http://blog.sjfschool.net/funk/ en Copyright 2012 Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:28:02 -0600 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 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!]]> http://blog.sjfschool.net/funk/2012/01/we_love_reading.html http://blog.sjfschool.net/funk/2012/01/we_love_reading.html Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:28:02 -0600 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! ]]> http://blog.sjfschool.net/funk/2012/01/theres_snow_better_time_to_rea_4.html http://blog.sjfschool.net/funk/2012/01/theres_snow_better_time_to_rea_4.html Thu, 05 Jan 2012 12:55:31 -0600 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!]]> http://blog.sjfschool.net/funk/2011/11/deck_the_halls_with_books_and_2.html http://blog.sjfschool.net/funk/2011/11/deck_the_halls_with_books_and_2.html Mon, 28 Nov 2011 10:31:18 -0600 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]]> http://blog.sjfschool.net/funk/2011/11/gobble_up_a_good_book_1.html http://blog.sjfschool.net/funk/2011/11/gobble_up_a_good_book_1.html Thu, 03 Nov 2011 10:30:06 -0600 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! http://blog.sjfschool.net/funk/2011/10/brewing_up_good_readers.html http://blog.sjfschool.net/funk/2011/10/brewing_up_good_readers.html Thu, 27 Oct 2011 13:42:22 -0600 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. ]]> http://blog.sjfschool.net/funk/2011/10/fall_into_a_good_book_1.html http://blog.sjfschool.net/funk/2011/10/fall_into_a_good_book_1.html Thu, 20 Oct 2011 11:45:17 -0600 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! ]]> http://blog.sjfschool.net/funk/2011/09/scare_up_a_good_book_2.html http://blog.sjfschool.net/funk/2011/09/scare_up_a_good_book_2.html Wed, 28 Sep 2011 13:25:40 -0600 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! ]]> http://blog.sjfschool.net/funk/2011/09/fall_into_a_good_book.html http://blog.sjfschool.net/funk/2011/09/fall_into_a_good_book.html Mon, 19 Sep 2011 11:32:17 -0600 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. ]]> http://blog.sjfschool.net/funk/2011/09/get_wild_about_reading.html http://blog.sjfschool.net/funk/2011/09/get_wild_about_reading.html Thu, 08 Sep 2011 13:52:24 -0600 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! http://blog.sjfschool.net/funk/2011/08/welcome_back_to_books_2.html http://blog.sjfschool.net/funk/2011/08/welcome_back_to_books_2.html Thu, 25 Aug 2011 11:45:34 -0600 Summer Reading! K-1st grade - Read a book or have someone read a book to you. Write the title on the line and color the picture. Hand in the sheet on the first day of school in August. 2nd - 7th grade - Read 5 chapter books in your reading zone (you will find the zpd (zone of proximinal development) - on the last column on your STAR reading report. If the book is over 200 pages put it down twice. Hand in your sheet on the first day of school in August. School Year Reading Statistics: This year our St. John Fisher students have taken out and read a total of 18,236 books. WOW! Great job reading. They have taken over 15,000 accelerated reading quizzes for a total of 26,028 accelerated reading points. We really were reading! We have went over last year's books and accelerated reading points. I am thrilled to see the enthusiasm each day in every one of your children. Our public libraries in our area all have great summer reading programs or just do my summer reading. Remember to be a better reader you need to practice. Wishing everyone a fun summer. Don't forget to relax with a great book. Happy summer and happy reading!]]> http://blog.sjfschool.net/funk/2011/06/books_they_make_the_words_go_r.html http://blog.sjfschool.net/funk/2011/06/books_they_make_the_words_go_r.html Thu, 09 Jun 2011 08:45:10 -0600 May Happenings: Overdue Books: The end of the year will be here before we know it. Please make sure you have all of your books returned on time. If you have a problem with a book please see Mrs. Funk in the library. Remember - No reports cards will be given for any outstanding books. Children's Book Week May 9th - 13 is Children's Book Week What are we reading: Yellow Star - we are almost finished The Umbrella Library Mouse: A World to Explore Sloppy Joe Tippy, Tippy Hide Doggone Dogs On Sand Island Bookmark winners: The winners of the bookmark contest will have their bookmark run off for their classmates. The other students will get their bookmarks back too. Soaring Readers: There is still time to make it to the over the 100 accelerated reading points. New Accelerated Reading Quizzes: Many new quizzes have been added to our accelerated reading list. The library page has been updated. You can look for quizzes by title and book level. Check it out. New Books: Our shelves will soon have many new books from our bookfair profits. There is nothing like a new book to read. Our library has so many fiction and nonfiction books to read. Check OPAC (our card catalog) and check out a great book to read this spring. Happy spring reading. http://blog.sjfschool.net/funk/2011/05/may_you_always_be_reading_4.html http://blog.sjfschool.net/funk/2011/05/may_you_always_be_reading_4.html Mon, 02 May 2011 11:53:11 -0600 Kane Hall was filled with books last week. Our "Book Fair Carnival - Your Ticket to Read" was wonderful. The bookmark winners were displayed and they will be run off for their classmates. A BIG thank you to Nickie Quintero for chairing the whole event. Joanne Truesdale was Nickie's co-chair. Thank you to both of them for giving up their week. Thanks also to the other volunteers without it would be impossible to have the book fair. Thanks to: Michelle Hladik, Candy and Terry McGuire, Pete Cashman, Sue McCarthy, Diane O'Grady, Raphael Brandt, Kathy Murphy, Diane Nichols, Jill Schultz, Kari Quinn, Maureen McWilliams, Katie Conway, Peg Graeber, Melissa Del Valle, Kara Griffin, Vickie Bresnahan, Kathy Brosseau, Dora Fontaine, Kathy Hayes and Nancy Carlin. Thanks to everyone who bought a book, bought a book for a teacher, sponsored an accelerated reading quiz or donated to One for Books. The students can't wait to read all those new books. Beginning Chapter Book Ideas: Here are some great ideas for moving your child from the picture books to chapter books. Most are series: Horrible Harry by Suzy Kline Mallory by Laurie Friedman Martin Bridge by Jessic Scott Kerrin A to Z Mysteries by Ron Roy Gus and Grandpa by Claudia Mills Nate the Great by Marjorie Sharmat Arthur chapter books by Marc Brown or Stephen Krensky Owen Foote by Stephanie Greene Cam Jansen by David Adler My Wierd School series by Dan Gutman Jigsaw Jones by James Prellar Judy Moody by Megan McDonald Stink Megan McDonald Ivy and Bean by Annie Barrows Bailey School Kids by Debbie Dadey Mercy Watson by Kate DiCamillo The Secrets of Droon by Abbott Encyclopedia Brown by Donald Sobol Magic Tree House by Mary Pope Osborne High Rise Private Eye by Cynthia Rylant Poppleton by Cynthia Rylant Pinky and Rex by Jame Howe Mr. Putter and Tabby by Cynthia Rylant Marvin Redpost by Louis Sachar Dragonslayers Academy by Kate McMullan Zach Files by Dan Greenburg Pee Wee Scouts by Judy Delton Our library has so many of these to choose from. Great ideas for moving up to chapter books. What are we reading: Yellow Star Tomas & the Library Lady Princess Pigtoria and the Pea Eggbert The Farmer in the Soup The Easter Egg Muncha, muncha, muncha Sherman Crunchley Last One in is a Rotten Egg The Wolf's Chicken Stew Library Mouse: A World to Explore Tippy, Tippy, Tippy Hide The Umbrella Doggone Dogs Stinky Socks Easter break is a great time to pick up your favorite book and read it to your child. If they are beginning to read - you read a page and they can read a page. Happy Easter and Happy Reading!]]> http://blog.sjfschool.net/funk/2011/04/every_bunny_loves_to_read.html http://blog.sjfschool.net/funk/2011/04/every_bunny_loves_to_read.html Mon, 18 Apr 2011 11:27:39 -0600 Book Fair Events Sunday, April 10th - 10:00 Grandparents Mass Then come down to the book fair to shop. April 11th - 14th The book fair will be open Monday - Thursday. Each classroom will have a chance to browse the book fair. Wednesday, April 13th at 6:00 the Bus-of-Fun will be at our book fair. Lots of fun and books on that night. Join us. Bookmark winners will also be displayed at our book fair. I am looking forward to all of those new books. See you at the book fair. ]]> http://blog.sjfschool.net/funk/2011/04/book_fair_carnival_-_your_tick.html http://blog.sjfschool.net/funk/2011/04/book_fair_carnival_-_your_tick.html Fri, 01 Apr 2011 09:08:22 -0600 Book Fair at St. John Fisher Our Book Fair opens on Sunday, April 10th after the 10:00 Mass. It will run through Thursday, April 14th. Each class will also have time to browse and buy. Family Event Book Fair Carnival - Bus-O-Fun Syle The Bus-O-Fun will visit our book fair on Wednesday, April 13th Bus-O-Fun will be open from 6:00-8:30 that night. Come out, have some fun and browse our book fair. We are looking forward to seeing the new books.]]> http://blog.sjfschool.net/funk/2011/03/coming_soon_book_fair_carnival.html http://blog.sjfschool.net/funk/2011/03/coming_soon_book_fair_carnival.html Thu, 17 Mar 2011 09:09:21 -0600