News from the library -- March 9, 2009

UPPER 5th/6th grade students have been studying Immigration. Since Mann has many international students, it has been fun sharing country flags with classmates. Students used the computer lab, atlases, and encyclopedias to search for their flag. They then made a replica of the flag to put up on the bulletin board outside of their classroom next to the library.

News from the library -- March 2, 2009

In celebration of Read Across America and Dr. Seusss's birthday, we are having an all-school READ-IN on Monday, March, 2nd. At 12:35 everyone, students and staff, will read for 15 minutes. Parents, please be on the look out for a Dr. Seuss packet that is coming home with a letter from Governor Culver, a certificate of participation, and a bibliography of books and websites that you can enjoy with your child.

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

5th/6th Grade ELP students are using a FUTURES PATHFINDER to assist them in their quest for information about Robotics. Literature integration is an important part of ELP, so the students are reading the novel: The Invention of Hugo Cabret. In collaboration with the ELP teacher, students are coming to the library to use KIDSPIRATION for making graphic organizers of a fictitious community they have invented. The students are also using the search engine NetTrekker to find information.

News from the library -- February 16, 2009

2nd GRADERS went on a story-telling adventure when we read Louise, The Adventures of a Chicken by: Kate DiCamillo. Ms. DiCamillo is well known for her others books: Because of Winn Dixie, The Miraclulous Journey of Edward Tulane, and The Tale of Despereaux.

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

INTERMEDIATE classes are knee-deep in NIGHT CREATURE RESEARCH. The students pick a night creature that they will research and start recording data in their classrooms using nonfiction books. Then they come to the library for encyclopedia research. This year students are using print resources along with online resources. They learn how to "chunk" information and record it on a Source List. Please take time to ask your child what different kinds of resources they used when getting to know more about their night creature. Better yet, have them show you how to access Work Book Online through http://www.iowaaeaonline.org/ .

PRINT: Student Discovery Encyclopedia and World Book
ONLINE: World Book Kids and World Book Students

News from the library -- February 2, 2009

PENGUINS PENGUINS ......... read all about them!!!!

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!

News from the library -- January 26, 2009

INTERMEDIATE classes are working diligently at reading many genres for their Optimist Good Reader packet. In library class this week we read a FANTASY story titled Good Enough To Eat that can count as one of the books read for Optimist. This book was definately a favorite with one of the main characters being an OGRE! Before reading, we had a discussion about the meaning of: foul, ravage, farrow, and dowry. In the end, it is the homeless girl that outwits everyone. The townspeople call her "Scraps-and-Smells", "Skin-and-Bones", and "Sweets-and-Treats", but she is the clever one who reaps the rewards at the end of the story. Fun book about make-believe!

News from the library -- January 19, 2009

Since we have had lots and lots of snow, and lots and lots of cold weather, it only seemed fitting to get comfortable and read winter stories. School was cancelled during the week of the official first day of winter because of you guessed it...too much snow and ice! THE FIRST DAY OF WINTER is a great story, so we read it anyway even if it's January.

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!

News from the Library -- January 12, 2009

Intermediate classes will be participating in the Coralville Noon Optimist Good Reader Program. The contest starts January 12th and ends February 20th. This project was established to recognize 3rd/4th grade students who enhance their reading skills, read a variety of different books, and learn more about the library.

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

This week we took a look at the famous, well-known poet, Jack Prelutsky. Intermediate & Upper classes listened to several entries from PIZZA, PIGS, and POETRY: How to Write a Poem. Using personal stories of his own, Prelutsky teaches readers how to turn their own experiences and stories about their friends, their family, and their pets into poems. We had many laughs as we read some of the stories and poems in this book! If you are one that loves poetry, dreams of being a poet, or needs inspiration for a classroom poetry assignment, this book is for you. Check it out at the Mann Library!

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!