Writing Challenge #8

I'm sorry I'm behind posting challenges.  Having limited Internet on our two week trip really threw me off.  I'm slowly getting back on track after being gone over two weeks.  This week's challenge is a story starter.  I used #97 on www.creativewritingprompts.com.

You wake up, go to the bathroom, and look in the mirror.  A different face stares back at you.  Start your story there. 

As always, post it to Dropbox or email me at mrs.Schuette at gmail.com. Here's a sad summer thought for you, we start school three weeks from today!  Actually, as sad as I am to see summer end, I'm looking forward to a fabulous school year :)  

Writing Challenge #7

This is going to be a quick challenge. I'm in California, and have limited Internet access. In honor of my trip to Disneyland tomorrow, your challenge is to write something that takes place at an amusement park. It can be your own experience or a fictional piece.

As always, post it to Dropbox or email me at mrs.Schuette at gmail.com. Happy writing!

The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis

The Breadwinner is the story of Parvana, a young girl living in Taliban controlled Afghanistan.  When her father is arrested, Parvana is forced to dress like a boy and work in the marketplace to provide for her family.   


I think this book is an important read.  We hear about Afghanistan every day on the news, but this book paints a very real picture of what it is like for people in Afghanistan under Taliban rule.  It is especially bad for women.  They are not allowed to work or go to school.  The can only go outside in the company of a man, and even then, they have to be completely covered.  Parvana talks about having to quit school and about having to move constantly because their houses keep getting bombed.  


The novel is well-written and a fairly quick read.   However, I found myself stopping often to reflect on things Parvana said or event that were happening.  I will also warn you that there are a few parts that are brutal.  She goes into detail about how people are punished and some of the things people have to do to survive.  


There are two more books that continue the story: Parvana's Journey and Mud City.  I would like to read them because the ending of The Breadwinner is a little disappointing because it feels cut off.  Overall, I liked the book, and I thought that it tied nicely to current world events.  


Do you have a book you want to share?  Email me at mrs.schuette at gmail.com a short highlight of the novel, and I'll post it on here.  Happy reading :) 

Esperanza Rising by Pat Munoz Ryan

I re-read the book Esperanza Rising this week.  I read it quite a few years ago, and wanted to read it again.  It is the story of Esperanza, who grew up the daughter of a wealthy land owner in Mexico.  When her father dies, she and her mother are forced to move to California and start their lives over.  The story is moving as you read about Esperanza's transformation as she deals with the challenges of her new life.  It also paints a vivid picture of what life was like for Mexican immigrants in the 1930's/1940's.  


Even though the book deals with heavier issues, it is enjoyable to read.  Esperanza's struggle to learn how to do the simplest things like taking care of babies and sweeping are giggle-worthy.  The family relationships are beautiful, and there is a lot of love in this book.  


I think this book is a nice companion to Out of the Dust, which we will read this year in 7th grade.  It's the other side of the story.  In Out of the Dust, the main character talks about everyone leaving the Midwest during the dust bowl.  In Esperanza Rising, one of the problems for the main character is the influx of American workers moving in and displacing the Mexican workers.  It's kind of interesting to see both sides of the story.  It also ties into what is happening here in this country today.  We are still having disagreements over Mexican immigration.  


Do you have a book you want to share?  Email me at mrs.schuette at gmail.com a short highlight of the novel, and I'll post it on here.  Happy reading :) 

Writing Challenge #6

I found another fun site for writing prompts.  This one is www.creativewritingprompts.com There are 346 prompts on the site.  I chose #11 for this week's challenge.  


Choose one set of words to create a mini-story (around 300 words).


#1  Paper clips, principal, lunch box, swing, girl with a pink ribbon


#2   Biology, class card, foreign student, leaf, blood sample


#3   Typewrite, filing cabinet, puncher, clerk, carbon paper, janitor


As always, post it on Dropbox, or email it to me at mrs.schuette at gmail.com  Thanks for participating! Have fun!

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jaqueline Kelly

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jaqueline Kelly was a fun read.  It takes place in Texas in 1899.  The novel is told from the point of view of Callie Vee, a young girl who dreams of being a scientist.  She spends most of her time with her grandfather, who conducts a wide range of science experiments and investigations.  Together, they follow Darwin's work and study plants, animals, and insects.  They even discover a new species of plant.  Callie's mother, however, has other plans for her.  As the only daughter of seven children, her mother wants her to become a lady and marry well.   She prefers Callie spend her time learning the piano and how to cook.

This novel is a fun look at history and expectations.  It paints a wonderful picture of farm life in the 1800's.  It's full of humor and scientific facts as they were known at the time.  I love history and science, so I found it a wonderful read.

Do you have a book you want to share?  Email me at mrs.schuette at gmail.com a short highlight of the novel, and I'll post it on here.  Happy reading :) 

Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate

Over the next few days, I will be highlighting some of the books I've read recently.  I just finished one of the most beautiful stories I've read in a while.  The novel was Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate. The story is about Kek, a young refugee who moves from Africa to Minnesota.  I can't imagine that kind of change, and it's interesting to read about Kek having to learn to survive in a new culture.  He sees snow for the first time,  rides in an airplane (or flying boat), and misunderstands the term "washing machine" and tries to wash the dishes in it.

The book is written in poetry form, which reads beautifully.  It also makes it a quick read; I read it in one evening.  I love that the book balances the horror of his old life, which is revealed through his dreams, with the humorous and heartfelt stories of his new life.  I highly recommend this novel!

Do you have a book you want to share?  Email me at mrs.schuette at gmail.com a short highlight of the novel, and I'll post it on here.

Writing Challenge #5

Writing Challenge #5

This week’s writing challenge is to write an entry for a local contest that Boise State Public Radio is hosting.  The contest appears to be open to kids and adults.   Whether or not you enter the contest is up to you, but it’s good practice to try.  Plus, I thought the topic was fun.  We’ve spent our summer so far exploring all that the Boise area has to offer: bike riding and roller blading on the greenbelt, the zoo, Idaho Shakespeare Festival, Roaring Springs, and a variety of ice cream choices.  

Here’s the information on the contest:

"One Minute Idaho" Writing Contest!

Write a 120-word description of your memorable, uniquely Idaho experience – for example, your best Idaho travel or adventure moment, your favorite Idaho landmark and why, where you were when you ate your favorite Idaho food for the first time, and so on ... we want to hear your story. Submit it by 11:59 p.m. MST on August 12, 2011.

Three winners will be chosen. His/her essay will be recorded and aired on Boise State Public Radio. Winners will also receive a pair of tickets to hear Ira Glass on November 5 at the Morrison Center in Boise, tickets to the private reception with Ira Glass prior to his public appearance and one overnight stay at a bed & breakfast or hotel in Boise. Additionally, one of the three winners will be selected by Ira Glass and have their story read onstage the evening of Ira's appearance in Boise. 

To see the contest information or to enter, go to http://radio.boisestate.edu/iraglasscontest

As always, you may email me at mrs.schuette at gmail.com or post to Dropbox.  Happy writing!

Writing Challenge #4

Writing Challenge #4 

This week is going to be a little different.  I am currently taking a class on incorporating service learning into the curriculum.  As part of the class, we are looking at service learning projects as meaningful, engaging, learning experiences for both the students helping and the people on the receiving end of the project.  What I’d like to know is what has been the most meaningful community service project you’ve experienced?  Why did you feel it was worthwhile?  How did it affect you?  How did you get involved with this project?   

I don’t want this to sound like a community service report.  I want to hear your personal experience, focused on why it was meaningful.  Get readers to see it from your perspective, and try to convince readers to become involved in the same project.  It doesn’t have to be a full essay, but it should be detailed enough to share your experience.  

As a bonus, this will be one of our first assignments when the school year starts.  If you write it now, you won’t have to write it in the fall.  As always, post it on Dropbox, or email it to me at mrs.schuette at gmail.com.  Thanks for participating!

Writing Challenge #3

Thanks to those of you who played along last week. Our family just switched completely over to Mac computers, so I'm trying to get the hang of posting everything in new formats. It may take awhile to get used to the differences. For this week's challenge, try to include multiple scenes in your writing piece. It can be fiction or nonfiction, but I'd like to see you include either two different places or two different time periods. For example, Little Susie starts out in Boise, Idaho, and then travels to Paris, France. Another example might start out with Bob's childhood, then go to his eighteenth birthday. The trick here is to weave two (or more) scenes into one cohesive story.

I can't wait to read what you write :)

What are you reading this summer?

I just finished the Uglies series (more on that at a later date).  On the last book order, I ordered a bunch of books for my classroom library.  These are the ones I brought home to read this summer:
Words in the Dust  by Trent Reedy
*When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
Tracker by Gary Paulsen
The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jaqueline Kelly
*Newberry book

Anyone reading anything that they think EVERYONE should read? 

Happy Reading!

Writing Challenge #2

I'm sorry I'm a bit tardy getting the second challenge up.  Thank you to Carson and Blake for playing along in week one!  I found an awesome site for you to try for your second writing challenge.  The site is http://www.thestorystarter.com/ or for an easier starter, www.thestorystarter.com/jr.htm  These sites will automatically generate story starters. You do not have to use the first one it gives you.  Feel free to play with it until you find one that inspires you.   Some are quite silly, but overall, I think the site is fun.  If you have another idea you want to use, you may do that as well. 

Remember, to have a chance at fun prizes, you need to email it to me or post it on Dropbox. If you would title your file as your name and #2, that would be great. For example, mine would be name nschuette#2. If you post it by the end of the week, you will get two drawing entries. Anything posted after the 21st will get 1 entry. I look forward to reading your pieces! Have fun!

Writing Challenge #1

Welcome to the Summer Writing Challenge!  I'm going to make the first challenge fairly easy as we start summer break.  Your first challenge is to write about a summer adventure.  The genre is your choice.  It can be a poem, nonfiction story or essay about a summer adventure you've had, or a fictional story about the ultimate summer adventure. 

Remember, to have a chance at fun prizes, you need to email it to me or post it on Dropbox.  If you would title your file as your name and #1, that would be great.  For example, mine would be name nschuette#1.   If you post it by the end of the week, you will get two drawing entries. Anything posted after the 12th will get 1 entry.  I look forward to reading your pieces, and I will post my own sometime this week.  Have fun!

Welcome!

Welcome to Mrs. Schuette's Reading Corner.  Over the summer, I will post reading lists, thoughts on my favorite books, books I'm currently reading, and questions to think about.  As the school year starts next year, it will be expanded to include reading assignments, class questions, and chances for you to post what you think.  I hope it inspires you to read new novels and reflect upon novels you've already read. 

As we wind down the current school year, I am reading Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt.  I am enjoying all the Shakespeare references, and the humorous situations the main character, Holling Hoodhood gets himself into.  I will post more information soon.