One Month In

Well, can you believe it? My 8th graders are one month closer to HIGH SCHOOL! I have really enjoyed get to know these SMART, FUN, and ENERGETIC students. What a great start to the school year.

Here's what I want to know this week...

What's the BEST thing you've read recently? You must pick ONE book. What is the very BEST thing you've read?

Can't wait to hear what you've got to say! The best thing I've read is The Abundance of Katherines, but I'm really excited to hear what you have to say!

Talk to you soon, 8th grade readers/scholars/huskies!
Stenson

The End of September.

It's another Race to Read Friday! Some kids hate these reading days, some kids love them. Today's highlights will be...

1. One magazine written for girls by girls! It's called New Moon. I'll get the link to the website on here too. It's awesome because girls decide what goes into the magazines, what themes to have, what articles to include---they decide everything. It's not one of those magazines that only talks about boys, make-up, and fashion. It's actually got realistic information, news, and material for regular girls!

2. Another magazine is Sports Illustrated. The topic is obviously sports, but the articles are written by some of the most talented journalist currently working. One of this week's articles is about a man who plays minor league baseball. One day, he hit a line-drive foul ball down the first baseline. It hit his first-base coach and killed him on the spot. The article gives you a glimpse of what this guy has been struggling with ever since he stepped out of the batter's box and realized what just happened. Powerful story,

3. Then we'll go to the Media Center. Bring your books, but if you aren't thrilled with your book, find a new one. There are lots of recommendations on last week's blogs. Or ask a friend. I'm willing to help you find a good book too.

Here are my 2 questions: What is your reading goal for the month of October? Do you want to read 1 book? Do you want to try to read for 20 minutes every day? Tell me one goal you have about reading!

What would you like to add to Reading Days? Is there anything else you'd like to do during our one day of READING?

Happy Reading Day, 8LA. Enjoy!
Stenson

¡Soy muy feliz!

Did you see all those comments?

Can you believe what can happen when a bunch of smart and fun 8th graders come together and share their thoughts and ideas?

So many comments are thoughtful, so many inspire more questions and comments, so many make me smile!

I could go on and on, but this blog is about you...so back to books for you!

1. Art, Jeff, Tony S. and others mentioned the Alex Rider books by Anthony Horowitz. A great bunch of books about a 14 year old M5 spy (M5 is England's CIA).

Thank you, Art, for recommending the other Horowitz series. I am not as familiar with those boks, but you can click here to read about them.

2. As many of you stated in your comments, Madeline L'Engle, may she rest in peace, wrote fantastic fantasy books. I think what makes them so good is that they seem like fairy tales too.

If you really liked them, try Shannon Hale's Goose Girl. Not so much fantasy, but definitely fairy tale. It looks like Cassie B. read it if you want more info.

3. I also noticed references to realistic fiction about teenage life. I have two great suggestions:

For Girls: A Brief Chapter in my Impossible Life by Dana Reinhart

For Boys: Drums, Girls, & Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick

4. Lastly, I noticed many of you agreed that reading makes you smarter. You're right. Challenge yourself with some good books. Conor's list made me think of other good books that you'll hear a lot about and probably have to read one day. Add Lord of the Flies to that list. It's short, easy to read, but the themes and motifs are challenging.

I resisting the urge to carry on and on, but I sure don't want you to stop. Keep logging on, keep blogging on.

Reading makes all the difference!
Stenson

Welcome to "Keep Reading," Class of '12!

To My 8th Grade Readers!

It's great to have you here, on the "evenpuckettlikestoread" blog about reading, books, and literature. Log on from time to time to share your thoughts about good books and good literature. Or, to hear what others have to say about good books and good literature.

The topics of discussion will vary, and you all get to pipe up if you have something you really would like to see on the blog. But for today, please answer my question below. Let's see where the discussion leads us...

All year I've been nagging you to read, read, read, but why do YOU think it is important to read?

If you don't mind, tell us that last good thing you read too. It can be anything (newspaper, poetry, magazine, play, book, instruction manual...).

Here's to you, a great group of readers to work with--
Stenson

Ms. Lang and the OGMS Media Center

Happy Friday, everyone! Normally, it would be a Ready to Read Friday! in 8LA,
but today everyone has to take the Explore test, so we aren't having
nearly as much fun as we will be on any other Friday.

Fridays bring book talks, reading time, help with book selection, young adult
lit news, and much, much more. But the best thing about Ready to Read
Fridays is the Media Center. Every other Friday our classes go to the
Media Center right here inOGMS to read.

Today, only 1st Hour got to go hang out with Ms. Lang, and boy, did the others miss out.

1. She told us about fourteen or so books that seem like awesome, fun-to-read, not to mention BRAND NEW, books.

2.She reminded us that if there is a book or magazine we stumble across
and would like to see in the library, all we have to do is mention
something to her and she'll look into it (maybe even get it for the OGMS MC!)

3. She reviewed rules like- Up to three books/magazine at a time. Check
out time is TWO weeks. Nothing new if something is overdue.

4. She offered us her services. Like a guide in the woods, Ms. Lang seems
to be ready to lead us through the forest of books, literature, and
media center materials.

5. She found good books for a handful of kids in Hour 1, not to mention me. I left there with two books I'm excited to dive into.

Thank you, Ms. Lang. You serve us well, and we are better (readers!) because of it.

See you at the OGMS Media Center-
Stenson

p.s. I LOVE seeing familiar names! Kaitlyn M, Jimlaine, Beth, Courtney, and others. Plus FINALLY I have new kids posting too. I can tell the Class of '11 and the Class of '12 understand and feel the power of a good book. Keep reading, keep posting!

Back to School

Dear Readers,

Here's to the brand new school year! I can't wait to share my classroom with 150 new 8th graders, and I hope to hear from the ones with whom I shared Room 203 last year.

When you are not reading, writing, learning, studying, memorizing, practicing, comparing and contrasting, conjugating, creating, or anything else for school...I hope you log on.

Because whether or not you've read a good book, need a good book, or have a little something to say about a good book, we are here and we'd love to hear from you.

Have a great year, all.

Kindly,
Stenson

p.s. Not only have I heard from Beth and Abby that Eclipse is an excellent book, but I've read all about it on the Internet. Here's just one review, but if you haven't started the series, you've got three page-turners to get into. Have fun! To read about the book, click here

Michal L. Printz Award Winners

Here's a link for more information about this award: http://www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/booklistsawards/printzaward/Printz.htm

You've gotta check these books out!

The Tall Guy and I each just finished one.

I read A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly.

A beautiful story about a young girl in the early 1900s who takes care
of her family, solves a murder mystery, and finds her voice all in the
span of a year or two. Her name is Mattie, and she stays with me; she reminds me of myself but just a tiny bit, I see a few of my friends in her, and many of my students. Get wrapped up in this beautiful story.

The Tall Guy finished Airborne by Kenneth Oppel.

He said it doesn't get going for awhile...meaning it takes several pages to get into it, but he loved the story. Especially the writing.

The award is supposed to recognize excellence in young adult literature, and most of the protagonists (main characters) are kids, teenagers. However, just because the books are about kids does not mean they are only for kids. These books offer adults the chance to read the kinds of stuff kids are interested in. Now and then, kids and adults need to read the same books because they provide good substance for important discussions. Books are wonderful that way.

Michael L. Printz Award Winners--Check them out! Let me know what you think!

Until next time,
Stenson

p.s.
American Born Chinese was one of the winners too. See, this award rarely misses? I couldn't get enough of that book earlier this summer. I love this award and the
books honored by it.