It's All So Tense!

For a moment, reflect back to all of the books we have read together this year. Fireflies, Hurricane, The Snowy Day, Smoky Night - just to name a few. In each of these books, the best moments are those full of tension. We hold our breath hoping and expecting each characters' problem will be resolved, but we know the problems are complicated and difficult. We wait for the resolution, knowing problems are never resolved easily. These tense moments are the reason we love reading, and why Reading Alive is so easy and powerful.

Remember that rubber band I showed you? It was stretched out tight; as tight as it could go before snapping. You all had your eyes locked on that rubber band, anticipating and wondering what will happen next. Will she let it go? Will it snap? Will it fly across the room wildly, breaking something? Will it hurt someone? You waited patiently, knowing something would happen, and that consequences would likely follow.

When we are in the tensest moments in our books, we know something big will happen. The main character will make big choices. A big surprise will occur. Or the main character will behave in the most surprising and unexpected way. Like that rubber band, we wait, knowing something big is coming, and will be followed by big consequences.

Think about your independent reading book. What tensions exist in your book? Most likely they involve your main character. Briefly write about one or two tensions in your book. Then, write about what you infer from these tensions. I posted an example response using Buffalo Knife.

Reading Alive!

True confessions, here...I sometimes fake read. It's true. When I am at the nail salon, having a pedicure and reading a magazine, I'm sometimes fake reading. When I'm at the airport, waiting for my flight and flipping through pages of SkyMall, I'm fake reading. I know I'm fake reading because I when I put down the magazine or book that I'm thumbing through, I cannot remember anything about it. My reading didn't matter. My "reading" was really just scanning words on a page.

But when I'm reading a book, especially a chapter book with great characters and interesting plot lines, I'm reading for real! My mentor, Lucy Calkins, likes to call this "Reading Alive!" Alive Reading is when you visualize what you read, you back-up and reread because something didn't make sense, you think about the characters. When I Read Alive, I feel like the characters are my friends, like the places in the book are places a can visit in my mind. Reading Alive brings me in and makes me part of the book. I know I my reading is real because I CAN remember it. Real reading stays with me even when I've put the book away.

My homeroom had a great debate the other day about when we are reading, and when we are thinking reading. Many of you argued that unless there was a lesson or assignment, a task along with the reading, that the reading didn't require thinking. Others of you argued that readers are always thinking, regardless of time, day, place. It's a Reading Alive vs. Fake Reading!

What do you think? Are you only Reading Alive when the teacher gives you a task to do or a lesson to think about? Or are you Reading Alive all the time? Explain what Alive Reading feels like to you. How is reading at home different from independent reading time at school? Do you feel less Alive at certain times?

Answer the questions in bold. You must edit your writing before submitting.

New Year, New Challenges

Are you a goal setter? Do you challenge yourself to achieve major or minor successes? At the beginning of every school year, Mrs. Hodgson and Mrs. Boon request each teacher to submit professional goals. I have to admit, sitting to write out my professional goals is not always fun. It's seldom a joy to look at areas of weakness and plan to face them head-on. But, setting goals, and making a plan to reach them, is an important and essential task. It makes me ask, "Who am I really and what do I really want to achieve?"

Each year, I issue the same request to my students: "Who are you as readers and what do you want to achieve?" I've been studying each of you, discovering who you are as readers and writers, but now I ask you to ask the question of yourself.

It's time to set some reading goals. Not some, "I want to get all As" goals, but real goals. Goals that truly speak to who we are personally. How would you like to grow as a reader? How do you want to see your reading change? What plan can you make to reach this goal?

Readers, I want you to write out one reading goal answering the questions about changing and growing as a reader. Look at your habits to see where you can grow and improve. Then also write how you can reach this goal. Be specific.

I have written an example response to model the type of detail needed in this kind of response.

The Story Behind the Story

One of my favorite authors is Patricia Polacco. Her illustrated books have always amazed me with their details and moving illustrations, as well as the deep and realistic characters. I noticed many of her stories have actual people from her own life in them.

While reading her book, Thundercake, I noticed that the culture of her characters are similar book-to-book, and are obviously part of her heritage. This got me curious about Patricia Pollaco. I wanted to know more about her life, where she was from, some of the experiences she had growing up, and so on. So, instead of reading another Patricia Pollaco book, I decided to read about the author. I wanted to know the real stories behind her stories.

Have you ever looked up your favorite author? Have you ever wanted to know more about the stories they write and why they create certain characters and plots? Have you ever wanted to know more about the author's own life?

Look up the author of your book-club book. Search them on Google (you can use SafeSearch) and you will find that he/she most likely has a homepage. Read about the author. Usually they have a bio included. What do you notice about them? What do you find interesting about their life? What about their life makes you better understand the book? Take time exploring your author's website and reading about them. Then comment on the blog about what you found interesting about the author. It can be anything.

This should be a well-written entry, with lots of great thinking. One sentence answers will not be published. Really stretch yourself. Use your best writing.

"Tagging" the Main Idea

Readers,

Many of you have heard about the unrest in Egypt right now. Perhaps your parents have been watching the news coverage or discussing the problem at home. As a child, you might be confused or unsure what is really happening. When it comes to important issues around the world, especially those in unfamiliar areas, adults can feel the same way as well.

One way we gain information about world events is through reading news articles. Read this article about Egypt. Discuss it with your parents.

We have been working on finding the main idea when we read - or as I call it, "getting the gist." To help us with this, I want us to look at a digital tool called "tagging". When bloggers and other writers submit online articles, they can "tag", or label, the most important words and phrases. This allows people who are searching for specific information to locate their articles easily online. When writers "tag" words in their article, they think of the most important words and phrases, ones that stand out the most, and the words that show what the article is really about. In other words, online writers "tag" their Main Idea words.

What words would YOU tag from the Egypt article? What words stick out as really important? After reading the article, comment here about the words YOU would tag in the article and explain why. I have given you an example.

A Teacher's Reflections - What are Your Thoughts?

Readers,

The new year underway, I began to reflect on my reading life; therefore, also thinking about the reading life in our classroom. Over the break, I was able to enjoy reading for pleasure, where I read books that have been on my "Books I Plan to Read" list for quite awhile. The books I read were recommended to me by dear friends, who are voracious readers and know a good book when they read one. Their recommendations were spot on and I found myself in the "Reading Zone" time and again.

As I began planning our next steps for our reading lives in the classroom, I came across this blog post by a fellow reading and writing teacher. I don't know her, but I know she is passionate about teaching reading and writing and thinks deeply about what she reads. I read her blog often for inspiration.

In her post, she reflects on her reading life and what she noticed. It made me think about why we read and the best way to enjoy reading. The changes I have made to our reading class are somewhat influenced by this post and my own reflections.

She begins her post with a quote by Kate DiCamillo, author of Because of Winn-Dixie and many other acclaimed books: "Reading should not be presented to children as a chore or a duty. It should be offered to them as a precious gift." As a teacher, who considers reading as a "precious gift" in my own life, I hope, if you do not already feel this way, you will see reading as a gift in the New Year.

As you read her blog, post your reactions to her reflections. I have posted my own response to demonstrate the level of thinking you should demonstrate in your own post.

Concise, Precise Summaries

Readers,

As a voracious reader, I love discussing books with other lovers of literature. I have joined book clubs, emailed with friends, and sat down over many meals where the conversation turned to what everyone was reading. Books are a part of my life.

However, I have noticed I have certain friends who never fail to disappoint me with their EXCELLENT recommendations. I finally figured out why they are so great at this life skill ...

When recommending a book to me, they give a concise, precise summary of the book. Their summary consist of the main characters, the setting, and the problem and solution, otherwise known as, the plot. They use LITERARY ELEMENTS to explain what the book is about!

I would like for you to write a short summary about the fiction book you are reading, including characters, setting, and the plot (problem/solution). Assume I have not read the book and be sure to edit your work.

Here is an example from Ruby Holler:

Dallas and Florida are two orphans who are often refered to as 'trouble twins.' They live in a home for children until an older couple adopts them and takes them to their small home in beautiful Ruby Holler. Dallas and Florida begin to build a relationship with the older couple, but are troubled with the couple's plan to split them up for the summer to go on different journeys. The twins plan on running away and living on their own, but the promise of money, and the kindness of the older couple delay them for a while. They have to find a way to stay together, but not go back to the awful home for children.


I cannot wait to see your understanding of what you are reading!