Monday, October 15, 2012

It's Monday! What Are You Reading??


This meme was started by Sheila at Book Journey and the kids' version borrowed from the wonderful ladies at Teach Mentor Texts.

I didn't do as much reading as I wanted to this week.  It was a crazy week.  I'm hoping this week calms down, but I don't think it will since my book fair will be coming this week.

I had a chance to read a few picture books I really enjoyed this week.  From the library I pick up 1-2-3 Peas by Keith Baker.  It was just as good as L-M-N-O Peas.  For some reason I just love all the expressions on the peas.  I also got Good News Bad News by Jeff Mack.  This was a great book about turning a bad situation into a good situation.

I didn't read as many picture books because I was reading three chapter books.  I finished the third in the Theodore Boone series, The Accused.  John Grisham is the author of this series.  I have been a fan of John Grisham ever since I read The Firm while visiting my grandparents at their retirement village.  I stopped reading Grisham's adult novels after I while, I lost my taste for them.  But I have really come to love the Theodore Boone series.

Once I finished The Accused, I started on 3 Floors.  This is the second in Patrick Carman's Floors series.  When I went to get my hair done, I forgot to bring 3 Floor with me, so I stopped by the library on the way.  While I was there, I picked up Penny Dreadful by Laurel Snyder.  Once I started it I had to finish it.  Such a great story.  I really enjoyed it and could identify with Penny.  Since I had to finish it, I was glad I had only just started 3 Floors.

This week I will finish 3 Floors and try and get through some picture books that I picked up.

Happy Reading!!!

Stacey (@libraryjo92)

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Finally My Dot Day Post!!


It's only taken me about a month to post my Dot Day Activities.  I've had so much on my plate that, this post had to take a backseat.  But now I've finally had a chance to post it.  Also I was doing a post on my Media Center blog and I was waiting for some permission slips.

Due to days off, not all Kindergarten and First Grade students got to participate in our Dot Day celebrations.  I have something else special planned for them in the future.

Every year on or around September 15th educators around the world are invited to take time and celebrate their students' creativity.  This event started because of the book The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds.  Click here for a summary of the book.

We started off by listening to The Dot on TumbleBooks, which is available through the Public Library website in my county.  We discussed how this book teaches us a great life lesson, trying your best even when you think you can't and making your mark on the world


In Kindergarten, we talked about how their name is an important part of how they make their mark on the world.  Each student got a half sheet of paper with the first letter of their first name written on it.  Then they had to make that letter their own by covering it with dots!  The kids had a great time and showed a lot of creativity.  As they got done, I broke the students into small groups and allowed them to use an iPad app, Drawing Pad, to as a group make dots.

In First Grade, I broke the class into two groups.  One group stayed at the tables and designed their own dots.  It was interesting to see the creativity and thoughtfulness behind their creations.  The other First Grade group came to the other end of the Media Center with me and we worked with the iPod Touches and the iPads.  I broke this group into two smaller groups, so that they could have time working on both the iPod Touch and the iPads.  We used the same app, Drawing Pad on the iPad's.  Some of the kids were so creative!  
On the iPod Touches, we used an app called Press Here.  This app is based on the book Press Here by Herve Tullet.  The book and the app are full of dots.  The kids had a lot of fun using this app too.  After about 12 minutes we switched big groups and did it all again.

If you want to see the photos, please go to my Hollywood Elementary Media Center Blog.  I only got permission to use them on that blog.  I'm looking forward to expanding our celebration to include more grade levels next year.

Happy Reading!!

Stacey (@libraryjo92)  

Monday, October 8, 2012

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

This meme was started by Sheila at Book Journey and the kids' version borrowed from the wonderful ladies at Teach Mentor Texts.

I haven't been doing a lot of reading recently because I couldn't find the time and was just too busy.  But I made sure that changed this past week.

Well, I first had to read the three books from the Sharp/Schu book club that I hadn't read yet.  Those were Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett, The Gentleman Bug by Julian Hector and Rocket Writes a Story by Tad Hills.  I was not disappointed with these three books!  I just loved each one!  

I also had a nice surprise, I forgot that I pre-ordered The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan.  Once I got this book, I had to read until I finished it.  I was not disappointed by this book in the Lost Heroes series.  I just wish I didn't have to wait until next fall to have the next book.

I had also pre-ordered Let's Go for a Drive by Mo Willems.  It is the newest Elephant and Piggie book.  As I was reading it, I found myself reading it out loud as I would if I were in front of my kids.  I just love the Elephant and Piggie books.  One of my kids stopped in the hall a few days ago to tell me that she just thought the Elephant and Piggie books were so funny!

Another surprise book this week was Small Medium at Large by Joanne Levy. She did a contest on Twitter and I won!  I was excited because it was the pick-me-up that I needed that day.  I had read it earlier this summer when it was published.  After I finished The Mark of Athena, I reread it.  Well, it was even better the second time around.  If you have to read Small Medium at Large, I would definitely recommended you adding it to your to-read pile or moving it up to the top!

I don't know what books are up next for me.  I've got some picture books that I checked out from the library last week that I need to read.  I guess I will see what the week brings.  Feel free to leave me any suggestions!

Happy Reading!!

Stacey (libraryjo92) 

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

National Book Festival Part Two

Sorry it took a few days to get back to finishing my post about my experience at the National Book Festival.  There just doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day.  Trying to get myself on a schedule to be able to work on everything.



When I left off I was waiting in line for Peter Brown to sign my two copies Creepy Carrots! (Which by the way is a great book!)  I was waiting by myself, while my friends listened to other authors.  The line moved slowly, but it was such a great day I didn't mind waiting!  I also had a great view to keep me occupied while I waited.  I also am a huge people watcher, so this was a great opportunity!





It was so great to see Peter Brown in person.  He was a very gracious person who took the time to talk to each person and listen.  I wish I could have heard him speak.  It was funny when I was tweeting about seeing him at the book festival and friend of my was surprised that he was there because she had just seen him in Indianapolis the day before.  To my delight he tweeted back to the both of us!  (I just LOVE Twitter!!!) 





As soon as I got my books signed by Peter Brown, I rushed on over to stand in line to see Tom Angleberger!  I love, love, love his books.  They are always checked out of my library.  Tom really impressed me last school year when I had two students write to him.  I emailed their letters to him and both boys had a response that afternoon.  Of course, as I was waiting in line I had to talk books.  I had two parents in line behind me, that once they found out I was a Media Specialist, were asking for book suggestions.  This made the time past quickly.  Tom started his signing early and excited the line by running up and down thanking everyone for coming!  I tweeted the picture that I took, and he tweeted back that he thought it made him look like a loon, but it was great to meet me.






As I was leaving I stopped to listen to Mary Pope Osborne and her sister.  It was interesting to hear that she was only contracted to write four Magic Tree House books.




A few helpful hints that I learned:  
1.  Bring a backpack!  The bag that I carried the books in after I bought them left a bruise on my shoulder.
2. Buy the books ahead of time!
3. Have friends that will stand in other lines for you!

Happy Reading!!

Stacey (@libraryjo92)

Monday, October 1, 2012

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

This meme was started by Sheila at Book Journey and the kids' version borrowed from the wonderful ladies at Teach Mentor Texts.

This past week I haven't been doing a lot of reading.  I've had a lot of school work to do.  I'm hopefully setting a schedule for myself this week to chunk my time and allow me time to try and do it all!

I finished Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turage.  At first I wasn't sure how I was going like this book.  The beginning don't really keep my interest, but once I got a few chapters in, I had to finish the book!  It turned out to be a really interesting mystery that kept me guessing until the end.

Right now I'm in the process of reading Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Not Reading by Tommy Greenwald.  This is a fun book about "not reading", while you are actually reading the book.  I can see a lot of reluctant readers and great readers really enjoying this book.  I saw that there was another Charlie Joe book:  Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Extra Credit.

I've go two, possible three books up next for me.  This is in preparation for the Mr. Shu/Colby Sharp Book Club on 10/3.  I've got Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett and The Gentleman Bug by Julian Hector on hold for me at the library.  I will pick them up today.  I'm hoping that Rocket Writes a Story by Tad Hills comes in tomorrow, so I can read it before the Book Club.

Happy Reading!!

Stacey (@libraryjo92)