This summer....

Let us know what's on your summer list!

Summer Lending Library!

Some exciting news!  This summer there will be a mini library set up in the office at the South.  

We got an incredibly generous book donation this year.  Author Luanne Rice read about our school and donated all of the books from the Top 10 lists that we made during Children's Book Week!  We wanted the students to have access to these books as soon as possible, so we turned them into a mini library for the summer.

The books include a lot of favorite series, like The Diary of a Wimpy Kid, The Dork Diaries, Harry Potter, Big Nate, Divergent, Hunger Games, the Who Was... biographies, the I Survived Series and more!

 Any time the office is open (during normal school hours) you can come to the office to sign out a book.   As soon as you finish a book, just do your best to bring it back quickly so that someone else can sign it out.  We really are so lucky to have this great book resource available this summer!

Speed Round Book Talks

Over the last few days, we've done two big speed rounds of book talks at the South.  Last Thursday, 20 fifth graders volunteered to talk about books they love to the whole fourth grade.  Just this morning, 20 sixth graders did the same for all the fifth graders.

The students prepared two minute talks about a book they really enjoyed.  These were books that they wanted to recommend to the next year's class as great options for summer reading.  Each group of kids spent two minutes listening, and then moved on to the next presenter.

 Some of the books that were talked about were: 
The One and Only Ivan
The Hunger Games Series
The Dork Diaries Series
Number the Stars
Because of Winn-Dixie
Smiles to Go
Dark Lord
The Percy Jackson Series.
and LOTS more!

 

 While they were listening, the kids had a bookmark to write down the titles of any of the books that interested them.  I saw some very full bookmarks! Even I added some books to my summer reading list! 

It's summer! What's your reading plan?

It's about that time to start thinking about summer reading!  This year, South is trying something new.  Instead of assigning a specific book for each grade to read over the summer, the goal is for the kids to read books all summer that they choose. They will get a packet that includes a reading log for them to record all these great books.  Towards the end of the summer, they will choose their favorite book that they read this summer, and write to persuade their classmates to read it too.

One of the keys to encouraging students to read over the summer is to send them out the door with a concrete plan.  This plan can help them visualize themselves reading all summer, and it gives them a clear idea of what they're going to read and how they're going to do it.  

This year, I designed a new template to help the kids plan.  Keep an eye out for them as they come home!  Hang it on the fridge, put it up next to the tv or computer, or keep it anywhere else that it can be referred to through the summer!  

It's Monday! What are you reading?

Happy Monday, everyone!  I'm so happy to finally see some rain, we needed it so badly.  It's also a good excuse to stay inside and curl up with a good book.

At the moment, I am actually reading two books.  One by myself, and one with my husband.  On my own, I'm reading Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.  One of the challenges on my list is to read a book that scares me, and this one definitely fits that category.  It is a creepy story about a boy who is trying to honor his grandfather's dying wish.  It leads the narrator on an extraordinary adventure that is totally creepy. The really haunting part, though, are the real antique photos the author uses to illustrate the book.  Even if you love scary stuff, I would hold off on this one for a few years.  It's not really intended for middle grade kids.

The other book I'm reading right now is called Zorgamazoo by Robert Paul Weston. This book is so unique and wonderful.  Its story is similar to a Roald Dahl or Lemony Snicket book because the main character, Katrina Katrell, is abandoned by her terrible parents and left in the care of an evil guardian, Mrs. Krabone.  Within the first 50 pages, Katrina makes a daring escape and is off on her adventure.  The truly special thing about this book, though, is the text.  The entire novel is written in rhyme, like a Dr. Suess book!  This is why I'm reading it with my husband, this book BEGS to be read aloud.  Also, the words themselves dance across the page.

The first page.  Who could resist??

Eek! I was just looking at the website for the author, and there's a video of Alan Cummings reading the opening pages of the book!  

So, what are you reading?  Leave a comment with your book and you will be entered to win a free book of your choice! 

Crazy Train

Not book related, but this is a really fun video of kids having a blast making music.

"Crazy Train" (Yes, THAT Crazy Train)
How about some "Crazy Train" ... on mallet and other percussion ... played by kids ...??? THIS ROCKS! And you can see their director Diane Downs, Kelsey Lee, the assistant director and some of the kids from the program in our interview right here: http://bit.ly/Louisville-Leopards-DTTV-InterviewThey are The Louisville Leopard Percussionists!
Posted by Drum Talk TV on Sunday, April 12, 2015

And the winners are...

During Children's Book Week, all the students at the South made Top 5 Book Lists.  I tallied all their votes and here are the winners for each grade level!  These lists make great suggestions for what to read this summer.  We're also trying to make sure that our school library has every single one of these books!  

Fourth Grade Winners:

Wonder

The One and Only Ivan

Who is... Series

I Survived... Series

James and the Giant Peach

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series

Harry Potter Series

Mr. Popper's Penguins

Because of Mr. Terupt

Ella Enchanted

Fifth Grade Winners:

Number the Stars

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series

Wonder

Tuck Everlasting

Divergent Series

Hunger Games Series

Because of Winn-Dixie

Dork Diaries Series

Maniac Magee

Castle in the Attic

Sixth Grade Winners:

Hunger Games Series

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series

The Fault in Our Stars

If I Stay

Black Ships Before Troy

Divergent Series

Harry Potter Series

Big Nate Series

Hatchet

Percy Jackson Series

Did we miss any important books you love? Leave a comment and let me know what you'd add!