Class Novels: What We Are Reading Now....

Every single day, students are given at least five to ten minutes to read independently at the start of our language arts class.  During this time, folders are passed out, paper distributed, and students may take AR tests or podcast.  At the end of class, we try to read as folders are collected and we have done our wrap up activity.

Period 1 is reading Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelson.

Period 2 has voted to read Neil Gaiman's Graveyard Book. However, so far, they still prefer to read their independent novels.

Period 3 is reading The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan.
Period 4 has taken on the challenge of reading Michael Grant's Gone.  It is a long book but this class is committed to finishing it in record time!
Period 6 is finishing up Haddix's Don't You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey.

Although we try, we don't always have time to read every single day.  However, we aim to read at least five minutes at the close of every class.  Some students still decide to read their own independent novels.

"You have to read this book!"

Big thanks to S.F. and M.P. in 6th period for putting up this awesome bulletin board!  This is where students can fill out a ticket and put it in the appropriate genre pocket.  When students are looking for a book in the genre, he or she can check that pocket and take the ticket.  New books and author of the week books will be placed on the top shelf.  Feel free to put a great book you just finished on the top shelf. 

Also, great job to A.K. in 3rd for completing the 40 Book Challenge!!! Wow, A., you even beat me by reading 41 books so far this year in a variety of genres.  For her efforts, Anna received the bookmark timer from our DC donors.  Amazing job!  Please remember to keep filling in your "40 Book Challenge" genre chart every Monday.  (I admit that I forget sometimes but try to keep it up.)

Favorite Reading Quotes

"No entertainment is so cheap as reading, nor any pleasure so lasting. She will not want new fashions nor regret the loss of expensive diversions or variety of company if she can be amused with an author in her closet."
— Lady Montagu, providing advice on raising her granddaughter, 1752

I like quotes. I was wondering if other people had a favorite quote about reading. I just found the quote above. However, I don't know if I could pick a favorite. This would be the closest: "Words are the only things that last forever."
-William Hazelitt

Also, I wanted to see if I could copy a picture on this blog using the iPad. It didn't work:(

BTW: Bad Grammar Isn't Always Bad...and a Mr. Clark Update!

I just finished a book called Teens, Technology, and Literacy; or, Why Bad Grammar Isn't Always Bad by Linda W. Braun.  In this non-fiction book, the author begins a chapter on text messaging with the following quote, "Most linguists believe that after 10,000 years no traces of a language remain in its descendants...Languages are perpetuated by the children who learn them.  When linguists see a language spoken only by adults they know it is doomed." (Pinker 2000, 262)


What do you think?  Can students switch back and forth from informal texting to formal writing?  Do people who text, post on Facebook, and email constantly actually read and write more than those who don't? 

What do YOU think?

I'll bring the book in on Tuesday. Some of you might like it as much as that Ron Clark book! LOL  (sry!!)
http://k6educators.about.com/cs/classroommanageme3/a/essential55.htm
http://www.ronclarkacademy.com/shop/  (Wow, Mr. Clark has his own virtual store!)

  Mr. Clark with Oprah and his new book!

The Lifetime movie

Donor's Choose

Check out our new projects on Donor's Choose!  http://www.donorschoose.org/lizzeglin
Post any ideas for future projects here.  Some people have mentioned that they would like to get another iPad.  Let me know why you think we need #3 if you think that is a good idea.  Maybe you have a new suggestion that no one has mentioned?  Post it below.

Also, I will need some volunteers to help write thank you letters for a couple proposals.  Please let me know if you are interested!  It would be nice to get those letters out this week.  Why wait?

Thank you!

Book Talk Podcasts

Ever since I heard about podcasting I have wanted to try it.  Students have jumped right into it with their book talks.  Students had a choice of writing a book critique or writing a podcasting book talk.  Everyone decided to write the script!  Many students in our language arts classes were able to practice recording their voices on our class iPods and iPads.  We quickly realized that podcasting is not easy!  You really have to practice your script over and over again.  Plus, it seems like less is more in terms of time.

To share our book talks and "podcast" our favorite books with the world, Mr. Nymick has suggested that we put our podcasts on the school's public drive. (Yes, you can still practice on the ipods and ipads but the final recording needs to be done on the laptop.) We can actually do this using a laptop and that cool microphone that Madame L. gave us. (Merci beaucoup!) Mr. Nymick has suggested that we get our time down to about 15 seconds.  I realize that some students may need to go over a little.  However, let's consider our audience.  We want to help other students and teachers find books they may actually want to read.  Let's help them quickly! 

Let me know what you think! 

Now Reading...

Watcher in the Woods. This is the second book in the House of Dark Shadows series by Robert Liparulo.  I like the plot and characters a lot. Mrs. Savini recommended the series to me. It is about a family that moves into a house that is not quite what it seems.  I really don't want to give anything away but if you like suspenseful, scary stories, you might like this series.

What are you reading now?

Nook Color-Coming Soon!!!

I wonder if our Nook will be the same size...

I just found out last night that our classroom is getting a Nook Color.  I am so excited.  I watched a YouTube video on the features of this e-reader and it looks really cool.  One thing I loved is that books are interactive.  While reading, you can access the Internet for more information and word definitions. 
I was thinking that we could use this Nook in class to read magazines and newspapers.  We can also download sample chapters of books we want to read before getting them.  Another thing I was thinking, it that we could download our class novels on them.  This would be a great solution when we want to read something but it unavailable.  For example, period 2 wanted to start reading Gone by Michael Grant but we didn't have a copy. 

Please let me know what your other ideas are.  The sky is the limit. 

     “Reading is thinking with someone else's head instead of one's own”

 Arthur Schopenhauer quotes (German Philosopher, 1788-1860)