FINISHED!

We finished! It took a lot of reading today, but we did it! I am looking forward to our discussion tomorrow! Tell me what you think of the ending and the whole book. What did you like/dislike, what did you learn, etc.

THE RETREAT

We are flying through this book - trying to get it done and have time to discuss it before break. Today we read about Auggie's experience at the 5th grade retreat. The way the camp was described sounded kind of like our 5th grade trip to Camp Kern. I was surprised that Julian didn't go. Why do you think he would want to miss something like that?
While at the retreat movie night, Jack and Auggie have a run-in with some 7th graders from another school. The other kids are horribly mean to Auggie and when Jack stands up for him they push Jack down. Just as it seems like Jack and Auggie are really going to get it, Amos, Miles, and Henry show up and stand up for them.
Why do you think Amos, Miles, and Henry did that? All year they have been mean to and/or ignored Auggie. What has changed? Why would they suddenly want to stand up for Auggie and be nice to him?

Goodbye

This picture looks like how I picture Daisy. Unfortunately, we had to say goodbye to Daisy in the chapters we read today. It was another very sad part of the book. I was so sad for Auggie's family, but especially for Auggie. Daisy was the only "person" to whom Auggie's looks didn't matter at all. To Daisy, Auggie was just the boy she loved. She didn't know or care that his face was different. I'm sure it will be a huge adjustment for Auggie and his family, with Daisy being gone.
Have any of you ever lost a pet before? If so, how did you get over it? What do you think Auggie will do?

August Through the Peephole

          
           




 Here are some images students drew as they visualized August as described by his sister, Via. The pictures were not meant to be mean or funny in any way. We had all been wondering what Auggie looks like. Why do you think the author waits until so far into the story to really give a good description of Auggie?

 

 
 

VIA

We are finally into part 2 of Wonder. This part of the book is told from Auggie's sister, Via's, point of view. I think it's cool to learn about some of the same events from a different perspective and to learn some more information.
We finally got to hear a description of Auggie from Via and we drew what we pictured him looking like, based on that description. I will try to post a few of the pictures here next week.

Bleeding Screem

I was shocked by what Auggie overheard being said about him at school on Halloween and I was even more shocked about who said it! Can you imagine what it would feel like to hear your friend say such horrible things about you? I could just feel Auggie's heart breaking as we read these chapters.

What do you think is going to happen between Auggie and Jack Will?

Lunch and Summer

Auggie met a girl named Summer in the cafeteria. Why do you think Summer came and sat with Auggie? What do you think about Summer?

It's finally Auggie's first day of school! How do you think it's going so far?

Auggie really likes Mr. Browne's class and I think it's cool that even though Auggie is feeling awkward and unsure a lot of the time, in Mr. Browne's class he decides he is going to like school. "No matter what."

I love the idea of the precepts, or "rules about important things" that Mr. Browne is doing. Mr. Browne's September precept is "When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind." When listening to what you guys think this means, I heard a lot of really great ideas. One idea stood out to me though. Trevor, from my bell 2 class said, "You don't always have to be right, but if you're kind, you're never wrong." WOW! I hadn't thought of it that way, but Trevor is absolutely right! What great insight! I love the idea that as long as I am being kind and doing the kind thing and making choices that are kind, I am right. Think about how much better our school, community, and world would be if everyone followed this practice!

Meeting Jack Will, Charlotte, and Julian

So, August got to meet some of the students he is going to be going to school with. We can tell what characters are like in several ways. We look at what the character says, what the character does, and what others say about the character. Based on what we read today, what are your impressions of Jack Will, Charlotte, and Julian?

Meeting Mr. Tushmann and Mrs. Garcia

So, it has been decided. Auggie is going to go to Beecher Prep. Today we read about him meeting the principal, Mr. Tushmann, and the secretary, Mrs. Garcia (Mrs. G.). Both seemed nice, although Auggie liked Mrs. G better when she wasn't showing her "shiny smile." Auggie seemed very shy and nervous about meeting Mr. Tushmann and about seeing his new school. Mr. Tushmann and Mrs. G. both seemed to like Auggie and were very nice to him.
What do you think about the part when Auggie noticed that just for a split second, Mrs. G. looked away? Why do you think she did that? Why did no one notice but Auggie? Why would something like that bother him?

Check out this link to read a post by the author of Wonder, R.J. Palacio. This book is something to talk about!

http://choosekind.tumblr.com/

Happy Birthday Auggie!

Tomorrow is Auggie's birthday! How should we celebrate? First, we are going to read - and for more than just a few minutes! I know you guys are enjoying this book and are ready to really get into it, so I will set aside at least 15 minutes for read-aloud time. Second, we are going to spend some time talking about bullying and I am going to ask for volunteers to pledge to "choose kind" which means you promise to make an effort every day to be a little kinder than necessary. Finally, we will spend a few minutes celebrating Auggie's birthday. I'll let you be surprised!

CHRISTOPHER'S HOUSE

We only got to read 1 short chapter today - "Christopher's House." In this chapter Auggie overhears his parents talking to Christopher's parents about him starting "real school" instead of being homeschooled. Auggie's mom feels like it's time and Auggie is ready. His dad doesn't think so. Auggie doesn't want to go.

Wow! Think about how Auggie must feel. He has never even thought about going to school before. How would you feel if you were him?

Mrs. Kirby Cried

Yes, it happened. While reading from Wonder today, I cried. It was during the chapter called "How I Came to Life." What a great opportunity to talk about what makes a book a "great" book. I connected with Auggie's mom as she saw his sweet little face for the first time. No matter what he looked like to the rest of the world, he was beautiful to her and she loved him more than anything. When we connect with a story in such a personal way,  it becomes a memorable book to us.
Another thing that makes this book memorable is the author's ability to make us laugh. I know teachers probably aren't supposed to think farts are funny, but the part of the story about the farting nurse and the doctor passing out makes me laugh every time I read it!
What an amazing book to have me laughing one minute and crying the next! I can't wait to read more to you guys!

WONDER

I began reading the book Wonder by R.J. Palacio to my reading classes today. I only had time to introduce the book and read chapter 1 - Ordinary. In this chapter, Auggie, the main character, lets us know how badly he wants to be just an ordinary kid. What exactly is an ordinary kid and why do you think it's so important to Auggie that he is seen this way? Let me know what you guys think!