Hokey Pokey by Jerry Spinelli

Life is all about childhood in Hokey Pokey.  In this place, kids rule the world.  There are trucks to play on, mud to play in, slushies every day and hugs when you need them.  Jack and his friend love their lives filled with their precious bikes, cartoons all day, every day and their boys only club.  When strange things start happening to Jack, life in Hokey Pokey no longer quite seems to make sense.  First, Jack's bike disappears, then he finds himself talking to a girl, then his tattoo begins to disappear.  Jack and his friends become really worried about what's going to happen.  Will Jack get his bike back, will things go back to normal or will Jack vanish?  Find out in Hokey Pokey.

On a side note, as a mother of a 10 year old boy, I cried like a baby when I read this book.  See what you think.

Thanksgiving

Wow!  This was much harder than anticipated!  There are not many recent books which are appropriate for read aloud for 4th or 5th grade.  Some are super religious, some give misinformation, etc.  Finally, I decided to show this cool virtual field trip from Plimoth Plantation along with questions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5qi3Meqy24

Story Elements

Time for an update- been busy reading YA-

5th grade teachers wanted story elements- plot, character, setting, etc.

Showed this video from Flocabulary

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6I24S72Jps

and then read Frog Prince Continued to discover elements of that story

Author's Purpose

Love this Prezi to explain Author's Purpose

http://prezi.com/awzyxs78y67i/copy-of-authors-purpose/

No Passengers Beyond This Point by Gennifer Choldenko

India, Finn and Mouse Tompkins are shocked to find out they have to move out of their home in California, because they can't afford it anymore.  But things get even worse when their mom tells them they are moving to Colorado to live with their Uncle Red, who they hardly know.  Then when they find out their mom has to stay in California to finish up her teaching year, they are in disbelief. When the three siblings set off on the plane for Colorado, their trip seems to be ordinary, but when they end up in the city of Falling Bird, nothing makes sense.  Everything in Falling Bird seems perfect at first, India has all the coolest clothes in her closet, Finn has a dad person to play catch with, and Mouse can do as many science experiments as she wants with her new mom person.  But things don't stay perfect.  Will India, Finn and Mouse leave Falling Bird?  Will they choose to stay forever?  Where is their mom and Uncle Red?  Is this just a strange dream?  Find out in No Passengers Beyond This Point by Gennifer Choldenko.

Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool

After his mother's death, Jack's father decides to send him to a boarding school in Maine, far from his home in Kansas.  Jack is still reeling from his mother's death and his new school isn't helping.  Jack is not sure he can deal with making new friends and fitting in at Morton Hill Academy.  While trying to hide from his new life he meets Early Auden, the school genius recluse.  After the death of his family, Early is left to do whatever he wants at Morton Hill.  His strange behavior and amazing intelligence make Early an outcast at Morton Hill.  Jack becomes accustomed to Early's rituals and even finds comfort hanging out in Early's basement room.  When the students leave for vacation Jack is left behind with Early, who is planning the adventure of a lifetime.  Early is headed up the Appalachian trail in search for his brother, who according to the U.S. government died in the war.  Early is convinced his brother, Fisher, is still alive and if Early can find the legendary great Appalachian bear, he will find his brother.  Jack decides to accompany Early on his quest.  Their journey runs parallel to the journey of Pi, the numerical sequence Early sees as a story.  Will Jack and Early find what they are looking for?  What dangers will they encounter?  Will they survive?  Their journey is filled with "pirates", mazes, and even a dead body.  An amazing read, touching and suspenseful.

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick

 

I know, you are saying "What took you so long?!"  I finally read Wonderstruck.  I thought Hugo Cabret was amazing and unique, and was afraid Wonderstruck would not stack up, but it did.  I loved how this book was exceptional in its own way.  The two intertwining stories seemed to have nothing to do with each other, different time periods, different locations, yet they unbelievably went together.  The text story of Ben, who had lost his mother and was on a quest to find the father he never knew, was touching and mysterious.  Meanwhile, the picture story of Rose, whose show business mother and busy father did not have time or affection for the young girl, wove itself around Ben's story.  Throughout the book, I could not fathom a way their lives could intersect.  Full of surprises, emotion and discoveries, this work is spectacular.

Cause and effect

Aligning with the CCSS and Reading Street, this weeks lesson is on cause and effect.  For many of my 5th graders, this is a review lesson.  (In 4th grade I like to kick over a garbage can as an introduction to cause and effect.)  So, in 5th grade, I am going to show them a quick video reviewing cause and effect.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHJMw58Wmys&list=PL8CF41C84BFDD53CE

Then, since it is close to Halloween, I am going to read scary stories.  I love the Alvin Schwartz books, and so do my students!



After reading the stories I selected, the students will complete questions regarding cause and effect and we will discuss their responses.  I am using The Bride, The Little Black Dog, and Such Things Happen.

Ring of Five by Eoin McNamee

Ok, lets just say I didn't love this one.  It's kind of Harry Potteresque but no where near as good.

The book is about Danny, who doesn't have the best life, he gets picked on at school and his parents are not the most present, affectionate people.  When Danny sets out to go to private school, he is not sure what to expect, but he gets the surprise of his life.  Somehow he ends up in a "Lower World" school for spies, filled with strange students with special powers.  One has wings, one can see the future, one can magically move from place to place, one can heal people with her fangs, but strangely Danny feels like he fits in with these kids better than he did at home.  Danny does not understand why he was kidnapped and brought to Wilson's School for spies but he is determined to get home.  Unfortunately, Danny may be the Fifth, the creature who may complete the Ring of Five.  If Danny joins the Ring, our world will be destroyed by the evil Cherb forces, but the power of evil is hard to ignore.  Will Danny fight for Wilson's?  Will he try to make it home to the Upper World?  Or will he join the Ring of Five?

Capture the Flag by Kate Messner

When Anna, Jose and Henry meet at a museum reception they have no idea that their lives will be intertwined.  The same night of their meeting the Star Spangled Banner flag is stolen from the museum.  Snowed in at a Washington, D.C. airport the three discover they have much more in common than the chance meeting at the museum.  The three children share relatives in a secret society sworn to protect the United States and its history.  Unfortunately none of their relatives are with them and the national news thinks the flag may be in that very airport.  Will the kids find the flag?  Is danger closer that they think?  Find out in Capture the Flag by Kate Messner.