Book Banter: Maze Runner Series

Book Banter: Maze Runner Series

SO...it's been a day or two since I've written. The typical excuses...family...work...starting a new church...etc. Needless to say, I've been busy. BUT, as of today...only NINE days left of school. My summer bucket list includes blogging more than once a month. We'll see how that goes. :)

As far as reading, though, I've been able to complete a book or two...actually, I've just been working on the Maze Runner series. I finished both The Scorch Trials and The Death Cure and was quite pleased. I'm interested to see how they'll turn those into a movie - since I haven't seen the first movie made, it could already be completely obvious to some as to how it would carry through. Last in the chain of events is actually the PREQUEL, The Kill Order, which I'm intrigued to read. I have come to enjoy the characters and their relationship now - especially with Thomas and Theresa. To know they had a completely different interaction prior to the Maze, may throw me for a loop or convince me I didn't really like the series at all. Or, I could love it...similar to how the Star Wars prequels went. Ha!

I know some of my seventh graders are reading his other books, The Mortality Doctrine series. I'm actually a little a"maze"d that some of my fourth graders have picked up The Maze Runner series, but I believe that was stirred by the popularity of the movie. Although this post is short, but sweet, I highly recommend the series. James Dashner is a creative and vivid author who keeps you involved chapter to chapter!

P.S. to Kid President: We're still waiting...

Mrs. Brown's and Mrs. Keaney's fourth grade classrooms are not giving up the campaign!

Last Friday, we were able to continue to share our commitment to our service project when Chelsea, from the Children's Bureau, Inc. came to talk to our kiddos and accept our donations. As you can see, KP, this was no small undertaking. The students really stepped up to your challenge and decided they were really NOT ok with children's homelessness in Indiana.

As our students sat and listened to our guest tell of how many children the bureau can/does care for on a nightly basis, you could see their wheels turning that, although it may be a lot of kiddos "living under one roof," it is certainly not enough kiddos from across Indiana that are being helped into a better situation. They wanted to do more. Almost the first question out of their collective, questioning mouth was "How old do you have to be to volunteer at your facility?" It is amazing that they are trying to find their "What are you going to do about it?" step in the giving of themselves. When they heard the dreaded age of 21 (Ugh! Are you serious? I'm only in fourth grade! That's too far away!), you saw the shoulders slump on 60+ students...and then the determination set in their eyes, that there had to be a way...any way to help to continue to fight for this cause. Students ended up loading 2 boxes of fleece blankets, 3 boxes of hygiene kits, and 8 bags of t-pillows into Chelsea's car for delivery, before she left...

Again, Kid President, the invitation is extended. Can we Skype? Can we FaceTime? You want to stop by for a visit? Let's make it happen...the students in Room 25 and 27 at Geist Elementary are determined. Kid President, we want YOU!

Dear Kid President

Dear Kid President,

Challenge accepted! Back in "Sock"tober, you challenged the nation with three questions...

1. What can you not live with?
2. What do you have?

3. What are you going to do about it?

Well...as I started to think about it, I knew I couldn't live with how much homelessness was affecting children in my state (research shows approximately 4 out of 10 adults have children with them). That's heart breaking! I'm a (fairly) new momma and a teacher of many...so this one hit a little too close to home for me, knowing that sometimes, the kids couldn't help what environment they were in.

As a result, I went to what I had...31 students. This, plus a Partner-in-Crime teacher that added her 30...61 kids and a willing friend are definitely a lot to have in this situation. :) From there, they went to what they had...guardians, neighbors, and friends that travel for business. We talked to coworkers and put notices in our class newsletters...

And we all decided together, what we were going to do about it. Our 61 fourth graders researched which homeless shelters allowed children to stay or participate in their programming, in our area. Out of three, they discussed and voted on a specific center that they felt we had to help...had to support...and to encourage those kids.

Brainstorming ideas was easy...looking at the wish list, they knew that the traveling adults in their lives could provide us with enough items to create hygiene kits for the kiddos in need. But they took it further...everyone wants something of their very own. Whether you can afford it or not. Whether your situation is in your control or not. Whether you are a kid or not...to have your own possession makes a difference in many people's lives and esteems. Our students helped us decide that they wanted to also give the comfort of warmth in their possession - they made t-shirt pillows and fleece tie blankets. Many of our students owned these themselves, and they wanted to make their donation personal. Our goal? 50 kits...not even a kit per student...and maybe 10 blankets and 10 to 20 pillows...no problem, right?

Very right. Our students have currently put together 115+ kits (still counting), 20+ blankets (a few more to tie), and 50+ pillows (about 10 left to stuff and sew)...they BLEW ME AWAY. The hearts of our students and their parents were so big, that I had tears in my eyes most of the time. These kiddos so close to my heart, now want to develop programs and volunteer and reach out past their own classroom bubble and see what they can do to make life better.

KP...this is where the kiddos initiated their own challenge to me. If we reached our goal, I said I would try to contact you. Can we Facetime? Can we Skype? Can we chat and get words of wisdom from you? COULD YOU STOP BY FOR A VISIT??? 

You are inspiring a whole generation of fourth graders who are ready to change the world...shoot, you've inspired a whole generation of fourth grade TEACHERS who cannot wait to HELP their kids change the world. (We know based on your 2014 wrap up, that it was a top event that you graduated fourth grade!!! It's a tough one. ;))

Help me out Kid President...the invitation is open to come visit Mrs. Brown's 4th grade classroom at Geist Elementary. #huggersgonnahug #bemoreawesome

Book Banter: January Edition

At least I know when I am at a total loss of what to write, I always have books to fall back on. This little posting has actually held me accountable to READ...in a world that is busy with so many other things, the time is scarce! Ha! (Please note...January edition is coming LITERALLY on the last day of January! :))

My school recently acquired several book sets from our intermediate school, who was updating and cleaning out their frequently used sets. See this little gem by E.L. Konigsburg? It really is a good one...definitely for your older readers who can comprehend subtleties and social metaphors. The View from Saturday is a wonderful book to teach characterization and character traits that are deeper than a typical intermediate novel. Your characters come from all walks of life (The teacher is disabled, a student is from India - but grew up on a cruise ship! Another student feels in the minority due to his Jewish heritage, and then our last leading lady is a red-head.) Konigsburg did a great job bringing these "Souls" together to represent their school in the state academic competition. Each brings a special spark to the team from their various life experiences. all of the characters face discrimination and social injustice, but always have each other - together, they find a way to continue being victorious. I know this year, I don't have any students that are able to read at this deep of a level, but I look forward to finding some kiddos who enjoy the diversity and social overcoming. 

I am very much a Gregory Maguire fan...but his book, Missing Sisters, is not at the top of my list. I enjoyed his books prior to The Wicked Series...then, fell in love with Elphaba and Fiaro and all that Oz had to offer. Maguire's ability to show the "other side" of a situation and change your point of view completely is great. Missing Sisters is about a pair of twins separated at birth and reunited at a summer camp. It seems to be a Parent Trap situation in the making, but neither girl lives with their biological parents. I was very frustrated with the attitude both characters had, and was not impressed with the action taken by the sisters. Although they were probably meant to come across as brave, I felt they were careless and cavalier. Made it difficult to enjoy the book, when I was constantly worried about their stupidity. His typical descriptive style was in full effect and it was difficult to follow the story at times, based on the picture painted of the setting around them. The book states it for ages 8-12, but I wouldn't keep it in my classroom. Some of the situations are inappropriate for my 4th and 5th grade readers. 

My most recent interest has been in the Maze Runner series. I'm forever an advocate of reading the book before seeing the movie, hence my delay in getting around to this one. When I realized I wouldn't be able to get to it, prior to the movie staying in theaters, I let it sink farther down my stack for other priorities. Most advertisements stated it was for Divergent and Hunger Games fans...I agree. It didn't disappoint. The typical government control was ever present, but you really don't know who is "in control" until very near the end! The suspense was good and it made me want to continue to figure out the ending. Similar to the cliff hanger endings of the other series, you're left with an incomplete picture and a feeling of "WHAT? WAIT! TELL ME MORE!" at the end. I literally finished the book, found my iPad and looked up the next book in the series, just to get a sneak peek of the first chapter (which did nothing but make me wish I already had it in my possession)! - Side note: Lucky for me, my kiddos had a MASSIVE book order this past month with Scholastic and I was able to order $30 worth of books for free...was able to get the entire rest of the Maze Runner series plus books for my classroom. Score! :) One of the junior high students I tutor actually chose to start a book in James Dashner's other series, The Mortality Doctrine (first book is The Eye of the Mind).  It was interesting to listen to the similarities (and vast differences) in the two series, as we started to work on his response journals. Great for mature readers, as well as older (intermediate and junior high) readers...some of the scenes are graphic, but are used sparingly to set scenes. Wouldn't keep in my fourth grade classroom, but would definitely share with my older tutoring kiddos who are reluctant to read. 

Still have these guys sitting on my bedside table; I'm waiting for the winter days to not be so dark so fast. Hehehe.

What's on your bedside table?

Happy Reading,