Tag: Harry Potter

3-12, Education, Fun Friday

Riddikulus Stuff

Terri Eichholz

I am a huge fan of all things Harry Potter. When I was hunting around my Flipboard magazines for this weeks “Frivolous Friday” post, I realized I had “flipped” quite a few Harry Potter items of interest.  So, I’ve curated the recent ones for you.

And, of course, don’t forget to discover your patronus – especially if you plan on spending time near any ampules dementias in the near future…

hogwarts
image from Wikimedia
Creative Thinking, Education, Fun Friday

Bring on the Dementors!

Terri Eichholz

So, apparently the thing that I’ve been missing in my life is a patronus.  Without one, it takes no time at all for the ever-increasing numbers of Dementors (otherwise known as “standardized testing companies”) to gorge on all of your happiness – leaving you in complete despair.  A patronus can save you from this misery.

Not being a fictional wizard in a Harry Potter novel, I had no inkling I even have a patronus.  But the lack of one pretty much explains the last forty years of my life.

Thanks to the newest quiz on Pottermore, however, I have identified my patronus, a white stallion, who I intend to summon the next time the Dementors threaten to sabotage my incredibly joyful personality and/or the next time I get stuck in traffic which, come to think of it, would be a particularly efficient use of my patronus as both a warder-offer and a better method of transportation…

See what your patronus is and share in the comments below!

white stallion

3-12, Books, Education, Reading, Videos, Websites

J.K. Rowling and Pottermore

Terri Eichholz
image from: www.pottermore.com

Yesterday, my students and I, along with classrooms around the world, got the opportunity to view a live interview with J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter books.  If you missed this webcast, there is a recording of the nearly 50 minute presentation available here.

Unsurprisingly, Rowling was delightful and inspirational during the interview.  Having no idea what topics would be covered, I knew I would have to “wing” it in our follow-up discussion.  I should not have been nervous, however, as the questions and responses gave me plenty of fodder for our classroom dialogue afterwards.  For example, Rowling was asked what she considered to be the most admirable quality in a person, and she answered, “Bravery”, which easily connected to our topic of the character traits of heroes.

Along with the webcast, which was sponsored by Scholastic, you might also want to take a look at Scholastic’s resources for a Harry Potter Reading Club.

And, if you want a really immersive reading experience, then you will thoroughly enjoy Pottermore, the website launched by Rowling and friends that allows the user to get involved in the virtual world of Harry Potter, from purchasing school supplies to getting sorted into one of Hogwarts’ four houses, to many adventures beyond.  Oh, and if you have children, they would probably enjoy it, too 😉