Missouri Readers' Challenge

Are you going to accept the challenge. Come on....you know you want to!
Let me refresh your memory for the Missouri Readers Club. READ:
4 books from the Mark Twain list = eligible to vote
10 books from the Mark Twain list = eligible to attend celebration
12 books from the Mark Twain list = celebration plus your choice from the 2011-2012 list.

If you need a new sheet to sign off on, just let us know.

Meadow Lane is OPEN on Tuesdays from 3:00pm to 7:00pm!

Missour Readers Award Annoucement

The conference I went to a couple of weeks ago was awesome. The most exciting event was to hear the announcements of the winners for:

2009-2010 Missouri Readers Awards.

Show-Me Readers Awards Winner: Some Dog by Mary Casanova
Mark Twain Award Winner: Deep and Dark and Dangerous by Mary Downing Hahn
Truman Award Winner: The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod: Eighth Grade Bites by Heather Brewer

Most of the MLE winner predictions were confirmed. However, I was pleasantly surprised about the winning of Mary Casanova's book, Some Dog.

MLE had voted for Orange Shoes by Trinka Hakes Noble. MLE is a community of big thinkers and naturally choose Orange Shoes for the incredible story of Delly Porter who enjoys the feel of soft dirt beneath her feet as she walks to and from school, but after a classmate makes her feel ashamed of having no shoes she learns that her parents and others, too, see value in things that do not cost money.

Some of you may remember last years Truman Award winner: Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer. The book tells the story through the journal entries of sixteen-year-old Miranda. She describes her family's struggle to survive after a meteor hits the moon, causing worldwide tsunamis, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions.

It is probably one of the most powerful books I have read in a long time. I was very fortunate to meet Ms Pfeffer at the conference. She used a great deal of humor when reflecting about how she thought of her ideas for Life As We Knew It. In short, she watched an old movie called Meteor. Ms. Pfeffer shared that she wasn't exactly impressed by the movie but it did inspire her to think....what if.

She went on to say that there is a story everywhere you look. We just need to slow down and think about different setting, characters and problems and wonder...what if.

Next week: We will be talking about the

Summer Reading Challenge

Learning New Things

I'm attending a librarian conference this week. One might rush to the thought of ....BORING! However, I have to admit it's not. I'm part of a group who is looking at ways to help you be the 21st century student you need to be. I get to look at different pieces of technology that will help you find information, communicate your learning and help you inquire about things you what to discover. I have already found some really cool sites that I can't wait to share with you.

This is also the conference that I find out all the winners from the Missouri Reader Club. What book will win the Show Me Award, Mark Twain and/or Truman Awards? I'm excited to see if my predictions will be accurate. I'll let you know when I get back.

Lights, Camera, Action- READ or write...

MLE is celebrating 30 stars students who have been recognized by the district for their writing and/or artistic ability. One early Saturday morning in February, around 40 district elementary teachers arrived at MLE to judge over 1,000 pieces of writing and poster creations. These teachers had a very difficult task in narrowing the entries to around 350. It's wonderful that these students will receive the recogition they deserve. They worked hard and MLE salutes them. Who knows, maybe some of these talented writers will be the next Eric Carle or Roland Smith.

Author, Illustrator Jenny Whitehead is Visiting Meadow Lane.

Jenny Whitehead will be visiting MLE K-6th students on Tuesday, March 30th. I just know you all are going to love her. Jenny is both author and illustrator. She has written and illustrated 2 books, Holiday Stew and Lunch Box Mail and other poems. Jenny added her artistic talents to the newly released book Punctuation Celebration.
The MLE Community is in for a wonderful treat on Tuesday. Check out Jenny's website for more cool information.

LET'S GET IT STARTED

Okay, here we go. I have been wanting to begin a blog for my students at MLE for a year now. I'm finally brave enough to begin and venture out to the blogging world.

One of my main goals for this blog is for it to be used a tool to communicate with students about books, library 'wonders', and all the other reasons one may use this blog.

The 2010-2011 Missouri Award Nominees have been announced:

2010-2011 Mark Twain Award Nominees

Seer of Shadows by Avi
Magic Half by A. Burrows
Margret and Flynn, 1875 by K. Duey
Found by M. Haddix
Go Big or Go Home by W. Hobbs
Stolen Children by P. Kehret
School Spirit by E. Kimmel
Safe At Home by M. Lupica
Totally Made-Up Civil War Diary of Amanda MacLeish by C. Mills
Bringing the Boy Home by N. Nelson
Leanin' Dog by K. Nuzum
Mysterious Case of the Allbright Academy by D. Stanley

I have read several of the nominees already. I must say; I like this year's nominees so far. I will be very interested in what you think too.