Texas Traveling & Reading

As many of you know, I am finishing up my graduate classes for my Master in Library Science degree.  This month, I took a Field Research elective class and traveled down I-35 in search of libraries and museums with a Texas connection.  Having been a 4th grade teacher for many years, AND a native Texan, this class provided an opportunity for me to make some discoveries!  I used one of the new Texas Bluebonnet nominees, Clete Barrett Smith's Aliens on Vacation for my theme, changing it, of course, to Librarians on Vacation! A friend and fellow grad student went with me, making it all twice as fun!   If you would like to read about my adventures, you can find more about it at Reading Across Texas! 

Now for a book to go with it!  I've been working on my Bluebonnet books, but made time to read Bold Women in Texas History by Don Blevins. This book would be a great resource for students in 4th & 7th grades, since Texas history is their focus, but it would also be a great book for anyone interested in Texas history.  It outlines the lives and accomplishments of eleven women important to Texas. Some were familiar names such as Bessie Coleman, Lizzie Johnson and Barbara Jordan.  There were several women unfamiliar to me, such as Mollie Kirland Bailey, a circus owner, nurse and spy!  Now that is bold!! I enjoyed learning about the lives of these women and discovering more about Texas in the process. Included in the book are short biographies about athletes, catttlewomen, artists, and politicians, all making contributions to the state of Texas as well as our country!  This was a very informative and entertaining book!

BooksmART at Dallas Museum Of Art

The Dallas Museum of Art hosts BooksmART each June which gives families a wonderful opportunity to interact with authors and illustrators, all for FREE.  The line up this year was AMAZING!!  The 2012 Newbery and Caldecott winners were there, Jack Gantos and Chris Raschka, as well as the creators of both the Babymouse and Squish series, Jennifer and Matthew Holm.  I was also very excited to meet Clete Barrett Smith, the author of one of the 2012-2013 Bluebonnet nominees, Aliens on Vacation.  It was a great day and I will definitely go back to BooksmART again next summer! 


By the way, Curtis students, I got a copy of Babymouse, Queen of the World signed by Jennifer & Matthew Holm, AND I have two copies of Aliens on Vacation signed by Clete Barrett Smith. I will be giving these away to some lucky Curtis students, so check back for information on the giveaway!!

Summer Reading

I am working my way through the 2012-2012 Bluebonnet nominees and I hope that you will join me!  Visit Weatherford Public Library this summer to start reading these books before August!  Here are the 2012-2013 Bluebonnet Nominees!
 
Just recently, I finished Escape Under the Forever Sky by Eve Yohalem. Lucy, the 13 year old daughter of the American Ambassador to Ethiopia, is tired of being confined to her house.  She wants to have more freedom and decides to sneak off with a friend.  She is kidnapped and held captive.  Fortunately, Lucy has a fondness for learning, and through reading has become knowledgeable about the region, including plant and animal life.  Will this knowledge help her as she attempts to escape?  You will have to read the book to find out!

Before school was out, I was able to read Postcards from Camp by Simms Taback to some of the 2nd and 3rd graders.  This is a fun read because of the actual letters and postcards that you can pull out from the book.  Remember to put them back so that the next reader can enjoy the book just as much!  Anyway, the book is a series of letters and postcards from a father and son.  This is the first time the son has gone to sleepaway camp and he is sure he will not like it.  His dad ignores his complaints and pleas to be picked up from camp.  How does the son handle this? Check out the book to find out!

Library News for May

Don't forget that all library books are due Friday, May 18th.  Please look for any missing books in all of those hiding places (under beds, in closets, on bookshelves, under the couch, etc.) and help us get all books back on the shelves before summer! 

On Friday, May 18th, a librarian from Weatherford Public Library will visit Curtis to share with students all about their Summer Reading Program!  Don't take the summer off!  READ!!  :)  You can visit Weathford Public Library for more information on the summer reading programs for all ages!

While on vacation, snap a picture of you reading and email it to me at sford@weatherfordisd.com and I will post it on our webpage and Facebook page!  I can't wait to see all the places we are reading this summer!! 

If you haven't found our new Facebook page, check out the Curtis Elementary Library Media Center page on Facebook!

Beth Ann Rogers Literacy Initiative Grant



Photo courtesy of Derik Moore

Curtis Elementary Library recently was awarded the Beth Ann Rogers Literacy Initiative Grant from ATPE.  We are so very excited to have received this grant and will be considering ways to add to our collection using these funds.  Thanks ATPE for choosing Curtis Elementary Library!

Drop Everything And Read Day, 2012

Curtis Elementary will be celebrating National DEAR Day on Thursday morning.  The entire school will drop everything and READ!  Watch for pictures to come!  In the meantime, here is a short video of some of our Curtis family dropping everything to READ!!

Spring Break Fun!!

Spring Break at the Weatherford Public Library

Spring Break 2012 is just around the corner! For parents looking for activities to keep kids busy, and for kids not looking to sit around the house all day, there is a great alternative:  Spring Break at the Weatherford Public Library.

Monday, March 12 is for the creative genius in every child. ARTstravaganza is back! Two separate sessions offer experiences for different age groups. At 10:30 am, kids in 1^st to 3^rd grade can indulge in the most forbidden of arts – thumb-painting!  At 2 pm, children in 4^th to 6^th grade become art sleuths, learning about art through amazing forgeries.

Tuesday, March 13 is for the mad scientist in all of us. Wacky Science returns to prove that scientific inquiry isn’t just about stodgy old people in lab coats – it’s about the mess! Two one-hour sessions offer experiments appropriate to different ages. Kids in 1^st to 3^rd grade will learn about the properties of light at 10:30am. At 2 pm, children in grades 4^th to 6^th will solve a heinous crime using cool experiments.

Toddlers and preschoolers! Want to know what lies on the other side of the rainbow? On Wednesday March 14 at 10:30am, join us to celebrate the beauty of nature in Rainbow All Around Me. Children aged 4 to 6 will find books and activities best suited to their development in Preschool Storytime and kids from birth to 3 can enjoy great songs and stories just for them at Toddler Time.

There is no better way to get ready for Spring Break weekend than to catch the blockbuster films that enchant kids and adults alike. Come to Best of the Box Office on Thursday March 15 for two opportunities to enjoy a family favorite lasting under two hours. At 10:30am, join us for the latest adventure of the most unlikely martial arts expert -  a wise-cracking panda that must confront an enemy from his past. At 2pm, a fairy tale classic is reimagined as only Disney can do it – everyone will love the story of a girl in a tower and the hapless thief she entraps in order to find the wonderful lights she spies every year on her birthday.

These programs are presented by Weatherford Public Library. Unless specified, no reservations are needed for youth programs; however, advance notice is appreciated to accommodate groups of any size. Please call 817-598-4150 or check our website www.wpltx.com for more information on the events planned for our library.

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!! by Shawna Ford

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!! by Shawna Ford
Click above to go to a Dr. Seuss Wallwisher page!  Tell me what your favorite Dr. Seuss book is as we get ready to celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday and Read Across America day on Friday!

From First to Sixth Grade- We are learning research skills!!

Students have been working on research skills in the library recently.  I was so excited to have first graders come in to learn about WebPath Express and how to evaluate websites.  We talked about different resources for research and looked at websites to determine which ones were appropriate for first graders. 

Fifth graders came into the library and compared the ease of use of a traditional encyclopedia to Britannica online.  They then worked in groups to choose a topic to research using both tools and created a Thinking Map to display their new knowledge.

Then Second & Third graders came in and practiced using Webpath Express and locating the library blog.  The students worked together to brainstorm topics and search for information about those topics on websites found through Webpath Express.  This is a useful research tool for students because the results returned are able to be sorted by grade level and are more appropriate for school research.

Book Fair is Coming! We LOVE Books!

We will have our book fair during the week of February 13-17 with several opportunites for you to visit the book fair with you family.  On Tuesday, February 14th come get "Breakfast and Books" with your child.  The book fair will open at 7:15 for families to shop.  Students must have an adult with them to visit during this time.  We will also have our Family Night on Thursday, February 16th when we will be open until 6:00 PM.    To help our teachers encourage a LOVE of reading in their classrooms, you can help add to the classroom library by purchasing a book from a teacher's Wish List. Look for notes to come home about all of these great events during our "We LOVE Books!" week! 

If you would like to shop online, just click here!  Scholastick Book Fair Online Shopping
The books will be shipped to the school for free and delivered to your child's classroom.  I look forward to seeing you during our book fair week!  If you would like to volunteer during the book fair, just let me know! 
Mrs Ford
sford@weatherfordisd.com

WallWisher-Bluebonnet Books

I have set up an online message board where you can tell me about your favorite Bluebonnet books. Leave a post-it and we will look at it during your time in the library. Remember to be short with your thoughts! There isn't much room on a post-it!! I can't wait to read your reactions to the Bluebonnet books we will vote on at the end of the month!  Just click the link below to find your way!

Curtis Elementary Library Media Center by Shawna Ford

Check Out Our "New Books" Shelf!

We have many new books in the library and these are easily found on the "New Books" shelf located near the circulation desk!  One new book that I've just finished is Waiting for the Magic by Patricia MacLachlan.  It is a great story about a family going through some changes: the dad leaves the family for awhile to try to write a book.  Mom, Will & Elinor adopt not one, but FOUR dogs AND a cat, and they all try to adjust to Dad not being there.  Suprisingly, Elinor can hear the animals talk, which is where the magic comes in.  It seems that if you are old enough or young enough or even brave enough, then you can hear the animals talk.  Come check this book out and discover the magic that Will & Elinor and their family find!

New Shelves!!!

Stop by and see our "new" shelves and our new & improved library!!  I am very pleased with how everything turned out!  The new arrangement should make it easier for students to find just what they are looking for! 

Library Under Construction....Stay Tuned!

During the Christmas break we will be making some changes in the appearance of our library media center.  I am looking forward to a library where I can teach, challenge and inspire my students in a safe and nuturing environment!  I'll post new pictures soon!  A big thank you to WISD Maintenance Department for helping to make our library AWESOME!! 

Celebrating the Season!

Thanks to these creative 6th graders, the library is looking a little more festive!  They created this Christmas tree out of encyclopedias!  We are now ready for Lattes in the Library this week!

What I am Thankful For....

I am thankful for the Curtis students and families who came to visit me in the library during Chili Cook-Off.  Each person was able to enjoy a book from the library! 

The Book Fair is Coming!! October 24-28th

We will be having our Scholastic Fall Book Fair in the library the week of October 24-28th. Check out our book fair website here http://bookfairs.scholastic.com/homepage/curtislibrary  for up to date information about the book fair!  You will also have the option of visiting the online book fair at http://www.scholastic.com/schoolbookfairs/2914268. 

Volunteers are needed to make this book fair a success.  If you are interested, please call me at 817-598-2838 ext. 4501 or email me at sford@weathefordisd.com. 

Mrs. Zell's & Mrs. Rudd's Classes Come for Their Library Visit

Each Friday, we get together to read a story, pick out new books, and read with a friend.  Some weeks, we have fun using the Smartboard! The students are learning to check out their own books using the scanners and their library card. 

New Bluebonnet Books soon to arrive!

Thanks to our generous Curtis PTA, you will soon have access to more copies of the Bluebonnet nominees!  I am excited and know some of you will be too, especially since there is a waiting list of about ten students for The Shadows!!  I will let you know when they get here! 
Also, I am putting together an order for books you are requesting.  I will consider any book, and then based on reviews and selection criteria, and hopefully can get the book you just can't wait to read!  This includes teachers, so if there is a book you are looking for, just let me know and I will work to get it. 
Don't forget to READ during the holiday weekend!  Right now I am reading a YA book, listening to an audio book when in the car and hoping to enjoy Catching Fire,the second book in The Hunger Games trilogy.  I can't wait to hear about what you are reading!

New Books!

I have so many new books for the library!  As I was getting them ready, I tried to get a feel for each one.  One that I thought would be great was Things That Are Most In the World by Judi Barrett.  It is a great book to teach superlatives and does so in a very creative way!  The author uses words such as "stickiest" and "jumpiest" and gives such imaginative examples that readers will love!  The last page gives readers the opportunity to create their own "______iest" page.  A very fun book! Come check it out!