February 24, 2013

A Snapshot of My Reading Life


Week 3: February 24 - March 2:  A Snapshot of My Reading Life

"Post a photo that gives readers a glimpse into your reading life. This could be your favorite place to read, your bookshelf, your library, a classroom, a book from childhood that you still re-read today, your favorite person to read with. Anything that brings joy to your reading life will work!

Below the photo share a short narrative explaining why this picture is meaningful to you."

One place where I share my love of reading when not at Oelwein Middle School...




is in my hammock after working in my flower garden!

February 10, 2013

Why is Reading Aloud Special?


Spot to Read is happy to announce that the Oelwein Girls LitClub accepted the 2013 WRAD Blog Challenge and will be answering the questions on this site.

WRAD Blog Challenge Week 1: February 10 – February 16
What do you think is special about reading aloud?


Mrs. Leo reading aloud
It's Raining Cupcakes
  • Reading aloud helps me understand better. Hearing the words helps me know the words.
  • I love to read, but it is nice once in a while for someone else read and hear new words.
  • Reading aloud gives you a chance to discuss the story and learn with others.
  • I think read aloud is important because it helps my imagination. I also like it at bedtime, I can fall asleep faster if someone reads to me.
  • I like reading to someone younger then me.
  • Hearing a story makes me want to read the book again- especially if it was interesting and funny.
  • Reading aloud allows me to picture the characters and setting better.
  • It is easier to listen to a read aloud then to read a story and then I can understand the story better.



LitWorld Read Aloud Day Blog Challenge

LitWorld World Read Aloud Day

Accept the World Read Aloud Day Blogging Challenge!

Each of the prompts addresses the WRAD theme “Read It Forward.” Read it Forward describes the ripple effect of positive change that resonates around the world when we read aloud with loved ones or new friends.
WRAD Read It Forward Blogging Challenge: Weekly Outline
Week 1: February 10 – February 16
What do you think is special about reading aloud?
Your first mission is to answer this question. We are using this prompt to bring awareness to the act of reading aloud. It is meant to be open-ended to draw out many different perspectives, and we anticipate that every answer will have a unique style and format.
After answering the prompt, share a short description of how you plan to celebrate WRAD on March 6. Who will you celebrate with? Where will you be? If you have celebrated WRAD in the past, what activities brought you and those you celebrated with the most joy? If you haven't finalized your plans, or if this will be your first WRAD celebration, Use this space to share your brainstorming process, and direct your readers to litworld.org for activities and recommendations.'
Week 2: February 17 - February 23
Now & Then
Answer the following questions twice. The first time, answer how you would have when you were 10 years old (or any age from elementary school that you remember clearly) and the second time, answer in the present.
1. I think everyone in the world should read...
When I was 10:
Now:
(repeat this format for the remaining questions)
2. If I could listen to anyone in the world read aloud to me it would be...
3. When I read aloud, my favorite character to impersonate is...
4. The genre that takes up the most room on my bookshelf (or e-reader) is...
5. The last book I wish I’d written or inspired me to write my own story is...
Week 3: February 24 - March 2
A Snapshot of My Reading Life
Post a photo that gives readers a glimpse into your reading life. This could be your favorite place to read, your bookshelf, your library, a classroom, a book from childhood that you still re-read today, your favorite person to read with. Anything that brings joy to your reading life will work!
Below the photo share a short narrative explaining why this picture is meaningful to you.
Week 4: March 3 - March 8
Read It Forward!
It’s time to read aloud! Select a favorite text, or a personal story that you love to share out loud, and make a video. If you don’t have a webcam, are having technical difficulties, or prefer not to be on camera, you can also translate this challenge into a written post. Share what you will be reading on World Read Aloud Day, and why you chose this particular piece to read aloud.
If you choose to take up the WRAD Read It Forward blogging challenge, make sure to tweet your weekly posts to @litworldsaysso that we can retweet your wonderful read aloud stories! Happy blogging!

January 30, 2013

Newbery Award 2013


Ivan is an easygoing gorilla. Living at the
Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade, he has grown accustomed to humans watching him through the glass walls of his domain. He rarely misses his life in the jungle. In fact, he hardly ever thinks about it at all.
Instead, Ivan thinks about TV shows he's seen and about his friends Stella, an elderly elephant, and Bob, a stray dog. But mostly Ivan thinks about art and how to capture the taste of a mango or the sound of leaves with color and a well-placed line.
Then he meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from her family, and she makes Ivan see their home—and his own art—through new eyes. When Ruby arrives, change comes with her, and it's up to Ivan to make it a change for the better.

World Read Aloud Day

Read It Forward on World Read Aloud Day: March 6

Imagine a world where everyone can read...
March 6, 2013, is World Read Aloud Day, an awareness day advocating for literacy as a human right. Celebrate by reading aloud, giving away a book, or taking action in any way you can to "Read It Forward" on behalf of the 793 million people who cannot yet read or write.World Read Aloud Day creates a community of people who are advocating for every child’s right to learn to read and technology that will make them lifelong readers. Everyone can change the world and Read It Forward call to action and reading aloud with loved ones or new friends. Read It Forward, creating a ripple effect that resonates around the world with the power of story and shared words.


Visit http://litworld.org/wrad to join the Read It Forward movement. Register your participation, and spread the word to friends, family, and networks for March 6! LitWorld, the organization that founded World Read Aloud Day, offers free downloadable activity kits full of ideas for children, teens, families, educators, and professionals at http://litworld.org.


Follow LitWorld:
http://www.facebook.com/litworldhttp://twitter.com/litworldsays

August 10, 2012

Fierce, Fearless and Free.


Stand Up for Girls with LitWorld 
and Take Action for Every Girl's Right to a Quality Education on 10.11.12, the International Day of the Girl

523 million girls and women worldwide cannot read or write.

 Let us stand together to champion the right of all girls to be

Fierce, Fearless and Free.
 LitWorld, an organization working towards achieving global literacy, has launched the Stand Up for Girls campaign to advocate for every girl's right to a quality education. Our entire civilization is at stake when girls’ lives are fragile because they are prevented from accessing the right to read and write. All girls must be able to vote with their names, read their medicine bottles, farm their land, ride a subway and go to college. Stand Up for Girls speaks to these issues and gives us all a chance, young and old, to show our daughters and the sisters of our hearts that we have not forgotten, that we want the world to be safe, fair and full of hope for all of them.

 Visit litworld.org and pledge your commitment to take action and create positive change for women and girls worldwide, and to learn how to participate in LitWorld’s Photo Contest, plan your own Stand Up for Girls Event, become a Stand Up for Girls Champion, and more. Tell 10 people you know about Stand Up for Girls to help spread the world as far as possible. Ask your 10 to Tell 10 more people and together, let’s shout from the rooftops that every girl has the right to be fierce, fearless and free. 

Follow LitWorld:       facebook.com/litworld    twitter.com/litworldsays    litworld.tumblr.com

August 9, 2012

SUCCESS: Mission Possible


New School Year, New Students, Even a New Room Make-Over
Welcome students and parents to 2012-2013: a year of learning opportunities!

I am always looking for new ideas to engage students in a successful school experience, so when I was asked to read and review Mission Possible: Secrets of the Success, written by Founder and CEO of the Success Academy Charter Schools, Eva Moskowitz, and literacy expert, Arin Lavinia, I was eager.

This is my 20th year teaching middle school students. I have seen incredible changes in education, technology, and society during this time. Stagnation has never been a problem with this age group or profession, so when asked to comment on the following comment, I was at a loss.

 “Stagnation, being unable to accomplish one’s job at a high level, is one of the greatest sources of low teacher morale.  Why do you think this country treats teaching so differently than it does other professions?” 

I believe that there are many reasons a teacher is at times “…unable to accomplish one’s job at a high level…” and the teaching profession is treated differently from other professions. As stated over and over again in Mission Possible, this can change when the education community works together with success as the overall goal.

After reading the book, I am as eager to share some key points in my back to school post. It is my hope that these ideas will ignite thinking and actions within our school community especially among our administrators, teachers, staff, parents, and students.

“Secrets of Success” shared:
  • Keeping students challenged and engaged in learning.
  • Keeping parents informed, involved and engaged in learning.
  • Keeping teachers and administrators trained, prepared and engaged in learning.

I smile knowing, that our school district already knows this “Secret.”
We already focus on all of these points- daily. Can we do better?
Simple answer,  Yes- daily.
  • Teachers must have time and resources to prepare rigorous and passionate lessons.
  • Parents must support and invest in their child’s learning.
  • Students must take advantage of every opportunity with a goal of life-long learning.

Mission Possible shows when everyone focuses on these goals, success happens. I plan to use the last chapter title “Call to Action” as a reminder that I need to continue to make a difference.  
2012-2013 school year has SUCCESS written all over it.

Give Away: An extra copy of Mission Possible was made available to gift to one of my readers. The book also includes a DVD sharing student and teacher interactions shared in the book. I will randomly choosing a winner on August  31st. Simply leave a comment with your email contact information so I can contact the winner.

This sponsored post is part of a campaign presented by Read Mission Possible.com and the SITS Girls. You can learn more about Mission Possible by following them on Twitter and Facebook. I was compensated for this post.  All opinions expressed are my own.

August 6, 2012

Guys (and Gals) Read Sport Pages




A lineman with something to prove
              A vendetta against a baseball legend
The rise of a real-life NHL all-star
                           The luckiest grapefruit in sports history

Open up The Sports Pages, the third volume in the Guys Read Library of Great Reading, and you're in for all of this and more. From fiction to nonfiction, from baseball to mixed martial arts and everything in between, these are ten stories about the rush of victory and the crush of defeat on and off the field. 

Compiled by kid-lit all-star Jon Scieszka, Guys Read: The Sports Pages is a thrilling collection of brand-new short stories from some of your favorite authors and athletes.

Like Funny Business and Thriller, the first two Guys Read books, The Sports Pages is a collection of ten stories from middle grade fiction writers, along with some exciting guest contributors. This time around, it’s only fitting that some stories come directly from athletes themselves. 

Don't forget, the "Gals" will love this as much as the "Guys."


A great site to get into the game of reading:   http://www.guysread.com/books/

March 22, 2012

February 27, 2012

OMS Academy Book Awards



2012 OMS Reading Academy Award Winners

1.  Best Female Character in a Leading Role – Bella, Twilight
2.  Best Male Character in a Leading Role – Greg, Diary of a Wimpy Kid
3.  Best Female Character in a Supporting Role – Hermione, Harry Potter
4.  Best Male Character in a Supporting Role – Ron Weasley, Harry Potter
5.  Best Author – Peg Kehret
6.  Best Book Cover – Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Kinney
7.  Best Realistic Fiction – Hatchet, Paulsen
8.  Best Historical Fiction – The Boy in Striped Pajamas, Boyne
9.  Best Science Fiction/Fantasy/Dystopia – Lightning Thief, Riordan
10.  Best Poetry – Where the Sidewalk Ends, Silverstein
11.  Best Nonfiction/Biography – Diary of Anne Frank, Frank
12.  Best Graphic Novel – Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Kinney
13.  Best Mystery – Abduction, Kehret
14.  Best Horror – Goosebumps, Stine
15.  Best Sports – Boost, Mackel
16.  Best Romance – Twilight, Meyer
17.  Best Animal Book – Cracker, Kadohata
18.  Best Series – Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Kinney
 

January 29, 2012

World Read Aloud Day on 3/7 - "Change the World, Story by Story"

 Celebrate World Read Aloud Day on 3/7 -- "Change the World, Story by Story"

WRADlogo World Read Aloud Day is back and bigger than ever

793 million adults worldwide lack basic reading and writing skills. This World Read Aloud Day, the globe will connect like never before. Let us together read and share to advocate for the power of words and stories.

Change the World, Story by Story


This amazing day is sponsored by LitWorld, whose mission is, "to use the power of story to cultivate literacy skills in the world's most vulnerable children through Education, Advocacy and Innovation."
  
* Books of Wonder in New York City!: We are excited to announce that Books of Wonder will host LitWorld’s signature World Read Aloud Day event. Stay tuned for the official schedule with details about our special guest authors and exciting workshops all day long.

* Join a LitWorld Video Chat: If you would like to take part in a video chat on World Read Aloud Day as a LitWorld classroom or special guest reader, please sign up at litworld.org.
Let’s rally for Global Literacy, together.
Facebook - Twitter - YouTube - Tumblr 
[Twitter Hashtag: #readaloud]

January 20, 2012

Bigger Than a Breadbox

Bigger Than A Breadbox

Getting what you want when you want it- Wow! This may be everyone's wish. But, even when we are quite young, we find out this isn't reality...but.. what if it really was possible with a few exceptions- the wish made needs to be able to fit in a breadbox.

Bigger than a Breadbox is about a magical antique bread box that grants wishes to a young girl who's life has been turned upside down by her parents' divorce/separation. Rebecca finds this wish maker after being whisked away to her grandma's house after her parents can't seem to figure out how to stay together.

The only positive thing about this separation for Rebecca is the breadbox. After granting her a book in the attic to help her overcome loneliness, many wishes find their into the box: snack cakes, lip gloss, candy and even a cell phone. When the bread box is empty after wishing for what she wants most- her family back together- Rebecca finds her thoughts moving from the material to the emotional list of wishes.

The magic of the breadbox has its limits and consequences just like Rebecca finds that her life has. This book is thought- provoking and brings one to think of their own magic and how one's wishes may or may not be possible or even wise.

A MUST READ for all ages because we all have wishes even if we don't have a breadbox.
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