What book are you reading now? If you were the author of this book, of what would you be most proud? What would you want to change?

This is a line from a famous poem titled “Little Orphant Annie” by James Whitcomb Riley. You can read the whole poem at http://www.poetry-archive.com/r/little_orphant_annie.html. Riley actually wrote the poem about Mary Alice Smith, a hired girl who lived with his family when he was a child.

October is a great time to enjoy scary poems and stories! What’s your favorite?

Welcome back to the new school year!  4th Grade Readers Rock!  hopes that you had a great summer – and one that included a lot of reading!

This would be a great time to share something about your summer reading with other 4th graders. Did you find a really great book? Where did you like to read – at the beach? In your yard? By a lake? Did you buy new books or go to the library?

Tell us all about your  summer reading experience!

While we wait for the results from the “Reserved Reading List” poll, let’s send some messages to our teachers. What would you like your teacher to know about YOU as a READER? You don’t need to give the name of your teacher if you don’t want to – but I think all teachers want to know about the reading lives of all kids!

For example – is there a kind of book you’d like to read more? Fantasy? Adventure? Mystery?

Or maybe you’d  like your teacher to know something about your reading life OUTSIDE of school. What do you read? Books? Magazines? Websites? Text messages?

Would you like your teacher to know something about your reading ability? Do you like really challenging books? Do you have trouble with new vocabulary? Is it easy or hard for you to read with noise in the room?

Take a few minutes to send a message – your teachers are listening!

The polls are closed, and the recommendations for the 4th Grade Reserved Literature List are being tallied! Stay tuned for more information about how to vote for THE WINNER!!

Thanks, 4th graders, for so many wonderful recommendations!

Did you know that your teacher has a list of books that are reserved just for 4th grade teachers to read to his or her class? Island of the Blue Dolphin and By the Great Horn Spoon are two examples of the books reserved for 4th graders.

It’s time for us to update the list, and I’d like to know what you – the 4th graders in Irvine – would like to see included. Please add your recommendation to this blog. Tell us the title, author, and why this book is a good choice for 4th graders. At the end of February there will be an opportunity for 4th grade classrooms to vote on two new books to add to the 4th Grade Reserved Literature List.

Happy Reading!