March Grades 3-4 Book Club: Because of Mr. Terupt

                                                                                                                  We had a great book discussion about Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea.  12 participants were present. Thanks to Abbie, Cecilia, Evan, Julia, Kelsey, Molly, Natalie, Olivia, Olivia, Rileigh, and Riley for attending! Please read some of the comments about the book below, taken from RandomHouse.com

*At the opening of Because of Mr. Terupt,  Peter offers, “It’s our bad luck to have teachers in this world, but since we’re stuck with them, the best we can do is hope to get a brand new one instead of a mean old fart.” (p. 1). For what reason do you think Peter finds hope in having Mr. Terupt as his teacher? Why does he choose to push his boundaries as a means of “testing” him out? Based on your personal experience, do you agree with his assessment about new vs. old teachers? Why or why not?


-Old teachers who have been at the district know all of the rules. Mr. T. doesn't know the reasons that things work.
-New teachers are better than old teachers because you can learn their new rules. 
-I think that Peter wanted a new teacher because with rookie teachers, they don't know your tricks that the old teachers know. You can get away with more.
-It's hard to pick between both. Old teachers know the rules and know what's going on. New teachers are good but they don't know why.
-Old teachers know what's actually bad and what's actually good.
-I think that Peter likes the rookie teachers better because they don't know the rules and they don't know what they're going to get from the students.

*Describe Mr. Terupt. What makes him a dynamic person? Is he the type of teacher you would want? Why or why not? 

-I think Mr. T. is special.
-I would love to have Mr. T. because he's nice, cool and deals with bullies. He's really cool with how he deals with everything in the book.
-I would like Mr. T. because he knows how to deal with people, if they're being mean. He deals with Lexie and Peter really well.
-I would love Mr. T. because he's an inspiration to little kids. Some teachers would say "stop picking on so-and-so" but he teaches them examples of how to be better.
-I would love to have Mr. T. because he knows how to deal with kids. Even though he's a rookie, he keeps his eyes open. He gives examples to the kids of how to be better.

*Consider the seven students/narrators of the novel: Who did you like the most? The least? For what reason? Of all of the characters, who did you feel was most similar to you due to his/her personality or experiences?

-My favorite character was Danielle. I liked her because she had to fight through a lot of things in her life. Whenever she told a story, you could feel her pain. The person I liked the least was Luke because of him always saying dollar words.
-I liked Jeffrey the most because of his back story (Evan, can you let me talk!). I liked how the author added the story of his brother. I felt like Luke was pretty boring.
-I think that it's hard to choose the best character because they all brought out different emotions in the story. Jessica was probably my favorite because she tied everyone together. Peter was kind of boring.
-Out of all of them, my favorite would have to be Jeffrey because he hates school but then does Collaborative Classroom. I didn't have a least favorite.
-Anna and Jessica were my favorites because they're shy and bookworms. Peter and Alexia were my least favorite.
-My favorite was Jessica. My least favorite was Lexie because she's mean. The character I'm most like is Anna.
-My favorite character was Anna because she sort of started out with no friends. My least favorite character is probably the Principal because she's funny. The character who is most like me is Anna.
-My favorite was Peter because he's funny and likes to pull pranks. I don't have a least favorite. Peter is the most like me.
-All of the characters have such different personalities so I can't choose. My least favorite was Peter because even though he thought it was an accident and he was the one who hit Mr. T. with the snowball. The one most like me is Jessica because she's smart and I'm smart. 
-My favorite character was Peter because he was funny. My least favorite character was Luke because he was pretty boring. The dollar word thing was annoying. 
-The person who is most like me is Lexie. A little bit of Anna and a little bit of Jessica. My least favorite is Luke because he's boring. My favorite is Alexia without the bully part.

The Book Club selection for April is Wonder by R.J. Palacio. "Ten-year-old Auggie Pullman, who was born with extreme facial abnormalities and was not expected to survive, goes from being home-schooled to entering fifth grade at a private middle school in Manhattan, which entails enduring the taunting and fear of his classmates as he struggles to be seen as just another student."- summary. The club will meet at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 4th in the Meeting Hall. Books have been ordered and will be available for pickup behind the Circulation Desk. Please be sure to sign up for Book Club so that Miss Lisa knows how many snacks to buy!

Grades 3-4 Book Recommendations for April

Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool

"Twelve-year-old Abilene Tucker is the daughter of a drifter who, in the summer of 1936, sends her to stay with an old friend in Manifest, Kansas, where he grew up, and where she hopes to find out some things about his past."- summary Book Trailer


Counting by 7's by Holly Goldberg Sloan
"Twelve-year-old genius and outsider Willow Chance must figure out how to connect with other people and find a surrogate family for herself after her parents are killed in a car accident."- summary Book Trailer


The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes
"Seven-year-old Billy Miller starts second grade with a bump on his head and a lot of worries, but by the end of the year he has developed good relationships with his teacher, his little sister, and his parents and learned many important lessons."- summary 

February Grades 3-4 Book Club: From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

                                                                                                                          

We had a great book discussion about From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg. participants were present, making this our largest book club so far! Thanks to Abbie, Alexandra, Cecilia, Julia, Kelsey, Molly, Natalie, Olivia, Rileigh, and Riley for attending! Please read some of the comments about the book below.

Why does Claudia pick Jamie to run away with?
-because he has lots of money and he's friendly to her
-he picks her because he has money and he's the only one who will keep his mouth shut
-he's rich, it's her brother
-because he can save money and he makes good company
-because he resists the urge to buy stuff
-because he has $24.63
-because he's really nice and he's a good companion. And he's rich.
-because he has a radio
-because he has lots of money and he's small. He can fit through things.
-rich, radio, small and smart

How does Jamie get his money? 
-by cheating in cards on his best friend
-every day on the bus, he plays War on the bus with his friend. He wins 50 cents every day by cheating
-he gets money later by going in the fountain  

Claudia thinks she is running away because of injustice. What's your opinion about Claudia's sense of injustice?
 -I don't think that running away for injustice is a good reason. You would need an important reason to run away.
-I think that you need a better reason to run away.
-Claudia is not being treated fairly

Have you ever wanted to escape or run away from something you didn't like? Do you think Claudia and Jamie were fair to their family when they ran away?

-I think that they were not fair to their family. They ran away with little reason.
-I don't think they were being fair because what did their family do to them? They were running away for a silly reason. They sent their family into a frantic search.
-They weren't fair to their family. They thought they had a good reason (not enough allowance, having to always take care of their brother)
-They weren't fair to their parents. Their parents had no idea where they were.
-I don't think it was fair. The parents took away the kids money, though. 
-No and no.
-Why would you run away for no apparent reason? Their parents don't know if they did do something wrong. Don't drive them frantic over something they didn't do.

How do you feel about the way Jamie wins in cards against Bruce? How do you think friends should treat one another?
-I don't think that Bruce cheated. If you want to have a good friendship, you should't cheat your best friend. It's rude.
-It's like lying to someone in order to get information. 
-It's not being a true friend. You're basically forcing someone to pay you to be your friend. Not cool. 
-I think it's not a very good friendship.

What section of the museum would you have chosen to study?
-the Egyptian wing
-I would chose the Egyptian wing because of the mummies
-the Spanish section
-the French Arts
-the Italian Renaissance 
-Medieval Arts
-all the arts
-the Medieval Treasury
-Arms and Armor 

Please rate this book from 1-5, with 5 being the best:
3
4
2
2
2.5
1.5
5.5
1,000
1,000,000
-1,0000 

The Grade 3-4 Book Club selection for March is Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea. "Seven fifth-graders at Snow Hill School in Connecticut relate how their lives are changed for the better by "rookie teacher" Mr. Terupt."--summary. Copies of the book will be available behind the Circulation Desk within the next week. Please remember to register for Book Club so that we know how many people will be attending.

Grades 3-4 Book Club Recommendations for March

The Name of This Book is Secret by Pseudonymous Bosch

Two eleven-year-old misfits try to solve the mystery of a dead magician and stop the evil Dr. L and Ms. Mauvais, who are searching for the secret of immortality. This is the story of a secret, and also a secret story. This is the story of Cass and Max-Ernest, two friendless 11-year olds who come together to solve the mystery surrounding a dead magician and the clues he left behind. When they find a mysterious case containing vials of liquid labeled The Symphony of Smells with an encoded message asking for help, they decide to investigate. Along the way they must solve puzzles and word games and face incredible danger to answer their questions. They encounter the dark and looming Dr. L and his seemingly ageless accomplice, Ms. Mauvais, who have kidnapped one of their classmates in a desperate attempt to unlock the secrets of immortality.- summary Book Trailer

Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea
Seven fifth-graders at Snow Hill School in Connecticut relate how their lives are changed for the better by "rookie teacher" Mr. Terupt.- summary Book Trailer

Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
Ten-year-old India Opal Buloni describes her first summer in the town of Naomi, Florida, and all the good things that happen to her because of her big ugly dog Winn-Dixie.- summary Book Trailer

January Grades 3-4 Book Club: Out of My Mind

We had a great book discussion in January about Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper. Sixteen participants were present, making this our largest book club so far! Thanks to Abbie, Alexandra, Ben, Cecilia, Colette, Evan, Jesse, Julia, Kelsey, Molly, Natalie, Olivia, Olivia, Rileigh, Riley, and Sofia for attending! Please read some of the comments about the book below.

Please use one word to describe your first impression and your last impression of Melody.:

-"I felt sad at first. At the end, I thought that it was good that she was able to talk through the Medi-Talker."

-"My first impression was 'weird'. The last was 'amazing'."

-First: "who is this?" Second: "slob"

-First: "sloppy and gross". Second: "wonderful".

-First: "I feel bad for her". Second: "amazing".

-"normal kid" and "wow"

-"sorry for her" and "proud of her"

-"gross" and "brave, strong, noble and smart"

What's your favorite scene of the story?:

-When she's at Mrs. V.'s house and her Medi-Talker arrives.

-At the doctor's office when the mom yelled at the doctor.

-After Melody missed the plane and the last scene of "why did you leave me?"

-When Melody met Mrs. V.

-When Penny gets run over, the scene was really well done. I could see it in my mind.

-When they were at the Whiz Kids contest and Melody answered the question right.

-When Melody got a 100 on the test and she got into it. Everyone thought she was so dumb and she did really well.

-When Melody got left at the airport. It was a really sad scene. Her teammates were mean to her.

-When they left Melody at the airport. It was so much more interesting to leave her there. You thought that she'd win the competition.

-When Ollie jumped out of the fishbowl. She was trying to get her mom's attention and couldn't do it.

-When Claire vomited.

-When Mrs, V. told her that she won tickets to the aquarium and she spelled out Rose.

-When Melody got the dog, Butterscotch. I thought it was a cute scene.

-When Melody was at Mrs. V's and she got the Medi-Talker.

-When the fish jumped out of the water. It was a very easy picture for me to imagine.

What did you think about the ending of the book?: 

-I didn't like the ending because it's not that happy. I wish Melody had gone to the Whiz Kids competition. I don't like that they got 9th place and that her team betrayed her. 

-I liked how when they placed the trophy on the tray. Melody broke the trophy and stood up for herself.

-I didn't like the ending because it led up to a good ending. But then they got 9th place. How could they just leave them at the airport?

-I didn't like the ending because it was sad. At the end, she said something that I didn't understand. It was just very sad ending. I don't like sad ending.

-I liked the ending because Melody's sister is okay after being run over and his team won 9th, which isn't first and it isn't last.

-I liked that they got 9th place. If they hadn't left Melody behind, they would have gotten a better ranking. They should have known that they'd have a longer ranking without her.

-I liked the ending of the story because there were big events at the end of the story. It wouldn't have been as exciting.

-The ending was cool because Penny got hit by a car.

Please rate this book from 1-5, with 5 being the best:

5

2

4

5

5.5

1 million

3

4.6

5

5 3/4

5

5 11/12

5 5/5

1

4 1111/22222

-25

The Grade 3-4 Book Club selection for February is From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg. "Having run away with her younger brother to live in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, twelve-year-old Claudia strives to keep things in order in their new home and to become a changed person and a heroine to herself."--summary. Copies of the book will be available behind the Circulation Desk within the next week. Please remember to register for Book Club so that we know how many people will be attending.

Grades 3-4 Book Club Recommendations for February 2014

Harriet, the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh

Harriet M. Welsch is a spy. In her notebook, she writes down everything she knows about everyone, even her classmates and her best friends. Then Harriet loses track of her notebook, and it ends up in the wrong hands. Before she can stop them, her friends have read the always truthful, sometimes awful things she’s written about each of them. Will Harriet find a way to put her life and her friendships back together?- amazon.com Book Trailer

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

Illustrated in black-and-white. This ingenious fantasy centers around Milo, a bored ten-year-old who comes home to find a large toy tollbooth sitting in his room. Joining forces with a watchdog named Tock, Milo drives through the tollbooth's gates and begins a memorable journey. He meets such characters as the foolish, yet lovable Humbug, the Mathemagician, and the not-so-wicked "Which," Faintly Macabre, who gives Milo the "impossible" mission of returning two princesses to the Kingdom of Wisdom.- amazon.com Book Trailer

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg

Having run away with her younger brother to live in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, twelve-year-old Claudia strives to keep things in order in their new home and to become a changed person and a heroine to herself.- summary Book Trailer

Fish by Gregory Mone 

Eleven-year-old Fish, seeking a way to help his family financially, becomes a reluctant cabin boy on a pirate ship, where he soon makes friends--and enemies--and is asked to help decipher clues that might lead to a legendary treasure. -summary Book Trailer
-recommended by an anonymous Book Club member

December Grades 3-4 Book Club: Jake and Lily

Who is your favorite character in the story? Why?:

Julia: I'm surprised about this but my favorite character is Ernie, the super-goober. He's kind to everybody. He doesn't know that he's being teased. I like him because he's sweet. He's like a baby deer.

Goobers=defenseless fawn. Clueless. Oblivious. Teased. Quirky. 

Natalie: I liked Poppy because he's funny. It's funny how his family have weird names. Peace-Boy and the mom's name. He's nice because whenever Lily was upset, like when she was going through her awkward phase, he made her feel better.

Molly: I liked Ernie, the Super-Goober, because he was always nice to everybody. He was funny in a way that he didn't know he was being made fun of.

Evan: I liked Poppy because he's awesome and boss. He helps Lily in times of trouble.

Ben: I liked Bump because Jake and Lily would have always spent their time together. Bump sort of forced them apart.

Olivia:I liked Bump because he was kind of rude but he forced Jake and Lily apart. It made the story better by forcing them apart.

Abby:I liked Anna, the girl who went to Lily's house for the sleepover. She was really annoying and I like being annoying.

Ani: My favorite character was Sydney, Lily's new best friend. She's not really girlie and she's a lot like Lily.

Kelsey: I liked Sydney, Devon and Lily because they are all really funny and nice.

Cecilia: I liked Devon because he reminds me of my cousin Nicholas.

Rileigh: I liked Devon because he's like one of cousins who lives in Wakefield. He has funny names for Lily and he talks funny.

Riley: I liked Lily because I have a cousin who is my age who is nice. She has brown hair and is a lot like me. I imagine us being twins.

What did you think about Jake ditching Lily for the neighborhood boys?: 

Julia: I don't think it was very nice. Imagine if your brother ditched you and didn't talk to you and hated you. I would feel alone and sad and depressed. If you had a schedule for playing, that might work.

Natalie: I agree with Julia. I get why Jake did this, though. If you were a boy and had a sister who was with you your whole entire life. It would get annoying. I think that I would want to get away from that for awhile.

Molly: I agree with Julia. Imagine if your sibling just ditched you for the Death Rays. I would kind of get it, though, because you wouldn't always want to be with your sister. You want to explore the world by yourself. I liked it when they did that. It made the story more interesting.

Evan: I think it was the best thing that ever happened. Jake needed some space to live.

Ben: I'm glad that it happened. Lily probably wouldn't have a friend. She and Jake would still be hanging out together. Lily would never have met Sydney and Devon.

Olivia: The best thing that ever happened.

Abby: I didn't think it was bad or the best thing. I could see that if I was spending my whole life with my twin, I might want to spend time with my friends.

Ani: Jake can ditch her but he can't ditch her for half the summer. You don't ditch your brother or sister for the whole summer.

Kelsey: I think that it would be a dramatic scandal.

Cecilia: If that were me and my brother, I wouldn't mind it. But if it were me and Kelsey, I'd be heartbroken.

Rileigh: If it were me and Evan or Ben, I'd be okay. If it were between me and Kelsey (my twin), I be like "no, don't leave me."

Riley: I think that that was the worst thing that ever happened. I would cling on to my twin and never let go.


What's your favorite scene of the story?:

Julia: When Bump drew Super-Goober on Devon's tube and Devon started crying because it was messy which led to Bump's arrest in his underwear.

Natalie: Still thinking.

Molly: I liked it when Jake was like "this club is only for boys" and Lily screams out "I'm not a girl".

Evan: When they placed the cantaloupe on the table.

Ben: At the end, when Poppy was at the train station.

Olivia: My favorite part was when Lily yelled after the riders, "I'm not a girl". And when the cantaloupe was on the table.

Abby: When they go into Ernie's house because the mom invites them in.

Ani: When Jake disses Lily when they're riding bikes and Lily yells "I'm not a girl!"

Kelsey: Bump showing up in his underwear. And Jake in his underwear.

Cecilia: When they open Devon Park because all of the little kids running around is to cute.

Rileigh: When Lily citizen-arrests Bump for vandalizing the tube at the park. He's in his underwear.

Riley: My favorite scene is the switching bruise scene because it was weird and gross.

Please rate this book from 1-5, with 5 being the best:

Rileigh: 5


Riley: 4

Olivia: 4

Abby: 2.5

Cecilia: 5.5

Kelsey: 5

Ani: 3

Evan: 4.4

Julia: 3

Natalie: 2

Molly: 3

The Grade 3-4 Book Club selection for January is Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper. "Considered by many to be mentally retarded, a brilliant, impatient fifth-grader with cerebral palsy discovers a technological device that will allow her to speak for the first time."--Publisher. Copies of the book will be available behind the Circulation Desk within the next week. Please remember to register for Book Club so that we know how many people will be coming.