Books

            One of the main areas of focus in 5th grade is reading! In our 5th grade classroom you can have anywhere from 3-4 books going at once! Talk about juggling.  Let's break down the 3-4 books you might be reading so you can see how they fit into your day.

           The first book you could encounter during your day at school is our class read aloud book. This will be a book I read aloud to the class first thing in the morning for about 15 minutes at a time. This book will be something that can appeal to the entire class (or at least most of the class). This book could be the beginning of a series, to get you hooked so you read the rest. Or maybe even one that has been made into a movie so we can take a morning off and relax watching a move, while of course comparing how it is different from the book. I read many excellent books last year as read aloud and since I don't like to repeat a book you'll have to discover those on your own! Our first read aloud book this school year will be from the exciting new series by Patrick Carman called "Skeleton Creek". This series is unique because it combines reading and short video clips to tell the story. Over the course of my experience with 5th grade students I have discovered that many enjoy mysteries or slightly scary books and this series definitely fits the bill. I really am looking forward to exploring this book with you once school starts.

         The second book you are likely to encounter during your day at school is your Literature Circle Book. This will be a novel you select with your Literature Circle in the library and read it together at an agreed upon pace. You might read 1-2 chapters a day or go by page counts, it's up to your group. You will be discussing this book and answering questions about it. Sometimes to shake things up we might read a whole class Lit Set just to practice a new skill or because I feel like. One of the perks to being a teacher I guess. We will start the year off with a whole class lit set so that you can easily learn my expectations and how to discuss a book like a highly intelligent 5th grader. Our very first literature set will be the wonderful timeless book "Tuck Everlasting" by Natalie Bobbit. You will definitely enjoy this book!

          So, that's two books you've already encountered in your day at school and it's only 8:30am! Congratulations to you super readers!

         The third book of the day is your self-selected AR book from the class library or the school library. This book is whatever strikes your fancy during library check-out time or while you are browsing the class bookshelves. This is the the time to pick whatever you and only you want to read, you don't have to ask anyone else's opinion! Yippee! You may ask me for suggestions and I will be more than happy to give you my opinion, but you don't have to listen. Exciting right? As long as you are working toward your quarterly AR goal this book will need to be with some points, but once you have your goal you can read anything! Even magazines or comic books, as long as you are reading I am happy.


     I am looking forward to introducing you to these two books and many more this year!