Running on Empty

This Saturday I was supposed to run my first half marathon in many years.  Right before we quarantined I ran seven miles. Then I stopped. Instead I have chosen to walk at least 10,000 steps a day. My mental, emotional and physical being needs it.

Now I am getting emails about how to run in this "virtual" race or that one.  Do I want the swag? Do I need the push? Maybe. No matter what, I think I will lace up those running shoes this weekend. It helps that I already have a good book queued up.

Jason Reynolds

PE Teacher and his book group Dec 2017

Since we're talking running and I am a librarian, I can't go without mentioning the Track Series by Jason Reynolds.  I know I have talked about them before. But did I ever say how good the audio is? I listened to them WHILE I was running and it was the perfect match.

Ahhh...Jason Reynolds...

Everyday at 10:30 on some social media platform (Instagram Live this week) we have the opportunity to listen to some incredible writers read from their work. Kwame Alexander, Jacqueline Woodson, now Jason.  Jason is reading from Look Both Ways, but the most meaningful for all of these folks is the commentary.  Today, I took down some of his quotes.  He read the short story, "Five Things Easier To Do Than Simeon's and Kenzi's Handshake" and shared with us that the handshake in sign language means, "I can hear you even when the world can't."

And I can't remember the context before he said this but I wrote it down because it came from the bottom of his heart. This guy. "I love kids enough to pay attention to them."

Finally, Jason, as the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature has begun a new program through the Library of Congress, "Write. Right. Rite."  Here's the introduction video:



So every Tuesday and Thursday, Jason will post a new writing prompt. Tuesday it was make up your own award for yourself and today it was make up your own tattoo.  I personally like this one since I have been considering getting a tattoo (don't know what, don't know where) for a few years.  "What do you want to live with you and on you for the rest of your life?"  Interesting...It was a great conversation starter at dinner tonight.

Today Jason on his Instagram emphasized the importance of learning the rules of writing, of the English language, even if it means just so we can "bend and brake them." Maybe ELA teachers wouldn't be too keen in him saying this but I get it.  Oh, that, Jason Reynolds, he is truly special.

You should be able to find all of his Write. Right. Rite videos at this link from the Library of Congress.

Girl Running: Bobbi Gibb and the Boston Marathon

We're still talking about running, right?

Patriots Day is this coming Monday, the day of the Boston Marathon. Not this year.

Did you know women were not allowed to enter the race back in the day?  Bobbi Gibb was the first woman to run it and at first, illegally. She didn't even have the right shoes on her feet.

I love this book written by Annette Bay Pimentel and illustrated by Micha Archer. It was on my Sibert Smackdown list.  We made runners out of giant popsicle sticks and pipe cleaners. I shared it with many classes, across the grade levels. If Bobbi's perseverance doesn't get you running, I don't know what will.

Here are some discussion questions from the Unleashing Readers blog and some activities from Penguin Classroom.

I found this inspiring video of Bobbi Gibb.  What can you do to break the mold?



Looking forward to putting on some miles this weekend.
Just for the swag? Perhaps.

Post Superbowl LI

My husband and son are huge football fans.  Today they impatiently wait for late August to arrive because that only means one thing--Football is back! Me?  I could take it or leave it. Although, I do have dreams of going from one college football game to another from Michigan to Ohio to Alabama to Tennessee to Georgia to Penn State to....Yeah, when you graduate from SUNY-Binghamton in the early 90s and they have no football team or even a D1 anything team, you begin craving tailgate parties and college camaraderie at middle aged.

For all of you in post-football/Superbowl withdraw, here are some books to help tide you over until the fall.

Don't Throw it to Mo by David Adler and illustrated by Sam Ricks (2015) E ADL

This book won the 2016 Geisel Award. Mo loves football, even sleeps with his football, but he isn't the star player. So when they put "butterfingers" Mo in the game, it's all you can do to keep your fingers and toes crossed that he can catch the ball.  Perfect for your emerging readers.  Well, it did win the Geisel award!

Sweet Feet: Samantha Gordon's Winning Season by Samantha Gordon with Ari Bruening (2013) 921 GOR

Have you ever heard of Samantha Gordon?  She's just a young girl from Salt Lake City who's a great football player!  This book came out when she was ten and it will inspire anyone, especially young female athletes.  When Sam's dad posted her highlight video on youtube, it went viral and Sam's life changed forever.  She met celebrities, went to New York, was on TV, etc.  I can't wait to see where she ends up!

The Day Roy Riegels Ran the Wrong Way by Dan Gutman and illustrated by Kerry Talbott (2011) E GUT

This fun picture book is based on the true story of Roy Riegels, a center for the University of California Golden Bears, who picked up a fumble in the 1929 Rose Bowl and ran all the way to the Georgia Tech one yard line with the ball.  Chalk that up to another unforgettable game that went in the history books (sort of like last night's game?). A perfect lesson to learn that mistakes happen and just move on when they do.

Miss Mary Reporting: The True Story of Sportswriter Mary Garber by Sue Macy and illustrated by C.F. Payne (2016) 921 GAR

Even though this book isn't entirely about football, it can inspire us all to follow our dreams and not let any obstacles get in our way. Mary had always loved sports since she was little.  She loved playing, watching and reading about them.  Mary's big break came during World War II when the men were overseas and the newspaper needed a sports reporter.  Not always an easy job, Mary worked way past her retirement, until she was 86 years old.  May we all have the energy and confidence to make it in this world and fight for what we want and believe is right.

Tom Brady by Jason Glaser (2012) 921 BRA

This book is a little outdated, worn and well loved but that doesn't stop it from being circulated.  Yes, most of our students are Giants fans but as you can see we do have some Patriots fans.  Mrs. Kelliher is probably one of the biggest ones!  Thanks for an exciting Superbowl, Tom Brady and the Patriots. See you in the fall!

We had some happy fans at school today!

He went to bed at halftime.  Boy did the outcome of the game change while he was sleeping!

Happy Women's History Month! Part 1

Today I asked some of my 4th and 5th grade Dewey Duty helpers to read picture book biographies and then write short reviews in honor of Women's History Month.  I pulled out a bunch of books from my collection and had kids work in pairs reading and writing the reviews.  They seemed to have fun with it.  It was great seeing them reading to each other.  I have to admit,  this morning I read a tweet from Mr. Schu with a picture of Shana Corey's Here Come the Girl Scouts which sparked this idea.  (I hope someone reviews that book tomorrow!) I love all these biographies on women we may not always learn about. Hope you do, too! Note:  Editing on the reviews was very limited...kid driven, kid written.

DAREDEVIL-The Daring Life of Betty Skelton

By: Meghan McCarthy

Reviews By: Emily and Maggie

Grade-5

  DAREDEVIL by Meghan McCarthy is a very interesting book. When Betty Skelton was a little girl she used to sit on her back steps and watch airplanes fly by her house and she imagined that she was the pilot. When Betty was 16 instead of getting her driver's license she got an airplane license. Betty became the first woman to become a stunt pilot. After Betty retired from being a stunt pilot she became many other things including a racecar driver,first female boat jumper. These are some details Betty did during her life.

Title: Little Melba and Her Big Trombone

Author: Katheryn Russell-Brown
Illustrator: Frank Morrison

Isabella S. and Rachael F. - 5th grade

Have you ever heard a little girl play the trombone? Well then you need to meet Melba Doretta Liston. Even though she was short, and had short arms, if she tilted of her head she could still play the trombone. Melba was only eight but she could still the play any instrument the way other people could. Melba lived in Kansas City but she moved to Los Angeles in 1937. There, Melba’s talent kept growing. She began writing her own music, too.Then in 1943, when she was seventeen, Melba was invited to tour the country with a new band led by trumpet player Gerald Wilson. So, if you ever get to play or want to play the trombone, you can think back to what Melba Doretta did when she played the trombone.

Martin & Mahalia

By Andrea Davis Pinkney & Brian Pinkney

Zackary C. & Cole D.

4th Grade

Did you know than Martin Luther King Jr. wasn’t the only one who had his voice heard?  Mahalia and Martin worked together to get equality for African Americans. They were both born with the gift of the gospel. She sang and he spoke. Without them, there would be no equality.

    

                                   

The Tree Lady  by Ethan and Luke
By H. Joseph Hopkins
Illustrated by Jill McElmurry

5th grade    

                           

       Could you imagine a young girl planting trees all over San Diego? 

Katherine Olivia Sessions was the first girl to get a degree in science at the University of California in 1881. Kate love to be in forest and no other girl liked the forest. Kate was the vice principal of a school.These are some facts about the book The Tree Lady  .    

Title: Brave Girl

Author: Michelle Markel
Illustrated by: Melissa Sweet

Name: Isabella S. and Rachael F.

5th grade

        Have you ever been bossed around? Then meet Clara Lemlich. She only gets a few hours of sleep, and gets underpaid. Clara works at a sewing factory, and has to carry her sewing machine there. If she is a few minutes late, you get a half a day's pay. If you get blood on your clothes you’re fined. If it happens a second time, you’re fired. At night, the doors are locked and you’re inspected every night before you leave to make sure you haven’t stolen anything. When Clara was walking down the street with girls, the bosses hired men to beat her, and other strikers. The police arrested her seventeen times. They broke six of her ribs but they couldn’t break her spirit, because it is shatter proof. So for all of those people who got bossed around, you can think back to what Clara did to get her rights.  

Stay tuned for more reviews tomorrow including Julia Child, Rosa Parks and Annie Taylor!

Celebrities in the hall today

Happy Monday! Happy June!  Where did the year go?

Today we wrapped up the biography unit with Mrs. Puccio and Mrs. Seres's class with a mini version of the "Celebrity Ball."  We've been preparing for weeks to have the second graders dress up and be interviewed as their celebrity.  The cool thing about this year was that we had a lot of interesting people that many of us had never of before.  Check out some of our celebrities and their books!

 LOVE Jonah Winter books!

 Love, love, love Maira Kalman

 This is a great book about the little known slave turned firefighter, Molly Williams.  Amazing story!

 Who doesn't love chocolate and MARS candy???!!!

 Another Maira Kalman

Thanks, Ben, for all your many inventions!

It was a great day for the party!

But wait! There's more!  The fifth graders met with Casey Seiler via Skype this afternoon for some more help with the Archives project.  No surprise--he was awesome!

First graders kept working on their Zoo Projects--We will get our hands dirty tomorrow, for sure!  

I'm reading "Three Times Lucky" with some 4th graders. How can you not love Mo and Dale?

First graders started poetry this morning.  My favorite books to teach poetry--Dear Hot Dog and Hailstones and Halibut Bones. 

More tomorrow!