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On Thursday, October 26 we celebrated our One Book, One School read of Wishtree, with a special night for families. The Grove, courtesy of the Patton PTA, shared exhibits about trees and the animals that live in them which included counting rings, matching leaves, examining animal pelts and touching a live snake! In the LMC and classrooms, families used the Pic Edu iPad app to put their family into the Wishtree with all of Red's animal friends. Then families competed in a friendly Kahoot game to see how well they remember the story. Finally families wrote a wish for the Wishtree in the Commons, created by our Social Service Club students. Take a look at the fun....
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This week LMC classes settled in to work on different aspects of their curriculum and learn about different types of resources, how to find and use them, and practice note taking. Here's what's happening! In Kindergarten students took photos of the book they checked out and reflected on why they chose it using the app Seesaw. On laptops, students practiced using the trackpad to create a computer name tag. In First Grade, as students are learning all the rules, responsibilities and expectations of the hallway, lunchroom, P.E. recess, music, art and LMC, we created a class book describing and explaining these rules as if Mo Willem's "pigeon" came to Patton School, called Don't Let the Pigeon Break a School Rule! To create their page, students took a photo of one area of the school, put it into Seesaw, drew the pigeon on it and wrote or recorded the correct rule for that area. Enjoy Miss Donovan's class video below. Watch for all the class videos at More - Student Projects-1st grade.
Second Graders are learning about the importance of a community in class, and in LMC we began our first research of the year...on community workers! First student learned and practiced the steps of research, including questioning, sources, and note taking using the Nearpod App. Then students chose or were assigned one community worker, such as bus driver, garbage collector, police officer, dentist, construction worker, mechanic, plumber, nurse, principal, or veterinarian, With a book and a notes graphic organizer students began to answer their questions about the community worker.
Third Graders are learning about the Midwest states in class, and in LMC we began our first research of the year on one of the states of the Midwest. First students reviewed and practiced the steps of research, including questioning, sources and note taking using the Nearpod app to practice taking notes. Then pairs of students began learning about and taking notes on a Midwest state using PebbleGo Next and a book on their state. Fourth Graders - are reviewing and practicing with the features of non fiction reference books in class. In LMC we are discussing and examining the features of websites to determine how certain features help us find information. Student's practiced identifying and using navigation bars, bold linked words, glossaries, and search fields to find information. Fifth Graders learned the definition of a Primary Source and discussed the benefits of both primary and secondary sources. Students then examined historical documents, photos, paintings and maps to determine if they were primary or secondary, i.e. "were they created by someone with first hand experience of the event in history". Secret Sisters of the Salty Sea by Lynn Rae Perkins. Over one summer vacation at the ocean, two sisters make new friends, discover all kinds of shellfish and sand crabs, build and destroy amazing sand castles, learn at an amazing bird sanctuary, and find sea glass and other treasures. Meet brave Alix and her older more careful and precise sister "Jools" as they discover the wonders of an ocean vacation. The reader will share special times with the sisters and their family while they continue to learn more about what makes each other happy or frustrated and how their talents are different. There is everyday fun and special times too. Realistic fiction. Grades 2-4. The Goldfish Boy by Lisa Thompson. Meet Matthew, a smart, perceptive and troubled boy who is dealing with an intense fear of germs since his baby brother died. His fears have so taken over that Matthew can barely leave his room. But from his bedroom window he observes and records the daily lives of his neighbors including two school mates. One is Melody who seems to have a fascination with the nearby graveyard and the other, Jake, is a used to be friend who has become a bully. But there is also Charles, a widower, a young couple who is expecting their first child, an older nosy couple and Nina, a mysterious woman who also hardly leaves her creepy house. To this mix is added the grandchildren of Charles, when Charles daughter asks him to take care of his grandchildren for the summer, a six year old and a toddler, Teddy. As Matthew becomes fascinated with Charles' inability to control the kids, the toddler suddenly disappears. And so begins Matthew's detective work to determine where Teddy is and who took him. At the same time, Matthew's parents are urging Matthew to speak with a counselor for help with his fears, Eventually, however, as Melody and Peter join his secret work, the three kids begin to form a friendship that may also help Matthew to cope. Realistic Fiction. Grades 4-6 How to be an Elephant: Growing up in the African Wild by Katherine Roy. This special book examines each step of how a baby elephant matures into a capable member of their herd. We follow their growth and maturity both through beautiful pictures and explanations of family life and real facts and details of the elephant's physical anatomy. The reader learns how elephants' use their entire herd to raise each young elephant and teach them how to survive together. Informational non fiction. Grades 1-5. Charlie and Mouse by Laurel Snyder. This is the first in a series of short chapter books starring two fun brothers and their bunch of friends. Together they face everyday happenings, friends, sleepovers, neighborhood parties and some mischief. Great drawings and four funny chapters. We can't wait for the next installment! Grades 1-2 Frazzled, Ordinary mishaps and inevitable catastrophes by Booki Vivat is a funny, part text, part graphic, look at the beginning of middle school, starring Abby Wu now in 6th grade. Abby believes that if something can go wrong it will, and her first few weeks of school seem to prove her rule. First, though she has been looking forward to finally having a locker, instead of getting her own like everyone else, Abby learns she is the only student that has to share. Then her parents get her little sister a cat, and the cat hates Abby. Her good friends are not in any of her classes. And she has a big science project with an assigned partner who is the new girl Jess, (her locker partner). Will things look up for Abby? Will she end up with a new friend in Jess? Will the cat start to like her? Read, laugh at all the great cartoons, and find out. Realistic/Graphic. Grade 3-5 Left Out by Tim Green involves lots of football team situations, practices and games but the real story is much more. Landon Dorch is a big seventh grader planning on playing football at his new middle school. Landon is also deaf and has cochlear implants that help him hear though he still needs to read lips and his speech has a different sound than most kids. All he wants, though, is to be treated like everyone else, not different, and especially not like he needs special help. He believes football will be his chance to be really accepted. But when football proves harder than he thought, and his fellow players are not that welcoming, the coaches encourage Landon to be their oversized water boy. With supporting parents and a feisty younger sister who won't let Landon quit on his dreams, Landon has a good chance to pull through. The story gives us great insight into the challenges a hearing impaired student faces and how we should treat everyone, with disabilities or not. Sports fiction, grade 4-6. and watch out for new adventures of: the King and Kayla series by Butler,
Zoey and Sassafrass series by Asia Citro, the Heartwood Hotel series by Kallie George, and the Alien Next Door series by A.I. Newton The Rhino in Right Field by Stacy DeKeyser takes place in Milwaukee in 1950 where Nick and his friends play baseball at the city park which also happens to house the city zoo. And often their ball lands right inside an animal enclosure! The most difficult one to retrieve is when it lands with Tank, the very large zoo's rhino, which still never stops Nick and his best friend Ace from playing ball. Nick's strict immigrant parents, who came from Greece, make sure he works hard at regular school, and Greek school and on Saturdays he helps in his dad's store. But this summer the local minor league team, the Mud Puppies, are bought by a new owner who has all sorts of ideas to bring fans in. He announces a city contest for 10-14 year old boys to become a bat boy for the day. NIck can't wait to try out until he discovers the tryouts are on Saturdays. Join Nick for baseball, good friends, and even a new girl in town who can really throw a baseball, as he faces his dilemma. Fun, sports/historical fiction. Grades 3-5. In The Science of Breakable Things by Tae Keller, meet Natalie, her best friend, Twig, her nemesis Mikayla, new serious student Dari, and her brand new science teacher, Mr. Neely. While Mr. Neely teaches the scientific method of "observe, question, research, hypothesis, procedure, experiment, results and analyze" and assigns the class a long term Wonder project, Natalie just wants to blend in and forget what is happening at home. Her mother, once a dedicated and enthusiastic plant biologist has left her job and is spending more and more time in her bedroom, often asleep. Her dad, while trying to help Natalie deal with her mother's depression, does not really know what to do. Slowly Mr. Neely's assignment, to design and test the best egg drop basket, begins to change Natalie's outlook and with Twig and Dari they begin the scientific process steps that may help Natalie to cope. A serious topic told with humor and realistic middle grade situations. Realistic fiction, grade 4-6. The Serpent's Secret by Sayantani DasGupta is a fantasy story that mixes the real world of a girl growing up in New Jersey with fantastic Benghali folktales. Kiran has grown up knowing her Indian parents are strange and different, insisting she is a princess, protecting her from snakes and talking often about wild beasts and monsters from another world. She has taken this all in stride until her 12th birthday when she comes home to a monster wrecking her home, her parents gone and two young "princes" on horses waiting to help her. Kiran's parents left a note that says to trust the boys, and explains that the magic that kept them in the human world has run out. With the boy's help, Kiran fells the monster and runs away with them to find and save her parents. But the world they take her to has unimaginable beasts and dangers and everyone there thinks she is a great princess, the daughter of the moon, finally coming back to their alternate world. Join Kiran on this truly fantastic journey to help her parents and learn who she is! Fantasy, grades 3-5. Team Players by Mike Lupica is for baseball and softball lovers as it treats the reader to plenty of game action. Cassie, a gifted athlete, tells the story of the summer after 8th grade as she pitches for her girls softball team and coaches third base for her best friend's boys baseball team. But all is not smooth for her team when a new girl, Sarah, joins with some specific special needs. Sarah has amazing softball skills but is on the Autism spectrum and struggles with relationships and some of the compromises that come with a team game. When Sarah and another teammate come to odds about a play, the team seems to split up, with most of the girls siding against Sarah and only a few with Cassie and Sarah. And on the boys team, there are problems with a new coach. Enjoy this sports story with real game situations, and real friendships and problems as well. Sports fiction, grades 4-6 Dragons and Marshmallows by Asia Citro. This is the first in a new series starring Zoey, a curious and resourceful girl who loves nature and science and her cat Sassafras. Zoey has just discovered that her mother, a veterinarian, has secretly been rehabilitating magical animals in their backyard when a sick baby dragon appears. Since Zoey's mother is away on a business trip Zoey decided it is up to her to save him. She uses the scientific method of question, hypothesis, action and findings with her knowledge of reptiles, some research and some medical tools available to help the dragon survive. Join Zoey and Sassafras on this first adventure and look forward to more of this unique fantasy and science combination. Fantasy, grades 2-3. The Elephant Thief by Jane Kerr is an amazing adventure set in the year 1872 in Edinbergh, Scotland. Danny is an orphan living on the streets and controlled by a thief who makes Danny pick-pocket for him. But when a local circus holds an auction to sell off some of its animals, including a beautiful Asian elephant, Danny's life changes forever. He helps a circus owner, Mr. Jameson, buy the elephant, Maharajah, and Mr Jameson offers Danny a job riding the elephant two hundred miles across Scotland into England in order to get a lot of publicity and win a bet. But if Danny and Maharajah can't make it in seven days, the elephant will be taken by another owner, who does not intend to treat the elephant well. Danny discovers a great affinity for the intelligent and courageous elephant as he is trained to care for him and is determined to make the difficult journey full of challenges, some dangerous, and some funny. Based on true events, this story keeps the reader turning pages eager to know if they succeed and what will happen to Danny. History and Adventure, grades 4-6. The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani bring us back to the year 1947 when India becomes independent from England and forms the new country of Pakistan in part of India. Nisha and Amil are 12 year old twins living comfortably with their father, a respected doctor, Kashi their beloved cook, and their grandmother, when the independence changes everything. Their mother, who has died, was Muslim and their father is Hindu and suddenly the Muslims living in India are told to go to Pakistan while the Hindu's in Nisha and Amil's area have to journey to another part of India. Fighting breaks out among the different groups, and the twin's father has to take the family, leaving behind Kashi who is Muslim, on a long and difficult journey, partly on foot, to try to find safety and a new life in another part of the country. The reader learns the story as Nisha writes to her mother in her diary late at night, documenting the changes in her life, her hopes and dreams and the events happening to her country. The Trail by Meika Hashimoto. Though only 12, Toby is hiking a difficult portion of the Appalachian Trail, through Maine, on his own. The plan was that he and his best friend Lucas hike the trail together, but when Lucas dies, Toby sets out determinedly, in his friends honor, and without telling his Gran. Although he has some gear and knows how to camp, he is not prepared for the difficulty of the hiking, the loneliness, nor the bad weather that he soon encounters. But when he helps a starving stray dog, he finds a true companion, and along the way two potential friends in some older teens, also hiking, for their own hidden reasons. Toby's adventure teaches him both how and when to trust others and as he gains confidence, to trust himself as a leader too. Adventure fiction, grades 4-6. Out of Left Field by Ellen Klages. The year is 1957, and Katy Gordon loves baseball more than anything, but especially pitching, and she's got a few pitches that can strike out just about anybody. But after she is recruited by the local little league team as "KC" Gordon, they find out she's a girl and won't let her on the team. Katy can't believe Little League says that girls will get hurt playing ball and can't handle the exertion! So she sets out to change their minds and to back up her argument she begins to research the history of women playing baseball. Through her local library and UC Berkley where her mother is a professor Kay discovers the many women who have played baseball, the many women leagues that existed over many years, and even a few women that made it to the pros. When Katy incorporates all of these forgotten women into a school project, her evidence begins to be noticed. Will it help her make the team? If you love baseball and history, read to find out! Historical fiction/sports, grades 3-5. The Infinity Year of Avalon James by Dana Middleton. Avalon and her best friend Atticus are entering fifth grade and turning 12. Though Avalon has a temper she struggles to control, especially around her arch enemy Elena, and a father she is desperately missing, she enters the new year knowing she can always count on Atticus. They are both also waiting for their "infinity powers" to arrive, very special powers that Atticus' grandpa told them will come to them when they turn 12, if they keep it a secret and they stay true friends. Though no magical powers seem to come to her, Avalon discovers a talent for spelling that may lead her to fame in the school's bee, if she can keep her temper. But the year also tests her friendship with Atticus as they both discover the meaning and power of true friendship. Realistic fiction, grades 3-5. Code Word Courage by Kirby Larson. As in her books, Dash, Duke and Liberty, Larson takes us back to a part of World War II and creates a story with special characters and of course, a dog. In this story we meet 11 year old Billie struggling to adjust to life on her Aunt's ranch without her brother Leo who has joined the Marines, while her best friend, Hazel, rejects her for more popular girls and she befriends Tito, the young Mexican boy whose father manages her aunt’s ranch, who is used to be put down or ignored. When her brother Leo comes to visit before shipping out, he brings his friend and fellow recruit, Denny, a member of the Navajo Nation, and Bear, a special abandoned dog who Billie cares for and adopts. The story then alternates between following Denny, who becomes a Navajo Code Talker into the war in the Pacific, and Billie, Tito's and Bear's struggles to find true friendship among bullies and prejudice. Historical fiction, grades 3-5. Sprinkle Sundaes by Coco Simon brings the first book in a series with lots of yummy desserts, and the story of Allie and her family. Allie comes home from overnight camp at the end of the summer to discover her parents, who used to fight a lot, have decided to divorce. Although her father will live near by, and Allie and her brother get a new house, Allie is sad and the transition to living with one parent at a time is difficult. Plus Allie finds herself in a new school without her three best friends. But when Allie's mother follows a dream to open an ice cream shop with her awesome homemade flavors, things begin to look up. Allie must find her way to meet new friends and try new activities, while helping her mother with the store and still find a way to see her old friends. All realistic issues and characters that seem like real kids we all know. Realistic fiction, grades 3-5. In A Boy Called Bat by Elana K. Arnold, Bixby Alexander Tam "Bat" is on a mission. His mother, a vet, has brought home an infant and orphan skunk to care for until the animal rescue center will take him, about 4 weeks. But Bat, who loves animals more than anything, falls in love with the baby who he and his older sister name, Thor. He is determined to convince his mother that they can keep Thor and raise him instead of turning him over to the wildlife center. And when Bat is determined, watch out! He researches and studies skunks and even writes to the foremost expert for help and advice. Some things are tough for Bat, like when others don't follow rules, or there are changes to his schedule, but with a loving and understanding mother, and a potential new friend, Bat might succeed with that mission! Realistic fiction, Grades 2-4. Survival Tails The Titanic by Katrina Charman is the first in a new series of survival "tails". This unique Titanic story, is told by Mutt, a dog, Clara, a cat and King Leon, a rat, who all end up on the "unsinkable" Titanic as it gets ready for its maiden voyage from England to the America. Mutt's beloved owner Alice has been taken by her father onto the ship as he plans to start a new life for them in the New World, leaving Mutt behind. King Leon is the rat who helps Mutt sneak onto the ship to find his Alice. And Clara the proud cat of the Titanic''s captain, is an experienced sailor excited to help her captain on this voyage. These three animals plus three abandoned kittens meet on the ship and are trying to help each other when they find themselves in the middle of the danger as the ship begins to sink. Read to find out what it might have been like for animals on the Titanic and if they make it. Fantasy, grades 3-5. Clementine for Christmas by Daphne Benedis-Grab. You don't need to wait for Christmas to read this heartwarming story of Josie, a sixth grader, and her special dog, Clementine during the holiday season. Clementine helped Josie repair after her father died and now accompanies her as a therapy dog in the children's wing of the hospital where Josie does volunteer work after school. Though shy in school, Josie loves dressing up and entertaining the kids with songs and skits especially at Christmas. But this year, two students from school are threatening to change her fun. Oscar who has troubles at home, acts out in school and is given community service hours at the children's wing and Gabby, the most popular girl in school, who generally ignores Josie, enters the hospital with a condition she hopes to hide from school mates. Though Josie fears the pair will ruin her enjoyment and good intentions, together with Clementine, the group might find their way toward improving the Christmas show and helping each other. Realistic Fiction, grades 3-5. Jack and the Geniuses at the Bottom of the World by Bill Nye, the Science Guy and Gregory Mone is the first in a new series involving three siblings who meet in a foster home and have a unique homeschool arrangement where they stay together with an adult who just checks in on them. The oldest is 15 year old Matt, and Ava and Jack are both 12. Jack believes his siblings are genius level smart especially with tech, while he is of "normal" intelligence though he is brave, daring and a born detective. The three sibs meet Henry Witherspoon a wealthy inventor about to leave for Antarctica to give a million dollar prize for the best new invention to change ocean water to drinking water. Impressed with the kids, he invites them to join him in Antarctica, where they get to test many new gadgets and explore the alien landscape until a scientist friend of Henry's disappears from the base. Jack goes to work solving the mystery. This creative story is for adventure seekers who are interested in tech gadgets and learning about Antarctica too. Adventure, grades 4-6. In Unschooled by Allan Woodrow, George and best friend Lilly tell the story, in alternating chapters, of their school's annual spirit week 5th grade contest. The friends have been eagerly waiting for this year and hope to be on the same team. But when the grade is split into two teams, the friends instead find themselves opposing team captains. To increase the excitement, the rumors are flying that for the first time a great prize will go to the winning team members, making the competition even more intense. George and Lilly hope to be on the same team but instead end up as opposing team captains. Though they are initially sure the contest won't affect their friendship, Lilly is ultra competitive and George is unwilling to stand up to bullies who might want to cheat. The combination creates some messy disasters and might mean the whole grade loses. Read to find out if Lilly and George can compete and lead while still staying friends. Realistic fiction, grades 3-5. The Stupendously Spectacular Spelling Bee by Deborah Abela takes place in a small town in Australia where India Wimple, who is brilliant at spelling, and her loving family live. India's younger brother, parents and grandmother encourage India to compete in Australia's national spelling bee knowing that while watching it on television at home every year, she spells every competition word perfectly. But because India is shy and worries about stage fright, her family needs to help her find a way to conquer these fears in order to compete. The story is full of wonderful spelling words and meanings, and creative and fun strategies by India's family and her whole town to get her to the national finals in Sydney! Realistic fiction, grades 3-5. The Wild Robot Escapes by Peter Brown, continues the story of Roz the robot and mother of Brightbill, last seen being taken away from the island by airplane. The reader finds out that Roz was first repaired and then sent to a farm to help Mr. Shareef with farm duties, like repairing farm equipment and caring for the cows. Roz not only befriends the cows, she becomes a friend and caregiver for Mr. Shareef's two kids, whose mother has died. Though she finds the work helping the family satisfying, she still desperately misses her son. When some geese stop by the farm on their migration she hatches a plan to connect with Brightbill and possibly get home to him and her island. Enjoy Roz's new adventure as you learn more about her capabilities and even learn how, when, and why she was created. Fantasy/Adventure, grades 3-6. In Granted by John David Anderson the reader is taken into the special and unique world of fairies where we enter the Haven, complete with different kinds of fairies, fairy homes, occupations, traditions and inventions, and our hero, Ophelia Delphinium Fidgets. Ophelia is one of the special fairies, called "Granters". Granters are assigned human wishes to "grant", using magical and rare fairy dust which the Granter must sprinkle on the birthday candle, or coin, or wishbone, that the human wished upon. Their great tree, the center of the The Haven, the home of the fairy world, gathers the human wishes and randomly selects the ones that will be granted. Ophelia has just been given her first assignment and while her best friend Whistler, warns Ophelia that the human world is full of dangers and unexpected challenges, Ophelia leaves with full confidence she can fulfill her assignment. And so begins a great adventure for a small but smart and talented little fairy among the human world of airplanes, cars, city traffic, complicated human beings and a homeless dog, Sam, who becomes Ophelia's sidekick! A fantasy not to be missed! Fantasy fiction, grades 3-6. Garvey's Choice by Nikki Grimes. Garvey loves books, especially about outer space, math and music but not sports or especially not football which is what his father loves and wants Garvey to participate in and enjoy. Through few words and short stanzas we follow Garvey and his best friend Joe, into the first year of Middle School, meeting bullies who make fun of Garvey's large size, but also new friends, and a new passion when he finds the courage to join the chorus. At home he struggles to make his father see and like the real Garvey. Can music be the cement that gives Garvey the confidence he needs to stand up for himself and even bring he and his father together? Realistic fiction, grades 4-6. The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty introduces the reader to Lucy, a unique girl with special talents. Lucy was hit by lightning when she was seven and it changed her brain. She became a math genius, able to tackle college level courses by sixth grade, but with the math ability came some difficult problems. Lucy has OCD, which in her case means that in addition to extreme fear of germs, she has certain rituals involving the number 3 that she needs to do regularly in order to not have the PI numbers take over her brain. Given both these issues, Lucy's grandmother has home schooled Lucy until now. She has decided Lucy should try Middle School, telling Lucy to make a friend that is not an online math buddy, and read a book that isn't a math textbook! School is a challenge for Lucy, who first tries hard to blend in and hide her talents and issues. But eventually through a special project, a good teacher and a few new friends, Lucy may find her place. Realistic fiction. Grade 4-6 Time Tracers : the stolen summers by Annabeth Bonder-Stone. 7th grader Taj Carter is known in his school as the boy who can create fun for all those around him, especially in the summer. As the story opens, he has great plans to make this summer the "Best Summer Ever." But on what should be the first morning of summer vacation Taj wakes up to find it is the first day of school. For Taj, his friends, and his family, the summer has simply disappeared. Taj soon discovers, to his horror and surprise, that their summers have actually been stolen by nasty bugs who survive on eating the "time" they steal from others. The top secret agency of Time Tracers asks Taj to help it retrieve the lost summers before time and life, as Taj knows it, implodes! A wild and imaginative ride! Fantasy Fiction, Grades 3-6. Sled Dog School by Terry Lynn Johnson seems a strange book to read in summer but no matter the weather this is an absorbing and different read. Matt's family is unusual. They live "off the grid" in northern Michigan without electricity or even indoor plumbing. Matt is fairly unhappy in school, embarrassed both by his family and because he is struggling in math and may have to repeat the year. The one great thing in his life is the sled dogs his family raises and runs. But he has the opportunity to save his math grade by doing an extra-credit project designed to teach business and accounting skills. Matt decides to start a Sled Dog School sure he can teach others his skills with the dogs. Two unexpected kids sign up, Tubbs who is desperately uncoordinated but open and nice and Alex, a girl, who is very athletic and talented but seems aloof and condescending, Then a crisis on a dog run brings all three together and teaches Matt much about his talents. Take a ride with these special characters, special dogs while learning about sled dog racing! Realistic/Sports fiction. Grade 3-5 Annie's Life in Lists by Kristen Mary Mahoney. With the unique format of lists, good and bad, short and long, Annie, a quiet eleven year old with a great memory, tells us her story. Annie's family has moved from beloved Brooklyn to an old rambling house in the tiny town of Clover Gap where her father gets a job. She misses her best friend Millie and the way she could blend in at her old school. Her older brother, equally unhappy is hardly talking to anyone anymore and even her parents don't even seem that happy and are often worried about money. But slowly the friendly people of Clover Gap, and the small town living grow on the family and teach Annie that maybe blending in is not the best strategy after all. Read Annie's story, through her funny and honest lists! Realistic fiction, grades 2-5. Power Forward by Hena Khan. Fourth grader Zayd Saleem is facing a dilemma. He truly loves basketball and is determined to join his best friend on the top team at the upcoming tryouts. But his mother insists he take violin lessons before school and she dismisses the time he needs to practice basketball. When he ignores his mother's instructions and secretly practices basketball instead of violin lessons, he risks not being allowed to attend tryouts if discovered. He must somehow convince his parents that playing basketball is suitable for a Muslim boy and does not mean he is ignoring his family or their traditions. Zayd's struggles are realistic and his family, including grandparents and uncles are well meaning and loving. The story is rich with traditions, character and great food. The first in a series. Sports fiction, Grades 2-4. In The Doughnut Fix by Jessie Janowitz, we meet Tristan, a 12 year old boy who loves basketball and most of all baking, and is good at it. So far his family has lived in New York City surrounded by bakeries and delis and his mother, a caterer has taught him a lot. His life is turned upside down when his parents decide to leave the city life behind and buy an old house in rural Petersville, NY, a town so small that it has no restaurants and not even a decent middle school basketball team. He and his two sisters are miserable and bored when their parents challenge them to find a "project" until school starts. He has no idea what to do when he learns that the very grumpy general store owner has a secret recipe for chocolate cream doughnuts which people claim are "life-changing." Getting the recipe and opening a doughnut stand becomes his project but it is not easy. With a new friend, who also teaches him ice hockey, he learns about business practices, contracts, negotiating with adults and small town ways. Read along, laugh and get hungry with this fun family story. Realistic Fiction, Grades 3-5 Winterhouse by Ben Guterson. 11-year-old Elizabeth is a smart and somewhat quirky orphan living with her very disagreeable Aunt Purdy and Uncle Burlap in poor conditions when right before the Christmas holidays she is told to go to the famous hotel, Winterhouse for three weeks, alone. The hotel turns out to be an amazing, luxurious and magical place, with a ton of interesting and fun activities and an incredible library. To make things even better, the owner takes a special interest in her and she meets a boy her age who loves books and puzzles as much as she does. But something dark and mysterious is also happening at the hotel, involving a strange couple who show unusual interest in Elizabeth and a unique book she finds in the library. Read to find out what the hotel and its owner might be hiding and why Elizabeth is there. Mystery/Fantasy, grades 4-6. These students' trailers received the top 3 votes in each of our 5th grade classes, submitting remarkable and meaningful book trailers, which can all be viewed at the District 25 Book Trailer Festival website. And special congratulations to the District 25 winner, from Mrs. Goumas' class at Patton, for her very special trailer Counting by Sevens !
Many student's contacted the author of the book they made a trailer for and sent them the trailer to view. Thank you to authors Rob Buyea, Wendy Mass, Jessie Janowitz, Jewell Parker Rhodes and John David Anderson who responded to our students with appreciation for the trailer and the students' work! |
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December 2021
My Reading List!
AuthorI am the Library Media Center director at Patton School in Arlington Heights where I help students from kindergarten through 5th grade find terrific independent reading for enjoyment and information, and teach students the skills to use information and technology safely and productively and to connect, communicate and share with others. I have four grown children, a large black dog, (flat coat retriever) and a small striped cat. I am an obessive Chicago Cubs fan and I love to run. Patton LMC Summer Reading Blog |