Reader's Digest

Room 503 is abuzz...with books!

There's always our Language Arts selection - currently, The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Interestingly, though it is one of my (and Mrs. Veenstra's favorites), it is receiving less than rave reviews from the students. However, like it or not, these Sixth Graders will always have the experience of having read and explored this classic tale through and through.

For those of you who are unaware of our post-lunch time ritual, we partake in a read-aloud book every day. So far this semester we have read The Phantom Tollbooth, From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, and The Lightning Thief and Sea of Monsters by Richard Riordan. Maniac Magee, by Jerry Spinelli. is our current read. Winner of the 1991 Newbery Medal , the story delves into some pretty profound themes, such as racism and family and asks the question "what and where is home?"

Along with our Language Arts unit and our read-aloud book of choice, each of the students is currently reading an independent book of their choice or is woking on a project based on the book they last read. Each student is required to present their project in class upon completion. We have had some truly wonderful projects and presentations since we implemented the Independent Reading project less than two months ago.

James Bryce once said "the worth of a book is to be measured by what you can carry away from it. " I hope our students take away a great deal.

Cheers,
Ms. Pitman