Book Talk February 5, 2010

In the Reading Workshop,  Ian, Hadley, Madison, Josh, Eric , Micah and I are going to give a book talk.  A book talk is where you talk about a book that you are reading (or have read) and try to get the viewers interested without giving away too much.  This is going to be put on The Reading Workshop, so because it’s THE awesomest blog in the world. . . we have to really prepare for it and look our best   Here is part of my story board that Mr. McGuire wants us to fill out.

Catch:  Have you ever seen something in a place where you know it’s not supposed to be?  That’s what happens to Angela DuPre in Found.

Scene Two:  Chip and Jonah start getting these mysterious letters that makes them wonder who they really are.  These letters say creepy stuff like “You are one of the missing!”

Scene Three:  So Chip Jonah and Katherine, who is Jonah’s younger sister cook up a plan to find out who is behind the letters.  But will it work?

Scene Four:  Then everything gets chaotic, and it really draws you in as a reader.

Scene Five:  So what will happen to Chip, Jonah and Katherine?  And maybe even Angela?  You’ll have to read this book!!

Scene Six:  This book has a lot of action in it and if you love actions and mysteries like I do, you will love this series by Margaret Peterson Haddix.

Happy Readings!!!

 Thanks for the great idea Hadley!!!  Go to her blog to check out another version of this topic.

Interesting. . . February 4, 2010

Today in the book that I am reading The Juvie Three, I found something that was really interesting. Here is what I found interesting:

The main character “Gecko” is in a high-speed chase because he stole a car to pick up his friends who stole (I think) video games and other stuff like that. He crashes into a nanny pushing a stroller, and then everything goes black. He ends up getting caught and gets put in juvenile detention.

This is interesting to me because the author, Gordon Korman, does a really nice job of putting a lot of action into it and drawing the reader in. I am not really that far into it, but it is really good so far.

Plot? February 2, 2010

What is the plot?  The plot is what happens in the story.  It is a series of events that you’re book is made up of.  So, today, I am going to tell you about the plot in the book that I am reading, Prom Crashers.

The plot in this book is four friends are going to “crash” other schools proms, trying to find Emily’s “Prince Charming.”  They have nine months to go to in one month.  One of the speed bumps in their road to the “crashing” part is one of the proms that they are going to has really high-tech security.  So they have to try to find their way into the proms.

That is all the farther I have gotten in this book.  This is a really good book and i encourage you to read it.

Prior Knowledge January 29, 2010

This is from The Reading Workshop.  We had to write a comment about this post, so first comes the post, then my comment.

Prior Knowledge

Imagine picking up a book written in French.  How much would you understand?  How about the same book in English?  Even if there are parts you don’t understand, you could get the gist.  This is because you know enough of the words to help you comprehend.

What you know is a key to understanding as you read.  Using background knowledge, or your experiences, help make connections to the text, and then comprehension increases. Good readers constantly try to make sense out of what they read by seeing how it fits with what they already know.

As you are reading, think of connections from your experience to the text. This is the foundation, that will help you understand new facts, ideas, settings, and characters. As good readers read, they think about what they are reading and consider how it fits with what they already know.

New facts or information only makes sense when we connect it to what we already know. Using prior knowledge helps make sense of the text.

As you read today in Reading Workshop, consider what you already know that helps you understand your book.  What facts and information (prior knowledge) are you using to understand the text?

Here is my comment:

When I was reading Refugees today, I was thinking about some of my prior knowledge that helps me understand the setting, plot and character.

-I know about all the settings because I have good geography skills.
-The setting is in Manhattan, where it takes place during 9/11.
-The main character, Dawn, takes a plane ride over to Pakistan and I have ridden in a plane too.
-I know the big words that they put in the story, because I hear those kind or words on the news, from my parents, etc.
-I know what it feels like to suddenly be upset with your parents because of something the do.
-Dawn likes playing the flute and I know what the flute is because of my friends being in band.
-Dawn is a foster child and it helped me that I knew about how that stuff works.

Creatures January 28, 2010

This is a poem about the ugly creatures that linger around in our backyard. This is number 10 on my list. You will have to figure out what kind of creatures hang around in our backyard.

Creatures

Cocking their necks.

Running around like a chicken with their head cut off.

Eating every time I look.

After each other for everything

Trees are what they call home

Ugly

Roosting

Everywhere

Sounds they make: the weirdest ones ever

Rain, Rain, Go Away January 25, 2010

Well, it is still pouring cats and dogs outside . As we drove to school, today, I saw that half of people’s yards were flooded, it is so bad. It’s good for the duck, and birds, but not good for the poor little wormies because the big bad birds will come and eat them, since they get flooded from their homes. Anyway, it is really ugly outside because when you think of winter, you think of a winter wonderland with the white snow and everything, but no . Instead we see the ugly ugly color of brown (mud).

The Stings January 20, 2010

I am going to write a poem using #2 in my list.  In case you can’t see it, it is about how I love playing sports like basketball, softball and volleyball.  This specific poem is going to be about volleyball and the feeling you get after the game.

The Stings

Get ready,

it’s coming

right at you.

 

 Bump it,

watch it fly

into the air.

 

As the game

goes on,

and on,

and on,

the sting comes.

 

 But you realize,

it doesn’t matter,

it’s just a little

thing in life.

THE List For Poems January 19, 2010

In the Reading Workshop, we were supposed to make a list about possible things we could write about when we write our own poetry.  But, I was absent that day, so here is my list of topics.

1. Getting braces

2.  An annoying little sister.

3. Sports and how much I love playing softball, basketball, and volleyball

4. The best, weirdest group of friends in the world.

5. How much I hate writing poetry

6. The best vacation spot ever: Disneyworld!!

7. A dumb but protective dog.

8. The sounds my room makes at night.

9. Pumpkin Show

10. The ugliest creatures ever that linger in our backyard.

Just to let you know, I got the idea for #8 from a poem we worked on in the Reading Workshop.  It was called ” night songs”.

Braves Lose :( :( :( :( January 17, 2010

Last night, the Logan Elm Braves boys basketball team played Fairfield Union.  The Braves lost, by 3 points.  The final score of the game was 56-53 Fairfield Union.  At the end of the game, with about 6 seconds left, the Braves inbounded the ball to Adam Blake, who shot a three and just missed.  The ball was rebounded by Logan Elm’s Tyler Pritchard, though, who shot another three and missed it.  This time Fairfield got the ball and ran time out.  The Braves next game is today, at Wellston.  The game should start at 4:30.  The Braves are now 10-1.

Braves Win!!!! January 10, 2010

Last night the Logan Elm Braves Boys Basketball team played at Westfall.  Logan Elm was schedualed to play at Hamilton Township on Friday night, but the was cancelled due to school closings, the roads and snow.  They will make that game up on January 14th. Anyhow, the Braves won last night against Westfall, making them 7-0.  The final score of the game was  72-47  .  The Braves next game will be Tuesday vs. Teays Valley, at Ohio Christian University.  The game is slated to start at 7:30, and the J.V. game should start around 6:00.

The J.V. lost their game in overtime, 36-29. 

Image from http://compfight.com/