On-Hold

Hi Girls,
I think that we have decided to put the Borrowers on hold so that we can get Nothing's Fair in Fifth Grade read before you go back to school. I know....school, already! But, we can finish the Borrowers after we have completed your school book and then have a Bookclub night at Borders to discuss the ending. I am working on creating a packet for you for the Fifth Grade book that I will email to your moms!
Enjoy the remaining days of freedom!
Erin

Chapter 10 Discussion

What does Arrietty say is the difference between stealing and borrowing? Do you agree or disagree? Why?

Chapter 9 Discussion

After Arrietty and the Boy talked, Arrietty says,"Oh, don't be silly...Surely you don't think there are many people in the world your size?" and the Boy says, "There are more my size than yours." (pg 78) Why do you think that they disagree about this?

Chapter 8 discussion

Arrietty has a lot to learn about the rules of borrowing, but she has learned quite a lot already. Discuss two things that she has learned or discovered on her first borrowing trip.

Chapter 7 discussion

On pg 61 as Arrietty watched Pod run across the upstairs floor she "suddenly saw him as 'small'. " What did Arrietty mean by "small?" Why do you think that she sees her father differently now?

Chapter 6 discussion

Homily makes a case for Pod to take Arrietty with him borrowing. List at least two reasons that she gives for Arrietty to be allowed to go upstairs and borrow.

Chapter 5 discussion

In Chapter 5 Pod and Homily wake Arriety up to tell her about upstairs. Have your parents ever woken you up in the middle of the night to tell you something or to go somewhere?

Chapter 5 Vocabulary

Borrowers get their last names from the area where you enter that Borrower family's home. The Clocks chose their last name because their entrance is under the clock. In chapter 5 other borrower families are introduced.

Harpsichord - is a keyboard instrument like a piano.

Chapter 3 & 4 Vocabulary

Chapter 3

pg 23

foraged - looked for

jersey - a knitted garment covering the upper part of the body

pg 24

scalding - boiling, or liquid hot enough to burn you

emigrate - travel away from a place, move

bobbles - pom-pom type decorations

pg 24

wanly - weakly, sickly

pg 29

badger's set(t) - check out the link to learn more about badgers! http://www.badgerland.co.uk/animals/habitat.html

Here's a video too.

http://www.badgerland.co.uk/pictures/onlinevideos/yt_hskg53l-wvy.html

Remember that the setting of the book is in England!

pg 30

draughts - the English spelling of the word drafts, breezy

grating - metal fixture between walls to let air/heat pass through

Chapter 4 Discussion

At the end of Chapter 4 Homily declares that Arriety needs to "be told - now!" Why does she want Arriety to know about "been (being) seen, now, after all this time of secrecy?"

Chapter 3 Discussion

Why do you think that Homily reacted so violently to Arriety's suggestion that she be the one to borrow from now on?

Chapter 2 Vocabulary

pg. 19
cross or crossly - mean, angrily

hob- stove or a gear- The Borrowers borrowed a (pg. 20) cogwheel from an old cider press (apples) in the stables

Chapter 2 Discussion

Arriety and her mother are often alone in their home. Describe their relationship or Arriety's feelings about her mother. Use examples to support your response.

Chapter 1 Discussion

I am excited that you have both finished the first chapter! Great job reading!
Pick one of the topics to respond to.

1. Are there items that seem to disappear in your house? Name one object that often goes missing. If there were Borrowers, what would they be using that object for?

2. Why do you think that Borrowers choose to live in old houses in the country that do not have "certain kinds of pets."

Work on reading Chapter 2 for Wednesday!

time problem

Needed to change the time on my posts.

Chapter 1 Vocabulary

Hi Girls!

I will try to pick words that are hard to pronounce (or say) and give you a simple definition. Try using google image search to see pictures of the vocabulary to help you understand! Happy reading. Check back for a question that you can discuss.

Page 3

marmalade - orange jam

crochet (crow-shay) a type of needlework that uses yarn and a hook.

Page 4

run-and-fell - a type of seam (sewing)

darn - to mend a piece of clothing

hassock - a footstool or ottoman

North-West Frontier - British colony in what is now Pakistan

Page 9

trifle - "a little bit"

rheumatic (roo-mat-ic)

Page 12

wainscot - wood on the walls about 1/3 way up

The characters

Pod -dad

Homily - mom

Arrietty - (air-ee- et-ee) Pod and Homily's daughter

First Book Choice

Hi Lauren and Patricia,

Here are three choices for our first summer reading book.

Little House in the Big Woods- Laura Ingalls Wilder

This first book in one of my favorite series! Laura and her family were pioneers in 1871 in the woods of Wisconsin. This will take us back in time to see how different life was like in the 1800's.

Stuart Little -E.B. White

Stuart Little is no ordinary mouse. Born to a family of humans, he lives in New York City with his parents, his older brother, George, and Snowbell the cat. Though he's shy and thoughtful, he's also a true lover of adventure.
When his best friend, a beautiful little bird named Margalo, disappears from her nest, Stuart is determined to track her down. He ventures away from home for the very first time in his life and finds adventure aplenty, but will he find his friend?

The Borrowers - Mary Norton

Miniature people who live in an old country house by borrowing things from the humans are forced to emigrate from their home under the clock. Includes a letter and a sketch of Homily and Arrietty by the author.

Welcome to Summer Reading Blogging!

Dear Lauren and Patricia,
I am so excited to hear what you have decided to read and discuss together this summer! I will post your title choices on the blog and you can come to a concensus (ask Lauren what this means!) We will get started June 30th! So get reading! [Wink]
Your Favorite Tutor,
Erin