to find out what happened with Carley years in the future!

For the full interview, check out the video below.  To learn more, visit Hunt's blog or website.

Hunt's next book, Fish in a Tree, comes out February 5, 2015.  We can't wait to read it!  It's already on the list for book contenders for Global Read Aloud 2015!!

Book Fair!

Book Fair

IMMS LMC

Mon. 11/10-11/14

We have the Book Fair coming up next week!  Students will have time in class on Monday and Wednesday to go to the book fair and look through the books.  The book fair will be open during the school day Monday-Friday next week, and after school until 7:00pm on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.  If you are here for conferences, that would be a great time to take a look!

Here's a video we watched about the book fair:

 

Book Groups!

Today, I introduced our Second Quarter Reading Unit to the students.  Students told me that they enjoyed Esperanza more when they sat down and read it in large chunks rather than spreading it across an entire quarter, so this quarter, we will plan to spend no more than three weeks on one text. For second quarter, students will be reading a book and discussing the books in book groups.  Then, students will choose one to two additional texts from a text set to read individually and make text-to-text connections.

Today in class, I introduced and talked about the books.  Then, students ranked their book preferences in order. Take a look at the initial information regarding the project.  Students will receive their book groups and their books on Friday, and I'll be sure to update with more information soon!

Our After-Lunch Read Aloud: The Fourteenth Goldfish

After lunch each day, we do a read aloud.  This is different from our ELA read aloud.  It's a little more informal.  Students come in, sit down, and we enjoy a little bit of a story together before they head off to their afternoon classes.

Yesterday, we finished Schooled by Gordon Kormon, and the students decided they wanted to read The Fourteenth Goldfish next.  This book came out just a few months ago, and we got this copy from our Donor's Choose Project.  Thank you again to everyone who helped make that possible!

The Fourteenth Goldfish is another book choice in Global Read Aloud this year.  While we'll be sticking with One for the Murphy's for Global Read Aloud work, we're lucky that we get to read another book that's so highly recommended! 

Here's a synopsis of the book from GoodReads:

Galileo. Newton. Salk. Oppenheimer.

Science can change the world . . . but can it go too far?

 

Eleven-year-old Ellie has never liked change. She misses fifth grade. She misses her old best friend. She even misses her dearly departed goldfish. Then one day a strange boy shows up. He’s bossy. He’s cranky. And weirdly enough . . . he looks a lot like Ellie’s grandfather, a scientist who’s always been slightly obsessed with immortality. Could this pimply boy really be Grandpa Melvin? Has he finally found the secret to eternal youth?

Look What We're Reading!

Since the best book recommendations come from each other, we've created a space in our classroom to share what we're reading!

 I've had my current reading and writing projects up on the board since the beginning of the year, and now it was the students' turn!

Since we've posted them, they've already been conversation starters!  Students have been reading what others are reading, and sharing their reviews with one another.  Our wall will help keep up the reading buzz! :)