It’s Monday! What are you reading?
Each week I share at least one reading photo of the week. This was all about little sister reading. One little sister read to a baby sister while big sister (in my class) worked with Mom during Student Led conferences. Some amazing book love!
Our #classroombookaday titles for two weeks. Week 1 included books all about books and the things you find when you open them up!
This past week, we explored art, colour and inspiration! Such a fun week!
Classroom Highlights
So much has been about celebrating picture books in our Mock Caldecott unit! Partners explored each Mock Caldecott contender and rated books using “kid friendly” versions of Caldecott criteria.
Then it was time to complete some inspired art, “fan art” we called it.
Then we voted! Such serious, important work! Unfortunately, we had a number of students away ill and decided that we would hold off with our final results until everyone was back and had a chance to vote. So our Mock Caldecott results will be announced after the actual award winners are shared.
Join Jen from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers and share all of the reading you have done over the week from picture books to young adult novels. Follow the links to read about all of the amazing books the #IMWAYR community has read. It’s the best way to discover what to read next.
Books I loved:
How to Be an Elephant: Growing up in the African Wild by Katherine Roy
Oh this book! I learned so much about elephants and was completely in love with he illustrations. Would love to see this title get some love when awards are announced tomorrow.
Earth Verse: Haiku from the Ground Up by Sally M Walker and William Grill
Interesting poems, beautiful art and detailed back matter make this title an earth science gold mine!
The Blue Songbird by Vern Kousky
In search of your song, where will you travel and where will you arrive?
My Wounded Island by Jacques Pasquet and Marion Arbona
How are rising sea levels interpreted by a young girl on an Arctic Island? This is a powerful title.
Polly Diamond and the Magic Book by Alice Kuipers
This title isn’t published until May – it’s the first in a series I definitely want to feature in our classroom library! Be on the look out!
Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling
Aven Green is some kind of amazing. Born without arms and adopted by encouraging, loving parents as a toddler, Aven seems fearless. But life is a constant challenge as you face your own fears and help your friends confront their own. An important read.
The Way to Bea by Kat Yeh
Middle grade perfection. This title is all about navigation and coming out the other side. Friendships. Identity. Individuality. Facing fears. Following your heart and your instincts. Taking risks. LOVED all of the characters!
Up next? I am reading Solo by Kwame Alexander
Reading Progress updates:
2018 Chapter Book Challenge: 6/60 complete
2018 Transitional Chapter books: 3/40 complete
Goodreads Challenge: 34/300 books read
Progress on challenge: on track
#MustReadin2018: 4/30 complete
Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: 3/40 titles
Diverse Books in 2018: 4/40 books read
There's a Book for That 
Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus is one of those books I want all kids to read! Polly Diamond is in my stack!
So agree about Cactus!
I will look for My Wounded Island, & have The Way To Bea, hope to get to it soon. I love those “fan” pictures. Hope the kids are excited about their Caldecott winner & the real one, too!
We have Family Day in BC today so we will be discussing Caldecott news tomorrow!
We just read How To Be An Elephant – What an incredible book! It is a text students can revisit many times to learn new information and to explore nonfiction craft moves.
It’s a gorgeous book.
I can’t say enough about Cactus. I recommended it to a fourth grade teacher as a read aloud and the students loved it. My #bookexcursion group is fortunate to have an ARC of Dusti Bowling’s new novel, 24 Hours in Nowhere. Just started it and it is SO good!
Great to know – will put it on my TBR list!
I have to find The Blue Songbird – I just checked – it’s in our library! Will have to do an emergency run today. 🙂
It’s a lovely little title!
I was thinking about your class this morning. I expect they will be very excited tomorrow to talk about their picks vs the ALA choices.
Nothing beats a really good middle grade novel. Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus is on my #mustread list for this year. I’ve just added The Way to Bea to my for later shelf at the VPL.
Really enjoyed The Way to Bea. Like this author a lot.
Looking forward to Polly Diamond!
So much love for Cactus and BEA. I thought you would enjoy both!
You have quite the budding artists in your class 🙂
I certainly do!
Please Open This Book! Do Not Open This Book. Open This Little Book…what an irresistible display!
I agree! We had lots of fun with these titles!