"I Do It For You"

Too bad there's no audio to go along with the picture!

Congratulations to Ms. Wall's class for completing the "decorate your book return bin" contest. Her musical box came down the hall this morning blaring Bryan Adams and decorated with custom student art. It's pretty awesome so she's definitely getting some cash. I only know of one other classroom that is attempting it. You have until next Friday to finish.

I have a new (hopefully recurring) feature in my blog this week. As we've been struggling to get fruit to grow on the pineapple chart, I thought it might be helpful for me to share the types of things I am doing in different classrooms. I try to tweet my activities so you can see what's happening, but maybe a digest each week would be more helpful. So I'm including things I did this week (one time only) and what's coming up. Pretty much everything I do can be modified to any grade level or content, so talk to me about planning it out with you.

Matt's Projects Update
This week:
- Showed iPad productivity tools with all third grade classes

4th graders building their egg drop contraption

(15 minutes each)
- Made "about me" buttons with Trisha's class
- Completed an egg drop with Nikki's class for students to simulate the effect of heavy impact on the head
- Visited Leanna and Taryn's classes with the bookmobile
- Completed the Amazing Library Race challenge with all 3-5 classes
Next week:
- Working with all 2nd grade classes to design, build, test, and analyze machines to spread seeds over an area
- Collaborative activity with Taryn's class
- Showing Flipster digital resources to grades 3-5 during checkout times (no need for students to bring their devices)
Down the road:
- Collaborative Minecraft ecosystems with 5th grade
- Country research with 3rd grade with final projects being published using Pages and iBooks Author. We'll also use a green screen to record travel videos of their country. 

Global Read Aloud
The Global Read Aloud is upon us. I know, I missed it last year. This year features author Yuyi Morales. We have some of the titles now and I'm looking to add the ones we don't have. If you would like to participate, I can lend out the books for you to read to your classes. The lineup of books is listed at this blog site. Let me know if you'd like to join up. 

Bookmobile

So many choices...

The bookmobile is rolling around the school. Sign up your class by emailing me. I can post up in your class or in the hallway. Students can return and checkout new titles. If you are focused on a specific genre/author/topic in class, I can find titles to support more reading. 

Bookroom
Time for some friendly reminders about the bookroom. As of now, it's only accessible for our teachers. I think that might change at some point. Here are the key points:

• All materials need to be checked out in the library. If someone isn't there to help, add the numbers to the clipboard on the counter behind the circulation desk. I need to have record of our circulations and to be able to track down missing copies. Which brings me to...
• Make sure you are sending back all six copies in the bags. 
• This point might seem small, but I would appreciate it if you could return the bags with the information sheets facing out. That way the next person can see the title, level, and other info that they need to make decisions. And it saves me time. Because it's really all about me. 
• Finally, all materials need to be checked out. I know, I'm repeating myself. 

New book orders

I'm planning on putting in another book order for the library in the coming weeks. Send me any titles that you would like to see in the library or would like to see more of.

Have a great weekend!