Book Bag Blog

Mystery Book Discussion via Videoconference

Our first virtual summer book club meeting was Monday night.  Using WiZiQ, a web-based teaching platform which allows live chat and audio-video sharing, nine participants discussed the basic characteristics of mystery books and shared examples that each had read prior to the meeting.  Although, the technical end - sound, was pretty rough at the beginning, the group seem to enjoy sharing a variety of mysteries, some that have been around a very long time and some that are hot off the press. What was especially great, was connecting with friends during the summer and sharing good books. 

Some of the books shared were:

• Mary M.: Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment
• Gabriel D.: Sammy Keyes and the Wild Thing
• Natalie D.: The Trap & Bella At Midnight (Natalie could you let me know the author of The Trap)
• Mrs. House: The Mailbox
• Scott T.: Goosebumps:
• Erika T.: The Invention of Hugo Cabret
• Mrs. Branson: Room One: A Mystery or Two & The London Eye Mystery
• Mrs. McDaniel: Boxcar Children and Nancy Drew Mysteries (shared these two series)

All of these sounded wonderful and I can’t wait to check out a couple of them myself because there were four shared that I haven’t read yet.  Our next virtual summer book club meeting will be on July 28, 2008 at 7:00 pm and we will be discussing realisitic fiction books.  Get to the public library today and check out your book for our meeting.  Don’t forget to keep up with the number of pages that you are reading even if you don’t get to join us online.

Happy reading,

Challenge For YOU!

You probably heard about this first, from Mr. Largen, in one of his weekly phone call updates.  But here’s the more specific information that you need for the SUMMER READING CHALLENGE.

So… if you haven’t become motivated to start the summer reading program, No Book Left Unread, and you haven’t dived into all those great books on the reading lists that we sent home in May, join me in this challenge. 

You can join the Summer Reading Challenge by making a list of the books you want to read.  Why don’t you make the list and send me a copy at my blog or Schoolnotes email?    It doesn’t matter how many books or how many pages … just so you make a list and “stick to” reading the books on your list.  Keep up with the book titles and the number of pages (for our participation in NBLU)  You can email me here everytime you complete a book on your list.  Here is my reading list…

1. Elijah of Buxton by Paul Christopher Curtis
2. Dexter the Tough by Margaret Peterson Haddix
3. Jack Plank by Natalie Babbitt
4. Roxie and the Hooligans by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
5. The Big One-Oh by Dean Pitchford
6. Room One: A Mystery or Two by Andrew Clements
7. The Winner’s Walk by Nancy Ruth Patterson
8. The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt.

In case anyone wants to use the reading calendar, here is the link for June and July .  I’ll post the August calendar later. Yes, a “STAR Buck” for every five activities you record and share with me in August!

I’ve been checking out the bookstores this summer and found some of the new titles being released this summer that are from some of your favorite series.  You may not be able to wait until August - but be assured they will be available when you get back to school in the fall.  Ha!  Betcha can’t wait for school to start back now!  Happy summer reading!

• The Time Paradox (Artemis Fowl Book 6 - Released July 15)
• Warriors: Cats of the Clan (Released June 24)
• The Battle of the Labyrinth (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 4 - Now Available)
• Raven Rise (Pendragon - Now Available)
• Queste (Septimus Heap, Book 4 - Now Available)
• The Quest Begins (Seekers Series Book 1 - a new series by Erin Hunter - now available) 

First Video Conference Book Club Discussion

The 6th grade lunch bunch book club just participated in our first video conference with another middle school today. We held our joint lunch bunch book club meeting with Sullivan’s Middle School in Rock Hill, SC. Our discussion was about the book Crossing the Wire, a novel about a young Mexican boy, Victor, who found himself the soul provider for his family after his father dies. Victor has always been happy at home growing and selling corn, but the with the produce prices dropping significantly, he realizes that his families’ only hope for survival is to “cross the wire” into the US and find work. Life in the US promises good jobs and a better life. Victor feels this is the only hope he has to earn enough money to support his family.

It was heart breaking to read about the difficult and dangerous struggles he faced as he attempted to cross into the US. This novel brought to light many controversial issues, including the current debate over regulation of immigration laws; the prevalence of “coyotes” and “mules” and how their reputation and illegal trades have affected so many of the Mexican population; and role of border police and vigilantes. Our students found a greater understanding of the desire to come to the US, illegally, even if the trip is life threatening.

A good read which offered great controversial topics for discussion.

Creating Your Own Quizzes

Check out this free software http://www.mystudiyo.com/ that is designed to let you create quizzes online and post to your blog.  It’s called StuDiYo.  You have to register, then decide if you want to add quizzes that end with a banner promotion or an email form or you can even let your users add questions, of course with your approval only!  It scores quizzes, supports various media inserts (video, podcasts, pictures)  Your quizzes can be multiple choice or short answer.  You can even provided immediate feedback to the questions and a time limit. WOW!  I suggest you use this to create quizzes and add to your website or blog because the actual website may have some more mature material than your students need to see.  Let me know if you have any success with this.

Minyanland

MinyanLand  is an online game designed to teach and entertain children about the financial market. Gamers have to make purchases. obtain services, donate to charities, buy food, stay healthy and other financial activities that will help keep the economy balanced.  It is totally free, funded by sponsors that you may see throughout the communities in MinyanLand.  Great educational online game!  Learn more about at Keith Jarret’s Blog.