Thanks Tom Angleberger!

Last night many students joined me at the local library to meet other students who are hard of hearing or deaf and to Skype with Tom Angleberger, the author of The Strange Case of Origami Yoda and Darth Paper Strikes Back. Kids took their picture with Darth Paper Strikes Back and then found a place to sit for the chat with Mr. Angleberger. Everyone got to ask Mr. Angleberger a question and then he helped teach us how to fold origami Yodas! They turned out great.

It was fun to see students outside of school and to be able to talk about books they are reading! Mr. Angleberger is coming to a bookstore near us in November and many families were talking about going to meet him in real life.

I love that Tom includes Caroline, a girl who is deaf, in his books. It brings awareness to readers that there are young kids who are deaf or hard of hearing and who wear hearing aids. In Darth Paper Strikes Back, Caroline talks about how people treat her differently because of her hearing aids and sometimes try to yell when they talk to her. Origami Yoda gives her some advice to help her get kids to treat her like any other kid.

Here are some pictures from the event! 

Thanks for everyone who came! Go Team Read!

The individual pictures will be posted on Friday with the Team Read slideshow. Check back to see what books we're reading this week!

Being Thankful

Next week, students will not be at school because of Thanksgiving break.  This week, I'll be talking to students about what they are thankful for.  One thing I would like to focus on are people, places or experiences that have shaped us as readers.  I am thankful for people, places and experiences in my life that have helped me become a reader.

Lake Forest Library-my library growing up!  

It was old and I felt important when I went there!

Growing up, both of my parents encouraged me to read.  My mom took my sister and me to the library A LOT!  I remember finding my favorite books, reading in their big, rocking chairs, and participating in the summer reading program.  I am thankful to my mom for taking us to the library.  And I am so thankful to the library for being a place where I could find books that interested me and a place to quietly sit and read.

My dad and mom eating ice cream, not reading books...

I remember trips to bookstores with my dad.  He would go look at adult books while I would wander through the children and then young adult sections.  I would excitedly find a book that I would ask him to buy for me.  I am thankful to my dad for taking me to bookstores, letting me look freely at all the books, and for buying me books that I could call my own.

As a teacher, I have been able to share books and reading with many students.  I love hearing what students are reading and being able to tell them about a book I think they might like.  It has been exciting for me to see students become readers who can't wait to get back to their books.  I am thankful for the experience of being able to interact with students and books.

Talk with your child about people, places or experiences that shaped you as a reader and ask them about their favorite reading memories.  Who or what do you have to thank for helping you become a reader?  If you child can come to school and tell me about who or what he or she is thankful for when it comes to reading, he or she will earn one sticker towards a reading reward!

What Are You Reading Good? (7/07/08)

It's been a while since I posted!  Summer is a fun time and my family has been really busy.  My son completed the Summer Reading Program at our local library.  He earned a free kids' meal at Panera and some other food places and he got a free book!  There still might be time sign up at your local library and earn some free stuff!!!

So...what are you reading good this week?  REMEMBER..tell me the title, the author, what the book is about right now.  Try to really be more specific than just saying it is interesting or it is fun.  Make me want to read the book!  Or...really support why I shouldn't read the book, if you don't like it.  

I finished Green Glass Sea, by Ellen Klages.  It was a very interesting historical fiction book about a girl who lives in a  secret government town where all the adults are working to create the atomic bomb.  I really like the genre of historical fiction.

I also finished Fablehaven, Book Two: Rise of the Evening Star, by Brandon Mull.  I love this series and am excited to read the third book.  This is a fun series for anyone who likes fantasy.  This is the second book in the series but is just as good as the first!

Currently, I am reading Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie, by Jordan Sonnenblick.  This book falls into the category of teen issues.  It is about a boy named Stephen whose little brother was just diagnosed with cancer.  That means his family just found out his little brother has cancer, which is a serious disease that people sometimes die from.  It is a really well written book because I feel like Stephen is talking to me.  I can't imagine what it might be like to have a family member with cancer, but I think it would really hard to have a little boy have to deal with cancer.  No fun!  So far this book is really interesting but easy to read at the same time.  

Where Do You Get Your Books?

Where do you get the books you read?  Do you check them out from the library at school or your public library?  Do you buy them?  Where do you buy them?

Personally, I like to check out books and books on CD from the library.  Books and books on CD, especially, can be really expensive.  I don't like to buy a book before I read it if I don't think it will be a good book.  If a friend tells me a book is good then I might buy it.  Mostly, I go to the library.  

 

Did you know that Wal-Mart and Target have books?  They usually have a pretty good selection.  Most of the time they have "Bestsellers".  "Bestsellers" are books that have been bought the most in the United States for the week.  If lots of people are buying a book then it's probably a good book.  Sometimes that helps me make a decision to buy a book. 

If you go to www.cicispizza.com you can click on the link there called "Feed Your Brain".  This is a cook summer reading program like the libraries have.  When you go to Cici's you can get a card where you log, or write down, how much you read.  Then, you take it in to Cici's and you can choose two prizes:

1. A free buffet for you when your mom or dad buys a buffet.

OR

2. A $3 giftcard for Half Price Books, a bookstore.

I love free pizza!  You could also read a lot all summer and then save up your $3 gift cards to buy a book...or books even!

What Are You Reading Good? (5/19/08)

Every Monday, I will be posting a new "What Are You Reading Good?" for the week.  This is your chance to share what you are reading good for the week.  As a student, you should be reading about one book a week, depending on how long the book is.  A Harry-Potter-sized book might count as three books because it is so long and so it may take you three weeks to finish.  Try and set a goal for yourself and see if you can meet it! 

Right now, I am reading Heat, by Mike Lupica.  I have never really read a sports fiction book but I really like it so far.  I found out one secret that Michael, the main character, is trying to keep.  I think there may be another one, but so far it has not been revealed, or told, to the reader.  Michael just met a girl named Ellie who he thinks is the most beautiful girl in the world...but she seems to have her own secrets!  I can't wait to read more!

I am also reading The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie.  I'm reading this book by listening to it on CD.  I love listening to books on CD.  It's fun to hear the different voices the reader uses and the emotion in the reader's voice.  I think listening to books on tape, CD, or on playaways is a great way to become a better reader.  You can check these out at your public library.  I just started this book and so far it is about a boy who lives on  native american reservation.  So far he is talking about his life, about being poor, about his friend who has a crazy-mad temper, and his dog who got sick.  I like the writing so far.  

What are you reading good?  Please share with me and other blog-readers.  I love to share what I am reading, to hear what others are reading, and to get ideas for books I want to read.  Let me know if you have questions about the books I am reading or about anything in this post. Don't forget, keep reading good!  

Bartlett Public Library

The Bartlett Public Library is for people who live in Bartlett or Wayne.  This library has its own Teen'zine.  This is an online magazine with writing from teenagers in the area.  You can go online and look at the writing that has been submitted.  Did you know that by reading more you become a better writer, too?  What have you written lately?  Submit your writing here...or maybe you would like to submit your writing to the Teen'zine at Bartlett Public Library.  You could be a published author!  When you writing is put on a website or in a book or magazine for a lot of people to read then it is "published".  How cool would that be?

Bartlett Public Library also has newly released music you can check out, too.  Wouldn't it be fun to relax outside with music and a good book?  

This library also has opportunities for teens to volunteer.  Volunteering is a lot of fun.  It is good experience to help your community.  You will not get paid, that's why they call it volunteering, but you will have the experience that could help you get a job later when you are older.  

It looks like they also have a great kids section with fun programs.  Storytime, movies and crafts are just some of the children's programs they have.  

Gail Borden Library

The Gail Borden Library is in downtown Elgin.  This library has lots of cool technology to use.  They have computer stations and computer labs, as well as audiobooks that you can checkout.  Audiobooks are books you can listen to.  This is a great way to increase your vocabulary because you get to listen to the words being said instead of trying to sound them out for yourself.  This is just another way to read.  

Here are links to Tumble Books through Gail Borden library.  There are Tumble Books for Kids and Tumble Talking Books for Teens.  You don't even have to go to the library to read and listen to these!!

Have you ever thought about putting the captions on your TV and reading the words while you hear them on the TV?  You're still practicing reading that way!  

Click on this link, Gail Borden Young Adult Area, to see how cool the young adult/teen section of the Gail Borden library really is!

Poplar Creek Library

The Poplar Creek Library is for anyone who lives in Hanover Park or Streamwood.  I really like their blog, where they post books and book summaries.  It's always nice to read about a book and hear what someone else has to say about it before you read it for yourself.  

Have you ever had someone tell you about a book and then you just could not wait to read it?  I just heard about the booked Canned, by Alex Shearer.  It's about a boy who collects cans that he finds in stores that don't have labels on them any more.  One day he opens one of the cans to find...a human finger inside!  Then, he finds a can with a note that says, "Help!" inside!  The boy goes off with his friend to see if they can help this mysterious person.  Doesn't that sound exciting?  This book is on my list of books to read.  You can go to www.barnesandnoble.com and type in the title to see more about this book if it sounds interesting to you.  Then, go to the Poplar Creek Library website and see if they have it on the shelf!  You could be reading it!

Fremont Public Library

Fremont is my public library.  Public means anyone can use the library, it is open to all the people in the community.  I loved the library when I was younger and I love it even more today.  During the summer libraries have cool reading programs.  Usually, you can read and get prizes for how much you read!  

The best part about the library...it's totally FREE!!!!  It is so fun to go in empty-handed, and come out with a bag full of books without having to pay any money.  You just have to remember to return all your items on time...or then they will charge you.  :(  

Fremont is a great library.  You can check out their website even if you live far away because they have cool suggestions for books to read and other cool things to do on their website.  Tell me what you found that you thought was cool!  You can always go to your library and see if they have a book that Fremont suggests.  

Welcome!

Welcome to the Mrs. Read-A-Lot blog! I am so excited you are here to share what you are reading!

Reading is so important because it is a skill you use every day.  It's almost time for summer vacation...but reading is still so important.  Be sure to visit your local library to see what fun programs they have to offer this summer.  The links are in the column on the left.  

I will be posting what books I am reading.  I hope you share what books you are reading with us!  It's fun to talk about what you are reading.  You can give a short book review and even ask questions about the plot, characters, setting, hard words, or about anything else.