Read With Me Cultivating a Literary Community 

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.)

Each year, I have been so fortunate to have a few parents ask me how they can help the classroom in a greater sense. Some parents have time they’d like to donate, others would prefer to donate additional supplies. All of these donations are greatly appreciated! Here are a few ideas of ways you can contribute more to your child’s experience this year.

Volunteer Opportunities

• Mr. Montisano and I appreciate help on Friday afternoons stuffing the “Friday Folders” with communications, flyers, newsletters, etc. If you are available to come in for an hour or so to work on these folders, please let us know.
• Early in the year, I love help with special classroom project. The students will create their own, special, personalized writer’s notebook. These need to be covered in clear contact paper to preserve them throughout the year. This is a great short-term volunteer opportunity that parents can help with at home or in the classroom.
• I like to give my students and their families the opportunity to place book orders through Scholastic book clubs. If you would like to assist me in placing these orders from home, please let me know. I’ll be happy to have you trained. (This job does not require time in the classroom at all. Orders can be placed by phone or internet.)
• Every classroom needs a reliable room mother and chaperone parents. If you would like to volunteer for one or both of these roles, please be sure to speak to Mrs. Nash or Mr. Montisano at Orientation.
• We love a few good volunteers to turn to when it comes time for special class celebrations!
• In order to preserve our classroom books as long as possible, I try to cover books in clear contact paper. (I can train you on my “tried and true” method.) This volunteer may also be useful as a “book hospital” helper, mending “sick” books. This job can be done in the classroom or at home.
• Occasionally, I need assistance with laminating projects. Volunteers are appreciated to assist with the actual laminating process and/or cutting out the finished product.
• There will be many opportunities throughout the year for “short term” volunteer opportunities, too. Chets Creek traditions such as literary pumpkins, fall festival, holiday auction, arts extravaganza, end of the year celebration, third grade play, and many more require lots of parent support and are excellent ways for your to get involved without making a long-term commitment.

Donation Opportunities

• hanging file folders
• portable CD players with headphones
• labels for printer (shipping and return address size)
• reams of white copy paper
• reams of white card stock
  
• gift cards to Amazon, Books-A-Million, Barnes & Noble (great source for classroom books)
• gift cards to Michael’s, Target, Wal-Mart, Joann’s, Office Max (great sources for special projects throughout the year)
• rolls of clear contact paper
• cardboard or plastic magazine file boxes
• candy
• healthy snacks (I like to keep these on hand for students who didn’t get breakfast/lunch.)
• juice boxes/bags
• kid-size water bottles
• 3-hole puncher
• clean tennis balls (can be used or new — If you play tennis, please save your “flat” balls for me!)
• additional supplies (Each year we’ve found that some of our students are unable to purchase their own supplies. If you’d care to donate duplicates of folders, notebook paper, pencils, soap, hand sanitizer, baggies, wipes, etc. that would be greatly appreciated!)

Thank you in advance for all your help throughout the year. I know this is going to be a wonderful year!