I was unusually pleased with the outcome of last Friday's book club for 5th-grade students! Club meetings are always fun, if sometimes loud; but I very much want to recognize the participating students for their respectful and insightful discussion of our last reading selection, A Tale Dark and Grimm, by Adam Gidwitz (or for those who had already read it, the sequel--In a Glass Grimmly). The book is a retelling of tales collected by the brothers Grimm, strung together as if Hansel and Gretel are the central characters of each tale. Its themes (as ably identified by the students) include forgiveness, duty, loyalty, and sacrifice. Next month's selection is a mystery: The Potato Chip Puzzles, by Eric Berlin. Some students (and parents) will be relieved to know it involves neither death nor destruction, and no blood or guts! The novel is about Winston Breen, a skilled puzzler, who is invited to compete in a logic puzzle competition for prize money to benefit his school; but in addition to the puzzles that make up the contest, another mystery arises when it begins to seem that someone involved with the event is not playing fair. I will have paperback copies to purchase (probably by Tuesday) at the discounted price of $6.00 (just to reimburse my cost), thanks to pages:a bookstore. The Potato Chip Puzzles can be used for the November 5th-grade book report whether or not mystery is your child's assigned genre. Thanks to the 5th-grade teaching team for their support of book club.
During library visits this week we will be wrapping up Halloween and getting ready for next week's presidential election. In addition to our readaloud, grades 2 and 4 will see a short video from the awesome educational site BrainPOP/BrainPOP Jr. Pennekamp teachers, students, and families have access to BrainPOP through a subscription paid for by the Pennekamp PTA. BrainPOP login information will be given to second- and fourth-grade students this week on a handy bookmark. If you would like the login info, please email me at bbroka@mbusd.org. Grade 5 is hearing a short story involving a magical transformation: "Bored Tom," in the collection Strange Happenings, by Avi.
Please note that the public library's bookmark contest is no longer accepting submissions. Thanks to the many students who created terrific designs, and good luck to you all!
During library visits this week we will be wrapping up Halloween and getting ready for next week's presidential election. In addition to our readaloud, grades 2 and 4 will see a short video from the awesome educational site BrainPOP/BrainPOP Jr. Pennekamp teachers, students, and families have access to BrainPOP through a subscription paid for by the Pennekamp PTA. BrainPOP login information will be given to second- and fourth-grade students this week on a handy bookmark. If you would like the login info, please email me at bbroka@mbusd.org. Grade 5 is hearing a short story involving a magical transformation: "Bored Tom," in the collection Strange Happenings, by Avi.
Please note that the public library's bookmark contest is no longer accepting submissions. Thanks to the many students who created terrific designs, and good luck to you all!
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