New Arrivals

Most of our new Usborne Books are here!  We were able to add $1000 worth of new books to our library collection.  Please stop by and check them out.  

Trillium have been working on learning some key illustrators in children's literature.  Mo Willems, Dr. Seuss, Lois Ehlert, Chris Van Allsburg and more have been our focus.  We have also read many Caldecott Award books and discussed the different medias to create award winning pictures.

Huckleberries continue to explore the elements in fiction and nonfiction literature.  We are reading fun books that deal with different cuisines throughout the world.  One of our favorite books has been,  "What's For Lunch?  How Schoolchildren Eat Around the World" by Andrea Curtis.

Clarkia continue to explore the text elements of nonfiction and discover that our brain uses different methods of reading when we explore fiction vs. nonfiction texts.  In the weeks to come  we will discover who Melvil Dewey was and how he created a system of organization we still use today in most libraries around the world.      

Thank You!

Thank you for a very successful book fair!  This was our biggest fair in sales yet.   We were able to give our teachers some great books for their classrooms and were able to buy $1200 in books for our library.  Thank you for your support. 

Trillium library classes continue to discover the different parts of books and the information it provides.  They are discovering well-known children's authors such as: Mo Willems, Dr. Seuss, Eric Carle, and more.  They learned how to make a wish list for our book fair using our right-fit rule.

Huckleberries have learned what information you can find on the title page and that a book's summary is often found on the back cover.  We have read some great books from our Usborne Book fair, including the popular Bug Hotel book.  We are excited to have this book added to our library collection.

Clarkia classes continue to discover the elements of fiction and nonfiction books.  They have learned how to use our electronic card catalog and are becoming independent in finding their resources.  We are gearing up for OBOB and listening to book talks about these books.  

Usborne Book Fair Will Be Here Soon!

Right-Fit Books And More

In all library classes this week we have continued to use tools to help us find "right-fit" books.  

The Trillium were introduced to the three parts of a book; the front cover, the spine, and the back cover.  We will be learning about the  important information that are included on these parts.  We read one of my favorite books this week to go along with our garden theme of gourds.  





The Huckleberry classes are reviewing the parts of the book and were introduced to the title page.  They learned that every book has a birthday just like they do.  We are busy locating copyright dates of the different books we check out.  We read a story about a community coming together to make a house a home for a Gigi, a grandmother in the community.  It's a heartwarming story of the power of togetherness.  



The Clarkia classes are identifying the similarities and differences of a nonfiction and fiction story.  We are learning how to use our electronic card catalog, Alexandria to find our right-fit books.  We read a delightful and funny story from the author's viewpoint, Mac Barnett, of how his story became a book.  He told us that it took 21 drafts to get this book to the publisher and how editing was a long process.  We had a good discussion on their own narrative writing process and how much work it is.  We discussed how rewarding it can be in the end when you've given a gift of a story to the world.  

What Is OBOB?

Oregon Battle of the Books is a fun and competitive way to engage young readers into different types of literature.  MRA has participated in OBOB for the past six years.   The competition is open to students in grades third through eighth with the 3rd-5th grade being one division and 6th-8th the other division.  

 Students are divided into teams of 4 or 5 and then expected to read at least eight of the sixteen books from the selected list.  At this time we are encouraging all students who may be interested, to be reading as many of the books from their grade list as possible.  In November, we begin meeting and discussing the books.  These meetings will happen during lunch.  In January, our school battles begin. Students compete in a tournament somewhat like Jeopardy, in which students earn points by answering questions about the books.

In our library classes we have been doing books talks on these books and discussing.  The enthusiasm is high.  Please continue to encourage your child to check out these books.  

3rd-5th Grade Book List:

*  3rd-5th will not be reading George by Alex Gino

Book Nooks

 Finding the right book and the perfect place to immerse yourself in the book to an important part of learning how to become strong readers.

This week our Trillium and Huckleberry classes continued to practice finding the "right-fit" book to check out and we read a fun story titled, Do Not Bring Your Dragon To The Library.

                                                              

In Clarkia classes we had a fun discussion about the different types of bridges they are discovering.  We talked about the upcoming Portland Bridge Tour and came to find out that many of us did not know what an Ariel tram was.  I am anxious to hear what they found out after Monday's field trip. We read an informative book on the life of a drawbridge operator.  

Books We Read This Week

  

Some of the great books we read this week during library classes.  

 This is a great story to introduce students to what a library is and what the job of a librarian is.  With fun pictures it keeps all well entertained.

This book is a great way to teach library check out procedures and etiquette while rhyming.  Ms. Blythe helped compose a complete rhythmic chant for our library classes.  The students all love to clap along to our beat and learn quickly how to follow our library procedures through this lovely book.




Weslandia is a story of a boy who develops his own civilization.  Through his creative designs from the ground up he realizes the importance of community and what it takes to make it successful.  The Clarkia classes enjoyed, Wesley's creative way he created his own clothes, food, and sports.