Book Gravy

 Last year, I found a copy of Thinking Skills for grades 3-4 , from Evan-Moor Publishers, in a stack of obsolete items in an unused classroom.  As I was looking through the book, I thought, "Wouldn't it be fun to share these with students and see how they respond?"  The only issue was how to share these puzzles/sheets with the students in a library setting.  So my solution was to create a Think Board. The purpose of the Think Board is to get students to think beyond right or wrong answers.  The questions and puzzles in this book challenge the reader to use logic, think creatively, and problem solve.  I felt that it would be a great way to have students practice critical thinking skills, if only for five minutes during students' library visits. The Think Board isn't a board.  Its butcher paper I've pinned to a section of our story corner.  Perhaps next year it will upgrade to a more formal platform.  There's a "Think" title, and instruction...

March is just around the corner and I'm putting the finishing touches on our plans for Read Across America week.  Here's what the week looks like: Day Dr. Seuss Book School Activity for the Day What to Wear Monday, March 6th Daisy-head Mayzie Dr. Seuss Games (during recess) Crazy Hair Day! Tuesday March 7th The Sneeches Sign the Pledge to Read THE MAYOR OF FONTANA WILL BE HERE TO TAKE THE PLEDGE! Twin Day! Wednesday, March 8 th I am NOT Going to Get Up Today! *Reading Under the Stars, Special Event at 5:30pm Pajama Day! Thursday, March 9 th I can read with my eyes shut! Reading Buddies Bring Your Favorite Book Day! Friday, March 10 th   Cat in the Hat Door Decorating Contest Dress Like a Book Character Day! I am so thankful for our school organizations that are participating by sponsoring events, and taking the lead on some of the activities.  ASB and PTA have both answered the call to help, organize, and purchase items need...

A big thank you to the donors who contributed to my library project for this year. Thanks to DonorsChoose.org, we were able to purchase a color printer for the library. Now, students without home computers can work on and print out their homework and school projects at the library. We've only had the printer for a few months, yet students have responded quickly to this new technology available to them. Here are a few photos of their work: If you have a school projects, and lack the tools and materials, you may want to give DonorsChoose.org a chance. Their mission is to give every child the tools and experience they need for a great education.

Read Alouds for an "I Like Me" Theme, Pre-K - 1st Quick as a Cricket by Audrey Wood, illustrated by Don Wood.   Children enjoy comparing themselves to the variety of animals in this picture book.  A great book for discussion on character traits, and how a variety of feelings and attributes make a whole person. The illustrations are vibrant and vivid. Published by Child's Play (International), Ltd. I Like Me! by Nancy Carlson The illustrations and simple text work together to showcase the character's best friend:  herself!  The main character, a cute, curly-tailed pig, tells us how she cares for her body with good hygiene, a good diet, and a good attitude.  A book about loving yourself, caring for yourself, and being your own best friend.   Puffin Books My Friends , by Taro Gomi What is a friend? This small but thoughtful story shows us how friends help us shape the world around us.  With the subdued waterc...

All Things Green Frog Song by Brenda Z. Guiberson, illustrated by Gennady Spirin A non-fiction picture book that shares information about frogs from around the world.  The illustrations are vibrant and have a beautiful photographic quality, and the onomatopoetic text makes it fun to read. Grades K-4.  Henry Holt and Company St. Patrick's Day by Gail Gibbons Gail Gibbons illustrations and simple text make this a great information book about the story of St. Patrick, and the many ways people celebrate St. Patrick's Day today.   Grades K-2.  Holiday House Green by Laura Vaccaro Seeger There are so many shades of green, and in this Caldecott Honor picture book, Laura Vaccaro Seeger helps us explore the many greens that surround us with beautiful illustrations and die-cut pages.  Grades K-1.  Roaring Brook Press. The Earth is Painted Green , Edited by Barbara Brenner, Illustrated by S.D. Schindler Poem...

Read Alouds for February, 2016 Chinese New Year Cleversticks by Bernard Ashley, Illustrated by Derek Brazell. Ling Sung can't seem to get anything right.  He doesn't know how to do the things his friends can do well.  However, he soon learns that he too is good at something, and with this discovery, he learns to share his knowledge, and learn from others.  Grades K-2.  Crown Publishers. Lion Dancer:  Ernie Wan's Chinese New Year by Kate Waters and Madeline Slovenz-Low  Photographs by Martha Cooper This picture book describes how a boy who lives in Chinatown, New York City celebrates the Chinese New Year.  It includes great photographs that show the preparations before performing the lion dance at the Chinese New Year parade.  Grades 2- 4.  Scholastic, Inc. Sam and the Lucky Money by Karen Chinn, illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright &  Ying-Hwa Hu Sam receives four dollars in a shiny red envelope for Chinese New Year.  Now he ha...

Hi there! It's Tech Tuesday again, and time to share an online app that I find useful for organizing thoughts, and sparking collaboration and conversation for group projects, teacher presentations, and more. Where to find it? Visit the Popplet website at www.popplet.com . Then log-in or register as a first-time user.  The Popplet app is also available for android phones and iPhones.  You can use the free membership that allows for 10 Popplet presentations, or upgrade for more features. What will you find? Every Popplet project begins with a blank canvas.  From there, double-click to add a popple, and then insert text, links, pictures, and YouTube clips, and draw inside the popples.  Popples can be moved by clicking on them and dragging them around the canvas or by dragging them into each other to form links between popples.  The popples can also be resized, relabeled, and color coordinated for organizational purposes. Collaborators for a popplet are invited by e...