You are published authors now!

After reading your posts from Thursday, I think we need to explore
what a blog is. But be sure to check out the changes on the webpage, too!

Here is a blog done by 5th graders from Mamaronek, N.Y.

Here is a site that was designed by elementary students that gives
everything about blogging from A-Z!

We will talk about these sites and blogging more on Monday. Do
these student blogs inspire you to think of things we might do with
the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe?

I would like you to post the list of words you were whose meanings
you were uncertain of by Monday. I have made a list and I am curious
to see if I guessed right.

Here are some of the questions or thoughts I am responding to from Thursday.
Hannah asked, "in the book why does the person start walking in snow is it magic or something?" Hannah also aksed, "in the book are the characterrs good people or bad people?"

1st Hannah, Your question about the significance of the snow is important. What do some of the rest of you think the snow might represent? 2nd -- It seems that Susan, Peter and Lucy are all good -- but what of Edmund? Can we really say that he is bad?

Sophie said, "I think the Faun is really nice to let a child go. But eating Turkey Delight from a magic queen! That is plain wierd. p.s. did I spell Wierd right?"
Yup - You followed the old rule, "I before E - except after C or when followed by A, as in neighbor or weigh."

Anybody want to tackle why the faun lets Lucy go? You are right, Sophie--it is nice.
Also -- I think we will make Turkish delight to see if you all like it.

Emma said, "Mr.Lewis's mother and wife both had cancer and were ill when they died." Good observation Emma. The biographers say that he really went downhill fast after his wife Joy died. It is lucky for us that he wrote the Narnia books before this.

Be sure to post once before Monday. I picked up copies of the book
at the library this afternoon for those of you still waiting for it.

Ms. Mc

Hi! I think we have gotten you all on now -- If you are having trouble let me know.

Remember to keep those words you are not sure of or any questions in your journal or in a special notebook! We will compile a glossary of new words as we go. Let's all plan to have read at least the first four chapters by next Monday. I want to give you a chance to catch up and respond to the October 25th post, but I will also respond now to the first days set of questions! So.....here goes.

Several of you posted questions or comments that might need discussion.

1. Bryan asked - "I wonder if he wanted to take those kids in during the war?" Bryan I don't know, but I will be looking for an answer for us.

2. Sam asked, "How does the lion live through the execution?" Sam, we will save your question for later! Don't let us forget it.

3. Sara asked, "What is multimedia?" Sara I'm going to ask you to use your knowledge of prefixes. Multi -- means many, and media means ways information can be presented. For example a book is a kind of media, as is a film, or a computer program like powerpoint. So multimedia means a presentation that would have more than one kind of media in it. It might start out with a sound recording, then have pictures in a powerpoint file, and maybe handouts that are printed. That would be a truly MULTI media presentation! Does that help?

5.Young-Hun asked, "Is this a real biology or a historical fiction?" Young-Hun, did you mean biography? It is actually neither. Remember because this book contains things that cannot be explained by natural phenomenon-- boy that was a mouthful! So while it is not historical fiction we can certainly see how historical events might have helped Mr. Lewis in the writing of the story. What do you think?

6. Emma sain, "I think that C.S. Lewis did base Edmund,Lucy,Susan,and Peter on the kids who stayed with him." I'll see if I can find something to confirm that. I think you are right, Emma.

7. Nat said, "I think it is tense and scary." Nat, I'd like to explore this and see if others feel the tension you feel.

8. "I'm wondering what the first book is about. could anyone tell me?" Swing, are you thinking of the Magician's Nephew? That is the pre-qual to our book even though this book was the first one written by Lewis. O.K. fair question, has anyone else read the Magician's Nephew? If you have please respond to Swing's question.

October 25, 2005

I hope you have all had a chance to explore the webpage, and listen to the prologue to Focus on the Family's radio theater presentation of the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe.

Today, those of you who do not have a copy of the book yet, can pick one up in the library. I will know you visited the blog to find this out because you will come by the library to pick your copy up.

Those of you who got to come to the library and try out the webpage and the blog yesterday --- please post about what you read last night.

How did you feel as Lucy met the faun? The custom they observed in his cave was something that is quite celebrated in England, Tea. Tell me what you know about this custom.

Ms. Mc

Prologue to the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe

In listening to the information about C.S. Lewis in the prologue is there a possible explanation for where the story came from? Actually I heard two, one from his childhood and one from his life during the war!

Douglas Gresham, C.S. Lewis' stepson, explains how Mr. Lewis (Jack) took in children during WWII. Do you think he may have modeled the four children in his story after some of the children that he kept during the war?

The wardrobe was real to Jack. Why do you think that might be true? What experiences did Jack have in the wardrobe with his brother?

Mr. Gresham says he has read the book many times and each time he "sees new things in it." How can we understand that? Why would we see something different when we read it over and over?

Please introduce yourself, and then comment on any of the above ideas.

Westmeade's mascot is the Dragon! Dragons are strong resourceful mythical creatures
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Between Books try this!

Before we begin our next book, let's get acquainted. I'd like each of you to share a book that you read in the last year that you really enjoyed.

Tell a little about why you liked it and what you think you would like to tackle next! I'll start, since I suggested we do this. I just read Becoming Naomi Leon by Pam Munoz Ryan.

Naomi and her brother Owen live with their Grandmother in a trailer. Life seems settled and if not great, at least it is predictable. But then Naomi and Owen's mother shows up suddenly and turns life upside down.

The book is written as though Naomi is speaking directly to the reader, and it almost feels like you are having a conversation with her as you read. There are moments of humor in this book, but mostly I liked it because it let me find a new friend in Naomi!

I want to get Eldest next. It is the sequel to Eragon by Paolini. It will be very different from Becoming Naomi Leon!