Currently Hoarding

I should start by saying that I had every intention of posting earlier this week ~ more than once, including yesterday, but well, we all  know about good intentions. Having said that....hold on to your seats ladies and gents, this is going to be one heck of a post! I have LOTS and LOTS to share!

Let's begin here with my March Currently! You know how I love blog hopping, and this linky-party is so much fun! Be sure to check out all the amazing blogs out there! Farley at Oh' boy 4th Grade is such an awesome blogger and linky-party host. :)

I know it is rather nerdy of me, but I was very excited to have a few quiet moments to work and clean in my room. Lately, I have been getting as much of my planning done throughout the week and later on Friday afternoons as I can, and having done so, I still have much more left undone. Having no formal plans Saturday morning, I was eager to spend some time in my room, getting things in order. The quiet of my house and the quiet of my classroom are much different for some reason, and while I find the first rather lonely at times, I find the latter oddly comforting. Maybe it is all those wonderful books!

*So I belatedly discovered that I had not followed all of the directions of Farley's Currently this month. :/ Let's see if I can remedy this at all...hmmm...like, love, and hate...all starting with the letter "T"...like: tea ~ haha...lots of sweet tea that I miss because of this diet that I am so miserably failing at this time...love: time, extra time if I ever find it. Doesn't happen often so when it does, I cherish it! Hate: hmmm...that is a harder one because I am not a huge fan of the word...can I still use "this diet" LOL...that starts with a "T." I guess I'll leave it at that. Wow...here's to following directions, wink wink!

This week was a week that most teachers have a love/hate relationship with: Literacy Week. (A spirit week of sorts.)  Now, while all things literacy should make me nothing but happy, this week in particular was enough to wear out anyone! But the kiddos love it so much that it is hard to hold a grudge no matter how worn out I was by Friday.

My class showing off their fun hats!

Here is Mrs. Whitt's sweet group!

So we survived crazy sock day, hat day, wacky Wednesday, and then Thursday rolled around. Thursday was wear your favorite college t-shirt/ sweatshirt day, but that was only the beginning. We also had a district-wide assessment, field trip, tutoring, and parent-night all rolled into one day. Whoo....to say that I was exhausted by the end of the night would be an understatement.

Below are pics of my sweet kiddos at the high school production of "Thoroughly Modern Millie." It was a great field trip, lots of fun, and boy did the kids enjoy it. The kiddos were excited to see one of their very own classmates in the play!

 

 

 

Just look at our own Sam (in red hat)!

Our Parent-Night was a grand success! We had such an amazing turnout, and it is always such fun to see kiddos having so much fun, past and present.

One of my precious kiddos...and me covered in
cotton candy...such a sweetly dangerous booth to work!

That brings us to Friday: dress as your favorite book character day! Friday morning we were graced with the presence of Pinkalicious, Hermoine, Katniss, a couple Cats in Hats, Grandma Dowdel, the witch from the Wizard of Oz, Annabeth Chase, Percy himself, among others! 

 

 

Of course that is not the only fun we had this week. The wonder of book fair pulled and teased at us all week. My crazy-self more than others no doubt. 

I found this lovely on Pinterest this week and found it
perfectly fitting in its description of myself!

Below you will see the results of my first and second trips to the book fair. Perfect new additions to our ever-growing library!

     

Now for most, the spoils of this year's book fairs would be enough, but I guess this is what makes me a couple of books away from a hoarder. Our book order just so happened to come in Friday afternoon, topping off a perfectly hectic week! Have you ever seen a group of kiddos when a book order comes in? Instant insanity! I wonder if I was like that myself as a fourth grader...haha.

Great new titles ~ Whoop Whoop!

Here is why I do what I do with all these books! It is something that I read in The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller. She described a "book frenzy" of recommendations and book choices in the first days of establishing Reading Workshop. I have tried to continue that myself throughout the year. There is nothing that I like more than students coming to me for book recommendations. At each student request I jump up with joy and start flying through baskets looking for the best books for said student, and I do not stop until I have stacks and stacks for him or her to choose from. Each student will spend some time perusing book covers and blurbs before choosing their 8-10 favorites to set back as a sort of "reading plan."

Students add stacks of books they are planning to read
 in their cubbies. There is nothing I like more than to see
 stacks dwindle until I know that in due time kiddos will come
 to me asking for more recommendations!
You can see that some stacks are larger than others,
 a few will be coming to me shortly!  

Whew...what an eventful week! That might explain exactly why I left Friday afternoon with my desk looking like...

Holy cow...look at that mess!
I was so tired I didn't even care! LOL

This is why I was so excited to have time to spend alone
cleaning and organizing a week of hot mess!

Now time for some great picture books to add to my picture book a day efforts. 

The first I want to share is Daisy-Head Mayzie by Dr. Seuss. This I shared with my kiddos not only because it is a fun and classic Dr. Seuss of course, but because this was my choice of costume for our Character Day. I love the rhyme and rhythm of Seuss books, and even more, I love that you can always find a good theme! Dr. Seuss was never afraid to teach a moral lesson.

He's Got the Whole World in His Hands is another Kadir Nelson masterpiece! I cannot say enough just how amazingly talented Mr. Nelson is. He has transformed this well known children's song into such beautiful imagery. My kiddos were in love! I first fell in love with Mr. Nelson's illustrations while reading Will Smith's Just the Two of Us, and this new one does not disappoint. This is a great example of how illustrations can carry a text so much further.

Michael Garland is another favorite illustrator, but Fish Had a Wish was something I hadn't seen from him before. This was a new purchase from the book fair, and although, it is somewhat simplistic for fourth graders, the message is an important one! We can spend our days wishing away or we can appreciate all that we are and all that we have. LOVE the message and the illustrations!

My next book is a purely selfish share. I originally bought Leap Back Home to Me as a graduation card for Katie Byrd. When I saw it again, I knew I had to buy a second copy for me to keep myself. I shared it with my kiddos, and I asked them why I might have bought it for her. They all knew just why I thought this sweet story a much more perfect graduation card than an actual card. Such a smart class I have!

One of Katie Byrd's little gifts for graduation

All sweet picture books, and all full of easy lessons of theme and inferring. 

Happy Reading!

She's Bookish

Well, it's that time of year again...Book Fair. Most of you know that I have a love/hate relationship with the book fair. I love walking into a room full new books...the beautiful covers, that intoxicating new book smell, with so, so many to choose from, but I hate how that takes away from our classroom order. ...Points! points! I need points....

OK...not really...I am exaggerating, just a bit. But here's the rub: no matter what little part of me hates the book fair, the love of it pulls me more and oh my goodness I snagged up some great deals Friday. I couldn't help myself! I wish I had taken a pic of all of the great additions to our ever-growing library. Whoo-hoo...I found some awesome graphic novels that any number of my kiddos called dibs on.(Often and loud, LOL)  To keep from having a mad rush to the library ~ you know, the kind that leaves kiddos screaming, "I had it first!" or "I was going to read that!" with possibly a few injuries involved ~ I have taken to hiding them in baskets a couple at a time. 

I just have to mention that when I pulled out the stack of books to share with the kiddos and to do some book talks, well a few kids went on and on about how many books I had already bought for the classroom even before the book fair officially opened. One of my sweet kiddos said, "Of course she buys a lot: she's bookish!" If that doesn't bring a smile to your face, nothing will.

I also found a couple of cute picture books, and I have to share one with you tonight. As soon as I saw it, I knew I had to get it. It really made me think of that lesson we do at the beginning of the year when we set up our Reading Workshop: How readers choose books.

The cover of this sweet book, Ladybug Girl at the Beach, immediately reminded me of my sweet Freddy boy, and I was drawn to it. There was no question as to whether or not I would be walking out the library with this book in my hand. I would read this book just to see the adventures of Ladybug girl and her faithful companion, Bingo. Bingo is the spitting image of my own precious Basset Hound that we just recently lost, so of course this book pulled at my heart strings. I couldn't wait to share it with the kiddos, and they were so sweet asking questions about Fred. Kids are always so full of the most compassion!

Common themes in literature: Courage

My own sweet Fred with Joshua!

This week is our Literacy week, so we have a ton of great activities planned. More than most kids will probably be able to handle (OK ~ in all honesty, probably more than most teachers will be able to handle), but we will make the most of it all and have a blast learning!

Monday: Paw Pride T-shirt and Crazy Sock Day

Tuesday: Hats off to Dr. Seuss

Wednesday: Wacky Wednesday

Thursday: Wear you favorite college T-shirt

Friday: Story book character day 

Whoop - whoop...who's ready for some fun! I will try to get pics up as soon as I can.

In the mean time, happy reading guys!

Dark Confessions

OK...I have to admit something. I almost hate to do so because I have no doubts that I will have some pretty discontented kiddos come Monday morning. I only admit it now half hoping to see how many of said kiddos will read this post and let me know all about it!

I know that I have mentioned that we have stolen a few minutes at the end of each day to enjoy a read aloud here and there. Our latest adventure has taken us into the Dark Life by Kat Falls.

Well, on to confessions...this was my first time to read it, and my kiddos have seemed to like that we were talking through and predicting events together. (Wow! Some deep conversations, for sure!) All the same, after reading it Friday afternoon, the story kept calling to me, and...well, you guessed it: I just could not help but to finish it.

Although my kiddos will probably let me know exactly what their thoughts are on this matter come next week, I can promise you it was worth whatever grief I just might face. I have fallen in love with Kat Falls, and the wonderful world she has created in Dark Life. I cannot wait to continue sharing it with my sweet and excited class! I have a few kiddos in mind that are chomping at the bit to see what will happen next, and they will not be disappointed!

Ok...now here are a few wonderful picture books for you!

The first book is not for the faint of heart, LOL....but it is most surely one to bring hoots of laughter from your kiddos ~ boys more than girls, of course! This new addition to our library was a gift from a student that told me as soon as she saw it, she knew it should be in my classroom. (Not exactly sure what that says about my classroom or my smelly kiddos, hehe)  Pee-ew! Is That you, Bertie? by David Roberts is a hysterical look at something no doubt encountered by all classroom teachers. It also doesn't hurt that it is crammed with (you won't be surprised I am sure) tons and tons of thoughtfully crafted onomatopoeia! Didn't take my kiddos long to notice that!

Looks like Bertie is not the only smelly one in the family!
I also have no doubts that most families have experienced the above. LOL

The next book I want to share is Fiona's Luck by Teresa Bateman. I couldn't tell you exactly why I love St. Patrick's Day or leprechaun books as much as I do, but these books are some of my favorites. Maybe it's because I love to try to throw out an Irish lilt here and there as I read, and while I am under no illusion that it is a good one, the kiddos don't seem to mind it. :) Fiona is a beautiful, smart, and sassy character, and I love that she doesn't wait to find luck but makes it for herself! It doesn't hurt that Kelly Murphy did a beautiful job with the illustrations!

Last, but not least, Our Children Can Soar by Michelle Cook is stunning look at history and perseverance.  I love the story and its message. Michelle Cook did a marvelous job of demonstrating what true inspiration, hard work, and determination can help others achieve. So beautiful!

Empty Nests, Waterfalls, and Sweet Little Valentines

Three of the many stacks of books around
the house, begging to be opened.

Most days I would say that my kids are far from grown, my youngest being only fifteen. But more days than I care for lately, I find myself alone in the overwhelming quiet of my home (sometimes I feel that the quiet is so much louder than the rough-housing banter of a house filled with boys) with only a book to keep me company, Josh being the workaholic that he is and probably will always be. There are so many things I am sure that I SHOULD do as it seems the house wishes to fall down around me (all warranties having long since expired) and the once manicured and often complimented flower beds have been forcibly returned to the wilds of wisteria and trumpet vine or even the incessant worry of new common core standards to wrap my head around constantly eating at me. Yet more often than not, I find myself lost in the familiar and comfortable surroundings of my latest book, always telling myself just one more chapter, just one more page. I suppose there may be nothing as easy to build an empty nest with than the many piles of books that litter my bedroom or office, waiting for the promise of reading. Even now as I type this, the quiet looms around me and pull of my favorite characters call. LOL....Here's to being well-rounded, right?

Any~who... I did manage pull my hubby away from work long enough to spend the day together. (I even talked him into listening to one of my favorite audio books on the way, hehe.) We hiked beautiful Petit Jean Mountain and visited the falls. It was such a wonderful day! We have been to Cedar Falls often, and I enjoy it more each time. You might think however that it would get easier and easier but goodness knows that climb down still takes my breath away.

I know I mentioned in my last post how much we were looking forward to our Lightning Thief unit, and now that we have dived in, we are simply beyond loving it! When the kiddos are begging to read on, well you know you've got a great book! The touch of humor sure makes it a bit easier for us to connect to the mythology. It doesn't hurt that Percy has just a tinge of hard-headed sarcasm, and it cannot be surprising that many of my sweet and sassy kiddos are connecting with that little character trait. Hmmm.....

Here is our Valentine's Day in pics! I hope you enjoy...I sure do enjoy my sweet group of kiddos. Even on our worst days, I could not love what I do  or our class more! I just adore my sweet little Valentines.

 

 

 

Of course I have a couple of picture books for you. I am pretty sure that by this point, I am pretty far off my goal of sharing a picture book a day, but here are a few more in my effort to catch up. :)

Rotten Teeth by Laura Simms is another Catrow masterpiece. With the turn of every page, I just don't know where to look first. I love that about Catrow's illustrations. This is an easy look at common themes in literature: believe in yourself, courage. Sweet little Melissa learns the gift of show and tell when she discovers the "tell" is the best part.What a great look at storytelling! LOVE it!

Three Hens and a Peacock by the amazing Lester L. Laminack is a new favorite. I couldn't tell you why, but as I read this story aloud when I got to the hens, the voice of Blanche from the Golden Girls popped in my head. Of course I had to read it that way ~ the thicker the southern accent, the better! I love this one for teaching dialogue and point of view as the hens think the peacock has the easiest job, and the peacock think the hens have it easy. It doesn't take long before they realize they each have an important place on the farm, and you just really shouldn't judge or assume. Pretty important lesson for us all to learn I think

I couldn't tell you why I love Grumpy Gloria by Anna Dewdney so much: other than maybe we all have Grumpy Gloria moments. This is a very simple story, so it makes it an easy read in a pinch. But I must say  the adjectives and synonyms make it just as important a lesson to teach. Besides, Gloria's face cracks me up!

OK...those of you that know me well, know that I am a sucker for a Caldecott winner! This beauty is not an exception. Henry's Freedom Box by Ellen Levine is wonderfully illustrated by Kadir Nelson! He is such an amazing artist! Not only do I value this book during African American History month, but all year through. Such a great look at literary nonfiction and strong character traits.

Happy Reading!