Books GALORE!

Have you ever needed a great book to read, but didn't know what book to read?! Well your in luck because I have created a reading log with some great books! In this reading log you will be able to find many great books from a variety of different areas such as fiction to biographies. This is not only a list of books but also a short description of the book, reading level, number of pages, what i thought of the book, and how I would use the book in my very own classroom. If you are a parent, you can slightly adjust my classroom use column and use it at home with your child.
Follow the link below for many great books:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/3606084/Andersonannotatedbibreadinglog-FINAL

Bookmarks here, Bookmarks there, Bookmarks EVERYWHERE!

Reading is fun, but what about when you have to put that book down for a couple of minutes and then you lose your spot?! Here are some cute book marks that I have designed, along with how to make each book mark. These are not just your ordinary bookmarks, they have books that they are tailored to as well as many different ways to make them! Hope you enjoy the endless fun in reading these awesome books and making this incredible bookmarks! :)

Follow the following links to find the fun:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/3606018/childrens-lit-choice-assign-BOOKMARKS
http://www.scribd.com/doc/3606008/childrens-lit-making-bookmarks-revised-part-2

Tood Parr: A truely AMAZING author!

Todd Parr grew up in a small town in Wyoming. He always loved to paint and wanted to be an artist until he failed an art class in high school which crushed his dreams. After several years of doing many other things he went back to his dream of becoming an artist. Once again Todd didn’t have the best of luck with his work in galleries and had the opportunity to display his work in Wolfgang Puck’s restaurant in San Francisco. It was then after this that he began to have merchandise in Macy’s, designing children’s clothing, creating children’s book, and more.
For more information, visit http://www.toddparr.com/todd/bio.html.

If you would like to know more about Todd Parr and some of his books then check out the author study that I created. This will give you an insight on some of his great books, why I like Todd, and a few ways that you can teach your children or students using Todd Parr's work.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/3605963/AndersonAuthorStudyRevision

Parents:Tips to get and stay involved!

Parents, being a part of your child’s education is more important than you may think. Involvement, just like other things in life can be very easy and minimal or it can be very time consuming. Here are a few ways to stay involved.
1) Become a room mother: This is one of the best ways to become involved and stay connected with your child’s class and the teacher. Being a room mother is fun and usually isn't to time consuming.
2) Become a teacher’s aide: Great way to actually get into the classroom! Being a teacher’s aide will require you to be an assistant to your child’s teacher doing things such as grading papers. A teacher’s aide can be time consuming depending on your child's teacher’s needs.
3) Attend school board meetings: If you are looking for something that is relatively easy and very little time commitment then this is for you! The schools usually hold board meetings once a month that usually only last for an hour or two. This will allow you to stay connected with the school and knowing what is going on.

Take a *sneak-peak* into my favorite books!

1) It’s Okay to be Different By Todd Parr: This is a truly amazing book that teaches children it is okay to be different. This book covers topics such as it is okay to wear glasses all the way to it is okay to be adopted. I thoroughly enjoy reading this book not only because of the great message it delivers, but also because of the great illustration.

2) Today I Will Fly Written and illustrated by Mo Willems: Today I Will Fly is a wonderful story about a pig who has a very positive outlook on life and all the things in it and his friend which happens to be an elephant. The elephant friend doesn't really have much to say throughout the whole book. I think this is a great book about friendship that every child so know.

3) Motherbridge of Love Illustrated by Josee Masse: Motherbridge of Love is an excellent book covering the issue of adoption. In this book two mothers, the girls real and adoptive mother, come together to raise this one really special little girl. Great book to use especially if your child has an adopted friend.

4) Iggy Peck, Architect Written by Andrea Beaty, illustrated by David Roberts: If your looking for a funny, rhyming book then this is a good one. This book has a little boy who loves to make buildings out of anything he can get his hands on. This really bothers his teacher until one day this “talent” comes in handy and saves the teachers life.

5)Diary of A Fly Written Doreen Cronin; illustrated by Harry Bliss: Hilarious is all I have to say for this book. This is a great book about a fly on her first day of school and like most students she is nervous about what the other kids will think of her and of she will be different from her classmates. Great book to read to children that are about to start the new school year. This book also teaches children about flys without them even knowing it.

6) The Chicken-Chasing Queen of Lamar County Written by Janice N. Harrington; illustrated by Shelley Jackson: This book is about a young girl who loves to chase other people’s chickens especially Big Mamas. Big Mama tell her to stop over and over again in fear that the chickens will stop laying their eggs. This is a funny story with a great variety of words.

7)Smelly Bill Written and Illustrated by Daniel Postgate: Smelly Bill is a funny story about a dog named Bill who loves to be around or roll in anything smelly. One day he gets a dog sitter who isn't happy with Bill’s dirty ways. This is a funny rhyming book that keeps you and your child guess whether Bill or the dog sitter wins the battle.

8) City Lullaby Written by Marilyn Singer, illustrated by Carll Cneut: Great counting book! This is a fun book that gives children a fun way to count. Within this book there are many different things from the city that you count from page to page.

9) The Very Hungry Caterpillar By Eric Carle: Love, love, love this book! This is a great book that follows a little caterpillar as he eats many different fruits. With each page he eats a higher amount of fruit. Eventually at the end of the story the caterpillar turns into a beautiful butterfly.

10) When Dinosaurs Came with Everything Written by Elise Broach, illustrated by David Small: Very cute book told by a little boy who tells his story about the day that dinosaurs came with everything. This is a great book that allows children to become familiar with many different types of dinosaurs. Great book for both girls and boys and parents too!

Ginnie's *Top 10* Books!

1) It’s Okay to be Different
2) Today I will Fly
3) Motherbridge of Love
4) Iggy Peck
5) Diary of A Fly
6) The Chicken-Chasing Queen of Lamar County
7) Smelly Bill
8) City Lullaby
9) The Very Hungry Caterpillar
10) When Dinosaurs Came with Everything

Parent's Newsletter

Hello! I have created a newletter that I will one day be sending out to the parents of the children in my classroom. I hope that you have a chance to check it out and let me know what you think. There are also some really good resources so be sure to read and check them out!