22 Let's Talk: First or Third?

We spent time this past week learning about first person and third person narration.

If you recall, when the protagonist tells the story, that is called first person narration. As a reader, we get to know all the thoughts and feelings of the protagonist. But, since the protagonist, in most cases, can not read minds, what we know about all the other characters is limited to what the protagonist can see and hear.

When the author tells the story we call that third person narration. As readers we get know the thoughts and feelings of all the major characters.



Discussion Points:
a. Using the book you are currently reading independently, please begin by identifying the type of narration used. If it is a combination of both, let us know (I'm thinking of you Maximum Ride readers!).
b. Next, copy a quote from your book that proves you identified the type of narration correctly. Include the page number with your quote.
c. Finally, rewrite the quote using the unused type of narration.
d. For an extra challenge, try describing one way the type of narration has had an effect on the way you, as a reader, have come to know one of the characters.

Let's talk!

(Tip: Use the example comment to guide your comment)

21 Challenge! How Many Differences Can We Identify?

You have read the book. You have seen the movie.

Now it is time to talk. Let's focus our discussion to two topics.

The first is a challenge.


Discussion Points:
a. How many differences between the book and movie can we list? The challenge is to reach twenty-five. Go.
b. Which version did you enjoy more? Why? Give as many reasons as you can. Share what you rate the book and the movie.

Let's talk!

20 Let's Talk: Character Traits

Characters have traits just like real people. Characters can be tall, short, thin, fat, beautiful or ugly. They may have freckles or glasses or acne or brown hair or blue eyes. They can also be athletic, funny, depressing, artistic, outgoing, shy, intelligent, courageous, musical or mean. There is an endless number of traits a character may have.

Throughout a story, you, the reader, get to know a character by learning about their traits. Good readers often know when an author is explaining a character's trait. Great readers always know. The more you read, the better you will become at learning all the traits of a character.

Why is that important? Because the better you know the characters in the stories you read, the more strongly you will feel about them. You will love them more. Or hate them more. You will relate to them on a more personal level. Or know why you can't relate. You will cheer for them in good times. You will cry for them in sad times.

Bottom line: the better you know your characters, the more emotional investment you make in the stories you read. And more emotional investment means a more intense, enjoyable, meaningful reading experience. Books are better when you know your characters well!

For this post, your comment will include a quote. A quote is a piece of your story, word for word, that you use to prove your point. When you write a quote you must put quotation marks around the entire piece of text that you have copied from the story. It will look like this:

     "This is George Beard and Harold Hutchins. George is the kid on the left with the tie and the flat-top. Harold is the one on the right with the T-shirt and the bad haircut. Remember that now.
     If you were looking for a few words to describe George and Harold, you might come up with kind, funny, smart, determined, and deep.
     Just ask their principal, Mr. Krupp. He'll tell you that George and Harold are KINDa FUNNY-lookin' SMART alecks who are DETERMINED to drive everybody off the DEEP end."


Discussion Points:
a. In the book you are currently reading, please find ONE quote that clearly shows the author describing one of a character's traits. Copy that quote into your comment. Remember to use quotation marks.
b. Then explain, IN YOUR OWN WORDS, which character trait the quote you used describes. Share with us what you learned about your character by reading that quote.

Let's Talk!


Hints:
1. You may choose any character, but it will probably be easiest for you if you choose the protagonist (can you guess why?).
2. Look through the beginning of the story. That is where you will most often find descriptions of the protagonist and others.
3. Include the quote's page number.
4. Put an empty line between the quote and your own words.
5. To get a better sense of the kind of quote I'm asking you to find and write about, reread the example quote I provided in the post AND read the example comment before beginning.

19 Let's Talk: Compare and Contrast Settings

SETTING is when and where a story takes place. Some stories have only one setting. Some stories have more than one setting.

Charlotte's Web takes place in the early 1950s on a small farm somewhere in the Maine countryside. More specifically, most of the story takes place in the cellar of the barn and the connecting yard. Only the very beginning, when Wilbur is still living at the Arable's farm up the road, and the end, when Wilbur and the Arables and the Zuckermans go to the fair, take place in slightly different locations.

Bridge to Terabithia takes place in the 1970s on a small farm somewhere in the Virginian countryside. More specifically, Terabithia takes place in woods around Jess's home, Lark Creek Elementary school and the Old Perkin's Place.


Discussion Points:
a. First, describe the setting of a book you have read independently. Write your description so it is about as long as the two descriptions I wrote in this post.
b. Next, COMPARE that setting to the setting of Charlotte's Web. Talk about at least one SIMILARITY.
c. Finally, CONTRAST that same setting to the setting of Charlotte's Web. Talk about at least one DIFFERENCE.

Let's talk!

18 Let's Talk: THEME

If you recall from class, a story's theme (or themes - there may be more than one) can be thought of as its BIG idea.

For example, Leonardo the Terrible Monster has at least two themes. One theme is FRIENDSHIP. Leonardo makes a very big decision. He decides to be a friend to Sam. Leonardo learns that being a friend feels good and is a win-win situation for everyone involved.

Another theme in Leonardo is ACCEPTANCE. Leonardo wants to be something he is not: scary. In the end he decides to ACCEPT that fact and love who he is: a cuddly, cute, adorable little guy with a great smile.

Here is another example. A theme in No David! is OBEDIENCE. David is naughty. A lot. In the end, he learns that kids who do not OBEY their parents get in trouble and feel bad about themselves.

Another theme in No David! is UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. David is naughty. But no matter how many times he breaks the rules, his mom still loves him.


Discussion Points:
a. Think about a book you read this year.
b. Identify one theme in that story. Name it. And talk about how you know it is a theme, just like I did for Leonardo the Terrible Monster and No David!

Let's Talk!

17 Booktalk: Freckle Juice

As you get older, you will think back on your reading life and wonder how you missed reading some great, classic titles. Maybe, by the time you turn 35, you still will not have read Harry Potter. Or, possibly, you might grow into adulthood and have neglected to read Hatchet, or The Hunger Games or Winnie-the-Pooh. Well, in my case, I somehow lived 36 years without reading Freckle Juice.

Freckle Juice, by Judy Blume, is a short story of only 50 pages divided into five chapters. It is filled with illustrations.

The story begins with the protagonist, Andrew Marcus, wanting more than anything to have a face covered in freckles. Sharon, a conniving classmate, notices this and decides to play a nasty trick on Andrew. She offers to sell him her family's secret freckle juice recipe for only 50 cents (in 1971, when this story was written, 50 cents was worth about as much three dollars is today). When Andrew finally tries Sharon's 'magic potion' things don't go as planned.

One of the things I liked most about Freckle Juice was the straight forward, but incredible realistic, dialogue. Each line uses only small words. But each word is important and serves to push the story forward. In Freckle Juice I was able to appreciate just how a master writer can tell an incredibly enjoyable story with only a very few words.

If you've read any stories by Judy Blume, then you already know she has a very distinct style of story telling. Freckle Juice feels very similar to her other books; books such as: Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, Otherwise Known As Sheila the Great, Blubber and The Pain and The Great One.

If you haven't read any of the classics by Judy Blume before, there is no better book to begin with than Freckle Juice. Try it before you turn thirty-five!


Discussion Points:
a. Can you find any of the writing strategies we've been learning to use in class, in this book talk? Which ones?
b. Have you read Freckle Juice?
c. If so, what did you think of it? Why?
d. SPECIFIC feedback on this booktalk?
e. What did you like or not like about it?

Let's Write!

16 Understanding Story Parts

All stories have many things in common. Some of the things they have in common are their different parts.

Stories begin with an Introduction. The Introduction is the part of the story in which we meet the characters and learn about the setting.

Example: In No David! by David Shannon we meet David and his mom on the first two pages.

Next comes the Central Tension. We've talked about story's Central Tension's before. A story's Central Tension is the big problem(s) the protagonist faces.

Example: In No David! we learn on page two that David is a naughty boy.

After the Central Tension, Story Events, or rising actions, make up the biggest part of a story. The Story Events are everything that happens to the protagonist along the way to solving the Central Tension.

Example: In No David! David tries to snitch cookies, writes on the walls, runs down the street naked, plays with his food, picks his nose and makes a mess of his toys. Each of these is a Story Event.

The Climax occurs towards the end of a story. The Climax is the part of a story when the protagonist resolves the Central Tension.

Example: In No David! David doesn't listen to his mother and hits a baseball indoors, breaking a vase. While in Time-Out he realizes he has been very naughty. He feels very bad.

The Resolution is part of the story at the very end of the book. The Resolution shows how all the characters, including the protagonist, end up.

Example: In No David! David's mom gives David a hug and forgives him and tells him how much she loves him.


Discussion Points:
a. I would like you to think about the story you are currently reading OR the story you most recently finished.
b. Please identify each of the parts of a story in your book, like I just did for No David!
     1. Talk about the Introduction.
     2. Talk about the Central Tension.
     3. Talk about the Story Events.
     4. Talk about the Climax.
     5. Talk about the Resolution.

Let's Write!

15 Booktalk: The Islander by Cynthia Rylant

As a teacher, sometimes my job is to read books kids are reading so that I can 'stay in the loop'. I want to know, for myself, why a book is so popular.

Other times, however, my job is to read books that I know kids will NOT read, unless I do a great job of selling it.

The Islander by Cynthia Rylant is one of those books. The cover is boring; the title, boring too. The story is driven by the characters, as in Bridge to Terabithia. The story is NOT driven by an exciting or fast paced plot.

The Islander is about a boy named Daniel who lives is a small stone house on an island off the coast of British Columbia, Canada. While he lives with is grandfather, he spends a lot of his time alone, looking for treasures the ocean has washed ashore. One day he finds mermaids comb. This magical item leads to a brief encounter with the mermaid who comes to shore to retrieve her comb. Days later, a sea otter throws to shore a shell. In it, Daniel finds his own mysterious and magical treasure, a key. As this short story progresses, Daniel has to deal with the devastating effects of a terrible storm, help to find a missing little girl and deal with the loss of a beloved family member. All the while Daniel searches for what the key will open. Finally, at the end of this touching story, the key's true use is revealed to David and the reader.

Like I said earlier, this is not an exciting story. And it is not a fast paced story. But, it is a very enjoyable story. Daniel is the narrator, and as he told the story, I began to feel like I knew Daniel as a real person. While this story does have an element of fantasy, mermaids are not real after all, it is not a fantasy story. It feels much more like a realistic fiction tale. I liked how believable both Daniel and the story were, despite the mermaid as a minor character.

The other thing I like about the book is that it felt original. That is, I can't really think of another story quite like it. I suppose I could suggest other short, realistic fiction stories by Cynthia Rylant, such as A Fine White Dust and Missing May. But, having read both, I have to say, the most significant similarities   are the books' short length and the author. This story is unique!

So, if you want to try a very different, unique and original character driven tale, I would suggest The Islander. You might enjoy it for very unexpected reasons!


Discussion Points:
a. Look at this booktalk from the perspective of the Five S's': Specifics, Summary, Strong Points, Suggestions, Sell It!. I was creative with at least one of the Five S's and did some different things. Which 'S' do you think I changed quite a bit? How did I change it?
b. How does this story sound to you? Do you feel like you might give it a chance?
c. Have you ever given a book a chance, even though you didn't like the cover or review of the book?
d. If so, which book what it?

Let's Write!

14 Charlotte's Web's Central Tension (or as I like to say, 'Collywobble')

Every story has a central tension. 'Central' means 'main'. Think of tension as: stress, nervousness, uncertainty, suspense and even 'collywobble' (thank a thesaurus for that synonym!). In other words, the central tension is the 'main suspense' or 'main uncertainty' (or even 'main collywobble').

So the central tension (or collywobble) in a story is the main problem the protagonist faces. For example, we just learned that the central tension (or collywobble) in Charlotte's Web is Wilbur's imminent death (imminent means: about to happen).

The central collywobble (there, I said it; I just couldn't resist - from now on, I'm just going to give in and and keep saying 'central collywobble') is almost always found at the beginning of a story. Other examples of central collywobbles (I just LOVE saying 'collywobble! - it get's better every time!) are Leonardo's inability to be scary; Trixie loosing Knufflebunny; David's naughtiness; Edwurd Fuddwupper lying to Mable Dill by telling her she'd been voted the Queen of Brazil; Curtis getting Norman the fish for a pet, instead of a cat or dog; Mr. Fox thinking he will eat the pig for dinner.

Now, you may be thinking, 'What was the central collywobble in Bridge to Terabithia Mr. Geranis? I don't remember any major collywobble in the beginning of that story.'

Well you, that is a GREAT question. And it leads to something about stories we have NOT learned about yet. So, for two reasons, I'm NOT going to answer that question right now. Reason one: I want you to stay focused on central collywobbles. Reason number two: I don't want to confuse anyone. This post has one purpose, to help you understand more about central collywobbles.

With that said...


Discussion Points:
a. What is the central collywobble in the story you are currently reading? Please include the name of your protagonist in your answer.
b. Do you have possible reason for why there wasn't a central collywobble in Bridge to Terabithia? Please share what you think. Don't worry about begin correct. This is a hard one!

13 Booktalk: Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life

Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life (M.S.: T.W.Y.O.M.L.) by James Patterson and Chris Tebbetts is a surprisingly well told story that uses a similar layout as Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Unlike Wimpy Kid, however, M.S: T.W.Y.O.M.L. is not meant to be funny. It is meant to tell the tale of a kid who is dealing with a lot of big things in his life.

In M.S.: T.W.Y.O.M.L. Rafe Katchadorian, a sixth-grader who is new to middle school, decides to turn a torturous school year into a game he calls Operation R.A.F.E. (which stands for Rules Aren't For Everyone). Basically, in order to win the game, Rafe has to break every rule in the school handbook before the end of the year. Along the way, Rafe has to deal with an ongoing feud with a bully named Miller the Killer. He also begins to become friends with the girl who he has a major crush on, Jeanne Gallette.

This book is a ten for unexpected reasons. First, I have never liked a book by James Patterson, so my expectations were low. When the story begins, it seems as though the story is going to be about small things, kinda like a Wimpy Kid book. But it turns out to be about much bigger, more important things. I would love to give you an example, but I don't want to give anything about the second half of the book away, because of the second reason I loved this book. This book has two major plot twists, neither of which I saw coming. And both plot twists greatly affected my connection with Rafe. My jaw literally dropped open when I read both plot twists. In fact, I was taken so off guard by the first twist that I went back and re-read it, THREE times! And the second twist nearly made me cry. Seriously!

If want to be sucked into a story that WILL surprise you, and maybe even make you cry (in a good, heartwarming way, not a sad way) this is the book for you. Or, if you have ever wondered what it would be like to break a ton of school rules, but were scared to try because you know you are not a trouble maker, read Middle School: The Worst Years Of My Life!

This story will definitely NOT be the worst book of your life. It just might be one of THE BEST!

12 Charlotte's Web vs. Bridge To Terabithia Part 1: The Similarities!

We had a great discussion in class today comparing Bridge to Terabithia with Charlotte's Web. The following are some of the similarities we came up with:

1. Both Charlotte and Leslie are introduced at the very end of a chapter.

2. Both Charlotte and Leslie are female secondary main characters to male main characters.

3. Both Charlotte and Leslie are 'smarter' than their male main characters.

4. Both Charlotte and Leslie use the power of words and reading to help the main characters.

And yes, the BIG one:

5. Both Charlotte and Leslie die.

So, what I want to know is...


Discussion Points:
a. What are some other similarities Charlotte's Web shares with Bridge to Terabithia?

They could be similarities the characters, like Wilbur and Jess or Charlotte and Leslie, share, similarities the two plots share or even similarities the two settings share.

Let's Write!

11 The New Look

I'm experimenting with a new look and new format for Bloggin With Your Noggin. It's called 'dynamic view' and is supposed to be more intuitive and interactive.

Discussion Points:
a. What do you think?
b. Do you like it or not? Why?
c. Does this view work well on iPads, Kindles and Nooks?

Let's write!

10 Booktalk: I Survived: Hurricane Katrina

I Survived: Hurricane Katrina by Lauren Tarshis is a very fast-paced action story set during 2005's Hurricane Katrina, the most devastating hurricane ever to make landfall in the United States. It is a short story of only 90 pages, including illustrations.

I.S.: Hurricane Katrina is about a 11-year-old named Barry who lives in the Lower Ninth Ward, the section of New Orleans that suffered the greatest devastation. His family tires to leave the city, but has to turn back when his three-year-old sister, Cleo catches the stomach flu. When Katrina destroys the city's levees (dams) Barry's neighborhood is flooded with over ten feet of toxic water. While trying to wait out the storm on their roof, Barry ends up being separated from his family. Most of this story is about Barry's quest to reunite with his father, mother and sister.

There is so much I like about this story. The pace is break-neck. It doesn't slow down until the last few pages. The characters, despite the book's short length, are well-developed and entirely believable. I was surprised by how quickly I connected with Barry. But most of all, I loved how this book put me in the middle of the Katrina's tragedy. I remember learning all about what happened from watching the news. But I never was able to get a real sense of what folks went through until I read this book. 

If you like fast-paced, survival stories, I.S.: Hurricane Katrina is the story for you. And if you read this book and want more, you are in luck. It is just one of five I Survived books currently available. And if you are looking for longer, more in depth survival tales about kids dealing with powerful forces of nature, you might want to try The Killing Sea by Richard Lewis, Hatchet by Gary Paulsen or Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen. 

I.S.: Hurricane Katrina is a great tale. I rate it a nine! You'll do more than just survive this book, you'll be wanting more!

Discussion Points:

a. How does this title sound to you?

b. What part of this booktalk seems most effective at getting your attention? Least?

c. Do you have any books like this that you'd like to recommend?

d. Have you ever been through a powerful force of nature? What is your story?

Let's write!

09 Charlotte's Web

I know how I feel about reading Charlotte's Web. I'm thrilled! I love this story! I love everything about it. I love the characters. I love the setting. I love the themes. I love E.B. White's style. I love how this book is an absolutely masterful tour-de-force of writer's craft and technique.

But that is not what is really important. What I want to know are your HONEST first impressions. We read chapter one. You might have read this story before. Or maybe you've seen one of the two movie adaptations. Or maybe you just know what your friends have said about the book and their opinion has influenced your opinion.

So, let's get it all out on the table, so to speak. Don't hold back. Be honest. Share how you really feel about reading Charlotte's Web. Good, bad or ambivalent (that means you don't care one way or the other), tell us your opinions.

And just so you know, I am taking it as a personal challenge to get each of you to love this story as much as I do by the time we finish reading!


Discussion Points:
a. How do you feel about reading Charlotte's Web?
b. What have you heard about the story?
c. What do you know about the story?

Let's write!

BONUS: Click Here for MUCH more about Charlotte's Web. Interesting trivia. Cool facts. Videos. Pictures. Quotes. And much, much more. Check it out!

08 NaNoWriMo

Normally, these posts are all about reading novels and other stories. But this post is a little different. I want to share with you an opportunity to WRITE your very own novel.

It is called National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). Every November people from every walk of life, young and old, novice and professional, take the opportunity and join thousands of other aspiring authors in writing a novel.

For adults, that means a story of at least 50,000 words. For kids however, it means setting a personal goal of usually something in the neighborhood of 10,000 to 20,000 words. The idea is to not let quality stand in the way of quantity. In other words, write as much and as fast as you can for the entire month, and worry about how good the story is later.

I would like you to click on the link below. Explore this opportunity for yourself, read about it, then give your thoughts about NaNoWriMo.

The NaNoWriMo homepage for kids: http://ywp.nanowrimo.org/

And if NaNoWriMo sounds like something you want to try, please remember to get your parents' permission before signing up!


Discussion Points:
a. How does NaNoWriMo sound to you?
b. Have you ever taken on a major challenge of some kind, and succeeded?
c. Do you think you might like to try NaNoWriMo?
d. Would a weekly NaNoWriMo club, one that meets to share ideas and progress and frustrations, help to convince you to try it?
e. What else are you thinking about NaNoWriMo?

Let's write!

07 Bridge to Terabithia: The End

Bridge to Terabithia has come to its dramatic, and I hope satisfying, conclusion. We learned that from Leslie's tragic death were built many, new, wonderful bridges. Jess is a different person at the end of the story. He has grown up in a lot of ways. And in most ways, he has Leslie to thank. She really was an transformative person in Jess's life.

In class we talked about the many different bridges that were built at the end of the story. There were the two actual bridges: the fallen tree branch and the bridge Jess built with Bill's left-over lumber. But there were also the, get ready for it..."metaphorical" bridges; the kinds of bridges that can not be touched, but instead are used to REPRESENT the connections (remember, "real" bridges are built to connect two separate things) between two places or two people or two of anything else.

Here are some of "metaphorical" bridges we came up with as a class:

1. The bridge between Jess on earth and Leslie in the afterlife (heaven? Terabithia?).
2. The bridge between the former Queen of Terabithia, Leslie, and the new Queen, May Belle.
3. The bridge between the relationship Jess had with Leslie and the relationship he will develop with May Belle.
4. The bridge between Jess's former life as "a stupid, weird little kid who drew funny pictures and chased around a cow field trying to act big" and his new life, a life in which Leslie "tried to push back the walls of his mind and make him see beyond to the shining world - huge and terrible and beautiful and very fragile...".
5. The bridge between Jess and his father.
6. The bridge between Jess and Monster Mouth Myers.

Discussion Points:
a. What is one more bridge that was built in the end?
b. Who was your favorite character? Why?
c. Which chapter, besides the one in which Leslie dies, stands out in your mind? Why?
d. What did you rate this book? Why?
e. Please share any other feedback, positive, negative, whatever, about this story.

Please remember to be specific with your comments. Whenever you can, include specific examples from the story that show what you mean.

Let's Write!

06 Booktalk: Locomotion

The best book I've read in a long, long time. Locomotion by Jacqueline Woodson is a short story told in a series of poems written by the main character, Lonnie C. Motion.

Locomotion is about a boy, Lonnie, who, four years later, is still struggling with the death of his mom and dad. They were both killed in fire at their home. Through the course of a school year, Lonnie uses his poetry assignments to come to grips with his feelings about his parents dying, his feelings about having to separate from his sister, Lili, and his feelings about whether or not where he currently lives, with Ms. Edna, is becoming his home, or just another stop in a long series of temporary places to stay. Lonnie is dealing with a lot of very big feelings, and that produces some absolutely beautiful poems.

One of the things I liked so much about this book was how the story of Lonnie was told. Unlike most books, Lonnie's tale is told out of order. As Lonnie writes his poetry, the memories of this tragedy come back to him, but not in the same order in which they happened. Another thing I loved about this story was the poetry itself. Because his poems are also assignments from his teacher, they take many different forms. There are free verse poems, haiku, rhyming poems, epistles and even a sonnet. And each makes a statement. Each poems gives the reader insight into who Lonnie is, and how the tragedy he has been through has affected him.

As I read Locomotion, Love That Dog kept jumping to mind. The stories are similar in their form. They are both told through a student's poetry assignments. And they are similar in content. They are both about kids who have suffered a terrible tragedy. If you liked Love That Dog, I bet you will like Locomotion.

The best book I have read in more than a year. Enough said. Read Locomotion!

05 Booktalk: The Kid Who Ran For President

 The Kid Who Ran For President, by Dan Gutman, is a realistic (sort of) fiction story that is filled with facts about what it takes to become the president of the United States of America.

Judson Moon, or Moon, is a twelve-year-old whose new friend, Lane Brainard, convinces him to run for president. At first Moon thinks the whole idea is a joke. But he quickly realizes that Lane, who becomes his campaign manager, is not joking. Through a series of incredible events, Moon winds up on a winning path.

The idea of a twelve-year-old running for president, in reality, is both not constitutional or plausible. But what I loved so much about this story was how Gutman was able to make each step in Moon's campaign seem believable. I also loved Moon as a character. He is very funny. I laughed out loud a few times during the story.

If you've like other books by Dan Gutman, like The Homework Machine and The Million Dollar Shot, than I sure you'll like The Kid Who Ran For President.

If you want to read a very funny story, and learn all about what it takes to become president, The Kid Who Ran For President is the book for you!


Discussion Points:
a. How does the story sound to you? Will you read it?
b. Which paragraph of this booktalk is best? Why?
c. Does anyone have a book to booktalk in a comment?

Let's Write!

04 Protagonists

I want you to think about the protagonist, the main character, in the book you are reading independently right now.

Who is he or she? What kind of person is he or she? Funny? Brave? Sad? Athletic? Artistic? What are the traits and characteristics that make your protagonist seem real?

When you have a detailed idea of who your protagonist is in your mind, then I want you to compare that character to Jess, the protagonist in Bridge to Terabithia.

How are your protagonist and Jess the same? How are they different? What traits do they have in common? Would they get along if they were to meet and hang out? How do you know they would or wouldn't get along?

Finally, once a bunch of comments have been published, read about a classmate's protagonist and compare your protagonist to a classmate's.

So, to sum up, you are going to make two comparisons. The first comparison should be between your protagonist and Jess from Bridge to Terabithia.

The second comparison will be between your protagonist and a classmate's protagonist.

Got it?

Great!

Let's write!

03 The Nuts and Bolts of Stories

We've been breaking down stories into their most basic parts: characters who have wishes or problems, the corresponding solutions and what the characters learn.

We have been using picture books to help us understand the different ways each part of a story can look. We have also been using picture books in our practice of taking apart stories.

For example, in class we read Leonardo the Terrible Monster by Mo Willems. This story is about Leonardo. He is a monster who is different. He is too cute for his own good. He wants to be scary, but he just isn't. This makes him unhappy with himself.

In the end, Leonardo's problems are solved when he realizes that it is good to be cute and that he can be a wonderful friend.

And he learns that being different is great!



Discussion Points:

So, now it is time to see how much you understand. In your first comment on this post, please include the five basic parts of a story you have independently read, and finished or almost finished, this year:

1. The protagonist.
2. The protagonist's outer problem.
3. The protagonist's inner problem.
4. The solution(s) to the protagonist's problems.
5. What the protagonist learns.

Let's write!

02 Jess and Leslie

Jess is the main character, or protagonist, in Bridge to Terabithia. He is a ten-year-old boy who just began fifth grade. He has lived in the same town all his life. He feels like he is a scaredy-cat. He has a secret crush on one of his teachers. He loves to draw, but knows his hobby makes him a target for teasing and bullying. Jess comes from a big family. He is the only boy. Jess's father treats him differently than he treats the girls. Jess wishes he and his father had a closer relationship.

Leslie is the secondary main character. She is a not-quite-ten-year-old girl who looks like a boy. She's new to town. She comes from a rich family. She has a sense of humor. She is a very good athlete. She's fast. She is a great writer. Leslie wants to make friends with Jess.

These are the characters' traits we've talked about in class. 

Think. Hard.

What other traits do either Jess OR Leslie possess?

I would like each of you to try think of one trait no one else has thought of. Just one.

Think. You can do it.

Discussion Point:

a.What other traits do either Jess OR Leslie possess?

Let's write!

01 The Book You're Reading Now

Right now I'm reading a book called "The Barn" by Avi.

I chose this book because I've liked other books by Avi. I also read the blurb on the back cover and thought the book sounded good.

Discussion Points:
a. What book are you reading now?
b. How did you choose the book you're reading now?
c. Do you know what book you're going to read next?

Let's blog!

Welcome to Bloggin' With Your Noggin!

This year you will be writing about your reading here, on this blog. We will be talking about the books we're reading as a class, our independent reading choices and how the books we're reading are changing our lives.

I can't wait to begin!

Here is how things will work. You will read this blog on a weekly basis. Each week I hope to publish at least two new posts. Each post will be followed by Discussion Points. Discussion Points are questions meant to help you think and write deeply about the post.

You will then write one thoughtful, fairly long comment about that post. I will read and publish each comment. As each week progresses, you will revisit this blog and read the comments your classmates are writing about each post.

You will then respond to a comment one of your classmates has written.

Each of your two weekly comments will be read by me. I will grade each comment. How you're graded will be explained in class.

So, let's begin!


Discussion Points:
a. What is your reaction to having to contribute to this blog?
b. What are your questions about how this will work?

Let's blog!