Tuesday, April 27, 2010

2010 Battle of the Books Lists

This year's Battle of the Books will be held on May 19, 2010. This will, again, take place in the library. Teachers are choosing their teams as I type. Parents, please accept this as your invitation to attend. Exact times will be announced in the very near future.

Due to all the snow days we had, longer spring break, TCAP prep time that could not be intruded upon, and some other unforeseen circumstances we have been left with precious little time for this year's event. Our shortened lists reflect this.

Despite this, we are still very much looking forward to the battles. They always turn out to be a lot of fun for those involved.

6th Grade
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Hatchet
Summer of the Swans
Island of the Blue Dolphins
Rules
The Dollhouse Murders
Love, Ruby Lavender
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7th Grade
Tuck Everlasting
The Teacher's Funeral
Each Little Bird That Sings
Hoot
Al Capone Does My Shirts
The Giver
Tangerine
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8th Grade
The Midwife's Apprentice
Airborn
Heat
Here Lies the Librarian
Jacob Have I Loved
The City of Ember
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

National T.V. Turnoff Week

Ms. Creasy's little boy putting on his best sad face at the prospect of a week without t.v.
This week, April 19 - 25, TV Turnoff Network is hosting National TV Turnoff Week.



One of the main goals of the program is to show parents and children that watching television doesn't have to be a daily activity (or as it is in the case of some families an all day and night activity).




Why limit your screen time? Well, you can become be more physically fit. And doesn't everyone want to look great? Also, you'll have more time to do things that will make you smarter and your grades will improve. And another thing, research shows that by not watching so much t.v. you'll actually be in a better mood more often and end up being a nicer person. So,




1. Better body


2. Better grades


3. More friends because you have become just so darn nice




Wouldn't it be worth giving up a little t.v. for these things?





Are YOU up to the challenge (albeit I am two days late with this announcement)? Can you make it through the rest of the week with no television? What are some things you could do instead of watching the tube?





How about...

1. Put together a puzzle.
2. Visit the library. Borrow a book. Attend library activities.
3. Go skateboarding, roller skating, or ice skating.
4. Listen to the radio.
5. Visit the zoo.
6. Paint a picture, a mural or a room.
7. Find out about your area's community center or park's activities.
8. Read a book aloud to your younger sister/brother.
9. Volunteer for a community organization or charity or help an elderly relative or neighbor by doing some house or lawn work .
10. Play with your pet.
11. Write a letter to a friend or relative.
12. Start a neighborhood basketball, soccer, or kickball game.


13. Go through your closets and clothes. Donate surplus items to Goodwill, the Salvation Army or a local rummage sale.
14. Start a diary/journal.
15. Go to a museum.
16. Play cards.
17. Make up a story and write it down.
18. Ask an older family member to tell you a story about his or her childhood. Write about it.
19. Learn some new riddles or jokes.
20. HAVE A PARTY TO CELEBRATE A TV-FREE WEEK.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Upcoming Dates

April 23, 2010
Nashville Sounds game
7 p.m.
*
April 26, 2010
Wild About Reading shirts will be ready to ship from the company. I am not sure of an exact arrival date.
*
May 19, 2010
Battle of the Books
WMS Library

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Nashville Sounds Reading Program Ends

Our yearly reading program sponsored by the Nashville Sounds has officially ended. I say officially because it is now too late to earn a free ticket to the game. However, I will continue to give away the other coupons to whomever wishes to continue reading and filling out book slips.


This year was our best yet for participation in the program with 44 students earning free tickets. Way to go!!!


Coming soon...Battle of the Books 2010 info.


These students were our prize winners in the reading program.

Patrick Nettles
Cedric Spahr
Dylan Todd
Justin Macon
Jacob Troutt
Hayley Andrews
Chassity McCullough
Jason Cook
McKenzie Tuttle
Courtney Estes
Keyleigh Atteberry
Samantha Parker
Katie Moss
Makayla Perry
Tyler Law
Anna Cook
Chelsea Green
Martin Valles
Samantha Tyler
Katie Young
Harley Estes
Logan Pfeiffer
Danielle Hallfrisch
Luke Pridgen
Clint Watson
Lauren Calvert
Kendahl Oakley
Lilly Phillips
Kyleigh Pfeiffer
Alyx Olinde
Baylee Keen
Cierra Allen
Jerrica Patterson
Chelsea Rose
Emily Thomas
Caleb Yankee
Chris Zirock
John Anderson
Braeden Hill
Joash Harper
Kaitlyn Burnett
Brittany Oke
Jacob Harper
Zach Denning
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Wednesday, March 17, 2010

School Library Month T-shirts


The library is offering for sale a really cool t-shirt in honor of School Library Month which is coming up this April.

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T-shirts are $12.00 each and come in children and adult sizes, as well as color choices of Chocolate Brown, Kiwi, or Indigo Blue. Please add $3 if ordering a 2x or 3x size.

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The shirts are made of quality pre-shrunk cotton and go along with the Where the Wild Things Are book/movie theme which is very popular now. The chocolate brown shirt is super cool with great contrast and my personal favorite (in the event the company will only allow one color this is the one that will be ordered).
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Order forms are being sent home with 6th grade students. If you do not receive one please call and we'll be sure to send one home to you.

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Be sure to order one to show your support for reading and our library.

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Proceeds will go to buy more books.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Want Free Pizza? READ

Our Nashville Sounds Reading Club will run from Friday, February 26 through Friday, March 26. Specific details about the program are below. We encourage all our students to participate in this event.

Date of Program
2/26/10 - 3/26/10
How It Works
Students should read two grade-level chapter books of their choice over the 4 week period. Upon reading each book they should fill out a book slip (these can be found in the library). The book slip will require some information about the book such as title, author's name, # of pages, and a short summary.
P R I Z E S
For Book Slip #1
Free personal pan pizza
Free ticket to the April 23 Nashville Sounds game
Free meal at the Opry Mills Aquarium
For Book Slip #2
Free meal at the Rainforest Cafe - Opry Mills
Free book from Barnes and Noble Booksellers
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Tuesday, January 19, 2010

And the winner is...

Here's a list of this year's book winners, as announced yesterday by the American Library Association.


The John Newbery Medal
Named for the 18th century British bookseller. It is awarded annually to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.



When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead


Newbery Honor Books
Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Phillip Hoose
The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg by Rodman Philbrick

The Michael L. Printz Award
This award is named for a Topeka, Kansas school librarian who was a long time active member of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). It is awarded to a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature.

Going Bovine by Libba Bray
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Printz Honor Books

Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith by Deborah Heiligman
The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey
Punk Zilla by Adam Rapp
Tales of the Madman Underground: A Historical Romance, 1973 by John Barnes
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Thursday, January 14, 2010

What's coming up...

Welcome back. I trust everyone had a fabulous Christmas and enjoyed the bonus vacation days we received due to that little snowfall. Believe it or not there are still patches of snow to be found around the school.

As we head into this second semester be sure to check back often for information about upcoming events such as the Nashville Sounds Reading Club and the annual Battle of the Books.

Also, keep in mind that tutoring is still offered in the library each afternoon (except Friday). Students staying should be picked up outside the main entrance by 4:30 p.m.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas, everyone! It is our wish that you are able to enjoy your holiday with family and friends and, of course, indulge in some non-school-related reading. Below are a few Christmas selections that warm the heart - the first being a personal favorite of our librarian. Yes, some are many years below the middle school level. But do we ever grow too old for a good Christmas story? I hope not.





The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski

The classic...A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens




The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg

And some more great books...

The Very First Christmas byPaul L. Maier

The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry

The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Andersen

The Night Before Christmas by Clement Moore

How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss

Secrets of a Christmas Box by Steven Hornby

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson (You really ought to meet the Herdmans)

The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans

A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote

Monday, December 14, 2009

All Books Due by December 17

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All students are asked to return their library books and/or pay their fines by December 17. It is especially important for the books to be returned as this helps cut down on the chance that they become lost over the Christmas break.

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