Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!

March 2 is the birthday of Dr. Seuss.  This week in library Grade 1 and 2 enjoyed his book My Many Colored Days and then tried their hand at writing a short color poem.

If you are looking for fun Dr. Seuss activities and games, you can check out the following websites:

http://www.seussville.com/

http://www.randomhousekids.com/brand/dr-seuss/activities/

http://stayathomemoms.about.com/od/activitiesandfun/a/dr-seuss-activities.htm

Battle of the Books Activity

Let the games begin!

Our students are now trying out for the Battle of Books team that will compete in Seoul in April.  First, to prepare, they are reading all ten battle books. Next, they are doing story maps to help them understand the different stories.  Finally, they will be writing practice questions and holding practice battles. 

 The challenge is on!

Judy Moody and Friends by Megan McDonald

We are enjoying the all-new Judy Moody series

just right for newly independent readers.

#1 Jessica Finch in Pig Trouble

"With her birthday coming up, Jessica hopes that, just maybe, her present will be a real-live potbellied pig. Jessica can hardly wait for her party with Judy Moody and all their friends. But Judy Moody is acting like a pig-head, and Jessica UN-invites her from the party. To make matters worse, Jessica has snooped around the house and has found zero sign of a pig present. Could her birthday be any more of a disaster?" - website blurb

Learn more about author Megan McDonald

by watching this video.

For more fun, visit the books' websites at http://www.judymoody.com/  and  http://www.judymoody.com/friends/

My First Day by Steve Jenkins

The fifth and final picture book nominated for this year's Morning Calm Medal is My First Day written by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page.

"The first day of life is different for every animal... Some hit the ground running... The Caldecott Honor–winning team Steve Jenkins and Robin Page apply their considerable talents to revealing how twenty two different species, from the emperor penguin to the Siberian tiger, adapt to that traumatic first few hours of life, with or without parental help. Jenkins’s vividly colorful cut-paper illustrations are eye-poppingly three-dimensional and as exquisite as ever. While the text is short and sweet, an illustrated guide provides descriptions of the twenty two animals in the back. Fantastic!" - Amazon review

Check out Steve Jenkins website to see what else he has written...  

http://www.stevejenkinsbooks.com/books.html

"My father was a scientist and encouraged my interest

in the natural world."

Here is a slideshow in which he explains why he creates children's books http://www.teachingbooks.net/slideshows/jenkins/jenkins_why.html

Here is a prezi if you want to learn more about Steve Jenkins

https://prezi.com/q-8luely1pox/steve-jenkins-author-study/

Thank you, Mr. David Greenberg!

All of elementary was treated to poetry presentations last Friday by our visiting author, Mr. David Greenberg.

Kindergarten to Grade 2 enjoyed the first session.

Grades 3 - 5 enjoyed the second session.

We learned a lot from our visiting author...

"Words are powerful.  Words make us laugh; they make us angry; they make us sad.  Words contain energy!"

"Writers notice things.  Think before you write.  The stuff of your life can be the stuff of your writing."

"Keep trying.  Writing is hard work.  Writers are hard workers.  If we want to get better at anything, it will take hard work.  I submitted my first book to 112 publishers.  111 said no."

"Use your imagination.  Paint pictures with words."

"Tap the beat of the poem.  This is its rhythm.  The beat of the poem is the heart beat of the poem."

What did our students have to say about Mr. Greenberg's visit?

*amazing

               *funny

                         *hilarious

                                        *exciting

                                                     *interesting

*All of my stress was removed.

*You are a great reader and writer.

*I will not forget today and your poems.

*I will read more of your books.

*I love your poems and your imagination.

*Thank you for coming to our school.

*I hope you come to our school again!

Groundhog Day 2016

Everyone is wondering when spring will come especially after having an actual snow day here on Jeju Island!  Time to go and ask a groundhog.  I wonder what he will say?

Here is a short video about groundhogs... 
http://letsfindout.scholastic.com/Sample/2012-Groundhog-Day

Here is another one...

In library, Grade 1 enjoyed Maureen Wright's Grumpy Groundhog.  How would you get Groundhog to leave his nice cozy bed in his nice cozy den?

  

   

Memoirs of a Hamster by Devin Scillian

The fourth picture book nominated for this year's Morning Calm Medal is Memoirs of a Hamster written by Devin Scillian.

"Night 1 / My life is perfect. / I have a bowl full of seeds, a cozy pile of wood shavings, and room to run. / I'm never leaving here. / Question: Who's the luckiest hamster in the world? / Answer: ME! 

Seymour the hamster has the perfect life. He has a spacious cage, a constant food supply, and a FuzzyBoy 360 exercise wheel that lets him run to his heart's content. Life could not be better. Or could it? When Pearl the cat tells Seymour of the goodies beyond the safe confines of his cage, he starts to think he's missing out. And out is the new in! It's only after Seymour is out of his cage that he begins to fully appreciate his safe and cozy home."

 - Amazon description

Devin Scillian is an award-winning author and Emmy award-winning broadcast journalist. He has written more than 10 books with Sleeping Bear Press, including the best-selling A is for America: An American Alphabet, Brewster the Rooster,Johnny Kaw and Memoirs of a Hamster. Devin lives in Michigan and anchors the news for WDIV-TV in Detroit. 

- Sleeping Bear Press description

Visit the author's website at http://devinscillian.com

Visit the illustrator's website at http://www.timbowers.com

To learn more about hamsters, visit http://easyscienceforkids.com/all-about-hamsters/

 

And remember Setmour's lessons...
"The grass is not always greener on the other side."
"Be thankful for what you have."
"If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."
"There's no place like home."