As part of our reading studies, students will be studying the different genres of literature. Each month the class will learn about the elements or characteristics of a genre then read a novel which fits that catagory as part of their independent reading. To culminate the month's study, students will be completing a different book project to go with the novel they have read. Each student shares his or her project with the class (much like a booktalk) which helps us to add to our list of books we would like to read in our reader's notebooks. Students also complete a reflection sheet which they can place in the memory binders for the year.

A big thanks to Mrs. Heather Renz at Tom McCalls Elementary in Redmond, Oregon for sharing these great project ideas with us! To learn more about the projects be sure to visit her site.

September Project:  Memory Bag September saw us reading from the realistic fiction genre.  Some of the title students chose for the month included:  Junie B. Jones Almost a Flower Girl, Ruby Holler, Project Mulberry, Each Little Bird that Sings,The River and Confessions of a Closet Catholic. Students put together a bag of items to represent their story, which they then shared with the class.

October Book Project:  Skeleton Map October has been a month of mystery as we investigated such stories as Mrs. Jeeper's Cave, The Blue Ghost, The Absent Author and other A to Z Mystery Titles, The Missing Manatee, and many other super sleuths.  To hold with a spooky theme, students are building a skeleton map to share the mystery of their novel. Check back at the end of the month to view our photos.

November Book Project:  Box It - Book Commericals November was a good time to bring some laughter into the classroom.  We worked with humorous fiction, a branch of the realistic fiction genre.  Students ready many funny tales which they shared by putting together a "Book Commerical".  Some of the titles we enjoyed were: Wayside School is Falling Down, a couple titles from the Junie B. Jones series, The School Mouse, Esio Trot, The Witches,and other tales by R. Dahl, and Bunnicula Strikes Again just to name a few.

December Book Project:  Reader's Theater December is a month to work and share together, so we put together three reader's theater performances to share with our families.  The students worked hard to build their fluency - reading with the proper pacing and expression.   Narrarator & Program Designer   Red Headed Robbie's Christmas Story Best Christmas Pagent Ever Arthur's Christmas