I was so thrilled to see you all at orientation yesterday! What fun to see so many familiar faces, many of you much tanner and taller than before! And, I’m so excited to get to know our new friends. Every single parent and student that I met yesterday left a mark in my mind as a kind and happy person that will bring something wonderful to our classroom family this year. Today, as I make final plans for our first week of school together, I feel like the luckiest teacher around! (Sorry, Miss P. But, I get to teach them READING AND WRITING!!!)
Many of you came in and asked me for a copy of the Battle of the Books list. I apologize for not having those available to hand out yesterday. Below, please find a list of hotlinks to Amazon for those of you who might be like me, ordering as much as you can online to save another trip to the store! Additionally, for those of you who like hard copies, please click here for a printer friendly list you can carry with you. I will also send home a hard copy of this list to all students during the first week of school.
Battle of the Books 2009-2010
The Puzzling World of Winston Breen by Eric Berlin
Middle of Somewhere by J. B. Cheaney
The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies
The Fabled Fourth Graders of Aesop Elementary School by Candace Fleming
Brendan Buckley’s Universe and Everything In It by Sundee T. Frazier
Igraine the Brave by Cornelia Funke
Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Defiance by Valerie Hobbs
Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat by Lynne Jonell
Me and the Pumpkin Queen by Marlane Kennedy
Year of the Dog by Grace Lin
Highway Cats by Janet Taylor Lisle
Punished by David Lubar
Night of the Howling Dogs by Graham Salisbury
Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban
For those of you who are new to Chets Creek this year, you might be wondering about the Battle of the Books. This is an optional contest for all 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students. The students spend the much of the year reading as many of the above “Battle Books” they can. After a while into the year, the students will be invited to begin visiting the media center before school to take short comprehension quizzes each book they read. Students receive small prizes when they pass these quizzes. In the spring, all students who have read three of more Battle books are eligible to take a qualifying test on all 15 books. The highest scorers on this test will be organized into teams of four. These teams will compete in a brain bowl style tournament to determine the champion team amongst all the 3rd-5th graders at Chets Creek. Be on the lookout for more information to come about this exciting Chets Creek tradition!
But, why just hear about it from me? We have a number of former participants in our own classes! So, readers, what do you think one of our new friends to Chets Creek needs to know about the Battle of the Books? What thoughts would you like to share with our new friends? (Hint: Parents, if you’re reading this – run go get your child! It’s their turn now!)
Leave a comment about the Battle of the Books. It can be anything!!! (Remember not to include your last name.)
