On Friday we began an amazing unit. “The new unit is… book clubs (social issues)!” Ms. Boyer announced. She talked to us about social issues, and a ton of other cool stuff. But among the cool stuff, one thing stood out! We were going to have our own “headquarters”! “What is a headquarters?” was a question that rang through the class. The answer: we were going to make a group name, bookmarks and much, much more. I thought This is so cool! We can have a “organization thingy”! But one major question was left unanswered… Who were our book groups?
The suspense was stifling. Like a time bomb, the moment approached. Ms Boyer began, “Our first group will be Lana…” The butterflies in my stomach had turned into crazed pigeons! “Leo, Christopher…” Ms. Boyer continued. The excitement of the announcing of the unit was nothing compared to the anticipation I was feeling now. It was suspenseful. I was hanging by a string to find out my group! Then, Jonah pulled up and said “I hope we are in a group together.” I thought for a second and then remembered, we had been partners last year for reading. We worked well together. Jonah would make a great partner! “Olivia, Jack Froomberg, Harley to table three…” Ms. Boyer continued. Jonah and I then realised that there were only two groups left. That meant we would probably be in the same group! Jonah said if we were in the same group he would prefer the smaller group of three. Then before anything else could happen Ms. Boyer announced “And the last two groups are…”
Jonah and I waited. THUMP, THUMP, THUMP, went my heart. And then “Jonah, Nate and Ronald to table five.” I was with Jonah and Ronald! Woohoo! Now, it was time to get “book clubbing”! Like lightning, we were at our headquarters. First up on the list, find some good books! Jonah’s book, Holes (By Louis Sachar) seemed to be our ideal choice, until, that is, the last minute pick of Twerp(By Mark Goldblatt) pulled ahead. For a few minutes we were in a stalemate. Ronald was for Twerp, I was leaning towards Twerp , and Jonah was 100% Holes, his strong protest still holding out. But, the moment I decided for Twerp, Holes, had become our second choice. Second on the list, come up with a group name! Suggestions poured from our mouths, like water from a water fall. However, unlike the last disagreement, one suggestion creamed all the others. What was the suggestion? Our group name was NERDS, after the book by Michael Buckley! Great! Everything is done! Everybody satisfied! But the most fun part was yet to come…
What is the “most fun part”? It is… making bookmarks! I rushed at the job! My pencil was a race car, moving across the page! I went with a computery theme, making pixels and boxes. When I finally finished, people loved it! Then I added color, and people loved it even more! As I slipped the bookmark on to the “turn in” sheet, I knew that this was the dawn of a great unit… And a great experience!