Tator Tot Tic-Tac-Toe - Halterman and Clark Style!

As you already know, Hope and her mother Louise spent many Christmas Eves in the same booth at Chuck's Chicken and Biscuits on U.S. Highway 4 playing tic-tac-toe with their cooling tator tots. Mrs. Clark and I very much wanted to recreate this scenario for you all as a *fun* way to culminate finishing the book...and so our classroom was transformed into Chuck's (as best we could!) complete with tator tots, tic-tac-toe paper plates, and Hope's special sauce - 2 squirts of mayonnaise, 2 squirts of ketchup, and a small squirt of mustard!

What fun! We loved serving you and watching you *try* the special sauce - at least those of you who were brave enough to try it! Here are a few photos of our classroom diner:




We hope you enjoyed the experience - as well as the book. I'm looking forward to reading many more books with you this year.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Love,
Mrs. H

And What's Next for Hope? #2

Well, we've finished the book and I just loved seeing your eyes light up at the end of Christmas Jars when you figured it all out! What an amazing story, huh? There is a sequel to the book that just came out this fall and it's called Christmas Jars Reunion...but I'm not going to tell you about that yet.
I would love to hear your ideas of how you think the story will continue. What do you predict in Hope's future? Will she remain friends with the Maxwells? Will she have a relationship with her newly found mother Marianne? What will happen to the Christmas Jar tradition? What will happen to Adam's business now that he is gone? How about Hope's career?
What do you think about all of this? I want you to tell me what you think will happen in the next book!
And Merry Christmas to you all! See you in January!
Love,
Mrs. H

What do you think? Share your opinion! #1

Well guys, we are almost finished reading Christmas Jars, and it is my *hope* that you have enjoyed it as much as I have. The story certainly gives a person much to think about and ponder on long after it's over. In fact, there are a few questions that I have, and I would love to hear what you think about them.

Please pick one and let me know what you think. Here goes...

1) Who do you think deserves to receive a Christmas jar the most? Why?
2) Is it better to give gifts or to receive gifts? Why?
3) Is it ever right to do something wrong? Why?

I can't wait to hear what you have to say!
Love,
Mrs. H

Let's talk more about conflict! #3

Now that we have finished reading the first five chapters of Christmas Jars, we are well into the story, and hopefully enjoying it! All the elements of a plot are equally important in weaving a good story, but the conflict(s) in a story certainly play a big part in adding to our enjoyment.

Think about some of the conflicts that have been presented so far in Christmas Jars. You will need to:
1) Select a conflict and
2) Identify and explain what type of conflict it is.

It has been so much fun getting to be a part of reading Christmas Jars with you! It's one of my all-time favorite books. See you soon!

Mrs. H

Characters in Conflict #2

I know you have been very busy reading your independent books with the end of this grading period just two weeks away! Since you have been learning about the different types of conflict that can occur in a story (individual vs. individual, nature, society, technology, supernatural, and, of course, individual vs. self), I thought it would be fun for you to tell me about the type(s) of conflict in the book you're reading!
So, this week I want you to:
1) identify the title and author of your book
2) identify the type of conflict in the story and give me a little bit of background about what's going on
Since I haven't been there at school, I'll be anxious to see what you've been reading. If everything works out, I'll see you via Skype on Friday. Until then, be good!
Mrs. H.

What's your prediction? #1

In a short week or so we will be beginning the highly anticipated book Christmas Jars by the renowned best-selling author Jason Wright. (Whew! That was a mouthful of an introduction!)
I am so anxious to begin this reading - I've been looking forward to it for a long time now!
Given the little bit that you already know about the book, I would love to hear what you think this story is going to be about!
Predictions everyone!
Mrs. H

We all have stories! #4

You have been gearing up over the last few days to write a personal narrative. It's true that we all have stories to tell from experiences in our lives, and these stories shape the way we think, therefore, they have meaning to us and to others. Some stories stand out in our minds more than others and almost cry out to be told!
A quote from Virginia Woolf, an English novelist, says it very well.

"But in order to make you understand, to give you my life, I must tell you a story."

Our stories are peppered with conflict and change too. No story is good without conflict, and no conflict is worth it without change. So, this week I want you to think about all of this and the story you have decided to tell.
• Which story did you pick?
• Why did you pick this one?
• Why is it important for you to tell this particular story?

Starting Week Four...sigh!

Hi guys! Well, here I am again! I never think to ask someone else to take pictures of me, and then I struggle trying to take them by myself. That's a hard thing to do, let me tell you! My arms aren't long enough to get everything in. In the picture above I was trying to fit my new cast into the picture too, but as you can see, it didn't work. I had the new cast put on last Tuesday when I went for my appointment. They took new x-rays and removed the staples from the surgical incision before putting a new cast on. The doctor said that everything look good. I could have picked all kinds of colors for this cast - green, pink, yellow, blue, red, or black. I really wanted orange for fall and Halloween, but they didn't have it, so I chose black. I think it looks okay. What do you think?
Here it is!
This is my buddy on most days. Do you remember me showing you pictures of my cat Cinder Ella when I did my Box Speech? Well, here she is! She keeps me company all day while my husband is at work. Most of the time she curls up in my lap if I'm sitting in the recliner, or she snuggles up next to me if I'm on the couch. I talk to her all day long, but she very rarely answers me back!

I hear good things from Mrs. Clark about what you're doing in class. I want you to keep up the good work! I can't believe it's the end of the six weeks already. Some time soon, we're going to set it up where we can talk to and see each other via the computers using Skype. That should be a lot of fun. Maybe a few of you can read me some of your work. You know how much I'd like that! I hope you enjoy your two days off and come back next week ready to work hard.
Well, I guess that's all for now. Be good and I'll write to you again soon.
Love,
Mrs. H.

More summary, please? #3

Ah, I hear you have been reading the story of the great war that Rikki-tikki-tavi fought single-handedly with Nag and Nagaina in the bathroom and garden of the big bungalow in Segowlee cantonment. And what a story it is...one of my favorites!
I would love for you to once again practice using the strategy Somebody Wanted But So to write me a short summary of the story. You might want to write out your SWBS statements beforehand and then put them together into a summary before you attempt to post on the blog...just a suggestion! Remember to first put your summary into an Appleworks or Word document, be sure to save, then copy and paste it into the comment window on the blog.
I will write to you tomorrow and send you some new pictures. I have a brand new cast! Wait til you see it!
Mrs. H

A little summary, please! #2

Since you have been working with the strategy "Somebody Wanted But So" (SWBS) recently to help you with writing summaries, I thought I'd ask you to use those skills for responding to this week's blog.
Using SWBS and the book you are independently reading, write me a short summary of what's happened so far. You might want to write out your SWBS statements beforehand and then put them together into a summary before you attempt to post on the blog...just a suggestion! Remember to first put your summary into an Appleworks or Word document, be sure to save, then copy and paste it into the comment window on the blog.
Can't wait to hear about what you're reading now!
Mrs. H.

Yesterday I had a visitor...

This is a totally unbelievable story...I'll tell is as best as I can remember!
Yesterday afternoon I was sitting in our recliner (the place to find me these days!) with my trusty laptop. I had just had a really nice visit from Mrs. Showalter and her husband and wasn't expecting anyone else except my hubby coming home from work.
I heard a car pull into the driveway and puzzled over who it could be. I leaned out as far as I could, craning to see who was coming. All of a sudden I was looking at none other than Jason Wright making faces at me through the window. It's a good thing I was already sitting down, otherwise it could have been disastrous!
I motioned for him to come in (at least I think I did...I was so flabbergasted, it's a little blurry!)
Anyway, he came in, greeted me, and proceeded to tell me what an easy time he had finding my house, and how pretty it was in this area, and whatever else I don't recall. I was just stupidly staring with my mouth dropped open, I know. Finally I asked him what on earth he was doing, and he said, "Well, after getting mauled by a dog this summer, and now crashing down out of a tree, I thought you might need a little cheering up so I brought you these. I knew you couldn't be at the signing, so I thought I'd deliver them in person and sign them for you." In his hands were copies of his two soon-to-be-released books, Christmas Jars Reunion and Penny's Christmas Jar Miracle. Was I cheered up? Enough to last the rest of my life! After that we sat and visited like two old friends.
This man is so unbelievably kind and caring, the best, and I am so blessed that God allowed our paths to cross last year. I know that some of my former students were forever changed after reading Christmas Jars and getting to meet him in person. And not just my students...I was too. I'm honored to call him a friend.

P.S. I told him no one would ever believe me that he came to visit, so he ran out to his car, got his iPhone, and took my picture!

Welcome to a New School Year! (#1)

Hello guys, and welcome to our classroom reading blog! This is where we will be sharing responses to all sorts of reading related things this year. I can't believe that we have already finished two weeks of school, the Labor Day weekend is over, and here we are back again! I don't know about you, but it feels like we have been in school longer than just two weeks! I feel very comfortable with all my students and classes and am looking forward to a great year! Hopefully everyone enjoyed their long weekend, and now we can get down to some serious blogging!

Okay...we spent last week establishing that reading should be important to you, and maybe it is. However, there is always the chance that it isn't - and that's okay too. This what I want to center the discussion around this week - the importance of reading to you. I want you to:

1. Share your honest feelings about reading. (Please use complete sentences - no one or two word responses!) Tell me honestly how you feel about reading.

2. Now discuss why you feel the way you do. What happened along the way to make you feel like you do about reading?

Remember to keep all language appropriate - and have fun!

Reading SOL Tests Are Over!

Yay!  After an intense period of reviewing and preparing to take our test, it's finally over!  Most everyone worked very hard during this time, and I'm very proud of you!

It's been a while since we have been able to blog in the classroom, and it will be a little tricky now with all the mobile labs tied up for the next few weeks with testing, but we'll see what we can do with classroom computers!

Since we are 30-some chapters into Comfort, the sequel to Blue, I would like to hear your reactions to the story thus far.  Tell me what you think about the story so far, and also what you think will happen in the last chapters.  Be specific please!

The Visit We've All Been Waiting For!

This past Friday we were blessed to have our friend and esteemed author, Jason Wright, visit our school and talk to our classes. I think if I took a poll right now, we would all vote him the "Most Entertaining" speaker ever! He arrived brimming with stories to share - and what stories! Oh, my! Will we ever be able to enter a donut shop again without images of "basketball donuts" crossing our minds? Or what about the midnight motorized cart races, Pizzamobiles, and the mall Easter Bunny suit?  (The secret about its smell is out!)  Hilarious! We were glued to our seats for over an hour - an hour that seemed like mere minutes. None of us would have experienced any trouble sitting for the remainder of the afternoon just listening and enjoying our guest. However, and perhaps most important, we will take the message behind all of Jason's stories with us. We can follow our dreams, and we can keep on trying even when things don't turn out the way we think they should. I think each one of us left the library on Friday feeling a little more lighthearted and hopeful about the future.
What a kind and generous guy Jason is too! A personally autographed copy of "A Christmas Jar for Santa" for everyone! We certainly weren't expecting that. That's a gift, in addition to our memories, that we'll cherish forever. Thanks, Jason...you're the best!

Are You Blue? (#1)

Well...we've finished another great book, and I hope you enjoyed Blue as much as I did! I would like you to tell me what you thought of it. Consider the following questions:
• Did the book change your feelings about anything?
• What did you learn that will stay with you long after the book is over?
• What surprised you in the book?
• What emotions did the book stir up in you?
• What did you like best about the book?
• What, if anything, did you dislike?

Ask Jason Anything? Okay, here we go!

Back in December, our favorite author Jason Wright announced the debut of "Ask Jason Anything" on his blog.  He invited folks to send in video questions, promising to answer them online.  Well, what an invitation!  Of course all my students were all up for this challenge!  Here you can see them in action (well, actually you can't because they are incognito to protect their identities online - but don't they look great!) and didn't they do a great job?! 

We can't wait to "see" our answers!

Happy New Year - or Happy New Day! (#4)

Welcome back to school and to a new year!  I've missed you!  I hope you had a wonderful break and have come back ready to read and work!  :>) 

 A new year always signals all kinds of new beginnings, new resolutions and goals, and fresh starts.  There's just something about having a clean slate and being able to start over.  You know, most of us get a fresh start - a chance for a new beginning - each and every day that we wake up on this earth.  Why wait for a new year?  Start today - a new day - to work on a new goal or resolution.  Every day should be a Happy New Day!

Now - down to business!  For today's blog I would like to hear your predictions for the book we've just started reading, Blue,  by Joyce Moyer Hostetter.  Where do you think the story is going from here?  What do you think is in store for Ann Fay Honeycutt and her family?