It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

 

It's book fair week in the Eubank library - definitely one of the most exciting times of the year.  I love the faces of students and adults alike as they come into the library and see the displays, racks and tables full of future "forever" books.  The "oooohs"  and "aaahhhhs," the students clutching hands and smiling, the sheer giddiness and joy over seeing books,  yes, BOOKS makes my reading heart explode with happy tingly feelings. 

Book Fair is a great time to sample and try out so many different books.  I remember years ago hearing the idea that when a teacher or librarian gives students a taste of a book by sharing it in some way - reading a sample, viewing a book trailer, or giving a book talk, that it is something akin to "blessing" the book.   We will be "blessing" lots of different books this week and paying close attention to the titles that grab students' attention.

This week we will be exploring these titles:

Pete the Cat and the New Guy by Kimberly and James Dean

Nightsong by Ari Berk

Sisters by Raina Talgemeier

Chupacabra by Roland Smith

This is just the beginning - it's going to be a GOOD week!

The Power of Bacon

Have you met Chris P. Bacon yet?  The students at Eubank know him. He is helping us define our good intentions.

Students were introduced to this adorable fellow with this video:

 Sing Along With Chris P. Bacon

And this fantastic story:

If you’ve read earlier entries in this fledgling blog you’ll know that this year in the library the focus centers on the idea of all that is “GOOD”; the good in each individual, the good in our neighbors and the good throughout the world.  

Life can be full of challenges. Sometimes choosing “GOOD” means hard work.  This can be a difficult idea for kids to understand. Chris P. Bacon is helping my students understand the importance of perseverance – the struggle to make a “GOOD” choice.

After reading the students spent some time thinking about Chris’s story and what they could take away from it.  My primary students created construction paper shape collages of Chris – wheels and all and identified a goal they wanted to persevere for.   Older students used an acrostic of Chris’s name to help them think about the character traits Chris exemplified and what helped him to persevere and “Never Give Up:”

C- courageous

H- helpful

R - role model

I - inspiring

S - support

Students then used their own names to create acrostic bookmarks of the individual traits they possess.  They got to take their bookmarks home – I hope it is a reminder that they do have skills that can help them persevere and never give up!

There’s already been a ton of requests to check out Chris P. Bacon’s story!  Wait until the kids find out that there’s a new story coming out in November!

 
I think it's going to get a "Good" - No, make that GREAT response!