Mrs. Funk's Blog

Winter Reading Competition
"We Love Reading"
Our reading competition this year is "We Love Reading."
Our winter reading teams are:
Preschool and 8th gr.
Kdg. and 7th gr.
1st gr. and 4th gr.
2nd gr. and 6th gr.
3rd gr. and 5th gr.
Keep track of your pages that you are reading. Fill out your tally sheet and each Friday bring it back to school to be tallied with the rest of your classroom. Mrs. Funk will combine all the reading teams and post it outside the library every Friday.
The competition begins on Monday, January 23rd and ends on Friday, February 24th.
Which "We Love Reading" team will win this year? Last year we read over 250,000 pages. So, we would like to beat that record this year.
So, start reading those pages.

The 1st week's reading competition results:
2nd and 6th graders with 25,540 pages read
1st and 4th graders with 17,240 pages read
Preschoolers and 8th graders with 16,206 pages read
3rd and 5th graders with 14,055 pages read
Kdg. and 7th graders with 8,305 pages read
There is 4 more weeks of this "We Love Reading" competition. Get those pages turning. Don't forget to bring your reading sheet to school every Friday. The sheet must be filled out to be in the page count. Who will be on top at the end of this week?

What we are reading:
All the Broken Pieces
The Mozart Question
The Library Gingerbread Man
Chester Visits the Library
Elmer in the Snow
Snowflake Bentley
The Blizzard
Mr. Tanen's Ties
The Three Snow Bears

OUR HEARTS BELONG TO BOOKS!
Our February accelerated reading point club bulletin board is up. Check it out to see your accelerated reading points. Our "Coolest Readers" have over 100 accelerated reading points. Congratulations to all of you who made it to the board.

Rebecca Caudill Nominee Books
The voting will take place in one month. You need to have read 3 of the 20 nominee books. Don't forget to fill out your sheet once you finish the nominee book.

STOP, DROP AND READ!
On Tuesday, January 31st our whole school will have Stop, Drop and Read. I have paired each grade level 4th - 8th with the preschool - 3rd graders. The older children will pick out their own books to read to the younger ones. It should be fun.

Let the pages turn.
Happy winter reading!

Happy New Year
Hope everyone had a nice Christmas break.
Wishing all of you the best in 2012.

Chicago Public Library News
I just got the sad news that starting next Monday, January 9th - the Chicago Public Libraries will be closed every Monday during the school year. Libraries will be open when children are on spring break and summer.
I am thinking maybe everyone could write to either Matt O'Shea, our alderman or Rham Emanuel, our mayor. Please write and ask them to reconsider closing our libraries every Monday. Monday is a big day for school assignments and if we don't have the resources I tell the students to go to the public library. So, please spread the word and let our alderman and mayor know how disappointed we are.

COOL READERS
Our January acclerated readers will be displayed by Monday.
The COOLEST READERS have over 100 accelerated reading points.
Do check out the new accelerated reading board next week.

Our library has over 50 books about snow, penguins, polar bears, snowstorms, igloos,
eskimos, Martin Luther King, sledding, skiing, and many more winter subjects. Come in a check them out.

What are we reading:
Stella Queen of the Snow
The Three Snow Bears
The Library Gingerbread Man
The Little Snowman
CIty of Snow
The Blizzard
The Mozart Question
All the Broken Pieces
Chester Visits the Library

Rebecca Caudill Nominee Books
There is still time to read 3 of the nominee books. We will vote in the middle of February.

Kdg. and 1st graders will be getting a January Fun Reading Sheet. When you complete all of the activities - send the sheet back to Mrs. Funk for a prize.

Accelerated Reading Deadlines:
The 7th and 8th graders should have their 3 books done - the next 2 are due February 17th.

6th Graders AR deadline for December is January 6th. The next deadline is February 3rd - they need 2 AR books read and quizzes taken. They will do their book report this month on a cereal box.

5th Graders AR deadline is the last day of January. They are also reading a biography and making a biography bottle.

4th Grade AR deadline is March 2nd - the end of the 2nd trimester. Don't wait until the last minute to get your 8 books read and quizzes taken.

3rd graders need a quiz a week. I love to see them reading and quizzing more than that. Remember to be a good reader you need to practice.

2nd graders need 4 AR quizzes by the end of January. Of course they can read and take more quizzes.

Looking outside we wouldn't know it is January but it is a good month to cuddle up and read a book or read a book to someone.

Happy January Reading!

Christmas at the Library
Gingerbread Kit Raffle
Win your own gingerbread kit!
- Read an accelerated reading book
- Take the AR quiz
- Then fill out the raffle ticket
- Winners will be picked Friday, December 16th
The gingerbread kit raffle container is brimming. One more week to read a book and take the accelerated reading quiz.

Christmas Reading Sheets
Our Kdg., 1st and 2nd graders all received Christmas Reading Sheets. Do the reading activitiy and send the sheet back to the library for a surprise.
The kindergarteners are listening to "Gingerbread Baby" and making a gingerbread baby ornament.
The 1st graders are listening to "Gingerbread Friends" and making a gingerbread house ornament.

Our 5th and 6th graders will need a Christmas story to do their book report for the month of December. They can use that book for one of their ar quizzes. Then just read another book in your reading zone for December.

The 7th and 8th grade AR deadline for the first 3 books is Friday, January 6th.

Our 3rd graders are reading and quizzing at least once a week.

The 4th graders have 8 books to quiz on by the end of the 2nd trimester. Remember if your book is over 100 pages and you pass the quiz it can count as 2 books.

The 2nd graders are finishing up November and will need another 4 books for December.

We are reading:
Christmas Tapestry
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey
Night Tree
Jingle Bells, Homework Smells
Divine Wombat
Home for Christmas - the new Jan Brett book
Gingerbread Baby
Gingerbread Friends
Apple Tree Christmas
An Orange for Frankie
The Polar Express
Dewey Christmas at the Library

Accelerated Reading Point Club
HOLLY JOLLY READERS - The December accelerated reader point club is up. We have 6 Jolliest Readers - which means they have over 100 accelerated reading points.
Check out the board and see how many points you have. The next board change will be after Christmas. See if you can move up a point level.

Our library has over 110 stories about Christmas. Come on in and check one out.

Walk by the library and you will hear Christmas stories being read and Christmas music being played. You will see the children making Christmas ornaments and Christmas or winter bookmarks, playing Christmas Library Bingo and working on Christmas puzzles.

SUNNY D Book Spree
Please keep saving the Sunny D UPC Labels - We can save all year and next November I will count them all and each classroom would be eligible for 20 new books. We need 20 labels per classroom. Send them in to the school in an envelope or ziplock bag - label - Library. Thanks and we will see how many books we can get.

The sights and sounds of Christmas fill the air. Why not pick out your favorite Christmas book and read it to your children or have them read it to you.

Happy Christmas Reading!

Chicago Public Library Happenings
BOOKAMANIA!
Saturday, November 19th
11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Harold Washington Library Center
400 South State Street
Meet authors and illustrators and have some free fun!

Mt. Greenwood Library has many cool happenings each week. Check them out!

Accelerated Reader Point Club
A new point club is displayed in the library hallway. "A Feast of GOOD READERS!" Check it out and see if you have moved up ar points.
Keep on reading - I want to see everyone in the "Over 100 Point Club."

1st Trimester
The 1st trimester is almost over. 4th, 7th and 8th make sure you have all of your accelerated reading done. You can check your reading record any time. Ask me if you don't know how.

Genres of Literature
4th graders are reading nonfiction books.
5th graders are reading historical fiction books and making a time line to go with the book.
6th graders are reading mysteries and doing a book report.
5th and 6th graders need 2 ar quizzes for the month of November.

2nd graders: You need 4 more ar quizzes for the month of November
I would love to see you more than that. Take your quiz and get another book right away and keep on reading.

3rd graders are busy reading and taking 1 quiz a week. Come in to the library and get another book as soon as you are done with the one you quizzed on.

1st graders are learning about fiction and nonfiction books.

Kindergarteners are learning about how the library is organized.

What are we reading:
All the Broken Pieces
Pumpkin Soup
Thanksgiving at the Tappletons
Crazy Day at Critter Cafe
Molly's Pilgrim
Cranberry Thanksgiving
We Gather Together, Now Please Get Lost!
Old Mr. Rabbit's Thanksgiving Dinner
A Turkey for Thanksgiving
Homespun Sarah
The Gardener
Milly & Macy's Thanksgiving Parade
Gregory the Terrible Eater
A Sick Day for Amos McGee
Arthur stories

Our library has many books on the subject of Thanksgiving, turkeys, Indians, and Pilgrims.
Come in and look them up in OPAC (our card catalog) or ask Mrs. Funk for help.

Family Reading Night
Thursday, November 17th is Family Reading Night!

STOP, DROP AND READ!
Our whole school will have "Stop, Drop and Read!" sometime on Thursday, November 17th. Make sure your children have a book they really want to read that day.
Why not make it a family night - turn off the computer and television and sit down with some good books.

Happy November Reading!

O

Library Happenings:
Our month is almost over so don't forget those AR deadlines. We still have a few weeks until the trimester is over. Check out your AR record and make sure you have all of your quizzes in.

Kdg.
We are learning about how to care for our books and how the library is organized.

1st grade:
We are learning about fiction and nonfiction books and the difference between them.

2nd grade:
We heard Stellaluna and Bats at the Library - make bat bookmarks and learned about bats in the computer lab. They are getting really good at taking their AR quizzes.
Remember you can do more than 4 quizzes. I love to see all of them in the library.

3rd grade:
We have been introduced to OPAC (our card catalog) and we are getting quite good at looking up books, authors and subjects. We are learning about the title page, the copyright date and parts of a book. They are also having fun reading and quizzing.

4th grade:
For their next book report they will need a nonfiction book. That is just what we will be talking about in library class.

5th grade:
They will need a historical fiction book for their next book report. They will be making a timeline to go with their book. We will be talking about that genre also.

6th grade:
They will need a mystery for their next book report. We have over 250 mysteries to choose from.

7th and 8th
Your AR deadline is next Friday, November 4th. If you are all done for this trimester don't stop reading.

Point Club
A new point club will be posted next week. I can't wait to see who has moved up to the next point club.

Book Character Pumpkins
I LOVE all of the book character pumpkins. Great job to all who entered.

So, scare up a good book, cuddle up and read.
Happy reading!

Library Happenings

Accelerated Reading
Our 2nd graders are doing great with reading their books and taking those quizzes.
Remember to read the book 2 times and take the quiz the very next day. Don't wait a couple of days to take the quiz on the book you read.

Our 3rd graders are taking a quiz a week and many times more than that. Keep on reading all those books.

Our 4th graders are coming to the end of the trimester. The trimester ends November 11th.
They need to have passed 8 ar quizzes. Please don't wait until the last week to quiz. Many are almost done - I still love to see them reading more books.

The 5th and 6th graders need 2 ar quizzes every month. October 31st is coming soon.

The 7th and 8th graders have their deadline on November 4th. They need their last 2 books done by then for a total of 5 books for the trimester.

What are we reading?
Bats at the Library
T Rex Trick or Treats
Owl Moon
There's a Skeleton in my Closet
All the Broken Pieces

Rebecca Caudill Nominee Books
There are 20 books up for the children's choice Rebecca Caudill award this year. The students just need to read 3 of the 20 to be able to vote in February. All of the kids in the state of Illinois who have read 3 will also be voting for their favorite one. Get your name on the waiting list for one of these great books.
Their web site is www.rcyrba.org/

Our library has over 250 mystery books to choose from. Over 50 Halloween books can be taken out of our library. Come on in and check them out.

These chilly autumn nights are great for cuddling up with a good book.
Happy fall reading.

Library Happenings:
Kindergarten and 1st grade:
Look for a Reading Sheet with autumn leaves for October. Do the reading activity in all of the leaves and then send it back to the library for a prize. Have some autumn reading fun.

2nd Grade
The 2nd graders begin taking accelerated reading quizzes on Monday, October 3rd.
They need to pass 4 quizzes a month. I highly recommend your son or daughter take at least one a week. The library opens at 7:30 no earlier. If they bring the book they are testing on they will be able to pick out another one right away.
I look forward to seeing all those eager readers next week.

3rd Grade
The 3rd graders are doing a great job getting their one ar in a week. I would love to see them more than once a week. Remember to be a good reader you need to practice.

4th grade
Check on your 4th graders - one month is over - where are they with their 8 accelerated readers that they need by the end of the trimester.

5th and 6th grade
It is taking a little adjusting but I think they have it now. Try not to leave both of your accelerated reading books for the last minute. Try to get one done the first two weeks of the month and then read the next one.

7th and 8th
They should all have read 3 books and passed their ar quizzes. They have 2 more books to finish by November 4th.
I am reading "All the Broken Pieces" by Ann Burg - A Rebecca Caudill Nominee Book
It is about a young boy adopted from Vietnam.

Rebecca Caudill Nominee Books
Our 5th - 8th have been introduced to all of the 20 books that are up for the Rebecca Caudill Award. I have a waiting list for those books. So, if you want one of those books please sign the waiting list. You can always get those books at the public library also.

What are we reading?
The Widow's Broom
The Little Old Lady who was not afraid of anything
Library Lil
Owl Moon
Earl the Squirrel
Jeremy Draws a Monster
Stellaluna
The Graves Family
Scaredy Cat, Splat
There's a Skeleton in my Closet
Arthur's Teacher Moves In
Aesop Fable's

Mt. Greenwood Library
Check out the October Children's Progam's at the Mt. Greenwood Branch.
Also for grades 4-6th there is a Radical Robots Program coming... Each child will take home their own robot each week. Check it out!

READ FOR THE RECORD: Llama, Llama Red Pajamas! by Anna Dewdney
Our preschoolers through 2nd grade listened to the author - Anna Dewdney read the story "Llama, Llama Red Pajamas" for a world record today, October 6th. The Llama series is great to read aloud to your children. Our library will be getting a few more Llama books that is for sure. We are counted in that world record.
She has a darling web site - http://www.annadewdney.com/Annas_website/Home.html

Our library has over 50 books about Halloween, over 250 mystery books and so much more. Come on in and check us out.

With the weather turning cooler it is a great time to snuggle up with a good book.
Happy fall reading!

Library Happenings:
2nd grade - Our 2nd graders are learning all about the accelerated reading program. Monday, October 3rd is the first day they will be able to take their quizzes. Information all about the accelerated reading program will go home with your child within the next two weeks. They will get the information in library class. So, look for the information either today, September 19th or next week September 26th.

Rebecca Caudill Books:
Our library now has all 20 of the Rebecca Caudill nominated books for 2012.
I have a waiting list for those books. The students in grades 5th -8th should take advantage of this wonderful program. We will vote for their favorite book in February. They must read 3 of the 20 to be eligible to vote.
The Rebecca Caudill website is: http://www.rcyrba.org/

Accelerated Reading Expectations for 2011-2012 school year.
2nd grade: 4 quizzes a month
3rd grade: 1 ar quiz a week
4th grade: 8 ar quizzes a trimester - 100 page book is worth 2 books
5th grade: 2 ar quizzes a month
6th grade: 2 ar quizzes a month
7th & 8th grade: 5 books a trimester - 250 pages or more are worth 2 books
I have the independent sheets in case the book you read is not on our list.

The 4th - 6th graders have their own ar sheets to keep track of what they read.

Fall is a great time to curl up with a good book.
Happy reading!

Our 2nd week of school is almost over. I am enjoying seeing all of the children again.
They all have grown over the summer.

Reminders:
Our library is open at 7:30 for book return, book selection and accelerated reading quizzes. It is also open after school until 2:40.

Our 2nd graders will begin the Accelerated Reading Program October 1st. I do have library helpers in the morning and after school to help them with this new experience.
It is a wonderful program and if you want the children can come in everyday to take a quiz. The 2nd grade parents will receive information all about the program.

Our 5th - 8th graders are continuing to read 3 of the 20 Rebecca Caudill Nominee Books. I will have all of those books by next week. They are all on our accelerated reading list. The vote takes place in February. Reading these books is a great way to challenge yourself. They are all great books. Their web site is http://www.rcyrba.org/

Our kindergarten and 1st grade class have a new song to sing when they line up with their books to bring home.
Ask them to sing it for you.

We are reading:
First Day Jitters
Brand New Pencils, Brand New Books
But Excuse Me that is my Book!
The Pain & the Great One
I took a Frog to the Library
The Exceptionally Extraordinary First Day of School
Ivan the Terrior
Llama, Llama Misses Mama
Franklin Goes to School
D.W.'s Library Card
Skippyjon Jones Class Action

Here is a quote from one of the books we have in our library.
I will give a prize to the first student who can name the book it comes from. Come to the library to see me when you have the answer.
The knuckleball wasn't just a pitch. It was an attitude toward life; it was a way of being in the world. It was a philosophy. "You don't aim a butterfly," her father used to say, "You release it." Each pitch had a life of its own. It wasn't about control, it wasn't about muscle. Each floating and fluttering pitch was a little miracle. It was all about the surprise.
Happy reading!
Fall is a great time to curl up with a good book and share it with your brothers and sisters or mom or dad.

Welcome to another year of reading adventures!
I am looking forward to working with each of your children this year.

The accelerated reading computers are up and ready to go.

Our library opens at 7:30 each morning and after school until 2:40 or so. The students can return books, check out books and take accelerated reading quizzes.

Let the reading adventures begin!