happyreader

Check out Emily and Kariana, the original book reporters, in this video as they review The 39 Clues, by Rick Riordan.

If it sounds interesting to you, check out this site:

http://www.the39clues.com/

When Pacy says she was rich at the end of chapter 26, she was not just talking about the $400.00 prize, the money, the moolah. What did she REALLY mean, when she says she was "rich".

In chapter 27, Pacy's mom gives her a "China doll". Why wasn't it the "china doll" that Pacy wanted? What did Pacy want? What did the mom THINK Pacy meant?

In chapter 28, after their mom tells her haircut story, Lissy says to her on page 130, "That's not the kind of different I mean." What is Lissy talking about? What is she worried about. Be specific.

Write a short seed story about a time that YOU cut your OWN hair (if you amazingly never did this, write about a time a sister, brother, or friend cut their hair). Use a simile and be DESCRIPTIVE!

Here is my story:

Every year, from the time I was in 1st to 4th grade, I always thought it was cool to give myself a nice little haircut. Now, was I a barber or hair stylist? No! I was simply a curious kid who always could find her mother's hiding place for the scissors!
Yes, hiding place. You heard me correctly. You see my mom was not very happy with my haircutting abilities, nor was she particularly pleased that I ALWAYS managed to cut my hair the night before, or morning that my school picture was to be taken.
My parents have a whole collection of photos from these years of me looking like a science experiment gone wrong. Let me share a few snapshots with you:
1st grade picture: I was wearing a beautiful red dress, but I had made the unfortunate choice of running into the bathroom, picking up a pair of scissors and....cutting bangs! Yes, bangs, folks. The problem wasn't my mom almost passing out when she saw a giant clump of hair on the floor, or that I was already missing a couple of teeth, the problem was that I had cut a 2 inch section of hair into bangs that were angled like the bumpy VanRaalte Farm sledding hill. Sadly, it was too late to fix my hair before "picture time", so I ended up with a mom in tears, and what would be the beginning of a series of dorky school photos. My mom refers to these years as "The Disaster Years".
So along comes 2nd grade, and a few DIY (Do-it-yourself) haircuts in between. The night before my 2nd grade school pictures, I had that uncontrollable urge--once again--to....cut my hair! Fortunately, I had had more practice. Practice makes perfect, so they say, so I was sure this 2nd grade haircut would be PERFECT for my school pictures. Well, as I am sure you can imagine, that was not the case. This time, I not only added a few more crooked bangs, but I decided to go shorter, much shorter.
My mom was so happy my bangs had grown back and my hair now reached the middle of my back. Little did she predict that a few snips would change all of that. After brushing my teeth, I pulled out those scissors and wham, bam, chop! I had hair as short as a ruler and bangs as straight as the edge of a pie crust. My mom fainted and tried to hide the scissors every year from then on. Sadly, it never worked.

Read chapter 29 and smile.

What do you think of Mayor Charming (AKA: Prince Charming)? Is he like the Prince Charming from Snow White and the 7 dwarves?

Why do you think Mayor Charming wants the Grimm family to "die out"?

So....who is Mr. Canis? From what fairy tale does he come?

Write your best RED HOT and DEEP thought for the group.

Write your best RED HOT and DEEP question for the group. (No yes or no questions, please...)

Chapter 4:
Share your your favorite part of chapter 4 with the group. (Rewrite it here.)
Make a prediction about what will happen to Emma?
What would you do if you were her?

Chapter 5:
What do you think about Eadric's reaction to what happened to Emma? Is he being understanding about Emma's situation? Why or why not?

What is so important about Emma's bracelet?

What do you think about Eadric's plan?

Make a prediction.

Chapter 6:
Explain the complex feelings that Emma feels about Eadric. Why does she both like him and dislike him? What characteristics do you like about Eadric, what ones do you dislike about him?

Here are a few of our 4th graders who didn't have to leave for P.E. (we'll get the rest of you guys later! And our 5th grader blog experts, too!):

Read chapters 24-26

Chapter 24:
Mom's story about Uncle Shin reminds me a little bit of Bruce Bogtrotter (in Matilda) and the cake Mrs. Trunchbull made him eat. I think they both regretted their choices.

Can you make any text connections in this chapter?


Chapter 25:
List any similes.
Write a quick story about your BEST Halloween costume, if you celebrate Halloween. If you don't write about a cool costume just for fun.
My favorite Halloween costume was when I was in 4th grade. I was Carmen Miranda a famous singer and dancer. I really didn't even know who she was, but my way-cool mom always made our Halloween costumes and my mom was VERY creative. She showed me a picture of Carmen Miranda and I loved her red and yellow and purple colorful dress and all of the fruit piled on top of her head. I was geeked to be her, even though none of the kids at my school would know who I was either. (The teachers and the old people appreciated me though.) At the top of this blog posting, there is the picture of the REAL Carmen Miranda:


So tell us about your costume.

Chapter 26:
Read this chapter and write a response. How does this chapter fit into the BIG IDEA of what this whole book is really about. What is the BIG IDEA, i.e.: What is so significant about "The Year of the Dog" for Pacy?

Pages 28-37

In the beginning of this chapter we learn of some of the girls' other foster families and their clever and daring escapes on pages 31-32.

Why do you think Daphne sabotaged their escape (p. 34)?

Who are you most-like personality-wise: Sabrina or Daphne? Explain why? Think about what you would do in the book if you were in it and which character would you most act like?

Make a prediction after you read the last line on page 37. What's going on with these bugs?

Read chapters 2-3 and write 3 red hot thoughts and 2 questions for the group.
Be sure to answer questions from last week and respond to others too.

1. Based on the original story, The Frog Prince, by the Brothers Grimm, what do YOU think The Frog Princess will be about?


2. The very first paragraph is an important one, "Even as a little girl I had thought that the swamp was a magical place where new lives began and old ones ended, where enemies and heroes weren't always what one expected, and where anything could happen, even to a clumsy princess. Although I'd believed this for most of my life, I had no proof until Prince Jorge came to visit and I met the frog of my dreams."

Keep this quote in mind as you read...

3. Read chapter 1.

4. On a character web, describe Emma.

5. What is Emma's problem? What is the frog's problem?

6. Reread the last paragraph. What do you think Emma will do?

7. Review chapter 1 and find the best piece of descriptive language.

1. As you read chapters 19-20, list similes.

2. What was your favorite part in chapter 19 and why?

3. What was your favorite part in chapter 20 and why?

4. Why is chapter 20 called, Digging Up a Book Idea?

5. When you are done you may work on your homophone books. :)

In chapter 12, Pacy and Melody both have crushes on Teddy.
Write a seed story about a crush that you had on a girl or boy
(Sabrina, sorry you are the only girl) when you were in 1st or 2nd grade
or so. If this is a sweet or funny story share it below. If you don't have a story,
make one up, or steal it from a friend.


Read chapter 13 and write about why Mama's story is a SEED story and NOT a watermelon story, Use examples from her story to support her answer.

Read the next two chapters from, The Year of the Dog.
While reading, write down 5-8 important things you learned
and 5-8 things you wonder or questions you have.

If you have any AH-HA! moments, write them down too.

Lastly, don't forget to share any super-cool similes or multi-meaning words (or even homophones) you may encounter.

Happy reading!!! See you Wednesday!

:)Ms. P

Ja-Ba-Bei in Taiwanese means: "How are you doing?" "Have you eaten yet?"
is an example of a multiple meaning word. A word, or in this case, a phrase
that is spelled the same, but means something different depending upon how it is used.
Chicken (the food, or being a coward) is another example of a multiple meaning word.

Smilies are comparisons that use like or as to compare one thing to another. For instance,Pacy's grandmother's dress glowed like a pearl ring. Or, the silk clothes shimmered like stained glass windows.

Do a WORD HUNT and find some of your own from your independent books!
:)

1. Would you have gone with Bugs if you were Bud? Why or why not?

2. Name 2 interesting things you learned in this chapter and tell why you thought they were interesting.

3. Name a part that was a little confusing at first. How did you get unconfused?

4. What was your favorite part and why?

5. What was the most mysterious part and why?

6. What questions do you have?

Is Your Book a YIGI?

Have you ever read a book that you kind of understood, but that you also kind of didn't understand? Me too. That is what a call a "Not-so-swell Fit" book.

What about a book that you TOTALLY and COMPLETELY understood? I call that a "Just Right Fit"(or YIGI book: Yes I Get IT!). I like those kind of books

Please show with words (give us visuals: details and examples) how you know if you are REALLY and TRULY understanding a book? What does it feel like, look like in your mind when you are really getting the author's message, who the characters are, and the book's deeper meaning.

If you share your stories, I'll share mine. :)

1.) Give an example, with DETAILS of a YIGI book. Prove it.
2.) Give an example, with DETAILS of a non-YIGI book. Prove it.
3.) Make sure you ELABORATE and PROVE it.

In chapter 5 Pacy talks about being confused as to what she is. Is she Chinese? Is she American? Is she Taiwanese?

My husband's parents were born and raised in Germany, but they are American citizens. They consider themselves Americans or German Americans.

1. What do you consider yourself? What countries did your parents come from? If you don't know, ask them tonight and blog your answer tomorrow.

2. Find China and Taiwan on a map. Show me these places. (Hint go to google maps.)

3. In chapter 6 there is confusion about something else. Explain what that is and why?

As you read these chapters write:

1. One thing that was interesting to you about this chapter.

2. A question/wonder or prediction

3. Best example of descriptive or beautiful language.

What are your talents and values?

What kinds of things are important to you to lead a great life?
In what are you talented?
What do you hope to be when you get older? (You can have more than a few ideas!)

Have you ever read a book that you kind of understood, but that you also kind of didn't understand? Me too. That is what a call a "Not-so-swell Fit" book.

What about a book that you TOTALLY and COMPLETELY understood? I call that a "Just Right Fit"(or YIGI book: Yes I Get IT!). I like those kind of books

Please show with words (give us visuals: details and examples) how you know if you are REALLY and TRULY understanding a book? What does it feel like, look like in your mind when you are really getting the author's message, who the characters are, and the book's deeper meaning.

If you share your stories, I'll share mine. :)

1.) Give an example, with DETAILS of a YIGI book. Prove it.
2.) Give an example, with DETAILS of a non-YIGI book. Prove it.
3.) Make sure you ELABORATE and PROVE it.