Welcome Back

Welcome to the start of the 2009 / 2010 school year. This year the Library is starting it off right- students in grades 1-5 may start borrowing Library books at the end of their 1st class! Students will be receiving a letter for their parents and guardians about borrowing books when they 1st check out. These letters do not need to come back to Mrs. C; however, please take the time to go over the letter. A copy of the letter can be found on the Whelan's Library web site.

April is National Poetry Month

And to celebrate- all month long the Kindergarten classes will be taking a look at poetry and different types of poems. This week, we are reading If Not for the Cat by Jack Prelutsky. Students are trying to guess what type of animal Mr. Prelutsky is describing and are also learning about haiku poems. Next week we will be taking a look at Shel Silverstein's funny poems.















GottaBook blog is also hosting 30 Poets / 30 Days all through out the month of April. More information about the program can be find in School Library Journal.

Thank you Whelan Students

Thanks to all the students at the Whelan for their secret donations on Crazy Hat Day. Your generousity has bought the Library the following books for their collection:

The Frogs Wore Red Suspenders
Amelia Bedelia
La Pequena Locomotora Que Si Pudo
A Bad Case of the Giggles: Poems that Will Make You Laugh Out Loud
Gato com Sombrero Viene de Nuevo
Juevos Verdes con Jamon
Where the Sidewalk Ends
A Light in the Attic
Poetry for Young People Robert Louis Stevenson
Poetry for Young People American Poetry
My Name is Gabito / Me Llamo Gabito
Poetry for Young People Emily Dickenson
Poetry for Young People Robert Frost
Poetry for Young People Langston Hughes
A Child’s Book of Poems

Books are currently available for all students to check out and enjoy!

Junie B. Who Wants to be a Millionaire

So you think you know Junie B.?

Take the Junie B. Who Wants to be a Millionaire Challenge!

The First Grade has just finished reading Junie B. First Grader Aloha-ha-ha and as a fun challeged they are playing Junie B. Who Wants to be a Millionaire Challenge! Students are selected at random to take a turn in the hot seat! They can win prizes by answer questions correctly about the book.

Anyone can play if they have read the book; check out the game at the following address:
http://www.quia.com/rr/443746.html

Mrs. Hamel's Class presents the Dewey Decimal System

3 graders just finished a BIG unit on the Dewey Decimal System. They are now Dewey experts and wanted to show off their knowledge. Each table created a podcast about a different class from the Dewey Decimal System. The following podcast our from Mrs. Hamel's class:

Mrs. Hamel's class group 1

Mrs. Hamel's class group 2

Mrs. Hamel's class group 3

Mrs. Hamel's class group 4

Mrs. Hamel's class group 5

Mrs. Hamel's class Group 6

Mrs. Hamel's class Group 7

Mrs. Nickerson / Mrs. Knox Class presents the Dewey Decimal System

3 graders just finished a BIG unit on the Dewey Decimal System. They are now Dewey experts and wanted to show off their knowledge. Each table created a podcast about a different class from the Dewey Decimal System. The following podcast our from Mrs. Nickerson and Mrs. Knox's class:

Mrs. Nickerson and Mrs. Knox's class group 1

Mrs. Nickerson and Mrs. Knox's class group 2

Mrs. Nickerson and Mrs. Knox's class group 3

Mrs. Nickerson and Mrs. Knox's class group 4

Mrs. Nikcerson and Mrs. Knox's class group 5

Mrs. Nikcerson and Mrs. Knox's class group 6

Mrs. Nikcerson and Mrs. Knox's class group 7

Ms. DeMarco's Class presents the Dewey Decimal System

3 graders just finished a BIG unit on the Dewey Decimal System. They are now Dewey experts and wanted to show off their knowledge. Each table created a podcast about a different class from the Dewey Decimal System. The following podcast our from Ms. DeMarco's class:

Ms. DeMarco's class group 1

Ms. DeMarco's class group 2

Ms. DeMarco's class group 3

Ms. DeMarco's class group 4

Ms. DeMarco's class group 5

Ms. DeMarco's class group 6

Ms. DeMarco's class group 7

Ms. Barone's Class presents the Dewey Decimal System

3 graders just finished a BIG unit on the Dewey Decimal System. They are now Dewey experts and wanted to show off their knowledge. Each table created a podcast about a different class from the Dewey Decimal System. The following podcast our from Ms. Barone's class:

Ms. Barone's Group #1

Ms. Barone"s Group #2

Ms. Barone's Group#3

Ms. Barone's Group #4

Ms. Barone's Group #5

Ms. Barone's Group #6

Ms. Barone's Group #7

Using Table of Contents- Learning about the parts of the Nonfiction

The 2nd grade is learning about the different parts of nonfiction books. This week we learned how to use Table of Contents. Students practice using the TOC found information about blizzard safety. Each class created a fact poster (which are hanging around the Library) and each students was required for their "Ticket to Check Out" to write one tip about blizzard safety. Here is a few:

"stay in the car and have food and drive home"
"stay in the house and stay warm"
"you can turn your heat up"

Library Idol Podcasts

Last year during American Idol Season, the 4th grade created songs about the different reference books they learned about through out the year. Each group could choose if that wanted to sing about encyclopedias, atlases, dictionaries, or almanacs. Groups then had to write songs about how we can use the source.

To listen, click on the play buttons below:

Mrs. Randall's Class, Table One We Love Our Dictionaries

Mrs. Randall's Class, Table #5, D*I*C*T*I*O*N*A*R*Y

Mr. Rolli's Class, Table # 1, Atlas Thriller

Mr. Rolli's Class, Table #4, Atlas Rap

Mrs. Spera's Class, Table #7, Who Let the Words Out?

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Reading Party.

Join me on Friday, January 23rd to celebrate the newest Diary of a Wimpy Kid, The Last Straw.

For Who: Students in the 4th and 5th Grade that LOVE the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books


When: Friday, January 30th at 3:10 (SQUIRT time)


Where: The Library


What to bring: Your favorite Diary of a Wimpy Kid book, something comfy to read with (like your favorite reading pillow)


What to expect: A quiet place to read and enjoy one of our favorite series, and some Diary of a Wimpy Kid games


Please see me (Mrs. C) if you are interested in attending Diary of a Wimpy Kid Reading Party.

NO MORE OVERDUES!

I have decided that the Library is no longer going to hand out overdue notices. My New Year's resolution is to save paper and weekly overdue notices waste too much paper. Instead I am expecting my students to be more responsible for their Library books. All Library books go out for one week and all students can renew (check out again) their Library  book if they are still reading it. If they wish to renew their books, students need to renew their book during their Library time. Students should also record in their agenda books when their books are due, or, a reminder when to bring in their book. 

As an incentive (reward), classes with no overdue books for the month of January will be allowed to check out two books during the 1st week of February. That is right, every student in an overdue-free class will be allowed to check out an additional book.

NO MORE OVERDUE BOOK! Say YES to an extra book!