Writer's Workshop Day

This Friday, November 20th, all 225 6th-8th grade Advanced Language Arts students and their teachers are participating in an all day Writer's Workshop.  Our special guest will be, Joelle Charbonneau, author of  the best selling series The Testing.

As an introduction to her visit, Ms. Charbonneau answered a few of my interview questions:

1.  What is your favorite part of participating in school visits?

My favorite part of school visits is hearing various opinions from readers about the stories they read and what they find entertaining or important.  While all readers read the same words, they don't read the same book because they bring their own imagination and experience to the story.  It's fun to hear how the story changes for each reader.

2.  What is the most memorable question or situation you have encountered during a school visit? 

Hmm…my most memorable school visit moment has to be someone asking me why characters don't go to the bathroom in books.  Yeah - I think that was my favorite question ever and I'm pleased to say that I actually had a real answer.

3. Is there a possibility of a 4th book in The Testing series?

Right now I don't plan on writing a 4th Testing book.  For now the story is over.  It ended with the same feeling graduation gives - something has ended and Cia doesn't know what will happen in the future.  She only knows what she hopes will happen and she is going out to live her life as best she can.  But, if I come up with a really good idea for a new story, I would love to go back and see what happens next.

4. What are you working on now?

I'm currently working on a fantasy thriller series.  So far, it's fun.  I hope to finish with it by the end of the year. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

BRAND NEW eBOOKS!!

Hey students!  Thirty-one BRAND NEW eBooks have been added to our Follett Shelf!!  These new books include Minecraft, Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Sherlock Holmes!  Be the first to check them out!!  If you are not sure how to access the eBooks from your house, directions can be found on the LRC's homepage or you can stop in to the LRC and pick up a handout.  

New 2016 Rebecca Caudill Nominees

It is time to start reading the 2016 Rebecca Caudill Nominees!  Click on the link below to watch a Prezi and find the one you want to read first!

Click here to see the 2016 nominees!

Back to School

Welcome back!  The LRC is open for business with many new books and exciting programs planned for this year!

Hour of Code

On Tuesday, December 9th, Woodland Middle School will host its first ever Hour of Code.  The Hour of Code is a one-hour introduction to computer science, designed to demystify code and show that anybody can learn the basics.  The Hour of Code is a global movement reaching tens of millions of students in 180+ countries.  Students will begin the session learning about computer science from a professional in the field.  Next, students will choose from several tutorials ranging from beginner to intermediate coding activities.  Participants will then be able to continue learning at home.  Questions can be directed to Ms. Perrin in the LRC.  Good luck to everyone who is attending!  

Welcome back Sally Walker!

Woodland Middle School’s 6^th graders will welcome back award-winning author Sally Walker on Tuesday, December 2^nd.  She will visit with all 6^th graders to talk specifically about the non-fiction writing process.  She will share how she gets her ideas, how she researches and organizes her information and  the revision process. 

A smaller group of specially selected students will be invited to a Sandwiches with Sally event at lunch time.  

New Graphic Novel - Line of Fire: Diary of an Unknown Soldier

How many of you keep a journal?  What would happen if 100 years from now someone were to find and read your journal entries?  Would your journal give a complete account of what your life was like in 2014?  In this new book, readers experience journal entries from an unknown soldier living in Paris during the first two months of World War I.

The original journal was found in a trash pile by the French artist, Barroux, and turned into this detailed, first hand account of the beginnings of World War I in Paris.  The drawings were created by Barroux, but the words are the actual entries from the journal. Readers are able to understand what ordinary men went through when drafted and forced to leave their families behind.

A great read for anyone interested in the military or history!