Books and Bytes

The Book Fair is Coming!

2011-10-23T16:19:00.000-05:00

You can also order books from the Anderson's website, and a portion of the sales price will go to our school! Order online at https://andersons.indiebound.com

This Week in the LMC - 10/10/2011

2011-10-10T21:57:00.000-05:00

Kindergarten - Muncha, Muncha, Muncha, by Candace Fleming
1st, 2nd, and 3rd Grade - Choosing Just Right Books
4th Grade - Troubleshooting LMC Computer problems
5th Grade - Genres

Reading Stars
We've seen a great deal of activity on the reading log! I am impressed by the number of students who are checking the Captain's Log and contributing Book Recommendations. I monitor both of these areas on a regular basis. If you notice that your post is removed, it is either because it is off topic, or poorly written. This is great practice in reminding students that anything they write publicly should be carefully thought out and proofread.

Keep logging those minutes!

Reading Stars: School-wide reading incentive program

2011-10-01T12:39:00.003-05:00

Remember those paper reading log calendars that kept getting lost and forgotten until the end of the month? May Watts is now part of the digital age! Our new online reading log is called Reading Stars, and it is available at  CLICK HERE: maywattsreads.com
Monthly reading goals are: KG       - 300 minutes
                                            Grade 1 - 300
                                            Grade 2 - 300
                                            Grade 3 - 360
                                            Grade 4 - 400
                                            Grade 5 - 400
Since most classes have nightly reading expectations anyway, this should be a snap!

To log in, your student needs their student ID number. (This was on the LMC brochure sent home at Curriculum Night. If you don't have that, your child's teacher can supply it.) The password is their class (i.e. 3A).

Each month, there will be a reward for reaching the required number of minutes for your child's grade level. These minutes can be fulfilled by home independent reading or being read to by an adult. The reward for the October, November, and December will be coupons for a personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut.

You can access the site by typing in maywattsreads.com or go in throught the May Watts website/LMC/Reading Log.

This Week in the LMC - 9/26/2011

2011-09-27T23:18:00.000-05:00

Kindergarten- We're Going on a Book Hunt with the book of that name by Pat Miller. We are reviewing using shelf markers and our library manners.

1st Grade - We read part of the book Winter's Tail, by Juliana, Isabella, and Craig Hatkoff. The book and its story is the basis for the movie, "Dolphin's Tale," now playing in theaters. You can view a live webcam of Winter, the dolphin at the site http://winterstail.com/

2nd-5th grade looked at the features of Destiny Quest, our library catalog. http://destiny.ipsd.org/quest/servlet/presentquestform.do?site=302
Login with your unique ID number and password to search the catalog, check to see what books you have checked out, or read ebooks.

Read ebooks online!

2011-09-27T22:51:00.000-05:00

Use your Desiny Quest login and password to login to My Destiny Quest. From this view, search ebooks. Click on one of the books to read it online.

This Week in the LMC - 9//2011

2011-09-11T23:01:00.001-05:00

Laptop Orientation for Grades 2-5
When students use laptops, they need to remember to:

Carry them carefully with both hands.
Open the lid gently, and don't bend the lid back and forth.
Count to 30 before logging in. (It takes time for the laptop to find the network signal.)
Always use Save As, and look to see where you are saving a document.
Only Print if given permission by a teacher. Look to see which printer you have selected.
Do not go to any websites unless directed by your teacher.
Never delete a file that you have not created.
Avoid touching the screen.

Kindergarten and 1st Grade are learning good library manners, such as using a shelf marker and always bringing your books back on time.

Featured Book - The Lost Hero, by Rick Riordan

2011-09-05T22:55:00.001-05:00

If you are a fan of Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, you will definitely want to read The Lost Hero. This book begins shortly after the battle with the Titans in The Last Olympian. A new hero, Jason, is introduced, but he knows nothing about who he is or where he has come from. He and his friends Piper and Leo revisit Camp Halfblood before setting off on incredible adventure to save the world from a force even more powerful than Kronos. Watch for the 2nd book in The Heroes of Olympus Series, The Son of Neptune, due to be released in October.

This Week in the LMC - 8/30/2011

2011-08-28T20:24:00.000-05:00

All classes will be visiting the LMC to review the basics of good citizenship in the library.
Remember to:

Keep your books in a safe place away from food, water, pets, and baby brothers and sisters.
Carry your books carefully. (No head balancing!)
Return materials as soon as you are done reading them. (2 weeks or sooner)

When students come to the LMC for their Special, they will have a lesson presented by Mrs. May, then they will check out books. If they cannot check out that day, students should bring reading material or read the books that we have provided for them. LMC time is reading time!

The votes are in! The results of our state award winners are as follows:

2011-03-27T19:52:00.002-05:00

The 2011 Monarch K-3 Readers’ Choice Book Award is:
First Place: Rhyming Dust Bunnies, by Jan Thomas (Also our school winner!)

Second Place: Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, by Kirby Larson

                                    Friendship and Survival
Third Place:     Bad Kitty Gets a Bath, by Nick Bruel

The 2011 Rebecca Caudill Award Winner is:
First Place:       Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins
Second Place: 11 Birthdays, by Wendy Mass
Third Place:     Found, by Margaret Peterson Haddix

The 2011 Bluestem Award Winner is:
First Place:       Hachiko Waits, by Leslea Newman
Second Place:    BFG, by Roald Dahl
Third Place:      How to Steal a Dog, by Barbara O'Connor

2011-03-16T08:42:00.000-05:00

Come shop at the May Watts Book Fair! We are pen Wednesday, 3/16 until 8:00, and Saturday from 11-3.

The Book Fair is Coming

2011-03-06T20:14:00.000-06:00

...but you don't have to wait to shop! Check out our Scholastic Book Fair home page at http://bookfairs.scholastic.com/homepage/maywatts If you can't make it to the fair in person, you can order books though the online link. Books will be delivered to May Watts after the fair ends.

3rd Annual May Watts Book Exchange

2011-01-30T22:23:00.000-06:00

It looks like we have some big snow on the way, so bring your books in early for the Book Exchange. You will receive one ticket for each book brought in, up to five. Do you have more than five books to bring in? Bring them in and give the extra tickets to a friend who may not have any books to contribute. Exchange days are Thursday and Friday.

Great new book...The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens

2011-01-30T22:18:00.001-06:00

Thanks go out to Anderson's Bookshop for sending author John Stephens to May Watts last week. There is a lot of buzz in the bookselling world about his new book, The Emerald Atlas. The well drawn main characters, siblings Kate, Michael, and Emma are marked for greatness, even though they were mysteriously abandoned by their parents at a very young age. If you are a fan of the Chronicles of Narnia, you will find plenty to like in this time-traveling fantasy with a dash of humor thrown in! The book will not be officially released until April, but we have a few Advance Reader's Copies floating around the LMC. I give it five stars for great writing, likeable characters, and a plot that will keep you reading until the last page.

Rebecca Caudill and Bluestem Reading

2010-12-12T21:34:00.000-06:00

Attention 3rd, 4th, & 5th graders! Keep on reading those award books! You have until after Winter Break to read 3 nominated books to vote or 8 books to come to a pizza party. Remember that you have to fill out a response sheet for each book you read. I hope to see all of our copies checked out over break! You can also check nominees out of the public library.
Caudill Nominees (Grade 4-8)
Bluestem Nominees (Grade 3-5)

Monarch Book Award Nominees

2010-12-12T20:40:00.001-06:00

In December and January, I will be sharing the Illinois state children's book nominees with Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd graders. In February, students will be voting for the winner. Here is the list of nominees:
Annotated Monarch List

Thanks for Shopping at Our Book Fair!

2010-11-14T21:29:00.000-06:00

Many thanks to all our parent volunteers and customers who made our Fall Book Fair one of the best we have had in the last few years! The school receives a portion of the profits to purchase new books for our library.

Knut

2010-10-12T11:30:00.003-05:00

In preparation for their field trip, 1st grade is reading, Knut: How the Little Bear Captivated the World, by Isabella Jenkins. Watch this short video to see Knut as a baby.

Fall Family Reading Night - K-2, Wed., Oct 6, 6:30-8:00

2010-09-27T10:01:00.001-05:00

K-2 parents and students are invited to join us for an evening of learning to be better readers. You can download the flyer from the attached link.
Family Reading Night Flyer

September in the LMC

2010-09-25T16:41:00.002-05:00

In addition to checking out books, each grade level has a weekly LMC lesson with Mrs. May.

Kindergarten-We have a lot of procedures to learn! Kindergartners are working on finding their assigned seats, using quiet voices, taking good care of books, selecting books, and putting books back where they belong. Books that we have shared are The Library Lion, by Michelle Knudsen, What Happened to Marion's Book, by Brook Berg, We're Going on a Book Hunt, by Pat Miller, The Quiet Book, by Deborah Underwood, and The Letters are Lost by Lisa Campbell Ernst.

1st Grade-We have been reviewing library procedures with emphasis on book care and putting books back where they belong. 1st graders were also introduced to bar codes and call numbers. Books that we have shared are: The Shelf Elf, by Jackie Mims Hopkins, We're Going on a Book Hunt, by Pat Miller, The Quiet Book, by Deborah Underwood, and Olivia and the Missing Toy, by Ian Falconer.

2nd Grade- We have been reviewing library procedures with emphasis on book care and putting books back where they belong. 2nd graders also looked at some popular series and reviewed bar codes and call numbers.
Books that we have shared are: Miss Brooks Loves Books and I Don't, by Barbara Bottner and Michael Emberly, Shark vs. Train, by /Chris Barton, andStella Louella's Runaway Book, by Lisa Campbell Ernst.

3rd Grade- We reviewed library procedures by reading,The Shelf Elf Helps Out, by Jackie Mims Hopkins, learned how to login to the LMC catalog, had a laptop orientation session, and reviewed call numbers.

4th Grade- Reviewed resetting the LMC catalog, troubleshooting computer problems with circulation, and had 2 sessions on laptop usage.

5th Grade- Learned about award winning books (Newbery, Rebecca Caudill, and Edgar Awards), computer troubleshooting, and had a 2 session laptop orientation.

Welcome to the world of books and technology!

2010-08-18T20:59:00.000-05:00

I'm so glad to be back with the wonderful staff and 600 amazing students at May Watts. This year, we will travel the world, go back in time, and explore unknown worlds all through the power of books.

2010-08-10T09:53:00.000-05:00