take the beloved children’s classic “Penguin’s Hidden Talent” and change the genre of the story to create something new

here it is, my big reading accomplishment of the week…

“running my life” – yep, one would think i’m slacking with just one book – but it was really big – and actually very good – probably one of the few biographies to go from total athletics to total politics to total management – the guy, seb coe, ran competitively for 12 plus years, then worked in british politics, then was the head person for london’s 2012 games – his main accomplishment of that being that he got 1D to play during opening ceremonies

look forward to seeing everyone – well, maybe just some of you – tomorrow…

mayfield

So this one’s always fun…

Write an alternate story from the titles of BOB – you don’t have to know anything about the book – the title is your prompt to write something bizarre.

Choose from the list below:

The Testing

Variant

I Kill the Mockingbird

Brown Girl Dreaming

Prisoner of Night and Fog

The Family Romanov

so i’ve finished middle school BOB – of course, it had to be with the “blah”est book…

“the testing” – hunger games  – basically – the romance, the killing – hunger games – nuff said – and now i’m done with BOB

“crossroads and (re)mappings” – former student of mine was published last year – which was cool – even better, it’s actually a good book:)

“heathen school” – fascinating big boy book of the week i read – years ago, the mission board set up a school in connecticut to teach others the gospel – and education – so that they could return to their native lands and lead others to Christ – they had really lofty ambitions – but it all fell apart when some of the men married women in the community – the area couldn’t handle interracial marriage – the school fell apart – most the men ended up with sad ends to their lives – really heartbreaking if you believe in the gospel and its spread – a good precautionary tale to read

“saved by the bell: the comic” – best – book – ever:) the series has been reset in modern times – series of comics – just great – same tone as the original – old fans – new fans – all will love it

i think i’m saved by kona ice…

mayfield

from https://eslchestnut.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/writing31.png?w=635

if you could pick one mentor – living or dead – fictional or real – to train you to be like him or her – why would you choose who you would choose? describe the training process

happy labor day weekend – go grill something:)

“variant” – yet another BOB i liked – even though it’s a dystopia – even though there’s romance – even though there’s robots!!! yep, it was entertaining – all you can ask sometimes

“failing our brightest kids” – great book – sad book – from harvard press about improving gifted education – the researchers looked worldwide – that was about the biggest flaw in the book b/c while the rest of the world kicks our tail in high-end performers, they don’t specifically do gifted – they had some good recommendations for fixing gifted here – one, having magnet schools – two, early identification – both are good

enjoy monday off

mafeld

from https://www.pinterest.com/bvbarmy72hb/fanfictionstory-ideas/

you’ve been assigned to write a history of dragons by someone who believes they really existed – make it up

it’s a magical unicorn world now where anything can happen…

“the family romanov” – great non-fiction choice – the story of the last tsar family – spoiler, it didn’t end well – and nothing like the movie anastasia – i’d definitely forgotten the end – read really well though

“the hunt for vulcan” – new book – there was thought for a while that there was a planet between the sun and mercury – named vulcan – the book tells that story – and how scientists learn stuff – great, great book – i think i even understand einstein’s special theory of relativity now – just ask me:)

mafeld

Write about a character who makes a promise to someone dear to them years before – and then doesn’t keep it. Explore their point of view years later. What prevented them from keeping the promise and how did it change them?

happy last week of august…

“the brothers” – started last week by finishing a book about the brothers who carried out the marathon bombings in 2013 – i obviously have a vested interest in the material – the part about the brothers’ background was very interesting – and the ties the FBI has to planting fake attacks – it was a good book – though i’m not sure i believe all of the author’s strong POV

“prisoner of night and fog” – middle school BOB – any book with Uncle Adolf is odd – particularly when Uncle Adolf tries to make a move on you – yeah, awkward – i liked that the author did research – it really was a bit much though – i felt like the main character was more a 2015 girl in what the author thought was Nazi Germany than anything truly historic – of course, there’s a sequel (I will NOT be reading… 🙂

“thank you for arguing” – awesome book on rhetoric – OMHS uses it for AP English – i can see why – we’re going to use some of the activities in our class – i’m excited

“i kill the mockingbird” – great middle school BOB – easy to read – and fun – unpredictable – baseball tie-ins – AND – a BUFFY REFERENCE!!! so the book has it all:) actually, it’s not thrilling or anything, but there’s even a kiss for princess sarah elizabeth – so i definitely think this is the BOB everyone can enjoy

hope everyone’s reading goes swimmingly

mafeld