Friday, March 10, 2017
Life-Size Leaders
February was Black History Month, and as a research project, middle school students selected an African American leader to research. They learned about the leader's early life, career, achievements, later life, and more. We used books, as well as online databases and websites, for research. This was a good opportunity to discuss credible resources, avoiding plagiarism, and note-taking skills. After taking notes, students wrote a paper about their leader, and created a "life size" model of the person. We put them up in the hallway, and they've been really popular! Students love to stop in the hallway and look at them, and read about the lives of these leaders.
Blind Date with a Book
Sorry for the lack of updates lately. We've been busy! On Valentine's Day, students participated in a "Blind Date with a Book." It was really fun. Here's how it worked: I wrapped up some books in plain brown paper and wrote the book's barcode on the outside. I also wrote what the book was "seeking" for a reader. Then I set up the wrapped books on a "Blind Date" table with balloons, a sign, and a heart plaque.
The kids thought it was funny, but most importantly, they were excited to check out books.
The kids thought it was funny, but most importantly, they were excited to check out books.
Book of the Week: This Journal Belongs to Ratchet
This review brought to you by Sylvia.
Are you looking for a great book? Well you've found one. This Journal Belongs to Ratchet by Nancy Cavanuagh is great for readers 8-12. It's an amazing story about a girl named Ratchet who thinks that she has a pretty bad life. No mom, no friends, and a crazy dad. This book is an example of epistolary writing, where you use different formats of writing and letters to tell a story. Ratchet and her dad work on cars together, her dad is a mechanic and an environmentalist. His caring about the environment gets him community service. He gets in trouble again and has to pick up garbage on the side of the road. All in saving Moss Tree Park. Ratchet decides to help too, but soon more trouble comes. What will happen next? Will Ratchet ever be normal? Find out in This Journal Belongs to Ratchet.
Are you looking for a great book? Well you've found one. This Journal Belongs to Ratchet by Nancy Cavanuagh is great for readers 8-12. It's an amazing story about a girl named Ratchet who thinks that she has a pretty bad life. No mom, no friends, and a crazy dad. This book is an example of epistolary writing, where you use different formats of writing and letters to tell a story. Ratchet and her dad work on cars together, her dad is a mechanic and an environmentalist. His caring about the environment gets him community service. He gets in trouble again and has to pick up garbage on the side of the road. All in saving Moss Tree Park. Ratchet decides to help too, but soon more trouble comes. What will happen next? Will Ratchet ever be normal? Find out in This Journal Belongs to Ratchet.
Monday, January 23, 2017
Book of the Week: The Testing
This review brought to you by Eva.
The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau
Do you like adventure? The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau is an adventure- packed story about a young girl named Cía who lives in the five lakes colony which is filled with oceans and plants. Every year there is a graduation ceremony where certain advanced students are picked for the testing. Cía has spent her whole life working her way towards the testing after she found out her dad was selected. On the day of her graduation Cía, along with 5 others from her colony are chosen for the testing but she finds out the testing is not at all what she hoped. Her father tells her she can't trust anyone and then she is off in a skimmer to what is about to be the worst years of her life. Will Cía pass the testing? What will happen to her during the process? Find out in The Testing.
If you're looking for an enticing adventure, survival book then The Testing is the book for you. You'll be hooked as soon as you start! Read The Testing from your local library!
The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau
Do you like adventure? The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau is an adventure- packed story about a young girl named Cía who lives in the five lakes colony which is filled with oceans and plants. Every year there is a graduation ceremony where certain advanced students are picked for the testing. Cía has spent her whole life working her way towards the testing after she found out her dad was selected. On the day of her graduation Cía, along with 5 others from her colony are chosen for the testing but she finds out the testing is not at all what she hoped. Her father tells her she can't trust anyone and then she is off in a skimmer to what is about to be the worst years of her life. Will Cía pass the testing? What will happen to her during the process? Find out in The Testing.
If you're looking for an enticing adventure, survival book then The Testing is the book for you. You'll be hooked as soon as you start! Read The Testing from your local library!
Tuesday, January 17, 2017
Book of the Week: Spy School
This post brought to you by student blogger Evie.
Spy School by Stuart Gibbs
Do you like surprises? Do you like action? Do you like weapons? If you answered yes to the last one, you have a problem. But if you answered yes to the other two, then Spy School is the one for you. A middle school student named Ben Ripley comes home one day to find an FBI agent in his living room asking him if he wants to join Spy School, and for a Gatorade. He says yes, which is the best and worst choice he's ever made. He transfers to the new school, where he meets the smartest and most beautiful girl he's ever met. Her name is Erica. Almost immediately after moving in, an assassin tries to kill him. He takes the guy out with just a tennis racket! From then on, his life becomes more interesting, with assassins, SPYDER, and of course, the horrible plumbing at Spy School. To find out more, read Spy School by Stuart Gibbs. Spy School by Stuart Gibbs
Friday, December 16, 2016
Book of the Week: Penny From Heaven
This review brought to you by Caroline C.
Penny From Heaven by Jennifer L. Holm
Penny From Heaven by Jennifer L. Holm
Do you like baseball, pecan ice cream, and summer days? Penny From Heaven is a story about an 11 year old girl named Penny. She is living in the 1950s struggling to be normal. Her grandpa talks to the radio, her mother is dating the milk man, she has a crazy hair cut, and her grandma makes smelly food. Something tragic happens that changes her life. Will she be able to hear her grandpa talk to the radio again? Or taste her grandma's smelly food again? Read this book to find out.
Friday, December 9, 2016
Coding in the Library
It's computer science week, and we've had a lot of fun doing an Hour of Code on code.org! Then a student sent me a fun elf dancer coding game, and we had tons of fun with that as well! https://santatracker.google.com/codeboogie.html
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