Last week students published their reviews and put them together in an anthology. Students grouped their reviews based on the topic. We have five total, including one on restaurants and food, places to buy things, movies and shows, games, vacation destinations, and places in and around Montpelier. These published anthologies are on display in the classroom so be sure to stop by if you're looking for recommendations on games to play, movies to watch, places to visit, or looking for a good restaurant around town! 
This week, our opinion writing has shifted to a different type of review. Students have been using what they know about opinion writing to write book reviews on books they've already read. Following the same format for reviews of places and things, students are writing their opinion about the book, backing up their opinion with convincing reasons. Students are learning to elaborate and provide enough arguments to convince their reader to read the book. Today, we discussed what makes a good "snap shot" when providing information about what the book is about. Students learned that not enough information will not be convincing enough and too much description of the book may give away the whole story. We worked hard at finding that 'just right' sneak peak when telling our readers about the book. 
