Picture Wednesday #12 (Sidewalk Biking)

"Sidewalk Biking"

*This is the twelfth Wednesday of our year together and that means it is "Picture Wednesday".

*I thought it was time to use an image completely different from what we have used in the first eleven weeks of fourth grade.

*Every once and while I like to throw in an optical illusion for the writers to observe, think about, and write.

*This image gives the writers lots to look at and record their thoughts.  I know they will like it!  

*I set aside time during each day for us to work in our writer's notebooks. 

*Each Wednesday I feature a photograph, image, or graphic.  My goal is to have my writers do some thinking, reflecting, and writing about the image.

*We talk about what types of writing we can do in the notebook.  Here are some of the possibilities...

-What we notice in the image

-What we wonder about

-Connections we have to the picture

-Thoughts, feeling, emotions about the visual

-Reminders we have from the image

-Create a fiction story about the picture

*Once the image is revealed to the writers, we spend a few minutes "talking" about what we see.

*My writers set up their HEADING in the notebook and we get busy writing.

*During the start-up of the year, I have my students write for about five minutes.  We slowly build our stamina for writers and slowly add time to our writing block. 

*At the end of the individual writing time, we call on a few volunteers to share their actual writing and/or further thoughts about the visual in front of us.

Our Images from 2016-2017...  

Week #1 - Back to School -                                                                 Click Here to See IMAGE
Week #2 - Be Kind to Others -                                                             Click Here to See IMAGE
Week #3 - Be Safe -                                                                             Click Here to See IMAGE
Week #4 - Be Responsible -                                                                 Click Here to see IMAGE
Week #5 - Animal Friendship -                                                             Click Here to See IMAGE
Week #6 - A Helping Hand -                                                                Click Here to See IMAGE
Week #7 - A Running Jump -                                                               Click Here to See IMAGE
Week #8 - Stand-UP/Unity Day                                                           Click Here to See IMAGE
Week #9 - Home Sweet Home                                                             Click Here to See IMAGE
Week #10 - Camouflage                                                                       Click Here to See IMAGE
Week #11 - Dream Big                                                                         Click Here to See IMAGE

Treat Tuesday #168 (Happy Book Birthday)

Treat Tuesday: No-Bake Mini Reese’s Cheesecakes

*I saw this on Facebook the other day and I stopped scrolling to read the recipe and watch the video.

*Anything with Reese's will catch my attention!


*We haven't tried making these yet, but plan to for the holiday season.

*They look a little time consuming, but I'm sure well worth it!!!

Recipe Video

INGREDIENTS
CRUST:
¾ cup of chocolate wafer cookie crumbs
¼ cup melted, unsalted butter

FILLING:
8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature 6 tablespoons of granulated sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon sour cream 3 ounces bittersweet chocolate, melted and cooled
24 REESE’S Mini Peanut Butter Cups
Hershey’s syrup
Holiday sprinkles

CRUST PREPARATION
1. Pour cookies in food processor and blend until they are fine crumbs. Combine cookie crumbs and butter until moistened.
2. Divide crust mixture evenly into lined mini muffin tins.
3. Press crust into the bottoms of the pan.
4. Refrigerate while you prepare the filling.

FILLING PREPARATION
1. On medium speed, beat cream cheese and sugar until blended and smooth.
2. Mix in vanilla and sour cream.
3. Add chocolate and mix until well combined.
4. Fill a plastic freezer bag with the cheesecake filling and snip the corner for piping.
5. Pipe a small amount of filling into each cup.
6. Place a REESE’S Mini Peanut Butter Cup in each cup, pushing down so the filling surrounds the candy.
7. Finish piping the top using a decorative tip.
8. Refrigerate cheesecakes for 6 hours.
9. Decorate set cheesecakes with Hershey’s Syrup and Holiday sprinkles!

Treat Tuesday:  Middle-Grade Novel

Treat Tuesday:  Young-Adult Novel

Treat Tuesday:  Novel Published for Adults

Not If I See You First by Eric Lindstrom

How I Heard About It:  During a quick visit to the library, I came across this title and recognized the cover from reviews I have read in the past.  I didn't have much time to "research", but added it to my pile of audio books.  

What It Is About:  Can people without sight see things better than folks who have 20/20 vision?  Parker Grant certainly thinks so.  She lost her sight in a terrible car accident with her mother; who lost her life.  Parker adjusted to this loss with her father, but isn't sure she can adjust to life after his death.  She is left to live with some relatives.  Parker is determined to be like all the other high school kids.  She enjoys her friendships, her social life, and most of all her running.  She is even influenced by classmates to try out for the school track team.  When Scott reenters Parker's life after several years of her "cutting" him out, she is sent on a tail-spin.  Scott and Parker "dated" for a bit in middle school, but Parker ditched him after he hurt her more than she had ever been hurt.  Now that they are in high school, they need to figure out if either one of them can forget the past and move forward.  

What I Thought Of It:  I'm pleased to say that I enjoyed this young-adult novel very much.  I thought the story was fresh, interesting, and a blast to listen to.  The narration was excellent.  The character of Parker was fascinating and such an incredible individual.  The strength she showed throughout the story, shows what is possible for the human race.  I enjoyed "reading" about the different relationships she had with people and how she was the same and different with each one of them.  The story was both realistic and entertaining at the same time.  

Who Should Read It:  This novel would be perfect for the middle school and/or high school audience.  There are many elements they would be able to relate to.  The book has a character for every reader.  As for adult readers, I think they would enjoy it just as much as the target audience.  Happy Reading!  

Rating:  4 STARS out of 5 Stars

Music Monday #12 (Hall of Fame by The Script and will.i.am)

"Hall of Fame" by The Script and will.i.am

*We are back from Thanksgiving vacation and I'm throwing one of my favorite songs to the class.

*After finding this song a couple years ago, I've used it every year since.  It is a KEEPER.

*The words, the video, and the message are so powerful and can teach young people so much.

*Today is our TWELFTH Monday together and that means it is time for another musical selection.

*I truly believe Mondays are my favorite day for our writer's notebooks.  

*Each Monday I present a piece of music to my fourth graders.  I usually present this song via a video so they are hearing and seeing the music.  

*After I share the video, we discuss the song/video for a few minutes as a class.  It is always a joy to hear what my young listeners have to say about the song.  

*They then get busy writing in their notebooks.  We start off at the beginning of the year writing for about five minutes.  This will gradually increase as the year progresses.  

*Here are some ideas I give the writers to think about during their writing time...

*Their opinions of the song.

*Their likes and dislikes of the song.

*What the song reminds them of.

*Any connections they may have to the music.

*What they think the message in the piece may be.

*What listeners can learn from the song.

*A fictional story about the music/video.

*These are just some ideas I give to the writers.  They are really free to write anything they would like as long as it connects to the song.

*After our silent reading, we spend a few more minutes sharing out what we wrote.  

*I keep a collection of the videos on our Schoology Site so that my students can always go back and rematch them anytime they wish.


Our Musical Monday Selections for 2016-2017 
Week #1 - "What I Am" by will.i.am                                                 Click Here for Week #1 Music
Week #2 - "Clay" by Grace VanderWaal                                           Click Here for Week #2 Music
Week #3 - "One Voice" by Billy Gilman                                           Click Here for Week #3 Music
Week #4 - "I Don't Know My Name" by Grace VanderWaal           Click Here for Week #4 Music
Week #5 - "Proud" by Heather Small                                                 Click Here for Week #5 Music
Week #6 - "There's a Hero" by Billy Gilman                                     Click Here for Week #6 Music
Week #7 - "Can't Stop the Feeling" by Justin Timberlake                  Click Here for Week #7 Music
Week #8 - "Thriller" by Michael Jackson                                           Click Here for Week #8 Music
Week #9 - "Beautiful Thing" by Grace VanderWaal                          Click Here for Week #9 Music
Week #10 - "Live Like a Warrior" by Matisyahu                              Click Here for Week #10 Music
Week #11 - "Thankful" by Josh Groban                                            Click Here for Week #11 Music 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (11/28/16)

Thanks to Jen and Kellee for hosting this idea on their site.  Here is a link to their site...

                

 http://www.teachmentortexts.com/

Books I Read this Past Week…

The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl by Barry Lyga

*Young-Adult Novel (4 STARS out of 5 Stars)

*My Book Review







Moon Shadow by Erin Downing

*Young-Adult Novel (5 STARS out of 5 Stars)

*My Book Review






Ghost by Jason Reynolds

*Middle-Grade Novel (5 STARS out of 5 Stars)

My Book Review






Not If I See You First by Eric Lindstrom

*Young-Adult Novel (4 STARS out of 5 Stars)

*Review Coming Soon!






Books I Will (continue to) Read this Week…    

Darling Days by IO Tillett Wright

*Memoir

Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow

*My Young-Adult Novel

I'll Take You There by Wally Lamb

*My Novel Published for Adults

Fenway and Hattie by Victoria J. Coe

*My Middle-Grade Novel

Ghost by Jason Reynolds

How I Heard About It:  Before I went to #NCTE16 in Atlanta I heard so many positive things about this new book from Jason Reynolds.  I actually bought it and it was in my TBR pile.  While at #NCTE16, the title came up quite a bit in conversations.  I attended the Charlotte Huck Awards Luncheon.  The committee announced the fiction winners for 2017 and this title was the winner.  As soon as I got back home, I grabbed it from my pile and read it this past week.  

What It Is About:  "Ghost" hasn't had it easy.  He is trying to make the best of middle-school, but it isn't easy.  As a young boy, he "ran" from his father as he went after him and his mother.  Since that event, the two of them have been trying to make the best of life.  Ghost has a natural talent for running and speed like no one has seen.  While out on his own run, he stops and watches a professional track team practice.  When challenged by one the runners, he shows them what he is made of, and finds himself the newest member of this elite team.  He thinks it will be easy street until the coach puts demands and expectations on him that no one else has.  Ghost needs to stay on "track" both on the track and at school.  This isn't easy as he tends to get himself into "trouble".  With the help of a new coach, a group of "newbies" on the track team, and pushing himself; Ghost is on the road, or track, to a new beginning and showing what he is truly made of.  

What I Thought Of It:  Mr. Reynolds sure does have a talent for writing.  Everything I've read by him is so incredibly good.  This is my first middle-grade book that I've read by him and it so measures up to the young-adult works I've read.  The writing is seamless and the story flows like a river.  Reynolds created a strong, independent, and determined character that captivated me from the very first page.  I enjoyed how he was a flawed young boy, but had such heart to do the right thing.  The other "newbies" on the track team were interesting, unique, and added greatly to Ghost's journey.  The coach was one of a kind and the type of guy that everyone needs on their side.  I look forward to reading the second book in this new series called "TRACK".  

Who Should Read It:  I already have a reader in mind for this novel.  He and Ghost share many similarities and I know he will be able to relate to so many aspects of this story.  The book could make for an excellent read aloud in grades four, five, and six.  Independent readers in these grades would be the perfect audience.  As always, adult readers who read middle-grade novels, need to put this title on their TBR list.  It is wonderful!  Happy Reading…

Rating:  5 STARS out of 5 Stars

Moon Shadow by Erin Downing

How I Heard About It:  I think Erin Soderberg Downing was one of the first authors I had the opportunity to meet in person.  We have started a yearly tradition where she visits my fourth grade classroom for our "Breakfast with Books" book club about the Quirks Series.  During one conversation, she mentioned she was working on a new novel title Moon Shadow.  She recently sent me a manuscript copy of the book that will be released in May of 2017.  I like to call it "An Arc of an Arc".  Erin and I were able to spend some social time at #NCTE16 in Atlanta and talk about the story.  I wasn't done at that point, but she didn't spoil anything.  One of the highlights of the weekend was seeing how excited readers were to get a copy of this manuscript.  During the plane ride home I was hoping to finish the book, but after the exhausting and busy weekend, I found myself sleeping instead of reading.  Once I was back home, it was time to finish this new novel. 

What It Is About:  Lucia is about to have a "special" 13th birthday.  It happens to correspond with a special "eclipse".  She wants to celebrate her birthday while witnessing the lunar eclipse.  Lately, Lucia has had a difficult time of it after "losing" her best friend Will to the most annoying "mean" girl Velvet.  Lucky for Lucia she has become "true" friends with Anji and Jonathan.  The three of them head to Velvet's party on the night of the eclipse & birthday.  While at Velvet's party, Lucia finds herself alone, lost, and discombobulated.  After returning to the "reality" of the party and party goers, she realizes she has "lost" some time she can't account for.    What she does know, is that the moonstone she carries around with her, has something to do with the strange events happening to her.  She doesn't want to rely on her mother for answers because she has left the family and headed to Sweden.  Lucia could tell her father and older sister, but they are dealing with their own issues after the mother left.  After several more "moments" of lost and unaccounted time, Lucia knows she must confide in someone and figure out what is going on and what the moonstone has to do with the disappearances of her old self and the appearance of a newer "braver" and "stronger" self. 

What I Thought Of It:  I noticed right off the bat that the writing of Erin Soderberg with the Quirks and the writing of Erin Downing with this new middle-school novel were very different from each other.  I'm always amazed when authors can write completely different depending on who their audience is.  From the very first page I was hooked.  I'm the type of reader who needs to be grabbed right away or I have a hard time focusing and really getting "into" the story.  At first I read this as a realistic fiction story because I really didn't know much about the plot.  As I read more and more, I realized there were aspects of mystery and fantasy sprinkled throughout the pages.  This made me "giddy" as a reader.  Lucia had a lot to deal with as a character and she handled these bizarre happenings to her with grace, confidence, and bravery.  The supporting characters of Velvet, Anji, and Jonathan added greatly to Lucia's world and the reading of this story.  The more that Lucia "disappeared", the more I wanted to find out what was actually going on.  The conclusion and "answers" were satisfying and pitch-perfect. 

Who Should Read It:  This is the perfect novel for readers in grades six, seven, and eight.  Female readers may be more drawn to it than males, but can definitely be geared toward both.  We are actually starting a girls sixth grade "book tour" with the novel and then an author book club discussion.  I know the sixth graders in our building are going to love this story.  It was so fun to see Erin share this latest work of hers with adult readers at #NCTE16 and I know they will enjoy the story just as much as I did.  Happy Reading...

Rating:  5 STARS out of 5 Stars