Posterous theme by Cory Watilo

February Reading Blog!

Just as in life, events in a story have a cause and an effect. Using the format shown below please give at least two cause and effect relationships that have taken place in your independent reading book! 

Cause - Why the event happened

Effect - What happened because of this event

 

Example: The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chobsky 

          Cause                                                             Effect

1. Charlie's Aunt dies Charlie feels lost and alone

2. Charlie becomes friends with Sam and Patrick   Charlie experiences new things

January Blog Post!

Author's Purpose: 

Author's write for many reasons. It is important to know the purpose behind a piece of writing in order to understand what you are reading. The three most common reasons an author writes something are: to entertain, to educate or teach, and to persuade or convince. 

Using this information determine the author's purpose, or reason, for writing the book you are currently reading. Use information (quotes and specific examples) from the reading that support your response. 

 

Example:

I am currently reading The Book Theif by Markus Zusak. In this novel the author tells the story of Leisel Memminger. She is a young girl growing up in Nazi occupied territory during World War II. After reading and reviewing the text, I believe that Zusak purpose in writing this story: to entertain the reader. Throught the text many amusing things happen to Leisel, despite the setting and underlying plot of the story. An example of this is in the developed and repeated plot element of Leisel's book stealing. After she stole her first book, she suddenly had a hunger for more text. Her second opportunity came at a time when it was most controversial to do so: a book burning ceremony in her town. "The heat was still strong enough to warm her when she stood at the foot of the ash heap. She latched onto the closest of the books. It was hot, but it was also wet, burned only at the edges, but otherwise unhurt." 

December Blog Post!

Pick a character from your independent reading book and retell an event from the story from their perspective. You should choose an event that involves more than one character and is at least one paragraph in length. 

This is similar to the activity you completed when we read The People Could Fly.

Questions you may ask yourself: 

- What did this character see?

-What did this character think? 

- What did this character smell? 

-Why was this event important to this character?

-How did this character feel? 

November Blog Post!

Using your independent reading book answer the following question. Remember to follow the directions listed in the welcome post! 

 

Knowing content area vocabulary is a very important tool that can help you understand and remember what you read. Every text you read will have vocabulary that is used specifically to make the story, article, excerpt, etc more interesting. For example, when we read Edgar Allan Poe we first looked at a list of twenty or so vocabulary words that were unique and important to the story he was writing. Without a basic understanding for these words we would not have been able to comprehend Poe's story as well as we did. 

Please choose 3-5 vocabulary words from your independent reading book. These should be words that you have either never heard before, or that you were unsure of the meaning. Follow the example below when you answer this question. 

 

Example: 

The Secret of the Old Clock 

By: Carolyn Keene

 

1. Convertible: " Nancy Drew was driving home in her new dark-blue convertible" pg. 1 

- Having a folding top. 

2. Intuition: "Dad depends on my intuition." pg. 1

- A quick insight 

3. Will: " But unless a will written later turns up that's how it's going to be." 

- A legal document used to give ones possessions and money away after death. 

 

October Blog Post!

When you read you instinctively make connections. There are three types of connections: 

 

Text to Self: A connection between what you're reading and your own life. 

Text to Text: A connection between what you're reading and something else you have read. 

Text to World: A connection between what you're reading and a past or present event in the world.

 

  • Using your independent reading book make a one connection (it can be any type). You must write about the connection you made and why you made that connection. 

 

Example: I am reading The Girl Who Played with Fire by Steig Larsson. In the book the main character, Lisbeth Salandar, reflects on a trip she made through the Heathrow Airport in London, England. As I was reading this I was able to make a text to self connection. The airport was described in detail and reminded me of the time that I had spent in it as well. A few years ago I studied abroad in London and traveled through Heathrow Airport many times on my way to many other destinations. Reading about Salandar's fictional experiences there helped me to recall my own in great detail. 

 

Warm - Up Post!

Hi! 

To get you comfortable and familiar with posting to our class blog I ask that you answer the following question. Please remember to follow the directions that are listed in the "Welcome" post.

 

  • Summarize one text that you read this summer. What was it about, who were the characters or people in it, where did it take place, etc? This text can be ANYTHING you read - a book, a newspaper, a magazine, an online article, etc! Be specific! 

 

Welcome to our Independent Reading Blog!

This is the space you will use to talk about the books you are reading independently!

Here are all the important details: 

  • At the beginning of every month I will post a new question. 
  • You have until the last day of the month to respond. 
  • Your response should be at least one paragraph in length (5-6 sentences). 
  • You should always use your independent reading book to answer the question. 
  • Each response should have the title and author of the book AND your first and last name.

This space is a chance for you to talk about the books you are reading and learn about the books your classmates are reading. Only people in this class can read these posts! Talking about a book you really enjoy is the best part - so have fun with it! :-)

 

-Ms. Lesperance