It's Wednesday! What's happening in the Sommer Library?

We're pushing the season a bit with our displays, thanks to our Library Shelf Elves who scoured our collection for books on Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, winter, snow...

They found so many books that we decided to try a middle-of-the-tables display!

Let's give a shout-out to the World Changers Club.  They made "Kindness Bookmarks" and hid them in books throughout our library!

It's a read-aloud week for everyone!  Kindergarten through second grades are listening to Ms Margocs' favorite Thanksgiving book:

Third through fifth grades are learning about Tony Sarg, who invented the traditional balloons of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (also a favorite of Ms Margocs).

After Thanksgiving Break, we will start our semester's end all-call for overdue books and missing payments for lost/ damaged books.  Students with overdues or unpaid bills will not be allowed to check out books the last week of school before Winter Break.  Please bring in those overdues and pay those bills!

Have a restful break next week, Stallion Readers.  Take some time to relax and read!

It's Monday! What are you reading?

Today's blog post is brought to you by the letter "S"...for "Sesame Street".

I was three when "Sesame Street" first aired.  I missed a lot of episodes over the next couple of years; we didn't have access to American television in Bangkok, where my dad was stationed.  I caught up with Big Bird, Cookie Monster, and Kermit when we moved back to the states. When I became head of my Rainbow Girl chapter, my mascot was Mr. Snuffleupagus.

I made sure my own children had regular exposure to PBS' children's programming, and "Sesame Street" was a favorite in our house.  That hour could be enjoyed by all of us, thanks to the cultural relevance and 'punny' takes on popular music and movies.  (Yes, it was on for an hour back in the day!)

And there were books, of course, including a family favorite:

This one is still on our shelf, too:

I know my children's ability to read, their love of books and music, was positively impacted by watching "Sesame Street".  Happy 50th anniversary to our favorite PBS children's show; Big Bird, you don't look a day over five!  

It's Monday!  What children's programming inspired a love of reading for you and your children?

It's Wednesday! What's happening in the Sommer Library?

We got our Boxlight screen off the floor and on the wall! 

Thanks to our principal, Mrs. Varljen, and our ITS, Mrs. Jackson, for making this vision a reality.  It has freed up floor space and cleaned up a mess of cables.

Second grade got a visit from local author Christina Soontornvat on Monday!

Ms. Soontornvat talked to us about her family roots in Thailand and where she gets the ideas for her books.  She also showed us a really funny video about durian fruit.  We couldn't stop laughing!

Thanks also to all who donated to our annual Coins for Coats collection for the Round Rock Area Serving Center.  Our school collected $859.96!  The funds will be used to buy winter coats for students in our district.

Read-alouds this week:

Kindergarteners are noticing Jabari go from scared to brave in Jabari Jumps.  Jabari's dad says that taking a deep breath and saying "I am ready!" can turn something scary into a surprise.  We agree!

First grade is enjoying some extra time to look for good fit books with a checkout-only week.

Our other half of second grade is learning facts about the Sun with Sun: One in a Billion.

Lessons this week:

Our other half of third grade is learning about how to pick a good-fit book.  Covers, topic, genre, and recommendations from friends are some of the ways to find something new to read.  

Fourth graders are dipping into beginning book talks, using the HEAT lesson from The Reading Roundup.  Friends tell friends about great books!

Fifth graders are revisiting the nonfiction shelves in our library.  They're practicing reshelving books by Dewey Decimal number, and gaining a greater appreciation for keeping books in order.  (Want to practice some more?  Click here!)

A big thanks to our student Emma S. who suggested a better method of signage for our magazine area, to alert students when replacing the magazines after use.  The big signs are easier to spot and match!

See you in the stacks, Stallion Readers!

It's Monday! What are you reading?

I'm not going to lie--I struggle when I read stories written in vernacular dialogue that's different than my own.  I haven't lived and worked in areas where code-switching is expected, so it doesn't come naturally to me.  Or maybe it's the grammatical differences that I have to overcome as a teacher who peddles essay-style writing.  

Either way, it took me a few chapters to get into the groove of this story written with an inner-city dialect.  But I stuck with it, and I'm glad I did.

The Stars Beneath Our Feet by David Barclay Moore is the story of Lolly, our narrator, who lives in the Harlem projects of New York City.  He hasn't been the same since the death of his older brother.  We are privy to Lolly's thoughts, not just about Jermaine's death, but also how to navigate the city, constantly aware of whose territory you're crossing, what looks you're giving, alert for dangers lurking around the corner.  The lure of the gangs is gaining strength as Lolly enters the teen years and thinks about avenging his brother's death.

Moore paints a vivid picture of Lolly's world:  his absentee father who pops in to give gifts; Lolly's mom and her girlfriend; his friends from school and the community center; and the projects and streets themselves, harsh and vibrant all at once.  There is hope, too, and I found myself rooting for Lolly to make the right decisions and not follow in Jermaine's footsteps.  

I may not completely understand what it is like to be afraid to walk to school, or to lose a loved one due to gang violence.  But I can empathize with the complicated journey of grieving, the importance of friendship...and the fun of Legos.  Yes, Legos play a big part of this story!

That's the point of windows and mirrors in literature: we can gain insight into others' lives.  The Stars Beneath Our Feet is a reminder of what many children in our country, state, and even our local city have to overcome to claim a piece of what is considered to be the American dream.  

It's Monday!  I recommend The Stars Beneath Our Feet for upper middle grade and older readers.  What books have given you insight into others' lives?

It's Wednesday! What's happening in the Sommer Library?

We are back to our regularly scheduled program this week!

Read-alouds this week:

Our kindergarten classes are discussing written and unwritten rules before listening to Mary Wears What She Wants, based on the true story of Dr. Mary Edwards Walker.  Dr. Walker was arrested several times just for wearing pants!  She's also the only woman so far to receive the military distinction of the Congressional Medal of Honor, for her service as a surgeon during the Civil War.

First grade is listening to We Don't Eat Our Classmates.  We're using the Depth and Complexity icons of "Ethics" and "Multiple Perspectives" to understand sympathy and empathy, and how it helps us interact with our classmates.

Second graders are learning about objects in space in their classes, so we're visiting Sun: One in a Billion in the Book Nook.  The author and illustrator help us remember some really cool (or hot?) facts about our Sun and solar system!

Lessons this week:

Third graders are learning the ins and outs of e-Library and getting reminders of how to find good fit books in the library.

Fourth grade will be bringing on the HEAT as we learn how to do thirty-second booktalks with our classmates, thanks to The Reading Roundup.

Fifth grade is reviewing how to find books efficiently in our nonfiction section.  It's a skill that can last a lifetime!

A big shout-out to our learning community for their support of our Arctic Adventure Scholastic Book Fair!  We grossed over $16,400 in sales.  Ms Margocs used some of the Scholastic Dollars earned for books for our library and books to donate.  We couldn't put on these fairs without the wonderful help of our PTA Library liaisons--Mrs. Tabor, Mrs. Vest, and Mrs. Gumbert--as well as the dozens of volunteers who helped with setup, running, and taking down the fair. 

Books for our campus:

 

It's nice to see our Stallion Readers back in the stacks this week!

It's Monday! What are you reading?

I came across this book on my shelves at home, looking for writing inspiration in my holiday collection.

 

I am a staunch Christmas-season-doesn't-start-until-after-Thanksgiving believer, but that didn't stop me from pulling this book from the shelf for a revisit.  I realized that even with the holiday theme, it is a timely pick due to our upcoming Veterans Day celebration.

Christmas in the Trenches by John McCutcheon is a fictionalized account of one of the many Christmas truces reported by veterans of World War I.  It is a "small moment" story, as told by a grandfather to his grandchildren, remembering that Christmas Eve night in the trenches with the German army just yards away.  This retelling credits the Germans for starting this unexpected event by singing a carol, which was answered by the British lads singing their own.  The Germans then proffered a Christmas tree accompanied by a white flag. A festivity of sorts ensued, Germans and Brits exchanging gifts and playing games, before returning to their trenches at dawn, back to the uncertainty of war.

Some may be surprised to know that many of our elementary students are drawn to nonfiction books about World Wars I and II.  I'm not sure how much they understand the complexities of battle, the politics of war, the aftereffects of participating in the fighting.  Stories like Christmas in the Trenches may serve to bring a bit of humanity to what can otherwise seem like a distant past.  It at least speaks to our better nature--the one that would rather not fight at all.

It's Monday, and I'm glad I pulled this book at random from my shelves at home.  What are you reading lately?