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I heve been teaching 5th and 6th grade for 5 years and now I'm teaching 4th. I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions for a read aloud? I've been through the Superfudge series and I'm not sure where to go next. Please do not say Harry Potter or Twilight. I need books that I can finish in about 2-3 weeks and are not movies. Thanks.

Number 8 that was pretty funny.  But you're kinda hatin' on the Lounge.  Every lounge needs a couch!  Maybe you call it a SO-FA.  Anyway, keep the duplex in the men's corner over there or whatever you're talkin and let's meet up in the lounge for a smoke and a coke.

In reply to #11: I think the only book I remember my 4th grade teacher reading to us was Where the Red Fern Grows. I can't remember ever being so enthralled. It's a bit heartbreaking as I recall.

In reply to #9: Some people thought that a group of authors, including Kurt Vonnegut, each wrote a chapter for Gravity's Rainbow.

In reply to #12: No, no. We're a smoke-free building. You have to go to the boiler room for a smoke.

In reply to #11: Take a look at these: The Cay, Maniac Magee, Just Juice, Old Yeller.

In reply to #9: J. D. Salinger was a possibility too. Check out these web sites:

http://www.salinger.org/index.php?title=Legends

http://www.strangehorizons.com/reviews/2007/02/against_the_day.shtml

I am reading Carlile v. Harbour Homes, Inc., 194 P.3d 280 (2008).

Invigorating.

Teacher's Lounge, I barely have time to read a newspaper.  I start to read at night, but usually end up falling asleep.  I read literature, 10th and 11th grade, as well as a history/sociology type class that I named Pop Culture, I read to prepare for my classes.  I have a great need to be very prepared with details so in I can make a full and thorough presentation on the material that I am teaching.

Although, I would like to ask for help with discipline.  I work in a small school, it is a mix of mainstream students who failed in mainstream schools, most have rules about failing more than two classes, mixed with some, I believe undiagnosed Special Ed students. 

In conjunction with students who are habitual class cutters from public school.  So our private school for them feels like jail.  We are a great staff of caring and educated teachers.  However, some of the behavior can be challenging.  The usual techniques don't always work, detention, throwing out of class, isolation seat next to teacher's desk, or extra homework. 

I get these challenging looks from some kids whose parents sacrifice financially to send them to our school, they look like they are ready to attack any adult in their line of vision.  Their hostility is difficult to break through.  While for the students it is very amusing.  Inevitably, the student is taken out of the class, but he or she comes back, and I try to deal with this attitude with patience and kindness, it doesn't always work.

ANY IDEAS?

THANKS, PHYLLIS MIRANDA

In reply to #19: Dear Ms. Miranda, I can understand your issues. In our school, we have attempted to make the students become part of the solution by introducing a program called "The Merit System". We focus on students 'good behaviors' and capitalize on that. Teachers all agreed on certain behaviors that they would challenge and issue "demerits" when rules were broken. Students get a copy and homeroom teachers. When students have 5 - their demerits are sent to the office and a more formal referral is written and parents called in for conference. They get to "see" the written behaviors that are problematic. When students do well and demerits are limited to no more than 10 for the term (9 weeks), they get rewards (pizza party, basketball game or tickets, field trips, dance, etc) They also get invited to become a member of the "Comet Club" (our school's mascot). Club members get special treatments including first in line, free tickets, early dismissal, no homework passes (depending on the teacher).  We have found this method is working. All teachers and students have bought into it and our disciplinary issues are down by 40%. We are an arts magnet school and never had really bad problems, but the students are more aware of their actions and how disruptive they can be. We have begun to 'teach' them 'how' to behave. This has increased their good behavior and they 'tell their friends'. It's a great program.