Reading (8th Grade)

This class will focus on improving our reading skills. We will read aloud as well as continue with our own independent reading. There will be quizzes, projects, as well as our reading logs.

177. Thursday, May 19, 2022: We listened to some very interesting presentations on the public library and George's Museum. Thank you for sharing. We then got through The Book Thief, but not without me shedding a few tears. I really enjoyed reading this with you. CODE: The boy with the lemon hair

176. Wednesday, May 18, 2022: Today we tried to get the entire book finished, but we just didn't quite get there. Liesel found Max and was whipped for it. It also explained why she was in the basement when the bombs dropped and why she survived. We will definitely finish it tomorrow with a comparison/contrast paragraph for Friday. CODE: The Black Book

175. Tuesday, May 17, 2022: You were gone for Blood Run.

174. Monday, May 16, 2022: We started by talking about the many names for Liesel - book thief, word shaker, shaumensch, foster daughter, sister, friend. We read to page 507. I know we'll be able to finish the book tomorrow? Wednesday for sure. CODE: Mama and Papa are dead

173. Friday, May 13, 2022: We talked about courage. There wasn't a coward to be found in the Huberman household. We shared the various times we've witnessed courage by a character. Then we read to page 478. Again, Mrs. Luxford is reading as well, so be sure to stay caught up that way. CODE: returning the plate

172. Thursday, May 12, 2022: Since we discussed the characterization of Hans Huberman, I thought it would be prudent (smart) to also look at Rosa Huberman. She's really made a lot of changes since the beginning of the novel. At first, I really thought she was mean-spirited, but as the book has progressed, I can see her change - soften. We read up to page 430. Mrs. Luxford is reading as well, so you'll need to see if she added any pages. CODE: Saying good-bye to Papa

171. Wednesday, May 11, 2022: We discussed how the characterization Hans Hubermann. Then we read. I'm not sure where we left off (I forgot to look at the page number.) Mrs. Luxford is reading with you as well because we want to be sure we finish this amazing book. CODE: Max is gone.

170. Tuesday, May 10, 2022: We started class by talking about the characterization of Death. Characterization is what a character says, does (behaves), looks like, and what others say about them. We thought maybe Death was kind (he carries the children in his arms), honest (he hasn't lied to us yet), gentle (the way he feels for the souls he carries), and in today's reading we learned even more. We read to page 370. Mrs. Luxford and I are working on the pacing to finish the book before the end of the year. CODE: He isn't Jesse Owens!

169. Monday, May 9, 2022: Again, our focus is reading the story together. We did take a moment and discuss the antangonist(s) in the novel. There are many - Franz, Viktor, cold, lack of resources, and of course, the Nazi's and Hitler. We read until page 347. We're almost done with Part VI. CODE: air raid shelters

168. Friday, May 6, 2022: We spent most of the class period reading The Book Thief. That's really our focus right now, so that we can be sure that we finish. We read until page 325. CODE: 13 presents for Max

167. Thursday, May 5, 2022: We're trying to set enough time aside so we can finish The Book Thief. We read until page 292 today. We'll finish part five tomorrow. Could you live in a basement for several years? CODE: The Whistler

166. Wednesday, May 4, 2022: May the "fourth" be with you! We started with a discussion of how Liesel and Max were the same and also how they were each unique. Then I read until page 277. We have a schedule we have to stay to in order to finish the book by the end of the year. I'm confident we'll get there. CODE: Victor

165. Tuesday, May 3, 2022: We shared our character autopsies. They looked great! I'm so proud of how hard you've worked on projects related to Night. Then we read to page 258. We have to be sure we stick to a strong reading schedule so we can finish by the end of the year. CODE: weatherman

164. Monday, May, 2022: We watched a short news clip telling us about the discovery of underground tunnels that were used to hide Jews in the Ukraine. We finished part IV and read a little into part 5. We got up to page 248 (where the dice is). CODE: The Standover Man

163. Friday, April 29, 2022: We watched a short film on the Danish hero who saved over 300 Jews. Then we read another portion of The Book Thief. We read up to page 222. CODE: Liesel's 12

162. Thursday, April 28, 2022: I explained a bit about the famous German boxer Max Schmelling. Understanding this allusion helps us make stronger connections to Max in the book - he was a boxer, he might even have been named after Max. Max Schmelling was also famous for saving two Jewish children. Understanding allusions helps us understand a book more deeply. We then read to page 210. CODE: Rosa's reaction

161. Wednesday, April 27, 2022: We read a few chapters from Book Thief. I extended the due date for our character autopsies (Tuesday). CODE: Matt the fighter

160. Tuesday, April 26, 2022: We moved our art projects to the library today. Mrs. Rockman helped us find the best places for their display. The rest of the class period was spent reading independently. It seems so long since we did that. Tomorrow we will pick up our Book Thief and continue on that journey. CODE: relax and read

159. Monday, April 25, 2022: We got our art projects ready for presentation. Then we presented them along with our paragraphs. We will use classtime tomorrow to set them up in the library. We will then continue to work on our character autopsies of Ellie Wiesel. CODE: art project

158. Friday, April 22, 2022: I'm sorry that I was gone today. I think I had everything set up for the class to run smoothly. The agenda was posted to your Google Classroom Stream. I got a few of your paragraphs in my email, and I still have to run them off. I have an issue because I don't have a printer hooked up to my loaner computer, but I'll figure it out. I'm so excited to see your art projects on Monday! I think they will be amazing. CODE: prom

157. Thursday, April 21, 2022: We talked a bit about the field trip, and we were honest in our appraisal. Then we used the rest of the class period to work our projects. I reminded everyone about the need for a quote and how to construct their paragraphs. We will be running them off and mounting them to black paper so they can sit next to our art. We will be presenting our art on Monday. CODE: soft soothing voice

156. Wednesday, April 20, 2022: I wasn't here because I was at the Federal Judiciary Summit. I know that the speaker was a little hard to understand and that we had hoped it was live. That's on me, but it couldn't have been live as he would have spent the entire two hours would have been him walking around. Auschwitz is so big he couldn't have shared all that he did in the two hours we had with him. CODE: January, 1945.

155. Tuesday, April 19, 2022: We had our virtual field trip. I hope you thought it was informative and worth the experience. I don't know what to think. I'm so overwhelmed with the information he provided. CODE: 80% died

154. Thursday, April 14, 2022: We discussed the importance of our field trip on Tuesday. We read a few posts from other participants. On Tuesday, you will be dismissed around 12:50 to go to the auditorium. I will hand you a blank index card to write down any questions you may have during the presentation. Also bring something to hard to write on - a book, a binder, etc. The rest of the class we worked on our character autopsy. CODE: Easter

153. Wednesday, April 13, 2022: We finished reading the part two of The Book Thief. Mrs. Luxford needs us to read so that she can keep you on track with the vocabulary and lessons. With that being said, I handed out a character autopsy we will do in class. Our art projects are due next Friday, and you will have Wednesday and Thursday of next week to work on them. You may bring in your art supplies and we'll find places to store them. CODE: burning books

152. Tuesday, April 12, 2022: We finished the book Night. All of us want more. We want to know what happened after the liberation, how did he reconnect with his sisters, what happened next? We completed the questions related to the book. It was a good (good) book. CODE: corpse

151. Monday, April 11, 2022: We finished reading both Chapters 7-8. I started to cry during part of Chapter 8, and I barely held it together for the end of the chapter. Our book is nearly finished. I know he's going to be liberated, but what he went through is beyond what our minds can comprehend. I'd like to find something else to supplement this book. CODE: Burchenwald

150. Friday, April 8, 2022: We finished reading Chapter 6. We then watched a short video about the importance of music in the concentration camps. For some people, it's what kept them alive. I handed out a worksheet that reviewed the events of Chapter 6. We will read the rest of the book together next week, finishing Night before Easter break. CODE: Beethoven

149. Thursday, April 7, 2022: I was a little late returning from speaking to the Kiwanis, so Mrs. Lyon was watching you. When I did return, we began to read Chapter 6. We didn't get it quite completed, but we'll finish it tomorrow. CODE: suffocation

148. Wednesday, April 6, 2022: We started by watching a short film about forced marches. Then we shared our ideas about our upcoming art projects. Finally, we answered the reading comprehension questions for Chapter 5. We will tackle Chapter 6 tomorrow. CODE: Where is God?

147. Tuesday, April 5, 2022: We discussed the importance of standing up for others regardless of whether it affects us or not. Then we finished reading the rest of chapter 5. After reading, find your vocabulary words, and it's important to continue to think of your art project. CODE: march

146. Monday, April 4, 2022: We learned a little about Rosh Hashana (through a video), and then we read from pages 66-75. At the conclusion of today's reading, we're not sure what has happened to Ellie's father. CODE: Happy New Year?

145. Friday, April 1, 2022: We worked on our own crossword puzzle, and most of us only needed to look at our notes for one or two clues. Then we reviewed some tips or tricks for ISASP testing. Finally, we finished our reading comprehension questions for part 4. CODE: Swing Show

144. Thursday, March 31, 2022: We finished reading Chapter 4, then we took time to create a crossword puzzle reviewing our vocabulary words. The puzzle was then copied and sent to me. I printed them off, and tomorrow we're going to try and do them together. CODE: the gallows

143. Wednesday, March 30, 2022: We talked about our field trip on April 19th. It's exciting that we will get to see Auschwitz and hear from someone who's been there. Then we read the rest of Chapter 4 - well, we have one more page to finish up. We will finish that tomorrow. I handed out an art project to represent one them found in the book Night. Read the directions carefully, and you will have time to work on it when we finish the book. CODE: missing gold crown

142. Tuesday, March 29, 2022: We didn't read Night because there were so many people gone for TAG and other things. Everyone had time to read their own independent novel. CODE: April 19

141. Monday, March 28, 2022: You were to explain the book to Mrs. Chadwick. Include Moshe, the ghetto, the transports, Madam Schachter, their cousin from Antwerp, and the eight words he'll never forget. You were to turn in your journals and grab a new one. At your tables work on the reading comprehension questions from Chapter 3 and complete #1-2 of Chapter 4 (Mrs. Chadwick will have handed it out.) We will pick up our reading tomorrow. CODE: Idek the Kappo

140. Friday, March 25, 2022: No school because of parent-teacher conferences.

139. Thursday, March 24, 2022: We discussed our upcoming field trip to Auschwitz. Then we read up to page 54. On Monday there will be a substitute, and you will work on your reading comprehension questions. CODE: gold crown

138. Wednesday, March 23, 2022: We played another Wordle, and then discussed one-word sentences and how Wiesel used single words so that they were both a theme and symbol. For example, "night" means more than just a time of day. It also symbolizes the Holocaust. What about the word "never" or "run". We then finished reading Chapter 3. Tomorrow we're going to work with vocabulary and finish the reading comprehension questions. CODE: Moving out!

137. Tuesday, March 22, 2022: We started with another Wordle, and Kayla got it pretty quickly. Then we read a survivor's story that was closely related to Elie's. She, along with her sisters, arrived at Auschwitz in July, and Elie arrived in May. We then read pages 34-41. We will finish Chapter 3 tomorrow. CODE: the barber

136. Monday, March 21, 2022: We started class with a Wordle, and that was fun. Then we watched a 10-minute NBC documentary about returning to Auschwitz. For our bell ringers, we're going to watch as many survivors' stories as we can. We then completed the reading comprehension questions related to the reading (up to page 34). CODE: 8 Unforgetable Words

135. Friday, March 18, 2022: We continued with our book Night. We read chapter 2, and because we were so invested, we read up to page 34 in Chapter 3. I handed out some discussion questions, but we didn't quite get there, so that's where we'll pick up on Monday. CODE: Never

134. Thursday, March 17, 2022: Our seating chart was a review of key terms, people, and concepts from the preface and Chapter 1. Then we watched a 10-minute video on what life in the ghettos was like. Then I shared the story of Irene Sendler - life in a jar. I also shared how important books were and the story of the Librarian of Auschwitz. We will pick up the book again tomorrow and read Chapter 2. CODE: Life in a Jar

133. Wednesday, March 16, 2022: We worked the entire class period working on questions related to the first chapter. We did a "dinner party format" and it seemed to work well. We then talked about "Who am I?" and an identity box. We're going to try and keep track of qualities as we learn who Elie Wiesel and create an identify box for him. CODE: Who am I?

132. Tuesday, March 15, 2022: We shared our words and illustrations. Then we finished the rest of the first section. I guess we're not really supposed to call them "chapters" as he divided into sections. I distributed a worksheet that we will be working on tomorrow (Wednesday). Then Thursday we're going to work on a small project with a quiz on Friday. CODE: transports

131. Monday, March 14, 2022: We went through a few statements as a pre-reading for the book. We then began reading. We were introduced to Moishe the Beadle, We read from pages 3-14. It's so surprising how many of them didn't believe any of the stories - even when they heard it directly from an eye-witness. CODE: ghetto

130. Friday, March 11, 2022: Day of Great Expectations

129. Thursday, March 10, 2022: We finished reading the preface. We also shared words that we found hard to understand. It seems "intrinsic" was a big one. We'll pick up the rest of the book on Monday. CODE: Sighet (Wiesel's hometown)

128. Wednesday, March 9, 2022: We shared the "hot" spots from yesterday's website. I introduced the vocabulary journal - choose three words, define, then of those three, choose one to illustrate. We then read the prologue (pg. vii-xiii). CODE: Nobel Peace Prize

127. Tuesday, March 8, 2022: Today we completed more activities related to the autobiography Night. We looked at various pieces of art and compared it to actual photographs. All of us could feel the "evil" from the photographs. Everyone is doing a great job working on these activities. Please complete the last section of the worksheet. CODE: bunks

126. Monday, March 7, 2022: Today we did several activities related to the autobiography Night. We used two steps to look at pictures related to Auswitch-Birchneau. We will do another activity related to the story. This will be a more difficult novel, so we need to take some time prior to reading. CODE: passport

122-125: You read this week. I know you're ready to start our next novel. We'll get there!

121. Friday, February 25, 2022: Just keep reading, just keep reading! CODE: tea bag

120. Thursday, February 24, 2022: Today I announced that we're doing an about-face. Since we can't get our hands on The Book Thief, we will be switching to the autobiography Night. However, I'm going to be gone next week, so we'll start it when I return. CODE: switch-a-roo

119. Wednesday, February 23, 2022: We're still short books. I'm in the process of calling all over in order to find them, so for now, you're stuck with me. I read to page 9. We discussed the personality of the narrator. It seems so strange that we're talking about the narrator as being "nice" (although he doesn't like that word.) CODE: white

118. Tuesday, February 22, 2022: What a fun date! I introduced the book The Book Thief. Unfortunately, we don't have copies yet, but I'm working on it. The narrator is Death, and we discussed maybe what we thought he might look like. We watched a short interview with the author. Tomorrow we're going to begin reading, and that might mean - I'm an audiobook! CODE: Death

117. Friday, February 18, 2022: I was gone to All-State, but class should have been spent reading your independent book choice. On Tuesday, we will begin reading The Book Thief. This is one of my favorite books, and I know you're going to love it as well. CODE: Friday

116. Thursday, February 17, 2022: You make my heart feel good when you ask me to find another book to read. I will try and find something as a read-along. Otherwise, people read their own books. I was eavesdropping and heard that many of you are in the middle of a good book. I'm glad you're finding something you are enjoying. CODE: bobsledding

115. Wednesday, February 16, 2022: It was nice to see so many of you back. Today we are reading our own individual novels. I think we miss the "structure" of reading something together. Maybe I need to find a book for us to read. CODE: Olympic skiers

114. Tuesday, February 15, 2022: Today we had quite a few people gone - band lessons, TAG, and illness. Good thing we're done with the novel. The time was spent getting your reading steps in. CODE: relaxation

113. Monday, February 14, 2022: We finished the book Flygirl. We were all disappointed that we didn't find out about how things ended with Ida Jones. Did she return home and the lifestyle of a colored woman or did she continue to "pass" and fly? We all said we would read another book by her. I really enjoyed this book. I learned a lot. CODE: Sherri L. Smith

112. Friday, February 11, 2022: We discussed whether this book changed our attitude towards women in the military. We read page 242 and beyond (I can't remember what the page number), but we read the next two pages. CODE: Ida Mae Jones

111. Thursday, February 10, 2022: I managed to find some images of the planes the WASPs were known for flying. It was interesting how different each plane was. Today we read pages 229-241. This was an exciting chapter about the flying of the B-29. We're getting close to finishing the book. CODE: Widowmaker

110. Wednesday, February 9, 2022: We predicted whether Ida Mae would continue to "pass" for the rest of her life or whether she would return to her life as a black woman. Most believed that she would get caught. We then read about her first few months in the military. She nearly was killed by a young kid, and it was then she realized that she could die by someone else's hand and not her own. Now she's off on a special mission. We read up pages 218-228. CODE: A-25

109. Tuesday, February 8, 2022: We discussed how difficult it must be for Ida Mae to return to being "black" once she was home. She is definitely stuck between two worlds - that can't be easy. We read the entire chapter 20 (pg. 202-218). CODE: Miss Mary

108. Monday, February 7, 2022: This author uses several words that make us uncomfortable because we don't use them any more - n----r, colored, etc. Why do you think she does that? Would the book change if she used more contemporary or acceptable words? We then read to page 202. Don't forget to turn in your reading logs. CODE: Thomas is home!

107. Friday, February 4, 2022: How do you think Mama would feel being treated as a second class citizen by her daughter? Not that Ida Mae wanted to treat her that way. We read two chapters, only because we couldn't stop at one. All of us agreed that we didn't see that turn of events. And most of us didn't like it! I will admit that I had a few tears as I read. We read from page 171-190. CODE: six feet under

106. Thursday, February 3, 2022: Do you think the store clerk is going to turn in Ida? How will she continue to keep the secret? We then read from pg. 153-167. We read about Mama visiting and all the trouble she brings with it. Poor Ida Mae - she couldn't even hug her own mother. This had to be so hard! CODE: Christmas

105. Wednesday, February 2, 2022: How would Mama and Grandy feel about the decisions Ida Mae is making? They know she's "passing," but would they be happy with her swim test, dancing with a white man, going into a "whites only" bar? We then read pages 129-152. This was an exciting chapter as it seemed like Ida Ma might get caught, and it made us all rather nervous. What would happen if her secret got out? CODE: awl

104. Tuesday, February 1, 2022: We discussed how Ida Mae has changed since the beginning of the book. We all agree that she seems more confident and sure of herself. We then read from pages 128-141. This reading goes a little into the next chapter. This chapter was more about her "passing" and the struggles she experienced from that. Also, we learn about the Link - a simulator that she struggled to master. CODE: the Link

103. Monday, January 31, 2022: We discussed, very briefly, the idea of Ida Mae "passing". Mrs. Luxford should have shared with you a video I found this weekend. We read pages 119-127. CODE: washout

102. Friday, January 28, 2022: Today we discussed the differences between a dynamic and a static character. A dynamic character will change as a result of the conflict and challenges, while a static character remains relatively the same. We all agreed that Ida Mae is a dynamic character, but we did discuss a bit whether Patsy is a static character or simply a consistent character. We then read up to page 118. I feel so good when you ask to keep reading. It makes me feel good. I really like the book as well. CODE: Baker's Pond.

101. Thursday, January 27, 2022: Since we discussed round characters yesterday, today was about the flat ones. I would think Mr. Martin, the flight instructor, is a flat character. I don't anticipate that we're going to see another side of him. I could be wrong. We then read from pages 100-107 for one step: CODE: flashback

100. Wednesday, January 26, 2022: We talked about what a round character looks like. We thought that, of course, Ida Mae was a round character, and maybe Jolene, Mother, and Patsy. We also agreed that Lily might be a round character as well. The opposite of that is a flat character, and we have several of those as well. One flat character was introduced today - the flight instructor. We read from page 89-99. Look for round characters within your own novel. CODE: airplane loop

99. Tuesday, January 25, 2022: We looked at an excerpt about Mrs. Deaton, and we looked for clues to whether she is a positive or negative character. As we read pages 73-88, we stopped occasionally to see if a character was positive or negative. For tomorrow, in your own independent reading book, look for positive or negative characters. CODE: Glorious food!

98. Monday, January 24, 2022: We discussed how we can learn things from literature. How do we handle disagreements with our parents? Ida Mae lied, as well as hid things from her mother. Things went a lot better for her when she told her the truth. In fact, her family could help her solve some of her problems. Today we read pages 64-72. We learn about her journey to Texas, meeting Patty Kake, and being nervous about pretending to be white. CODE: whiskey

97. Friday, January 21, 2022: We played BINGO as well as had participants' pictures in the library. Because of this, we didn't have a lot of time to do our independent reading. We did get the next chapter read. Here Ida May found out she was accepted into WASP school, and the family is weighing its options. CODE: Texas

96. Thursday, January 20, 2022: Well, you're stuck with me again. You have been reading the book Fly Girl and last night I read the first five chapters, so we could experience the book together. You helped me put things together through a little summary, and then we read pg. 50-57. CODE: passing

95. Wednesday, January 19, 2022: This will be the last day where you read just your independent reading book. Mrs. Luxford has asked me to read Fly Girl with you. I'm excited to have something to read with you again. I took pages read, and I think I'll continue to do that - just to get an idea of reading speed. CODE: Tomorrow

94. Tuesday, January 18, 2022: We got a new seating chart today, so if you were gone for TAG or were sick, we'll get you situated tomorrow. Just a reminder that if you finish a book, I want you to put the name of the new book on your pink card. We're keeping track, as best we can, of the pages you're reading. We want to see what your reading speed is, and eventually, we want to see how your reading comprehension is holding up. CODE: high diving for clowns (it's the cartoon).

93. Monday, January 17, 2022: I handed out a pink card where you were to write the title of your independent reading book, the total number of pages, and what page you're currently reading. Then at the end of class every day, I'm going to take down the page number of your book. This is the way we're going to keep track of your reading speed. CODE: sprinkles

We didn't have class on Friday.

92. Thursday, January 13, 2022: You will be reading in class your individual reading books. You'll need to work on your modern American historical fiction book.

91. Wednesday, January 12, 2022: We finished the book. It was the general concession that we liked this book. I can definitely say that I didn't see the ending coming. I liked how the author provided information five years down the line. I like learning how characters turn out.

90. Tuesday, January 11, 2022: We discussed whether Sandy McSmothers was Sam Westing, and if he was, why was he in disguise. We then read Chapter 26 and up to page 194. I think we'll finish the book tomorrow, and if not, definitely by Thursday. CODE: Sacrificing the Queen

89. Monday, January 10, 2022: We started class by discussing the connection between Judge Ford and Sam Westing - he paid for her education. Does that mean she doesn't have a motive (reason) to kill him? We then read chapters 23-24. Things are getting good! Sandy McSmothers is dead - poisoned! Crow confessed that she was the answer, and she was arrested. Now everyone else can inherit the hundreds of millions of dollars. CODE: Who is Sam Westing?

88. Friday, January 7, 2022: We took the lyrics to "America the Beautiful" and highlighted all the words that were given as clues. Then we read Chapter 22. We will finish the book next week. CODE: Turtle

87. Thursday, January 6, 2022: We discussed what penance was and why Crow may feel she needs to pay penance for something done to Sam Wexler. We then read Chapter 21 and finally, the book revealed that the clues had to do with the song America the Beautiful. We figured that out a long time ago. What is the connection between Crow, Grace, and Angela? I think this is key. CODE: Theo

86. Wednesday, January 5, 2022: We shared things from our holidays and then we read Chapters 19-20. We don't have much left of the story, and I think there are some really good theories out there. CODE: Who's the thief?

82. Monday, December 20, 2021: We spent quite a bit of time trying to remember all the characters and their connection to Sam Westing. I think we did a pretty good job of a review. Then we read Chapter 17 and up to page 125. We will read tomorrow, and then pick up the book after Christmas break. CODE: stock market

81. Friday, December 17, 2021: We solved the riddle of an overheard conversation, and then discussed why Angela lied about Sydelle's condition. We read Chapters 15-16, both pretty short chapters. It's the day of Angela's bridal shower, and if we are to believe the ending, we now know that Angela is the bomber. I'm not sure why she targeted herself, but that's the cliffhanger at the end of Chapter 16. CODE: fireworks

80. Thursday, December 16, 2021: We solved the riddle, but mysteriously there wasn't a bell ringer today. I probably spaced out and forgot to put one in. We then read Chapter 14. Angela visited Sydell in the hospital, and she was so sweet and continued with Sydell's lie about being sick. Angela recognized that Sydell needed to feel important or at least pitied. Every one is still running around working on their clues. Sandy, the door keeper enjoys working with Judge Ford, and Turtle and Flora are losing money on the stock market, but they're convinced that's the way to win the entire estate. I'm lost as to who is the murderer. CODE: American the Beautiful

79. Wednesday, December 15, 2021: We tried to figure out who the "mistake" was. Some thought maybe it was Chris, maybe it's Angela. Another name thrown out there was Mrs. Hoo. The identity of the bookie was revealed - Jake Wexler. We're not quite sure as there can be a lot of false clues as well. We read Chapter 13. It's clear we won't finish the book prior to Christmas break, but hopefully, we'll remember the details. CODE: a second bomb

78. Tuesday, December 14, 2021: We looked at the clue board, and Lindsey had the great idea that the words might come from the song "America the Beautiful." I thought that as well, but some key words were missing, but everyone reminded me we don't have all the words. We then read Chapters 11-12. They met in the coffee shop and decided to ask questions. CODE: Is her name Alice or Tabitha-Ruth?

77. Monday, December 13, 2021: We tried to review things, but sometimes it's difficult when there's been three days between our reading. We then read chapter 10 - the Party. Angela and Sydelle dressed as twins because they were desperate to finding out if any of the other heirs were twins. CODE: Judge Ford

76. Thursday, December 9, 2021: We discussed our predictions who was the burglar, who was the bomber, and who might be the mistake. We then finished chapter 8 and read chapter 9. We will try to get through this book completed prior to Christmas break, but it will be a task. CODE: blizzard (in the book and here in Iowa)

75. Wednesday, December 8, 2021: We read Chapter 8 (well, not all of it). Each of the pairs is starting to share their clues. I put those clues up on the bulletin board. Hopefully, it helps us figure out the mystery. CODE: Sydell Pulaski

74. Tuesday, December 7, 2021: We tried to collaborate a bit. During Chapters 6-7, we heard more about Mr. Westing's game. Each of the heirs was called his "nieces and nephews," but we were confused how that could be as their various nationalities and occupations make it confusing. I'm enjoying this book just as much as you, and I'm reading it for the first time as well. CODE: The Butler did it!

73. Monday, December 6, 2021: We read Chapters 4-5. In these chapters Mr. Westin's body has been found, but we've definitely heard some clues. We'll tackle more chapters and more clues tomorrow. CODE: silver cross

72. Friday, December 3, 2021: I was gone today, and you students decided that we wouldn't continue to read The Westing Game until Monday. CODE: weekend vibes!

71. Thursday, December 2, 2021: We created our five detective agencies. Everyone chose a task - keep track of the characters (2 people), one keep track of the jobs, occupations, and finally, someone keep track of the timeline. On the back of the paper, everyone is supposed to write down clues as they seem to come up. We read Chapters 2-3 today. We won't read tomorrow because I'm going to be gone, and the class wanted to wait for me (made me feel good). So tomorrow will be a day where you read your independent book. CODE: purple wave

70. Wednesday, December 1, 2021: We caught up from the last two days. I distributed the book The Westing Game, and then we read the first chapter. You will be put into a detective agency, and your team will be asked to keep track of the clues and try and decide what happens and whodunit. We would have read more, but there were several people gone today because of TAG. We'll tackle a few more chapters tomorrow. CODE: Sunset Towers

69. Tuesday, November 30, 2021: Today the agenda is posted to Google Classroom. We watched the qualities of a mystery and then a book trailer about the Westing Game . We will tackle the book starting tomorrow. CODE: mystery

68. Monday, November 29, 2021: Because I was sick, the class period was spent reading for your steps. CODE: the flu stinks!

67. Wednesday, November 24, 2021: We reviewed the riddle - you are getting better and better at these! Then we read a short story "Two Thanksgiving Gentlemen". The rest of the class was spent reading our books. If you need a reading log, grab one. I photocopied some new ones. CODE: turkey and stuffing.

66. Tuesday, November 23, 2021: We reviewed the riddle, and then finished our discussion of the movie and the book. I asked whether this book should be read next year, and for the most part, the answer is yes. Tomorrow we're going to read an O.Henry story - Two Thanksgiving Gentlemen. The rest of the class was spent reading. CODE: Marlin is silenced!

65. Monday, November 22, 2021: We reviewed the riddle, and then discussed how the depiction of the Boston Tea Party was handled with the movie. Finally, we finished the movie. We will be reading for the next two days, and then start a new book on Monday after Thanksgiving. CODE: Revolutionary War

64. Friday, November 19, 2021: The riddle was solved very quickly! There are some of you who are quick when it comes to these riddles. We then watched about 35 minutes of the video. CODE: The Liberty Tree (scene in the movie).

63. Thursday, November 18, 2021: Today was the first day of our movie/book comparison. We watched about 30 minutes of the video. Everyone did a great job looking for ways to compare and contrast on the Venn diagram. We will continue to watch it tomorrow.

62. Wednesday, November 17, 2021: We finished the book. Although it started slow, it definitely got better the second half of the book. Tomorrow we will start comparing and contrasting the book and movie. CODE: Three Stars

61. Tuesday, November 16, 2021: We solved the riddle, and then jumped in and read from pages 247 to 256. We have about thirteen pages left, and it is my hope we will finish the book tomorrow. CODE: Pumpkin

60. Monday, November 15, 2021: I first did a little inventory check. Several of you have books checked out from me, and I'm trying to get a handle on where they all are. Then we read from pages 237-247. Hopefully we can finish this book by the end of the week, so we can watch the movie prior to Thanksgiving. CODE: Johnny is a Lyte!

59. Friday, November 12, 2021: I was gone, and I couldn't get the reading link to work, so you were given time to read your independent reading book the entire class period. I did share during the bellringer that Doctor Warren, who goes to help the wounded in Lexington and Concord eventually starts fighting with the rebels and unfortunately, dies early in the war. I'll see you Monday. CODE: Doctor Warren

58. Thursday, November 11, 2021: It seemed so appropriate to be reading Johnny Tremain on Veteran's Day. We read about the events of April 19, 1775 from Johnny's perspective. Remember he actually wasn't at Lexington or Concord, so we're seeing through his eyes what's going on back in Boston. We will finish the book towards the beginning of next week, and then we'll watch the movie. CODE: General Gage

57. Wednesday, November 10, 2021: We watched a short video about what happened on April 19, 1775. Then we read the last of the chapter "Disperse You Rebels". It is now April 19th in our book, and we'll see if what happened in history is what is described in our book. CODE: the bridge

56. Tuesday, November 9, 2021: Our first named character, Pumpkin, was killed in yesterday's reading. We then shared some of our predictions for the rest of the novel. We then read from page 213-221. Rab leaves Boston for good and returns to Lexington to drill with the regiments there. CODE: Yankee Doodle

55. Monday, November 8, 2021: We started by reminding ourselves how an author builds suspense. We then read from pages 203-213. We were all a little sad when Pumpkin, a British soldier who helped Johnny, was executed for desertion. CODE: desertion

54. Friday, November 5, 2021: No class, because no school.

53. Thursday, November 4, 2021: No class. I hope you enjoyed the matinee. CODE: Fester and the Moon

52. Wednesday, November 3, 2021: We watched a little Schoolhouse Rock - "The Shot Heard 'Round the World'. We reviewed Mr. Otis's predictions for the future. Then we read "The Scarlet Deluge" (part 1). CODE: Mr. Otis

51. Tuesday, November 2, 2021: We tried to guess how much time had passed since the beginning of the book. We think it's over a year. Johnny was 14 when the story started, and now he's nearly 16, so we're guessing a year to eighteen months. We then read from pages 181-193. Each of us can really feel the tension that is building. The World is Going to Change! CODE: Cilla Tremain

50. Monday, November 1, 2021: We read pages 171-181 today. We can feel the tension building in the story and in history. We watched a TED talk on the Boston Tea Party and the events that followed. CODE: Weapons were scarce!

49. Friday, October 29, 2021: Since we had the send-off for the cross country team, when we returned, we just read from our independent reading book. Be sure to fill out your steps. CODE: State Cross-Country.

48. Thursday, October 28, 2021: Today we discussed nonviolent resistance. The colonists have a choice - be violent or try to get their point through peaceful means. Some would say that the tea part was a nonviolent way to protest the taxes. Others would say it was violent. We then read pages 161-171. CODE: tar and feathered.

47. Wednesday, October 27, 2021: Today we looked at the body language clues. This is a skill we need for real life, but as readers we want to notice those little clues to help us understand what the character is feeling. We then read parts 3 and 4. CODE: Goblin's not for sale!

46. Tuesday, October 26, 2021: We discussed how Johnny was a typical teenager (16 year old) and how he wasn't. He's a little selfish and focuses on himself. We then read the second section of the chapter. CODE: Cilla works for the Lytes.

45. Monday, October 25, 2021: We had fun sharing our "marks". I really learned a lot about you. Then we read Johnny Tremain the first part of the chapter entitled "Fiddler's Bill". To pay the fiddler means one has to pay for the actions or deeds you did. Sometimes it is also referred to as paying the piper. CODE: Port Tax

44. Friday, October 22, 2021: We read the story of the Boston Tea Party. Many of us were surprised at what we thought we knew, and what the book said actually happened. For example, that the tea party wasn't done in secret. There were thousands of people watching as the tea was thrown overboard. Paul Revere also cleaned the ship to be sure there weren't any damages to the ship. Have a great weekend. CODE: Me Know You.

43. Thursday, October 21, 2021: We watched a short video about Sam Adams. What the video didn't say was how awful he was with his money. He had so many businesses fail; he lost money on almost every business venture. He was, however, instrumental to helping us win our independence. We read part 2-3 of the chapter "Salt-Water Tea." CODE: December 16

42. Wednesday, October 20, 2021: We didn't share our marks, because I didn't have time to post them around the room. Tomorrow I hope to get them hung up. We read the start of the chapter "Salt Water Tea." Events are starting to get more serious. I described the consequences of the choices the men and women face if they get caught supporting the patriots. (hung by the neck until dead, decapitated, disemboweled, and burned). It was a decision that shouldn't be taken lightly. We read pages 113-121. CODE: taxation without representation.

41. Tuesday, October 19, 2021: Everyone turned in their marks. We will share them tomorrow. We read from page 108-113 (the end of the chapter entitled "Boston Observer".) If you read for fifteen more minutes, you will have two steps. Johnny is being changed as he lives longer with Rab. CODE: The Sons of Liberty

40. Monday, October 18, 2021: We looked at a few signs and people's marks from colonial times. Anyone who was done with their marks, can turn it in, but I will collect them tomorrow. We read from page 99-108 (#2-3 of the chapter entitled "Boston Observer".) If you read for ten more minutes, you will have two steps. Please turn in your reading logs, and collect a new one. CODE: Goblin

39. Friday, October 15, 2021: We had several people gone today for mass band practice. Therefore, we didn't read too much; we got to page 99 (#2 of the Chapter entitled Boston Observer.) Several asked to hold their reading logs until Monday, so they could count their steps over the weekend. That will be our schedule now. CODE: horse-boy

38. Thursday, October 14, 2021: We discussed a "mark". In the story, signs outsides shops and even the mark of a silversmith was a way to identify a person. Since so many people couldn't read, they needed a mark. We discussed developing our own "marks". I handed a blank sheet of paper so we could develop our own sign or mark. Then we read to page 91. Johnny got out of prison, thanks to Cilla and Isannah, and he even got his silver cup back. CODE: a mark

37. Wednesday, October 13, 2021: Today we reviewed our reading by sharing our questions and answers (index cards from yesterday). Then we read from pages 58-84. None of us saw the arrest of Johnny Tremain coming, but it definitely threw us for a loop. Remember to get your independent steps in! CODE: borrowed coat.

36. Tuesday, October 12, 2021: We started by discussing how Rab and Johnny may be foils - characters who are opposites. Their contrasts help us understand the other better. We then finished Chapter 3. We read how Johnny visited Mr. Hancock but because he couldn't write, he couldn't get a job for him. Mr. Hancock, feeling sorry for Johnny, gave him a bag of money which he promptly wasted. Returning home with gifts for Cilla and Isannah, Isannah then cried that she didn't want Johnny to touch her. This was the last straw, and Johnny left. We now know he's going to contact Mr. Lyte - a person his mother said to go to if only there was nothing else he could do. It is his last resort. CODE: the Long W

35. Monday, October 11, 2021: We discussed possible apprenticeships for Johnny Tremain. In today's reading we were introduced to the character Rab. Johnny just wants a job that will challenge him and allow him to use his creativity. We read from page 51-58. CODE: Myra the pig

34. Friday, October 8, 2021: We did a little prediction of what we thought would happen to Johnny now that he was injured. Then we read until page 51. Several students were gone due to band, but you'll need to turn in your logs and read up to the next chapter. We noticed a contrast and contradiction in that Cilla and Isannah didn't tease him anymore, now he isn't the "golden boy" in the household. CODE: cooper (barrel maker)

33. Thursday, October 7, 2021: We watched a short video on John Hancock. We're still trying to gather that background knowledge. Then we read up to page 41. We learned a little about working on a Sunday, and we're also noticing the repetition of the concept of Johnny's pride. Remember to complete your reading logs completely. That information is submitted to the state, and you should try as best as you can to fill it out fully and accurately. CODE: Paul Revere

32. Wednesday, October 6, 2021: We watched a video on life in colonial America. Hopefully, we can put together some background information. We then read for fifteen minutes before reading from your own independent book. We got to page 33. CODE: the Lytes

31. Tuesday, October 5, 2021: Before we could get going too far in our book, the fire alarm went off. After we enjoyed a few minutes outside, we then read our novel from page 14-25 (up to #5). We were introduced to Mr. John Hancock. We discussed that it seems like things are leading to a turning point in the story. CODE: Put your "John Hancock" right here!

30. Monday, October 4, 2021: We did our gallery walk for Tentacles. Some of your projects look amazing. Wow! What time and effort! I am so impressed and proud of your work. We then distributed the books Johnny Tremain, and although they are pretty beat up, we should be able to nurse them through another reading. We analyzed the covers of the two types of books that we had. We noticed several similarities and also some differences. We then read until page 14 (my book or up to #2). CODE: Boston.

29. Friday, October 1, 2021: We worked on our one-pagers until about 1:20, and then the last twenty minutes were spent reading our independent reading book. Everyone turned in their logs and grabbed a new one. We will be sharing our one-pagers on Monday along with reading Johnny Tremain. CODE: historical fiction.

28. Thursday, September 30, 2021: I allowed the class to work on their one-pagers the entire class period. We will be starting John Tremain on Monday. CODE: The Shot Heard 'Round the World.

27. Wednesday, September 29, 2021: We worked on our one-pagers and then we read our independent books. You will have until Monday to complete your one-pagers. CODE: squash.

26. Tuesday, September 28, 2021: We basically worked on our one-pagers until 1:20, and then we grabbed our independent reading book and tackled 20 minutes of reading. I saw that it was difficult for some to pick up their book as they were just getting started on their one-pagers, but it's important to still set time aside to read. CODE: pumpkins

25. Monday, September 27, 2021: We discussed our opinions of the book, and then I handed out the one-pager project. You will work on it for half the class period and read from around 1:20 to end of the class. This is a way for you to share what you've learned. I look forward to seeing your effort. CODE: motif

24. Friday, September 24, 2021: I was so disappointed that I wouldn't be there today for the end of the book. I loved reading it in the audio clips. I can't believe it left it with Blackwood "winning," but I predict that Wolfe and Marty figure out how to get it all back. Monday, we will do a project over the book. CODE: Rose's trunk.

23. Thursday, September 23, 2021: I am excited to see how the book ends. We have about 18 pages left, which we'll be able to finish up without a problem tomorrow. We're in the middle of the climax - Noah Blackwood has Grace, Laurel, and the two hatchlings. I wonder if Ted and Marty will be able to get back on the ship. Since we know this is a series, I wonder what the cliffhanger will be like. CODE: Giant Squid on their tail!

22. Wednesday, September 22, 2021: I really look forward to reading with you every day. I love our discussion, and I'm really enjoying the book. I also enjoy listening to your predictions for the book. We read to page 277. We should finish the book on Friday. How exciting is that! CODE: sperm whales

21. Tuesday, September 21, 2021: We're reading getting into this book. We're almost done, and it is getting exciting. We read until page 262 - further than I even planned. It makes me feel good that you want to read more after we're done. I appreciate that! For tomorrow, look for contrast and contradiction in your own book. CODE: Bo is on the loose!

20. Monday, September 20, 2021: Today we discussed how prediction, prior (background) knowledge, and contrast and contradiction work together for comprehension. We read up to page 235. We thought we'd be able to predict who the partner to Butch McCall is, but we still get enough information. We were able to eliminate people, but the accomplice still hasn't been named. We can tell that the climax is coming as the tension is getting higher. With the independent reading, along with Tentacles, we got two steps in today. CODE: Roy is dead!

19. Friday, September 17, 2021: Today we spent quite a bit of time reading - two steps. We're all beginning to get anxious for the confrontation between Blackwood and Wolfe. I wonder if Grace is going to be safe. We read to page 224. (CODE: Moon Pool)

18. Thursday, September 16, 2021: I was gone on a field trip with the sophomores. However, everyone was to read up to page 210. Like so many of you have said, I'm invested now and want to know what will happen with the dinosaurs, the giant squid, and Noah Blackwood. CODE: dinosaur poop stinks!

17. Wednesday, September 15, 2021: We spent most of the class reading from our novel. We stopped and discussed Contrasts and Contradictions. Contrasts and Contradictions look at when a character doesn't act the way we expect or he/she says something opposite what he/she normally would do. For example, Ted Bronson is supposed to be a recluse, but we know he uses a disguise to actually go all over. We read to page 194, but because we had a few minutes, we kept reading. We'll pick up where we left off tomorrow. CODE: Endangered One

16. Tuesday, September 14, 2021: We didn't have the opportunity to read today as most of the class period was spent taking the aReading test. You can count the testing as a step. Keep reading for tomorrow. (CODE: Iowa Portal)

15. Monday, September 13, 2021: We read to page 176. We discussed what we do when we decode words. If we don't pronounce words correctly, it impacts what we understand (reading comprehension). If we don't know how to pronounce a word, and that word is used often, we need to use strategies to figure out how to pronounce it correctly. We could go to our computer and listen to a pronunciation guide. We could ask a friend or teacher, but if it is a word that continually reappears in the text, we need to know how to pronounce it correctly. CODE: aquasuit

14. Friday, September 10, 2021: We read to page 164. We discussed whether we were connecting with this book or not. Many of us wish we knew more from the first book. It's kind of hard as we're getting information second-hand. I collected reading logs for week #3 and then distributed week #4 so everyone could write their steps during the weekend. CODE: Rose's trunk

13. Thursday, September 9, 2021: We tried to figure out what type of dinosaurs are currently in the labs, but we all admitted that we don't have enough background knowledge to do that deduction. Then I read up to page 150. Tomorrow I will be collecting your next set of reading logs. Also, you have your Tier 1, 2, and 3 vocabulary to complete for Mrs. Luxford. CODE: Overboard

12. Wednesday, September 8, 2021: We started out learning a little more about giant squids. We went to the Smithsonian Lab and looked at a video and some photographs of giant squids. We then read from page 120-135. We're making really good progress on our reading. Many of you were also working on the different levels of vocabulary (for Mrs. Luxford). Continue to work on your steps. CODE: dinosaur breakfast

11. Tuesday, September 7, 2021: We started with a quick discussion about prior knowledge. In order to make accurate predictions, our background knowledge is essential. I don't know much about giant squids - nothing to be honest - but the novel is helping me to learn about them. The same is true when it comes to drones, listening devices, and dinosaurs. We then read from pages 109-120. We're making pretty good headway. Hopefully, we're on track to finishing the book on time. CODE: herbivore.

10. Friday, September 3, 2021: We continued to talk about how important predictions are when we read. We make all kinds of predictions - when we see a book cover, if the author uses different text features, what we think happens after we finish the book - and we'll continue to work on our prediction skills. We started by looking at the next chapter title - Lab Nine. We read from pages 96-108. Everyone turned in their reading journals, and I reminded them that their reading journals were posted to Google Classroom, but it's not due until 4:00 PM on Tuesday. CODE: pipping.

9. Thursday, September 2, 2021: We worked on the concept of predictions. This is a really important skill to develop. Sometimes you can predict the ending of the book, but sometimes you should just guess the next page's outcome. It all depends. We read from page 79-96 (2 steps today). That didn't leave a lot of time for your independent reading book, but we are making headway with our core text. Tomorrow I will be collecting your reading logs, so have them ready to go. Also, I posted a reading journal for you to complete, but it's not due until next week Tuesday. CODE: prediction.

8. Wednesday, September 1, 2021. We started out by sharing our favorite characters. It seemed like we liked several of them. Then we read to page 79; we're trucking right along with this book. Then we had about 20 minutes to read for our independent reading book. CODE: Grace's manuscript

7. Tuesday, August 31, 2021: We read pages 52-67. It was good that we kind of got back on track. Unfortunately, that didn't leave a lot of time for independent reading. Remember to each step is 15 minutes. Fill out those reading logs neatly and completely. I did return them with marks indicating what should be filled in. I realize that last year you didn't have to fill in certain columns, but this year have the steps, title, page numbers, date, and signature. CODE: routine

6. Monday, August 30, 2021: We read pages 41-52 of Tentacles. Then we dove into our personal books. While you were reading, Mrs. DeLeeuw helped me learn to test you by doing the FAST test. It's new to me, so I really appreciate her training me. Remember your reading journal is due by 4:00 PM today. CODE: dragonspy.

5. Friday, August 27, 2021: We discussed our reading journal assignment (posted to Google Classroom). I shared how to look at the point value and then use that as a gauge of how many sentences to write. We then read for a few minutes (finished the chapter). The rest of the class period was spent reading our independent book. Everyone turned in their logs for the week. For Monday, continue to work on meeting your steps. CODE: secret identity.

4. Thursday, August 26, 2021: Our riddle was very easy today. We then went to Google Classroom to answer a question posted there. We read up to page 36 in Tentacles. The rest of the class period was to read your independent book. Tomorrow I will be collecting your logs. CODE: Taxidermist locked in the basement.

3. Wednesday, August 25, 2021: We solved our riddle, and then we shared with our partners what we remember from our reading of Tentacles. Then I read for fifteen minutes and we got quite a few pages into the book. Everyone should read their steps again tonight. I will pick up your reading logs on Friday. This week is "getting into the swing of things". CODE: chimp and the four-wheeler

2. Tuesday, August 24, 2021: We started by discussing the elements of a book cover and all the information we can glean from it. I discussed participation points and how that will impact their reading grade. We then read, not for very long, the book Tentacles. We got through a lot of the preliminary stuff and just a few pages of the book. Everyone should read to page 11 for tomorrow. In order to get their steps in, they should find an independent reading book. We'll try and read 13+ pages a day, and we should be able to finish Tentacles before the project with Mrs. Luxford's due. CODE: squid.

1. Monday, August 23, 2021: I'm kind of out of my element. I wasn't sure what this class was supposed to look like, but after a few conversations with Mrs. Klaassen and Mrs. Luxford, I think I get it! We used our inferencing skills to solve a crime. Tomorrow we will be starting the book Tentacles and study what a book cover tells us. CODE: Joe.