Book Lists!

Book Lists!

What an exciting time of the year!  On January 23, 2017, the American Llibrary Association (ALA) Mid-Winter Conference will hold the announcement of the 2017 Youth Media Awards.  This includes the noted and much anticipated Newbery, Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, Pura Belpre, Schneider Family, Sibert, Seuss, Stonewall, and other book awards. I posted several mock Newbery Nominees that I have read.  Adding to that list is The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill.  A story of a young girl, Luna, raised by Xan, a kind and gentle witch; Glerk, a swamp monster; and Fyrian, a perfectly tiny dragon. This coming-of-age fairy tale/fantasy destined to become a modern classic.

Below the lists suggest the best books of 2016, the most recent releases for December 2016, and fantastic book lists by age groups to share with parents for building a home library or great gift ideas.

Read Brightly: The Children’s Books We’ll Remember Most from 2016

Read Brightly: 24 Fantastic Picture Books to Read This Fall

Literacy World Wide: 2016 Children's Choices

Children's Book Council: Hot Off the Press - December 2016

Children's Book Council: Building a Home Library for Children Ages 0-3

Children's Book Council: Building a Home Library for Children Ages 4-7

Children's Book Council: Building a Home Library for Children Ages 8-11

Children's Book Council: Building a Home Library for Children Ages 12-14

  

Mean Girls and Cyberbullying

Mean Girls and Cyberbullying

Last week Betsy and I attended a seminar titled Mean Girls: What Educators Can do to Address and Prevent Female Bullying, Cyberbullying and Relational Aggression(RA).  I will reflect on this seminar with highlights that ask questions and provide information, as well as videos that are thought provoking and provide excellent discussion platforms.

The presenter, Steph Jensen, LPC, asked, "Have kids changed?" Through conversation and analysis of kids today, we realize that "kids haven't changed, but the tools and messages have changed."  She pointed out that Nellie in Little House on the Prairie and Blaire from Facts of Life were characters with RA, but no one wanted to be like them.  When Hannah Montana came on TV she was the hero, but she also used manipulation to promote herself and much of her behavior on the show illustrating RA was reinforced just like more recent TV shows today such as the Khardasians and Gossip Girls.

As a Library Media Specialist, the part of this seminar focusing on The Impact of Social Networking & Technology on RA in terms of cyberbully and recognizing that the "tools and messages" impact students today.  Steph Jensen reminds us that:

-Human contact is necessary for human development.

-Verbal affirmation is necessary; Online likes, retweets, friends, and other trends are negative.

-There is a direct correlation between screen time and depression and anxiety.

-What people post is what they want us to see.  It isn't the reality of lives where good, bad, frustration, conflict occur.

-The internet creates a false sense of belonging.

How has the social construct of gender changed since 1963?  It hasn't, but this video, Always #LikeAGirl, provides a different perspective.

If you haven't see the video, Can We Auto-Correct Humanity? by Rapper Prince Ea, I encourage you to view it and then use as a discussion platform with your students. 

After watching this spoken word poem titled Why I Bully You consider the stages the girls go through such as: name calling, bullying gives me power, bullying is no big deal, I'm scared, I am wrestling with some big issues.

Information and Media Literacy

Information and Media Literacy

Early in my career as a Library Media Specialist, I would ask students when given a list showing a historical timeline of the U.S. Presidential terms, one from a website and the other from a book source, which source would have the most accurate information.  The majority of the time students selected the list from the website source, even if it was incorrect.  Often times students are reminded that "everything on the internet is not accurate." Clearly students are not the only users of the internet that need to know that it is important to be a critical user of the internet.  As a Media Specialist and a proponent of Future Ready Librarians, teaching students to use reliable resources (such as PebbleGo, Gale Resources: KidsInfoBits, Research in Context, Global Issues in Context and ProQuest CultureGrams) builds a solid foundation in researching.

Were frustrated with the media throughout the U.S. Presidential Elections?  Below are several hot topic articles from a variety of sources that I have read. These illustrate how information today is presented, how readers (of all ages) do not consider the impact of embellished or fake information in real world situations (such as the recent U.S. Presidential Election). I feel the following two articles provide and empower learners with significant ideas in becoming a critical user of the internet and curating reliable digital resources. Laura Garner's article, Teaching Information Literacy Now  (focusing on the section titled, Rethinking How We Teach Evaluation) is important to teach evaluating websites and more. She highlights literacy skills such as, Reading laterally, Keeping it non-political, and Talk about social media news. In Joyce Valenza's article Truth, truthiness, triangulation: A news literacy toolkit for a “post-truth” world, several lessons can be derived. One important lesson may focus on news literacy terminology in understanding and discussing credibility.

For more information about Information and Media Literacy, consider collaborating with your media specialist and reading the articles below that prompted this post.

Most Students Don’t Know When News Is Fake, Stanford Study Finds

Stanford researchers find students have trouble judging the credibility of information online

5 Questions Students Should Ask About Media Help kids think critically about the media they consume and create

These Superintendents Are Sold on Libraries | Editorial

Teaching Teens Media Literacy 101

Five Questions for Kids’ Media Literacy Expert Frank W. Baker

Mock Newbery Nominees

Mock Newbery Nominees

The 2017 Newbery Nominees displays are in the libraries to promote new books to read!  Each display has 26 books, but know that lists like this change and evolve.  I selected the titles for the display from the 2017 Mock Newbery from Goodreads.  When considering a Newbery contender, readers, like the Newbery Committee contemplate the following:

Distinguished is defined as:

• Marked by eminence and distinction; noted for significant achievement.
• Marked by excellence in quality.
• Marked by conspicuous excellence or eminence.
• Individually distinct.

And in identifying “distinguished contribution to American literature,” defined as text, in a book for children, committee members need to consider the following:

• Interpretation of the theme or concept
• Presentation of information including accuracy, clarity, and organization
• Development of a plot
• Delineation of characters
• Delineation of a setting
• Appropriateness of style.

Also, committee members must consider excellence of presentation for a child audience.

I have read, enjoyed, and recommend several of the books from this display. Below are audiobook excerpts as well as other information to help you know more about some of these books from the Newbery display to help promote books with your students.  Happy reading!

Audiobook excerpt of Ms. Bixby's Last Day by John David Anderson 

Audiobook excerpt of Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk

Pax with backstory information by the author, Sara Pennypacker

Audiobook excerpt of Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo

Audiobook excerpt of The Wild Robot by Peter Brown

Audiobook excerpt of Booked by Kwame Alexander

NPR article titled, "How To Get Kids Hooked On Books? 'Use Poetry. It Is A Surefire Way'"

Feast on Books!

Feast on Books!

As we all enjoy a long holiday weekend celebrating thanks for our families, our health and delicious food, let's remember to "feast on books! " This article shares some great books to read along with some fun activities: Feast on Fun! Great Thanksgiving Books and Activities for Kids. 

In classrooms I have seen ways to encourage students to keep a conversation "going and growing," but how do we and parents model open ended questions with students?  As students "feast on books," Scholastic has a few articles  to share with parents to help with promoting deeper and richer conversations about books. 

PamAllyn 20 Questions to Get Kids Talking About Books

Tips for Talking About Books With Your Child

5 New Questions to Ask Kids About Books

Post Election Resources and Ideas and International Games Day

Post Election Resources and Ideas

Our country continues to make history in the democratic process of our elections.  The information from Common Sense Media shares important information regarding What Should We Tell our Kids? Be Tomorrows Leaders, Today.  In this article there are tips at age appropriate levels to read books about brave leaders, use age appropriate news media sources, teaching students to be upstanders, use accountable talk to express opinions or participate in conversations, and emphasize the importance of digital citizenship.  Teaching Tolerance continues to be an excellent resource to help address What to Say to Kids on November 10 and the Days After. The following website Teacher Vision: 2016 Presidential Election Resources & Teaching Tips (Grades K-12) helps to provide resources to help students better understand the election process in our country. 

International Games Day

As written in International Games Day, this day originated in 2007 where libraries across the country attempted to set a world record for the number of people playing the same game at the same time at libraries around the world.  In 2012, it became International Games Day to raise awareness of games and gaming in libraries.  Our awareness of gaming escalated this summer with PokemonGo, but remember International Games Day does not just focus on video games, but also board/tabletop games.  Contact your local library to find out how they are celebrating International Games Day.

Discovery Education and November is Picture Book Month

Discovery Education Open House

Come to the Discovery Education Open House.  More details with a date, time and location will be sent out as soon as they are finalized.

Learn how Discovery Education is more than streaming videos.  It has:

• Content collections
• Lesson starters
• Virtual field trips - such as the Election Day Virtual Viewing Party (registration required)
• Instructional strategies - that tie in with many of the literacy strategies through Spotlight on Strategies
• Connects with Google Classroom

November is Picture Book Month

As noted in the website, Picture Book Month, November is a month long celebration to celebrate the print picture book.  This is an international literacy initiative where each day Picture Book Champions share why he/she feels picture books are important. On November 1st, Carmen Oliver Shares Why Picture Books Are Important.  You can read more on the Picture Book Month website including other fantastic authors, illustrators, Kidlit Bloggers, Picture Book Resources and much more! 

Great Resources to Engage Boys (and Girls) in Reading

Great Resources to Engage Boys (and Girls) in Reading

As a lover of reading and listening to audiobooks, I am currently reading Wild Robot by Peter Brown and listening to Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo.  Some students love to read

while other students are a constant challenge to pick up a book. I seem to have a never ending list of books I want to devour!  

James Patterson, author of over 350 million books worldwide, founded ReadKiddoRead, a website to help parents, teachers, and librarians promote student excitement for reading.  This website was a personal response to his own son, Jack.  When Jack was eight years old, he was not a  "gung ho" reader.  James and his wife, Sue, helped their son during this summer where Jack read and discovered a new world in reading. 

Jon Scizeska, author of many books, including The True Story of The Three Little Pigs, author and founder Guys Read now promotes audiobooks through Guys Listen. The two videos illustrate and promote audio books.

If your goal, like mine, is to excite as many students in reading, check out these outstanding resources to help you find new titles and authors to excite your readers.

What A Spooktacular Holiday!

What A Spooktacular Holiday!

Many students still love to read scary stories based on the popularity and circulation statistics for the Goosebumps series by R.L. Stine.  If you are looking for some other Frightfully Good Reads or Paranormal Pals to suggest to students, check out these linked articles.  Ronald L. Smith, author of Hoodoo and winner of the 2016 Coretta Scott King New Author Award is another great scary read with folk magic!

If you are looking for some ideas for Fall or Halloween lessons and activities check out these websites:

NEA: Halloween Lessons, Activities, and Resources For Grades-K-5

Scholastic: Halloween Everything You Need

Teachervision: Halloween Teacher Resources

As always safely enjoy this holiday!

Children's Literature Podcasts and One More Election Activity Idea

Children's Literature Podcasts

I love to promote stories that expand students' reading diet through displays, contests, knowledge of award winning books and more.  Podcasts are a great way to learn about authors and new book titles.  All the Wonders Podcasts are weekly interviews with authors and illustrators.  In 2015, Travis Jonker and Colby Sharp Launch Book-themed Podcast, à la Serial: The Yarn.  As Jonker states in this article, “The goal of Season 1 is a look at one book from all angles, often you just hear from the author, but we wanted to hear from everyone involved: the editor, art director, publisher, etc.” Season 2 is underway with Gertie’s Leap to Greatness by debut author Kate Beasley. Gertie's Leap to Greatness book birthday was October 4, 2016.  Book Club For Kids is a podcast hosted by Kitty Felde where young readers talk about a book.  Each podcast has a celebrity reading from the featured book. Finally the author joins the conversation to answer questions.  Book Club For Kids is a great resource to help students discover more books to add to their "want to read" list!

If you are looking to grow your knowledge about new books, authors and illustrators checking out these podcasts will broaden your repertoire in children's literature.


One More Election Activity Idea

This article, Vote for Duck: 5 Steps to Create a KidLit Election, is a great way to select and read a variety of books with election themes, then have your class vote for their favorite book with a special voting ballot (including pictures of the title next to the title) and a special voting booth. 

Letters About Literature Writing Contest and Upcoming Author Visits

Letters About Literature Writing Contest

This year's theme for Letters About Literature is:  How did an author's work change your view of the world or of yourself?

In this contest, students write a letter to the author stating how his or her work changed you.  This is where students write a personal, but persuasive letter (not a fan letter to the author) with specific details to support your ideas including specific details from the book (fiction or non-fiction), poem, or play.

This writing contest is available for young readers in grades 4-6, 7-8, and 9-12 through a grant from Dollar General Literacy Foundation.  The attached has complete contest information with the deadlines, criteria the letters will be judged, and the required contest coupon. 

What a fantastic writing opportunity for our students! 

Upcoming Authors at Boswell Books

Saturday, October 22nd at 11 AM: Patricia Polacco author of her newest book, Because of Thursday

Monday, October 24, 6:30 pm, at the Greenfield Performing Arts Center, 4800 S. 60th Street will host Dav Pilkey, author of Dog Man.

Friday, October 28, 6:30 pm at Boswell Books is A Spook-tacular costume Halloween party featuring Nick Bruel, author of Bad Kitty Scaredy-Cat

Connected Educator Month and

Connected Educator Month in South Milwaukee

Last week Tammy sent out  the information for Connected Educator Month in South Milwaukee.  What an exciting opportunity for us to collaborate, connect, innovate with our students or other educators in our grade level, school building, another Wisconsin School District or reach out to other educators or professionals!

Have fun as you participate in Connected Educator Month in South Milwaukee.  You may even win a prize at the end of the month.  I plan to take on this challenge starting with my weekly blog posting, how will you connect to educators this month?  Check out the ideas in Connected Educator Month in South Milwaukee.

Connecting Books and Movies

I am nearly finished with the third book in the Miss Peregrine's series.  This weekend, I went to see the movie Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (you can see the movie trailer here -  Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children Official Trailer #1 (2016) - Eva Green Movie HD).  Without any spoilers, I just have to say that comparing books to movies is a fun and fascinating opportunity in your classes where something as simple as a Venn Diagram or a T-chart can be used or you can browse some of the ideas in the links below.               

Celebrating the Peculiar: Program Ideas in Advance of “Miss Peregrine” Film

Cover to Cover: Comparing Books to Movies

The Movie-Novel Connection: Practical Tips for Using Movies in Class

What a great way to engage students in reading books and then seeing the movie to foster a wonderful discussion of opinions and debate!

Students and Election 2016, and More

Election 2016
The first presidential debate is Monday evening.  Voting for our next president is just six weeks away on Tuesday, November 8th.  As we get closer to voting day in the United States, students may have questions.  The following article from School Library Journal shares some fantastic resources to help students better understand the electoral process, how elections work, and political issues, such as immigration and education, that affect students and their families. 

Informing the Future Electorate shares videos, websites, apps, as well as resources to follow on Twitter.  It includes PebbleGo Vote! for grades K-2, Ben’s Guide for Kids—Elections for K Up, several other elementary, middle, and high school resources. PBS Election Central Classroom Resources is an excellent educational guide to our US Elections. 

Banned Book Week

This week is Banned Book Week as I posted last week.  I found the following interactive infographic from the 2012 Banned Book Week Celebration.  I continue to share ways to help students better understand why we celebrate Banned Book Week, as well as Banned Website Awareness Day (Wednesday).  Check out... I'm With the Banned Interactive Infographic 2012

Celebrate Banned Book Week Sept.25 - Oct. 1, 2016

Celebrate Banned Book Week Sept.25 - Oct. 1, 2016

The first Banned Book Week celebration was in 1982 in response to a growing number of attempts across our country to censor or challenge certain books.  In celebrating Banned Book Week, we celebrate and protect our freedom to read through the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.  In raising the awareness with middle school students, many students find this to be "unfair," "unreasonable," and "incomprehensible."  Especially when I share some of the following facts related to books that have been banned or challenged:

1. From 2000-2009 the top banned/challenged book was the entire Harry Potter series.

2. One of the most challenged books is the children's title, Captain Underpants due to offensive language.

3. In 2014, The Absolute True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie was the most challenged book of that year.  It remains on the list yet for 2015-16. 

Many middle school students were surprised to see many favorite books they have read even as elementary students that have been banned or challenged.  To learn more check out some lists of frequently challenged books.

In the article "Dealing With a Materials Challenge" by Teen Services Underground, some interesting infographics explain where and why books are challenged as well as who typically challenges books. 

Password Protection, Books That Show Empathy, and Storynory

Password Protection as explained in this infographic helps us to remember a few simple ideas to protect your passwords.  In terms of our students, the second and third ideas are most appropriate for school related passwords. 

From Preschool Through High School: 24 Books That Show Empathy, Kindness illustrates books that show empathy and kindness, two character traits that we look for in our students throughout the school year.  If you are looking for ways to promote kindness in your classroom atmosphere, have ideas for students when selecting books or ideas that help new students feel welcome to the new school year and new school, consider some of these books. 

Storynory is a free audio story website.  Storynory has educational stories, fairy tales, classics, and many more free audio stories.  Check out Storynory as a classroom option or to share with families as a resource for long car rides or a bedtime activity.

Digital Citizenship

Digital Citizenship

What an exciting new school year!  Last Thursday and Friday 4th and 5th grade students in our district received Chromebooks, this week grades 6-9 will receive them.  With technology integration, digital citizenship is important. As shared in the Common Sense Media article, "Shaping My Classroom's Culture With Digital Citizenship," routines and expectations are important to help students feel comfortable and develop a culture in the classroom regarding technology responsibility.  This article also provides tips for teachers to strengthen digital citizenship in the classroom including the following resource tips:

- K-5 Family Tip sheet titled Common Sense on Digital Life  - This is great resource to send home to parents.  As I collaborate with classrooms regarding digital citizenship lessons, a Family Tip Sheet will be sent home to help parents know what their child is learning in school regarding digital citizenship.

- Parent Concerns Videos help address parental concerns including cyberbullying and screen time.

- Stand with Common Sense: Take the Digital Citizenship Pledge for All is also a great way for teachers to empower students to think critically, behave safely, and participate as a responsible digital citizen.

Please consider reviewing this information, sharing aspects of it with families, and collaborating with me to integrate digital citizenship in your classroom.

Welcome to 2016-17 School Year!

Welcome Back Elementary/Middle School Teachers!  For me the summer zipped by, but I am excited to share another year of ideas, information, thoughts and events. 

A favorite blog I follow is Nerdy Book Club.  One post from this summer that I feel is worth sharing is 10 Mentor Texts To Lift the Level of Students' Narrative Writing .  This collection isn't just a wonderfully diverse collection of outstanding picture books, but it offers craft moves as noted by the author of this blog post, Stacey Shubitz.  Stacey is the author of Craft Moves: Lesson Sets for Teaching Writing with Mentor Texts.

Global Read Aloud (GRA) is a project started in 2010 by Pernille Ripp, a 7th Grade English Teacher here in Wisconsin.  The premise of GRA is they pick a book to be read aloud to students during a set six-week period where during that time as many global connections are made as possible.  It starts in early October and ends in mid-November. For elementary students the author study is Lauren Castillo, which includes her Caldecott Honor, Nana in the City and her newest book, Twenty Yawns as well as several others. The upper elementary/middle school titles are: The BFG, in honor of celebrating Roald Dahl's 100th birthday and Pax, Sara Pennypacker.  I've read both of these wonderful stories!  The selected titles for middle/high school check out Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt and All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely.  Orbiting Jupiter is on my reading list, but I've read All American Boys, which I highly recommend for students, teachers, staff, parents and leaders of our communities.  This 2016 Coretta Scott King Honor and Walter Dean Myers Award for Outstanding Literature is very timely in terms of the national conversation that tends to be in the news nearly on a daily basis in our lives.

I encourage teachers to consider participating in GRA for outstanding literature, a global conversation and much more!

Epic Summer Reading Challenge and National Week of Making

Epic! - Summer Reading Challenge

The Epic! - Summer Reading Challenge flyer explains how families in your school can participate in reading books for free.  Students who read 5 or more books on Epic! receive a special reading certificate.  Check this out and consider sharing this information with your students and parents.

National Week of Making

June 17th-23rd is National Week of Making.  What an exciting way to kick off the summer.  How will you celebrate?  Perhaps this year you will explore Making for your classroom next year or plan some Maker activities with your family.  I hope now that we know that this occurs in June, it could be a great opportunity to embed into our summer school classes. Check out the site to learn more about National Week of Making.

Final Blog Post
This is my final blog post for the 2015-16 school year.  I will continue this blog when the 2016-17 school year begins.  Enjoy the summer, relax, and refresh! 

Summer Fun Ideas for Families

Summer Fun Ideas for Families

There are 8 1/2 days left of this school year and 84 summer days between June 9th the first day of school on September 1st.  I know summer will go quickly for me, but for some kids summer can be long and boring and they are anxious for school to start again.  Below are some links for some terrific summer ideas to share with parents.

Fun Summer Science Projects for Kids - PBS

Creative Summer Learning Ideas - Scholastic
This link from Scholastic also shares some great end of the school year activities!

28 Boredom-Busting Summer Activities

Enjoy the summer, I am looking forward to some time to do things I don't otherwise have time to do. 

Aesop's Fables and Literature Teaching Guides

Aesop's Fables 

Aesop's Fables Interactive Book is presented by the American Library Association, and adapted from The Aesop for Children: With Pictures by Milo Winter published by Rand McNally & Co in 1919.  Aesop's Fables is considered to be in the public domain in the United States.  Enjoy this wonderfully presented collection of Aesop's Fables and be sure to click on some of the interactive or video illustrations. 

Literature Teaching Guides

Literature Teaching Guides has a wonderful collection of Teaching Guides with a separate collection for primary, middle school, and high school literature.  It has a category for Summer Reading Lists, Holiday Reading Fun, an Interactive Calendar of Holidays and Seasonal Events and much more! Know that Teacher Vision offers a free trial when you sign-up for a membership to TeacherVision.  You automatically get seven days of free trial access to all the materials on the site before being charged the membership price.  If you are looking for free literature teaching guides materials for residents of Wisconsin, check out TeachingBooks.net.  This outstanding resource begs to be explored!  I am happy to meet with anyone that is interested in learning more about both of these resources.

Summer Reading

Summer Reading

Summer is just around the corner and reading should be a daily part of summer fun!  The following article titled 7 Strengths of Super Readers: Turn the Summer Slide into the Summer Leap cites a "study found that if children read four or more books over the summer, they did better on reading assessments in the fall than their peers who read one or no books during that time, regardless of any differential." The same article also offers some great ideas including Celebrating Independent Reading, Summer Read-Aloud Fun, Creating Super Reader Families, and 7 Strengths for 7 Weeks of Summer where this program has a focus on seven strengths for reading success: belonging, curiosity, friendship, kindness, confidence, courage, and hope.

In the next couple of weeks the South Milwaukee Children's Librarian, Stephanie Jurss will be coming to each elementary school to promote the summer reading program at the South Milwaukee Public Library.  What a fantastic opportunity for our students to have access to books, cool off in the library and other great ideas as offered in Kate DiCamillo's Top Ten Reasons to Participate in Your Local Summer Reading Program. While your students are at the library they should check out Kate DiCamillo's newest book titled, Raymie Nightingale or any of her other fantastic books!

If you are looking to send home a suggested summer reading list, below are two outstanding reading lists from the Association for Library Service to Children:

2016 ALSC Summer Reading List for Grades K-2

2016 ALSC Summer Reading List for Grades 3-5     

Thank-O-Rama! and More

Thank-O-Rama!

Thank-O-Rama! from Mo Willems @The_Pigeon promotes this website where Mo Willems shares how you can thank those that are important in your life!  His last and final book, titled The Thank You Book is the 25th book in the Elephant and Piggie series.  In honor of Mother's Day and the month of May, I think Thank-O-Rama is a great idea! Check out the spinner, the how to draw Piggie with Mo video and printable pages.

Gene Luen Yang

Gene Luen Yang is the 2016 National Ambassador for Young People's Literature and honorary chair of National Library Week 2016.  The article, "Newsmaker: Gene Luen Yang The comic book writer and artist discusses his work and new national literacy appointments" shares more about him, and his interview of how comics/graphic novels impacted his youth and the importance of comics/graphic novels in libraries today.  His comment, "Comics can be a gateway into reading" is powerful and really exemplifies how Graphic Novels in the Classroom is important to consider as a bridge to help students in our district become life long readers. 

Golden Archer Nominations

Golden Archer Nominations

Last Sunday,  I shared the winning Golden Archer Award winners for 2016.  Last week, elementary students were able to nominate titles of books that they hope to see as nominees for the 2017 Golden Archer Award. 

Here are the titles I sent to the Golden Archer Committee.  The nominees for 2017 will be announced by June 1, 2016 so students can begin reading this summer!  Stay tuned as I will announce the nominees for our state student choice award.

Blakewood - Primary Titles:

1. Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear by Lindsay Mattick - 30 nominations

2. City Kitty Kat by Steve Webb - 27 nominations

3. Waiting by Kevin Henkes - 17 nominations

4. Splat the Cat: The Perfect Present Mom & Dad by Rob Scotton - 10 nominations

5. Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Pena - 5 nominations

Blakewood - Intermediate Titles:

1. Diary of a Wimpy Kid Old School by Jeff Kinney - 27 nominations

2. Dork Diaries: Tales From a Not-So-Graceful Ice Princess by Rachel Renee Russell - 20 nominations

3. The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley - 15 nominations

4. Superman Family Adventures: Because You Demanded It! by Art Baltazar - 13 nominations

5. Aliens and Other Visitors by Ruth Owen - 6 nominations

Lakeview - Intermediate Titles:

1. Diary of a Wimpy Kid Old School by Jeff Kinney - 30 nominations

2. Diary of a Wimpy Kid Hard Luck by Jeff Kinney - 24 nominations

3. Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick  - 12 nominations

4. Drama by Raina Telgemeir - 6 nominations

Luther - Primary Titles:

1. Noisy Paint Box: The Colors and Sounds of Kandinsky's Abstract Art by Barb Rosenstock - 3 nominations

2. Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear by Lindsay Mattick - 2 nominations

3. My Dog is Better Than Your Dog (Crimebiters #1) by Tommy Greenwald - 2 nominations

4. Mercy Watson Fights Crime by Kate DiCamillo - 2 nominations

Luther - Intermediate Titles:
1. Hoodoo by Ronald L. Smith - 14 nominations
2. El Deafo by Cece Bell - 12 nominations
3. The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley - 8 nominations
4. Crossover by Kwame Alexander  - 6 nominations
5. Isle of the Lost by Melissa de la Cruz - 5 nominations

Rawson - Primary Titles:

1. Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett - 70 nominations

2. This Is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen - 50 nominations

3. The Pencil by Allen Ahlberg - 45 nominations

4. Pete the Cat: Bedtime Blues by James and Kimberly Dean - 25 nominations

5. Help! A Story of Friendship by Holly Keller - 15 nominations

Rawson - Intermediate Titles:

1. Drama by Raina Telgemeir - 75 nominations

2. Diary of a Wimpy Kid Old School by Jeff Kinney - 50 nominations

3. Crossover by Kwame Alexander - 35 nominations

4. Dork Diaries: Tales From A Not-So-Perfect Pet Sitter by Rachel Renee Russell - 25 nominations

5. The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate - 10 nominations

This a great list of suggested books by our elementary students for students to read yet this year or over the summer.

Golden Archer Award - Wisconsin's Student Choice Award

Golden Archer Award

The 2016 winning Golden Archer Award winners are:

Primary: The Book With No Pictures by B.J. Novak
Intermediate: Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul by Jeff Kinney
Middle/Jr. High School: Sisters by Raina Telgemeier

I am excited to have the elementary students (grades K-5) in our district participate in nominating, reading, and voting for the Golden Archer Award.  With this, let's work together to encourage students to nominate their favorite picture books for the Primary level and chapter books for the Intermediate level.  As explained on the WEMTA Golden Archer Awards website there are three learning level categories, specific criteria for students to consider to nominate books and nominating procedures as indicated below.  I would like to see each of the elementary schools nominate five (5) books.  Students will share their favorite titles with the media assistant in your building by Friday, April 29, 2016 so I can send in the nominations over the weekend.  Please contact me via email if you have any questions.

CATEGORIES
Primary: Students in kindergarten and early grades
Intermediate: Students in upper elementary grades
Middle/Junior High: Students in upper grades, middle school, or junior high school

CRITERIA
Books must be...

• recognized as noteworthy and of special interest to students. 
• now in print and readily available.
• published within the last five (5) years.
• individual book titles, not series names.

NOMINATING PROCEDURES
The library media specialist and/or classroom teacher solicit nominations from their students. Nominated titles are sent to the Golden Archer Committee via the online Nomination Ballot.
Each participating school may nominate a maximum of five (5) books for each category (primary, intermediate, middle/junior high) that is represented in that school.  All nominated titles should have a copyright year within the last five (5) years. 
All nominations should include the number of students nominating each title.
Book nominations for 2017 are due by May 1st.