Book Review--True Believer by Nicholas Sparks

Jeremy Marsh is a young New Yorker and part of the media elite.  An expert in debunking the supernatural with a regualr column in a Scientific magazing, he's just made his first appearance on national TV.  When he receives a letter from the small town of Boone Creek, North Carolina, about ghostly lights that appear in a legend-shrouded cemetery, he can not resist driving down to investigate.  Here, in this tightly knit community, Lexie Darnell runs the town's library, just as her mother did before the accident that left Lexie an orphan.  Lexie has been hurt by past relationships but believes her life is here in Boone Creek with her grandmother and all the other friends she loves.  Jeremy expects to spend a quick week in the small community before speeding back to the city.  Lexie and Jeremy meet and fall in love in this small community.  Now, if they are to be together, Jeremy Marsh must make a difficult choice:  return to the life he knows, or do something he has never done before--take a giant leap of faith.
This is a novel for older high school students such as 11th or 12th graders or for adults and I really enjoyed reading it.  I think Nicholas Sparks is a wonderful author.  I have read and enjoyed several of his other books including "Dear John", "The Notebook",  and "Message in a Bottle".  He writes in great detail with unbelievabley realistic characters.  This story, "True Believer" is about taking chances and following your heart.  It is a story of hope and faith in people.

Book Review--The Witch Of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare

Kit Tyler knows, as she looks for the first time at the shores of Connecticut Colony, that her new home will never be like the Caribbean islands she has left behind.  She has moved to a totally different part of the world and feels lost.  Her world feels all wrong.  Now she lives in  a stern Puritan community with her relatives and she feels trapped and lonely.  In the meadows, the only  place where she can feel completely free, she meets another lonely figure, the old woman known as the Witch of Blackbird Pond.  When her relatives and neighbors discover this unique and unusual friendship, Kit faces suspicion, fear, and anger and she herself is accused of witchcraft.

This book is great for fifth and even sixth graders.  It is suspenseful and the ultimate story of friendship.  The book is a historical narrative whose rebellion against bigotry and her puritan surroundings culminates in a witch hunt and trial.  The background and characters are very realistic and I think students can relate to the characters.  I really enjoyed this novel.

Outside Activity

Several days ago my substitute english class was able to take a nature walk  Outside, we discovered some beautiful fall colored trees, with red and gold leaves.  I decided to take advantage of this beautiful fall day and the students were asked to interview a tree or write a poem about the sound of a stream.  I think the students enjoyed the outside activity.  I know I did and I am looking forward to reading some of the creative writing activities they turned in.

Interruptions

It seems there are constant interruptions in a classroom some days.  I often wonder how the students can focus.  Last week, it was our bookfair.  I love the bookfair and so do the students.  They constantly wanted to attend the bookfair, but books is not what I saw many of the students buying, especially the younger students.  I think these different opportunities, such as the bookfair, are definitely great, but sometimes it seems that good old fashioned teaching and learning may need to happen a little more in the classroom.

Serious Science

I had to substitute for a seventh grade science class today.  The students were surprisingly serious about their science.  They were studying cell structure.  We studied the different parts of the cell including the endoplasmic reticulum, ribosomes, nucleus, etc...  The students payed attention and were very active in the classroom discussion.  I can only hope to get a good class like these students one day.

Team Meeting

Earlier this week I attended a team meeting with five teachers and the principal.  It was a good meeting.  Discussion included entrance to the math olympics, staff development, upcoming spelling bees, and other classroom concerns.  I thought the principal handled the meeting well and she made me feel welcome even though I only substitute.  All the teachers were open to suggestions about classroom issues and I thought the meeting was a good example of teamwork.

Science Review Bingo

Recently I was able to play a great game with my 4th grade students called Science Review Bingo.  The following are the rules:
1.  Write 35 questions on index cards.  My questions, in this case were for a fourth grade science class who was reviewing for an upcoming science test.  It is best ot make sure that the questions have answers that are only one or two words long so they can fit on the bingo card.
2.  Create bingo cards with 5x5 grids.  Do not forget to put a free space in the middle.  Write the answers to the questions on the cards, but make each card different.  The cards will not contain all the answers.  This will make copying very difficult, and it makes the game more interesting.
3.  Give each student a card and something to use as markers.  I used skittles as markers because the students usually will not drop things on the floor that they get to eat after the gamie is finished.
4.  Read the questions and give the students time to find the answer.  Not all students will have the answer on their cards.  It is similar to a regular bingo game in this way.
5.  Keep calling out the questions until someone calls out BINGO! Check the card to make sure all the answers are correct.  When the studetn was correct, I opted to give a small prize, which in this case I handed out pencils.
6.  If the student is incorrect, uncover the answer and continue playing until there is a winner.
7.  Play as many games as time allows.