On our way...

I have been able to see each class of students and welcome everyone back to the library during the past two weeks.  I has been wonderful to hear about the books read, places visited ,and fun times everyone had over the summer.  Starting this month the library programs will begin running.  We have 2x2 and Blubonnet Reading Programs as well as Book Clubs and Readers Theatre Clubs all staring soon. 

The 2x2 Reading Program is designed for children age 2 through 2nd grade.  Any K, 1 or 2 students at Bledsoe who choose to participate will need to read all 20 books on the list.  Forms will be passed out next week and should be returned by Christmas Break.  2x2 readers will be announced at Good Morning Bledsoe as forms are turned in and small prizes will be rewarded.

The Bluebonnet Reading Program is for students in 3-6th grade.  In order to participate students will need to read at least 5 of the 20 listed books and fill out a Book Buzz for each.  Bluebonnet Readers will be anounced at Good Morning Bledsoe and al students who succede in reading 5 of these books will be given the oportunity to vote for their favorite in January.  Students all across Texas vote for these books and determine which Book and Authoer will recieve the Bluebonnet Award.  There are various extention events in combination with this Reading Program including a Bluebonnet Battle Gameshow and Bluebonnet Party in the Spring.

Book Clubs will be held during grade levels Lunch/Recess Block, as well as before and/or after school.  During Book Club a small group of students who are interested in a particular book will meet to discuss as well as create videos and other book projects to share their book with other students.  Clubs are avaliable to grades 3, 4, and 5.

Readers Theatre Club is specifically for 2nd grade and will meet during recess once a week.  Students will work on Reading Fluency and Expression.  Students will practice a script and then perform for BNN or GMB.

I am looking forward to working with studnets during these various clubs and programs to encourage a love for reading and simply to enjoy stories and books together.  This is going to be a great year!

An end and a begining...

Tonight was Meet the Teacher and I was so happy to see all the smiling faces coming in the doors of Bledsoe.  So many that were glad to be back and see all their favorite teachers and some excited new faces as well.  As I thought about the great things that are going to happen in the year to come I wanted to share one of the highlihgts of the last year. 

Book clubs, getting to sit down with a group of kids who were excited about reading and stories was a highlight of many days.  5th grade last year worked very hard on a few different book projects but this one is by far the largest and best!  They all worked together with the final editing and voice over done by Dylan and Lora.  They completed it in May, just before they left for their last summer before starting middle school. 

Enjoy and I hope that this coming year we will continue to enjoy books through Book Club and find even more creative ways to share what we thought about them using various tecnhology!

Mrs. Eaton's Summer Reading

Among the Hidden

I really enjoyed this book.  I listened to the audio book while driving around and setting up the library.  The main character, Nick, lives in the not so distant future when the government has outlawed many things including having more than two children.  Nick is a Third or Shadow Child.  His parents broke the law to have him and now keep him hidden.  A neighborhood is built near their house and it become harder and more important than ever that he stay hidden.  When Nicks starts to see Shadows in a near by house after he knows both parents and both boys who live there are gone he starts to wonder if there is another Hidden child living there.  He learns that some rules need to be broken when he sneaks over to the house one afternoon.  Read this book if you enjoy adventure and suspense, you will not be able to put it down and will race to the library to find the next in the series.  The author Margaret Peterson Haddix does not disappoint.

Back to School

We are almost ready to jump into the next school year.  I hope you are as excited as I am.  I am glad to be returning to Bledsoe this year.  I have been reading, reading, reading all summer and look forward to sharing wonderful books with you all.  I am just completing Among the Hidden my Margaret Peterson Haddix.  I will post a review very soon.  I have also worked my way through almost all of next years Bluebonnet Nominees and are you in for a treat.  There are some very exciting reads on that list.

Some of the exciting things that will be happening right off the bat this year are Book Clubs with grades 3-5 and Readers Theatre Club with 2nd graders.  Look back for more information on signups and schedules for these clubs.

Please let me know about a book you read this summer or a story that you loved - see you soon!

Jody Feldman . . .

author of the Golly Whopper Games is visiting on Friday December 4th!! We are so excited to have this wonderful author. Please check back for Projects that the Bledsoe Book Club is producing about the Gollywhopper Games as well as to see the details of her visit!

Bledsoe's Book Club

The students in the Book Club are currently reading through The Gollywhopper Games by Jody Feldman. We just completed a brain teasers contest. Students worked in teams to solve word, number and logic puzzles. Everyone worked very hard and was able to experience the Gollywhopper Games in a new way!

Mrs. Eaton's thoughts on the book:

I like this book because of Gil's attitude throughout the story. He is a hard worker, he has goals and dreams of a better life for his family, and will do his best to win the games so they can start over and leave "The Incident" behind them. He does great job of standing up for himself and working well with people who are very difficult. I like the opportunity to solve the logic puzzles as I read and I can't wait to see if Gil is able to stay strong until the end and to find out if the family decides to start over or stay where they are! I think that the Gollywhopper Games is a great read and I recommend it to anyone.

Please let me know what you think about the books, and if you would recommend it to a friend.