FAB-uloso Idea

Click through and read her blog post. Then come back. ;]

OK. Isn't it fun? I've been moping a little bit because I couldn't get any teachers behind Star Wars Reads Day. They were too overwhelmed/stressed/perhaps not SW fans. But something like this I could do on my own. Now, it will have to wait until the spring bookfair because we are broke in terms of anything beyond book money. Even that is just about gone. And I can't keep spending my own cash. The prizes for the pumpkin book character contest got EXPENSIVE. But here is what I am thinking.

April. It's the blah-blah-blah testing month. Ugh. WE WILL NEED SOME FUN.
I already have a play light saber. :]
Just need to get a stand-up (or, preferably, borrow one, as they are not cheap ... several years ago we had a family that had a life size Yoda statue which was AWESOME but they are gone now).


AND ... two things I got during the cyber sale at TPT?

Literature Circles From a Galaxy Far Far Away (LOVE. Why did I not think of this?)
Say Anything Blank Comics (has a couple Star Wars inspired pages ... another DUH Why did I not think of this moment? Do you know how many SW-centric clip art packages I have?)

I am home today with a rotten, rotten headache. Dunno if it's a cold or allergies or I am developing migraines. Ninety percent of this post was pre-written. Maybe I'll take a nap and get some great ideas. I hate missing school ... even worse when I really don't feel good. It's more fun to take a MENTAL health day than a physical one. :X

Cyber Monday & Lessons I Got/Want

I WON I WON I WON on Kathy Law's GGG giveaway. I first learned about Kathy with her awesome book-based games. Then I discovered how much the kids loved her color by codes. And she created some super cute FREE fonts. I'm sure you have probably already heard of her but if you haven't check out her blog here and her store here.
I got some more color by codes as well as the magnet game and an ABC order activity. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!! The kids are going to be super excited!

(Edit in June 2013 ... since I'd deleted some of the pins ... some of this won't make sense!)
These are some other things I'm thinking of getting on the big TPT or TN sales. I spend way too much money there on teaching ideas and clip art (Etsy for that, too, but more and more of the artists are heading to TPT!). Do other librarians ever find it kind of hard to "guess" what you might get to use or not? I buy stuff and then sometimes can't ever convince a teacher to let me have their kids. Or we change our minds entirely from things that we've done in one way or another for several years. Oh well. It's still fun and I can use the ideas with my nieces or nephews.



Pink Cat Studios. I love more and more of the stuff she's started posting. Her Elves pattern recognition is cheap and easy ... something for the kiddos that can't check out books (long long long overdues where you get no response from home :/) or the kiddos who are fast at picking books and then start ... getting into trouble.




Love these polar bears. Need to think of something to do with them! Either some story activities or research. Or both. Never mind that I already had a Scrappin Doodles polar bear (she had an awesome sale yesterday ... did you take advantage? Oh, wait. IT'S STILL ON! Through Monday, anyway.)




Well of course.




Actually already have this one cause the TN sale started already. Not sure when I'll use it but of course, again. Seemed perfect for the library.




Don't really know this tacher author but I love Oliver Jeffers and the ideas seem fun.




The younger the students the more I have to work at it. They don't come naturally (is it the former high school teacher in me?). I quite often forget to be as explicit as you need to be. So I think this is a good idea.




Ideas for the kiddos that aren't actually on the iPad? (We only have two ... and only one has any of the paid apps.)


I love all of her ideas for questions and challenges and projects. I don't come up with ideas like this. Or ... when I do? Takes A LOT of work. Either she comes up with them much easier or is willing to part with the ideas for much less than I would ... cause the price is very reasonable for her ideas!



These look cute for science stations in the library. Can't decide ... can totally see this being something I get and then don't get to use. But I might get it anyway. Or get it and MAKE SURE I don't give up until I have students in to use the activities with!

Source: teacherspayteachers.com via Angie on Pinterest

Remember this? She has more! They are cute! The kids have fun and there you are, integrating math into library time. (Is it just me? Not my strong point.) I started playing around making my own (you know me and clip art) but she's added several more to her store and they are cute and not expensive in the least!


There are more but I don't want this post to be completely overwhelming. ;]



PS Most of my little store is fun reading display signs and bookmarks. Got some fun holiday and winter themed ones. Though I do like the little packet I put up for My Penguin Osbert or the Penguin Patterns activity. It's all 20% today through Tuesday. Monday and Tuesday you have the additional 10% off from TPT.

Tuesday Pins

Sort of like a weekend, right? Happy Thanksgiving!



I want this desk now. Must stop with the card catalog!












Oh, and like this one, too.

What Are You Reading Monday

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journeys. It is a great way to recap what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and to plan out your reading and reviews for the upcoming week. It's also a great chance to see what others are reading right now… who knows, you might discover that next “must read” book!

Our Kid Lit to YA version is hosted by Teach Mentor Texts.
GREAT IDEA! Check out all of the What Are You Reading? participants for title ideas.


Making the Moose Out of Life by Nicholas Oldland
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Pictures are more fun than the actual story.


The Bear in the Book by Kate Banks
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Eh. OK but I didn't love it.


Seizure by Kathy Reichs
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Read on the (hopefully) tail end of a monster headache so maybe that is why I'm giving it a 3 instead of a 4.
I mean ... it's fun. Pirates! Ghost tours! Secret tunnels!
Just something didn't quite gel for me.


Invincible Microbe: Tuberculosis and the Never-Ending Search for a Cure by Jim Murphy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I thought it was quite interesting ... but with one caveat. I am the daughter of a doctor in public health. I grew up hearing about and watching concerns of spreading diseases and the importance of taking medications properly as well as getting vaccinations. There were some great primary source photographs and ads sprinkled throughout the pages. Plus I love reading historical fiction where consumption or delicate constitutions often played a part in the storyline.
If I did not have that background I'm not sure I would have found this as fascinating, though. Can't quite put my finger on or. Something about the delivery was not as compelling as, for example, JM's book about the great Chicago fire.


A Christmas Garland: A Novel by Anne Perry
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Anne Perry is one of my favorite writers. She conveys such a sense of place .... whether it be on the dank foggy streets of London, a barge on the Thames, or in India.
Interesting to meet Narraway as a younger man.
Just a lot of ... philosophical rumblings in this one. SOME would be important to the story. I just sort of feel like there was so much it distracted from the story.

The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

While the constant influx of fantasy "series" may get a little tiresome ... this one still WORKS. WIth a nice twist I didn't see coming. Maybe I should have but I didn't. ;]

View all my reviews



MY MANY READING PLANS FOR THE WEEK--Will I make a dent in this stack? ;]


The Spindlers by Lauren Oliver







Son by Lois Lowry







The Edge of Nowhere by Elizabeth George







In A Glass Grimmly by Adam Gidwitz


(FINALLY! I started it on Netgalley but the E-ARC was more than a little frustrating so I gave up. :/)



I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga







The Second Spy by Jacqueline West







Benjamin Franklinstein Meets Thomas Deadison by Matthew McElligott








Happy Reading! And Happy Thanksgiving Week!

Me and Bookmarks

You know how I love them. They're a freebie on TPT as well.

Temptation

I found this on Craigslist this morning. I have never randomly searched Craiglist for anything before in my life.

This would be for home, not school. Craftiness. Office supplies. TV remotes. I don't know ... it's just so tempting.

So not a bargainer, though.

Turkeys

My brother made this turkey in elementary school. He will be turning 21 on Tuesday. Mom still has it. :)


So enjoy this week. Do something fun that lets the kids be thankful they are KIDS.

We get the week off ... two days are supposedly "teacher choice" where they can use all the after school professional development hours. We teacher librarians? We work the extra days at the end of the contract. Even though we go to after hours trainings as well.

And now I am going back into my allergy induced headache brain fog. Love the great outdoors. Not so happy with pollen.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Read & Watch Books

I got an email from Stenhouse a day or two ago and finally opened it. I am curious.

Has anyone Read or Watched one of these books? They look like they might swing older than elementary but I'm still intrigued. The originally secondary ed teacher in me is curious.

BUT as I've been spending too much $ for school stuff lately. And am very like building a house next year (Pinterest friends ... I will still be interested in library and school and tech stuff ... just don't be surprised if you see more house stuff coming through, too!) so need to be WAY better at saving ... can't just take the plunge. But they're on sale! But I really need to be better about spending. But they look good! And you can preview them online! But. But. But.

Digitally Speaking - Stenhouse Publishers--says 4-12 and what I can see so far looks interesting. Communication is SUCH an important skill. Just not sure if I'd get to use it enough in the library to make it worth buying and reading. Or maybe I should just for ME.

Reading Amplified - Stenhouse Publishers--very curious about some of the tools they mention in the description. Though they do sound like the 7-12 suggested grades and not sure with all the tweaking that would have to be done it's worth it at this point with my current students.

Word Travelers - Stenhouse Publishers--still recommends older than most of my students but might be more easily adapted ... again, would I get to ever use it? So much of what I buy or find online I don't ever actually get to use. :/ Can't have the kids for long enough because there's just not enough hours in the day when everyone wants something from the library. And it's not always cool lessons. A lot of the time it is, thank heavens. But not always. :/






Nighttime Tylenol (A POX ON YOU, POLLENS AND MOLDS!!!) is kicking in so good night. Wonder what the election news will be in the morning. Or ... by the time this post goes live we may already know. Maybe.

Playing Hooky

Niece is in town so we went to the zoo. I did see a QR code in a poster that was very simple but actually gave me an idea for school. So not being a total teacher slacker. Being an aunt. :)



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

What Are You Reading Monday

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journeys. It is a great way to recap what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and to plan out your reading and reviews for the upcoming week. It's also a great chance to see what others are reading right now… who knows, you might discover that next “must read” book!

Our Kid Lit to YA version is hosted by Teach Mentor Texts.
GREAT IDEA! Check out all of the What Are You Reading? participants for title ideas.


Benny and Penny in The Big No-No! by Geoffrey Hayes
My rating: 3 of 5 stars






Benny and Penny in the Toy Breaker by Geoffrey Hayes
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The little animals are cute.
Will have to see what the kids think of this. Do they recognize the friend that always breaks things?


The Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred : Spanish/ English by Samantha R. Vamos
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
OK. The former Spanish teacher in me is excited by this one. Good reason to practice.  I also love the colorful art. Wish I could actually make arroz con leche as we read this. #somanyrules

Edwin Speaks Up by April Stevens
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
Hmmm. I am not sure what to say about this book.
The idea is funny. Poor little misunderstood baby who if people who just LISTEN to him? He knows what's going on!
But ... all the bickering between the other siblings was more than a little annoying. I don't love this one.

Wiener Wolf by Jeff Crosby
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I love the picture with the silhouettes of a howling Wiener Wolf and the real wolf against the moon. And Wiener Wolf/Dog's eyes at the end of the chase (I prefer not to think of WHY they are so big ... just that it is funny he saw something that freaked him out).

On a totally unrelated note I think it is ironic the book description uses the word "ennui." Now, I can make a fairly educated guess from context what that word means ... but am I SURE? Would I EVER use that word on my own? Nope.

Wiener Wolf by Jeff Crosby
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I love the picture with the silhouettes of a howling Wiener Wolf and the real wolf against the moon. And Wiener Wolf/Dog's eyes at the end of the chase (I prefer not to think of WHY they are so big ... just that it is funny he saw something that freaked him out).

On a totally unrelated note I think it is ironic the book description uses the word "ennui." Now, I can make a fairly educated guess from context what that word means ... but am I SURE? Would I EVER use that word on my own? Nope.

No Dogs Allowed! by Linda Ashman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I do love this story. Shows what having an accepting and welcoming attitude can do.
I, however, am not a natural storyteller--I need the words on the page to help! So I'm not exactly sure how to share this one with the kids in a group setting. Will definitely recommend for checkouts, though.

Same, Same But Different by Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Love the illustrations and the juxtaposition of two different (but the same!) worlds.

I remember having a penpal from Swaziland when I was a kid. We continued to write for a couple years then drifted from doing so.

I know there are epals and Skype chats (when time zones can match up) with classes from other countries. I just don't see anyone doing them in my circles. Dunno if it's because I just don't hear about it (I'm the school librarian ... so to do anything with kids I need to get the teacher on board) or because they are so busy with testing and interventions and differentiation and accountability it keeps getting pushed down on the list of "to dos."

Stars by Mary Lyn Ray
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Some good advice in here about keeping a star in your pocket as well as sharing. And all the different places you can find a star.
LOVE the illustrations. Oddly enough not as big a fan of the font choice but that is not a huge thing.


Still need to finish Feedback. And get to In a Glass Grimmly. Allergy headaches pretty much knocked me out after school every day. That or meetings. #abitonthewimpysidearentI?

Oh! And here are some bookmarks if you like them. Had trouble coming up with different "sayings." If you have an idea let me know and I'll update the file!

Currently & Thankful For

Farley's Link Up

New One ... Stories by Storie

Weekend MisMash

Nothing too interesting to talk about this week.
I did make some veterans (see Deanna Jump's packet for the pattern!) with a kinder class yesterday. Will get pics next week. They are super cute/funny. Some of them are better at following directions than others. Of course, that describes all of us, does it not?



Still working on a couple more data board posts. And discovered some problems with links in the previous one so I'll get those fixed. :/


Could be BRILLIANT. Could be disastrous.


Thanks to allergies my head feels like it's going to explode. It cannot, however, because WINNIE and PENNY are visiting this weekend! They are my nieces. Five and a month away from one. They used to live in town and then moved six hours away.

In honor of their visit I did put my little random bits of a TPT store on sale through Monday. Apparently you can't have a sale longer than four days or I would have made it through Tuesday. I need to fix the preview pic for I'll OWL-ways Love Reading because I like it. And the holiday version as well. Gotta Love Digital Bake Shop graphics.

I am taking a personal day on Tuesday to hang out with them. Voting takes place in our school library and since they have people to run that and don't need me, and since with this being a presidential election year and it bound to be busy, and since it being busy makes the library super noisy but not with the sounds of learning and that makes me highly anxious ... WHY NOT?