Winners of the free popcorn!

It was one crazy week last week!  The library and computer lab were buzzing with students taking quizzes!
WINNERS
3-Oosting
4-Szymanski
5-Bouwens
The total number of Reading Counts quizzes passed was 311!  Be sure to check out the RC display to see the progress the 3-5 graders are making toward their goals.
Happy Thanksgiving!

Keep Reading~
Mrs. Fellows

Earn FREE popcorn for your class!!!

It’s time for a little friendly competition between classes. The class who passes the most quizzes

for Reading Counts during the week of November 18-22 will get free popcorn.

One class per grade (3rd-5th) will win and receive free popcorn on November 26th.

Reading Counts Progress

Students have been taking quizzes like CRAZY lately!  The library computers are packed at the end of the day with students taking quizzes, I LOVE IT!

Students that are between 25%- 49% of their annual goal

3-O

Bethany D. & Sophia D.

3-VS

Gibson

3-VW

Josie, Caden, Spencer, Hailey 

4-H

Elly S., Owen H.

4-S

Riley, Karenza, Ethan, Bryn

5-BO

Sofia, Colin, Norah

5-BU

Maddie, Jada, Shane, Dreighton, Drew

5-K

Katie, Christian, Brynne, Nathan

Students that are between 50% - 74% of their annual goal

3-VW

Trey, Logan, Jordan, Jace

4-H

Aubrey, Shaylee

4-S

Caden, Kaylee 

5-BU

Matthew, Kaelyn

5-K

Alec

Students between 75% - 99% of their annual goal

4-S

Claire, Chloe

Students that have reached their goal (in some cases doubled or tripled)

3-VW

Ridley, Addison

4-S

Emma

5-BU

Will, Allie

5-K

Yasmin

If you're wondering how your kiddo is doing, just ask them, they know how to check their progress (I remind them all of the time).

Keep Reading

~Mrs. Fellows~

Ruff Readers in the Library

We've had two visitors in the library lately, Maizie Blu and Mrs. Koster.  Mazie is a Ruff Reader dog that our students have had the privilege to read to.  This is a great program, and we really appreciate Mrs. Koster for volunteering to do this every other week.

"The purpose of the program is to encourage children to become better readers and discover the joy of reading.  Reading to a friendly, non-judgmental dog decreases the stress of making mistakes or peer pressure and builds confidence in the child.  Libraries provide the books and register the children for 15 minute sessions with a dog (and handler).  Many facilities provide creative book marks or certificates which include the dog's name as rewards for each completed session.  School programs are somewhat different from library programs as the handler may be required to tutor the reader or the handler may be asked to read to groups of children."  (Taken from http://www.wmtd.org/)

Mrs. Koster, Maizi and Alec.

Forrest just loved reading to Maizie!

Carlie just couldn't stop smiling!

If you think your child would be interested in reading to Maizie, please let me know!

Keep Reading!

Mrs. Fellows

Who's Taking RC Quizzes?

Are you taking quizzes?  If not, why?

Parents, Reading Counts is an optional program at Alward, however we always encourage students to take a quiz on the books they've just finished.  Ultimately, it's their responsibility to do so.  I'm so puzzled when students tell me "I just don't take quizzes".  I always ask them why, I've never gotten an answer, usually just a shoulder shrug.  Maybe you can help me out with this.

This is where the 3rd-5th grades stand with the number of quizzes passed per class.

3-O      13
3-VS    6
3-VW  52  (WOW!!!)

4-D     29
4-H    42
4-S    43

5-BO  26
5-BU  82  (AMAZING!!)
5-K    27

Keep up the great work!!
Mrs. Fellows

Reading Counts Update

Students have started taking quizzes for the past two weeks.  I'm so excited to see them working hard to reach their goals!  Here's a quick list of students that have taken and passed more than 1 quiz.

3-O
Bethany D.
Sophia D.
Gwen S.

3-VW
Trey C.
Kaitlin C.
Ridley E.
Addison L.
Gavin S.
Elijah T.
Hailey V.
Jordyn V.

4-D
Elizabeth F.
Elizabeth W.

4-H
Aubrey C.
Claire J.
Olivia K.
Alayna S.
Elly S.

4-S
Karenza B.
Chloe C.
Chad K.
Caden R.
Ethan R.
Isaiah V.

5-BO
Maddie A.
Abigail J.
Hannah J.

5-BU
Maddie B.
Matthew C.
Kaelyn F.
Emily G.
Shane M.
Lauren N
Will N.
Lauren R.
Dreighton S.
Kylee W.
Allyson W.
Andrew W.

5-K
Yasmin F.
Katie K.
Brynne O.
Julia P.
Alec S.

Great job Alward students!!
*This list was generated 9/30/13.
Keep reading!
Mrs. F

Help Save Our Library Books!

As books have been returned to the library, I've noticed several of them with water damage (picture my sad face now).

Poor book :(






Why is this happening?

Sweating water bottles......aha!




I think this is the bad guy making it happen!

So, please help me save our library books!  Ask your kiddos to be very careful when they put their library books in their backpacks.  Most backpacks have one of those handy dandy side pouches, those would be a huge help!  Maybe there's a separate pocket they can use just for their library books?  It's such a bummer when I have to send that dreaded note home asking for the replacement cost of a book, no fun for you, or me.

Thanks for helping out those innocent library books!

Mrs. Fellows

MATH AND READING NIGHT

MATH AND READING  NIGHT    SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2013

What:  Math and Reading Family Night

Where:  Alward Elementary

When:  September 30th from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.

Who:  The Entire Family

 (Child Care will be available for preschool children  ages 2 -4)

Please come and join us for a night of easy-to-play math games and your favorite stories read aloud by Alward teachers.

During this fun filled evening, parents will learn easy math games to play at home  that build math skills and fluency, along with  strategies to use while reading to and with their children.  These easy to use strategies improve reading skills and make reading more fun and engaging.

Students will hear their favorite stories read by different teachers and experience different math games that make gaining skills and improving fluency fun and easy!

The night begins in the gym with Mrs. Moore at 6:00 p.m. where she will explain the purpose and the flow of the evening.

Starting at 6:20, students  will go WITH THEIR PARENT/S to one of  three 15 minute rotations in different classrooms to listen to  a read aloud or to play math games.

The night will then end in the gym with Mrs. Moore, where she will recap the purpose of the evening and how Alward will carry this math/reading focus throughout the school year.

On the way out, students and parents may pick up a bag of popcorn as they reflect as a family on this night fun and games!

If you did not already do so, please return the Math Reading Night Flyer with your family name and the number of family members, including your student, who will be attending.

We hope to see you there.

POP OPEN A BOOK FOR READING COUNTS

Reading Counts is a program that all of our 2nd-5th grade students are encouraged to participate in.  We will be starting the program next week for the 3rd-5th grades, 2nd grade will start after Christmas Break.  Our theme this year is "Pop Open a Book".

    The way the RC program works is that a student reads a book in their reading level, takes a quiz about the book on a computer.  Students have individual goals based on their reading level, goals may be adjusted as the year progresses.  They can only take quizzes on computers at school.  If the student answers at least 8/10 questions correct (80%), they earn points.  Students are encouraged to check out at least one Reading Counts book each week.

   It is recommended that a student take the quiz within 24 hours of completion of the book, when possible. If a child gets less than 8 correct, they may retake the quiz up to two more times. The child is required to wait 24 hours before the quiz can be retaken.

    If you would like to find out if the books your child has at hame have a RC quiz for them or not, you can go to this website:

http://src.scholastic.com/ecatalog/default.asp?UID=FFD2FD214960428D9AE46835162A6087&subt=0&Test=NA .

    If your child checks out books from the public library, they can use this same web link to find out if those books have RC quizzes or not.

    Please don't hesitate to contact me for any questions you may have regarding Reading Counts.  

Keep Reading!

Mrs. F

Welcome Back!

I guess it's that time again!  I know it's been a long time since I've posted, but I have a very good reason.....I've been reading!  This summer I took on the Summer Reading Challenge at the public library, and I completed it!
Did anyone else participate in a reading program over the summer?  I'm really looking forward to hearing about the books you've discovered, the places you've been, and just seeing your smiling faces again!
Our Reading Counts theme for the year is "Pop Open a Book".  Take a look at the display in the 4-5 hall, this is where we'll be keeping track of the progress the students have made toward their RC goal.
It's going to be a great year at Alward!

Keep Reading :)
Mrs. F

READ ALOUD

We're wrapping up March is Reading Month, and hopefully winter!  Just because Reading Month is over, doesn't mean we're going to slow down reading....in fact, we're going to PUMP IT UP!  Do you have your books picked out for Spring Break?  You know I do, lots, and lots of them!  I'm even thinking about an Audio Book or two.

Below is a link to the Alward Elementary Blog, the post outlines our plan for the Read Aloud program.

READ ALOUD CHALLENGE INFORMATION
http://hudsypal.edublogs.org/

Have a great Spring Break, wherever you'll be!

Keep Reading :)
Mrs. F

Children's Choice Book Awards

Here's a chance for you to share your opinion.  The Children's Choice Book Awards is the only national book awards program where the winning titles are selected by children and teens of all ages.

Kids are the best judge of books by far.  No matter how many reviews I read about a book, the best way to find out if it's a good book, is to ask a student.

Clink this link to vote:
http://www.bookweekonline.com/voting

Stepping Back in Time

Recently I discovered a website that allows me to download, read and review books, NetGalley.  I thought this would be a great way to find the best books for our library at Alward.

The first book I chose to read was The Universe of Fair by Leslie Bulion.  Having grown up in Ionia, with the Ionia Free Fair...a.k.a, "The Best 10 Days of Summer", I knew this book would hit home with me.

From the beginning of this book, I was transported back to the Midway, smelling the fair fries, hearing the sounds from the Grand Stand and the rides combined.  Miller's first day at the Fair was not at all what he had planned, but what a day it was!  I don't want to give anything away, just trust me, this is a book you will want to read as a family.  I'm going to add this to my book order faster than you can say "cotton candy"!

Keep Reading!
Mrs. F