I can't tell you my favorite ice cream flavor (coffee chunk?) or pizza topping (garlic?) but I can most confidently tell you my favorite candy--The traditional Reese's Peanut Butter Cup (with Reese's with Reese's Pieces and Outrageous closing out the podium). The weeks leading up to Halloween I begin my campaign of peanut butter cups from my students. November 1 one year it actually worked and a fourth grader handed me a ziploc bag of all her Reeses. Needless to say, she got an A in library JK.
This commercial, though. It doesn't just nail my love for the peanut butter beautifully snuggled in chocolate, but also for the times we are living in right now. Flexibility is the "F" word of the year. You just brushed? So what? Who says you can't brush again? No one. Be in charge of you. Take it from someone who has had many two brush nights.
Our classrooms and libraries will not look the same. Our teaching will be different. Carts will be the norm. Instead of lunch bins we will have quarantine book bins. Canvas, Flipgrid, SeeSaw, Screencastify, Nearpod, Google Classroom, Schoology, Bitmoji, Pear Deck, Wakelet...a sea of terms we had to become familiar with nearly overnight, or at least over a spring and summer. Always did something the same way year after year? It may not work in 2020. Time for the "F" word. Remember the Reese's and make it a two brush year. We all got this! I'll see you on the flip side with a batch of orange wrapped chocolate all ready to share.
The first day of summer was a beautiful, peaceful and socially distant day with my two friends and colleagues on Sacandaga Lake. It was fitting that it was Governor Cuomo's or, as we lovingly called him, "Andy", last daily press conference. We actually tried to get service by the lake so we could all watch/listen together in person but alas (and, I'm not complaining), the wifi was spotty. Maybe it was better I watched late last night alone. Three tissues, one final laugh later, and it was over.
There he was alone. Not flanked by the team lead by the ever intelligent and poised Melissa or Dr. Zucker (the first time he wasn't on the dais, I worried for his health) or Rob or the bold reporters. If I ever run into Jesse locally will I have the guts to say hello?
I never planned a Google meet between 11:30-12:30. The days he was late threw us all off. The reminder text of "Andy" would pop up from my mom or from one of the three friends I watched with. I learned quickly that of our three local affiliates, only the local ABC would keep it going until most or all of the questions were answered. We would wait patiently day after day to hear about when we would return to school. We were not fond of his two week at a time plan. However, it always kept me optimistic.
Dear Andy, you made us all laugh and cry and cry and laugh, day after day. Three times you told us about the couple from Queens who came to Albany for Thai food. We are still all dying to know what restaurant it was. The second time you told it you said, "I was telling someone about this couple..." I yelled at the TV, "Us! You told US!" You recycled your jokes like a good dad and it comforted us. We craved pasta because of you. I promoted and voted for my favorite mask video (It didn't win but they were all amazing). I loved your smirk when you quoted AJ Parkinson. I'm a Queens girl. I know who he is.
We couldn't imagine a flattened curve or even you not being on every. single. day. And yet, here we are.
These last couple of weeks, after we bent the curve, I admit I didn't run to turn you on as automatically as I did before when the alert would pop up on my phone. But I knew you were there and would if I could.
Thank you for the consistent comfort the past 14 weeks. Your press conferences will go in the history books and years from now I will tell my grandchildren all about them and how proud I was and always will be to be NY Tough, Smart, Disciplined and most of all, LOVING.
We all ate the same doughnuts. Well, except for the pop tart eater ;-)
No honking buses.
No goodbye tears or hundreds of hugs.
No yearbooks to sign or check out lists to complete.
And yet we still went and
Droped. the. mic.
It clearly hasn't hit me.
I'm still up late blogging.
But tomorrow I won't feel like I have to.
Or will I?
Early this morning I delivered little baggies of doughnuts to my dedicated "Pastries and Prose" fourth graders. I wanted us all to have "pastries" for our last meeting. This "before" school club never missed a single meeting because of quarantine. We read picture books, short stories (Guys Read), and the whole Sluggers 1 by Loren Long and Phil Binder. I left them today with I Wish You More by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld and Be You by Peter H. Reynolds. I love that Be You. I just bought a copy for my daughter for her graduation and two more copies.
It was fun driving around as the sun was rising. Some parts of our district are quite rural. After 21 years of living here, you'd think it would feel familiar and yet I felt lost. You can take the girl out of Queens but never the Queens out of the girl. Andrew knows what I'm talking about.
Speaking of Andrew, tomorrow will be his last daily briefing. Teachers are not the only ones dropping the mic, I guess. What will come of the summer? The fall? I signed up to be a part of the reopening Task Force to try to be on the forefront of this reimagined future.
So this is it.
69 blog posts.
Over 50 books and other treats given away at book birthdays and other events.
A marathon of miles logged every week.
Dozens of unforgettable kid connections.
A serious reflection is deserved.
Maybe next week when I have the energy to pick the mic back up.
Until we leap again...
What's up with the mailbox? When I opened it up to put in the doughnuts I found a card with my name on it stuck to the inside. I lost it. But I still had more treats to deliver. So I pulled myself together, turned the car around and there he was, the kid that regularly, week after week, log into meet after meet, day after day.
Yep, I'll miss him...
See you in fifth grade, my friend. Sniffle. Sniffle.
I spent all week promoting National Doughnut Day on our daily announcement videos. I made up a raffle/google form so kids could enter a chance to win a doughnut delivered by me today. A little selfish on my part, maybe? I would get to see the kids! From afar but still. By the third delivery, the tears couldn't stay in any longer. I miss them! Not even a sugary piece of fried dough could take that away.
A dozen doughnuts. A dozen deliveries. (plus a couple of bonus teachers. We call that a NY dozen.)
My route mapped out and my special good luck knit doughnut from Martha.
Wipes. Hand sanitizer. Mask. Other supplies. I was set!
Can you tell my mask is all doughnuts? I love the pattern but I'm just bummed because it's not my favorite one in terms of fit.
Want to know the "hole" truth about doughnuts? Check out this book:
The author, Pat Miller, has many great activities on her website to pair with the book, including a no-sew doughnut project, links for recipes and more.
I hope your Doughnut Day was as good as mine! And to top it all off, we finished My Life as a Potato! Next week's delivery? You guessed it. Potato chips! xo
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 wish many of us didn't need to be reminded often of the message of Christian Robinson's newest book, but we do. We all matter. In his signature fun style, he gets the point across so well. The small ones, the ones who are first to go and the last to go, old and young ones, lost ones, alone ones. We all matter.
This page may make you chuckle and squeeze in a science lesson, too:
"Even if you are really gassy. You matter." I love the multiple meanings.
We squeezed in a belated celebration for the book today. As always, we read the book, sang "Happy Birthday", blew out the candle and had a drawing for a copy of the book. I changed it up and stuck the candle in an ice cream sandwich. I wasn't too upset that I had to eat it when the party was over. Just sorry I couldn't share it with all my friends who matter.
Here are some activity pages to pair with the book. One of the kindergarteners sent one back this afternoon. Five reasons why she matters? She has a family, she's nice, she's generous (spelled jenerise), she loves her family and
xoxo
(Don't you love the girl on the bottom left who is "blowing" out the candle?)
Don't miss the dedication in the book:
💗
"For anyone who isn't sure if they matter. You do."
I'll try not to forget that and neither should you. xo
After hearing this story on NPR on Sunday, I can't get the song out of my head.
Oooh child.
Things are gonna get easier.
Oooh child.
Things'll get brighter.
Ooh child
Things are gonna get easier.
Oooh child.
Things'll get brighter.
Ooh child
Someday we'll get it together and we'll get it undone
Someday when the world is much brighter
Someday we'll walk in the rays of a beautiful sun
Someday when the world is much lighter
I'm feeling so lost these past few days.
The box of Kleenex is never too far from my reach. I wish it didn't have to be.
Places are opening up and yet I'm not sure I am ready to go anywhere.
Every hour the news changes. For the worse.
Four book birthday parties this week. A National Doughnut Day raffle happening now with doughnut deliveries by me on Friday to the winners. Is it frivilous? Maybe? But it makes my students smile and we could all use that right now. I know when I see them on meets I grin from ear to ear.
Every Monday morning I begin with a read aloud in Mrs. Kosinski's first grade class. This week I chose, Smriti Halls's I'm Sticking with You (illustrated by Steve Small). Love it. Bear and Squirrel are friends and do everything together until Squirrel wants a little space. Somehow it hit a nerve. I read it before the class and cried. I thought I got the tears all out. Nah. Maybe the kids didn't notice the frog that showed up. Tari, like Squirrel, is ready for a little more room. But unlike Squirrel, she won't be coming back. Breathe, I tell myself..."Who shares their very last chocolate with me?...We fit together like bugs in a rug. Like jam in a doughnut..." I'm going to miss her so much. Good thing the tissues are huddled just under my elbow.
On another note, check out this free download from Smriti. It's a beautiful picture book with a message we could all use right now. "Dark days may shake us. Worries creep in. With dragons to duel. And battles to win."
However you can, fight the battle. Protest. Read. Donate. Write. Talk. Paint. Listen. Express Yourself. Vote. Love. We're in this together. Things are gonna get easier. Things'll get brighter.
Don't you wish you could fly?
Where would you go?
The Pacific Ocean? The Sahara? Antartica?
Wherever it is, I imagine it would be more peaceful than it is here right now.
I heard the news today, oh boy. The uglier it gets the sadder and madder I become. I know I am not alone. I get frustrated, too, because how can whatever little I do really make a difference? Hence the parties. A little sunshine to poke out of the dark clouds for my students and me.
Lucky for us, we got to celebrate a book birthday today, a Monday! All the Birds in the World by David Opie (pronounced Oh-pee, in case you were wondering) is a perfect book for right now. The little kiwi bird is trying to figure out where he fits in the big bird family. He's a tiny New Zealand bird that doesn't fly. I wanted to learn more about this rare bird so I checked PebbleGo. Bummer. No entry for it 😢 I'll check other databases, or, just wait to read more about it when the book comes in.
I love the message. Who knew there were so many different kinds of birds with so many differences in beak size, number of toes, whether they fly or not, egg size, song, etc. Did you know the ostrich egg is as big as a cantaloupe? And the hummingbird's is as big as a jellybean? And yet, these animals are beautiful and special and, most importantly, all classified as birds. As educators and parents, we could do a lot with that. Inclusivity. I can't wait to share this book with my students in the fall and champion it during our 2021 Sibert Smackdown.
It's always great to have the author or illustrator (or both in this case) join us for our celebrations. The singing of Happy Birthday has got to be a hoot on their end.
Woohoo! I made a new friend today! Next up, David says is All the Fish in the World. I'll start planning the party now--Goldfish and Swedish fish for sure. In the meantime, I wonder, where would you go if you could swim endlessly?
Thanks to Day of Dialog, Chronicle and Edelweiss, I was able to read and share the digital F&G of Sophie's newest fabulousness, If You Come to Earth, with a few of my 5th grade Reading Ambassadors today. It was my first time looking at it as well and together we dropped our jaws, examined the beautiful masterpiece and yeah, even got a little teary. The colors. The message. The inclusivity. The details. No beat was missed. She even tipped her hat to her beloved lighthouse and sea.
But don't listen to me. This is what the kids had to say:
"This should be read to the whole school. It's beautiful. The wording is very nice. Even kindergarteners will understand what it means and what the main thing that it is all about. I think teachers will like it, too...The message is that people on Earth can do lots of things together and apart...working together is always better instead of hurting each other."-MH
"The message is that we should take care of our planet and cherish it more than we do."-SS
Here's a simple but to the point review,
"👍👍👍Great book."-NR
"Accept who you are and what you are are. People can be sick and cured and then climb mountains. Some things are hard but nothing can be impossible."-MH (She is reading All the Impossible Things right now by Lindsay Lackey. Lindsay and Sophie inspired her to say this.)
I know what I will be doing on September 15th. Getting out my birthday candle for a party with blue "Earth" cupcakes, of course. That celebration cannot come soon enough.
Everyone (young people, old people, parents, educators, administrators, stakeholders, everyone) needs to read this book. I mean, look what I wrote in my book journal after I listened to the it. No notes. No quotes. No review, really. Believe me, I could have filled many pages with quotes but yet, just this:
Jason Reynolds was an amazing morning and luncheon keynote yesterday at the School Library Journal's Day of Dialog. Jason with Ibram X. Kendi, the adult STAMPED author, kicked off the day inspiring us all. "Words matter," Jason said. "Strive in each moment to be anti-racist," Kendi plead. Jason described racism as a virus. People can be asymptomatic and still pass it on. STAMPED is the vaccine and we all need to ingest it. He said it. I say it. Everyone needs to read this book.
My 17 year old daughter sat with me for the lunch keynote and didn't move until Jason disappeared. All I wrote in my notes was, "AMAZING! IMPORTANT!" He became the topic of our dinner conversation that turned to the current events then anger and ultimately, tears. She wants to make a difference. She wants Jason's and #OwnVoices books to be a part of our curriculum. She feels so passionate about this that she wants to do the research and present to the BOE and I support her. I just forwarded her this article from SLJ and this one.
I can't speak to the print version of the book, but I will say, the audio of STAMPED is so powerful. Odyssey and Grammy worthy for sure. Jason reads it and I felt like he was reading to me. I'm sure the print is just as good. I'll let you know because we'll be getting a copy delivered to my house. I can safely say that my daughter doesn't read my blog so I can share that I ordered her a copy as a graduation gift. I may just slip in a few pages (or the whole book) myself sometime this summer before she embarks on her next chapter. I wouldn't be surprised if she packs STAMPED in among her toothpaste and extra long sheets. It's that essential.
Like everything else, my son's 8th grade field trip to Philadelphia was canceled. Today is the virtual visit.
If it is a fraction as good as the #CarleArtInPlace exhibit, then it will be a worthwhile day.
I just sat and soaked in all the art in this virtual exhibit. Elisha Cooper shared the link on his Instagram so I initially went to view his page only. I couldn't figure out how to click on the "chapters" or "rooms" until the end and am very grateful for that. Every time I turned the page I wondered if it would be him.
Surprise.
But ahhhhhh....
Not yet.
My eyes widened.
It was just another fabulous artist, sharing beautiful art and thoughtful messages in an enviable space . Take my advice and don't skip.
Grab a drink (almond milk for me) and a treat (bookbirthday chocolate cupcake with chocolate frosting), a cushy-comfortable spot and enjoy.
I loved Sandra Boynton and YoYo Ma's collaboration.
It was wonderful to see Ashley Bryan. I hold a special place in my heart for him.
When I walk through my neighborhood and observe the only children playing alone or with parents, I can't help but feel for all of them. I want to share Carson Ellis's Only Children Hang Tight to these kids.
Like Dan Santat, I, too want to learn how to play the ukulele but I promise I will not be building my own.
Elisha and I are both planning to send our daughters off to college this fall. Spending all this extra time with her is going to make the separation even harder. Back home, I will look up from my desk and see us in Dublin, NYC, Spain, the beach...the many, many places we traveled together. I might cry but ultimately, I know these memories, like those around me, will save me from falling deep into my sorrow.
Melissa Sweet. Ryan T. Higgins. Peter Sis. Fellow Cincinnatian with Loren Long, Will Hillenbrand. LeUyen Pham. And more...
The weather was pretty fabulous this weekend. The sun was out. The sky was blue. It wasn't too humid or hot. Perfect for a bike ride.
When I graduated from HS, my parents got me a brand new bike. A ten speed! I know. It's crazy to think about now but back then it was SO exciting! I signed up for a biking class in college and had dreams of being a super star. I was about to say "the next Lance Armstrong" but the world didn't really know who he was yet in 1987 (Did you watch the 30 for 30 on him Sunday night? It's really good but rated PG-13 at least). Well, my dreams got shot pretty fast, if dropping out after the first day is fast, and I didn't really get on a bike again until graduate school. No Tour de France for me. My daughter says there's an essay in this whole story so stay tuned.
Anyway, if it's a rainy day and you want to teach yourself how to draw a bike, check out this video:
Whenever I think of biking and books, believe it or not, I think of Major Taylor. There's a story behind that, too.
When the current juniors were in fifth grade, we had our first gala. We were still in transition from our "phenomenal people project" to "author gala". Back then we came up with this project based learning idea that Mr. Lemoncello was opening up a new wing of his library dedicated to phenomenal people. Students researched and came up with extraordinary displays for this wing of the "library." I wore my first gown and Mr. Reischer a donned his tie. We invited Chris Grabenstein. "We're only a 2 1/2 hour train ride up from the city," I practically begged. Unfortunately, he couldn't make it but he did put a gala in his third book AND dedicate Book 2 to us. I guess I forgive him 😉. Speaking of Chris Grabenstein, did you know Book 5 will be out in August? Mark your calendar.
Oh, but I digress. Justin did his phenomenal people project on Major Taylor after reading the Lesa Clines-Ransome and James E. Ransome biography, Major Taylor: Champion Cyclist. What was he going to do for the gala? No worries. He figured it out. I still remember his dad hauling in his bike for his display. (I just spent too much time trying to find a picture but my phone and google photos don't go back as far as March 2015. Where could they be???)
Check out the book and then read this resource guide from the Major Taylor Association.The resource guide is chock full of information and activities, including a word search.
Last year Mrs. Kelliher's Newbery book group was The Adventures of a Girl Called Bicycle by Christin Uss. This means we have multiple copies of the book in our library (check them out before tomorrow!). Since it was on the Texas Bluebonnet List last year, there are a ton of resources on this page including a printable bike craft.
When I started thinking about this post, bike songs keep rolling (all puns intended) into my head. Of course, Queen, but what about this Sesame Street one? It will surely make you giggle and smile.
Now...go get your red (or 17 year old orange Trek, in my case) bike, enjoy your ride and may your tires always stay filled with air...
Today was PACMAN's 40th birthday. Wow. Like other birthdays, this meant I was thinking about him and the MS all day long.
Of course, this also reminded me of Erin Entrada Kelly's We Dream of Space. Yes, I am still thinking about that book. Fitch is really into pinball in 1986 and pinball machines were definitely losing their momentum by then. Probably Pacman and the Ms had something to do with that.
We all know kids who love video games whether they are our own (not mine surprisingly), our students, our kids' friends. You know who they are. How are they spending their time now since school is virtual? More video playing time? Less? Do they want to read books about video games or something entirely different? I know I want to just plain read. Doesn't matter what it is as long as it grabs me and I can escape for a bit. I'm SO looking forward to an extra day to attack my TBR pile this weekend!
Speaking of the weekend, a few of my students and I went to a bedtime story hour tonight with Angela DiTterlizzi compliments of Wellesley Books. It was great! SHE was great! I want her to come to CES! She read her brand new book, The Magical Yet. I can't wait to share this book with all my students.
"There's a place beyond where we are now."
-Angela Diterlizzi
(I want to print that out and hang on my wall of inspiration.)
Then, we got a bonus read aloud of her book, Just Add Glitter.
I am thinking of sending some glitter to the three kids who attended tonight. Their parents won't mind too much, right? I mean, we could all use a little glittering up these days. If you have some around, break it out and sprinkle it as your leap. Just blame Pacman. Birthdays always deserve glitter.
Thanks to Lindsay Lackey I introduced myself to Arianne Costner. Not important why or how but just that it happened and for that I am grateful. I always love making new literary friends.
Arianne's book, My Life as a Potato, sounded like the perfect middle grade read. The first chapter is posted on her website and a bunch of us read it today at what I called an "Un-Birthday" party. In hindsight, maybe I should have said it was a "Spud Birthday." I brought a bag of potatoes. One boy showed me his potato plant and encouraged me to grow some, too. If the first chapter was engaging and funny, I can't imagine why lies ahead. We were all hooked. So much so that I promised them I'd get the ebook between now and Friday at 2pm so we can read on.
Be sure and check out Arianne's website. You can find out what kind of potato you are (me, Russet), learn a potato dance and find a recipe for Ben's version of Potato Casserole (which I really do love and always have a bag of shredded potatoes in my freezer in case I get a craving).
Speaking of potatoes...
I love Laurie Keller'sPotato Pants. We had a super fun book birthday party when it came out. All the kids brought a potato and we made our own Mr. and Mrs. Potato Heads. Did we eat some potato chips afterwards? We should have if we didn't...
Is this meant to be or what? A read aloud of the book by DayTripper, a guy that goes all around TEXAS (!) exploring every corner of the state. I'll call that fate.
So stick that rotten spud in some dirt, watch it grow and in the meantime, let me know what kind of potato you are.
And I apologize in advance for this one but...
I can't think of potatoes without the Wiggles classic, Hot Potato. I admit, I did like those guys oh so many moons ago...
I needed the Kleenex during Governor Cuomo's press conference today. Again.
This time it wasn't what he was saying but rather what he was projecting-the five top winners of his "Wear a Mask" PSA campaign. Sigh. I wanted RTWJAZ to submit but alas, it was too late. The contest surely was meant to weed out the last minute-ers since when I went to check the deadline it had already passed. Anyway, not sure my 13 year videographers could have competed with these seemingly professionals. That's ok. They are working on a video right now for a different campaign. Stay tuned.
Anyway, did you catch the PSAs? Use this link to vote. I have two favorites. Which one is yours?
Voting closes this Monday, May 25. I'll try not to be a procrastinator and miss out. Again.
Bonus Stuff
I think I posted this before, but Jarrett Lerner has this great download of an activity sheet with a mask. Check out his website for so many other great activities. And just a little plug for Jarrett since he is always so good to all of us--He has a book coming out soon! Something to leap about for sure! It's on my Edelweiss TBR pile as we speak.
And my cousin sent me this today about an organization in Pittsfield, MA.
Finally, Lily and Noah made masks for their National Honor Society project. Pretty cool:
Our next #NHS Service Project spotlight: Lillian Stephens and Noah Albanese!
In this time of need, these two students spent hours making 100 masks for the faculty/staff in Arbor Hill who were making & delivering food to the students! We are so proud! @SchodackCSD@MapleHill_HSpic.twitter.com/2bFaZKFA8P
Farmer Nate Chittenden of Dutch Hollow Farm and his family were so helpful as I prepared for our Loren Long Day last week. Since Day 1, Farmer Nate was always going to be involved. I had this crazy idea to bus our youngest learners to the farm and have them go on a tour and a listen to Loren read Otis from a tractor. Ran it by Loren and Farmer Nate back in the fall. Both were game.
Not was all lost. Thanks to 4th grader, Jonathan and 2nd grader, Anna for the virtual tour and a lovely read aloud by 7th grader, Zachary with Raspberry, I was happy to spread the #farmlove last week and always.
Here is Zach reading to Raspberry:
#CheeseLove
You can't make cheese without milk so let's talk some cheese. I love cheese. Hard. Soft. Stinky. Holey. Creamy. Spreadable. Yumminess.
Lately, I can't get enough of local cheese from Four Fat Fowl. (Please tell me you get your milk from Dutch Hollow Farm so I can feel like we are all one family.). But even if they don't, famous Beechers has a cheese named after the farm! Bonus, you can find it at our local Honest Weight Food Co-op. My friend, Elisha, sent us to Murray's Cheese in the West Village when we were down in the city in December. Now that was a cheese lover's heaven. It has a cameo in this RTWJAZ video. When I went vegan this winter, the thing I missed the very most was, you guessed it, cheese.
Speaking of Elisha...Here's his reading of his FARM:
So support your local farmer. Drink some milk. Eat some cheese. Dive into a pint of ice cream. And subscribe to RTWJAZ (Yeah, nothing to do with the dairy but just because it would make a couple of young teens so happy.)
The official "Teacher Appreciation Week" has come and gone. But isn't it kind of like Mother's and Father's Day--where we could be celebrating teachers every day?
Coincidentally, the last two books I finished had teachers I aspire to be like: summer school teacher, Ms. J (BenBee and the Teacher Griefer by KA Holt) and 7th grade science teacher, Ms. Salonga (We Dream of Space by Erin Entrada Kelly). Can I just say--My Newbery 2021 list is quite long and it is only mid-May. Both of these books and many of the ones I have already read are at the tippy top.
Since I wrote about Teacher Grieferyesterday, I must give equal time to Space. Seriously, this is why I could never be on an ALA committee. I'd be rallying for multiple gold medals right about this time of year.
Twins Bird and Fitch and Cash are all 7th graders in Park, Delaware. Their parents are always arguing and they never eat dinner together, a small detail that is a big deal. The kids are navigating life pretty much on their own. It's January 1986 and there is big lead up to the launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger in Ms. Salonga's class and for Bird, an aspiring space explorer.
I was a senior in HS and, because of regents, was home from school that dreaded da. I know the end of that story but Bird, who dreams of space, does not. The anticipation of the actual day for me, the adult reader, was tough. How was Bird going to handle it? Ms. Salonga?
These kids. I loved them so much. Fitch trying to manage his anger and his attempt to make good with Amanda. Bird accepting being "not pretty" and deeply wondering what it would be like to have a family like Dani's, who do eat together and listen. And Cash running away to something. I love how they navigate the relationship with themselves, leaving the parents out.
Finally, it was wonderful to take a walk down the memory lane of phone books, pinball, VCRs, soap operas and Tab. And even though I wasn't in 7th grade in 1986, 1982 was close enough. I am surprised I'm admitting all this. Well, I am looking forward to my Area 51 socially distant birthday party next month.
Want more? Found on the Harper Collins Erin Entrada Kelly Educator guide, here are some extension activities for We Dream of Space:
A couple of weeks ago we had a book birthday for this book. Only three kids showed up. Book unread, I bought them each a copy. I spun the wheel and got the win. Ace showed me his copy today. I can't wait till he finishes so we can talk ALL about it.
Get reading, Ace (and Kyle and Khloe)! And anyone else who wants to talk. Pajama Mama?
I should be hanging up my gown right about now and thinking about what a successful gala we just had. I might even be talking to friends (Doe?) to debrief the night. Some years I have to draw a bath. Others I scroll through all the photos. My feet are achy from the heels. I'm starving because I didn't eat anything all day. One year our author couldn't sleep from all the adrenaline, she checked out of the hotel and drove the two hours home. I get it.
Today was virtually different, surprisingly mentally exhausting (did I really only cry only twice?) and still pretty great despite the circumstances.
I was getting tree drawings emailed to me before I even finished my first cup of joe. Parent questions trickled in but with a little guidance, all was good. Kids without tractors ran around cars, houses and bushes for PE. They got to know more about a local treasure, Dutch Hollow Farm. Read alouds. Mindful nature walks. Music composing. Research. Science. Something for everyone.
Our finale was a google meet with Loren at the end of the day. He pulled out his ukulele for a rendition of There's a Hole in the Log at the Bottom of the Lake for 130+ unmuted people which equals feedback and delays to sing along. For the older kids, Reds centerfield hopeful, Loren, gave out wise advice on living life while we toured his studio and artwork.
It was a day to remember for sure. When he is able to visit in IRL (next spring?), it will be even more memorable. Perhaps a bit less work on my end? The prep is already done, right? Ha. Check in with me early next spring. Pretty doubtful.
And this my friends, is a my brief but I hope, spectacular, summary of the day. Not as good as IRL but pretty darn good nevertheless. And blister free. I do always look forward to donning the gown, though. Next year.
And that's not even everybody at the meet!
I love this one because it shows her working so hard with the Choice Board handy!
PS-Proof I had ice cream for breakfast and it was delicious!
A styrofoam cooler was delivered on my doorstep yesterday filled with a dozen pints of ice cream straight from Cincinnati. I know. I know. Do you need ANY more proof that I am insane? Yeah, so when I found out that Loren Long painted the famous hippo, Fiona, for one of the pints of Graeter's ice cream I just went a little crazy.
Shhh...don't tell anyone but Loren and I filmed a short bit for the morning announcements right after the box arrived and since it was "morning" I ate the Chunky Chunky Hippo for breakfast. Super Yummy. I can't wait to try Loren's favorite, Black Raspberry Chip.
What else is there to say? Sigh. I wish Loren could come to Castleton IRL but this will definitely do for now. Grade level choice boards are posted and kids have the opportunity to draw trees, visit a local farm, watch read alouds, create music, problem solve a hole in the log, run around a tractor, and so much more!
We'll conclude the day with a visit by Loren himself. Yay! Fingers crossed technology cooperates and all goes according to the best laid plans. A huge thank you to Loren for putting up with all my craziness. Just think--most visitors only have to put up with me once. He will have to twice! How can I make it up to him? A styrofoam box on his doorstep, to start?
And if all goes well, I will look forward to a celebratory pint (no shortage of those in my freezer). Ice cream for breakfast and dinner? Most definitely!
The big notification on my phone this week is "Dinner at Doe's" for tonight. Every time an author or illustrator visits, my fabulous volunteer hosts a delicious and most memorable meal at her home for our guest of honor and others. We've had a chicken BBQ and smores with lots of kids with Sarah Weeks to an intimate table for four with Elisha Cooper and everything in between. Kwame Alexander. Chris Grabenstein. Jewell Parker Rhodes. Emma Virjan. Even an Italian pastry afternoon snack for Adam Gidwitz. No one can come to Castleton without tasting Doe's cuisine.
Why didn't I think of this before today?! I should have had Doe whip something up and ship it out to Loren?! Agh! I was too focused on ME. On selfishly ordering my ice cream from Cincinnati. Sigh. I hope Loren forgives me. Oh dear Doe. Please advise next steps. I hear he loves NY style pizza.
So tomorrow is our day!
Castleton Elementary Families: You will find the Choice Board on my resource page. Try and do any as many activities as you can and know that this is only a small glimpse into Loren's books. Then please join us WITH Loren at the end of the day. Get dressed up! Wear a tie with PJ bottoms! Put on a fancy scarf! Our gala even made it to the Schodack calendar this year--that's how far in advance we have been planning for May 14. But all is not lost and I'm excited to hear what you do and for all of us to meet with Loren LIVE.
Want a taste before the Choice Boards get released?
Here's Matt de la Pena reading his LOVE illustrated by Loren:
How many times have you read Goodnight Moon? Loren illustrated a book by the same author, Margaret Wise Brown, titled, Good Day, Good Night. Here's the book trailer:
What does your day and night look like? How different is it today than from before?
How can anyone not love Otis the Tractor's courage and heroic acts in every book. Otis and the Puppy is no exception. Did you hear? Loren just got a new rescue dog, Charlie. He and Charlie have started to run together. I want a dog so badly...All tips to help me convince my family to get one are encouraged and welcome.
So we have a lot in store for tomorrow! Anyone can join in--Get up early! Paint trees. Eat ice cream in fractions. Share your love. Sing about a hole in a log. Run around a tractor. And don't forget to set a reminder on your phone so you don't miss our party with Loren. You know YOU CAN. xo
