Reading Challenge 2010

I'm not one to shy away from a challenge and when it involves something I LOVE, I say, "Why not?"
I have joined J. Kaye's Young Adult Novel Challenge.
Super Size Me YA Reading Challenge – Read 75 Young Adult novels--It is simple...just read 75 books (or more) in 2010. I will keep you updated on my progress, adding to this blog as the year progresses.

So, are you up to a challenge? Leave a comment telling me how many books you plan on reading this year.
Remember, your 2009-2010 school year reading goal is 40 books.

I'll be starting book 1. Maze Runner @ 12:01 January 1st, 2010

If I Were A Tree...

UPDATE-Tweet message from Kate Messner: Love this! RT @teacher6th: Student video inspired by Kate Messner's "The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z"



How would you answer this question? After taking a tree quiz supplied by Kate Messner, the students pondered their answer. They created the leaf poetry mural in the background comparing themselves with their chosen tree. Here are few OMS students and staff sharing their tree personalities.

What is The Right Stuff?

Your next writing project will be sponsored by the Old Creamery Theater. You can start this project as soon as you want. We will be editing after break.

Last year, one of the stories performed at the spring production was written by a 6th grader at OMS. Will it be your story this year?

The following information is from the Old Creamery Theater website:
We are all faced with difficult choices every day. Should I cheat or follow the rules?
Should I take something that I want if it doesn’t belong to me? Should I follow the
crowd even if I don’t agree with them? Sometimes it’s hard to have the courage to do
the right thing. Sometimes it’s hard to figure out what the right thing to do is!

That is what The Right Stuff is all about. We are looking for stories about characters who are faced with a tough decision and who choose to do the right thing, even if it’s not the easiest choice to make. So have fun using your imagination and tell us a story about someone or something that has “the right stuff”!

All entries must:
• Be an original work from the imagination of students in grades 1 - 6.
• Be in the form of a story, poem, or song.
• Be kept to a maximum of five typewritten pages.
• Have a character or characters resolve a conflict or problem by making a choice to
do the right thing, whatever that may be in their given situation.

STORY WRITING TIPS
A good story:
• Has a beginning, middle and end.
• Is creative (and comes solely from the student’s imagination).
• Has interesting characters that can be people, animals, objects – anything!
• Tells the reader where the story takes place.
• Deals with a conflict (or problem) that is resolved within the story.
• Teaches a lesson or has a moral.
• Explains how the characters have changed or been affected by events in the story.
Be creative with your story’s conflict and resolution.

Maybe your character doesn’t do the right thing at first but later has a change of heart.
Maybe your character thinks they are doing the right thing but later realizes they were in the wrong and they must make amends.
Maybe your character needs to be shown by another character how to do the right thing. The possibilities are endless!

Curious George Tree

Elves were busy outside our classroom last week.
Mrs. Duff's favorite childhood book character- Curious George- has made many smile when they turn the corner and see the George Tree.
"Are those really bananas on the tree?"