Is it Friday yet?

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....

Sibert Smackdown Finale

What a day Friday was as the fourth graders began to present their Sibert Smackdown projects in front of their classmates.  Wow!  We couldn't have been more impressed.  So many of them dedicated a lot of time and imagination into these projects.  Check out the projects.  Read the books and then stay tuned tomorrow at 8:00 am EST ALA YMA to see if any of our students will be screaming because their book won!

Unfortunately, not everyone was able to present on Friday so students who go tomorrow will just have to make minor changes to their speeches.  "Our book WON the Sibert Award because..." or "Our book SHOULD HAVE WON the Sibert Award because..."  Only time will tell.  We wish ALL these books could win!

The Hole Story of the Doughnut

One of the things these girls noticed and loved about this book is that the text page is a cut out circle from the illustrated page.  Very cool!

Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist John-Michel Basquiat

Not only is it possible for this gorgeous book to win a Sibert Award, but I wouldn't be surprised if it also goes home with a Caldecott and/or Coretta Scott King Award.  Fingers crossed!

Tick Tock Banneker's Clock

More than one group chose this book about Benjamin Banneker, the inventor of the first striking clock.  

They baked brownies to represent the wood used to build the clock.

Seven and a Half Tons of Steel

Alex (below) had a great presentation that included the message that it was so great to read about something positive coming out of 9/11.  I couldn't have said it any better.

The ship is built of legos that he covered in foil.

Queen of the Diamond: The Lizzie Murphy Story

This is the fascinating story of the first female to ever play on a major league baseball team. We loved the details of the fans in the background on Hayden's poster.

Ada's Violin: The Story of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay

This is another inspiring story. It's about an orchestra built all from recycled materials.  The perfect example of repurposing.

Crossing Niagara: The Death-Defying Tightrope Adventures of the Great Blondin

If you have a weak stomach like I do, you might not want to read this book.  I even got a little nauseous when they were presenting!

I don't know if you can tell, but the tightrope is 3D

To the Stars: The First American Woman to Walk in Space

Kathy Sullivan (one of the co-authors of the book) was the first woman to walk in space.  These girls did a fabulous job sharing her life with us through an entertaining skit.

Giant Squid

This is another book that could take home either a Sibert or Caldecott or both!  The illustrations are outstanding, especially the squid's eye. These kids love the "map" of the squid at the end of the book.

A Poem for Peter: The Story of Ezra Jack Keats and the Creation of The Snowy Day

Yes, another one that could possibly receive multiple awards.  Written in verse, this book tells the story of Ezra Jack Keats.  Beautiful and inspiring.  The girls also handed out quizzes and a word search.

Octopuses One to Ten

Filled with facts and gorgeous illustrations, here is everything you ever wanted to know about octopuses!

Each tentacle in the big octopus has a fact written on it.

Octopus treats for all!

The Deadliest Creature in the World

Last year we had The Deadliest Creature in the Sea on our list and it was as popular as this one. Regardless of whether it gets honored tomorrow, it's a winner in our library! Written from the perspective of each animal, the reader has to determine which creature is the deadliest. What do you think?

Sea Otter Rescue

This is one of the few books on our list with actual photographs.  

The First Step: How One Girl Put Segregation on Trial

When we think of the Civil Rights movement and desegregation, we don't usually think of Sarah Roberts.  Reading this book will change that.

Fearless Flyer: Ruth Law and Her Flying Machine

Carefully illustrated by Raul Colon, these girls learned about a courageous woman who persevered in attempting to fly nonstop from Chicago to New York City. You'll have to read the book to find out if she succeeded!

Ruth in her plane

Animals by the Numbers: A Book of Animal Infographics

This book is well loved by everyone.  It is filled with so many fascinating facts and graphics that students cannot put it down.  

Check out the stop motion video that Corban and Henry did ALL on their own.  They even brought all the supplies to school (legos, iPod, tripod).  If this doesn't make you want to read the book, I don't know what will!

May The Best Book Win....

....or all of them?  These are just our books that were presented on Friday.  Yes, we have more projects for Monday. And yes, there are many more nonfiction books that we didn't even include that are worthy of an award.  It's so hard to choose!  It's just great to see kids excited about new nonfiction and being exposed to people, facts, and events that they didn't know about before.  This has been a wonderful collaboration with Mrs. DeMassio, our 4th grade ELA teacher. I also could not have succeeded without the continuous virtual support of Melissa Stewart and her Twitter, FaceBook and blog presence.  Thank you! Happy #SibertSmackdown!