Fourth Grade Journey

A Fourth Grade Teacher's Journey Through the World of Books

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Treat Tuesday #98...


Treat Tuesday - Cowboy Caviar

*We had a gathering at our house this past weekend.

*This was an appetizer brought and it was delicious!





*1 (15 ounce) can seasoned black-eyed peas - drained
*1 (15 ounce) can seasoned or plain black beans - drained
*3/4 cup frozen sweet corn - thawed
*3 green onions - chopped
*1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
*2 or 3 tomatoes - diced
*10 jarred jalapeño pepper slices - diced (mild or hot)
*1/2 cup cilantro - chopped
*1 ripe avocado - chopped
*Tortilla chips

Dressing...
*1 tablespoon olive oil
*1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
*1/2 lime - juiced
*1/2 teaspoon Dijon Mustard
*Salt and pepper to taste

-Combine black eyed peas, beans, corn, green onion, bell pepper, tomatoes, jalapeños, and cilantro in a medium bowl.
-In a small bowl whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, lime juice, Dijon Mustard, and salt/pepper.
-Pour over bean mixture.
-Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
-Just before serving, add avocado and gently stir to combine.
-Serve with tortilla chips.



Treat Tuesday - Middle Grade Novel



It's the First Day of School Forever
 by R.L. Stine













Treat Tuesday - Adult Novel


Eddie's Bastard by Wiliam Kowaski
  


Monday, June 29, 2015

More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera...

How I Heard About It:  This is another novel that I heard a lot about before it even was released.  Many of my "Twitter" friends raved about this young adult book letting me know it would be a story I would for sure want to read.  

What It Is About:  Aaron Soto is a high school boy living in the Bronx Projects with his brother and mother.  They are dealing with the suicide of their father.  Aaron is trying to fit in with a group of "poor" and "wild" teenagers while dealing with many personal issues.  There is much he would like to FORGET about his past.  That is where the Leteo Institute comes in.  They are a medical facility that has come up with "procedures" to erase certain memories.  Aaron thinks this is just what he needs.  His family and friends are not so sure.  Aaron tries a relationship with an upper-class girl.  He also tries a new friendship with Thomas, a new kid on the block.  Thomas is very different from the other guys in the neighborhood which is a welcome relief to Aaron.  Even with all these new changes and effort, Aaron realizes he may never be able to forget his past or who he truly is.

What I Thought Of It:   This was an amazing story.  I didn't know much about the "plot" and that made for such an enjoyable read.  The beginning of the book was a little slow and pretty basic, but then all of a 
sudden you realize things have picked up and what a complex and intriguing story you are reading.  The premise of being able to "forget" your past was interesting and maybe a tad bit "science fiction", but it worked so well in this book.  The character of Aaron was heart-warming and someone you just wanted to protect from life.  The more I got into this book, the more I could not put it down.  The final pages were read late into the night and I was sad when I was done with this amazing story.

Who Should Read It:  The novel is perfect for the high school and adult reader.  The subject matter is mature, but also one that definitely can be related to by many young-adult readers.  I also know that adult readers who enjoy great fiction, will find this a satisfying read.  It is one that I will be recommending to all of my reader friends.  

Rating:  5 STARS out of 5 Stars




It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (6/29/15)...



Thanks to Jen and Kellee for hosting this idea on their site.  Here is a link to their site...
                

Books I Read this Past Week… 




More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera

*5 STARS out of 5 Stars!

*Review coming soon!







Books I Will (continue to) Read this Week 



Fragile Beasts by Tawni O'Dell

*My adult novel









Lost in the Sun by Lisa Graff

*My middle-grade novel

Friday, June 26, 2015

Friend Friday #97 (The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins)...

Hi!  I am Amy and I read the book called A Girl on the Train  written by Paula Hawkins.


I thought this book was great because it leads you in different directions through the whole story.  


My favorite part in the story was the end because it was so unexpected and I didn't see it coming.  I love when endings to books do that for me.  




The character that I liked best was Rachel because he throughout the story you feel sad for her, you cheer for her, and sometimes you don't like her.  


I think the author wrote this book because she wanted readers to become invested in the story.  


I would recommend this book to my friends because it's a great mystery and keeps you guessing.  


Reading to me is a luxury because I love to read, but don't always have a lot of time for it.  


*Amy is a special education teacher in my building.  

*She and I shared several students this past school year.  While we talk about our students, we also discuss the books we are reading.

*This was a title we both read this past school year.  






Thursday, June 25, 2015

Trailer Thursday #97...

Gaston by Kelly DiPucchio (Picture Book)

*There was a post about this book on The Nerdy Book Club Site

*Check it out here:  A Blog Post about Gaston



The Reading Strategies Book by Jennifer Serravallo (Resource Book)

*This is one of my professional books that I plan on reading this summer.  



Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt (Middle-Grade Novel)

*This is one of my all-time favorite middle-grade novels.  


Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt (Young Adult Novel)

*Colby Sharp recently "tweeted" about this novel and raved about it.  I can't wait for its release.


Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger (Adult Novel)

*Several of my adult reader friends have talked about this novel.  I'm adding it to my TBR list.

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Wonder Wednesday #97...

Wonder Wednesday - The Love of Reading (Part Three)

*This is the third of an on-going series I'm going to post each Wednesday.

*I love posting on Wednesdays because it is all about the WONDERS of books, reading, and all that comes with it. 

*Each student filled out a reading survey with six questions to respond to.



*I will post their thoughts here on Wednesdays throughout the summer.

*One of my most favorite things to do as an educator is to get feedback from my students.

*Here is a look at a couple of my students' responses from the survey I gave...



STUDENT #1 - Angelina

Before I was in fourth grade I thought that reading was a little boring because I didn't like read that much.    


Now that I'm almost done with fourth grade I think that reading is fun because I am reading really good books that have become my favorites.  


This year I learned that as I reader I don't like big books, but I like graphic novels because it takes too long to finish big books and I can read more graphic novels.  


To me reading is fun when I read my favorite books because I like to read my favorite books.  


As a reader I'm most proud of going to almost all the book clubs because book club is fun especially when we got to Skype with the author.  


The best thing about reading is the escape it gives me because it is relaxing and I can think about someone's else's life for awhile.  




STUDENT #2 - Adam

Before I was in fourth grade I thought that reading was OK because I liked it, but it took away a lot of my free time.  


Now that I'm almost done with fourth grade I think that reading is fun because you can learn new things are read really interesting stories.  


This year I learned that as I reader I liked the Big Nate books because they are funny, they are comics, and they are easy to read.  


To me reading is cool because you could learn new things and go to many different worlds.  


As a reader I'm most proud that I finished both the Big Nate and Squish series because the Big Nate series has a lot of books.  The Squish series only had six.  


The best thing about reading is relaxing and finding new books because I loved our reading time because we all were reading and I loved all the new books that I was introduced to.  

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Treat Tuesday #97...

Treat Tuesday - Strawberry Cheesecake Lush 

*While browsing Facebook, I saw this "treat" posted by a friend of mine.

*It just screamed SUMMER.

*I actually tried out the recipe and it was quite tasty.

*Give it a try and enjoy this summer dessert while reading from an excellent book!  



Ingredients...

  • •1 package Golden Oreos (crushed)
  • •6 tablespoons butter, melted
  • •8 ounces softened cream cheese
  • •1 cup powdered sugar
  • •1 (16-ounce) container Cool Whip, divided
  • •2 packages (3.4 ounce each) instant cheesecake pudding mix
  • •3 cups milk
  • •3½ cups sliced strawberries

Directions...

Mix crushed cookies & melted butter together. Press the crushed cookies mixture into a 9x13 pan and refrigerate while you prepare the remaining layers.

Beat 1 cup of powdered sugar, cream cheese until smooth, fold in 1 cup of Cool Whip. Spread over your cookie layer.

Then mix together the pudding mix, milk, and another 1 cup of Cool Whip. Spread over the cream cheese layer.

Layer fresh sliced strawberries on top and spread the remaining Cool Whip on top.


Refrigerate until ready to serve!


Treat Tuesday:  Middle-Grade Novel

Larger Than Life Lara by Dandi Daley Mackall








Treat Tuesday:  Adult Novel

The Ha-Ha by Dave King

Monday, June 22, 2015

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (6/22/15)...



Thanks to Jen and Kellee for hosting this idea on their site.  Here is a link to their site...
                

Books I Read this Past Week… 



The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides

*4 STARS out of 5 Stars

My Book Review






Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley

*5+ STARS out of 5 Stars

My Book Review






Books I Will (continue to) Read this Week 


More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera

*My young-adult novel









Fragile Beasts by Tawni O'Dell

*My adult novel









Lost in the Sun by Lisa Graff

*My middle-grade novel

Friday, June 19, 2015

Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley...

How I Heard About It:  This is probably the novel I have been looking forward to reading the most this spring and early summer.  I started hearing about it on Twitter months ago and became more and more excited to buy and read it on its release date.  

What It Is About:  Micah is a young boy that has lost both his parents.  He is living with his grandfather Ephraim and his great-aunt Gertrudis.  Micah and his aunt are not fond of each other, but Micah makes the best of it because he loves his grandfather so much.  Micah and Ephraim have a strong bond when it comes to the conversation of "magic".  His grandfather has told him many stories about his younger days with the Circus Mirandus.  Now that Ephraim is an old man and quite sick, he wants to "cash in" on a promise that was made to him many years earlier by "The Man Who Bends Light".  He is a circus performer like none other that Ephraim has met.  Micah must travel to this magical circus to find "the man who bends light" in order to have his grandfather's promise fulfilled.  While planning his "adventure" he takes along a new friend named Jenny.  Micah makes it his number one goal to reach this circus and have the miracle owed to his grandfather come true.  Never in his wildest dreams, would he realize what the miracle his grandfather has in store for Micah.  


What I Thought Of It:   I loved this story and it lived up to everything that I thought it would be.  It was a "magical" story and one that drew me into a world that was captivating.  Never I have enjoyed a young character like Micah so much.  He was lovable, endearing, and heart-warming.  The story is part realistic fiction and part fantasy/magical.  This worked so well and made for a page-turning type story.  I was glued to the plot and couldn't wait to find out all the secrets, mysteries, and magic of the 
circus.  This is the type of novel that I will definitely be reading again because I know I read it so fast that I probably missed many aspects of this incredible story.  This is a top-notch middle grade novel.

Who Should Read It:  This is the perfect novel for readers in fourth, fifth, and sixth grade.  I also think that middle-school readers would enjoy this story just as much.  Of course adult readers that enjoy middle-grade books, will find this a completely satisfying experience.  I'm thinking of doing this as a read aloud next year with my fourth grade class.  I know young listeners will eat this story up.  I can't wait to share it with my readers.  

Rating:  5+ STARS out of 5 Stars

The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides...

How I Heard About It:  Earlier this year I read The Virgin Suicides and thought it was a pretty incredible story.  My BBC (Boy's Book Club) read MiddleSex a few years back and that also was a great story.  I had this novel on the book table for quite some time, but just never got to it.  I actually ended up listening to it via audio and enjoyed it.  

What It Is About:  This novel is essentially a "love triangle" between Madeleine, Leonard, and Mitchell.  These three young people have just completed college in the early 1980's.  The story goes back and forth between the college years and the years just following their graduation.  It is also told from the point of view of Madeleine during certain parts and Mitchell's point of view during other sections.  Madeleine is a lover of literature and their stories.  She also believes fully in love and wants to find true love.  Leonard is quite smart and suffers from some emotional issues.  Mitchell is trying to find himself and thinks he may want to have a life in the church.  The three of them struggle to find themselves and find happiness in their lives as they navigate their way after the "safety" of college.  Their paths often cross and Madeline finds herself torn between these two men and what they can and can't offer her.  

What I Thought Of It:  Even though this story moved quite slowly, I found myself enjoying it.  The audio narrator was wonderful and entertaining.  As with his other novels, there isn't a lot that happens during the story, but as a reader you are still drawn into the world of these characters.  The character develop is incredible and the reader really comes to know them.  The three main characters in this particular story were so different from each other and I found it fascinating how their lives fit together at certain times and of course didn't at other times.  The more I listened to the narration, the more I was curious on how everything would turn out.  The novel is extremely well written and pulls the reader into this intricate story of three college graduates trying to find their way in our complex world.

Who Should Read It:  If you have experienced either the Virgin Suicides or MiddleSex, then I would highly recommend this new novel.  This is definitely a story for adult readers and for readers that enjoy a "character driven" story more than an "action driven" story.  I started the actual book a few years back and had a difficult time getting into it, and found the audio version much more entertaining.  Happy Reading!  

Rating:  4 STARS out of 5 Stars







Friend Friday #96 (Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand)...

Hi!  I am Max and I read the book called Unbroken written by Laura Hillenbrand.


I thought this book was incredible because it is painstakingly details the endless struggles and enduring will to live of the main character, Louis Zamperini.  It's also a true story, which makes it all the more unbelievable that someone can experience so much in a single lifetime.     






My favorite part in the story was the theme of change throughout the book.  Beginning with his troubled childhood, Hillenbrand detailed how Zamperini came of age through his improbable experiences.  


The character that I liked best was Louis Zamperini because he wasn't a typical protagonist.  I enjoyed the simple fact that he followed his own path in life and found peace within his troubled world.  


I think the author wrote this book because she knew it was a story that had to be told.  Without this book, this amazing story may have been lost forever.  


I would recommend this book to my friends because you can't put it down.  Zamperini's tragedies and triumphs are truly unbelievable and you have to read it just to catch a glimpse of this man's extraordinary life.  


Reading to me is a blissful escape because I often forget where and who I am when I'm lost in the pages of a good book.  


*Max is a co-worker and friend of mine.

*He is an EL teacher (English Learner) and works with our K-6 students.

*We have talked about books for many years and have similar tastes.  I have recommended novels to him and he has told me about stories he has read.  

*I'm so lucky to have people around me at work who love to read as much as I do.  

*This is also one of my top adult reads.  If you haven't read it, you must do so.  








Thursday, June 18, 2015

Trailer Thursday #96...


Smick by Doreen Cronin (Picture Book)


Snowmanilas by Daniel Karhunen (Graphic Novel)


Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier (Middle-Grade Novel)


Mosquitoland by David Arnold (Young Adult Novel)


In the Unlikely Event by Judy Blume (Adult Novel)

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Wonder Wednesday #96 (Love of Reading - Part Two)...

Wonder Wednesday - The Love of Reading (Part Two)


*This is the second of an on-going series I'm going to post each Wednesday.


*I love posting on Wednesdays because it is all about the WONDERS of books, reading, and all that comes with it. 




*Each student filled out a reading survey with six questions to respond to.


*I will post their thoughts here on Wednesdays throughout the summer.


*One of my most favorite things to do as an educator is to get feedback from my students.


*Here is a look at a couple of my students' responses from the survey I gave...



STUDENT #1 - Matilde

Before I was in fourth grade I thought that reading was horrible because it was just boring and so lonely.  


Now that I'm almost done with fourth grade I think that reading is FANTASTIC because it's just fascinating how we all read together and super fun books.  


This year I learned that as I reader I am really fascinated in the "Imaginary Veterinary" books because they make me go on all sorts of imaginary adventures.  


To me reading is super duper great because it is just so cool how many great books are out there.


As a reader I'm most proud of going to every book club this year because not everyone in the class did this.  


The best thing about reading is just reading the book because it makes me feel so good.  




STUDENT #2 - Tommy

Before I was in fourth grade I thought that reading was fun because I liked it.  


Now that I'm almost done with fourth grade I think that reading is awesome because I had a lot of fun with the books I read.    


This year I learned that as I reader I liked graphic novels because they are cool to read and have interesting stories in them.  


To me reading is fun because I like it and found so many fun books this year.


As a reader I'm most proud that I finished the entire Big Nate series because it felt great when I was done.  


The best thing about reading is everything because I love everything about books and the stories in them.  

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Treat Tuesday #96...


Tuesday Treat - 
Ice Cream Banana Split Dessert 









*A family favorite.

*This one goes all the way back to my childhood.  We use to have it every year at our annual block party.

*We have served it many times in my own family and always gets rave reviews.



Ingredients...


*2 cups of graham crackers, crushed                     *1/2 cup butter
* 2 to 3 bananas, sliced (in circles)                         *2 cups confectioners' sugar
*1/2 gallon vanilla ice cream                                   *1 and 1/2 cup evaporated milk
*1 cup chopped walnuts                                           *1 tsp. vanilla
*1 cup chocolate chips                                             *Cool Whip


Directions...

-Cover bottom of a 9 x 13-inch pan with 1 cup graham crackers.
-Slice bananas and layer over crackers, covering crackers.
-Slice ice cream and lay over bananas; smooth ice cream slices together with knife.
-Sprinkle nuts over ice cream and freeze overnight.
-Melt chocolate chips and butter; add sugar and evaporated milk.
-Cook until thick, then add vanilla; cool.
-Spoon chocolate over ice cream; freeze until firm.
-Put Cool Whip over top and sprinkle with remaining 1 cup of graham cracker crumbs; freeze
-Take out of freezer a little before serving to thaw so it is easier to cut.



Treat Tuesday - Middle Grade Novel


The Thing About Georgie by Lisa Graff



Treat Tuesday - Adult Novel


Back Roads
 by Tawni O'Dell