2011 Regional History Day

OMS students participated in the National History Day Competition held at Decorah Middle School on Saturday, March 12, 2011.  The 2011 theme for History Day was “Debate and Diplomacy in History”.  

  6^th grade teacher Mrs. Karla Duff and 7^th& 8^th grade Explore teacher, Miss Melissa Stocks worked with the students on their projects.  Parents have also been a huge support behind the students who completed these projects.

 Most of the Oelwein students chose to communicate their topic through an imaginative exhibit, while others chose a dramatic performance, creative websites, original documentaries, and a written historical paper to share their information. 

Students who made a documentary were Tristan Dittmer, Jacob Kalb and Jacob Larson, Ben Schmith, and Robby McKeeman Competing in the Individual Exhibit category were Alison Kelly, Mason Moeller, Brian Hoffman, John Leo, Jack McDonough, Martina Wilson,Ashley Butchtela, Matthew Dixion, Collin Halligan, Ryann Studebaker and Chyanne Voshell.  Celia da Silva, Adara Studebaker, Skylar Adams, Dakota Nuttall, Tanner Reising, Tony Rex, Nick Stasi, Kaitlyn Stecklein, Marrissa Lammers, and Allison Winters entered in the Group Exhibit category.  Designing a website for the Group Website category were Lilli Duffy, Carlee Glenn, Abby Greco, Ethan Hamblin, Ryan Nolan-Kringlen, Kaylee Becker, Natalie Bradley, Jade Bunn, Brianna Feuerbach-Davis, Hannah Meyer and Ashley Tuecke.  Dakota Clark gave an Individual Performance. Writing historical papers this year were Hunter Smock, Austin Duffy, Selenka Mortenson, Travis McMillan, Marissa Simpson, Hannah Schmidt, Katie Stewart and Alexis Borman.  The historical papers are judged without an interview, so these students did not have to travel to Decorah.

Eighth graders Tristan Dittmer, Jacob Kalb, and Jacob Larson will be going the state level National History Day Competition on May 2 in Des Moines.  Their documentary, Corn, about the ethanol debate, was chosen to advance to the state competition.

My Name is Not Alexander

My Name Is Not Alexander is a picture book for boys of all ages. Jennifer Foseberry shares "Just how big can a little boy dream?" through a normal day with extraordinarily men in history. The day starts with Alexander claiming to be  Theodore Roosevelt, Thomas Edison, Jackie Robinson and others.
The vivid illustrations by Mike Litwin creates a eye catching journey. 

This book opens the door of discovery and creates a community for boys to achieve. So if your name isn't Alexander who would you like to be known as? How will you make your name a name that anyone would like to claim? What is your name? Read this book to be inspired to make a difference in your own life.
(My Name is not  Isabella reviewed earlier and also shared as a Reader's Theater on World Read Aloud Day) 

Read Aloud Day 2011 Memories

World Read Aloud Day 2011 started with a 2 hour late start in Oelwein. Like the US Post Office, snow, ice and fog could not keep us away from our reading and sharing! We even had to put out a reading SOS when our scheduled time was empty
because of our changed schedule. We did miss sharing with Kate Messner and Van Meter students- we will just have to have another read aloud day to make this up! Our goal: read or listen to books all day in Mrs. Duff's room- MISSION COMPLETED!

Read Aloud Day was a
day of unexpected adventures and
stories from around the globe!

Tom, Origami Yoda creator, was our warm-up reader.
Darth Paper origami puppets were created
a few days earlier so we could Skype with a
favorite author on his time.

The Familiars authors Andrew & Adam were
fun and entertaining.

Riley Caney has shared so much w/ our class!
Thank you again and again!

8th Grade Zero author O. R-Perkovich
jumped in when we needed an author-THANKS!

Ellen Potter: Writing and Reading
ideas were shared while we listened
to her read.

Mrs. Miller's students take turns
sharing books with us.

Dee Garretson Shared WildFire Run and
animal side-note stories.

Reader's Theater w/ Mr. Hehr- Speech Coach
My Name is Not Alexander.

Book Commercials w/Mrs. Miller's Class

My Name is Not Isabella Reader's Theater
 was shared with Brook Forest students.

World Read Aloud Author Visitors

http://www.deegarretson.com/  

http://www.katemessner.com/

http://www.ellenpotter.com








http://www.thefamiliars.com/ 

http://www.rileycarney.com/

World Read Aloud Day: Early Bird Video

Tom Angleberger, author of Origami Yoda, Skyped with our class on March 2nd (3/9 didn't work for him). After sharing his origami folding talents, he shared a short read aloud teaser from his new book:

Horton Halfpott: Or, The Fiendish Mystery of Smugwick Manor; or, 

The Loosening of M'Lady Luggertuck's Corset 

He also shared some of his favorite books.

Origami Yoda Visits OMS

BOrigami Yoda Creations and Skype Visit 

Darth Paper directions were shared and then Tom answered questions and shared many laughs with the OMS 6th graders. 

                   


What inspires Tom? 

Directions to create your own Origami Yoda from Tom:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TA4VJbqFQuw

Origami Yoda Home Page:
http://origamiyoda.wordpress.com/

 Watch Tom introduce his new book and share a few of his favorites...video will be posted soon.

The Quest of the Warrior Sheep Review

OH MY GRASS! Christopher Russell has written a sheepishly funny caper of adventurous and superstitious rare sheep, alien sightings, a cell phone bank heist and a little romance between a city girl and a common farm boy. There are also some very "baaad" characters that learn not to mess with sheep on a quest!
 Highly recommended for a fun read that will make "Ewe" smile.

World Read Aloud Day: March 9, 2011

 Introduction from World Read Aloud Website:

Celebrate the Power of Words and Stories and Take Action for Global Literacy

Nearly 1 billion people entered the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their name. What would you miss most if you could not read or write? Imagine your world without words.

World Read Aloud Day is about taking action to show the world that the right to read and write belongs to all people. World Read Aloud Day motivates children, teens, and adults worldwide to celebrate the power of words, especially those words that are shared from one person to another, and creates a community of readers advocating for every child’s right to a safe education and access to books and technology. By raising our voices together on this day we show the world’s children that we support their future: that they have the right to read, to write, and to share their words to change the world.

Across the globe nearly 171 million children could be lifted out of poverty if they left school with basic reading and writing skills. Quality literacy education is the difference between life and death, prosperity and despair. This is literacy for survival.

Kidsblog ! We learn!

After sharing so much on this blog, I'm ready to hand over the responsibility and fun of blogging to students in my English classes. They will be learning how to blog using a great secure site:  Kidblog. We will start with learning the etiquette of blogging and commenting and review internet safety. After the introduction of why and how, students will be able to share their writing with an audience of peers and parents. Please share comments on their blogging and become apart of our lives!

Student View: Write a blog entry

http://screencast.com/t/NTE0MDk4MG

Students View: Writing Comments

http://screencast.com/t/NmViYTJhMmY

 

Fairview Felines Review

Fairview Felines "A Newspaper Mystery" by Michele Corriel is a great middle school mystery! Thomas has news reporting in his blood. His mom owns and runs the local newspaper and he grew up smelling the freshly printed newsprint.
Everything he see turns into a headline in his mind. Maybe that is why he is always behind in his schoolwork. When he decided to start a school newspaper, he had to prove he could complete his school work and write a news story of a lifetime- easier said then done. When cats started disappearing around town (including his own pet), he knew there was a  tale (tail?) to be told. Too bad he was grounded from the newspaper until his grades improved...
Thomas has his work cut out for him: improve his grades, solve the missing cat mystery, and write a winning news story.
M. Corriel keeps the reading intrigued as headlines capture the moment throughout the story. A MUST READ could be a headline in this review.

Jane and the Raven King Review

Strange things are happening around Jane's neighborhood. Between seeing a squirrel packing a suitcase in a hurry, her parents acting like they are in a technology zombie-state, and an unusual present given to her from her grandmother, Jane finds it hard to know what is reality and what is seemly  impossible to believe in this new underground world..
A blind stranger drives her to a the center of the world where she meets a dragon. With their help and advise, Jane embarks on a journey to save the world and her family. Secret powers and new friends give Jane the determination to fight the evil Raven King in this magical world.
Jane and the Raven King by Stephen Chambers is a book you will want to read cover to cover- perfect for the snow days we have been having!
**Note: Stephen has been writing and selling books since high school. His 1st novel Hope's End and sequel Hope's War is now on my to-be-read list.

Author Visit !!!

They Are Coming to Oelwein!

Through the power of social networking and Twitter, Oelwein Middle School will have two amazing authors, Jon & Pamela Voelke, visit on March 16^th. They will give a comprehensive presentation on their many travels through Central America and research of the Maya civilization. The presentation is targeted to a 5-8^th grade audience.

We are using Voelkel’s web page, http://www.jaguarstones.com/Home.html and the lesson plan links in preparation for the visit. http://www.museumofman.org/sites/default/files/journal_maya.pdf  is one of the sources we will be using. We are also sharing excerpts from the published books. 

          

Publisher Note: Authors Jon and Pamela Voelkel traveled with their three children across Central America to over twenty Maya sites across Belize, Guatemala and Mexico, canoeing underground rivers, tracking howler monkeys in the jungle, and visiting catacombs and underground temples as part of their research on Maya culture. These adventures made it into the first book of The Jaguar Stones, Middleworld. The book received rave reviews and was featured on the "Today" http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/37361677/ns/today-today_books/ show as Al Roker's Book Club for Kids pick. Their second book, The End of the World Club was released in December.