I wanted to listen and not take notes but after awhile, I just couldn't help myself.
"Crawl toward judgement. Sprint to understanding."-Jason Reynolds
"Every little bit is a lot."-Jason Reynolds
"Joy is revolutionary."-Denene Milner
When he showed us his largest version of a drawing of "Black Lives Matter" Raul the Third reminded us that we need to "Shout it out."
Jacqueline Woodson was amazing as always. Derrick Barnes read this incredible poem that made me cry. Gene Luen Yang. Cornelius Minor. Paula Chase. Sarah Crossan. Karianne Holt spoke to me. Linda Sue Park. Christopher Myers. Kwame Alexander. Renee Watson. Chanting with Elizabeth Acevedo.
"We are raising them not to be silent."-Sara Ahmed
I will be more conscious. I will not just say, but I will do. As Raul the Third told us "Read books. Watch films. Listen to music." I already stock my shelves with lots of black and brown writers and illustrators, but I can always do more and I will. I will keep talking with my daughter and son. My students and friends. My husband and mom. As we raise our children not to be silent, we are making noise ourselves. Shout. It. Out. I will be an antiracist. #BlackLivesMatter
I just flipped my calendar to May. The first event highlighted, circled and starred was happening tomorrow: The Hudson Children's Book Festival. Sigh. The past few years I hadn't been able to make for one commitment or another and was excited that this year my calendar was clear. I just didn't know how clear it would be.
BUT...we're ALL in luck. The Everywhere Book Festival is about to begin! I will try and keep this brief (ha! not my forte as you know) so you can actually clear your calendar, watch with kids and get pumped for #kidlit. I heard that one of my 7th grade English teacher friends will be watching with students because a panel happens to occur at the same time as her regularly scheduled meet. That's cool! Thanks for the idea. I will plan to do the same with my Reading Ambassador lunch today at 12:30.
"So publish this blog post already, Stacey," I say to self.
Here. Jump straight to this link for the schedule. Or check out their YouTube channel for videos and more read alouds.
I know. I know. I'm busy, too.
I'm already "booked" with meets with kids (lol--all puns intended) to watch Kwame Alexander's reading of his Acoustic Rooster (got your jazz keyed up?) at 10:30 on Facebook Live and Jacqueline Woodson's Pecan Pie at 11:15. The Festival's events will be recorded so we can watch on our own time (so are the Facebook events) but isn't it so much more fun to watch live? I always hope for a shoutout.
So many authors. So many illustrators. So little time. Really, not a bad problem to have. Today all I wish for you is that at least one person (I bet more!) inspires you. And you find time to listen to the birds, take a walk, bake bread and dance. That's my plan. (as soon as I find some bread flour). Happy Friday. xo
One Last Word
Speaking of dancing, last Saturday was #IndieBookStoreDay and I wrote this post. Now more than ever Indie bookstores need you. Please, if you hear about a book that you would like to read and purchase, I encourage you to get it from an Indie bookstore. We all thank you. 😊
Finally, on that same note (more puns this Friday!) I leave you with this video that I promise will get you dancing, smiling, and tapping your feet. I apologize in advance if the song is stuck in your head for the rest of the weekend.
My husband's degree is in meterology but he is far from a weatherman. He looks at the same radars as you do to check out to see if it's ok to ride his bike or hang clothes on the line. Yesterday I didn't need to check with him about the weather. All I had to do was look out the window to see it pouring.
Today, I see some blue sky. I just checked my phone app and it looks like it will be dry for days. I have to tell you, though, the rain did not stop me from taking my daily walk. I donned a raincoat. Put my hood up. Opened the umbrella and marched on. I might have even leaped into a puddle or two.
My favorite rain book is Float by Daniel Miyares. That book arrived in my Junior Library Guild book box in the fall of 2015 and I fell hard immediately. I wrote him a gushing email and the rest is history. He visited us for our gala in 2017 and with every new book, he continues to perfect his craft. Coincident or not, today he has a book birthday!
This book looks gorgeous and has received three starred reviews! It's a biography about Ramanujan, a boy in India in the late 1800s who reinvented mathematics as we know it today. STEM friends-Add this one to your list!
Back to Float, which can also be combined with STEM activities like these:
If you read enough of Daniel's books, you will see that yellow pop out everywhere. I love it. How could YELLOW not make you smile? I mentioned this to Daniel once and this is what he said about it:
Want to know a fun, crazy fact? Daniel illustrated Kwame Alexander's 2016 picture book, Surf's Up! I know, right? My worlds totally, positively, colliding! Here's a coloring page (and more ideas) to help you dream of sunny, hot summer:
Like many of my illustrator friends, Daniel is posting art videos on Instagram. His videos might be more suited for older kids, or not. Anyone interested, really. Here is one where he draws a house by the water. To me, one thing that always stands out in Daniel's work is how he draws shadows. What do you think?
Subscribe to Daniel's YouTube channel or Instagram so you can watch and draw or paint along to all his videos.
Oh, one last thing--related (because I wanted an inside workout since it was raining, and we are talking about rain...) or, maybe not really. Mr. Biehler shared on his Twitter a new app he downloaded, Home Court. I checked it out and it is so much fun! It can be used any day and time: inside (the next rainy day we have) OR outside. I plan to play with it daily!
Check out this tweet BY the company. You rock, Mr. Biehler!
And not nearly as cute as the Biehlers, but I'll share anyway--my first attempt last night. Yes, this is before we figured out I should go find an inside ball (tennis?). But there are way more workouts on here than just ball handling. Rainy day or not, I challenge you to try it out! You won't be disappointed!
On the 8th Day of National Poetry Month My True Love Gave to Me
Woke
The book I am loving right now, at this exact moment, on the 8th day of National Poetry Month is Woke: A Young Poet’s Guide to Justice. Written by Mahogany L. Browne with Elizabeth Acevedo and Olivia Gatwood; illustrated by Theodore Taylor III. I was asked to recommend a book for the NYSUT (our state Teacher's Union) magazine and I chose this one. I love every poem in it and you will, too. You, a parent, a teacher, a grandparent, and students from K to college will find words, phrases, whole poems that will speak to you, spark discussions, forge conversations and more. Anyone who reads this book will be moved to write to the publisher requesting to enlarge, print out and post every poem in the book. It doesn't hurt that the illustrations are moving, too. Macmillan sort of knew that was coming when they made this poster downloadable but they have to know that one is not enough. Let's all let them know and when you do, be sure to tag them with #mackidspoetry. Tell them I sent you!
The Crossover + Brown Girl Dreaming=Reading Rainbows
It was so great to listen to Kwame Alexander read The Crossover last week. At 10:30 every day this week, Jackie Woodson is treating us to her, Brown Girl Dreaming. Ahhh....I loved (still love) both those books so much. Don't tell Kwame, but I was pretty confident that Brown Girl Dreaming was going to win the Newbery award that year. I can still hear the 5th grade ELA teacher at the time, Mr. Reischer saying, "Are you sure, Ms. Rattner?" Here's a little taste of Jackie's reading. Maybe you can tune in on Facebook live and get this treat for the next three days.
I love how Jackie concludes each session with:
Be kind.
Stay safe.
Don't be a racist.
Love each other up.
Not a book in verse, but I believe Jason Reynolds will be reading Look Both Ways next week live. (This will be confirmed on Friday.) Something to look forward to for sure. Until then, Jackie announced today that at 6pm on Twitter tonight Levar Burton, of "Reading Rainbow" will be reading an excerpt from Look Both Ways. Did you know he was reading aloud every M/W/F? Not verse books but LeVar reads so soothingly and poetically, that it almost could be:
Welcome, all! I’ll be reading “Amazing Grace” by Mary Hoffman & my own children’s book. Enjoy. https://t.co/643BPVC7s6
When Jason was on with Kwame last week he said something that has stuck with me, "Have a little extra. Do a little extra." I hope everyone who is able can do a little extra. I'm trying...
When You Know What I Know
I am excited to read debut author, Sonja K. Solter's novel in verse, When You Know What I Know. From the blurb, "A sensitive, harrowing, and ultimately hopeful novel in verse about one girl's journey in the aftermath of sexual abuse." It sounds like it is another important book to be paired with Kate Messner's Chirp and Kimberly Brubaker Bradley's painful but necessary book, Fighting Words.
Closer to Nowhere
My friend, Alicia, loves Ellen Hopkins. To be honest, I haven't read any of her books. But that will change now. I just received her new verse novel (pubs in October) and can't wait to read it and join the Ellen Hopkins fan club.
BenBee and the Teacher Griefer
I am multitasking today and have two computers going--one for school work; one for the #MiddleGradeMagic event. In one of the early sessions, K.A. Holt was a panelist talking about her new (pubs in September, we hope!) middle grade novel in verse, BenBee and the Teacher Griefer. I love her stuff. Plus, bonus--She's from Texas! Fun fact: The first time I test Skyped with Kwame back in December 2014, he recommended her book, Rhyme Schemer, to me. Next day it came in the mail. Strange coincidence? Kari Anne described the book as a funny book that "celebrates the divergent thinkers." She said she and her editor keep thinking about the kids in the book and asked the other day, "What is [the character] Jordan doing in quarantine?" Not sure I'm going to get this quote right, but that she hopes readers will find ourselves in these kids. I can't wait to read it! May your true love be good to you today and every day and you always find time for some poetry. 💗
Mrs. Warland texted me late this morning asking if me not posting my blog was an April fool.
Of. Course. Not.
Just a wild, super busy day. And I still want to bake a cake because today is the first day of...NATIONAL POETRY MONTH.
Did you catch my friend, Kwame Alexander on NPR's Morning Edition THIS morning?
This is well worth the listen, but be sure and pay attention right at the beginning. Kwame reads a poem written by Mikey, one of our fifth graders!
Poetry really can help us stay positive, release some emotions and feel connected during these times. I could dedicate the whole month to writing about poems and poetry. I don't know if I will do that (honestly, I have a very long list of blog post themes to get to!) but I may revisit it often in April.
Laura Shovan
My friend, Laura Shovan, is a poet from Maryland and author of a book I love, The Last Fifth Grade of Emerson Elementary School. It's written in verse from the point of view of eighteen different kids. This is how the book is described from Laura's website:
Eighteen kids,
one year of poems,
one school set to close.
Two yellow bulldozers
crouched outside,
ready to eat the building
in one greedy gulp.
But look out, bulldozers.
Ms. Hill’s fifth-grade class
has plans for you.
They’re going to speak up
and work together
to save their school.
My students love this book and in fact, I recently recommended it to someone who asked me for another book in verse after reading what? Yes, The Crossover!
Laura has a new month long project going. It's already started, but we can catch up. Here's a video of her introducing the #WaterPoemProject:
Every day on Laura's blog she has a new prompt to get you started on a poem. Here's the direct link for her blog. If you want to leap in today, here was the prompt from yesterday:
Buffy’s poetry prompt is: A Watery Home
Buffy Silverman
Write a mask poem about an animal and its watery home.
A mask poem is written from the viewpoint of the poem’s subject. Choose an animal (real or imagined) that lives in water as your subject.
You might write from the viewpoint of a tadpole that wriggles on the bottom of a pond, a crayfish that hides under rocks in a stream, or a dolphin that leaps in the ocean. Write a poem that tells about your home.
Answering these questions might help you begin: What sounds and sights surround you? How do you stay safe and find food? Why is your home the perfect place for you to live?
It's an overwhelming project to sift through all the fabulous poetry books and resources available to us online. I will choose a couple more for today and hope that whets your palate and get you wanting more in the future. It is after all, National Poetry MONTH.
Dictionary for a Better World: Poems, Quote, and Anecdotes from A to Z
This book is pretty much hot off the press. You know the poems were written before the pandemic, and yet they are hopeful and reassuring and timely. Here's a discussion guide. Check out Charles Waters's website at https://www.charleswaterspoetry.com. He has video links to all of his poems. It was hard to choose just one to share. This one has a poem about Aretha Franklin and another one called, Team. Maybe you will sing and dance to R-E-S-P-E-C-T today and think aboutthe team we are all on fighting COVID-19.
I also love Charles's and Irene Latham's book, Can I Touch Your Hair? illustrated by Sean Qualls and Salina Alko (whose work I admire) which I included on my Newbery list the year it was published.
Shel Silverstein
The first poet I ever loved was Shel Silverstein. I wish my well read and tattered Light in the Attic book wasn't at school because I could use some of those poems right now. Check out his website for resources, pages to downloads, poems and fun.
I found this site with ideas to link his poems from Where the Sidewalk Ends and A Light in the Attic to math activities. Have fun with that! A few examples:
There is a poem called, "Bandaids." If you have an overabundance of bandaids, place them on your body where the poem tells you to (finger, knee, nose, heel...) and then count all the bandaids up. How many are there? If you have different shape or color poems, write fractions for each shape or color.
Using the poem, "One Inch Tall" think of all the things you could do if YOU were only one inch tall.
"Billy Belly Baloney" will eat anything, it seems, for money. Create a receipt listing all the things he eats. For how much money would you eat something crazy? Reminds me of the book, How to Eat Fried Worms (not poetry but maybe a fun, family movie to add to your list? You can read the book, watch the movie and compare. The book is almost always better.)
Maybe your April fool will be to serve up some fried worms tonight or a belated one tomorrow? Then write a poem about it and share it to me!
In the meantime, I'm off to check my flour supply. If it's all good a "Happy Poetry Month" cake is going in the oven asap. It's these little things we need to celebrate. xo
If you have a child at home who was SO looking forward to March Madness (me!) or any other event, ESPN's Hardwood classics may not be cutting it. Yesterday, our ears and eyes actually perked up when the news came in that Tom Brady may be signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I wonder what the many Patriots fans at Castleton Elementary School are thinking. It certainly was a mini distraction from all other news for a bit.
Here is Lisa Cline-Ransome reading her book, Game Changers: The Story of Venus and Serena Williams illustrated by James E. Ransome. Maybe you can make your own tennis court in your backyard or just trying to see how many times you can bounce a ball on a tennis racket without dropping it.
Below, check out National Ambassador for Children's Literature, the incomparable Jason Reynolds, reads the first chapter from his middle grade novel, Ghost. Note: There are some mature themes in the book, but it is so good. Maybe you can find a copy on Overdrive and read it together with your child. And afterwards, you just might be hooked and want to read all the other books in the "Track" series.
Here is a story from NPR from our friend, Kwame Alexander. Although it is not sports related per se, he has written many books with sports themes and beyond (The Crossover,Booked, The Undefeated are just a few and they are all on Overdrive).
Take a listen below and then challenge yourself to write an ekphrastic poem. (You'll have to listen to find out what that means lol!).
If you want to view the art referred to in the story, go to this link.
Kwame has a new book coming out in October written with James Patterson on Cassisus Clay (Muhammed Ali). Here's a brief article about it with the cover reveal.
Research
Is there someone in the world of sports you would like to find more about? Check out our databases on the CES website. We have Pebble Go, World Book, Britannica. If you do learn something new, share it with me!
Movies
My family is going to start catching up on our sports related movies and series. Last night was HOOSIERS. Common Sense Media rates it for ages 9+ here. It's based on a true story about a small town in Indiana that works its way up to the state championship. Tonight might be MIRACLE.
And...
Don't forget to look at Mr. Biehler's Twitter posts every day for tips to stay physically active. Here's his tweet from yesterday:
Hey @CastletonES check out the @SchodackCSD website for some fantastic stuff from all of your teachers (specials included). Here is a fun activity the Biehlers played to break up the morning. pic.twitter.com/WPmVY46Rhm
I'm trying to walk or run every day. While out, I saw one second grader riding her scooter and one kindergartener riding his bike (without training wheels!). Today is a beautiful day in Castleton. I hope the sun can brighten your day and outlook.
As always, stay happy, healthy and positive! xo Ms. Rattner
(Warning: You will need at least 15 minutes to get the most out of this post 💙 but it will be worth it.)
A couple of weeks ago I heard this on the radio:
Just by sharing it on our announcements, a couple of kids wrote poems.
But I wanted more.
So on Monday morning I shared Matt de la Pena and Loren Long's beautiful book, Love, to the whole third grade. I played the last two minutes of the above NPR segment and challenged kids to write their own love poems. WOW.
I recorded each student saying one line from their poems to form a class LOVE poem.
I submitted the class poems to NPR thinking they were awesome and how cool would that be for us to be on the air. Well, little did I know over 2000 entries were received! This was aired today:
Leave it to Kwame--that crowdsourced poem is GOOD.
So even though we didn't make it on the air, I still feel like we are winners all around. Winners for writing beautiful poetry. Winners for listening to beautiful poetry. And winners for loving. love is love. Love is poetry. Love is everything. 💛
PS-Mrs. Fowler, the 7th grade English teacher participated, too. Here are a couple of her entries from students.
I asked Mr. Reischer if he would kick off our "Phenomenal Black History Month People Poem Project" (say that 5X fast) by reading Kwame Alexander's latest NYP* book, Undefeated. At first he was hesitant because how do you read an F&G aloud? With difficulty, of course. But he figured it out and read it to all his classes without a hitch. Just a couple of months (April 2, to be exact) and we won't have to worry about that anymore.
This book is gorgeous. GOR-GEOUS. Kwame's POWERFUL text paired with Kadir Nelson's incredible photo-like paintings make this one book you will want to read over and over again. I listened to Mr. Reischer read it three times today and I could have listened 30 more.
You can't read the book without the author's note. Kwame started this poem in 2008 the year his daughter, Samayah, and our fifth graders were born. If they didn't have a connection to Kwame before, they certainly do now. I think about the past 11 years and then hate to think about. All the horrific things that have happened in the world since these kids were born. Way too many.
But now we are surrounded by the "undiscovered." The ones born in 2008. And before. And after. Our future is in their hands and I am hopeful.
The artwork in the book is stunning. One student even commented that she thought they were real. Next time I see Kwame I want to ask--Who made the decision to make one page completely blank for the ones "who didn't"? Or the images for the "unspeakable"? We wondered if Kwame advised Kadir or did Kadir paint them on his own. Either way, the message is clear. Speak up. Black lives matter.
After the reading, students browsed picture books about famous (and not so famous) African Americans. They also looked through anthologies and the back of Undefeated at the mini biographies written for the people mentioned or illustrated in the book. Students chose a figure they wanted to spend a little time with this week. By Friday we should have 75 meaningful poems written about LeBron James, Harriet Tubman, Jackie Woodson, Katherine Johnson and many more.
WE are one of the lucky ones to receive the F&G. Fortunately, April 2 isn't too far away and you will be a lucky one, too.
A few of the books students are using for inspiration for their poems.
My last texts to him were kind of salty.
"I'm fully entrusting you that this will all be great," I wrote.
My thoughts were saltier. This just better be good.
He was making an announcement and wanted to Skype with my 5th and 6th graders.
Everyone had their theories. He's announcing a new book. He wants to put your picture in a book. He's decided to film The Crossover movie in Castleton.
But why have Jason [our superintendent, former principal] involved? He's giving him an award. He just likes him and wants to "see" him.
None of the theories sounded like good enough reason to pull 150 kids together, out of their schedule, for one Skype.
That morning I had a thought...
Nah...
Couldn't be...
Maybe?
So I opened up Facebook. Nothing even close to upstate New York.
When I told a colleague my thought, she suggested I ask him to send me his location.
I was too busy setting up a Google Hangout lunch with fifth graders in Texas,
Sharing a book about mistakes to first graders and
Making sure the technology was working to worry about pinning his location.
The Communication guy showed up with his camera.
The IT guy sat near the computer.
My principal asked me if I was nervous.
"Heck yeah.
150 kids and all these busy people with
No clue what it's about."
It
Will
Kwame and Randy in our "Kwame Room"
All
Be
Fine.
He assured me.
Will it?
And it was.
And there they were
A whole new crop of unforgettable Kwame STARS walking out of school elated.
I cannot wait to see them on Monday and
Relive the whole experience.
I was surprised at my bridal shower.
I was blown away when I won "Teacher of the Year."
And I went into shock when Kwame showed up at school on Friday.
Hello Lulu Well hello Lulu In October your story will be sure to rise above the pack Hello Lulu Well hello Lulu I can't wait to put you in upon my stacks
Well, you get it. Lulu the Broadway Mouse by debut author but veteran actor, Jenna Gavigan, hits the shelves this fall. And although I may be a tad bias--yes, my Twitter bio says that I love all things NYC and theatre (spelled "re" by the way) and this book is for lovers of all that--I did love this book and think it will appeal to young people with all kinds of interests, but especially those of Broadway. Do you have a thing for cute, talking mice? Now I do. Do you know the feeling of wanting a dream to come true so badly it hurts? Sure. Was/is there a mean girl in your life? We can all name at least one.
Lulu lives in the basement of the famous Shubert Theatre "home to hits and flops, thousands of debuts and hundreds of return engagements" with her mouse family. Her mother works in the costume department while Lulu hangs out with the actors, young and old. Lulu's dream is to leap, well in her case, jete, from backstage to performer. But a mouse, really? Even Lulu doesn't believe it can come true and her friends try to help her see the reality.
"The way the people in this theatre think? The way they think of you? They don't see you as a mouse. They see you as a little kid, and a talented one at that; you know this show just as well as they do, if not better. But most people? Regular people? They're just too closed-minded and ignorant to understand. They'd be scared. And we can't have audiences being scared because they might never come back." (p.42)
Inside the Shubert
We want our readers to believe in the impossible. And they will. This is a fantasy book that comes to life and feels as real as any singing and dancing teapot and candelabra feel like real life on the stage and film.
It's a feel good kind of story that will make for a fun read aloud in third or fourth grade. Pair it with images of the city, the history of the Shubert Theatre (Hello, Dolly!
is there right now--hence my pathetic introduction and one of my very favorite shows premiered there in the 70s, A Chorus Line) and a conversation about theatre and plays. Great conversations will also ensue about choosing kind, friendship and of course, hopes and dreams. Then when you are finished you could go see a local play or put one on yourselves. Maybe write a Reader's Theatre script from one of the chapters. Or write a prequel or sequel chapter. Do a class mock Playbill. Oooh...I'm getting myself excited and it's only July.
Outside the Shubert in January!
So even though you may not have access to celebrate with a cake from Amy's Bread in or even a candy bar from Duane Reade, don't kiss the year goodbye without reading and sharing Lulu with a wide audience.
More about Jenna Gavigan and Lulu from Playbill here.
Postscript
#squad
Last week Mrs. Warland and I journeyed to the city for a bookish day. So it began at the KidlitTV studios because Kwame invited me to be a guest on his live "Smoked Salmon" episode of #Bookish. If you have Facebook, you can watch it here with this link:
PS-I CAN'T BELIEVE I FORGOT TO SAY THAT JENNI HOLM AND I SHARE A BIRTHDAY!
In the afternoon we met Jenna Gavigan for the first time in the West Village for iced tea so we could make some book birthday plans for Castleton. I was taking my chances since I hadn't read the book yet! Phew! Good thing I love the book!
Then Caldecott Honoree, Elisha Cooper, met us and we had fun talking about parenthood, the Hudson River and the New York Times, Modern Love essays. Elisha just happens to be the author/illustrator of Mrs. Warland's favorite book that she always shares when she is invited to be a guest reader. He surprised her with her own copy (and now signed) of Homer! #WhatADay
Things I learned this week (and it's only Thursday):
Being a perfectionist is not good for my health, at least it seems that way. Our third annual Mrs. Yager's class, "World Feast" was Tuesday night. My job, after video taping the kids in front of my makeshift green and blue screens during the week, was to put them all together into one video. Did it not go as smoothly as I liked last weekend? Yes. Did I put in more hours than I'd like to admit? Yes. But, in the end was it worth it? Absolutely. The whole FEAST was amazing. The food, the costumes, the trifolds displaying their research, the energy in the library. Fourth grade "alumni" returning. What a culmination of a month's worth of work. BRAVO! Lesson learned (one that I will never learn, really): Do not leave things to the last minute. This time it really did not take just a minute to do.
Jason Chin likes to exercise his IMAGINATION. We had a great Skype today with Caldecott and Sibert honor winning illustrator/author of Grand Canyon. It was optional for 4th graders to join us during their lunch (more than a third of the grade showed up) along with Mrs. Roe's second graders and a few fifth graders. Boy is he talented and so sweet and calm. "Nonfiction captures my imagination," he said. He also shared that when he sketches while he is doing research (i.e., at the Grand Canyon), it is an attention strategy that helps him hold on to his memories. When you sketch you are spending so much time looking that it will stick in your memory. Wow.
I'm not as opposed to reading an ebook as I used to think I was. Lately I've been falling asleep with my iPad on my lap. Not the best thing since when it falls off the bed at 2:43 am, I am suddenly woken up with the crash. But, I am a night owl and always go to bed after my husband. That said, reading an ebook (Thank you Netgalley) allows me to sneak into bed without turning on a light and disturbing him. So far, I've only been the one stirred when the iPad slips down the covers.
Sleeping at school is so much fun! The PTO sponsored a ReadOver/SleepOver Friday night. Nearly 90 second and third graders came for a Jigsaw Jones event with special guest, James Preller. Yes, the energy was high for an author visit but the kids still loved it. Shhh...a couple of them even said it was better than the gym part. Really?! Jimmy was a good sport. Look at him leaping at 9pm!
Make sure others proofread your work (and I'm not talking about just grammar). I sent home an invitation to a REBOUND party I'm throwing next month. I wrote, "Bring a basketball or 1988 treat." What would you think that meant? At least one boy has already said, "I'm bringing my basketball!" Oops! I meant basketball TREAT. Maybe I need to move the party into the gym.
I'm super stoked about TXLA18. The workshops. The book creators. The books. The Texas sun. Old friends. New friends. However, what conclusion did I come to this week? I'm going to need to take off AFTER the conference. While everyone else will be refreshed and tan, I am going to be 200% professionally refreshed but it will come with a huge serving of exhaustion. Don't get me wrong--this North North Texan cannot wait to step into Bluebonnet country.
Melissa Stewart rocks. There I was at our first grade morning program today that was all about robots and one of the kids shared her book. The second grade teacher turns to me and says, "Oooh, Melissa Stewart!" That's because last year she taught 4th grade and we did our Sibert Smackdown together. Then, I share Melissa's newest book about seeds with a third grade teacher and she loves it. "This is a great book to use in our science unit. Wow! Seeds travel!" she exclaimed. Even her hydroponic Herbie liked the book!
Your "look" is everything, right? Well, goodbye blue glasses; hello cat eyed clear ones. Now I'm ready to rock and roll! Speaking of rocking and rolling...We're getting ready to plan for Matthew Cordell's visit and HIS new book ROCK-N-ROLL SOUL by Susan Verde. That's next week...
Now...maybe I can get a few pages in before my bedroom floor does....
