http://www.limeadesforlearning.com/projects/view/609060/teacher

Please vote daily- we won last year- we can do it again with your help!

 Every email address counts-let your family and friends know.

It is easier to win at the beginning-the votes go into the next week- THANKS!

Limeades for Learning allows SONIC customers and fans to make a difference in their local communities by voting for public school teacher projects they want SONIC to fund.
Participation is easy and this year there are three ways to cast your vote at LimeadesforLearning.com

• Anyone with a valid email address can go online and vote for their favorite teacher's project once per day.
• Get two extra votes with any SONIC purchase. Vote codes are provided on the bag sticker.
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Repeat the process once a day to help your favorite project get enough votes to be funded!

"An idea that is developed and put into action is more important than an idea that exists only as an idea." - Buddha

2011 Changes in our SPOT

Wall of Wonderful Reading

Wednesday, August 17th was our 1st day of an amazing school year! The changes that have been made in the school and in our classroom are easy to SPOT.

--Mrs. Steggell is our new principal! She brought energy and excitement with her from the Little Husky Learning Center. Her purple and gold pride and love of learning is easy to see each day.

--Many changes in staff and teaching assignments keep our learning fresh and alive. Just to name two: Mrs.Kelly and Mr. Hunzelman have joined the 6th grade Language Arts Team.

Slinky: Super Ferret

--Mrs. Buffington is student teaching in our classroom the 1st eight weeks of school. She is going to school at UNI so purple and gold spirit is bouncing off her.

--Slinky is our 1st class pet. He is a rescued ferret and keeps us laughing at his silliness.

Time to Connect

--Our room has transformed into a writing/reading/connecting headquarters. Bookcases and books, computers and supplies have found places to be used to help connect our learning to the world.

--6th,7th and 8th graders are calling our SPOT home during reading and homeroom times. This will allow us to collaborate and share easily with other Husky students.

With just three days completed, I can tell our 

SPOT at OMS 

is going to be the place to be this year!

Hailey Twitch Is Not a Snitch by: Lauren Barnholdt

Hailey Twitch Is Not a Snitch by: Lauren Barnholdt

Sourcebooks Publishing

This fun series featuring Hailey Twitch is an amusing adventure of a seven year old and her new found fairy friend, Maybelle. Hailey has to keep her friendship a secret -after all, who would believe a fairy was causing all the trouble that Hailey finds herself in?

When they leave on a camping trip, the mischievous fairy magic creates mishaps once again. Hailey is just trying to have fun, but other people and things get in her way. Poison Ivy, green hair and boys all mixed together with ooey-gooey marshmallows makes the weekend one to share and laugh aloud.

Go Baby Go!

Go Baby Go! By: Marilyn Janovitz
Sourcebooks Publishing

A board book that will keep you singing and smiling long after the pages are done.

Baby's jumping high

Baby's bouncing low

Baby's flying in the air

Go Go Go! 

 

The illustrations are colorful and lively as the baby and pets go through a fun filled day! Perfect to share anytime and anywhere you want to smile.

"The Ultimate" Book Review!

The Ultimate Top Secret Guide to Taking Over the World
Story by Kenn Nesbit
Illustrations by Ethan Long
Sourcebooks Jaberwocky  www.jabberwockykids.com

It will be my goal to make this book the ultimate "Everyone Knows About This Book" by the end of our new school year. Kenn and Ethan have given us a book that will change what we learn -How to Rule the World or nouns and verbs, long division and the capitols of Asia? When students have the opportunity to RULE THE WORLD I think I know what they will choose!

So, get ready for a year you will always remember.

If you don't happen to be in our class, I'm really sorry!

You can always get your own copy of the book and try to keep up with us as we seek and conquer and laugh! "Mwwhaharaha"

Kenn says it best at the beginning of the book...

"...by the time you’re done reading, and rereading, and heck, let’s just say devouring this wonderfully clever book (and telling all your friends and buying lots of extra copies), you will have learned everything you need to know to have entire countries simultaneously groveling at your feet, chewing on their fingernails, and quaking in their baby booties. Seriously. You’re going to learn all sorts of important stuff, including how to:
- Become a genius overnight -
-Think up your new Mad Scientist name
- Equip your underground lair
- Build evil robots
- Stop time for fun and profit
- Dress for conquest
- Clone mutant monsters
- Recruit minions
- Construct doomsday devices
- Defeat secret agents
- Perfect your diabolical laugh
- Choose your Mad Scientist theme song
- Spend your first billion dollars
- Do some other junk
Doesn’t that sound insanely fantastic? Of course it does. That’s why I wrote this book."

 School starts soon and the world will be yours!
Makes you want to come to school early doesn't it?

Elliot - "A Likeable Hero"

Elliot and the Goblin War and Elliot and the Pixie Plot
Jennifer Nielsen author
Gideon Kendall illustrator
Sourcebooks Jabberwocky www.jabberwockykids.com

Goblin War: Minding his own business and trying to stay away from neighborhood bullies, Elliot finds himself being offered the honor of being King of the Brownies. Patches, a Brownie running for her life on Halloween night, is saved when Elliot scares away the Goblins that are trying to steal her pickles. Of course, Elliot just sees kids dressed in their Halloween costumes- not REAL Underworld creatures. Patches shares with all the Brownies how Elliot is a hero and he is rewarded after Queen Bibsy's spleen dies. Not everyone approves of Elliot- a human becoming King so the adventure begins...Goblins, pickles, Brownies, Turnip juice, humans, carrots, chocolate cake and explosions. Enjoy the adventure and humor as both Jennifer and Gideon take you Underground with a POOF!

Pixie Dust: Elliot barely has time to see his house rebuilt and the Underworld needs him. Above ground, he is busy creating a science project with a bossy girl and being "friends" with the bully that he taught how to be nice in The Goblin War. The bully, Tubs, and Elliot are kidnapped by Pixies and held in an Underground prison. Elliot is caught in the middle of a turf war- release the Goblin King from prison or DIE.. Elliot escape path is so full of twists and turns, he may as well be on a roller-coaster from your worst nightmare! When he accidentally awakens Kovol the Demon, who now plans to destroy the human race, his problems really get BIG! Don't stop reading, you need to know if Elliot's science project gets finished, if Tubs returns back to normal, and if the human race, Brownies, Pixies, Goblins, Fairies can all get along.

The Fourth Stall

The Fourth Stall
Chris Rylander
Walden Pond Press www.harpercollinschildrens.com
 

Horrid Henry Rocks

Horrid Henry Rocks by Francesca Simmon
Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

http://www.jabberwockykids.com/

"From the desk of Horrid Henry

There aren't any cute fairies in my book and no magic wizards either. but if you want to see someone cause a lot of trouble, I'M THE BEST!  -Horrid Henry"

Pick up this book and read four fast and fantastic stories about Horrid Henry, Perfect Peter, Moody Margret, Sour Susan, Vain Violet and more.

Spy sleepovers, bedroom invasions, daisy and rat concerts and creative autobiography writing finds Henry getting into more trouble then most middle schoolars could think of. Enjoy the rewards without the punishment!

The Pony Whisperer: Secret Pony Society

The Pony Whisperer: Secret Pony Society
written by Janet Rising
Sourcebooks Jaberwocky Publishing

Pia and Drummer are back with more adventure. This time, they aren't "horsing around". A traveling secret society group decides to camp near Laurel Stables. Everyone at the stable is concerned about the safety of their horses and belongings. After Pia meets one of the girls in the society, Jazz, a horse connection is made.  Jazz, who seems to have some real pony-whispering powers herself, asks Pia to protect her and her pony from her violent father. "When Jazz and her pony become runaways, should Pia help the girl and risk her new friendships at the stables?"
Read this latest adventure in The Pony Whisperer series to find out.

New York City -Oh Yea!

Authors, publishers, literacy groups  and the Today Show

June 2011

 When I was given the opportunity to visit NYC with my daughter, I grabbed my book bag and camera and headed for The Big Apple. Along with the regular tourist spots, we also did our own reading tour. Here are a few reading stops we made. I hope you enjoy the pictures as much as we enjoyed our trip!

Books of Wonder Book Store: Author Speak

Lisa Schroeder- "It's Raining Cupcakes"




...cupcakes of course!



NYC Public Library

Outside NYC Library



Balto statue in Central Park



C. A. London- Accidental Adventure author is amazing!

Egmont Publishing  and Elizabeth
shared books and fun...




Vordak's evil helmet

 





Vordak's rules for reading







Magickeepers Three: Give Away & Review

The Chalice of Immortality: Book Three
Written by Erica Kirov. http://www.magickeepers.com/
Sourcebooks Jaberwocky Publishing
This amazing and magical Magickeepers adventure series just keeps getting better! Harry Houdini, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Amelia Earhart are just a few of my favorite historical individuals that play a part in protecting the chalice of immortality. Nick and his family continue in their quest of protecting all that is magical and keeping the relics safely out of unknowing hands. The Rostov family must combine their knowledge, power and loyalty to save Nick's father. Through stories, legends and trips, the chalice is found- how Nick will use it is the mystery all are waiting to see. If you haven't read the 1st two books in the series, here is your chance! The Eternal Hourglass and The Pyramid of Souls along with The Chalice of Immortality are available for a lucky middle school student. Send me an email or leave a comment by August 1st sharing your favorite summer book to win this magical set.

Stupid Fast is a Smart Read

                                       Stupid Fast
                                                           by Geoff Herbach
Sourcebooks Fire Publishing

The Summer I Went From a Joke to a Jock

Getting to know Felton Reinstein is easy. He is like most teen boys- easily embarrassed, often confused and curious about almost everything- especially girls. Felton's life is changing fast at the same time that he is stuck in a time warp of disturbing memories.

The chapter titles tell the story better than I can:

 2- My Body Grew Hair.

9- Things Began To Change Suddenly At The Pool
13- It Is 2:35 A. M.
20- I Really Didn't Know What To Do
25: What Seems To Be The Problem, Officer?
34- I Had To Be A Barbarian
39: Tired Barbarian
52: I Can Juggle Clean Sock Balls
62: Sweetness

Football, Friends, Family -- a fantastic book for teens moving fast or slow!