March is Reading Month!!!

We started off March is Reading Month celebrating Dr. Seuss's birthday.  We read a variety of books and participated in contests and activities.  Our contest winners received $5.00 gift certificates for our book fair which is quickly approaching.  I was able to read The Lorax to many of the students and had the chance to see the movie today.  It was wonderful and meticulously reflected the message and style of the book - I think Dr. Seuss would have loved it! Here is what we are doing this week:

 Students and I are continuing to celebrate March as we prepare for Johnathan Rand's March 14 visit!  Third, fourth, and fifth graders are participating in an on-line scavenger hunt during media center to search for information about this very entertaining and inspiring author.  Ask your students what they found out about him.  We are also checking out Johnathan Rand's Michigan and American chillers at a fantastic pace--the students are loving these highly engaging and adventurous books.  My younger students will be reading Rand's Freddie Fernortner books.  At the present time, all of the books in this series have been checked out!  Always a good sign that we have a great author coming.  If you would like to visit Johnathan Rand's website, you can find it at http://www.americanchillers.com/

Next week we will begin watching the Scholastic Book Fair preview video to see what exciting books the book fair will bring.  I have been busily reading the preview books I ordered and will be certain to pass on my favorites to the students.  Below is a short video showing the excitement that books fairs create for our awesome readers!   Remember to put March 19 - 23 on your calendar.  A special thanks to all the people who have volunteered to help us set up and work at our luau themed book fair.  We couldn't do it without you.  

Website Alert for fellow book lovers - www.goodreads.com is a website that some of my fifth grade students told me about.  It is an amazing site where you can build bookshelves with titles of books you are reading, have read, and would like to read.  There is a definite "Facebook" feel to the site as you can search and request friends, join friends for book discussions, and chat with friends about books.  Additionally, you can review books as well as search for books and book reviews.  I recommend checking this out.  Friend me if you do!  

For younger students just learning to read, I recommend checking out www.starfall.com.  It is an amazing resource of activities geared towards children who are developing the skills needed for reading as well as those who are beginning readers.  There is a variety of activities that will reach students of all interests and abilities.

Stay tuned - Next week I hope to post a video advertisement for the book fair created by our students using our iPads!