Strange But True...

     I enjoy historical fiction.  In fact, I believe I have learned more history from fiction books than I ever learned from a textbook.  Recently, I read One Came Home by Amy Timberlake, and it was filled with strange but true facts about, of all things, passenger pigeons.
     The story takes place in Wisconsin in 1871 when an incredibly huge nesting of passenger pigeons occurred.  According to records from that time, the nesting covered 850 square miles -- a conservative estimate, according to the notes!  Some experts speculated that all the existing passenger pigeons were part of that nesting.  The story is full of details about what that many birds can do to a piece of land and how huge groups of people followed the flock to "harvest" the birds and their eggs.
     Of course, there is a lot more to the story (see my Read Like a Librarian blog), but it just struck me that books are full of so much more than the story, and a reader never knows what he or she might learn when they pick up something new.

The More Things Change...

     It has been an interesting start to our school year, with lots of changes and adjustments.  Our former secretary, Mrs. Anderson, has moved on to a new position, and we wish her well.  However, that meant months of substitutes while we posted the job, had interviews, and then waited for the process to repeat for the person who got the job.  Finally, she has come on board, and we welcome Mrs. Kim Rugg to our LMC.  Mrs. Rugg has worked at MVI for a number of years as a literacy aide, so she knows many of the kids.  That should make the transition a bit easier.
     Another big change this year is the addition of four reading groups to our schedule.  Teachers nominated students who were doing well in reading and could use some more challenging work, so I will be working with both fourth and fifth graders this year.  We will be participating in Wisconsin's Battle of the Books and the Global Read Along, both of which require some higher order reading and thinking.  In addition, students will need to manage their time and work independently in order to do well.  We'll have a little fun along the way, too!

Back to School...Again!

     It's been a busy start to our school year, with a new reading series and all 4th and 5th grade students getting iPads.  Can you believe we are already doing our first round of MAP testing?  Mrs. Anderson has been busily working on the first group of new books, so they will be ready to check out on Thursday, September 19.  I am concentrating on planning for my classes, trying to make sure we hit all the standards we need to cover.
     Meanwhile, the calendar marches relentlessly on.  Soon, we will be having conferences, and our first book fair will run at the same time.  Mark your calendars:  the fair will be open for sure on Tuesday, October 8 and Thursday October 10 from 3:30 to 6:30, then on Friday, October 11 from 7:30 to 10:00.  We pack up right after that, since the materials need to go back to Scholastic the following week.  I am always in need of book fair volunteers, so give me a call at school (269-2187) and let me know when you can help.  We rely on the fair to purchase things like extra display shelves and classroom incentives.  This fall, I would like to make enough to buy a projector for our stepped room.
     I will have a hard copy newsletter to send home soon with all my online information and an update on what each grade level is doing.  Parents are always welcome in the LMC, so consider this an open invitation to stop in some time and check us out.