HAPPY DECEMBER!
Hello Everyone!
Thanks again to all who sent in cereal boxes. We now have enough. 
Here is what's going on in room 17 this week:
We have finished Maniac Magee and now we will be doing some "heavy thinking and writing with the book." If your child is in my reading group, then part of this week's homework won't be due until the end of next week, but should be done extremely well! No slop and no one or two sentence answers.
Here are the four questions we will talk about and start writing in class. It will be up to the students to take the work home and finish it. Typing the answers is absolutely allowed; it's actually preferred.
1. Compare Maniac to yourself. What qualities do you and he have in common? What are two of your differences? Give examples from the book and from your own life.
2. Do you think that Jerry Spinelli was trying to send a message that people shouldn't judge others by the color of their skin? Give at least two specific examples from the book to support your answer.
3. Pick one place in the book. Describe how you saw that place in your mind's eye. What did it look like? What did it sound like? Did it have a smell?
4. Re-read the Maniac Chant in the beginning of the book. Write a chant of your own. You may copy the rhythm of this one, but change the words. Maniac Magee should be the subject of your chant.
NALD CELEBRATION: Our first Nald celebration will be the afternoon of December 19th. Students may want to wear their team colors. Hopefully, the crown will have been found and returned to the Orange King by then! If you would like to make (or buy) a celebration treat, that would be fantastic. If you could send in a note explaining what you'll send, I will keep track so that we don't end up with 60 cupcakes! 
That's about all for now!
Thanks,
Mr. Chapman
p.s. If you know of anyone who is in need of a tutor, please let them know that I will be available after the Christmas Break. I will be tutoring on Wednesdays and Fridays. Thanks.