Well.

So I'm hoping to get some fun ideas soon. The past week was just sort of survival mode. We had  a tragedy occur at our school on Monday. A teacher collapsed on the playground. Her team got the kids out of sight and into the gym quickly and EMS was called. She was taken off of life support on Wednesday and passed away yesterday.

I didn't know her really all that well. She was new to our campus ... just in mid to late September when we had more kiddos in that grade than was expected! What I do know is that she was a wife and mother of four (the youngest two still in elementary school). Her students really liked her and her grade level and the other teachers who witnessed her collapse and tried to fight for her life (CPR and the defibrillator) are hurting. So while the hurt is not super personal for me (I knew the assistant who passed away the weekend before school started much better) it's still there on campus and anytime you're away from the kids you can sense it. I can't even imagine what her family is going through.

So. Had a busy week planned anyway. An entire grade level that wanted to make the Flat Gingys (teacher librarians ... do you ever get TIRED of doing the same thing multiple times? Loved it the first time but by the sixth it was not quite so fun for me. Had to concentrate on how much fun the kids were having and how excited they were to hear about Flat Stanley). Lots of checkouts. Starting a research project with 1st grade. PTA meeting and long day.

And working on an iDevice project with a 4th grade class. Didn't go quite like I'd hoped because of bureaucracy but that is neither here nor there. Kids didn't know the difference. Just know what was in my vision for the kids and the lesson and was frustrated when we weren't allowed to do it.

Does anyone else have a hard time adjusting their expectations to reality? And knowing when to keep fighting and when it's just as well to let something go?








I SO want to make this but when I weed books it's usually because they are moldy and smell yucky. So I don't know. ;]

Thanks for letting me put a rant out into the interwebs. Hope your holiday season is starting off beautifully and you have the spirit of the season. Give your family and friends and students and yourself your love and attention. You won't regret it.

Glyphs & Flat Gingys

Today we made Pete the Cat Saves Christmas Glyphs in a kinder class. The Petes were freehanded (after purchasing and seeing Deanna Jump's unit). Then we made them glyphs. Red Hats for if you've ever seen a deer in real life, Green Hats if not. Beard if you've gone on a long car trip with your family, and whiskers if you've been on a plane. Red shoes if you've had a bad cold. White shoes if you've never. I'd give you the nice sign I made to display with the glyphs but it uses hats from DJInkers and I don't have their license. Or ... wait. If it's a freebie you don't have to have a license, right? I must go look that up.

Last week we made Little Red's Glyphs with two first grade classes. Other classes have actually come by and used the data collection sheets!

PS So the polar bear on the train was easier. But can anyone think of a fun book with an elf? That's NOT Elf on the Shelf?

And truly we do not spend all of our time doing art. But second grade is going to do a Flat Gingy project. The goals? 1)Get more of them reading Flat Stanley! 2)Writing about what they will do with their Flat Gingy. And 3)A little bit of fun. So we'll see. Gave them two weeks to take Gingy on an adventure and write about it!

What Are You Reading (almost) Monday, Currently, & Book Giving

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journeys. It is a great way to recap what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and to plan out your reading and reviews for the upcoming week. It's also a great chance to see what others are reading right now… who knows, you might discover that next “must read” book!

Our Kid Lit to YA version is hosted by Teach Mentor Texts.
GREAT IDEA! Check out all of the What Are You Reading? participants for title ideas.


Didn't actually get as much reading as my super long list last Thanksgiving week. Well. Will catch up eventually.

Let's Sing a Lullaby with the Brave Cowboy by Jan Thomas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jan Thomas is like a female Mo Willems.
I mean that she can make simple books funny all with the placement of pretty much eyebrows. Can't wait to give it to my nephew. And make my brother sing it as he reads to him. ;]

Skippyjon Jones Cirque de Ole by Judy Schachner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Oh, I know that he makes a massacre of the Spanish language. And I don't even like cats.
But I like Skippyjon Jones. Can't wait to share it with my niece tomorrow. Plus, with the included CD, I can save my voice for OTHER books. She likes to have people read to her a lot. ;]

A Is for Musk Ox by Erin Cabatingan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'm sorry ... but this just might be my new favorite ABC book.
Joseph the Musk Ox. You need to meet him.
(Though .. it might be confusing to like kinder and first. This is an ABC book for just a tad older crowd who can appreciate the silly jokes. Second or older. Would love to see a student-produced version. Though using a musk ox was so unexpected. What would an equally unexpected animal be?

How to Babysit a Grandpa by Jean Reagan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Supe cute. Makes me think of all the times I've seen my dad with my nieces and nephews. I know she can't but it would be fun if she wrote a "How to Babysit an Aunt." Not all of the same jokes would work. But some. And maybe she could think of others. ;]

Going Ape! by Eduardo Bustos
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Not enough information for much in the way of research ... but for pleasure reading? Awesome. The art is fun (made me want to try mimicking some of the illustrations). The text is, for the most part, easy enough for less proficient readers.
I can see our first graders loving this one in the spring when they talk about different kinds of animals.

Just Right for Christmas by Birdie Black
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Love the illustrations best of all. The story's not a new one ... others benefit from what the first owners think were useless scraps. (I sort of almost wish that the original owners shared ON PURPOSE.) But the frame of the story, with the different animals and such. Cute. And the pictures. Did I mention the pictures?

Ralph Tells a Story by Abby Hanlon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A definite must-get for the school library. Ralph can't think of anything to write about. He thinks of everything he can to avoid writing ... until his potential readers start asking questions.
Plus I love the illustrations. They won't be everyone's style but I love them.
And I relate. I SO have a hard time with writing anything personal! I still remember first grade and some tv show we watched every week about writing. It had a bug in it. And there was a story starter that for homework we had to finish. OH I dreaded that homework!

View all my reviews


The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan

Been listening to this on the treadmill. It's a little cheesy but I am liking it, all the same! Plus, now I'll be able to discuss it with kids with more detail.





I will hold off on reading plans since I so rarely seem to follow them, anyway. Other than The Son. Going to finally get to Lois Lowry's new one since it will have to be returned!


I was thinking INSTEAD of library stats on that bulletin board for December sort of adapting Mother Readers 150 Ways to Give a Book.

And last but not least, Farley's Currently. FUN.

 

FAB-uloso Idea

Click through and read her blog post. Then come back. ;]

OK. Isn't it fun? I've been moping a little bit because I couldn't get any teachers behind Star Wars Reads Day. They were too overwhelmed/stressed/perhaps not SW fans. But something like this I could do on my own. Now, it will have to wait until the spring bookfair because we are broke in terms of anything beyond book money. Even that is just about gone. And I can't keep spending my own cash. The prizes for the pumpkin book character contest got EXPENSIVE. But here is what I am thinking.

April. It's the blah-blah-blah testing month. Ugh. WE WILL NEED SOME FUN.
I already have a play light saber. :]
Just need to get a stand-up (or, preferably, borrow one, as they are not cheap ... several years ago we had a family that had a life size Yoda statue which was AWESOME but they are gone now).


AND ... two things I got during the cyber sale at TPT?

Literature Circles From a Galaxy Far Far Away (LOVE. Why did I not think of this?)
Say Anything Blank Comics (has a couple Star Wars inspired pages ... another DUH Why did I not think of this moment? Do you know how many SW-centric clip art packages I have?)

I am home today with a rotten, rotten headache. Dunno if it's a cold or allergies or I am developing migraines. Ninety percent of this post was pre-written. Maybe I'll take a nap and get some great ideas. I hate missing school ... even worse when I really don't feel good. It's more fun to take a MENTAL health day than a physical one. :X

Cyber Monday & Lessons I Got/Want

I WON I WON I WON on Kathy Law's GGG giveaway. I first learned about Kathy with her awesome book-based games. Then I discovered how much the kids loved her color by codes. And she created some super cute FREE fonts. I'm sure you have probably already heard of her but if you haven't check out her blog here and her store here.
I got some more color by codes as well as the magnet game and an ABC order activity. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!! The kids are going to be super excited!

(Edit in June 2013 ... since I'd deleted some of the pins ... some of this won't make sense!)
These are some other things I'm thinking of getting on the big TPT or TN sales. I spend way too much money there on teaching ideas and clip art (Etsy for that, too, but more and more of the artists are heading to TPT!). Do other librarians ever find it kind of hard to "guess" what you might get to use or not? I buy stuff and then sometimes can't ever convince a teacher to let me have their kids. Or we change our minds entirely from things that we've done in one way or another for several years. Oh well. It's still fun and I can use the ideas with my nieces or nephews.



Pink Cat Studios. I love more and more of the stuff she's started posting. Her Elves pattern recognition is cheap and easy ... something for the kiddos that can't check out books (long long long overdues where you get no response from home :/) or the kiddos who are fast at picking books and then start ... getting into trouble.




Love these polar bears. Need to think of something to do with them! Either some story activities or research. Or both. Never mind that I already had a Scrappin Doodles polar bear (she had an awesome sale yesterday ... did you take advantage? Oh, wait. IT'S STILL ON! Through Monday, anyway.)




Well of course.




Actually already have this one cause the TN sale started already. Not sure when I'll use it but of course, again. Seemed perfect for the library.




Don't really know this tacher author but I love Oliver Jeffers and the ideas seem fun.




The younger the students the more I have to work at it. They don't come naturally (is it the former high school teacher in me?). I quite often forget to be as explicit as you need to be. So I think this is a good idea.




Ideas for the kiddos that aren't actually on the iPad? (We only have two ... and only one has any of the paid apps.)


I love all of her ideas for questions and challenges and projects. I don't come up with ideas like this. Or ... when I do? Takes A LOT of work. Either she comes up with them much easier or is willing to part with the ideas for much less than I would ... cause the price is very reasonable for her ideas!



These look cute for science stations in the library. Can't decide ... can totally see this being something I get and then don't get to use. But I might get it anyway. Or get it and MAKE SURE I don't give up until I have students in to use the activities with!

Source: teacherspayteachers.com via Angie on Pinterest

Remember this? She has more! They are cute! The kids have fun and there you are, integrating math into library time. (Is it just me? Not my strong point.) I started playing around making my own (you know me and clip art) but she's added several more to her store and they are cute and not expensive in the least!


There are more but I don't want this post to be completely overwhelming. ;]



PS Most of my little store is fun reading display signs and bookmarks. Got some fun holiday and winter themed ones. Though I do like the little packet I put up for My Penguin Osbert or the Penguin Patterns activity. It's all 20% today through Tuesday. Monday and Tuesday you have the additional 10% off from TPT.

Tuesday Pins

Sort of like a weekend, right? Happy Thanksgiving!



I want this desk now. Must stop with the card catalog!












Oh, and like this one, too.

What Are You Reading Monday

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journeys. It is a great way to recap what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and to plan out your reading and reviews for the upcoming week. It's also a great chance to see what others are reading right now… who knows, you might discover that next “must read” book!

Our Kid Lit to YA version is hosted by Teach Mentor Texts.
GREAT IDEA! Check out all of the What Are You Reading? participants for title ideas.


Making the Moose Out of Life by Nicholas Oldland
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Pictures are more fun than the actual story.


The Bear in the Book by Kate Banks
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Eh. OK but I didn't love it.


Seizure by Kathy Reichs
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Read on the (hopefully) tail end of a monster headache so maybe that is why I'm giving it a 3 instead of a 4.
I mean ... it's fun. Pirates! Ghost tours! Secret tunnels!
Just something didn't quite gel for me.


Invincible Microbe: Tuberculosis and the Never-Ending Search for a Cure by Jim Murphy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I thought it was quite interesting ... but with one caveat. I am the daughter of a doctor in public health. I grew up hearing about and watching concerns of spreading diseases and the importance of taking medications properly as well as getting vaccinations. There were some great primary source photographs and ads sprinkled throughout the pages. Plus I love reading historical fiction where consumption or delicate constitutions often played a part in the storyline.
If I did not have that background I'm not sure I would have found this as fascinating, though. Can't quite put my finger on or. Something about the delivery was not as compelling as, for example, JM's book about the great Chicago fire.


A Christmas Garland: A Novel by Anne Perry
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Anne Perry is one of my favorite writers. She conveys such a sense of place .... whether it be on the dank foggy streets of London, a barge on the Thames, or in India.
Interesting to meet Narraway as a younger man.
Just a lot of ... philosophical rumblings in this one. SOME would be important to the story. I just sort of feel like there was so much it distracted from the story.

The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

While the constant influx of fantasy "series" may get a little tiresome ... this one still WORKS. WIth a nice twist I didn't see coming. Maybe I should have but I didn't. ;]

View all my reviews



MY MANY READING PLANS FOR THE WEEK--Will I make a dent in this stack? ;]


The Spindlers by Lauren Oliver







Son by Lois Lowry







The Edge of Nowhere by Elizabeth George







In A Glass Grimmly by Adam Gidwitz


(FINALLY! I started it on Netgalley but the E-ARC was more than a little frustrating so I gave up. :/)



I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga







The Second Spy by Jacqueline West







Benjamin Franklinstein Meets Thomas Deadison by Matthew McElligott








Happy Reading! And Happy Thanksgiving Week!