Choose Kind!

R. J. Palacio's book Wonder, published in 2012, kicked off a campaign of kindness in schools and libraries. Wonder is best suited for our 4th and 5th grade readers, but Kindness is for everyone! Please help our school prevent bullying by spreading the message of kindness. Read one of these books from our library or the public library and share it with your family.



This fall, we can make a difference! Listen to 10 year-old singer Shyanne Wilson perform Get a Life, reminding us to avoid rumors and to do something better with our time than hurting others.

Are you ready to make a difference and to spread kindness to others? Visit The Choose Kind Tumblr and take the pledge to Choose Kind!

Additional Resources:
Wonder Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVNqnCjD1fs#t=20
Random Acts of Kindness: http://www.randomactsofkindness.org/

October Kindness Calendar: http://calendars.randomactsofkindness.org/2013/october.pdf
November Kindness Calendar:  http://calendars.randomactsofkindness.org/2013/november.pdf

Christopher Columbus is remembered each year on the second Monday of October when we celebrate his October 12, 1492 arrival in the American Continents. His contribution remains significant in the life of every American because it reminds us of the power of bold adventure as we also face new experiences. We can face challenges with confidence that even if we fail we will still learn and may help others in the process. After all, Columbus was seeking a new route to India. He failed. Yet, we celebrate his failure as a success each year!

There are many great websites available to learn about Columbus and his experience, but one of my favorites for students is from the BBC news organization in the United Kingdom.  Visit this link to learn more! 

Other sites to visit: 

Harcourt Biography: http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/biographies/columbus/

Meet Amazing American Explorers: http://www.americaslibrary.gov/aa/adventurers.php

October is Fire Prevention Month and a good time for all students and families to review Fire Safety procedures in their homes. Our school holds regular fire drills. Have you had a fire drill in your house recently?

It's never a bad idea to think about safety. Have you read Officer Buckle and Gloria? Gloria is a police dog who helps teach students about safety with Mr. Buckle. Our library has a copy of Officer Buckle and Gloria on display along with other great books about safety. Please come by the library to check one out!  Hear the author, Peggy Rathman, talk about her book by visiting http://www.teachingbooks.net/book_reading.cgi?id=8895&a=1
or watch a video of the book! 

While you're at home with your families there are many things you can do to honor Fire Prevention Month. Take some time to review this Fire Safety Checklist.  Then visit this site from Scholastic to practice a Fire Drill with your family and do lots of other fun activities!

Stay Safe!

Read for the Record

Today was Read for the Record Day, an event from Jumpstart, wegivebooks.org, and Pearson Books designed to promote literacy.  I had the opportunity to start our morning assembly with the book Otis by Loren Long.  Many of our kids already knew who Otis was because Otis and the Tornado was on the Bill Martin Jr. Picture Book Award list last year, so I had read it to K-2.  This was a fun chance for me to get to share a book with the whole school at one time--and I loved it!  I hope the kids loved it too!

Last year, over 2,000,000 people read together on Read for the Record Day.  I'm anxious to see this year's results! 

The Dewey Decimal Rap--a student favorite that we watch every year!

Library Break

This week is MAP testing week in our school, so no library classes are taking place.  Lots is still happening in the library though!  Besides the many students coming to the library to take their tests, Mrs. Patton is busy getting new books ready for the library as well as preparing information for the KU Reading Program! 

Last year was the first year the KU Reading Program was used in our school.  Students in grades 2-6 have reading requirements to follow, and then they earn rewards at the end of the year from the University of Kansas.  This year, there is a special Zoology track which kids are sure to love!  I think that will be more well received than last year's Kansas history track, and easier to provide kids books to read!