Texas Bluebonnet Award KickOff This Week!

I can't wait for another great year of the Texas Bluebonnet Program at Forest North!  It's my favorite time of year!

Choosing "Just Right" Books

I've has been teaching lots of classes about "Just Right" books this week. "Just Right" books are ones that help you become a better reader.  They're not too hard, not too easy- just right.  Sounds like Goldilocks, right?

Students in 1st and 2nd grade get one "Just Right" book, and one free choice book- something too hard, too easy, a comic, or anything else that's interesting to them.

Students in 3rd-5th grades get two "Just Right" books, and one free choice book - something too hard, too easy, a comic, or anything else that's interesting to them.

I really believe it's important to build lifelong learners and active readers.  Because of that, I champion the students' right to choose books they want. I work really hard to get books that are attractive, fun, and interesting to the kids. Students use the 5 finger test to make sure the books they select aren't too hard or too easy.

They start with all 5 fingers up. If they come to a word they don't know, they put their finger down. If they run out of fingers, it's too hard. If they have all their fingers up, it's too easy.  After reading all the words, they close the book and retell themselves what happened.  This last step is really important because these kids are amazing decoders- they can sound out any word you put in front of them, but that doesn't mean they actually understood it. I could read a scientific journal article about the latest paleontology technology, but that doesn't mean I actually understand all of it- I'm just very practiced at decoding!

I saw this 5th grader choosing books yesterday, and independently doing the 5 finger test, and it warmed my heart.  Way to go, Carmelo!  I appreciate you putting my lesson into action!

4th Grade Multiplication Bee is coming!

The 4th Grade Multiplication Bee is coming, Eagles!  Get your facts memorized and be prepared to battle it out to the final winner on October 21st, 2014.  Make sure your permission slips are submitted to your classroom teacher by October 20th, so that Mrs. Fournier can get your name on the bracket!  This is a great event each year.  I can't wait to see who reigns supreme as King or Queen of the Bee! 

Wake Up & Read

Wake Up & Read is almost here, Eagles!  Starting September 15th (once every class on campus has had Library Orientation), all students Kindergarten through 5th grade are invited to visit the Library daily before school (7:20-7:35) and check out new book/s!  This has been a very well-attended program throughout the past five years. Wake Up & Read will help give kids another option before school (in addition to the computer lab & running club) and will increase time students stay in class to maximize instruction during the school day. I can't wait to see everyone in the morning- Library Leaders will be on hand to help students find and check out books as wel.  It's going to be great!

Birthday Book Club

Mrs. Vetter & I invite you to join the Birthday Book Club! It's a great way to honor your student's birthday, and will brighten the day of countless students for many years.

A couple years ago, the McNeil choir came to sing for a Bluebonnet Fun night, and one of the students grabbed a book off the shelf.  She showed me the customized bookplate inside - it was her Birthday Book from 2003!  I thanked her & her family for donating so generously, because that book still gets checked out all the time.

If you'd like to leave a legacy of reading at Forest North, we invite you to join the Birthday Book Club!  Flyers go home during the month of your student's birthday, but you can join anytime.  Just click on the flyer & it'll take you to your own copy to print. We really appreciate your support!

Library Leaders

Mrs. Fournier was thrilled to kick off Library Orientations this week!  I already saw Kindergarten, 2nd grade, and 5th grade classes. 1st, 3rd & 4th grades are all coming next week. 

Students in 2nd-5th grade are all invited to apply for Library Leader positions.  This is the new incarnation of the program formerly known as Fournier's Friends- student volunteers who work in the library to keep it running smoothly. There are some changes this year to the program to help streamline it and make it more effective for both the students and Mrs. Fournier!

Library Leaders applications are due 9/15 - only two students will be selected per class, and typically we have about 60 applicants.  We will have two students serve each class in the fall, and an entirely new crew to serve each class in the spring, to maximize opportunities for interested candidates. We have a grading rubric that we use with completed applications to see which students know how to alphabetize, put numbers in order, and know how to help other students in the library. We're looking for students who can work independently, get great recommendations from their classroom teacher & have great customer service skills. We need dependable, reliable workers with good attendance records who will volunteer once a week before school or recess to help customers find and check out books, and manage checkout for their class. We encourage you to make sure those applications are complete and returned before the deadline!

Sound like something you'd like to do?  Get the application by clicking on the photo of the application, or come grab one in person from the Library.  

Half Price Books #LitFitness

I thought this was cool - I took the online pledge at Half Price Books to read 300 minutes in September.  Join me by clicking on the link, & maybe we'll win gift cards!