Winter Reading

 I love this video of fellow teacher Colby Sharp sharing what he plans to read over winter break. I'm sharing his video and my list of what I plan to read over break. If you have a list (even 1-2 books) feel free to share it with me.

Me: Finish Rob Buyea's The Perfect Score, Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi, The Brave by James Bird, Orphan Island by Laurel Snyder, and Caste by Isabel Wilkerson.  And now watch the video of Colby and what he plans to read:

What books do you plan to read over break?

Fall 2020

 Are you ready to return to school after a five-month break?  I hope you all made great use of your time off with equal parts relaxing, reading, and being active.  This year is going to be challenging as we need to wear masks to keep germs at bay, lots of handwashing, and keeping our distance even from friends. We won't be walking around from class to class, we will have to live without the library, music room, or art room for a little while this Fall.  

I've read a ton of books this summer and have lots of recommendations for everyone. Right now I'm reading Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park. It is historical fiction and I'm excited to read it and learn more about the 1800s.  

Here is a great video about why wearing a mask is important.

   

Let's work together to have the best year ever. We can control our attitude about all this year will be about. 

Summer Ready

It's a strange transition from school year to summer this year because we don't have the typical last days of school, heading out the school doors straight into summer.  Many summer activities are canceled. I know I'm personally sad to not have Camp Invention this year. What's summer without camps, swimming pools, and sports activities. I know some of these activities will take place on a smaller scale but I feel like more than ever this will be somewhat of a solitary summer for some students. Families may still feel hesitant to get out there and mingle with others. I miss greeting people with a hug.

With all that may be missing from our summer, we need to find other activities to entertain us other than streaming YouTube, TikTok, or Insta all day.  When this pandemic kept us from heading back to school I started reading chapter books to two different grade levels using Google Classroom. I've loved reading like this every day and making connections with students about books and what is happening in our lives. I like it so much I'm going to continue to read over the summer w/ you if you are interested in listening. Email me (michelle.holt@cfschools.org) with questions and the links for the Google Classroom page and code. It needs to be shared privately for copyright reasons. Mrs. Swestka will also share information in her Friday email.  Help me choose between these four titles to read first, second, third...

This is a way to stay proactive and connected with families, students, and books. I LOVE to read and this is my way of sharing that feeling. Stay positive, stay connected. Have a great summer and I hope you will join me.

Just for today...

“Oh, for a nook and a storybook. With tales both new and old. For a jolly good book whereon to look. Is better to me than gold.”— Old English Song.

I Opened a Book

By Julia Donaldson

I opened a book and in I strode.

Now nobody can find me.

I’ve left my chair, my house, my road,

My town and my world behind me.

I’m wearing the cloak, I’ve slipped on the ring,

I’ve swallowed the magic potion.

I’ve fought with a dragon, dined with a king

And dived in a bottomless ocean.

I opened a book and made some friends.

I shared their tears and laughter

And followed their road with its bumps and bends

To the happily ever after.

I finished my book and out I came.

The cloak can no longer hide me.

My chair and my house are just the same,

But I have a book inside me.

New books!

{Just one small stack}

Friday morning four boxes of new books from Follett were to delivered to our library! We have new picture books, new nonfiction and new chapter books! They are all beautiful and I want to sit and just read them all. I'm will catalog them as fast as possible and then you will be able to check them out. If you want to just sneak a quick peek they are here in boxes ready to be gazed at by teachers or students. So far this one is my favorite in the picture book catagory; Superfab saves the day by Jean Leroy.