Bud, Not Buddy: "Rules and Things for a Funner Life..."

In Bud, Not Buddy, Bud comes up with a list of "Rules and Things for a Funner Life..."

Come up with your own list of rules. Explain in detail why they are important to you.

Civil Rights Freedom Fighters

Who did you choose as your freedom fighter mentor and why?
How does their life inspire you?

A Letter to MLK

If Martin Luther King, Jr. was alive today and you could write him a letter, what would you say?

What questions would you ask him?

What would you tell him about your own life?


How would you thank him?

Read the above poem from Highlights magazine (click the picture to view it larger).

Think about what the poem means to you.

What message was the author trying to tell you in each of the four stanzas of the poem?

A stanza is a group of lines in a poem.

What does the author mean when she says “the sturdy grace of brotherhood”?

How do you know?

10 Important Words Inspired by MLK

Choose one word on the “Big Words” list inspired by MLK you made today in small group. 

What does this word mean to you?

Give at least two pieces of evidence why this word inspires social change and activism.

For example, I could write the word kindness and then share how kindness brings about change in a way that is respectful to different viewpoints.

Kids can change the world!

PS261 believes in activism: the belief in or practice of trying to make social changes through active involvement.

Think about the needs you see in your community (at school, in your neighborhood, in NYC, etc.) Choose one of those needs you see and describe it in detail.

How can you help change things for the better? What are some things kids can do to help their community?

My Hopes and Dreams for the New Year

What are your hopes and dreams for the New Year?

What goals do you want to work on?

What steps will you take to achieve your goals?

How can we help our community of learners in the classroom and in our school in the New Year?

Book Talk: Becoming Naomi Leon

Choose one book talk topic from the list below to discuss. Give at least two pieces of evidence from the book, Becoming Naomi Leon, to defend your thinking.

For example...
The author's message in Becoming Naomi Leon is ___________.
I know this because in the text _____________.
Also, _________________________________.


Book Talk Topics
-Author's message
-Main problem in the story
-Character motivation
-Character belief system
-Themes
-Symbols
-Patterns

Book Talk: Becoming Naomi Leon

Choose one book talk topic from the list below to discuss. Give at least two pieces of evidence from the book, Becoming Naomi Leon, to defend your thinking.

For example...
The author's message in Becoming Naomi Leon is ___________.
I know this because in the text _____________.
Also, _________________________________.


Book Talk Topics
-Author's message
-Main problem in the story
-Character motivation
-Character belief system
-Themes
-Symbols
-Patterns

Charts Help Us Dig Deeper Into Reading

What charts have you learned to dig deeper into your reading?

(For example: the theory and evidence chart)

How do these tools help you?

Do you use these charts in your own independent reading at home and in school?

What charts are easy for you to use? Which charts are more difficult?

Rules: Book Talk

Choose one book talk topic from the list below to discuss. Give at least two pieces of evidence from the book, Rules, to defend your thinking.

For example,
The author's message in Rules is _______________________.
I know this because in the text _________________________.
Also, ____________________________________________.

Book Talk Topics
-Author's message
-Main problem in the story
-Character motivation
-Character belief system
-Themes
-Symbols
-Big idea
-Patterns

Catherine's Rules

At the beginning of each chapter in Rules is a rule that acts as a metaphor for Catherine’s experiences.

Choose one of Catherine’s rules. Explain how that rule shows the author’s message. Be sure to use specific details from the book, Rules.

Use the work we did in book talk today to help you with your response.

Here are some of Catherine’s rules:

-Sometimes you’ve gotta work with what you’ve got.

-Sometimes things work out, but don’t count on it.

-Saying you’ll do something means you have to do it – unless you have a very good excuse.

-If you can only choose one, pick carefully.

-Sometimes people laugh when they like you. But sometimes they laugh to hurt you.

-Sometimes people don’t answer because they didn’t hear you. Other times it’s because they don’t want to hear you.

Native Americans in New York: Feature Article

We are writing feature articles about the Native Americans in New York. Feature articles contain facts, opinion, story and voice about a nonfiction topic.

What topic are you writing about for our Native Americans in NY feature article?

For example: comparing Iroquois hairstyles to hairstyles today.

What are some facts you learned about your topic? Why is your topic interesting?

Do you have an angle for your feature article yet?

Hint: Your angle or perspective is your opinion or point of view about a topic.

Who will you be for our Character Parade?

What is one of your favorite books?

List 3 interesting characters from the book.

If you could be one of those characters, which one would it be?

Why? Explain in detail

Describe how that character looks and acts.

Look through your clothes and the things you have at home.  Make a plan for how you could create a costume of that character using things you already have. 

Our Classroom Culture

What do you think is important to include in the culture of our classroom?

We are a classroom that ________________ because...

Be sure to explain your thinking with details.

Here are a few example comments from our class discussion:

We are a classroom that respects each other's opinions because...

We are a classroom that adds on to each other's thinking because...

We are a classroom that is inclusive because...

Who am I as a reader?

Answer the following questions.

Explain your answers with specific details.

Where do you like to read?

What genres do you like to read?

What other types of things do you like to read besides books?

Who are your favorite authors?

Do you have a favorite series of books? Why?

How does reading make you feel?

What do you like most about reading?

What is the most challenging thing about reading?

Name one of your favorite books and explain why it’s your favorite.
Do you ever read books you have already read before?

Choose one character in a book you have read that inspires you. Why does that character inspire you?

You can write your blog response on paper if you have technical difficulties or don’t have access to the internet. You may also email your response to me.

Writer's Notebook Visual Inspiration

Find a picture that inspires you. This may be a photograph, an image from a book or magazine, a drawing, etc.

Describe your picture in detail and explain why it inspires you to write.

Please bring in your picture to class tomorrow. You can either bring in a hard copy or email it to me.

Who am I as a writer?

Use your previous answer in your Writer's Notebook to help you and add more detail. Explain your thinking.

Wonder

Choose one book talk topic from the list below to discuss. Give at least two pieces of evidence from the book to defend your thinking.

For example... The author's message in Wonder is ___________________.

I know this because in the text ___________________________.

Also, ___________________________________________________.

Book Talk Topics

-Author's message

-Main problem

-Character motivation

-Themes           

-Big idea

-Symbols           

-Patterns

-Character belief system

A Letter to Incoming Fourth Graders

What advice would you give new fourth graders next year?
Write a letter to explain your advice in detail.