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.)
--------------------------------------------------
*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?
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.)
--------------------------------------------------
*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?