This is a classroom of readers.

Many students pop open a book first thing everyday and get ten or fifteen minutes of reading done before the school day starts. I often over-hear students talking to each other about the books they are reading.

To add a special something to our regular silent reading time, we will be taking over the library once again. Blankets, pillows, and really great books will be the perfect combination for a relaxed reading experience.

Huzzahnians, you job this week is to recommend a really good read.  It can be any genre, and can even be a book you might recommend to a younger reader. Think like someone who is browsing the stacks: what can you tell them that will make them reach for this really good book?

Call your post DEAR Reader, then include the title and author of your book as a size 3 heading. Tell your readers what makes this book so good. Is it the plot, the characters, the setting? Is it the writer’s way with words?  Please include a thumbnail image of the book cover–because you are writing about the book as a reviewer would, using the image is considered “fair use” so attribution is not necessary.

Your posts will be a help to anyone who has ever thought…hmmm, I can’t find anything to read.

…your brain’s attention.

As we Huzzahnians have discussed (and expert researchers have told us), vision trumps all other senses. We attach meaning and recall better if there is an image connected to a message. Is this why advertising is so successful?

We are going to get busy with images this week: finding the right ones for the messages in our posts, and as important, giving credit where credit is due. This means finding images we have been given permission to use and giving attribution to the artist or photographer.

We’ll do this in class and write a “how to” page so you can do the same thing from home. We will use a few sites such as Flickr and tools to learn the technical details.

And we will respond to Miss Wyatt’s challenge to add images: choose one of the following activities:

1. A place to start:

Go to one of your previous posts and add an image to make the post have eyeball appeal. Give credit! Then write a new short post with a link to the improved one inviting us to notice the difference.

(From Miss W:)

2. Visit one of the image sites

…and choose a great image. Write a post about that image and remember to include the attribution. This means you have told readers where you got the image from.  Look at the URL for the image – this does not mean Google search images but the original site where the image was put on the web.

3. Choose five images

…which, put together, tell a story without any writing from you. Remember to choose a great title for this post. Remember also to give attribution for the images. ”

Looking forward to SEEING the results!

Image: (227/365) Look by Sarah G

Looking  for some common interests?

Blogs let us write about events and topics about which we are passionate. Reading the thoughts and hearing about the experiences of people who share your interests is rewarding, inspiring, and fun. If you have an interest in any of these topics, you may want to connect with these bloggers:

Want to learn about a holiday celebration? Read Priya’s post. Like reading about special pets? Savannah’s post is worth reading and commenting on. Want to be transported back to the summer? Travel back with Easton here.

And there’s more!

• Animals: Sierra, Rosa, Tyler, Katie, and Jaiden
• Sailing: Josh
• Cheerleading: Solana and Payton
• Books: Eric
• Hockey: Riley, Ben, Easton, and Danny
• Gaming: John
• History: Greyson
• Lego: Matteo

Our blogs are barely 2 weeks old, and already there is so much to read! I didn’t mention every student blog, but there is a treasure trove here. Huzzahnians, now that you now how to link, why not put in a link to something you’ve read on a blog, either from our class or from somewhere else in the blogosphere in your next post?

Friends and visitors, drop by and join in the conversation!

Image: Ready for take off by vyxle

A bit of Friday fun…

Thanks to the school leadership club, today was a bit different. Staff and students turned up at school in their pyjamas, with stuffies and blankets in tow. We still managed to get a lot of learning in, despite appearances. Math, Social Studies and Language Arts still happened (as well as PE and Music). In the afternoon we invaded the library and had a Read-In under tables and counters, and between the stacks. Thanks to Mrs. Auchterlonie for welcoming us.

It was a great way to kick off a long weekend.

We are very fortunate to have many adults working with our class this year. Some are close to home, and some far away. Ms. Fender is a student teacher living…somewhere else! We will solve the mystery of her whereabouts with her help, because she has made a video for us to help guess where she lives.

Here are seven random things about her–notice these facts don’t identify her personally. However, her picture connected to her name does, and she has given permission to share it on our blog.

1. I love reading but never get time to read what I want!

2. I have 4 children involved in performance orientated arts.

3. I wish I could live on a farm or acreage.

4. I love animals but don’t have any pets.

5. I am an artist but don’t paint.

6. I am allergic to wheat, yeast, soy, and dairy.

7. I love technology and love learning how to learn about it.

In class, we’ll view Ms. Fender’s video and then do some educated guessing about where she comes from.  Huzzahnians, what clues helped you? At what point did you have enough information to make a reasonable prediction?

Readers arrive with questions:

Who is this writer? What are his interests? What is her personality like? Do we have anything in common?

Your “About” page might just be the first place a reader goes to find out.

Your blog is a reflection of your personality.

Miss Wyatt’s post gives some directions and examples of ways to write your “About” page. We have already reviewed the advice to be “internet savy” by making wise decisions about our writing and blog content.

Take a look at these about pages from last year: Daniel C, Nicholas, Catie, and Rebecca. Notice how they tell you just enough about their personality without saying WHO they are.

This post will be a PAGE on your blog.

Your “About” page shows your voice: who and what you feel strongly about, your sense of humour, your passion and compassion–what drives you.

Look at the draft of your “About” page. What one word most captures who you are?

Image: Questions by oberazzi,  Creative Commons license.

From Blue Devils swimming, to Chile and beyond!

Greetings to all the students and parents of Mrs. Smith’s grade 5/6 class.

My name is Mr. Laurie. I am a student teacher from Vancouver Island University. I will be a part of your classroom community over the next year. I am extremely grateful for this opportunity and thank you for your cooperation.

Being a student teacher, here in Comox, is a dream come true for me. I grew up in Comox and graduated from Highland. I love the Valley way of life and can not wait to give back to a community that has been so good to me. I look forward to sharing my stories and knowledge of growing up in the most beautiful place in the world.

I have enjoy immensely the three short days that I have spent in your classroom. You, the students are wonderful and I can not wait to know more about you. The parents that I have met are caring and supportive. I look forward to a great year with all of you.

(Mr. Laurie brings his many talents and enthusiasm for learning to the classroom–we are indeed fortunate. Parents, ask your son or daughter about what they have learned from and about him so far.  ~Ms. S.)