I hope you had a fantastic April vacation.

There is no new Reading Response Blog this week! Instead, please do the following if you haven't already:

1. Reply to another student's post on Blog #26 about a resilient character.
2. Write back to Ms. Kimball's comment on your Blog #26 response.

If you have already done both tasks above, then you simply enjoy your independent reading this week!

We have been learning about what is means to be resilient. Someone who is resilient is able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions. When you are resilient, you are tough and unable to be brought down by something. Both fictional stories and biographies often feature characters or real people who are resilient in some way or another.

To be resilient doesn't just mean you can survive alone on a deserted island with little food or fresh water. Resilience can be in the mind (psychological), of the body (physical), or in relationships (social). People often think of resilience as being strong and flexible.

Think about some recent stories that you have read in your independent reading. Choose a character from your reading that shows resilience. Explain how this character is resilient to one or more of the challenges he or she faces. Also, consider this: What does this character teach you about being strong and flexible?

I look forward to reading about resilient characters you have read about!

Image Credit: Resilient flower. http://www.entrepreneurradio.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/cover_42_en_US.jpg

Last week, most of you wrote about a book you feel everyone should read by fifth grade. Some student still haven't responded, unfortunately. Nevertheless, we have a great list of books for you to consider:

• Operation Redwood by S. Terrell French
  
• Magic Tree House books by Mary Pope Osborne
  
• Percy Jackson, Heroes of Olympus, or Kane Chronicles series by Rick Riordan
  
• Warriors series by Erin Hunter
  
• Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Suess
  
• Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai (x2)
  
• Divergent by Veronica Roth
  
• The Cricket in Times Square by George Seldon
  
• Wonder by R.J. Palacio
  
• The Happy Prince by Oscar Wilde
  
• Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea
  
• The Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine
  
• Rules by Cynthia Lord
  
• City of Orphans by AVI
  

Choose a book from this list that you HAVEN'T read yet and find a copy of it. Read the first few chapters or sections of the book. Would you agree that the book is a potential "must-read" book? Did the story pull you in? Do you think it's appropriate for someone ages 8-11? Tell us what you think!

You can reread last week's blog post comments (#24) to see who recommended the book and why.

I look forward to hearing what you think of the books on the list!

By far, this is one of the best projects students have worked on all year! Students began by researching in teams on a chosen topic about Colonial America. They drafted a research report, then analyzed informational text structures to find inspiration on how to present their own writing in a creative, informative, and compelling way. For days, students complained whenever I had to announce that Writing time was over. I am so impressed with their final projects. Enjoy the results of students' hard work and creativity!