Real Readers React!

When I read news and articles online, there are times when I really want to react. I am outraged, shocked, saddened, inspired. Most of the time, I am learning something new, or forced to consider a new perspective on something I already knew a little about.  Sometimes, I connect to the story - because I have been to that place, or recognize the issue or struggle.

 In any of these situations, I feel like I need to respond, to react, to add my voice the the voices which have already filled the comments section.  Another way I react is to share the story on one of my social media, like Google +, Twitter, or FB. When I share it, I add my thoughts on the article, and copy and paste lines that really resonate with me and I explain my opinions. Often, I'll ask others if they agree or disagree, and then I reflect their responses to consider if my opinion has been altered as a result.

Today, I'm asking you to be a critical thinker, and do more than hit the "like" button. Read this article from NPR and REACT! This clever boy brought a homemade clock to school to show his teacher, and WAS ARRESTED!

After reading the article, REACT!   I’m only giving you 30 minutes to respond on your blog. Remember that bloggers often LINK the article, or add images, videos or other links. They also invite their readers to respond with their own opinion - so try that out!  (tags: rla, gr7, identity, +? your topics?) Don’t forget a title to your post - Readers React!!

What kind of mindset do you have?

We've talked a lot in class about identity - who we want to be, who others see, and how you can be the person you want to be.  This graphic can help you to understand which mindset you have now, and how to change your thinking to allow yourself to grow.  Choose one fixed mindset statement you can start to change today. Which one will did you choose?

2015 National Book Awards Longlist For Young People's Lit

Hey readers, here's the 2015 National Book Awards Longlist For Young People’s Literature. It's great to see new books from Gary Paulsen, M.T. Anderson, and Neal Shusterman. I've read The Thing About Jellyfish and recommend it highly. The most exciting title on this list, however, is Most Dangerous, by Steve Sheinkin who will be working with our 7th grade students in February. Exciting!

• Becky Albertalli, Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda (Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins Children's Books)
• M.T. Anderson, Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad (Candlewick Press)
• Ali Benjamin, The Thing About Jellyfish (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)
• Rae Carson, Walk on Earth a Stranger (Greenwillow/HarperCollins Children's Books)
• Gary Paulsen, This Side of Wild (Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing)
• Laura Ruby, Bone Gap (Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins Children's Books)
• Ilyasah Shabazz, with Kekla Magoon, X: A Novel (Candlewick Press)
• Steve Sheinkin, Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War (Roaring Brook Press/Macmillan Children's Publishing Group)
• Neal Shusterman, Challenger Deep (HarperCollins Children's Books)
• Noelle Stevenson, Nimona (HarperTeen/HarperCollins Children's Books)

http://www.nationalbook.org/nba2015_ypl_ll.html#.Vfex1p2qqkq

To my little global nomads

For the past month, we've been exploring your identity - your strengths and your unique situation as a "global nomad." Take a look at the Humans of SAS posting from the high school yesterday. It sums up our discussions perfectly. You belong to a special club, my little global nomads. And membership has its privileges, I just hope you learn to appreciate them! :)

What Would YOUR Verse Be?

I was thinking about you today. We've been asking the questions all year, "Who are you?" and "What hope is there for me?" And you explored the answers to those questions in your personal memoirs, and your argument essay, in your realistic fiction stories and in your poetry. We've talked about your writing being a Time Capsule of who you were in 7th grade - your passions and pet peeves, your dreams and frustrations. I saw this video today, and as I said, I thought of you. If you and your friends made a video "On Being 12 (or 11 or 13)" I wonder what YOU would say. What do you think of the comments from these kids? Why don't you make your own version?

Realistic Fiction - Lucky

EXCITING NEWS! This past week, the Nobel Peace Prize was co-awarded to Malala Yousafzay for her "struggle against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education." To learn more about this amazing young woman, be sure to pick up her memoir I AM MALALA, which has been called "incredible" and a book that would "inspire some activism after the final pages." The good news is that we have several copies of Malala's memoir in class - please check one out and tell me in the comments below if you think she is worthy of such a prestigious award and why...