Bookworm Buzz

Sense & Sensibility by Nancy Butler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Nancy Butler does a great job with Austen's classic novel of loss, love, loss and finally love in this graphic novel.  Graphic novels are one of my favorite genres and I was thrilled to find some of my favorite Austen titles done by Marvel comics. If you have never read any of Jane Austen's work, try the graphic novels first,they will give you a great starting point and will help to build your schema for when you tackle the real work.  Thanks Nancy Butler, I loved it!  I have Pride and Prejudice on order. :)


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Bookworm Buzz

The Fourth Stall by Chris Rylander
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Luke picked this book out and I admit the flap on the inside jacket piqued my interest, but in the end it was just o.k.  This is for my upper middle school and high school friends, not 4th graders. Mac, the main character, tries to be a good guy, but he basically is a bully, like his arch nemesis, Staples.  I am not a fan of violence, or characters getting beaten up, and there was plenty of this in this book.  Also, it would be VERY DIFFICULT for a student to "run a business," from an abandoned bathroom that they were able to obtain by doing a favor for the school custodian.  I found much of the story to be unbelievable and I couldn't connect to the parents who were extremely naive about their son's behavior and after school activities. I'll have Luke let you know what he thinks after he is finished reading.


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Family Field Trip

Join me and Luke, this Wednesday, June 27th, 11:40 a.m., at the Bellingham Regal Movie Theater to see Marvel's the Avengers.  We haven't seen it yet and are looking forward to it!  Should be a fun way to spend a rainy afternoon. :)

Bookworm Buzz Special Edition

Liv has joined Goodreads and will be reviewing books for my high school friends.  Here is the latest review.

Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read Cleopatra's Daughter as my required summer reading book. I read the first few chapters before school got out, and then, the first week of vacation I got sucked into it. The plot moved fast, which kept my attention, and there were always action sequences. I enjoyed watching Selene, Cleopatra's daughter, mature into a young woman. Though Selene's life during the course of the novel was unpredictable and full of heartbreak, she ultimately found happiness. Cleopatra's Daughter is the best summer reading I have ever been required to do. I'm looking forward to reading more of Michelle Moran's books.


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Bookworm Buzz

Here are three new reviews from my Goodreads list.  All of these books are "just right," for fourth graders.  Big Nate is a collection of Big Nate comics, Titanic is non fiction, and I Survived The Attacks of September 11, 2001 is historical fiction.  Enjoy, and let me know what you think!


I Survived #6: I Survived the Attacks of September 11th, 2001 by Lauren Tarshis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The attacks of September 11, 2001 are very personal to me. My brother, a veteran of the NYPD, was watching the beautiful blue sky, while waiting for his car to be fixed, when he heard the "All Call," to report to his precinct.  He had to get his wife out of Manhattan and then go back to dig for survivors.  My uncle walked across the Brooklyn Bridge to get out of the city.  My cousins rode the ferry back to Staten Island while helping people who had been injured.  Another cousin drove from Saratoga with cases of water to help the first responders. I wasn't sure I wanted to read this latest installment in the I Survived series by Lauren Tarshis, but I am SO GLAD that I did.  I read the "Why I wrote about September 11," first, and this helped me set a purpose for reading.  So many of you were babies when this event in our history happened, but I was not, and I will always remember how I felt that day, so far away from my family, just waiting for news.  I really connected with Lucas when he could not get through to his family on the phone because all of the telephone lines were jammed. Phew! Lauren Tarshis has done a masterful job of conveying the magnitude of this event in a story that you can understand and appreciate.  It is a great addition to the "I Survived," series and I am thankful that Lauren Tarshis was brave enough to write it for you.  Enjoy!


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Titanic by Melissa Stewart
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A great non fiction read about Titanic that utilizes a variety of text features which we have learned this past year.  I really liked the photographs and the illustrations, but I especially liked the Weird but True bubbles.  A great read for all of you Titanic fans and those of you looking for some variety in your reading diet with some non fiction.


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Big Nate: What Could Possibly Go Wrong? by Lincoln Peirce
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What can I say, I LOVE Big Nate.  A funny, quick read with MANY teacher references.  My favorite part was "Relax, or else!"  I ABSOLUTELY loved the yoga class with Coach John.  As a yoga teacher myself I laughed so hard at the "Stop Yakking and Relax."  I think Coach John needs to learn the phrase, "Please don't interfere with someone else's yoga experience." :)


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Family Field Trip

During the summer, Mrs. Merten and I like to take "Family Field Trips." These are short day trips around the region where students and their families can join us and have some fun!  Some of the activities we have done  in the past are: going to the movies, mini-golfing, swimming on the Cape, and The Museum of Science.  Stay tuned for blog posts labeled "Family Field Trip," to see where we will be going!  

Poetry, Please!

I received two poems today, as gifts!  They touched my heart and made me so proud to be a teacher.

Teacher
thoughtful, caring
reading, writing, laughing
Making school more exciting
Teacher

By Maddie

A Teacher's Haiku
by Chorr-Kin

You make teaching fun
This year was very fun
Teaching is your gift.


Thanks Maddie and Chorr-Kin, I will treasure these forever!

A Big Bite

 Jeffrey was the ONLY 4th grader to earn the Presidential Badge in P.E.  Way to go, Jeff!

What a great way to end fourth grade, scorching heat, friendly faces, and students who have learned so much and are ready for 5th grade!  Keep up with your reading and check the blog often for book updates!  Have a great summer everyone and I'll see you in the halls of JFK next year!

Spotlight On...

Here is Abi doing one of her favorite things in the world, READING!! It is one of my favorites too, Abs.

Poetry, Please!

Here is the Youtube video of "Things to be in Room 23!"  Thanks to Mrs. Lussier for taking this video and letting me upload it Mr.W's computer.

Juicy Nibble

Thanks to everyone for their support of the Coffeehouse today!  Kudos to Mrs. McCluskey and Mrs. J for organizing and setting up the treats.  Shout outs to Mr. Whitmore, Mrs. Walmsley, Mrs. Dickson and Mrs. Lussier for stepping up to the microphone to recite!  Well done, take a bow. :)
Here is the poem that I wrote for the children, I'll try to post it to YouTube at a later time.

Things to be in Room 23

• be smart
• be cool
• be a reader
• be a yoga master
• be a poet
• be an artist
• be a fireman’s kid, like Mrs. Williams
• be a character
• be a technological whiz
• be a Lego lover
• be a helping hand
• be someone who smiles on the inside AND the outside
• be a dancer
• be a black belt on the recorder
• be a drama queen, or a drama king
• be someone who loves learning
• be a hockey player
• be a soccer star
• be an animal lover
• be the new kid
• be a leader
• be the guy with a great nickname
• be “the other,” A Williams
• be a fast runner
• be a deep thinker
• be a music lover
• be someone who makes us laugh
• be the next Michael Phelps
• be a softball super star
• be a secret keeper
• be a first generation American
• be a friend
• be someone who Mrs. Williams loves very much
• be someone who Mrs. Williams will miss very much
• be someone who will make your parents proud
• be someone YOU are proud of
• be someone who stands up for others 
• be true to who you are, and above all,
• be yourself!

A Big Bite

Tie Dye Tuesday, the recorder concert, the penny pizza party, the HEAT!!! What a week in room 23!  Thanks to Mr. Lussier, Mrs. Fields, Mrs. O'Connor, Mrs. McCluskey and Mrs. Walmsley for spending Tuesday morning with us to get our shirts dyed. They really look amazing and the kids looked fantastic at the recorder concert.  I was asked frequently why I didn't have my shirt on for the concert. Well, I had promised the children that if everyone earned their Black Belt in recorder karate, I would wear my "Black Belt Mom," t-shirt, and they did it!!! The concert was wonderful. :) We ended our week with the penny pizza party, yum!  We are busily preparing for the coffeehouse this week, come prepared to be amazed and delighted.  On Friday we built electromagnets, and the electricity test will be on Tuesday, before Sports Day.  The end of the year is such a fun time!  See you next week!

Mrs. Williams