Saturday, June 27, 2009

Next Read - Stink

So the kids seemed to want to shift gears from this book.

I am suggesting Stink and the Great Guinea Pig Express.

I should be an easier read.

I asked the older kids if they can do a writing assignment with this one. I would like them to write another chapter for this book. They can pick something in the story and write a different version of what happens next. They can be creative if they want to make it like a comic strip story as some of the illustrations in the book. It does not have to be long. Just clearly a begining, middle and end. If you child would like to do something different with the writing assignment let them go and let's see what they come up with.

I think they might be able to read it all by July 8, Wednesday. It looks like I can do an early morning meeting 9:15 if that works.

Finishing Edward Tulane

Let's finish up reading Edward for next Wednesday.

Some things to discuss while we are reading this....

Talk about the new characters introduced.
Nellie, why is she sad?
Hobo and his dog, how does being found by them change Edward? Does it turn his heart to long for those who he has been with and now miss? Why does he repeat their names?

When the old woman hangs Edward on a pole to scare away the crows in her garden,
Edward thinks, “I am done with caring.” He feels mocked by the stars, which seem to
say, “You are down there alone.” On page 113, he tells the stars, “I have been loved,”
and they reply, “What difference does that make when you are all alone now?”
Does it make a difference? - This is a good question for some of the older kids.

Why does it matter to Edward that he has been loved?

Who is Sarah Ruth?
Is there a difference between the love Edward receives from Abilene at the beginning of
the book and the love he receives from Sarah Ruth?
How are his feelings toward Sarah Ruth different from anything he’s experienced before?

What are some of the life lessons Edward learns on his journey, through good times
and bad?

Why do people seem to need this rabbit more than he needs them?

I am only half way through the book so I will probably post more questions later.

The girls seemed to enjoy writing down their words that they did not know. I will try to encourage that with more books.

Monday, June 22, 2009

Sites to check out

There are tons of sites out there with information on books and reading. We can check sites like Random house and Scholastic which have information on books from their publishing sites.



Here are three other sites that have some interesting topics to keep them reading, and us too.



http://www.readingrockets.org/



http://www.pbs.org/parents/booklights/



http://www.playfulearning.com/Playful_Learning/Playful_Learning.html

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Meeting time change

Good Morning,
Our next meeting was schedule at 9:30 for Wednesday, June 24. I would like to change the time to 9:15 am. The meeting will not be longer than 45 minutes. I need to leave our house at 10:00 for Charlie's swim team practice.

If you can't make this meeting please try and read to Chapter 15 for the next meeting.

If you children have read further than chapter 7 (what we will be discussing). Ask them a few questions....

Why did Pellegrina say to Edward "You disappoint me." What was the meaning in the story Pellegrina told? Why does Pellegrina tell the story about a princess who loves no one and is turned intoa warthog by a witch to Abilene and Edward?
Why is Abilene indignant at the end of the story?
The story leaves Abilene on the deck of the Queen Mary, shouting to Edward,
“Come back,” as he tumbles into the ocean. Discuss what you think happens to
Abilene that day.

Have you ever experienced an adult or a person older than you who condescended to you?
How can you tell? Why do you think that person acted that way?
How did you handle it?

If they have read the chapters on their own, try asking them to read it to you so you can understand it. Have them put tone and voice to the story.

I think our following meeting will be

July 1, Wednesday
6:00 pm

Monday, June 15, 2009

First meeting

What an amazing group we have! You all were wonderful.

So to recap...

This book club is for anyone who wants to participate. My focus will be to help those younger kids look for things while they read however this should not deter any of the older kids who want to participate. If they enjoy reading they should enjoy the process we are doing.

Everyone was sent home with a notebook. They need to use this while they read to write down words or topics that they might not understand. Use this for research something from the story. Write down a question about the story they want to bring up with the group.

The 'assignment' for everyone. Read up to Chapter 7 for the next meeting. It seems to be a natural break in the story. Find out or research the "Queen Mary." I will be interested to see what they come back with for next week. Of course, parents, research is done with your permission via internet, library or research books.

Hope everyone enjoyed it. If you know of others who are interested... by all means invite them along. I just did not want to push it on folks who don't want to do it.

Next week - Wednesday 9:30 meeting.

Monday, June 1, 2009

Ready, Set, Read

So I have thought about a few titles for the summer for our read along.



It was hard to pick out a few that I thought would have overall appeal and not widely read already. I personnaly have not read these books but am intereseted to read them with the kids and see why they are so talked about in the Children's literature world.




The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

http://www.edwardtulane.com/



Once, in a house on Egypt Street, there lived a china rabbit named Edward Tulane. The rabbit was very pleased with himself, and for good reason: he was owned by a girl named Abilene, who treated him with the utmost care and adored him completely.And then, one day, he was lost. Kate DiCamillo and Bagram Ibatoulline take us on an extraordinary journey, from the depths of the ocean to the net of a fisherman, from the top of a garbage heap to the fireside of a hoboes' camp, from the bedside of an ailing child to the streets of Memphis. And along the way, we are shown a true miracle — that even a heart of the most breakable kind can learn to love, to lose, and to love again.




The Penderwicks (A summer tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy) by Jeanne Birdsall




http://www.jeannebirdsall.com/about/penderwicks.html


The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry


http://www.kidsreads.com/reviews/9780618979745-excerpt.asp



I am not sure how long or how much reading can be done between our get togethers but I think we will start with reading just 3 chapters after our first gathering.




I will post some more suggested titles to try.

Read for the summer and get a free book from Barnes and Noble

Keeping up with our reading for the summer will be easier with this incentive.

Barnes and Noble has a kids summer reading program.
See the attached link for all the details.
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/summerreading/


This process will include some of the elements we are using this summer, reading and journaling.

Have your kids pick 8 books to read this summer.
Use the Summer Reading Journal to tell us their favorite part of each book. A parent/guardian signs the journal when it’s complete. Once the Reading Journal is complete the kids can bring it to a Barnes & Noble store between May 26th & September 7th, 2009.
Barnes adn Noble will give them a coupon for a FREE book! They choose from a list of exceptional paperback titles. One coupon per child grades 1-6.

I am always up for Free Books.