Number the Stars

I read this book for my book talk assignment. I am trying to get it ordered for my students to read at the end of the year for their holocaust novel. My English classes will read this one....I am also debating over The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. This is a remarkable book. I love that the story is told through the eyes of a 10 year old girl. I think my students will enjoy it as well.

The images in the novel are intriguingly vivid. Lowry does an excellent job portraying the surrounding of the Johansens' through the eyes of Annemarie.

FOUR STARS!!!

I know that when I have mentioned my students reading this the opinions have varied...the most common statement has been, "That is usually done in sixth grade. It is a fanatastic novel." I take from that the language may be a little immature, but the majority of the books in our library are sixth grade level and below. I think it will be fine. We can have mature, seventh grade conversations....regardless of the reading level. I strongly believe that literature can be taught at various level of thinking over and over again to different audiences. I am excited about the book!

double team

Ms. Davis (Mandy Davis) and I are team teaching a Seventh grade English class. This is new to both of us despite half of the year is almost over.

I had a class of three students, and it was decided that those students could be moved into another class and we switched my prep period...BAM...Mandy and I are co-teaching. The literacy coach tried to get them to do this earlier in the year, not sure why they finally decided to do it, but I am glad. I am eager to see how it will go. I think it will be an adjustment for the students, but helpful to them because they will definitely get more one on one attention. Mandy and I can also collaborate on lessons better. Let you all know how this goes! We are determined to turn our class into English experts.

.......school info..........

Hamburg School District. Home of the Hamburg Lions, and home of the Hamburg Jr. Lions! The middle school actually won their conference this year! GO LIONS GO!!! Can't wait until basketball starts...THIS WEEK

MY SCHOOL!!!

The sign now says, "Hamburg Middle School," though. We still house the nineth grade...7th grade through 9th grade. Seventh grade and eigth grade are on 45 minute periods, and our nineth grade is on block scheduling....makes for some interesting time conflicts.

Thanksgiving break...

well deserved.

TLI

very disappointed. :(