I had a fun time on the field trip to Tacoma Nature Center/Snake Lake last Thursday, and I hope you all did, too! I really enjoyed imaging myself being in Brian's shoes--alone in the wilderness, and talking with you all about why and how being prepared is so important. I wish we could have spent more time there, but that's a great reason to go back! Thanks to Sister Hiatt for coming along with us, too!

This week, we will begin our discussion of Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor. Make sure to have the book COMPLETED by class on Thursday...there may be a quiz! Great job to those of you who finished Hatchet! I am very pleased to see that more of you are finishing the books on the list, and proud of you; some of these books are not easy, but you are challenging yourselves, and that's the best way to learn new things. Remember that we will plan a fun outing as a reward for all those students who finish all the first semester required reading (I really hope everyone in class achieves that goal so we can all celebrate together!)

Our last book for the semester is The Family Under the Bridge. It's a very quick read, so make sure you get that one finished, too. Then you'll have 3 weeks off to catch up on second semester books. Happy Reading!

Here are the links to some awesome websites if you guys want to know more about sailing ships:

http://www.thepirateking.com/index.htm

http://amhistory.si.edu/onthewater/

These sites have lots of information about all kinds of ships, sailors, history of sailing, etc.: all you ever wanted to know and more! Check them out...with permission, of course!

Last week we learned a little about the Yukon--or Klondike--Gold Rush. If you want to know more (and I hope you do), there are tons of books, videos, and web resources available. A great place to start is the library, of course! Remember: writing is an art form, and art mimics life; therefore, authors typically write about things (themes, events, characters) they have experienced in their own lives. It's really fascinating to dig into an author's background, and find out what events and people helped to shape their stories. You'll learn a lot of interesting information, and have fun in the process!

This week we'll begin our discussion of The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. I haven't been able to find an audio version of this book, so you'll all have to actually read it. PLEASE finish reading the book by this Thursday! You can do it--you may have to sacrifice something else, like TV or video games--but I know you can! If you don't understand everything in the book, that's okay; just make sure to bring up your questions during discussion. Have fun, and see you all Thursday!

We'll be going for a walk for a few blocks near the church on Thursday as part of our A Wrinkle in Time enrichment activities, so any parents who would like to come along are welcome. We'll be giving our solar system a little perspective and, I promise, you won't be disappointed! Also, everyone bring a jacket in case of cool or rainy weather.

Next week we'll begin discussing White Fang by Jack London. Please make sure you have either finished reading the book or listening to an audio recording BEFORE you come to class on 10/9. It's difficult to discuss a book if you don't know the story, and class won't be as interesting for you, either. I really liked White Fang, and I'm sure you'll like it, too. Plus, there's a great movie version that I would encourage everyone to watch after you've finished the book. See you all Thursday!

Hey everybody! We'll be discussing A Wrinkle in Time tomorrow (led by Tyler), so please bring a copy of the book, and your comments/questions/ideas. If you are interested in learning more about time and space, time travel, different dimensions, relativity, etc. (I happen to think all that stuff is AWESOME!) check out a show on PBS called The Fabric of the Cosmos, which has separate episodes on space and time. You can find it on Amazon, too, maybe even on Netflix. Happy reading!

Our next book we'll be discussing in class is A Wrinkle in Time, starting on 9/25. Tyler has accepted the job of discussion leader for this book. Way to be a good leader, Tyler! Everyone will get a chance to lead a book discussion, so if you all want to be keeping a reading journal for the class, that would be a great idea. Some things to keep in mind while reading are: quotes that you like/agree with or don't like/disagree with; favorite parts, questions you have, etc. Bring all your questions and ideas to class...it makes for a much better discussion! The next few books will be: White Fang, The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, and Hatchet, in that order. If you're not a very fast reader, and feel like you can't keep up, check out the audio versions from the library, and listen to the stories, instead.

Something to check out

Here's a link to a cool interactive website for all you LitWits to check out: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/victorian_britain/  It's all about what it was like to be a kid in Victorian London. I think you should all try it out if your parents give you permission before class on Thursday, and we'll talk about what you learned. Also, if you have a chance to watch a movie version of the book, do that, too. See you all in class!

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