Book Club 2013/14

Welcome to all our Book club members for a 2013/14 year of reading and literary discovery!  I am so excited to meet all our new members!!  Our grade 6-8 grades will enjoy some amazing books, collaborate in a Blackboard classroom, poll and share their suggestions on Collaborize Classroom and generally learn how to deconstruct books!

Our first read for next week's discussion on October the 9th is My Name is Parvana for the grade 7/8 students and The Breadwinner (both Deborah Ellis books and available on the E Library) for the grade 6 group.  We will have a discussion on the comparison of third world countries to first world countries, in this case Afghanistan to Canada,  using the protagonist's experience as our starting point.  In our first session we will also learn how to deconstruct a novel, share Christian worldview, and suggest and vote on the next novel.  Along the way students may win prizes for participation, techie ideas, book reviews, video creation etc.  Please have a book ready to share about at the meeting?  A link to a review would be perfect!:)
Here are some ideas for possible reads:

Red Cedar choices
Racing Home:  Adele Dueck-  In 1908, twelve-year-old Erik faces the challenges of adapting to pioneer life on the Canadian prairie, saving an injured horse with the help of his cousin, and understanding what's really going on in his family. - 

Torn Apart: The Internment Diary of Mary Kobayashi (Dear Canada) by Susan M. Aihoshi 
Catboy by Eric Walters (While trying to adjust to his move from a small northern town to the heart of Toronto, Taylor becomes interested in caring for a colony of feral cats in a junkyard, but when development threatens the colony, Taylor wonders how he can help them.)
The Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis

Other Grade 6/7/8 choices
Mrs Frisby and the rats of Nimh
My Side of the Mountain
Jungle Book
The Westing Game
The Incredible Journey
James and the Giant Peach
The Lightning Thief
Out of the Dust
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Holes
Lost in the Barrens
Owls in the Family


During the school year we will meet and share all things literary on Collaborize Classroom, a virtual classroom.  Here students can poll and share media with each other and encourage their reading buddies.  But next week's discussion  will take place on Blackboard Collaborate.  Please make sure that you have a good headset with microphone, and check in early about 15 minutes before we get going at 1.45 pm.  We will finish up just before 3pm.

Please click on this link to get access to the classroom.

https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?sid=7345&password=M.568104B2445CE814E329303C879EFD

Please read the following set up when entering your classroom:

If you have a LearnNowBC username and password, you may view the meeting details here. You may be prompted to download some software which may take anywhere from 2 to 20  minutes depending on your Internet connection speed. Join your meeting early if you can. A microphone and headphones or speakers will allow you to participate fully in the meeting. Visit the Configuration Room and use the Audio Setup Wizard before the session to make  sure your computer's audio is configured correctly. Handy LNBC Collaborate Links: Blackboard Support Portal Participant Orientation Participant Guide Moderator Orientation Moderator Guide Online Orientation

I look forward to seeing you all at our first meeting:)  Let me know if you need help with Blackboard on the Wednesday and I will come on early to help you?
Blessings
Mrs Pippa