In Sixth Grade We Read

https://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/2URWQB62X70OR

This is a link to The Sixth Grade Library’s Wish List. We are trying to build a library in the sixth grade, and for that to succeed, we need books. Please take the time to look at the list. And please buy a book for the sixth grade!

 

Book Month – Day One

…And….we’re off…

Mrs. Kay’s recommendation for the month is The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman. This is the first book in the “His Dark Materials” trilogy. This book is set in another universe, and in this universe, your soul is alive. It is, in fact, a constant companion in the shape of an animal. When you are young, your soul can change what animal it is. However, once you are older, your soul settles into one animal and stays like that forever. Mrs. Kay likes this book not just because of the possibility of having an “animal soul”, but also because it is full of adventure. The main character Lyra, a 12 year old girl, discovers a plot to separate children from their souls. This is a horrible thing, and Lyra sets about trying to stop whoever is doing this. Through the book, the reader discovers a world that is like ours, but slightly different. It is also a world that contains witches, magic, and talking polar bears.

My recommendation for the month is Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby. I really like this book because it “speaks” to me on many levels. I was first drawn to the book because I thought it was a picture of me on the front cover! However, once inside the book I discovered that the story was very similar to my story. The book is about supporting a football team, and how supporting a football team can take over your whole life (that bit isn’t the bit that is similar to my story). Often people don’t understand my passion for Sheffield United, and so I direct them to Fever Pitch. Within its pages you can find why I follow my team, and how it brings me closer to my dad. The book is very funny and optimistic, because that is what supporters are – optimistic. My team might lose every week, but every Saturday before they kick off, I believe they will win! Which is mainly how I approach every day – today is going to be a win!

Jose Antonio’s recommendation is Halo: Primordium by Greg Bear. This is a science fiction novel, set in the future. Jose Antonio was drawn to this book because he likes the video game, Halo. However, he feels that you don’t need to know anything about the game to read the book. He really enjoyed the story and his favourite character is Al, who is an A.I. (artificial intelligence). In fact, his favourite part of the story involved Al. Although it is his favourite part, it is a sad part of the story because Al is hacked, and slowly his whole personality is taken over. Jose Antonio could not stop reading at this part. He was really upset and didn’t want Al to “die”. I can’t tell you what happens to Al because, cleverly, Jose Antonio didn’t tell us – he didn’t want to spoil the story.

Meanwhile, in Mrs. Kay’s classroom Juan Fernando recommended The Mark Of Athena by Rick Riordan. And, if you want to see it…

And Vianette recommends My Sister The Vampire #1: Switched by Sienna Mercer. And you can also watch her presentation…

Book Month Is Here!!

YIPEE!!!

My favourite time of the year is here. I love books. Every now and then I forget that I love books, and then something comes along to remind me. This year (all two months of it), I have already read eight books. I’d stopped reading sometime in November because work had become so busy, and my eyesight was fading (again). Then the luvverly Mrs. Kay bought me a new pair of glasses and introduced me to Jo Nesbø – not literally, just to the books he’s written. True, I still haven’t read as much as Andrea and Roberto, but I would have had my name on The Wall Of Fame, if only that bloke who is supposed to publish it got round to publishing it! Anyhoo, I’ve read David Millar’s autobiography, three Jack Reacher novels, and four of Mr. Nesbø’s books. This weekend I’ve marked the students’ Book Reports and I really want to read The Magician’s Elephant, as recommended by Roberto and Anafernanda. I love books.

When I was young (a long, long time ago), I would spend Saturday morning in the library. I was only allowed to take out two books at a time, so I would sit in the library and read a whole book. Then I would take out two books. Both of those books would be read within the week, and then I would go visit the library again. While I was at school we had to wear a blazer all day. I would carry a book around with me, in my pocket. Any chance I could get, I would read. I love books.

And so, it is Book Month again. The month that we devote extra time, every day, to books. Talking about books, recommending books, doing stuff about books. Hopefully we will again get a chance to talk to an author. Every student will present their favourite book. And the students will divide into groups and make a video presentation of a book – a Trailer.

Feel free to join in. You can recommend a book in the comments. Tell us why you like the book, why you count it as one of your favourites, and why you are recommending it to the sixth grade. But the best way to join in? Read a Book!

 

Happy Roald Dahl Day

Every night I used to read to my children. We’d go up to bed, climb into their bunk beds, and I would read. The best stories were written by Roald Dahl: The Twits, George’s Marvellous Medicine, Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, The BFG, Matilda, Esio Trot, The Witches, James and The Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Danny The Champion of The World.

Today is Roald Dahl day:

you can take a quiz on his books (I scored 9 out of 10)

you can hear him read from The BFG

you can read the first chapter of his new biography 

But the best thing to do? Curl up in bed, with a cup of hot chocolate, and read a book. They will bring a smile to your face. Just don’t get “the dreaded shrinks” or end up having to eat a “snozzcumber”.

 

 

we’re free!!!

I know this is unbelievable but, since last Tuesday, when Miss Monica asked Mrs. Kay to think about taking the job, we haven’t had any free time. The last week has been a whirlwind of planning, dealing with kids (our own), planning, dealing with kids (private students), planning, and a bit of planning. Knowing what is coming the rest of the week – we have students in our flat, after school on W*dnesd*y and Thursday, then we have our own kids on Friday – we had targeted tonight as our “free time”. We managed to share some non-contact time at school, where we planned tomorrow’s lessons. This means that we actually have some time to ourselves between now and tomorrow morning, where we don’t have to do any work for school.

So, I’m cooking a curry. We’ll watch some cooking shows from England, while I prepare onion bhajiis, chicken tikka masala, chicken jalfrezi, and some pilau rice. YUM! Then I think we might open a bottle of wine (on a school night), settle down, and eat ourselves into fatness! At that point, we will probably fall asleep in front of the computer screen, watching Forbrydelsen (extra points if you know what I’m talking about).

That said, I don’t have much time to write a blog post – at the moment I’m pre-soaking the rice in iced water, Jose Manuel knows what I’m doing – so this will be a quick sprint through everything that happened today. Bullet point post ahead:

• maths with 6A. Names of quadrilaterals and a quick revision of area.
• maths with 6B. Back through square roots and approximation of square roots. Then a quick revision of area.
• dress rehearsal for the Christmas Assembly. I thought that 6A were very good and I was really happy with their efforts. And 6B rocked! Riverdance was never going to be easy, but I thought that they gave it a very good attempt. It was the first time I have seen it and I really liked it. Well done 6B. Keep it up! We’ll have the best sixth grade presentation yet!
• meeting with Miss Christina (you remember Miss Christina? The computer teacher from waaaay back). There is some talk of putting homeworks on the computer. I’m not totally sure how this is going to work but, this was a preliminary meeting.
• Alberto was in today and his Reading Log total means that he gets in to The 200+ Club. Yay!
• The Curious Incident of The Dog in The Night-Time. Mrs Kay has initiated a “class reader”, a book that everyone reads in the class. She has put this on everyone’s laptop, and they have started to read it in class. This is a brilliant idea. It means that all the students get to experience a book together. She has picked a book that no one has read, so no one knows what is going to happen, or what it is about. And now, the sixth grade are reading altogether. It sounds very exciting, and I must admit, I have dusted off my copy of the book and am now reading it again, so I can join in too.
• geography. Catherine the Great, Ivan the Terrible, Peter the Great. Not very original in their thinking those Russians with their nicknames and stuff.

Right, food to cook.

Homework:

• Maths: Reteaching 8-2
• Writing Assignment:  6A Book Report (for Friday. Remember there is a maths exam Friday, therefore get the report written NOW!)
• Writing Assignment:  6B The Best Christmas Ever. (for Friday. Remember there is a maths exam Friday, therefore get it written NOW!)
• Read: 20 minutes
• Homework Diary: signed

Saturday? Posting on a Saturday?

Happy Birthday Scarlatte!

Just noticed that the Percy Jackson film has been released in the United States. As The Lightening Thief was the book that we read for the book club, I was wondering if anyone has been to see it? Or is intending to go see it? I don’t have a visa at the moment so I am having to wait until it comes to Mexico.