Number the Stars/ Where the Red Fern Grows

Samantha would like to recommend Number the Stars by Lois Lowry. Annemarie Johanson's family lives in Denmark during the time that it was occupied by Hitler and his German army. Her best friend, Ellen, is Jewish and faces great danger as the German forces work to relocated the Jewish families. With great courage, Annemarie and her family help Ellen's family evade the Nazi Army. Sami said, "I like this book because it's exciting, but mysterious. It really made me think about what it must have been like for Jewish families during this time period." This book can be located at Mrs. Baker's classroom library. 

This is one of my very most favorite books! If you have not read it, please do.- Mrs. Baker

Terance recommended Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls. Billy Colman lives in the Ozark Mountains where he and his two dogs spend their time hunting for raccoon. Billy trained these two hunting dogs well and they have a lot of success. Amid the success, tragedy strikes. This is a classic novel that students have been reading for many years. Terance said, "This was a heart warming book that has a lot of action and adventure. This is a good book for someone who has a dog who they truly love." This book can be located at the River Springs library or at the Deltona and Orange City Public Libraries.

Mrs. Baker's Blurb: Teacher of the Year Nominee

I wanted to share with you an honor I recently received. This year, I was nominated for Volusia County Reading Teacher of the Year. It is a tremendous honor for me. I am so thankful for the teachers who I work with everyday and blessed that my colleagues would recommend me for this award. I am also blessed with great students who making going to work everyday fun for me!

Deep Blue/ Infinity Ring

Tiana recommends Deep Blue by Jennifer Donnelly. This is the first book in the Waterfire Saga. Serafina, a mermaid, lives in a magically world beneath our Earth's ocean surface. Her dark dreams come true when her mother is killed by an assassin's poisoned arrow. Now she must find the assassin's master before war breaks out among the Mer Nations. Tiana said, "I like the book because of the excitement, thrills, and betrayal. This is a story of the underwater world that could be right under our noses!" This book can be located in Mrs. Baker's classroom library. The second book in this series was recently released. It is titled Rogue Wave. Hopefully it will be coming to our classroom library soon!

Riley recommends Infinity Ring Book One: A Mutiny in Time by James Dashner. In this story, Dak and Sera stumble upon a key that will allow them to travel back into time. The key is known as the Infinity Ring. They are recruited by a historian-in-training, Riq, to travel back into time and fix the great breaks in our history. The first book is set in Spain in 1492 just as a young Christopher Columbus is about to be thrown overboard. This is a fantastic series where each book is written by a different author. Each book takes the reader back in time to mend our history. Riley said, "I liked it because it is about history and it has an amazing catch to the story that will keep you reading. I also liked it because it has some very thrilling scenes." The first three books of this series can be located in Mrs. Baker's classroom library. 

Mrs. Baker's Blurb: Happy Mother's Day!

Today is Mother's Day, so take some time to appreciate your mom, grandma, aunts, and any other mother figures in your life! 

Matched/ Treasure Hunters

Olivia recommends Matched by Allie Condie. Cassia lives in a society that tells its people what to do, what to believe, and even whom to marry. Cassia trust The Society to make good choices for her. At her matching ceremony, she is matched with Xander for a mate but a picture of Ky's face is shown before the screen shuts off. The Society tells her to enjoy the life she will have with Xander, but Cassia is beginning to fall in love with Ky. Olivia said, "Xander is her best friend, but she also gets paired with someone else. It is a romance novel, but it has action with rebellion and then there is a great twist that is so pulling that you will want to keep reading to find out what happens next." Matched is the first in a trilogy. The entire trilogy can be located in Mrs. Baker's classroom library. 

Anthony recommends Treasure Hunters by James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein. The Kidd siblings have grown up hunting treasures with their famous treasure hunting parents. When their parents disappear, the Kidd siblings continue to hunt for treasure while trying to learn what happened to their parents. Rival treasure hunters and pirates are on their trail while they go on the greatest treasure hunt of their lives. Anthony said, "It was very interesting and I like the plot. I also really like other books by James Patterson, too." Treasure Hunters can be located at Mrs. Baker's classroom library.  

Mrs. Baker's Blurb: Bullying

In Intensive Reading, we have been talking about bullying. We are learning about what bullying is, the long term effects of bullying, and how we can work together to Bust Up Bullying. No one wants to be bullied at school and it is our goal that no one will be bullied at River Springs. I wanted to share one of my favorite books about bullying. The Hundred Dresses was written by Eleanor Estes and illustrated by Louis Slobodkin. This is a short story about a young girl, Wanda Petronski, who is teased by her classmates because she wears the same dress to school each day. Wanda tells her classmates that she has a hundred beautiful dresses at home which causes classmates to treat her even worse. This is a great story about treating others with kindness and respect. This book can be located at Mrs. Baker's classroom library. It is a quick read that will leave a lasting impression!

Video Game Special

Mrs. Baker's Game:

To start off our video game special edition, I wanted to share a game a my family and I created using Scratch. This is a fantastic site where you can write and develop games that you can share with others. If you think that you may be interested in creating video games, you should check it out! Our game is called Rats on the Run in NYC! The object of the game is to trap as many rats running around New York City as you can in 60 seconds. To catch a rat, you cover it with the red box and press the space button. You get a point for every rat you catch. This website is a great way to learn how to create and program games. Check out my game below.

Video Game Survey:

Earlier this week, I gave each of you a survey asking questions about video games. The top 3 most commonly played games that were recommended for your age group by your fellow classmates are listed below.

1. One of the most played games is Minecraft. It is rated E 10+ so it is recommended for everyone ages 10 and up. Many students stated that they prefer to play on the Xbox because there are more options available in that format as opposed to a portable device, but many of you spend a considerable amount of time playing Minecraft on your phone when you are not at home. In Minecraft, a player can play in survival mode or creative mode. While playing in survival, students must build shelter, find food, and protect themselves from enemy creatures. While playing in creative mode, everything needed for survival is provided, so the player can simply explore, build, and create. This game is great for learning about agriculture and architecture. More information about Minecraft can be located at https://minecraft.net/. 
2. Another popular game is SimCity. This game is recommended for everyone ages 10 and up and is available in a variety of formats including Xbox, PlayStation, PC and many students also play the game on their phone. In this game the player acts as the mayor and must develop a city while maintaining a budget. The player must consider zoning requirements while providing citizens with education, health care, parks, electricity, and water supply. This game has incredible educational benefits to the students in subjects such as civics, math, science, and economics. For more information about this game please visit http://www.simcity.com/.
3. Thinking about playing a sport? Playing a video game about sports is a great way to learn the rules of the sport. A popular game with my students is the NBA 2K series. Specifically, my students recommended the newest in the series, NBA 2K15, which is the 16th installment. It was released in October 2014 for Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4. Later in the year, myNBA2K15 was released for apps on the Android and iPhone. In this game, players are able to play basketball games with and against their favorite professional basketball players. For more information about this game, visit https://www.2k.com/games/nba-2k15.   

Fun Friday with Minecraft:

In celebration of a successful FSA, we celebrated with a Minecraft extravaganza last Friday. I learned so much from each of you who spent time teaching me a game that many of you love! Below is a presentation about my experience playing and learning Minecraft. I am so thankful for each of you and your generous and helping hearts.
  

Shadow Children Series

Sylvia and Luke both recommend the Shadow Children Series by Margret Peterson Haddix. The first book in this series is Among the Hidden. In this story, the year is 2022 and a family is not allowed to have a 3rd child because the world is over populated. Luke is twelve years old, and he is a third child who has always been kept hidden in the attic to avoid the population police. One day, he decides to sneak out of the house where he meets Jen, another 3rd child, who is also forced to live hidden away. She develops a plan to help them come out of hiding, but is Luke brave enough to follow through with the plan? This is what students are saying about this series:

Sylvia said, "I liked it because it is a mystery story. It will keep you reading all the way to the end!"

Luke said, "The story is very good. It is a mystery and it is very suspenseful. Mystery books are my favorite genre. The author organizes it very well, and she uses a lot of details." 

Books from this series can be located at Mrs. Baker's classroom library. Read it!!!

Mrs. Baker's Blurb: Dragonwings

Many of you are currently engrossed in the reading of Dragonwings by Laurence Yep. I love this story about a young boy, Moon Shadow, who travels to San Francisco to meet his father. Moon Shadow is forced to grow up in a world surrounded by "White Demons" and the Tang people of Chinatown. His life is forever changed by his move to America. As you finish the book, you need to prepare to take the final test for Dragonwings. I created a Jeopardy style game to help serve as a study guide for you. 

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series

 

Destiny and James recommend the Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series by Rick Riordan. This series is about a young boy, named Percy Jackson, who discovers he is the son of the Greek God, Posidan. Percy goes to Camp Half-Blood where he learns that he is a demigod: half human and half god. Because he is the son of the such a powerful god, he is one of the most powerful demigods alive. This sets into motion mythical adventures that he and his friends must overcome. This book has been recommended by several boys and girls. The entire series can be found in Mrs. Baker's classroom library or the RSMS library. This is what some of my students are saying about Percy Jackson.

 

Destiny said, "I loved it because it throws a reality twist on gods and witches that I found to be very interesting."

 

James said, "This series had a lot of thrills. It was very exciting. It had fighting, creatures and gods. This whole series was really good!"

 

Mrs. Baker's Blurb: Testing is over!!

FSA is over! Let me say it again: FSA is over for sixth grade! I am so proud of each of you. You worked so hard. I know this test was exhausting for you. It was exhausting for me and I didn't even take it! I hope you have all had a fantastic weekend relaxing and enjoying your success! You deserve it. Class schedules will return to normal tomorrow, and I can't wait to see the faces that I didn't get to see last week! Great job everyone!

 



Can't Look Away/ I Funny

Abby recommends Can't Look Away by Donna Cooner. This has become a popular book especially in my fifth period class. This book is about Torrey Grey who has become a famous Internet sensation because of her popular YouTube videos on beauty and fashion. But when her sister is killed in a tragic accident, Torrey learns that dealing with her sister's death in the public eye is incredibly difficult. Abby said, "It was a really good mystery, and it did have very realistic events. The author is very descriptive when writing. I really liked this book!" Can't Look Away can be located at Mrs. Baker's classroom library. Don't miss out on this fantastic story!

   

Austin recommends the I Funny series by James Patterson. This series is about a middle school student, Jamie Grimm, who wants to become a stand up comedian. Unfortunately, Jamie does not have much to laugh about in his life right now. He is living in a new town with his aunt, uncle and their evil son who mistreats Jamie at every available chance. When Jamie learns of the Planet's Funniest Kid Comic contest, he knows he must enter, but is he funny enough to win? Austin said, "I like this book because it is really funny. I also like books written in first person point of view and James Patterson wrote this in first person. I would recommend this series to anyone who likes The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series." This book can be found in Mrs. Baker's classroom library.

Mrs. Baker's Blurb: Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

The first quarter of school, our core reading classes read Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor. This book is actually part of a series. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry is the fourth book in the Logan Family series. I know many of you really liked this book so I wanted to give you the names of the other books in this series. You should definitely check them out. They are available in our RSMS library.

Book 1: The Land

Book 2: The Well: David's Story

Book 3: Song of the Trees

Book 4: Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

Book 5: Let the Circle Be Unbroken

Book 6: The Road to Memphis

Anthony really liked Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry so he checked out Let the Circle Be Unbroken at the RSMS library. Anthony said, "This book continued where Roll of Thunder left off. It includes more stories about their family and also included more members of their family, too. Also, you learn what happens to T.J. in this story. I recommend this book to anyone who liked Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry!"

 

Never Stop Learning!

It is very important to always keep learning! You all know that I have been taking classes to earn a Master's Degree to become a librarian. Recently, I learned how to write some basic HTML which is basic computer programing. I wanted to share with you the results! Using the data from our reading survey results, I created this table using HTML code. Impressed? First student to give me a high-five for my new knowledge (and effort) will get a piece of candy. Never Stop Learning!!

Average Number of Books Read Outside of School by Previous Year's FCAT Score

FCAT Score	No books	1-2 books	3-4 books	5-6 books	More than 6
FCAT 1	24%	0%	18%	24%	35%
FCAT 2	10%	9%	23%	39%	19%
FCAT 3	32%	5%	14%	45%	5%
FCAT 4	32%	10%	24%	24%	10%
FCAT 5	48%	17%	22%	9%	4%

At Her Majesty's Request/ Chasing Lincoln's Killer

Both of the recommended books for this week are by authors who did a tremendous amount of research. Both authors spend time piecing together events in the lives of historical people. They were able to take these events and put them in chronological order so that we can learn about these very special people and events. 

Natalia recommends At Her Majesty's Request by Walter Dean Myers. Mr. Myers did a fantastic job describing the events in the life of Sarah Forbes Bonetta. Sarah was an African princess whose entire family was killed by enemies of the crown. She was rescued by an officer in the English military and brought to England where she became a protegee of Queen Victoria. Natalia said, "This was a very touching story. She went through so much suffering in her life. I was a really good book." This book can be located at Mrs. Baker's classroom library. Check it out!

Brett recommends Chasing Lincoln's Killer by James Swanson. This is a book about the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and the events surrounding his murder. His murderer, John Wilkes Booth, escaped to Virginia after the assassination to try to gain freedom. His freedom, and that of his accomplices, did not last long and the situation became very intense before they were finally caught. Brett said, "This book was really informational. It gives extra details that I would not have known if I had not read the book. It was really neat because I have been to the Ford's Theater, so I have seen some of the places in the book." This book can be checked out at Mrs. Baker's classroom library. 

Mrs. Baker's Blurb: The Test Does Not Define You

Testing season is upon us. This can be a very stressful time for some students, but it does not have to be. Just take deep breaths and relax. You have everything you need to do the very best you can possibly do. Remember, this test does not define you. It does not determine who you are or where you will go in life. Take a look at this video. 

Spring Break!

I hope you all had a great time on your spring break! I can't wait to hear all about it. I had a fantastic time skiing with my family.

But, I am excited to get back to work! I know you are trying to soak up the last moments of spring break, but I wanted to mention an exciting opportunity. Earlier in the year, I mentioned a book award called Children's Choice Book Award. This award is special because it is chosen by kids. Well, the voting has been opened for this year. You can actually vote for the award! Follow this link in order to vote for your favorites http://ccbookawards.com/staircase.php Voting closes on May 3, so go vote!

The Divergent Trilogy

Read it Before You See It!!

In honor of the movie Insurgent coming out this weekend, I wanted to recommend the Divergent trilogy. This is an extremely popular series about a teenage girl, Beatrice. Her world has been divided into factions. Each teenager must decide which faction they will live with. Beatrice chooses to leave the faction of her parents and join the Dauntless faction. She enters a world of excitement and danger as a Dauntless recruit, but things change when she learns that the leaders are not what they seem. This is what River Springs students are saying about this trilogy.

Kenneth said, "I like it because has lots of twists and turns."

Al'tia said, "I like it because it is similar to The Hunger Games. I like the action of the book."

Jackson said, "This story never got boring from the beginning to the end. It went from one action scene to the next."

Mrs. Baker said, "This is a fantastic trilogy! It has something for everyone- romance, action, relationships, intrigue, and mystery. It is great for anyone who loves the dystopian genre."

Mrs. Baker's Blurb: Figurative Language
Happy Spring Break!! When you come back to school, we are heading right into testing. I wanted to do a quick review with you about figurative language before you take the FSA test. Take a minute to watch this short Powerpoint video I created on Youtube.

Reading Survey Results

This post will be a little different because I wanted to give you the results from the survey I asked you to take last Friday. We had some exciting results, and I am excited to share them with you!

This first chart shows that 53% of our sixth graders who were surveyed are reading more than 20 minutes a night. Yay for those 53%!! I can't wait to see your FSA scores. They will be through the roof! Now, let's discuss the other 47% of the students surveyed. 18% of the students surveyed are not reading outside of school. This is a concern. We have had many discussions where we have talked about reading being a practiced skill. 18% of the students surveyed are not practicing this skill. That is like a basketball player who doesn't practice dribbling or shooting. If you fall into this category, PLEASE start reading! That leaves 29% of the students surveyed who said they read, but they probably do not read quite 20 minutes each night. It is good that you are reading, but I would really like it if you would read just a little bit more each night.

This is my favorite chart from the study. This shows how much each FCAT level is reading. I would like to give a BIG, HUGE shout out to my FCAT 2 students from the single block intensive classes! Wow! Over 70% of you are reading more than the required 20 minutes each night. And notice: only 6% of the FCAT level 2 students are not reading outside of school. No wonder you guys are making such great progress on your DIA exams! Now to more serious matters. Level 5 students, less than 30% of you are reading the minimum amount of reading required by your reading teacher each night. Keep in mind, the test gets harder each year. If you are not continuing to practice reading, you may not be able to maintain that fabulous score. Now to my very precious level 3 and 4 reading students, you are doing very well, but I would really like to see more reading outside of the classroom.

Are you curious who is reading the most books outside of school? If you notice, most of the FCAT level 2 students have read 5-6 books since the beginning of the school year. Level 3 students have also had the majority of students read 5-6 books. GREAT JOB! I hope you have enjoyed each and every book you have read. Once again, the majority of level 5 FCAT students have not completed even one book this school year. EEEK! You guys are really missing out of some awesome books. Please see Mrs. Baker, and I will set you up with a fantastic book to read. I am also very proud of our level 1 students who have finished the most books on average. Great job level 1 students and Mr. B!

I am so very proud of each of you! You have all worked incredibly hard this year and it shows. Keep in mind the test does not make the student. You are all wonderful no matter what the test scores say. I want all of you to be the very best you can be and that will always be enough for me!

City of Bones/ The Hunger Games

Kimma recommends City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. This is the first book in the very popular The Mortal Instruments series. City of Bones is about a teenage hipster, Clary, who witnesses a murder at a club and tries to call the police. Before the police can arrive, the victim vanishes into thin air leaving no evidence behind. The boy was murdered by three Shadowhunters who are teens covered in tattooes using unusual weapons as they seek to rid the world of demons. When Clary's mom disappears, she is thrust into a world where all is not as it seems. Kimma said, "It's different than other books that I've read because it goes by different worlds of warlocks, demons, and faeries. I also love it because it includes different genre types such as action, romance, mystery and humor." This book can be checked out at the RSMS library.

Tristan recommends The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins. This series is about a teenage girl, Katniss Everdeen, who is taken from her home to compete in the Hunger Games which are hosted by government officials. She undergoes training and is placed in a controlled environment where she must kill or be killed by the other Hunger Games participants. The winner will become a hero and reap great rewards. Tristan said, "I like The Hunger Games series because the story, plot, and the whole idea of the story is intersting and intriguing." The Hunger Games series can be located at Mrs. Baker's classroom library or the RSMS library.

Mrs. Baker's Blurb: Why read 20 minutes at home everyday?

I wanted to give you a reminder of why you should be reading 20 minutes everyday. I have showed this chart to you several times, and it is hanging up in my classroom. When you are at home each night, you must make a choice to read or not to read. Please consider this chart when making your decision!





Heroes of Olympus/ Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes

Jasmine has just finished reading The House of Hades, and she would like to recommend the Heroes of Olympus Series by Rick Riordan.  This series is about a boy named Jason who is on his way to Wilderness School for "bad kids." When their bus is attacked by monsters while on a field trip, Jason and his friends are taken to a Camp Half-Blood. This camp is much more exciting than their school. It is filled with monsters and weapons training. Jason soon learns that the kids at Camp Half-Blood are related to gods. Things take a turn for the worse when a camper goes missing.  Jasmine says, "It has a lot greek mythology. The author really brings Greek mythology to life!" This series can be located a Mrs. Baker's classroom library or the RSMS library.



Bryce recommends Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes by Jonathan Auxier. This book is about a 10 year-old orphan who lives his life as a thief. Peter's life changes when he steals a mysterious box from a traveler. The box contains three sets of magical eyes. When he tries the first set of eyes, he is transported to an island where he embarks on an unforgettable journey to rescue people in need. Bryce says, "I like the book because of the interesting plot twists that the author added.  I also like how fully developed the characters were." This book can be located the Volusia County Public Library in DeBary.

Mrs. Baker's Blurb: Goodreads
When looking for books to read, the internet is a great place to search. One of my favorite places to look is a site called Goodreads. Follow the link below to find many lists of books that are great for middle school students! http://www.goodreads.com/list/tag/middle-school

Half Upon A Time/ Dead Weather and Sunrise

Taliya recommends Half Upon A Time by James Riley. This story is a broken fairytale about a girl named May. She finds herself falling into a land of fantasy and landing right in front of Jack. Because her shirt says Punk Princess, he is convinced that she is a princess from the land of Punk. Jack's family has suffered from a bad reputation because of Jack's father, so to redeem his family name, Jack sets out to help the princess, May, find her grandmother. Taliya said, "I like mysteries.  This one was really awesome and funny. It kept me interested until the very end!" This book is the first book in a trilogy, and the books can be found in Mrs. Baker's classroom library.

Ozzie really likes the book Deadweather and Sunrise: The Chronicles of Egg by Geoff Rodkey. This is a book about a thirteen-year-old boy named Egg.  He lives with his father and two siblings on an island called Deadweather.  The island is infested with pirates.  The father smuggles the kids away from the island only to be separated from each other in a freak accident.  Egg now lives with the Pembroke family and their beautiful daughter, Millicent, on the island of Sunrise. Everything seems perfect until he realizes someone is trying to kill him.  Ozzie said, "This book has a lot of adventure and action in it. The girls might like it too because it Egg and Millicent like each other." This is the first in a series and it can be located at Volusia County Public Library.

Mrs. Baker's Blurb: Accessing VPortal PDF

Vportal is an excellent tool for keeping up with your grades! It is very important for you to know what assignments you are missing and what grade you have in every class. Many of you are not using your Vportal.  I am attaching a guide I created to help you navigate through your Vportal in order to get to your grade book. Use this guide to help you remember how to access your grades. Then talk to your teachers about any questions you may have concerning your grades. WE WANT TO HELP YOU!

http://1drv.ms/1wCkpin

 

 

The Forbidden Library/ The Shootout

Elizabeth recommends The Forbidden Library by Django Wexler.  This book is about girl named Alice.  When her father's ship goes down at sea, she is sent to live with her Uncle Geryon.  Although his large library is off limits for Alice, she is lured into the library by a talking cat.  When she opens one of the books, she finds herself inside the book where she needs to defeat the creatures within in order to get back home.  Elizabeth says, "It is mysterious, action-packed, and exciting.  It is a very good book!"  This book can be located at the Volusia County Public Library in DeBary and Deltona.

Chance just finished reading Shoot-out by Mike Lupica.  This book is about Jake who is a star soccer player.  He ends up on the worst team!  It is extremely difficult for him as his team continues to get beat throughout the season.  Jake learns what it means to be a good leader for his team both on and off the field. Chance said, "I like this book because it is a story about a kid who loves soccer.  He tries so hard and then one day it all of his hard work pays off."  This book can be found at Mrs. Baker's classroom library along with many other books by Mike Lupica.

Mrs. Baker's Blurb: Volusia County Public Library

Did you know that we have a fantastic public library?  I know that many of you have used the public library before, but if you have not, you should give it a try.  Sometimes they have books that are not in our school library or in my classroom library.  If you are looking for a specific book, you can use their website to find out if the book is available before you go.  The public libraries in Deltona and DeLand both have huge children and teen sections with lots of books.  Use the following link to explore our public library and discover what all is available. http://volusialibrary.org/

The Familiars/ Dead City

Anu recommends The Familiars by Andrew Jacobson and Adam Jay Epstein.  This book is about an orphan cat, Aldwyn, who is chosen by a young wizard, Jack, to be his familiar.  Aldwyn claims to be magical, but the other familiars quickly determine he is not telling the truth.  When Jack and two young wizards are captured by the evil queen of Vastia, Aldwyn and the other familiars set out on a journey with magical adventures and hilarious mishaps in order to save the young wizards from the evil queen.  Anu says, "I like The Familiars because it's about witches and wizards going on quests with animals, who are their companions.  I like books with magic and powers!"  This is the first book in the series, and it can be found at RSMS library.

Nicholas recommends Dead City by James Ponti.  Molly Bigelow is not your typical tween.  She is a student at the Metropolitan Institute of Science and Technology, but she is also a zombie hunter.  Molly is one of the most feared zombie hunters in New York City thanks to her deceased mother's gifts that were passed down to her.  Now, Molly finally has a fierce and loyal group of friends, the Omega, who join her on action-packed adventures to save New York City from zombies.  Nicholas said, "I like it because it is suspenseful and action-packed with lots of cliffhangers."  This book is the first in a series and can be located at Mrs. Baker's classroom library. 

Mrs. Baker's Blurb: Presidents's Day

Presidents' Day is Monday!  NO SCHOOL!  This Presidents' Day pick up a good book about a past president and learn.  James Swanson has written fantastic books about presidents.  I recommend "The President Has Been Shot!" about the death of President John F. Kennedy and Chasing Lincoln's Killer about significant events in the death of Abraham Lincoln.  James Swanson does extensive research before writing, and he produces surburb literature!  Check it out!

Doll Bones/ The Maze Runner

Breanna recommended the award winning book, Doll Bones by Holly Black. This story is about three friends, Alice, Poppy, and Zach.  They enjoy playing  a game with pirates, thieves, mermaids, and warriors.  Ruling over the game is the Great Queen.  She is a doll made of China that curses those who displease her.  Once they enter middle school, Zach decides it is time to give up the childish game, but Poppy begins to have nightmares about the Great Queen.  The Queen demands to be buried or she will make their lives miserable.  The three friends set off on a journey to lay the Queen to rest, but nothing on the journey goes quite as planned.  Breanna said, "I like this book because it is full of adventure.  It is funny and scary!  If you like adventure, you will like this book!" You can find this book at the RSMS library or in Mrs. Baker's classroom library.

Several students have written recommendations for The Maze Runner by James Dashner. In this book, Thomas can't remember anything but his name as he wakes up in an elevator that is going up. Once the elevator stops, Thomas enters the Glade, a community of boys surviving completely on their own. The boys are constantly being threatened by Grievers in the Maze that surrounds the Glade. The boys are about to give up hope of ever finding their way home when an unconscious girl unexpectedly arrives. Her arrival changes everything.  Jackson said, "This book was really good! The story was so interesting.  I like the dystopian genre. If you like dystopian novels, then you will like this one, too!" Olivia said, "The book had lots of action.  It also has a movie you can watch after you finish reading the book.  Both the book and the movie were really good!" This book can be found in Mrs. Baker's classroom library.

Mrs. Baker's Blurb: USA Test Prep

Our school has purchased USA Test Prep to help students better prepare for the FSA Exam.  This site can be accessed at school and at home. You can even use it on your phone! This is a great resource to help you practice computer skills needed to complete the FSA.  You can play games, take test, and practice reading and writing skills.  Don't miss out on this invaluable tool! Use the following link to access the site. http://www.usatestprep.com/Home

Gallagher Girls/ Kingdom Keepers

Taylor recommends I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You.  This is the first book of the Gallagher Girls series by Ally Carter. This series is about Cammie Morgan, the Chameleon, who is a student at the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women.  On the outside the school seems like a normal boarding school for wealthy girls, but in reality it is a top secret academy for spies in training.  Although Cammie and her friends are in training, they find themselves in dangerous situations that force them to use all their spy training to overcome great odds.  Taylor says, "I really like this book because it has a lot of action and suspense.  I also like the relation between Cammie and her friends.  It is a really good book!"  This series can be located at Mrs. Baker's classroom library or the RSMS media center.

Gabe recommends the Kingdom Keepers series by Ridley Pearson.  Five Florida teens are used as the models to create holograms for guides in the Disney Parks, but when the technology backfires, the teens are transported into the parks after hours.  Once in the park, the teens face dangerous Disney villains and witches who threaten the future of Disney.  Gabe says, "The Kingdom Keepers is a great series for anyone who has ever been to Disney.  The books are fun and excited through the whole series."  This series can be located at the RSMS library.

Mrs. Baker's Blurb: FSA Practice Test

The Florida State Assessment (FSA's) are just around the corner!  Don't panic, but be prepared.  One way to do that (other then read, read, read) is to take a practice test found on the FSA website.  The format of the questions are different than the FCAT.  It is not just multiple choice anymore.  Use the following link to access the practice test to learn more about the types of questions that will be on the test: http://www.fsassessments.org/training-tests 

The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die

The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die was written by April Henry.  This is one of the most popular books in my sixth grade classroom.  The book is about a teenager named Cady.  She wakes up from unconsciousness to discover she has been badly beaten and can't remember anything.  She manages to escape her tormentors, but when she seeks help from a local police officer, she is accused of crimes she didn't commit or at least doesn't remember committing.  On the run, she meets Ty who helps her uncover the truth behind her parents disappearance, the crimes for which she is accused, and eventually a plan of biological warfare.  Several copies of this book can be found at Mrs. Baker's classroom library.  This is what my students are saying about The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die.

Luke said, "I liked this book because it was a mystery.  The author wrote this book very well.  It feels like it has many different climaxes."

Abby said, "It was very descriptive and  it threw clues to you through the whole book.  It was very interesting and an ongoing book.  It seemed perfect to me since I love mysteries."

Nick said, "It is action packed through the beginning, middle and end.  It was well written.  It was one of the best books I have read in a long time!"

Caitlyn said, "What I really liked about this book was that it was suspenseful, and it kept my attention the whole time.  It was the type of book where you never know what is going to happen next.  I love that in a book!"

Mrs. Baker's Blurb: April Henry, Author
Did you know that April Henry has written other books?  She has also written Girl, Stolen.  This is about Cheyenne, a blind girl who is very ill.  She is left alone in the car when her stepmother goes into the pharmacy to get her medicine.  While gone, the car is stolen with Cheyenne still in it.  She must find a way to escape her kidnappers before something truly terrible happens!  I am currently reading, The Body in the Woods by April Henry which was released in June of 2014.  This book is about three teens, Alexis, Nick, and Ruby, who have joined the Portland County Sheriff's Search and Rescue.  While searching the woods for an autistic man, they find the dead body of a young girl. They must work together to find the murderer before one of them becomes the next victim. Both of these April Henry books can be found at Mrs. Baker's classroom library!

The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall/ The Amulet Series

Gabriella recommends The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall by Mary Downing Hahn.  After seven years in an orphanage, Florence is excited to be moving in with her Great Aunt and Uncle at Crutchfield Hall in the English countryside.  However, she soon meets the ghost of her cousin, Sophia, who haunts the rooms of the country manor.  As the manipulative Sophia creates a plan to gain revenge for her death, Florence begins to fear for the residents of Crutchfield Hall.  Gabriella said, “I like this book because it grabs you from the beginning of the book to the end.  Plus, it is scary, and I like scary books more that any other type of book!”  Since reading The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall, Gabby has continued to read books written by Mary Downing Hahn.  Books by Mary Downing Hahn can be located at our school library or in Mrs. Baker’s classroom library.

Nathan recommends The Amulet Series by Kazu Kibuishi.  In this graphic novel, Emily and Navin move with their mother into the house of her great grandfather.  The house proves to be dangerous and Emily and Navin must enter a dark and sinister world in order to save their mother.  In this world, they must face demons, robots and talking animals.  Nathan said, “I like it because some of the parts are funny and other parts of the story are adventurous.  I always wonder what is going to happen next in every book.”  Nathan has read most of the books in this series.  Currently, six books are available in The Amulet Series.  These books can be found in the school library or in Mrs. Baker’s classroom library.

Mrs. Baker’s Blurb: Most Popular Books at RSMS
Are you wondering what other middle school students are reading?  One way to find out this information is to check our school library’s online catalogue, Destiny Quest.  You can access the catalogue on your Vportal at home or at school.  Currently, the top ten most checked out books at River Springs Middle School are: (drum roll, please!)

1. Ungifted by Gordon Korman
2. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever by Jeff Kinney
3. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck by Jeff Kinney
4. Dork Diaries: Tales of a Not-So-Talented Pop Star by Rachel Renee Russell
5. The Wayside School Gets a Little Stranger by Louis Sachar
6. Welcome to Camp Nightmare by R.L. Stine
7. 12 Again by Sue Corbett
8. Big Nate Strikes Again by Lincoln Pierce
9. The Blood of Olympus by Rick Rioridan
10. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days by Jeff Kinney

The Selection Series/ Ender's Game

Natalie recommends The Selection Series by Kiera Cass.  In this book, thirty-five girls have been selected to live at the palace and compete to become the wife of Prince Maxon.  America Singer is less than thrilled when she is among the selected girls.  She loves her boyfriend, Aspen, and doesn’t want to leave him to pursue this better life without him.  However, when she meets Prince Maxon, she begins to question her best laid plans.  Natalie said, “I love The Selection Series!  It is action-packed through all three books, and it had the perfect amount of romance.”  This book is available at Mrs. Baker’s classroom library.

Jackson recommends Ender’s Game by Orsen Scott Card.  Andrew “Ender” Wiggin is taken from his family to attend an elite military training school.  The planet is being threatened by alien forces and the military seeks a general to lead their forces in the attack.  Ender quickly becomes a leader in his school and in his training, but is he able to be the general that Earth so desperately needs?  Jackson said, “ I like the book because it kept my attention the entire time.  I also like that the main character is a boy.  Sometimes it is hard to find a book where a boy is the main character.  The battle school was really cool!  Also, I like to read books that have a movie so I can watch the movie when I finish the book.”  River Springs students can find this book at the school library.

Mrs. Baker’s Blurb: Children's Choice Book Awards
Books with medals on the front are oh so tempting!  It is so shiny.  Most of the time, it is also a fantastic book to read.  But who is selecting these books for awards?  Most of the time it is teachers and librarians.  You should consider looking at the Children’s Choice Book Awards.  These books were selected by students just like you.  You can find a complete list of current and past winners at www.ccbookawards.com

Blog Overview

Are you tired of adults telling you what you should be reading?  This blog is a place where sixth grade students can learn about books that other sixth graders are reading. Each week, I will be asking a female and male student from the sixth grade reading classes at River Springs Middle School to recommend a novel that they have recently read.  The students will provide a summary of the book and explain why they like this book.  My students will be using this blog as a tool to help them share and select books to read throughout the year.

I want to know what you, my middle school students, actually want to read and not what librarians or teachers tell me you should be reading, so I will be using this blog as a tool to help you and me find books that you will love.  However, I also want you to expand your reading interests and try new books and genres.  Each year, thousands of books are published for children and young adults. As sixth graders, you are in a unique position because you are sometimes too mature for children’s literature, but you may still be slightly uncomfortable with some of the content in young adult literature.  This will be a perfect place to help you find books that are “just right!”

Many of my students love to read.  Yay!  But many of you do not really like it all that much. However, I am quite determined that all of my students will develop a love of reading.  Part of developing a love of reading is finding books that you love to read.  Unfortunately, you may read some duds before you find a winner.  But a great book is always worth it!

I know you guys get tired of hearing me say this buuuuuttt:

If you want to score well on the FSA exam this year, then you have to be reading… A lot!