I recently shared this list in my newsletter for my teachers. I’d love to see your examples of items included in your newsletters. Links would be wonderful. Looking for some great places online for READING CHILDREN’S STORIES?  Try these: http://www.storytimeforme.com/ Story Time for Me http://www.storylineonline.net/ StoryLine Online Actors like Elijah Wood and Hillary Duff read aloud [...]

I am working with preschool through fourth grade at Hattie Cotton, 99% free and reduced lunch so very high poverty. We are a STEM (Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) magnet school so in addition to the local population, we have students who entered the lottery process for the opportunity to attend our school. Each week [...]

Middle School spoiled me with their fancy ID machines that printed ID badges to use as library cards. Now that I’m back in elementary I’m doing what thousands of you have done. Printing out barcodes;  attaching them to paper cards, adding in all the information the school needs to see like ZPD’s, Internet Permission status, [...]

#7 The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Scholastic, 2008. ISBN: 9780439023481, 374  pp. Publisher’s Description: In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capital surrounded by twelve outlying districts.  The Capital is harsh and cruel and keeps the other districts in line by forcing them to [...]

This past week I have been teaching fifth graders reading, language arts, and social studies, but I’m counting the hours until: I’m going to be the school librarian at Hattie Cotton STEM Magnet Elementary School!!! My current principal called me out of faculty training to tell me last Friday and now I’m simply waiting for [...]

Tracy Barrett’s Sherlock Files #4 The Missing Heir was so quick moving and fun that I could barely tear myself away to take advantage of tax-free shopping for teaching supplies. Can you imagine my horror to return and find this? The remains of The Missing Heir strewn all over two rooms  (pictured to the left [...]

This year I’m headed to the classroom. I’ll be teaching fifth grade reading, language arts, and social studies at the same school where I was the librarian for the past 3 years. Why? I’ll just grit my teeth and remind everyone that sometimes upholding the values of intellectual freedom and the best interest of the [...]

#8 Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. Tor, 1985. Tor Science Fiction, July 1994. Revised Edition, ISBN:  9780812550702, 324 pp. Macmillan Publisher’s Description: In order to develop a secure defense against a hostile alien race’s next attack, government agencies breed child geniuses and train them as soldiers. A brilliant young boy, Andrew “Ender” Wiggin lives with [...]