Wednesday, May 30, 2012

The End of School is Near!!

It's hard to believe how fast the end of the year has gotten here!  It seems like just yesterday that we still had 3 months to go.  June 8th is the kids last day, but I already have classes that I won't see again this school year.  I will go visit their classroom because I have summer book ideas for them and to pass out my "Take a BOOK on Vacation" flyer.  I'll post more about these things soon.


You might notice that my name is changing on the blog.  I've got a new blog set up for my Library Media Center and right now it is tied to this account.  So I don't want my first name on the school blog.  My county will soon be changing our school email over to Google.  When that happens I can associate the Library Media Center blog with that account, but until then I'm just going to keep switching my name.


I'm still trying to make my way through Mr. and Mrs. Bunny - Detectives Extraordinaire! by Mrs. Bunny translated from the Rabbit by Polly Horvath.  It's an interesting read.  I'm not sure if I like it yet or not.  I'm enjoying it more than when I started but I'm only 100 pages in.  I'll keep you posted.


I'm feeling a bit reflective, but I'll save that for the next post because I'm getting sleepy.  Last night and tonight I worked on 530 report cards.  I'm happy I got them done, but it's a lot of sitting in front of the computer.


Happy Reading!!


Stacey (@libraryjo92)

Monday, May 28, 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 feel like such a slacker when it comes to posting to my blog! The end of the year "stuff" just caught up with me and something had to give.  I have nine kid days left and than a full week of teacher meetings.  Not looking forward to the week of meetings at all.  I have though been able to keep up with some reading.  But not my Google Reader, I'm almost afraid to look at how many unread posts there are!


I'm getting ready to start Mr. and Mrs. Bunny - Detectives Extraordinaire! by Mrs. Bunny translated from the Rabbit by Polly Horvath.  It just looked interesting and I've heard some good things. I'll post an update as the week goes on.


What I've read these past few weeks has been very interesting.  I've been reading some of the chapter books that are nominated for the Black-Eyed Susan Award for next school year.  I'm planning to do something with these titles to try and get the kids to read them.  I'm not sure what I'm going to do, but I've got the summer to plan.  So far I've read Jake by Audrey Couloumbis, Born to Fly by Michael Ferrari, Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai, On the Blue Comet by Rosemary Wells and The Trouble with May Amelia by Jennifer L. Holm.  I would have read the May Amelia book without it being on the list because I have fallen in love with the character!


I also got caught up on my graphic novel reading!  The other day I received my copy of Squish 3: The Power of the Parasite by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm.  Loved it!!!  I really liked the message that it gave in the story.  I also just picked up Lunch Lady and the Mutant Mathleates by Jarrett J. Krosoczka.  This one is another winner in the Lunch Lady series.


I also read a wonderful picture book, Boy + Bot by Ame Dyckman.  I had heard such wonderful things about this book.  I went to three different bookstores before I found a copy.  I was not disappointed once I read it.  I  bought the copy for school, but I'm keeping it for myself and buying my school another copy.  It's a great story about a friendship.  Can't wait to share with my students next year.


Hopefully I'll get better about posting during this crazy time.


Happy Reading!!


Stacey
(@libraryjo92)  

Monday, May 14, 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 wish I could say that I did a lot reading this weekend, but I didn't.  It was a very stressful weekend.  My week didn't end on a very good note, and I'm not one to easily let things go.  So I brooded about things all weekend.  I'm working on letting things go that I have no control over.  I'll be a lot happier that way.  

On to the little bit of reading that I did do this weekend.  I read about 15 picture books.  There were 4 that really stood out to me.  In no particular order, Chicken Butt by Erica S. Perl, Ducks Don't Wear Socks by John Nedwidek, Hopper and Wilson by Maria Van Lieshout, and Kindergarten Diary by Antoinette Portis.  

I also began reading Born to Fly by Michael Ferrari.  I haven't gotten too far into the book, but I'm interested to read more.  

I've got some more picture books and a few chapter books that I picked up at the library this weekend.  Hopefully I'll be able to do some more reading this week.  I've got to get my house cleaned, so I might try to bribe myself:  a little cleaning and then a little reading.  I'm still trying to get my Google Reader under control.  There are so many great posts, but boy I can't let it go without me checking for even a day.

I do need a favor.  I'm asking for your help.  I'm putting together a list of books for my students as suggestions for over the summer.  I'm grouping them in the following way: K-1, 2-3, 4-5.  I'm trying to put together book trailers for the kids to watch for some on the list.  If you have any suggestions please leave them in the comment section.  Thank you in advance!!

Happy Reading!!

Stacey
@libraryjo92

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Is It Only Wednesday??!!


I think this is been the LONGEST week EVER!!!! There is so much to do and I can't seem to get ahead. Things will be much better once my Reading Incentive Winners Bowling Trip is over.  In addition to coordinating all of that, (a bus, lunch for the kids, permission slips, lane assignments, etc.) I have to write plans for the day.  So I've only gotten some reading done.  I was able to read some of the blog posts on my Google Reader, so it is down in the low 100's now.  I didn't get a chance to start Born to Fly by Michael Ferrari yet, but I'm hoping too before the week is out. 

I also had the chance to read Jennifer Holm's Middle School is Worse Than Meatloaf.  Overall I did enjoy this book.  It took me a little bit of time to make sure I read everything that was on each page.  I think that those kids that are going into Middle School will enjoy this book.  Many will pick it up from the title alone.  It is going to go on my summer recommendation list for my fifth graders.


On another note about a Jennifer Holm book, I recommend Our Only May Amelia to one of my fifth grade girls. I book talked it too her and she seemed  interested.  But she mentioned how she was a fan of historical fiction books.  I explained to her how I have not been a fan of historical fiction books in the past, but I'm becoming one after reading some really great ones.  After I told her how I couldn't put the book down, she seemed even more interested.  We had a great talk about how exciting it was when a book catches your attention and you can't put it down.


I'm asking for your help.  I'm putting together a list of books for my students as suggestions for over the summer.  I'm grouping them in the following way: K-1, 2-3, 4-5.  I'm trying to put together book trailers for the kids to watch for some on the list.  If you have any suggestions please leave them in the comment section.  Thank you in advance!!


Happy Reading!


Stacey
@libraryjo92


Monday, May 7, 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 did quite a bit of reading over the weekend.  I read The Serpent's Shadow by Rick Riordan.  I was really glad I reread The Throne of Fire because there were some characters had needed a bit of a reminder about.  See my post below for my thoughts on this great book.


I was still on my Jennifer Holm reading frenzy.  I read two more Babymouse graphic novels.  I still can't get enough of Babymouse.  Such a great character!!!  I also read The Trouble with May Amelia.  This was a sequel to Our Only May Amelia.  I have just fallen in love with May Amelia!  She is such a strong vibrant female character.  I've got some girls that I think will really love her.  I can't wait to share May Amelia with them next year!  I think I can't say anymore that I'm not a fan of historical fiction.  I realize now, I just wasn't reading the right historical fiction books.  Thanks to my friends on Twitter, I've come up with a huge list of historical fiction books that I love!  


I picked up a book while I was at the library this weekend, Dying to Meet You (43 Old Cemetery Road) by Kate Klise.  This book is about an author with writer's block who moves into a run-down house complete with a child, a cat, and a ghost.  It is not told in chapters, but by letters and newspaper articles.  I really enjoyed it and all the puns.  I can't wait to read more of the series!


My reading for this coming week, another Jennifer Holm book:  Middle School Is Worse Than Meatloaf, and Born to Fly by Michael Ferrari.  I also plan to read a few picture books that I checked out at the library.  I also plan to get caught up on my Google Reader posts.  The last time I checked, I was up to 218 unread posts!!  I've got some reading to do!!


I achieved my goal of posting three time last week.  I'm going to challenge myself to have the same goal again.


Happy Reading!!


Stacey
@libraryjo92

Sunday, May 6, 2012

I Finished The Serpent's Shadow!!!

Even though I'm posting this after 12:00am, I'm still saying that I achieved my goal of posting three times this week!


I spent most of this weekend reading The Serpent's Shadow by Rick Riordan.  My copy hasn't arrived yet, so I went out and bought another copy!  I'll donate one to my school library.  Once again, I'm not disappointed in a Rick Riordan book.  My only disappointment comes in the fact that this is a trilogy.  But in typical Rick Riordan style, he has left me with a few questions about what the future holds.  Now I'm just waiting until October 2, 2012 when his next book The Mark of Athena, the third book in the Heroes of Olympus is published.  I'm counting the days.


I went to the library today and got another great stack of books.  I'll try and post a picture of my book stack.  


On happy note two truly great librarians who I follow on Twitter and through their blogs, John Schumacher and Travis Jonker are going to be part of the Newbery and Caldacott Committee's for next year!  Big congratulations to them both!!!  I find it so cool that two people who I "know" are part of those committee's.


Happy Reading!!


Stacey
@libraryjo92

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Wow, it's Wednesday!!

It's Wednesday, at some moments I've said today "I can't believe it's only Wednesday" and "Wow, it's Wednesday already".  It just depended on the kids and what was going on at that moment.  


I've been trying to get caught up after being sick yet again.  I am holding myself to my goal of blogging three times this week.  So this is post number two!!


I haven't started The Trouble With May Amelia by Jennifer Holm and Middle School is Worse Than Meatloaf, also by Jennifer Holm yet.  This morning I grabbed Bigger Than A Bread Box by Laurel Snyder as I was waiting for the bad thunderstorm to pass over.  I didn't want to leave for work because I was so captivated by the book!  It is such a great read!!


Best teaching moment today wasn't actually me teaching.  I overheard one of my third grade students book talk When Life Gives You OJ by Erica Perl to a fellow classmate because she loved it and she thought her friend would too.


I love my public library!!  The children's librarian contacted me about coming again this year to talk to the students about the summer reading program.  We do this every year.  I enjoy it and it gets the kids excited about reading over the summer.  Well, this year she also proposed doing a school spirit night for my school.  During this night the kids (and parents) who don't have their own library card can come and sign up for one, the kids can sign up for the summer reading program, there will be a craft, door prizes and of course books to check out.  I'm so excited over this!! I picked a day when we are still in school so that I can promote it.  After it is over I'll make sure that I post pictures!!


My only great disappointment this week was that my two books that I have been waiting for, Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons and The Serpent's Shadow has not shipped yet.  It was their book birthday yesterday, May 1st. I was very very sad!!!  I should have them by the beginning of next week.