Book Talk The Walkathon

The Walkathon by Jan Weeks and Illustrations Pat Reynolds.

Fiction on the third or fourth grade level.

Author Tidbit

Jan Weeks holds a BA in English and in Speech. She is not only an award winning author, but she also is a an experienced public speaker. She also conducts writing seminars and is greatly respected and in great demand.

Opinion of the Book

This is a great book for my third and fourth grade PE students for several reasons. First, it teaches diversity. It shows students how to be respectful to students who may be disabled. It centers around a school walkathon that supports physical fitness. The main character Peter, who is confined to a wheelchair, is determined to compete in the walkathon and with the help of his classmates, he succeeds.

Short Synopsis

Each year Peter's school conducts a Walkathon, where students get sponsors and raise money for their school. The student who walks the most laps gets a "mystery" prize. The students are very excited and curious about the mystery prize. Peter's job the year before was to hand out oranges to the walkers. He wants to participate. The teacher reminds him that parts of the walking path is bumpy and hilly. She worries that he could not make it in his wheelchair. However, one students volunteers to help push Peter over roof spots, then anther student volunteers, and another so on.

Highlight

Peter's mom and dad support him believing that he is strong enough. He gets lots of sponsors. At the race, Peter is able to keep up until he comes to a hill. Michael helps push in over the hill. Olivia helps him over a rocky path. Peter makes the first lap, and he gets a sticker. He isn't tired and he goes for another lap, and another, and another. That night Peter is tired and has no trouble going to sleep. The next day at school Peter finds out that he made the most laps.

Hook

Who actually won the "mystery price"? What was the price? The winner had a surprise for everyone, too. What was that surprise? To find out read The Walkathon.

Book Talk Lafitte's Black Box

Lafitte's Black Box

by

Jake Weber

A Historical Fiction for Middle School Students

Author Tidbit
Jake Weber, a lifelong resident of Louisiana, enjoys researching and studying history. His professional background is in the medical field.

Opinion of the Book
This is a great book for Middle Level Students. It is full of mystery, treasures, pirates and nightmares. The characters in the book are Middle School kids who have to deal with the same problems that kids that age deal with when they have to adjust to a new school, a new town and new friends.

Short Synopsis
Devereaux Parker is your average boy trying to make it in a new city. Devereaux was uprooted from home in Natchez and moved to New Orleans. Fitting in a new town and new school is hard. When he falls asleep his dreams take him into the past, back to Natchez and back to old new Orleans. In his dreams, he is part of a pirate crew held against his will.

Highlight
When he can no longer control what is real and what is imagined, Devereaux discovers a box that has been buried for centuries. He goes on a mission to find Lafitte's treasure through the streets of New Orleans.

Hook
In his dreams, he is captive of pirates. It is only when he wakes up that he is able to get away from the pirates. What will happen if he doesn't wake up? Will he be forever captive of this band of pirates? Will he find Lafitte's long lost treasure? Read Lafitte's Black Box to find out.

Future Bulldog

That future Bulldog number 50 is my two year old son. He comes on field after each game and walks me off the field. It doesn't get any better than that.

I can't believe that football season is over. We made it to the second round of the playoffs. Man, that was great. My guys were great. But, I will admit that it has been a hard semester with football and MAT. Every minute has been full. Actually, I am looking forward to getting home at a decent hour. I can spend some time with my little boy, and we still have lots of assignments due for this semester. So, with a little more time I hope that I won't feel as stressed.

I have started reading The Teacher's Funeral and it really is funny. So, if you haven't read it go for it because it really is funny.

Getting the Offensive Line Ready for the Playoffs

We are having a great year. The offensive line has really stepped up. I couldn't be prouder of the guys. I really like this picture. That's me in the shades. I really work with the guys on being team players. In fact, my second book talk--You Gotta Get in the Game-- really brings home that lesson I am encouraging my guys to read the book. It is easy reading, twelve chapters, that motivates you to do your best. It outlines what it takes to be a winner, such as, be a team player, set goals, think positive, be honest, deal with adversity in positives ways, and be coachable. What I really like about the book is that the same ideals needed to be a winner on the football field are the same ideals that will help you be a winner in life.

I don't think anyone would believe the time involved in coaching. It's one am or later on Friday nights, up early to be at the field house on Saturday morning to grade films. Take today, our district is out for AEA days. But, the coaching staff has been at the field house most of the day getting ready for Dollarway tonight.
You know what though, it is the best. I'm not even missing having time to bow hunt; well, not too much.

Coaches, Coaches, Coaches

I always knew that I wanted to coach and collaborate with coaches. However, as an athletic coach, I never thought that I would be collaborating with academic coaches.

These are the women who provide the support and encouragement that I need as a new teacher.

The top photo is Faye Jackson, the district math coach, and my mentor. The second is Cindy Griffin, the district literacy coach. I collaborate with both of these ladies.

In the picture with Ms. Jackson, we are finishing up on post-observation of my teach. I need to work on Domain B. I don't joke a lot. With kids this age, without structure they can get loud and off task. So I am looking for ways that I can include a little humor without disruptions. When I was reviewing he rules of soccer, I used a power point that included animated graphics. Also, I ended with a picture of David Beckham. I asked the kids if they knew who this was. A couple said, "you." So I took that opportunity to have a little fun. My other problem with B is calling the kids by name. Of course, I am getting better, but I have 360 kids that I see once a week for 40 minutes. It is a challenge.

She has really helped me find things such as policies, emergency drills, etc. She has given me great strategies incorporating technology into my PE classes. She suggested the power point. She encouraged me to get the Wii.

I told her that I had to do a book talk on a trade book. I didn't even know what a trade book was. Well, she did not either, but she told me to talk with Ms.Griffin, the literacy coach.

Ms. Griffin is pictured in second photo. I met with her and told her that I had several book talks to do using trade books that were appropriate to my classes. She was great. She told me that there was a book room off the library that contained trade books arranged by subject and grade level. She also helped me pick out several. We also talked about how I could encourage literacy in my PE classes.

Wii Fitness for PE

All the rain has put my PE classes in the gym. We are getting ready to learn the game of volley ball. My PE classes are only forty minutes. That really isn't much time. The teachers bring them to the gym, and at the end of each class I walk them back to their classrooms. It seems that we just get started when the period ends. The thing that I really like about the elementary kids is that they always want to participate.

The Arkansas standards require that teachers of K-6 students can not teach over 500 students. JBE has 815 kids. These classes come to PE on a rotating basis. I teach 3 classes a day which equates to 15 classes a week. I have 360 kids. The biggest problem is learning their names.

Note the circles on the gym floor. Each student is assigned a circle. When they come into the gym, they go to their circle. It really organizes the class. I also collaborate with Coach K who teaches the other 25 classes. We are working on the President's Fitness Challenge. In December, we plan to asses the students using the President's Fitness Challenge rubric. Basically, we coordinate our lessens.

I was able to get the Wii sports games and the Wii fitness. I am getting it set up. The kids are very excited and are looking forward to using it. I think it will be a good way to incorporate technology.

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