Captivating Characters

Dear readers,

Have you read a book where you fell in love with a character, where they came alive? If so, tell us about the character and why you were captivated by them.

I know when I was a student, and even now, I resonated with Matilda. Not only did I love the outlandish characters Roald Dahl created and his quirky, vivid language. I loved that he made the main character a brilliant, independent, strong girl. I remember thinking I wanted to be just like her -- a bookworm and a seeker of knowledge.

So far I have enjoyed reading your blog responses and have noticed your thoughtfulness. Be sure to edit your post making sure titles are capitalized, sentence structure is strong, and word choice is precise. This is 6th grade -- it is time to raise the level of your thinking and writing!

Here are book trailers last year's 6th graders created of their favorite books which you may want to read over the summer. Remember students will recommend a wide variety of books -- different genres, reading levels, and maturity levels. I encourage you and your family to use Common Sense Media and other book reviews to see if the book is appropriate for you. There are many, many options!

Paperboy: A Book Trailer by Sarah Jean C.

Holes: A Book Trailer by Evan C.

Echo: A Book Trailer by Anna Louise J.

The Lions of Little Rock: A Book Trailer by Kate Maree B.

The Hammer of Thor: A Book Trailer by Gerard O.

Welcome to 6th grade! Summer Expectations

Dear students,     

Welcome to 6th grade -- officially!

Here is your assignment:

• Reading choice: Choose 1 to complete.
• Read and log 1,000 minutes and complete 6 blog posts.
• Choose at least books from the Rising 6th Grade Summer Reading list and complete 6 blog posts.

Blog posts need to restate the question and be detailed and thoughtful. You may also respond to someone else's blog posts as long as it is also detailed and thoughtful. I also recommend writing your responses on a Google Doc and then copy/paste them to the blog. This way if you are unsure if it posted correctly, you can have a record of your responses to turn in at the beginning of the school year.

To help you with book choices, last year's students made book trailers of their favorite books. I will post the book trailers throughout the summer to help you choose interesting books. As a note: students will recommend a wide variety of books -- different genres, reading levels, and maturity levels. I encourage you and your family to use Common Sense Media and other book reviews to see if the book is appropriate for you. There are many, many options!

Here are a few books you may want to read:

Hatchet: A Book Trailer by Browning T. (Great author who is included on the 6th Grade Summer Reading list.)

Walk Two Moons: A Book Trailer by Lucy M. (We will read this in Literary Circle if you plan on joining next year and want to hold off.)

Also here are the books we may read in 6th grade: Wonder, A Long Walk to Water, Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief, Chains, The Giver, The Outsiders, Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry, Walk Two Moons, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, and A Wrinkle in Time.

First blog response: Describe yourself as a reader. Be honest. You can write about what you like, don't like, and books you like to read. I have written my response in the comment section as an example.

Don't forget to edit your blog response and to answer the question in great detail explaining your answer.

Enjoy the book trailers and reading!

Ms. Sikes

Where did summer go? (Please answer the survey in the blog post.)

Dear students,

The first day of school is rapidly approaching, and I am so excited to teach you! I wanted to remind you about the summer reading expectations:

• Read and log 1,000 minutes. Remember at the end of last year I told you this is about 4 -5 amazing books and you are welcome to estimate your time. I just want to make sure you are setting yourself up for success and did not lose any reading momentum as we begin 6th grade. 
• Write 6 blog responses. I have posted 6 times, but you can also respond to another student's post which will also count.

This is not a post you need to respond to, but I do have a request. Will you please complete the survey linked below ASAP before school? I am busy planning for our first few weeks and want to make sure I have some important information.

Click here to answer the survey: Reading Survey

See you soon!
Ms. Sikes

What story do you want to tell?

Dear writers,

For this blog I want to step away from writing about reading, and I want you to simply write. Choose a small moment from your summer and tell the story. Think about what good stories include. Maybe they have a particular focus, theme, or lesson? Descriptive setting and language? Dialogue? Action? Internal thinking?

I am traveling to Portland, Oregon on Friday with one of my brothers, and I hope to have a few stories to tell when I return. When I decide what story to write, I will think about WHY it matters to me. I always do best when I care deeply, but sometimes I have to search a bit to get there. I cannot wait for the adventures and letting the stories come to me!

For this particular blog post, you may want to go through the writing process and take your time!

Plan
Draft
Revise
Edit
Then post and publish!

I hope everyone is having a summer full of wonderful stories to tell! I cannot wait to read about what matters to you.

Ms. Sikes

Design Your Ideal Summer Reading Program

Dear readers,

If you could design your own summer reading program, what would it be? Research shows that when kids consistently read just right books at a high volume they show progress in their reading levels. This simply means if you read A LOT (let's say on average 20-30 minutes a day) and are reading books that provide a slight challenge but you comprehend, you will improve. One of my main goals as a teacher is for you to not see reading as an assignment or a chore, but rather a privilege and a chance to encounter our world beyond the walls of your home and our school. I want you to take risks and challenge yourself and your beliefs by choosing books that will help you grow as a human being, not just a scholar.

That said I love for my students to THINK, CREATE, and DESIGN their learning experiences. I am curious as to how you would design your summer reading expectations if you had no guidelines but were committed to progressing as a reader. Feel free to think outside the box and be as creative as you want.

When answering this question, explain what your summer reading program would be and why. Be sure to proofread your writing before you post it.

I am excited to read your ideas and possibly use them for future students.

The Football Champ: Book Trailer by Elliot L.

Always Neverland: Book Trailer by Sophie P.

Drive Me Crazy: Book Trailer by Lexie F.

Paper Things: Book Trailer by Millie B.

The Lightening Thief: Book Trailer by Cabot H.

Ms. Sikes

Readers Research

Dear readers,

This year we will read a fiction book that is based on a true story. The book takes place in Sudan, a war torn country in Africa. It is a glimpse into the tribal culture and the effects of war on civilians. 6th graders found themselves enthralled by the characters and setting and would go home at night and research Sudan and the tribes in the book. They read articles, looked at maps, and watched documentaries. In short, they built their knowledge to better understand what was going on in the book, and they let their curiosity drive their learning. As a teacher this was a pivotal moment where my students were actively pursuing their learning and their excitement was contagious.

Personally, I am curious about a lot of different subjects and love reading articles. My curiosity about the world leads me to travel and learn about the history and culture of different places around the world. I am not able to travel everywhere or all the time, so often times I research about places or read fiction books that take me to places I may never see, and I feel as if my world expands through reading. I also do rather extensive research when planning a trip. Researching before hand helps me use my time wisely in a new place by exploring the places that most interest me and also will give me a sense of the current culture. I read blogs, reviews, articles, and check out travel books from the library.

In addition, I enjoy watching and playing sports. I often times look up inspiring athletes or articles about important games. As a former college athlete, I do not officially play a sport anymore, but I thoroughly enjoy knowing what is going on in the sports world. Researching historical figures and events, different places to travel, and sports in general are all subjects I am curious about and I enjoy expanding my knowledge and therefore my world.

What subjects would you research and why? What sparks your curiosity? What do you wish you knew more about?

I hope everyone is having a great summer!

Ms. Sikes

Reading While Jet-Setting

Dear readers,

First of all I want to commend you all on very thoughtful, honest blog posts thus far. I have enjoyed reading about what type of reader you are and the characters you like most. It always interests me what others have to say, and I appreciate the work you are doing on the blog.

Traveling, alongside of reading, is one of my passions. I love immersing myself in new cultures, learning the past and present of a city. Many summers I travel to different countries and always make it a point to pack multiple books to read at the airport and on the insanely long plane rides. My love of reading often coincides with my love for travel.

However the past two summers, I had different priorities. I focused on directing the Summer Teachers Institute at Oak Hill, which was a three-day workshop for Nashville area teachers. While my trips did not take me across oceans or to places where a different language was spoken, I still found myself out of town often. I plan to visit my parents' house on the beach a few times, travel to Portland and Seattle with my brother, and to Virginia for a friend's wedding.

Whenever I travel, especially to the beach, I make sure to pack multiple books and set aside time to read. The beach is my favorite place to read whether it is with my feet in the sand under an umbrella, lounging at the pool, or relaxing on the day bed swing on the upstairs porch. The beach life allows me to slow down and read for hours. In a week's trip, I usually read two to three books. I am most relaxed and content when I make the time to read at the beach.

Where is your favorite place to read? Why?

The Tale of Despereaux: Book Trailer by Hank H.

The Alchemyst: Book Trailer by Otis D.

Rules: Book Trailer by Anne Carlen B.

The Land: Book Trailer by Hannah H.

Cannot wait to read about where your favorite place to read is and why you like it!

Ms. Sikes