American Library Association (ALA) 2017 Youth Media Award Winners

American Library Association (ALA) 2017 Youth Media Award Winners

As new books are published throughout the year, my "want to read list" grows so I can read as many books as possible.  First, so I can make outstanding recommendations to students, teachers, and friends.  Second, to help in selecting books to purchase for the school libraries.  Finally, throughout the year I think about my own predictions and considerations about books that I feel are potential award winning books. 

I am excited to share the two oldest children book awards: The 2017 John Newbery and Randolph Caldecott  award winners:

I loved this magnificent fantasy!  The moon, the magic, the love, and the characters draw you in.  The injustice, the heartbreak, the sorrow keep you hoping and hoping and hoping for justice and more.  As I read this book, through the complex plot, I felt it was definitely Newbery worthy. Very few of the Mock Newbery lists that I looked at had this title listed even as an honor.  I am excited that the John Newbery Medal winner this year is "The Girl Who Drank the Moon" by Kelly Barnhill.

The Newbery honors include: "Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life by Ashley Bryan" written by Ashley Bryan; "The Inquisitor's Tale: Or, The Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog" by Adam Gidwitz; and "Wolf Hollow" by Lauren Wolk.

The Randolph Caldecott Medal winner, honoring the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children is  Javaka Steptoe for his illustrations in "Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat."  Javaka Steptoe also illustrated the story "All of the Above" by Shelley Pearsall, the visiting author coming Friday for Literacy Night. 

The Caldecott honors are: "Leave Me Alone!" illustrated by Vera Brosgol; "Freedom in Congo Square" illustrated by R. Gregory Christie; "Du Iz Tak?" illustrated by Carson Ellis; and "They All Saw a Cat" illustrated by Brendan Wenzel.

Your Reading Life

Your Reading Life

I saw a colleague make a poster of books she read so far this year, and it got me thinking about the books I've read this year and what it looks like in a visual.  Click here to see the ones I remember I've read: Mrs. Konjura's Reading Life 2016-17.  Students might be surprised to see what they have read this year too!

Why should we keep track of what we read? Why should we ask our students to keep track of what they read?  I found a couple of articles that helped me to realize that in addition to modeling to students what we read, to reflect on what they've read to help them to broaden their reading diet, and to realize how many books they've read, authentic ways of keeping track of our reading lives can have other educational benefits that support literacy learning.

The article, All the Wonders: Tracking Your Reading Life, Books Between illustrates reasons to keep track of your reading life.  From this I encourage you and your students to consider looking at:
1. A sense of accomplishment in how many books or pages you've read.
2. Noticing patterns in what you read:
    a. Do you read books that are mostly written by male or female authors?
    b. Do you read books in one genre or another rather than across several genres?
    c. Do you only read books in a series?
3. Do you have a "want to read" list and a "have read" list?  I think a "want to read list" is important so you are never left with the "I have no idea what I want to read next" feeling.  Another part that I liked about this article is where she focused on three school centered novels to discuss three things she enjoyed about each novel.  What a great way to entice students to want to read these books! 

Like the first article, Enhance your reading experience by keeping track of what you read. provides a list of 12 ways to keep track of your reading life:
1. Keep a log
2. Keep a rating system
3. Add additional tidbits
4. Write a book summary
5. Write an Amazon review
6. Keep a book quotes journal
7. Track your books on Goodreads
8. Try your hand at Literary Criticism
9. Get yourself a book journal
10. Research the author
11. Start a book blog
12. Keep a Books-to-Read list

Many of the ideas on this list are the same as in the first article but I like the idea of having students occasionally write a literary criticism.  As with anything it is important to be purposeful in what you do in your class, and to not over do.  The article The 40 Book Challenge Revisited by Donalyn Miller notes how her 40 Book Challenge has been modified by teachers to where "the original thinking behind an instructional idea becomes lost when it’s passed along like a game of Telephone." 

Keeping track of your reading life or that of your students can be motivating, inspirational, and a great sense of accomplishment.

Martin Luther King Day and Presidential Inauguration 2017

Martin Luther King Day

Tomorrow celebrates Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.  For the classroom, many activities and lessons help us learn about who Martin Luther King, Jr. was, and why we celebrate his life.  The following websites are great resources: Scholastic: MLK Day and National Geographic Kids: Martin Luther King Jr. 

From another perspective, while researching resources for this post, the article

How Martin Luther King Jr. Changed The Life Of A Street Kid In Kenya - NPR Goats and Soda: Stories of Life in a Changing World helps us see real life stories of people that are living Martin Luther King's life by example.  Read the story of Kennedy Odede  where he tells how Martin Luther King changed his life. He shares "When I read the story of Dr. King, it was a powerful story. Dr. King gave me a reason to believe you can change your own life and change your own community. His idea is that you don't have to wait. Anyone's path can change. For me that was really powerful." 

Reading Rockets: Books for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day help us to celebrate and remember Martin Luther King, Jr. and help us to make the world a better place.

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Presidential Inauguration 2017

On Friday, January 20, 2017, the Presidential Inauguration will complete the transition from our current president and our incoming president. Regardless of how we feel about the incoming president, it is important for students to be informed citizens to help them learn now that one day soon they will have the privilege to be a voting citizen too. Some questions students may be asking:

• What is the inauguration? 
• What happens on this day?   
• What does a president do? 
• Where does the president and his family live?

Kids.gov Inauguration provides a basic explanation of the inauguration including the inaugural day's events, an inaugural quiz (for middle school students), as well as the inaugural address, the oath of office, and more. DK Publishing provides inaugural activities, a quiz, and information such as presidential firsts, and kids presidential questions appropriate for elementary students.

Kitchen Science for Kids

Kitchen Science for Kids

When the weather is crazy cold like it has been the last week, kids look for things to do since going outside to play is not safe.  January and February are great months to try some fun kitchen experiments!  The Kitchen Pantry Scientist as well as other kitchen science experiment websites below. Some experiments are edible, others are not but all provide ways kids learn about food chemistry and other science related concepts including physics, astronomy, math and more.
These ideas are great for makerspace opportunities, fun activities for indoor recess, and great ideas to share with parents.

Kitchen Science Experiments for Kids

Science Sparks: 50 Kitchen Science Experiments

Food Science for Kids of All Ages: Simple Experiments and Activities for Youth

What a great way for kids to use literacy, science and math while having fun!

National Bubble Bath Day

Just for fun...did you know that today is National Bubble Bath Day?  According to Mr. Bubble history, Mr. Bubble is 55 years old!  Enjoy and relax!

Using Super Bowl Ads in the Classroom

Using Super Bowl Ads in the Classroom

The Packers are the NFC North Champions!  I have much hope and anticipation for the Packers to earn the opportunity to compete in Super Bowl LI.  Playoffs start next weekend culminating with Super Bowl LI set for Sunday, February 5, 2017. 

Each year the Super Bowl generates much hype. Sometimes the Super Bowl Ads are more entertaining than the game itself.  The infographic/article Stunning infographic charts the skyrocketing cost of a Super Bowl ad provides much to discuss, analyze, and calculate including the 2016 information illustrating that CBS charged $5 million for ads in 2016, or $166,666 per second.  This infographic along with several more ideas below offer classroom ideas and activities to integrate learning about this fantastic American event. 

As we cheer the Packers on through the playoffs, these ideas, lessons, and activities help build excitement leading up to the Super Bowl.

Super Bowl Party Ideas Sure to Keep the Kids Entertained - How about Super Bowl Bingo; Half time activities to get up and moving; Activities to keep kids entertained if they are not able to stay engaged in the football game or ideas for indoor recess.

NASA Turns the Super Bowl Into Lesson in Aerodynamics - A fantastic article explaining the science behind footballs, golf balls and balls used to play other sports.  Understanding the aerodynamics helps players gain a desired outcome in playing a sport.

Super Bowl Themed ELA & Math Questions from Edcite - Edcite provides Super Bowl themed math and ELA formative assessments for elementary, intermediate, middle and high school students.

Top 12 Super Bowl Classroom Activities - The K-12 activities in this article focus on math, history, geography, a sports weather science experiment, and more! 

Teach the Super Bowl: Ideas for Subjects Across the Curriculum - The ideas in this article seem most appropriate for intermediate, middle, or high school classrooms.

7 Super Bowl Lesson Plans and Resources for the Classroom - Another collection of great lessons and resources that seem most appropriate for intermediate, middle, or high school classrooms