I want to go to the library this summer!

This week we were fortunate to have a visit from the fabulous Laura Jenkins - Ms. Laura to the kids - children's librarian at the CPL Uptown branch.  She presented about the Chicago Public Library summer reading program to our 1st-4th graders.   They were so excited to hear about all the fun to be had!


Sign up for the program begins June 20th at each library branch in the city.  This year you get a bag of free books just for signing up for the program!  And as you continue you can earn other prizes as well.  In addition to encouraging summer reading there are ways to create and discover as well.

If there are little brothers or sisters at home they can join in the fun too!  There's a little readers summer reading program.  I know I'm looking forward to taking my two little boys to sign up.


For more information follow the links below:

Rahm's Readers: Explore on the Go!
Little Readers: Explore on the Go! 

AGOPPE Research: Amelse's Class

And last, but not least, Amelse's class presentations.  You might notice on all the videos that students have included a slide that lets you know where they got their information.  They may not be writing formal citations yet, but all students should be giving credit to the sources that they use for information and images for every project.  One of the many things I like about Adobe Voice (now Adobe Spark) is that there's a credits slide at the end of the presentation that gives credit for the images used.  This class did a great job - take a look!

Author Study: Pinkney Family Trees

As part of our author/illustrator study of the Pinkney family, first graders created a family tree of the family using some of the mediums used by the family's illustrators.

Students began by painting a tree using watercolor, a medium Jerry Pinkney uses frequently to create his beautiful paintings.  I often use the website Reading Rockets to find out more about favorite author/illustrators and it did not disappoint.  It's definitely worth taking a look at if you have time.

Jerry Pinkney Reading Rockets Video Link

After painting their family tree, students used crayons and a pair of scissors to add something to their scene using the scratchboard technique that Brian Pinkney is known for.  Finally, students added photographs of each member of the Pinkney family since Myles Pinkney is a photographer.  They also glued on a piece of paper to give credit to the website where we got the photographs.

I love how their family trees turned out.

Author Study: The Pinkney Family

First graders have just completed their author/illustrator study of Caldecott winning illustrator Jerry Pinkney.  His wife, Gloria, writes children's books.  Their sons, Brian and Myles, are illustrators.  And Brian and Myles's wives, Andrea Davis and Sandra respectively, are children's authors.  What a talented family!  We've focused on illustration (especially since so many of Andrea Davis Pinkney's wonderful books are really for older students.)

We've read Pinkney family books and explored Jerry Pinkney's titles on his websites.  Then we used a variety of art supplies to create art in the style of all three Pinkney illustrators.  Tune in this weekend to find out more and take a look at some of the beautiful student art work!

Calling All Readers! We want YOU!

We hope to have a Battle of the Books program again next year!  If we do, we hope to see interested 4th-8th graders join us in reading fabulous books and participating in competitions about those books.  (That means if you're going to be a fourth grader next year, you would be able to participate.)

Here's a sneak peak at some of the titles that will be on next year's list.  It's never too early to start reading!

Grade 4-6

                

·         28 Days: Moments in Black History that Changed the World. By Charles R. Smith Jr.  Roaring Brook Press, 2015.

·         Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff.  Puffin Books, 2015.

·         Funny Bones: Posada and his Day of the Dead Calaveras by Duncan Tonatiuh. Abrams, 2015.

• Slacker by Gordon Korman.  Scholastic, 2016.

·         Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer, Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement by Carole Boston Weatherford. Candlewick, 2015.

    

Grade 7-8

• Booked by Kwame Alexander HMH Books, 2016.

·         Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings: A Memoir by Margarita Engle. Atheneum, 2015.

• The Marvels by Brian Selznick. Scholastic Press, 2015.
• Rhythm Ride: A Road Trip through the Motown Sound by Andrea Davis Pinkney.  Roaring Brook Press, 2015.
• The Smoking Mirror: Garza Twins Book One by David Bowles. IFWG Publishing, 2015. 

Battle of the Books City Finals

Battle of the Books City Finals was this past weekend.  I am so proud of our teams.  This is the first year Disney participated in Battle of the Books and both our 4th-6th grade teams and 7th-8th grade teams qualified to go to the City Finals this past weekend.  (This means that both teams were in the top 15 scoring teams of all the participating schools.  There were originally 98 4th-6th grade teams and 81 7th-8th grade teams.)

Both teams worked incredibly hard and it was a joy to work with them for Battle of the Books.  Eighth graders we will miss you next year!

(Thanks to Ms. Herceg for this picture.)

And the winners are: Rebecca Caudill Award

Disney's choices for the Rebecca Caudill Award:

Third Place Tie:
Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25 by Richard Paul Evans
and
Rump by Liesl Shurtliff

Second Place:  See You at Harry's by Jo Knowles

First Place:  Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Illinois's Rebecca Caudill Winners:

Third Place: Hidden by Helen Frost

Second Place: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

First Place: Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25 by Richard Paul Evans