Mr. Bones Shares Books #IMWAYR September 2, 2013

 It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme began by Sheila at Book Journeys as a way to share what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and what is in store for the upcoming week. It's also a great chance to see what others are reading. I first learned about it at Teach Mentor Texts. 

The timer is set for 45 minutes. As my days get fuller and jam packed, I find that setting a timer helps me stay on track PLUS I love to compete against myself. Oh, the little thrills in life. 

 Here is a cool time keepping tool you can  download 
 Scholastic Reading Timer









 What I am reading electronically:

I would read this faster but I have to compete with the 3 year-old for use of my Ipad. It's that face and the "May I use the Ipad, please? I want to learn too" The kid is a genius at manipulation using a smile and those nice manners.

Maggie Stiefvater: The Dream Thieves

I have been getting nervous about things that can escape from our dreams but that's all I can say about it without revealing anything. Like all of Maggie's books, it's a good read and her personality shows through in all the car references and interest in things Celtic. I also learned that there is a possible anti-laser paint that can be added to a car's paint job or headlights to help avoid speeding tickets. I, of course, am like that older person who wears those large, heavy, dark sun shades that drives 20 in a 35 mile per hour zone. Please note that I also never make left turns if it can be avoided. Maggie would plow me over in her Camero.

What I am Reading at School

Since I am pouting about having to report to work on Labor Day, I am going to ask my colleague, Mr. Bones, aka the ECDC Library Watch Dog to take over for me and share what we read to students this week. (Mr. Bones on Twitter @BonesBooks)
Mr. Bones will be sharing all the happenings in our school library on Twitter as a way to keep our families updated.

PK 3 year-olds really loved this one: 
Five Little Monkeys Reading in Bed.

Kinder-2nd
What Happened to Marion's Book
I love to use this for teaching about good book care. If you don't have it, good luck. It appears to be out of print. I have great resources for this book including our example of a Book Hospital.

PK, Kinder, and First also listened to these books about Library manners and the care of library books.

Wild About Books by Judy Sierra. All other grade levels (even 6th graders) were treated to this picture book about a librarian who introduces animals to reading and a love of books. 

 Mr. Bones caught these kiddos reading in the hallway before school. Way to go, guys!

Time is running out! Only 15 minutes to go because Mr. Bones and I get too easily distracted.

Greg Heffley revealed a secret to Mr. Bones but the kids overheard them whispering. A new Diary of a Wimpy Kid book will be released November 15, 2013! We can pre-order it at our upcoming October book fair! Happy cheers were heard for miles!







Hard Luck
by Jeff Kinney











We love this resource! Jeff Kinney's Cartoon Class: How to Draw Greg Heffley

Ms. Murphy also re-read The Dot by Peter Reynolds at home this week to brush up and get ready for our upcoming Dot Day Celebrations. 

Look how this clever Kindergarten class created their own interpretation of The Dot.  Love it!

...and that's time up! Here is the same timer that I was using. I ordered it though the Scholastic Resource catalog using Scholastic dollars. It has come in handy for many library activities.

What I Read This Summer 2013 Reading Challenge

This week I issued a Summer Read Challenge to my entire school asking that they keep a reading log of the books they are reading this summer and then create a poster or creative project to be displayed in a highly visible location when the new school year begins. Here is my letter:

Dear ECDC Family, 

One of my professional goals for 2013-2014  is to redefine how I “Walk the Walk, Talk the Talk” as a way to motivate students in their path to becoming life-long learners and readers. I am issuing a Summer Reading Challenge to all ECDC Staff and Teachers to keep a log of “What I Read This Summer” and then create your own version of a What I Read This Summer door, poster, or creative project.

·        Cha-Ching! All ECDC participants who create and post their “What I Read This Summer” project, in a highly visible location for all students to see, will receive a $20 Gift Certificate to use at the ECDC Book Fair in October.

I can visualize Valerie’s long list of Nursing textbooks that she will be plowing through this summer that can serve to inspire a student wanting to become a nurse one day. Something so simple can prove to be a spark that ignites a flame within a student.

Nurse Valerie’s What I Read This Summer 2013

1. A Nurse’s Guide to Boogers, Lice, and Wee Wee Accidents by Iwetta May Pants

2. The School Nurse from The Black Lagoon by Mike Thaler (real book)

3. The Thick Encyclopedia of All Things School Nurses Should Know by O. Verload

How Can I Become an Advocate for Reading?

We have all seen mountains of research that indicate students are more likely to become readers when they have good reading role models. This article offers good examples of how to be a reading role model. Consider joining CCIRA-Corpus Christi International Reading Association for 2013-2014. I have the membership forms. Everyone is welcome to join us. We are working with CCISD to offer PLX credit hours for some of our meeting. Our membership consists of teachers, librarians, literacy coaches, principals, ITAs, and retired teachers.

Articles for Families as Reading Role Models:

Raising a Life Long Reader PBS Parents

Scholastic: Be A Reading Role Model

Here is my 2012 Summer Reads door as an example. 

I hope you accept my Reading Challenge for 2013! Happy Reading!

It's Monday, Who Are You Fooling? 4/1/2013

Inspired by Teach Mentor Texts. Be sure to click the link and see all the great posts every Monday for "It's Monday, what are you reading?

It's April Fool's Day and what pranks are up your sleeves?

Don't have time to plan the perfect prank? You are in luck because today I am featuring a couple of terrific books to make your April Fools Day a hilarious success but I am also including a few good pranks for you to try out.

It's Your Lucky Day!

Take a few coins and superglue them to a high traffic sidewalk area but make sure it will not cause any hazards. Enjoy watching people struggling to pry the coins up off the sidewalk. 

Did you drop that dollar?

Take a dollar of print out an image of a dollar and attach it to a retractable cord activated by a button push. I have a couple of these I picked up at a technology conference to attach to my school ID lanyard. Reel out enough slack in the cord line that sets you a distance away from an unsuspecting friend and say "Hey, did you drop a dollar?" when they reach for it--ba-zing! You quickly reel the cord back in bringing the dollar right to you. Great for a laugh. 

Soaker!

If you have the type of sink that comes with a spray attachment, wrap a rubber band around the handle so that it will begin spraying once the tap has been turned on. The next person to turn on the tap will end up with a good soaking. 

Visit this April Fool's Day Pinterest Board for more pranks and jokes. Don't you just love how there is a Pinterest board for almost every topic?

THE BOOKS

The Kids' Guide to Pranks Tricks & Practical Jokes (Kids' Guides) You might expect to get a little backlash for having this one in your school library but Capstone Publishers are one step ahead. They have provided documentation showing how The Kids' Guide to Pranks, Tricks & Practical Jokes can align with Common Core State Standards. Now that's what I call proactive thinking! This clever book can entice even kids who claim they hate to read. They will soon be pouring over step by step instructions plotting perfect pranks to pull on their unsuspecting friends and families. It is a short 32 pages and schools can order a library bound versions using their Scholastic dollars. I would suggest ordering more than one copy and librarians should read it cover to cover so they will be prepared just in case scheming students decide to make them the object of a practical joke. Better yet-pull one on your students and then discuss the wiser decision to pull pranks away from the school setting. Interest level grades 3-9.

See how this book aligns with the Common Core State Standards

National Geographic Kids "Just Joking"

This is a hot book in my school library. Nat Geo's Just Joking is filled with 300 belly laughable jokes, silly riddles, and not so easy tongue twisters. Kids gather round and listen to each other read the jokes aloud and they roar with laughter. There is no shushing in my school library! Reading is a shared experience much of the time but we do value our quiet reading corners too. It is available in a paperback format and is best suited for grades 2nd-6th (and some grown-ups who still appreciate kid humor).

If you don't have it, get it!

April Fools Day in the Classroom

• Have students research the history of April Fool's Day. 
• Creative writing: Have students brainstorm the perfect April Fool's Day prank and then write about how they would pull off the prank and what consequences they might have to face. 

That's it! Short, but sweet. Now go pull a few pranks on your pals and have a terrific Monday!

Friendship Can Grow Anywhere

Picture Book Month

Visit the website

Day 18 theme: Friendship

Friendship Can Grow Anywhere

The Other Side 

Author: Jacqueline Woodson

Illustrator: E. B. Lewis

Publisher: G. E. Putman's Sons

Description from Scholastic.com http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/book/other-side-1

Clover has always wondered why a fence separates the black side of town from the white side. But this summer when Annie, a white girl from the other side, begins to sit on the fence, Clover grows more curious about the reason why the fence is there and about the daring girl who sits on it, rain or shine. And one day, feeling very brave, Clover approaches Annie. After all, why should a fence stand in the way of friendship? Beautifully rendered in Earl B. Lewis's striking, lifelike watercolor illustrations, Jacqueline Woodson gives us a moving, lyrical narrative told in the hopeful voice of a child confused about the fence someone else has built in her yard and the racial tension that divides her world.

There are so many wonderfully written picture books based on the theme of Friendship yet, the first one that always pops into my mind is The Other Side by the incomparable Jacqueline Woodson.  This sweet story slowly unfolds as two girls, so much alike in many ways, yet different too. The two girls, at first, unsure of each other, are drawn to each other by curiosity. They understand they are not suppose to go into each other's yards but no one told them they couldn't sit on the fence that separates them. When sharing this story with students, they quickly understand the symbolism of the fence that divides the two girl's worlds and are quick to offer their own thoughts and opinions. 

This is my favorite friendship story because we see the friendship as it is born and slowly grows affecting those around them too. Genre: Historical Fiction/Realistic Fiction set in the time of segregation in America amid changing times. 

The Other Side Teaching Resources

Discussion Guide from Suburban Mosaic

Activities from Storybookipedia

Lesson from Readers Tool Kit

A B C, 1 2 3

 

Day 13: Theme

A B C

1 2 3

A told B,

and B told C,

I'll meet you at the top

of the coconut tree.

Since this is ABC 123 day at Picture Book Month, it goes without saying that someone would discuss Chicka Chicka Boom Boom on their blog. Well, today, that someone is me!

Simon and Schuster description:
Bill Martin Jr and John Archambault's rhythmic chant and Lois Ehlert's exuberant collage illustrations have made Chicka Chicka Boom Boom a read-aloud favorite for twenty years.
 
A favorite of Pre-Kinder and Kinder teachers, parents, and kids-Chick Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault, is cram pack with alphabet fun. This book has rhythm and rhyme which is always conducive to read alouds. Plus, it can be purchased as a set with a book, tree, alphabet letters and a music CD.

Bill Martin website

Weston Woods includes Chicka Chicka Boom Boom in its Sing Along Stories DVD which is available through Scholastic. I have this in my library collection and it is a must have! You will love it as much as your students.

Lakeshore

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom activities:

DLTK this is one of my favorite websites when searching for terrific printables or craft ideas for preschoolers.

Make Learning Fun: literacy ideas and crafs

Squidoo  This website has Chicka Chicka galore ideas. Be sure to check out the magnetic letter activity. 

Hubbard's Cupboard Every Kindergarten teacher has heard of Hubbard's Cupboard, one of the original teaching sites in early internet days, can always be counted on for high quality lesson plans and ideas. By the way, thanks for many years of great ideas, Hubbard's Cupboard!

Creativity

 Picture Book Month

Guest author of the day: Peter Reynolds

Visit: Picture Book Month

Day 10 theme: Creativity

Joseph Had a Little Overcoat

by Simms Taback

Joseph had a little overcoat but it was old, worn and full of holes (just like this clever book). So creative Joseph decides it's better to repurpose the overcoat into a jacket, but when it too becomes too old and worn, he once again creates a new purpose for it as a vest, and so on. This Caldecott Medal winning tale is a favorite of children, parents, teachers, and librarians everywhere. Joseph Had a Little Overcoat  provides a valuable lesson in the ultimate in recycling-finding

This video is excerpted from the excerpted from the DVD video Joseph Had a Little Overcoat, 

based on Simms’ Caldecott Medal-winning book, and features Rob Reiner narrating the lyrics to 

the traditional Yiddish folk story, accompanied by a musical score of traditional klezmer music.

Getting to know Simms Taback

Lesson plans, curriculum guides, and activities

Joseph had a LIttle Overcoat themed unit from  PBS KIDS

Lesson plan from Scholastic

Learning to Give recycle/reuse civics and giving lesson plan

Thanks to cool text for creativity graphic

Meeting Hedgie Hedgehog and a Great Big Check

The Joys of being a Librarian.

I have had so much excitement in my life as of late. The ECDC wrapped up another successful book fair thanks to our great volunteers from TAMU-CC and Coastal Community and Teachers Credit Union. We cashed in our profits for books, books, and MORE BOOKS! I ordered many special request titles for my Scholastic Book Fair and they sold like hot cakes! In fact, I had to make sure I was able to secure some for my library too. Of the new books I added to our library collection, the Texas Lone Star Reading List titles were quickly snatched up by fifth and sixth graders. It will take me a few more days to catalog the boxes of books we chose to purchase but that's okay-we will spread the joy out over time.

The highlight of the week was being awarded a Focus Grant from Coastal Community and Teachers Credit Union. The funds will be used to run our Bluebonnet Book Club, Guys Read Book Club, and pre-school early reading activities. I really love my big check!

The Mossy Tour brought the amazing author/illustrator Jan Brett to the Sparkling City by the Sea. I learned so much about turtles from her talk. She was a charming and entertaining speaker. Did you know she has a hidden name written on Mossy's shell which is shown on the back cover?

The wonderful thing about this Barnes and Noble author event was that I was reunited with many local librarian pals and we had a fun time chatting each other up.

Look at the new friend I made. It's Hedgie, the Hedgehog. Who could ask for a better week.











But---it got even better because I also received my yearly school book order. It was like Christmas in October! I laughed and keep yelling out-"Wow! I really love this book!" I immediately got down to creating book talks and promotions. I went on our morning announcements and shared the great news. A line of kids were waiting for me by the time I got back to the library clamoring for the books I had presented just five minutes before. This is a librarian's joy.

Catching Fire!

Weeks of anticipation have finally ended, today I purchased a copy of "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins and read the first two chapters while leaning up against a wall at Barnes and Noble. I tried to be frugal, waiting patiently for my local library to make a copy available, but they were taking forever! I really just went in to B and N to get a sneak peek, but the book got really interesting, and the next thing I knew cha-ching! Another book for my over-crowded shelves. It will be displayed next to my Twilight series. I love the comparison between Bella and Edward and Katniss and Peeta, or maybe I should say Gale.

While I was waiting for the novel to come out, I did some background research and found the following resources. I can hardly wait for bedtime to crack open my book and see how life is in District 12, after the Hunger Games, is turning out for Katniss and Peeta.

Official web site of Suzanne Collins

Link to the Suzanne Collins interview on Scholastic's web site.

The Hunger Games games Play Tribute Trials or Trail by Fire