What's in a Name?

Have you noticed how many of the characters in Maniac Magee have nick names?  Almost everyone in the book has a nick name.  Jeffery at one point even gets worried about being called Maniac, because he is afraid he will lose his name and that is the only thing left that his deceased parents had given him.  Amanda even begins calling Mars Bar Thompson "Snickers" after he loses his fierceness.  Notice who does and doesn't have a nick name in our story. How do they earn them or lose them?  How do you feel about having a nick name?  Notice who calls Jeffery Maniac and who doesn't.  Is there a reason for this? Check out these websites about nicknames here.

 Now that we have read all through chapter 13 we need to check our comprehension.  Please click here to take the test for chapters 6-11.  You have all done a great job with our first book club!  I hope you are having as much fun as I am!
-Mrs. S. :)

Home Run Maniac

In order to better understand what we read, we must first be able to understand the elements of a story.  To begin today's lesson first fill out your exit slip answering the question: I think plot is...  Then with your partner research on the I pad here what the elements of a story are.  Record your answers in your journal.

Now that Maniac's legend has begun to unfold we have found out many things about Maniac's character.  Describe Maniac.  What do you think he looks like physically?  Now describe his personality traits.

One of the most important events to the story happened early in the book.  Shortly after introducing us to Jeffery we find that he has become an orphan at the age of three.  After staying a while with his aunt and uncle who wouldn't speak to one another he went on the run. As a result of him leaving, poor Maniac is now homeless.  Homelessness affects many people.  It may affect more people than we realize.  In fact there is probably a good chance that someone you know is without a home. It doesn't necessarily mean they live on the street.  It just means that they do not own or rent a home of their own. Using the I pad research homelessness and answer the questions linked to the scavenger hunt on this topic.   If you used the I pad for the last task allow your partner to use it this task.  Click the word homeless to play the game.  Please record your answers in your journal as well.  Be sure to post your answers to this blog as well.

If you finish these two tasks explore the links related to the underground railroad and slavery.

Maniac Makes a Friend

Wow, let me first say that my new fifth graders have not let me down and I never expected you to, but you all have went above and beyond what I expected for these first few weeks of school. Your blog comments on our first post are proof that this year is going to be great!  They are top notch!

We have just finished the first 4 chapters of our first book in our book club and we have already found some very interesting things about our main character.  What kid would not want to acquire the abilities that Maniac has?  However, most of us would not want to be in his situation!  An orphan, homeless and running...

We have discussed previously what theme is, but we haven't found a theme interlaced in our new story yet.  After reading chapter 3 we should have an idea of a theme that is beginning to develop in our story.  Maniac meets Amanda Beale, who he borrows a book from.  What is different about Amanda?  Well we find out that she is not white as Maniac is and because she wonders why a white kid like Magee is in the east end of town where it is primarily black, we can assume that there must be segregation.  What is Segregation?  If you are not sure click the word segregation within  the blog and research it.  Racism is a dominate theme throughout Maniac Magee and a major part of our story.  Have you ever been discriminated against in anyway-on the basis of race, religion, or social class?  What do you believe was the root of this discrimination you experienced?  What emotion may have been the cause?  Share your experience of discrimination if you wish. 

Once you have finished reading to chapter five in the book, during class take a quiz over these chapters.  Click here to take the quiz.

Welcome New 5th Graders!

Welcome to our class blog.  What is a blog you say?  The dictionary definition for the word blog states that it is a web site containing the writer's or group of writers' own experiences, observations, opinions, etc., and often having images and links to other Web sites.  So this really is just a fancy writer's journal we could say. This is a neat way we can learn about Reading and talk to each other about our books.  I will write posts and you will get to comment or answer questions that I post here on the blog.  Make your questions and comments great ones, because comments that are not directly related to Reading will not be posted to our blog.  I think you will find this to be a really fun way to practice being a writer.

Wow!  How lucky I am to have such bright new students this year!  I just know it is going to be a great year!  After all we have been going from good to great here at Lewisburg, so I guess that makes it pretty fitting.  We are going to be doing some really fun stuff in Reading class and I can't wait to get started. 

Let's practice  blogging today to see what it will be like.  What kinds of books do you like to read?  Did you read any over the summer?  What has been your over all favorite book read?  Don't forget to add your name to your blog so we will all know who posted a comment!