Picture This!

Sometimes when you are reading, the author does such a great job of describing something, that you can picture it in your head. It's almost like you are watching your own personal movie. What are you reading? What pictures are you making in your head? Can you hear anything? Feel anything? Describe what you are experiencing as you read.

What Do YOU Think?

I am reading a book with my daughter called The Janitor's Boy by Andrew Clements. In the story, the main character is really embarrassed that his father is the school janitor. He sets out to "get back" at his father. For some reason, he thinks it's his father's fault that the kids are picking on him. As a parent, I feel sorry for the dad, and I think what the son is doing is wrong.

Making judgments is something we can't help but do when we read. We think about the story and think about what we would do in that same situation. What are you reading? What kinds of decisions are the characters making? Are they good ones? Why do you think so?

What's Going To Happen?

I'm reading a book to my own kids called "The Landry News" by Andrew Clements. The book is about a girl named Cara who writes a newspaper article about her teacher. Cara is pretty upset that her teacher does nothing all day but read the newspaper and drink cold coffee. We are only about a third of the way finished, but I predict that by the end of the story, her teacher will change his ways. I think he's going to become a great teacher by the end.

What books are you in the middle of reading? What predictions do you have for how the story will end or how the characters will change?

Making Connections

When you are reading, it's important to think about ways in which the characters, problem, or setting might remind you of something else. It might be something else you have read or something you have experienced in your own life.
I am reading a book called Ida B. by Katherine Hannigan. In the story, Ida B. is really angry because her mother is very sick. She takes out her anger on her family and her friends. This story reminds me of times I have come home and taken out my frustrations on my family. It wasn't nice for Ida B. to do it, and I am not proud of doing it either!
What are you reading? Does it remind you of anything else? Don't forget to include the title and author of the book so we can check it out if it seems like a good book!

Thinking about Characters

I am reading a book called "Home to Big Stone Gap" by Adriana Trigiani. It is about a woman who has spent her whole life worrying about things she can't control. She is finally realizing that she can't worry about everything. She has to just enjoy life and the things that happen. It's a great lesson for me, too!

What are you reading and who wrote it? What are the characters in your books like? Do they learn any lessons along the way?

Do you celebrate Halloween? If so, do you go trick or treating? What will you be this year?

So, now that school has started, what do you think is the best thing about second grade?