What to do during break?

I have a great idea!  Curl up with a great book, or, curl up with someone who will read you a good book.  Let's see how many Read Aloud bookmarks we can turn in after break!

Some amazing 5th graders worked really hard to record each other reading Christmas books.  Take a look at some of the great stories by clicking the link below.  These would count toward your Read Aloud minutes too!


https://blogs2.hudsonville.k12.mi.us/groups/alwardreadalouds/

The next link is a site that authors will read a book to you, there are some great books on here!

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/storytime/index.asp


Happy Holidays!
Keep Reading,  Mrs. Fellows

AR Term 1 is coming to an end.

We are wrapping up our 1st Term for AR, and, kicking off Term 2.  I'm so impressed by the number of Apples on the wall outside the library, I'm even more impressed by the number of students that reached their goal!
Don't forget, each time you reach your goal, you earn a ticket toward the raffle for an iPod shuffle or and iPod Touch. 
2nd Graders are about to start taking AR tests too!  This is a really big step, they can use all of the encouragement we can give them.
If you have any questions regarding AR, please feel free to contact me
kfellow@hpseagles.net

Keep Reading!
Mrs. Fellows

AR IS OFF AND RUNNING!

I'm so excited to get AR off and running for the 2011-2012 school year!  Our theme this year is iRead.  This is how it's going to work....
If students reach their goal, they will receive 1 ticket in the raffle.  When they double their goal, they will get 2 tickets.  If they TRIPLE their goal, they will get 3 tickets!  There will be a max of 3 tickets per term.
What's in the raffle Mrs. Fellows?  Well.....iPod Shuffles!!!!  There will be an iPod Shuffle raffled off for each grade (2nd - 5th)!
As a bonus, for the students that reach their goal all 3 terms, their name will be entered in a drawing for an iPod Touch!
If you have any questions about AR, please don't hesitate to email me.

kfellow@hpseagles.net

Keep Reading!
Mrs. F

ALWARD ELEMENTARY KICKS OFF THEIR READ ALOUD PROGRAM

Dear Alward Families,

Friday, September 16th we kicked off our Read Aloud Program. This program is
designed to get families involved in their child’s education by reading aloud to
them regardless of their age.
As many of us know, students who come to school armed with a good vocabulary
and a positive attitude toward reading will do better in school, have more
confidence in their abilities to do well in school, AND have a better chance of
being life-long readers. Please join Alward in helping our students do better, be
confident, and achieve success!
Below are links to information on the read aloud program, information
from The Read Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease that got us started on our
program, and an opportunity to order The Read Aloud Handbook as well as
books to read aloud to your children. For every dollar spent on books, Alward
Elementary will earn up to .50 cents toward to the purchase of books for our
library and our classroom libraries.
Please read the attachments and then READ ALOUD to your children! We look
forward to working hand-in-hand with you for your child’s success.
Louise Moore, Principal
Alward Elementary

(click the links below to view)
Read Aloud Parent Information
Alward's Book Sale Reminder

Summer Reading Links

Here are some links to help find some good books during these last few weeks of summer.

100 Favorite Children’s Books from the NY Public Library
http://kids.nypl.org/reading/recommended2.cfm?ListID=61

abe books Children’s Reading Lists
http://www.abebooks.com/docs/Browse/childrens-young-adult.shtml

Education World Reading Lists
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/curr244.shtml

The Horn Book Magazine Reading Lists
http://www.hbook.com/booklists/default.asp


100 Picture Books Everyone Should Know from the NY Public Library
http://kids.nypl.org/reading/recommended2.cfm?ListID=60


Books for Boys
http://www.booksforboys.com/

What are you reading this summer?

I hope you've all been enjoying your summer so far!  Have you found some great books to read, or some great places to read your book?  I've been doing a ton of reading!  I've recently joined a book club with some amazing moms, it's been so fun getting to know each of them.  Besides the books I've been reading for my own enjoyment, I'm also reading Football Hero by Tim Green with my boys.  We are really getting to a good part right now, I can't wait to read what happens next! 
I'd love to hear what my students at Alward are reading this summer, feel free to send me an email letting me know what your doing/reading this summer.

Keep Reading
Mrs. Fellows

AR Has Ended!

We had over 125 students reach 100% of their goal!  That is amazing!  I've started passing out the water bottles and the students that reached their goal received 10 tickets for every term they hit 100%.  Students are putting their tickets in the raffle boxes for the prizes they want to win.  We will be drawing the winners next week.  If you have a moment, you should visit the libray to see all of the cool prizes!  There is an E-Reader and Riding Lessons!
Students will be allowed to check books out through Thursday 5/26.  Right after the holiday weekend I will be collecting all books to start closing up the library.  It's hard to believe that school is almost out!
Keep Reading!
Mrs. Fellows

2 Weeks Until the End of AR Term 3

Can you believe we only have two weeks left for the 3rd Term?  I'm sure you've been checking out the awesome prizes in the display case, I know I have.  Don't forget, if you reach 100% of your goal, you will receive 10 tickets for the prize raffle.  It's going to be party time soon!  Not only do you get the tickets, you will be invited to the AR party!

I've been mixing up my little shelf of "Books That I Judge By the Cover" make sure you check it out.  Also, have you noticed the new "Cool Collection Cart"?  Students have been snatching up books off the cart like crazy!

Have a great weekend, grab a book and head outside!
Mrs. Fellows

New Books!

Here's a sneak at some of the new books in our Library.  This week I've been reading "Skippyjohn Jones" to the students, of course I've been using my very best Spanish accent to make it even more fun!

 

   

 

Mad About March!

Not only is it National Reading Month, it's the beginning of March Madness!  Yep, I'm one of those people who just loves the NCAA Basketball Tournament!

How lucky am I to have two great things happen in one month.

NEW BOOKS!!  I just received two big boxes of BRAND NEW BOOKS!  I've been busy putting AR Labels and checking them in, so bear with me as I get them ready to go.  Don't you just love the feel and smell of a new book?

This week I've been reading "Duck on a Bike" by David Shannon.  I just love using silly voices for the animals!  I'm pretty sure the kids I've been reading to, liked it too!

Happy March Madness!  Keep Reading
Mrs. Fellows 

Just 10 more weeks to "P.A.W.S" for AR!

Today we started our 3rd and final AR Term.  Some of the students were able to get a little treat for reaching 100%, 75%, or 50% of their AR goal.  We'll continue to pass these out the rest of the week.  Thanks to the PTC for donating these!

5-E had the most students participate and reach 100%, way to go 5th Graders!

I can't wait to see how many students reach 100% this last term!

Remember, anyone who reaches 100% will receive 10 tickets to use in the raffle at the end of the year.  The PTC has some amazing prizes for you this year!

Keep reading!
Mrs. Fellows

AR TERM 2 COMING TO AN END

Thursday, Feb. 17 is the last day for the 2nd AR term.  Let's see how many puppies we can get on the wall!

Mrs. Eding's class has so many puppies!!!  Wow!  Way to go 5-E!

Have you taken a look at the 2nd graders?  They are really working hard to reach their goals too!

Keep Reading!
Mrs. F

What to do on a snow day?

The best thing to do on a snow day is...curl up with a good book and a cup of hot coco (extra marshmallows please)!  Here's a great recipe for homemade marshmallows.

Float these snowflake-shaped marshmallows in cups of hot chocolate.

(adapted from Martha Stewart)

Ingredients

Makes about 100

• 2 envelopes (each 1 scant tablespoon) unflavored gelatin
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2/3 cup light corn syrup
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• Vegetable-oil cooking spray

Directions

1. Coat a 12-by-17-inch rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray; line with parchment paper. Spray parchment; set aside. Pour 1/3 cup cold water into the bowl of an electric mixer. Sprinkle with gelatin; let mixture soften, about 5 minutes.
2. Place sugar, corn syrup, salt, and 1/3 cup water in a medium saucepan. Cover; bring to a boil. Remove lid; cook, swirling pan occasionally, until syrup reaches 238 degrees (soft-ball stage) on a candy thermometer, about 5 minutes.
3. With mixer on low speed, whisk gelatin mixture, and slowly pour the syrup in a steady stream down the side of the bowl (to avoid splattering). Gradually raise speed to high; beat until mixture is thick, white, and has almost tripled in volume, about 12 minutes. Add vanilla, and beat 30 seconds to combine.
4. Pour mixture onto prepared baking sheet; smooth with an offset spatula. Let stand at room temperature, uncovered, until firm, at least 3 hours or overnight.
5. Coat a 1- or 2-inch snowflake-shaped cookie cutter with cooking spray to prevent it from sticking. Cut out as many individual marshmallows as possible; coat cutter with more spray as needed. Use marshmallows immediately or store in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week.

Welcome to my my new blog!

Thank you for checking out my new blog!  I'm very excited to be able to share with you all of the things going on in our library at Alward!  First, I would like to tell all of you how thankful I am that you have welcomed me into Alward with open arms!  I am so blessed to be working there!

I have started a "Favorites" section in the library.  This section will feature books that other students or staff consider their favorite book to be.  Right now, I am featuring favorite picture books, and easy readers.  Mrs. Eding's class have written some great book reviews for our library, come in and check them out!

Our second AR trimester will be ending on Feb. 17, it's awesome to see the students working so hard to reach their goals!

Keep reading!!
Mrs. Fellows