Room on the Broom

"The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the greatest intention."

-Oscar Wilde

I have been crazy busy these last few weeks.  This is exciting to me, because it means that the library is being used as it's supposed to.  Yay that!

Today I just wanted to write a quick blurb because I read one of my all-time favorite books during Book Talk today.  Instead of just allowing my regular book talkers to come, I made the entire room of kids who were in here during lunchtime today come and listen.  They came slowly, dragging their feet.

Ok, so confession: it's a picture book I wanted to read to them.  So it wasn't really a book talk, more of a Book Read.  I'm totally ok with that.

I wasn't sure how a picture book would go over.  These are middle school kids after all.  I told them that this is a Thanksgiving book, and that while I read they were to listen for the reason it's a Thanksgiving book -- instead of a Halloween book, because it has a witch in it.

Then I started to read.

They were enraptured.  They didn't say a word, except for one student who made a perfectly appropriate comment at one point.  Which was something to the effect of, "wow, she really loses things often."  Which told me he was totally engaged and into the story.

I finished the book and then asked them what their response was.

"It's definitely a Thanksgiving book," said a girl.  "They all helped the witch and then she said thank you.  Thanksgiving is about helping, like the Indians helped the Pilgrims.  And the Pilgrims should have said thank you."

My day is complete.

Happy Reading!

Together

"Coming together is a beginning.  Keeping together is progress.  Working together is success."

-Henry Ford

When I looked at my schedule this morning, I was a little overwhelmed.  What a busy, busy day I had planned!

Mr. Levengood had scheduled his classes to have their library orientation periods 1 - 5.  We would have the November FFB during nutrition.  I had a book talk scheduled.  *whew*

First of all, I love library orientation.  It's that time near the beginning of the school year when I get to talk at each and every student in the entire school and remind them how awesome the library is.  We go over rules and procedures--how to behave, how to check out books--and why the library is important.  We cover fines and the cheapest way to replace a lost or damaged book.  But most importantly, I get to connect with every one of my students.  I have 700 of them this year and it's so great to remind them that the library is here for them, that I am here for them.

The November FFB was hosted by our awesome history department.

Historians Extraordinaire: Mr. Gearin, Ms. Arzanipour, Mr. Lisker, Ms. Benjamin-Joseph, Mr. Cornett

Being as dedicated to historical events as they are, they included some historical information about our breakfast.

They served Starbucks coffee (now we're getting fancy!), juice, muffins, bagels, and fruit.

What a spread! 

Artful display arranged by our awesome parent volunteers while I taught Mr. Levengood's classes. 

Awesome.

Blurry photo of breakfast drinks and 8,000,000,000,001 creamers.

There are two more that I left in the fridge.

Once again, just before the nutrition bell rang folks started to show up, nosh, talk, and laugh.

Mrs. Teems with bagel and A Brief History of the Bagel

Mr. Brener, Mr. Catanzariti, Mr. Lisker, Ms. Valverde, Mrs. Macris, Mrs. Teems, Ms. Winberry,  

Mrs. Cook, Ms. Strong, Mr. Levengood

Mr. Brener, Mr. Lisker, Ms. Strong, awesome parent volunteer

This time there were many comments.  I heard, "this is so great.  I love seeing everybody!"  I also heard, "oh you just wait until the science department's turn comes!" This all makes me very, very happy.

During lunch, I quickly set up Doctor Who and all the Little House books I could find, which were a lot, thanks to Ms. Strong's personal library.  This time only two kids came to the book talk, but they were both very present and attentive, and thought that the idea of covered wagons was "really cool."  They also particularly enjoyed when I talked about Pa carrying a shotgun, trapping game to feed his family, and how he had to cut down trees to build them a home.  I tailored the book talk for the boys, what can I say.

Little House on the Prairie with the Raggedy Doctor

Mr. Levengood observed to me that I seem to be always busy, the library phone is always ringing (he had to answer every time it rang while I was teaching his classes), and I don't ever seem to stop.  I like that observation; to me, being busy all the time means that I'm getting a lot done.  I hope to continue doing so for a long, long time.  <3

Happy Reading!

In November

"Dull November brings the blast 

Then the leaves are whirling fast."

-Sara Coleridge

Here's the November calendar (so far):

The November calendar was illustrated by two of my library practice students.  I freaking love the turkey.

Wow, we've got a ton of stuff planned!  Crochet Club, Book Talks, Book Club, Game Day--plus, our next FFB, Coffee with the Principal, Library Committee meeting, and a Booster Club meeting.  A lot goes in on here!

Happy Reading!

Ender's Game

"Children are made readers on the laps of their parents."

-Emilie Buchwald

Today we had our first episode of Book Talk with Ms. Bender.  It was, in short, awesome.

We discussed Ender's Game, a book that is somewhat controversial but completely solid.  I began by introducing Doctor Who (the tenth doctor), who will be our mascot for the year.  I figured that he would be a good mascot, because he travels through time and space--and who better to join us through all the time periods and places of all the novels we'll discuss than a time and space traveller?  Yanno whaddImean?

The raggedy tenth doctor and Ender's Game, winner of many awards and all around fantastic book

I know, I know, I have the End of Time injured tenth doctor.  I got him for my last birthday.  My husband didn't realize there were other options, ones who were not beat up and raggedy.  *sigh*  I'll get an uninjured one, one of these days...but for now, he'll do.

About six kids came, bringing their lunches and good attention spans.  Not bad for a first event!  I began to read the first chapter and as I read either I stopped to ask them a question to see if they got it (they did!) or they interrupted me (politely) to ask me a question.  We didn't make it all the way through, but I feel that's a great sign, because we had a great conversation around literature.  And isn't that the point, really?

The tenth doctor and all of the Ender books

The Bean books are my favorites.  In case you wondered. 

Unfortunately, the bell rang before we could finish the chapter, but three of them asked if they could check out Ender's Game because it sounded "cool."  It sounded cool.  Ok, maybe I lied before, maybe that is the point.  Getting children interested and excited about reading books.

Yeah, that's definitely the point.

Happy Reading!





* Note: Of course there are more pictures of the event, but they have kids in them and I can't legally post photos of student faces until all AUP (Acceptable Use Policy) forms are turned in with parent signatures.  Pesky legals matters and such.