It was Mitali Perkins who first introduced me to the bit.ly website last year at a writer's retreat. In the middle of the afternoon we had some free time and Mitali asked if anyone was interested in talking about social networking.

"ME! PICK ME!" I wanted to scream, but you'll be glad to hear I acted all sophisticated and composed. I sat at a table ( Read more... )

( Read more... )

My students set in motion The Great Book Review at Stafford Middle School this week!

( Read more... )

Literature Circles - Part Three (of Three ( Read more... )

Book Review: How to Say Goodbye in Robot ( Read more... )

In the last post I explained how the students are introduced to their novel choices and how I create the small groups. Now let’s take a look at how the students are graded ( Read more... )

BOOK REVIEW: THE DAY OF THE PELICAN by Katherine Paterson

Katherine Paterson, the author of THE BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA has a new novel entitled THE DAY OF THE PELICAN, which deals with the impact of war. Paterson was inspired to write her latest book based on her encounters with a Kosovo family who was sponsored in the United States by her church in ( Read more... )

My 7th grade students and I are continuing to study THE BRILLIANT FALL OF GIANNA Z by Kate Messner. We enjoy the humor woven throughout, commiserate with Gianna as she faces a daunting science project, and recognize our own families in hers.

After taking the What Kind of Tree Are You? personality quiz, the students tried a little writing assignment ( Read more... )

Once again, Jeff Kinney's bringing the laughs with his new DIARY OF A WIMPY KID - DOG DAYS.
( Read more... )

Thanks for following along as my class reads THE BRILLIANT FALL OF GIANNA Z by Kate Messner. I've enjoyed the comments, emails, and conversations it has started. Please keep them coming - the students are excited to see how this novel is being read by other students in other parts of the world!

After I collected the writing based on the tree/ ( Read more... )