12.11 {BookFlix Friday} Alex Rider

Posted on December 11, 2015 by David E.

Today is {BookFlix Friday}!

Few things can draw a reader to a new book like a book trailer can. Each Friday I will endeavor to bring a couple to you—some new or recent, some teasers of upcoming books, and a few “classics”. Get the popcorn ready.

Lights…Camera…Action!

Every year a couple kids start this series and get so wrapped up in it that they race through it to the end. Will it be YOU this year?

Cool site link here.

And another awesome-looking site here with games and challenges and codes—oh my! You can even READ the first chapter or LISTEN to the first chapter.

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Read the books… watch the movie:

12.7 It’s Monday! What are you Reading? #Winter #LunarChronicles

Posted on December 7, 2015 by David E.

Guess what today is!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

{I was late on adopting the new graphic above. What do you think?}

{Celebrating the books we’ve read in the past week

& the titles we are currently reading.}

This meme is originated by Jen and Kellee at TeachMentorTexts. Thanks!

I did it!

Amazing. I can’t believe I finished the series. The characters in this book are awesome—all unique and diverse. Cinder. Scarlet. Winter. Cress. Thorne. Kai. Wolf. Jacin. Iko. Oh yeah—Levana. This book took a good while to read, but it was certainly worth it.

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This series is not a simple read. It might be more readable in 7th or 8th grade. However, I know that some readers are ready for this and like to read series, and this is a great choice for anyone who likes sci-fi/fantasy and some twisted fairy tale retellings.

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Oh, and the big lesson: Never bet against a cyborg.

Did you catch my MrEtkinSHMS Instagram posts this past week?

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How many books did students in each class read last week?

What are they reading now?

Check out our Padlet to see students’ BOOKselfies.

Click the links below at 10:00ish and 12:30 respectively to see all students’ posts.

Created with Padlet

BTW—guests are invited to post a BOOKselfie too.

Period 1&2 read 19 books this past week.

Ready to see what these students are reading? Check out their BOOKselfies!!

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Period 5&6 read 17 books this past week.

Ready to see what these students are reading? Check out their BOOKselfies!!

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For every parent who leaves a comment on TODAY’S POST with what YOU’RE reading, I’ll give your child a BUSTED ticket…

Did anyone comment on last Monday’s blog post?

Linda Sue Park recommended this one.

I’m already halfway through.

As much as I enjoy reading fantasy, I’m really enjoying getting into characters and situations that are real. This is right out of the news—high school students dealing with race issues. It’s pretty cool how it’s written—from alternating points of view.

Thanks,

David Etkin

12.4 {BookFlix Friday} The Fourth Stall

Posted on December 4, 2015 by David E.

Today is {BookFlix Friday}!

Lights…Camera…Action!

It started with:

The Fourth Stall

In case you missed the similarity, the cover is a parody of the movie The Godfather:

OVERVIEW

Middle school just got a lot more criminal.

Do you need something? Mac can get it for you. It’s what he does. He and his best friend and business manager, Vince. Their methods might sometimes run afoul of the law, or at least the school code of conduct, but if you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can pay him, Mac is on your side. His office is located in the East Wing boy’s bathroom, fourth stall from the high window. And business is booming.

Or at least it was, until this particular Monday. Because this Monday is when Mac and Vince find out that the trouble with solving everyone else’s problems is there’s no one left to solve yours.

Want a sneak peak? Or Sneak listen?

Here.

Then came…

The Fourth Stall Part II

OVERVIEW

The life of crime is good.Mac has taken down legendary high school crime boss Staples, business has been booming, and Mac and Vince are getting ready for middle school baseball tryouts. But this can’t last. Mac has always tried to keep his friends close and his enemies closer. But what happens when you can’t tell the difference?

This dilemma walks into the fourth stall in the form of Trixie Von Parkway—an eighth grader with a mean look and an even meaner predicament. The new science teacher is terrorizing her, and she needs Mac to get him off her back. Seems simple enough, but as Mac starts to dig deeper, he finds even more trouble brewing at his school, including a new administrator bent on destroying his business, and indications that Trixie isn’t who she claims to be. In the past, the worst thing that could have happened to Mac was that he might lose a little money, maybe catch a beating. In The Fourth Stall Part II, though, there’s going to be much more on the line than that.

But wait, there’s more…

The Fourth Stall Part III

OVERVIEW

The story of Mac, Vince, and middle-school organized crime comes to its thrilling conclusion in the third book of Chris Rylander’s Fourth Stall saga, a series that combines a Godfather-like tale of crime and betrayal with hilarious school comedy à la Jack Gantos.

Their business is finished, and Mac’s and Vince’s lives have become something they have never been before—simple. None of the fortune or the glory, none of the risk or the threat of juvenile prison. There’s even a new business that has stepped in to take its place (and take the heat off Mac and Vince for once). Things couldn’t be better.

But that was before things at their middle school started to go haywire. Before they found out that there’s a new crime boss at a school another town over trying to consolidate power. And before their old nemesis, Staples, came back to town begging for help after his stint in the clink. Just when Mac and Vince thought they were out, the business pulls them back in. But this time, will they be able to escape with their lives and their permanent records intact?

11.30 It’s Monday! What are you Reading?

Posted on November 30, 2015 by David E.

Guess what today is!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

{Celebrating the books we’ve read in the past week

& the titles we are currently reading.}

This meme is originated by Jen and Kellee at TeachMentorTexts. Thanks!

I’m 77% through my book (page 630 out of 827). I’ve been reading a ton, but this is a LONG book—and I’m taking my time because I want to soak up every word of this final book in the series.

This is me reading over vacation. I wanted to sit with my family as they were watching a show, but I can’t concentrate on my book when the TV is on. SO I put on some wordless music (techno this time) and got absorbed in my book. While eating some licorice.

Did you catch my MrEtkinSHMS Instagram posts this past week?

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How many books did students in each class read last week?

What are they reading now?

Check out our Padlet to see students’ BOOKselfies.

Click the links below at 10:00ish and 12:30 respectively to see all students’ posts.

BTW—guests are invited to post a BOOKselfie too.

Period 1&2 read 13 books this past week.

Ready to see some beautiful pictures? Check out these BOOKselfies!!

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Period 5&6 read 9 books this past week.

Ready to see some beautiful pictures? Check out these BOOKselfies!!

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For every parent who leaves a comment on TODAY’S POST with what YOU’RE reading, I’ll give your child a BUSTED ticket…

Did anyone comment on last Monday’s blog post?

Linda Sue Park recommended this one.

So.

Many.

Good.

Books.

Thanks,

David Etkin

11.23 It’s Monday! What are you Reading?

Posted on November 23, 2015 by David E.

Guess what today is!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

{Celebrating the books we’ve read in the past week

& the titles we are currently reading.}

This meme is originated by Jen and Kellee at TeachMentorTexts. Thanks!

I’m 32% through my book. Never enough time to read, but on page 261.

Did you catch what was on my Instagram account this past week?

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How many books did students in each class read last week?

What are they reading now?

Check out our Padlet to see students’ BOOKselfies.

Click the links below at 10:00ish and 12:30 respectively to see all students’ posts.

BTW—guests are invited to post a BOOKselfie too.

Period 1&2

18 books read

BOOKselfies Period 1

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Period 5&6

9 books read

BOOKselfies Period 5

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For every parent who leaves a comment on TODAY’S POST with what YOU’RE reading, I’ll give your child a BUSTED ticket…

No one a comment on last Monday’s post.

I think I missed one from the previous Monday.

Linda Sue Park recommended this one.

Thanks,

David Etkin

11.20 {BookFlix Friday} The Lunar Chronicles—WINTER

Posted on November 20, 2015 by David E.

Today is

Lights…Camera…Action!

reading&tweeting

I’ve been talking about the Lunar Chronicles. Man is it cool. If I didn’t have to teach I could just read this last book in the series all day…

As I was reading I made a connection. I sent a tweet out and the author, Marissa Meyer, responded. That never gets old:

FullSizeRender 5

From FIREFLY

Star Wars

These guys:

OKAY—the trailers:

Screen Shot 2015-11-15 at 10.59.54 PM

11.18 {Whatever Wednesday}: Student Guest Blogger—Gowtham waxes poetic

Posted on November 18, 2015 by David E.

Whatever Wednesday —

a chance to post something I’ve seen that I’m diggin’: a cool quote or poster, a video, or simply a picture.

Enjoy!… and consider posting your own Whatever.

{Eat the Book: I never know what my students are going to come up with. Book reviews? Check and check. Dancing? Check.

This week, Gowtham shares with us how a poem he read in fifth grade inspired his own poetry. Here he is to tell you more.}

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Gowtham: At the end of fifth grade in June we had a unit where we could write anything we wanted and I chose poetry because I thought poems sometimes had really deep meanings to them. I wrote my first copy, then improved it more on the final copy.

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When your body fell to the ground you tried to hold on
When you couldn’t hold on you used your heart
When your heart stopped beating
You hung on to your soul
When your soul was destroyed
You were lifeless
but alive

You let go
but held on,
to your life

My poem meant to me to keep trying and never give no matter what happens. My poem turned out better than I expected it to be. This poem was inspired by an Emily Dickinson poem. I found it by searching up poetry pieces on Google and the second image I saw was the poem.

“Hope” is the thing with feathers – (314)

BY EMILY DICKINSON

“Hope” is the thing with feathers –

That perches in the soul –

And sings the tune without the words –

And never stops – at all –

And sweetest – in the Gale – is heard –

And sore must be the storm –

That could abash the little Bird

That kept so many warm –

I’ve heard it in the chillest land –

And on the strangest Sea –

Yet – never – in Extremity,

It asked a crumb – of me.

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{Eat the Book: Thank you for sharing your writing with us, Gowtham. It is a fascinating poem. I like that a well-known poem inspired you to write your own very different poem. I hope you keep writing!}

11.16 It’s Monday! What are you Reading? SHINGALING

Posted on November 16, 2015 by David E.

Guess what today is!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

{Celebrating the books we’ve read in the past week

& the titles we are currently reading.}

This meme is originated by Jen and Kellee at TeachMentorTexts. Thanks!

I missed the characters from Wonder. It was good to hear a new POV on Auggie’s story. Actually, this one had little to do with August at all. And that was OK. Charlotte had her own struggles and issues to deal with.

Will there be another book?

There are three of these WONDER stories:

They can be purchased together in the book:

These stories are an extra peek at Auggie before he started at Beecher Prep and during his first year there. Readers get to see him through the eyes of Julian, the bully; Christopher, Auggie’s oldest friend; and Charlotte, Auggie’s new friend at school. Together, these three stories are a treasure for readers who don’t want to leave Auggie behind when they finish Wonder.

Did you catch what was on my Instagram account this past week?

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How many books did students in each class read last week?

What are they reading now?

Check out our Padlet to see students’ BOOKselfies.

Click the links below at 10:00ish and 12:30 respectively to see all students’ posts.

BTW—guests are invited to post a BOOKselfie too.

Period 1&2

20 books read

BOOKselfies Period 1

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Period 5&6

14 books read

BOOKselfies Period 5

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For every parent who leaves a comment on TODAY’S POST with what YOU’RE reading, I’ll give your child a BUSTED ticket…

No one a comment on last Monday’s post.

I think I missed one from the previous Monday.

OH, man! I have had this book on my calendar since last spring.

I finally get to finish the last book in this series—It was just born on Tuesday.

I can’t wait to find out what happens with Cinder, Kai, Wolf, Scarlet, Cress, Winter, and Queen Levana in this most awesome series, the Lunar Chronicles:

Thanks,

David Etkin

11.13 {BookFlix Friday} Lost Boys

Posted on November 13, 2015 by David E.

Today is BookFlix Friday!

Few things can draw a reader to a new book like a book trailer can.

Get the popcorn ready.

Lights…Camera…Action!

We are working our way to the end of A Long Walk to Water. I enjoy being able to share with my students videos that bring the text to life. We are just at the part where Salva makes it to Rochester, NY (an hour down the thruway) and is overwhelmed by what he sees.

Today, instead of a book trailer, I want to feature a segment about the Lost Boys from 60 Minutes.

But first, how about another look of the movie trailer for God Grew Tired of Us:

And the 60 Minutes segment:

11.9 It’s Monday! What are you Reading? War Brothers, God Got a Dog, Enormous Smallnes

Posted on November 9, 2015 by David E.

Guess what today is!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

{Celebrating the books we’ve read in the past week

& the titles we are currently reading.}

This meme is originated by Jen and Kellee at TeachMentorTexts. Thanks!

This is my second time reading War Brothers. SO powerful. I’ll be sharing parts of this one with you shortly.

I couldn’t tell if this was blasphemous at first… but then I just settled on amusing. An interesting, quick read. What if God…Got a dog, went to beauty school, made spaghetti, or caught a cold? Interesting, playful writing by Ms. Rylant.

This is the second picture book I read about

the poet E. E. Cummings. A River of Words is the other. I liked them both.
The illustrations are lovely and the text is informative and playful. Do yourself a favor and read this one.

Did you catch what was on my Instagram account this past week?

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How many books did students in each class read last week?

What are they reading now?

Check out our Padlet to see students’ BOOKselfies.

Click the links below at 10:00ish and 12:30 respectively to see all students’ posts.

BTW—guests are invited to post a BOOKselfie too.

Period 1&2

10 books read

BOOKselfies Period 1

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Period 5&6

18 books read

BOOKselfies Period 5

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For every parent who leaves a comment on TODAY’S POST with what YOU’RE reading, I’ll give your child a BUSTED ticket…

Did anyone leave a comment on last Monday’s post???

I’m enjoying getting back into the spirit of Wonder reading Charlotte’s story. I didn’t realize whose story it was—I mean, who was Shingaling? An alien? This was a pleasant surprise.