Third (and Final) BOOK BUZZ Meeting

Third (and Final) BOOK BUZZ Meeting

Hi BOOK BUZZ members!

Welcome to our third meeting (and final) on Wednesday, December 31st!  Happy New Year-it's almost 2015!

By now you're read a few more NEW books that you can share!

What you need to do now is comment to the blog for each of the second batch of books you've read.

I would type and save my comments in a word processing program.  I wouldn't type it right in the box in case something goes wrong, and you'll lose your comment.

For each book you read, please make a separate post.

• First, in your comment, include your name, school district and grade level/s.

• Second, the title of your book, author, genre and recommended grave level/s.

• Give us a brief one or two paragraphs with a summary of your book including your opinion.  

• Next write your own booktalk for the book. 

Click on "Comments" and then copy and paste your comment in the box.  Click name/URL where you'll leave your name, (first and last name or only first name, last initial if you prefer).  Then, type the captcha, (the letters or numbers to prove you're not a spamming robot),   Click "Publish".

Optional:  Create a second comment and respond to at least one group member's post, commenting on one of the books they read.

I read a great book I wanted to share with you (even though it's from 2010):

The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin by Josh Berk, realistic fiction, mystery, grades 9 and up.

Summary: Will Halpin is having a rough year.  Will is not only obese, but also deaf, which creates multiple challenges.  He has just transitioned from his all deaf school to a regular public school.  He can read lips but not of course, when someone turns their head.  Herfeels like an outcast and a freak at school.  He is alienated by many of the students, but becomes fast friends with Devon-another outcast.  They communicate via IM and Devon has learned bits of sign language.  When Will's class take a field trip to an abandoned mine, popular jock classmate Pat,is pushed down the well and dies.  The book becomes a whodunit as Will and Devon work to expose the killer.  

Opinion: I absolutely loved this book!  It had humor, suspense and I think it would be a great draw for reluctant readers.  It's a great book for anyone who has ever felt they didn't belong, (which means it's great for anyone).  As for the humor, one review mentioned this quote, which describes Will's school bus experience:  “a directly rising slope of coolness from the front . . . to the back. . . . If you keep going, you’d fly out the back . . . and land in the cars belonging to the kids far too cool to ever set foot on a bus.”

Booktalk: Will is struggling as the new kid at school.  Overweight and deaf, his school day consists of lip reading to try and find out what his teachers are saying, feeling like an outcast, as well as crushing on the most beautiful girl in school.  A snooze-worthy class trip to an abandoned mine turns into a murder mystery as Will and his new friend Devon try to figure out who pushed super-jock Pat down the mine.  Was it his best friend who would love to replace him?  Was it an enemy of Pat's father who has been involved in shady business dealings?  Devon, (the son of a local cop), instructs Will on how they will uncover clues as they sneak into the school basement to watch police interview tapes and trespass on the property of a their burnout bus driver, whom they suspect.  This book has twists and turns that will have you guessing until the very end!

I hope you've also read some wonderful books!  Happy reading!

Second BOOK BUZZ Meeting

Second BOOK BUZZ Meeting

Hi BOOK BUZZ members!
Welcome to our second meeting (entirely online) on Sunday, November 30th!

By now you're read even more NEW books that you can share with your students and colleagues!

What you need to do now is comment to the blog for each of the second batch of books you've read.

I would type and save my comments in a word processing program.  I wouldn't type it right in the box in case something goes wrong, and you'll lose your comment.

For each book you read, please make a separate post.

• First, in your comment, include your name, school district and grade level/s.

• Second, the title of your book, author, genre and recommended grave level/s.

• Give us a brief one or two paragraphs with a summary of your book including your opinion.  

• Next write your own booktalk for the book. 

Click on "Comments" and then copy and paste your comment in the box.  Click name/URL where you'll leave your name, (first and last name or only first name, last initial if you prefer).  Then, type the captcha, (the letters or numbers to prove you're not a spamming robot),   Click "Publish".

Optional:  Create a second comment and respond to at least one group member's post, commenting on one of the books they read.

Now all that's left to do is add some fabulous *NEW* books to your reading list or Good Reads account***!

***If you don't already have a Good Reads account, it's a great way to keep track of what you've read and to set aside books you'd like to read.  Not to mention reading lists and the recommendations of others.

Happy Reading!

First BOOK BUZZ Meeting

Hi BOOK BUZZ members!

 

Welcome to our first meeting (in person) on Wednesday, October 29th!

By now you're read some NEW books that you can share with your students!

What you need to do now is comment to the blog for each of your books.

I would type and save my comments in a word processing program.  I wouldn't type it right in the box in case something goes wrong, and you'll lose your comment.

For each book you read, please make a separate post. 

• First, in your comment, include your name, school district and grade level/s.

• Second, the title of your book, author, genre and recommended grave level/s.

• Give us a brief one or two paragraphs with a summary of your book including your opinion.  

• Next write your own booktalk for the book. 

Click on "Comments" and then copy and paste your comment in the box.  Click name/URL where you'll leave your name, (first and last name or only first name, last initial if you prefer).  Then, type the captcha, (the letters or numbers to prove you're not a spamming robot),   Click "Publish".  Your comment will appear after I post it. 

Optional:  Create a second comment and respond to at least one group member's post, commenting on one of the books they read.

Now all that's left to do is add some fabulous *NEW* books to your reading list!

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I thought it might be helpful to all of you if I gave you an idea of what I
was thinking about for the content of the blog posts, (see below).

*If you are elem. level and have read many books, you may choose to keep
the posts for each book shorter.)

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*sample blog post:*


Rebecca Ekstrom, Averill Park CSD, Algonquin Middle School, grades 6-8

*Eleanor and Park* by Rainbow Rowell, realistic fiction/romance, grades 9-12

summary: Eleanor moves to a new town and must attend a new high school.
She is dealing with multiple issues: poverty, a free spirit mother in
denial of the family's issues, an overcrowded apartment, many siblings, a
bathroom with no door and a very real fear of her horrific stepfather.
When no one wants to sit with Eleanor on the school bus, (mean girl Tina
relentlessly teases her because of her curly, bright red hair and over
sized men's clothing), she has no choice but to sit with Park, a boy who is
Asian and loves X-Men comics and the Watchmen graphic novels.  She reads
them over his shoulder on the bus, he soon he is slipping her new issues.
Both feel like outsiders and quickly a friendship is born, which blossoms
into love.  Eleanor struggles to feel at ease with Park's "normal" family
while lying to her parents and saying she is at "Tina's" house almost every
night.  When social services enters the picture, it's unclear if they can
help Eleanor's family and what the future holds for Eleanor and Park.

opinion: I absolutely fell head over heels for this book that incorporates
elements of Pretty in Pink and Romeo and Juliet.  The very next book I read
was *Fangirl*, by the same author, (though not as beloved as *Eleanor and
Park*).  I can see this novel being excellent for high school students who
are reluctant readers.  I couldn't put it down!  Even though this novel
takes place in 1986, it transported me back to high school in the 1990's
and had me crying on the very last page, (and I'm not a big crier when I
read books).  I wish I hadn't already read this book so I could read it all
over again.

booktalk: When Eleanor and Park meet and bond over comic books and graphic
novels, worlds collide.  Eleanor is struggling with an abusive stepfather,
a mother who doesn't see the abuse, a cramped house with many siblings and
a new high school.  Park lives in suburbia, has a stable life, his mom is
an Avon lady and there is always dinner on the table.  Eleanor must keep
her relationship with Park a secret from her mean stepfather and figure how
how to feel comfortable with Park's "Leave it to Beaver" family.  Will
their love survive?

 

Welcome to BOOK BUZZ!

As educators today, we all know it’s a challenge keeping up with best practices, technology, Common Core, the latest Web 2.0 tools, etc., not to mention reading the exciting new books our students want. 

BOOK BUZZ will give you the opportunity to expand your repertoire of NEW books whether you are a school librarian or a teacher! 

Group members will select and read NEW books, (published in the last three years), from any genre, at any level.  We will meet in person once and meet online using a blog.  For each book, BOOK BUZZ members will post a book review and a booktalk on the blog, (for each book read).  The blog will give us the advantage of responding at our convenience, and to each other as well.  

Members will want to begin reading and be prepared to discuss their books at the first meeting.  If you're elementary level, read 4-5 books, (or more!), as they are shorter.  As a middle school or high school level, read 1-2 books, (or more!), depending on their length.  The first meeting will be on Wednesday, October 29^th from 3:30-4:30 at the Algonquin Middle School Library in Averill Park. 

We will meet on the blog in November and December.  Two credit hours will be given each month, for a total of six hours.  This book club is open to school librarians and teachers at all grade levels and is the perfect opportunity to meet new books and new friends.


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Directions to Algonquin Middle School

From NY State Thruway & Interstate 87:

From the South, take Exit 23 onto I-787 North to I-90 East; From the West, take Exit 24 onto I-90 East; From the North (I-87), take Exit 1E onto I-90 East; Stay on I-90 East; take Exit 8 to Defreestville and cross over Route 4 to Route 43 East, continue for approximately 5 miles to the intersection of Routes 43 & 150 (traffic light). Continue on Route 43 about ½ mile and take a left onto Route 351. Stay on Route 351 to the intersection of Route 66 (traffic light). At the light take a left. The Middle School is on your left.

From Troy:

From downtown Troy, proceed East on Route 2 (Congress St.) to Route 66 (Pawling Ave.) . Follow Route 66S to Wynantskill (where it becomes Main Ave.). Approximately 1 mile past the intersection of Route 150, bear right (at Valente's Gravel) staying on Route 66. Continue past the Hollywood Drive-In Theater (on left) and approximately ½ mile on your right is Algonquin Middle School.