Bookathon Friday: Thanksgiving Reading Plan

Alright Eagles, we're here!  It's go time.  We've been talking about it for a week now, but it's finally time to write down your Thanksgiving Reading Plan, and get going.  What's the plan?  You'll reflect on this in 9 days, so make sure it's something reasonable and something you can get done.  I can't wait!

Don't forget to also snap a photo of yourself Bookathon Reading during our nine days off, and email it to me, post it as a comment here, or email it to your classroom teacher.  We'll air those photos on morning broadcast, and post them to our school Facebook page!

Bookathon Thursday: Your Reading Resolution

Eagles, what's your reading goal for the rest of 2014?  We already got started on these during your Bookathon Orientations in the library, but today we will put it to paper.  Want to read more nonfiction?  Finish a book that's been on your bedside table for months?  Help your baby brother like books? Qualify for the Texas Bluebonnet Award Voting Party?  This is going to be different for everyone!

Bookathon Wednesday: To Be Read Lists

As part of the Bookathon, students were invited today to make a "To Be Read" or "TBR" List.  Check out Joseph's list below.  He's in 5th grade.  Ask your child what's on their TBR list for our Thanksgiving break and keep on reading!  One of the top ways you can encourage reading in your child is to be a reader yourself.  Make sure they see you reading in your daily life, be it a magazine, newspaper, or novel before bedtime. Reading is linked to success in all forms - give your child a head start on a great future!

As a bonus, here are my & Mrs. Vetter's "Share Your Reading Life" displays!

Bookathon Tuesday: Sharing Our Reading Lives

Classes were invited today to share their reading lives by making displays of recent books they've enjoyed.  Teachers, staff members, and students were all encouraged to participate to build a community of book recommendations.  5th grade made paper bookshelves with recommended titles, Ms. Moore's 3rd grade class designed a "readbox" similar to the Redbox movie rental kiosks, and Ms. Johnson & Ms. Sayaovong's 2nd grade classes made adorable mini sets of books they enjoyed.  Ms. Albin's Kindergarten class is thankful for books! The Intervention paraprofessional's bulletin board is truly stunning, featuring a fall landscape including pumpkin shaped book recommendations.  The Bookathon is in full swing and students everywhere are getting excited to read over our week long break.

Bookathon Starts Today!

As part of Forest North's initiative to combat the dreaded "summer slide," where students' reading skills decrease over breaks due to lack of practice, Forest North is celebrating a Bookathon the week before Thanksgiving.  

Today is our first day!  We are making lists of "Books We've Shared" together so far this year.  These give students a starting point to find authors & topics of books they're interested in so they always have an idea of what to read next. 

Stay tuned for our next Bookathon activity, all with the purpose of getting kids geared up to keep up with their reading over our break next week!

Thanks to Ms. Lynch, Mrs. Rhea & Mrs. Lavender for their Texts We've Shared Lists!

Special Services Students in the Library

One of my favorite parts of my job in the Library is having weekly visits with our Special Services classes- PPCD, FCC & PreK.  These classes have weekly times they come in to hear a story, sometimes do a craft or activity, and practice checking out books.

Mrs. Samaniego's PreKindergarten morning & afternoon classes came last week to read Big Red Apple by Tony Johnston.  Afterwards, we practiced our fine motor skills by coloring an apple, and using a glue stick to put the worm on the apple.  Romina, PreKindergarten student, colored this beautiful purple apple to commemorate our special reading time.  Great work, Romina!

Bookathon - Gobble Up a Book Over Break!

The Bookathon is almost here! 12 classes have already had their orientation lessons in the library, and the rest are coming through in the next few school days. Check out the plan for how we can make sure we stay great readers over Thanksgiving break!

Get a grown up to take photos of yourself reading over Thanksgiving break and email them to Mrs. Fournier or your teacher to be aired on the morning announcements!  We'll be getting lots of books ready for you to check out next week for our break. Have a great bookathon, Eagles!

The Day the Crayons Quit Day Wrap Up

Today was a great "Day the Crayons Quit" at Forest North.  

Drew Daywalt's book The Day the Crayons Quit, illustrated by Oliver Jeffers (my favorite picture book writer/illustrator!) is a unique book this year in RRISD because it's on this year's lists for both the Texas Bluebonnet Award & the Armadillo Readers Choice Award.

To celebrate this special coincidence, Forest North staff had a special day on 11/10!  Students, during their usual Special Areas rotation, will rotate through six special activities brought to you by Instructional Technology Specialist Jeff Brewton, Counselors Jill Peyton & Iben Dyke, Art Teacher Angie Bell, Music Teacher Jeanie Hermansen, Physical Education Teacher Amanda Chadney, and of course, Librarian Kristen Fournier.  Through the rotation, they will make digital art, exercise, have a rhythmic dance party, express their feelings, watch a video produced by the illustrator, and play a cool online game called Kahoot!

Students were encouraged to dress in their favorite color to celebrate The Day the Crayons Quit (hat, socks, shoes, shirt, pants, or any combination). It's a wonderful book filled with so much humor and joy, and we were thrilled to come together to celebrate one book as a community.