Wednesday, March 4, 2009
News from the library -- March 9, 2009
News from the library -- March 2, 2009
KINDERGARTEN got a close-up look of the art of POP-UP books when we read Horton Hears a Who! Everyone loved learning how pop-up books have tabs, wheels, and flaps to create a really fun reading experience.
1st/2nd GRADERS read Happy Birthday to You! This book was first published in 1959 making it the 50th Anniversary of the book. The students had fun calculating that 1959 + 50 = 2009! WOW! The book's theme celebrates being you with repeating lines of "I AM I!".
News from the library -- February 23, 2009
News from the library -- February 16, 2009
In Louise, The Adventures of a Chicken, Lousie longs for adventure... true adventure! The book is divided into three chapters: Louise At Sea, Louise Up High, and Louise Unbound. Can you guess where Louise's adventures will take her? The students had fun predicting the settings of each chapter. If you enjoy storytelling or just plain long for an adventure...this is definately a book for you!
News from the library -- February 9, 2009
PRINT: Student Discovery Encyclopedia and World Book
ONLINE: World Book Kids and World Book Students
News from the library -- February 2, 2009
PRESCHOOL has been having fun reading fantasy stories about penguins. First, we read the story What's a Penguin to Think When He Turns Pink! by: Lynne Rickards. In this story, the students had a lot of opportunity to discuss what it meant to be "different", how someone feels when they are being teased and how to accept people for who they are.
The second story we read was Turtle's Penguin Day by: Valeri Gorbachev. After reading a story with his father about penguins, Turtle dreams about being a PENGUIN! He dresses up like a penguin and goes off to school. Instead of being teased for looking different, all of his friends think it's cool and want to be penguins just like Little Turtle. Students had fun doing their penguin walk as they checked out books.
Valeri Gorbachev is a beautiful illustrator. So we also looked at some of the other books he has written and illustrated. If you get a chance...look for books by Valeri Gorbachev at the local library!
Friday, February 27, 2009
News from the library -- January 26, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
News from the library -- January 19, 2009
PRESCHOOL: You can't help but start humming to the tune of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" when you read this book. This cumulative tale really got the preschoolers chanting along as I "read" the story. They all sang in unison the ending of each page which was the snowman wearing... a red cap with a gold snap. Author: Denise Fleming, has also written Beetle Bop, Buster, and In the Small, Small Pond.
KINDERGARTEN went on a realistic vs. fantasy adventure while reading SNOW GLOBE FAMILY by: Jane O'Connor. A "big" family (real) meets a "little" family (make-believe) who lives inside a snow globe that sits on top of their fireplace mantel inside the big house. Both families long for a snowstorm so that they can go sledding. When the big family gets their wish and gets to go outside sledding ... will the little snow family be as lucky? Ask your child what happens in this parallel adventure.
1st GRADERS read another book by one of their favorite authors, Jan Brett. THE THREE SNOW BEARS is set in the Artic and is a wintry spin on the Goldilocks and the Three Bears tale. We learned that Jan Brett actually traveled to northern Canada to research and meet the Inuit people who she based her characters on. Great illustrations as always!
Friday, January 2, 2009
News from the Library -- January 12, 2009
The Good Reader Program was introduced this week during library time and students and teachers will collaborate in completing the activites and reading books from different genres. It is our goal at Mann to get everyone involved to make this project a huge success. An award ceremony will take place after the 6 weeks to recognize everyone's hard work.
Winning BOOKMARKS will be displayed on the bulletin board outside the library. Be sure to visit the library and check-out who the winners are!
News from the Library -- January 5, 2009
After two weeks off for Winter Break, this week was spent reviewing Library Rules & Expectations and reading some really fun and informational books. First grade listened to THE SHELF ELF which helped them revisit proper library behavior and book care. During reading, everyone had a chance to practice using shelf markers just like the main character Skoob the Shelf Elf does. After reading, as a whole class, we brainstormed a list of Library Rules on chart paper.
Kindergarten got a chance to predict what a Book Wolf is before reading the story WINSTON THE BOOK WOLF. This story is a twist on the classic Little Red Riding Hood and depicts good vs. evil. Everyone fell in love with Winston the Book Wolf as he realized that words taste even better when you eat them with your eyes! Ask your child about all of the characters they spied in the illustrations from other Fairy Tales.
Second grade listened to GOLDIE SOCKS and the THREE LIBEARIANS, a clever twist on an old classic. Sound familiar? Goldie Socks takes readers on a journey as she encourages them to find a book that's just right for them. Second graders have been working really hard during check-out in choosing a book that is just right for their reading level. Have your child practice reading by sharing their book with you. Their second book choice can be a "dream" book: a book that is too hard, poetry, or nonfiction books about animals/solar system, etc.
Skoob the Shelf Elf is back! Intermediate classes had a refresher course on the neighborhoods in the library as we read the book THE SHELF ELF HELPS OUT. Pastel illustrations along with fun and informative text, helped students remember the Dewey Decimal System and take a walk through the Non Fiction section of the library. This was a great pre-activity to get us ready for the Optimist Good Reader Program that starts January 12th.
News from the Library -- December 15, 2008
First & Second Graders enjoyed listening to poems from another new book written by Jack Prelutsky titled: AWFUL OGRE RUNNING WILD. The unforgettable Awful Ogre is back and still irresistibly gross in this sequel to AWFUL OGRE'S AWFUL DAY. Students learned that poetry books can be found in the Non-Fiction section of the library and got a chance to locate these books in the 811 section. They also had an option to check-out a poetry book as their 2nd book choice. Be on the look out for these fun poetry books that your child brings home, and have fun reading them together!
Sunday, December 7, 2008
News from the library -- December 8, 2008
In preparation for classroom mural making, they also watched Jan Brett's video on "How to Draw a Gingerbread". Please ask your child about this http://www.janbrett.com/, and enjoy Jan Brett's website together!
Intermediate and Upper Classes: This week students learned how to access Iowa AEA Online. This site requires a username and log-in that can be found on the AEA Online brochure that was sent home in Monday Folders. Please ask your child all about ClipArt and WorldBook Online. Enjoy viewing these great resources together at http://www.iowaaeaonline.org/.
Friday, November 28, 2008
News from the library--December 1, 2008
E-BOOKS can be accessed by going to the Iowa City Public Library website http://www.icpl.org/. Students practiced doing this, so please ask them how to get on to Tumblebooks. Just follow the directions below:
- http://www.icpl.org/
- Click on KIDS button
- Click on READING button
- Click on Tumblebooks.com
- Click on the red STORY BOOKS button
- Choose a book title to listen to from the A-Z list
- Listen and enjoy!
News from the library--November 23, 2008
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
News from the library--November 17, 2008
Students worked in partners as they did AUTHOR and TITLE searches using the online catalog. This was good exposure in getting familiar with the books on the ICCA list. Please be on the look out for Iowa Children's Choice Award books that your child checks out. A bookmark will be sent home for each student to keep track of what they have read.
News from the library--November 10,2008
Sunday, November 2, 2008
News from the Library--November 3, 2008
Upper grades worked really hard the past several weeks in preparation for Ms. O'Connor's visit. In addition to reading some of her books, we watched a book trailer about her latest book Greetings from Nowhere. We also worked in partners to answer questions that could be found on her website.