The Incredible Story of the Recycled Orchestra

This week in library the 5th and 6th graders are learning about the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay.  I wanted to read this book to all of our students to see what an amazing thing it is for one teacher and a group of kids with a passion for music to transform their lives.  These families literally live in a land fill.  They work hard every single day.  They live in such poverty, yet they didn't let that stop them from following their dreams to play instruments.  We watched one video in library about Ada's Violin, but here is another video that shows the orchestra performing.  It is incredible that these instruments are all created from garbage.  What an amazing display of resilience! Kids, you must check out this book and read it cover to cover.  It is worth your time!

Who Invented the Crayola Crayon?

This week in library we are learning about who invented the Crayola Crayons.  Can you imagine being in school and never being able to color with crayons.  Thanks to "The Crayon Man" we don't have to write and draw with only grey, white, or black.  When do you think crayons were actually invented?  Did you know that a type of crayon was invented in Europe, but some of them were poisonous?!  That wouldn't be good for kids to be using! Here is a short video of how crayons are manufactured today.  Take a look, and let's be thankful for The Crayon Man for giving us a whole new world to make brighter!

Patriot Reading Has Begun!

Are you reading?  How many books have you read since September 1st?  You can comment below.  I hope you are reading every night for your 20 minutes of homework. Every single book you read at home or at school counts toward our school goal of reading 

20,000 books

in our school year.  Help your class read the most books in your grade so you have a chance to spin the wheel in library. Make sure you are finishing the books you are choosing to read because that is the only way to count them.  Let's do this Forbes Patriots!

Forbes Makes You Brighter!

I was so happy to see that our Forbes PTA is using our "Brighter" library theme this year!  What a great way to teach you guys how bright we think you are AND how bright you can become as you work hard at Forbes each day.  I am excited to see what this year will bring as you try new things, participate in videos, write cool books, read amazing stories, and the list goes on and on! Just remember how much your librarian thinks of you! Now let's work so hard and make this the BRIGHTEST year at Forbes!

WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL!

I am so excited for this year! The library is ready for you! Our library theme this year is 

READING MAKES YOU BRIGHT!

I hope you have been reading this summer and have lots to tell me about.  I have read some books that I am excited to share with you.  

What makes you feel bright?  I want to know, and I can't wait until I have you in library to find out.  If you happen to check out this blog post, let me know when you come to library and I will give you a little prize! 

Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program

Hi Friends! I hope you are all enjoying your summer! I sure do miss you!  I wanted to remind you of the great reading program Barnes & Noble runs during the summer.  If you read a certain list of books, and turn in a reading journal, you can earn a free book! I know you are reading anyway, so hop over to their website by clicking here and start reading!  Everyone loves a free book.  

Also, don't forget to check out Sora!

You can find books from the Barnes & Noble reading list and also read from the unlimited summer book selections right on the Sora App. Remember your login is your Student ID # and your last name! Keep up the reading!!

Do you like Podcasts?

This is a great podcast to listen to.  The Professional Book Nerds work for OverDrive (Sora).  This is a podcast where you can listen to book reviews and find the next great read.  OverDrive is running a Summer Reading Program that is wonderful.  They are providing free, unlimited check out titles you can read all summer long. Here is the link to subscribe to the podcast and listen to the Summer Reading episode.   

Our 2019 Forbes Elementary Book of the Year!

I cannot even contain myself! I just finished reading Projekt 1065 by Alan Gratz and I am dying over how good this book is! I read it in less than 24 hours because I could not put it down.  I chose this book to run against the amazing "Refugee" in our March Madness Tournament.  I LOVE Refugee so much and it is so well written, so I knew this book would be just as good.  I was not disappointed.  Alan Gratz is such a phenomenal writer.  He uses real historical events and provides so much information in the back matter of the book it makes the story even more engaging.  I know we have a ton of kids that want to read this book when we get back from Spring Break, and I am excited for you to do so.  If you can get it at the public library during the break, go...go now! This story of the Irish child spy, Michael is one I will not soon forget.  The resilience, the integrity, the bravery he shows is unmatched.  There are so many suspenseful events that take place in this story, I could not possibly write about them all. You just have to read the book.  If you love World War II historical fiction, you will love this book.  It is hands down my favorite, and that is saying a lot because I read a lot of World War II historical fiction.  I had to put this on the main blog because I was so excited, but it can also be found under the book talks with some extra details.  Happy, Intense, Action-Packed Reading to you!

Are You Checking Out Sora?

I have just prepared a display in our library of word art containing the first line from many popular books.  I love the way it turned out and I hope you guys have fun reading each one.  I want to do a little Sora promotion.  If you guys find a book based on one of the first lines, go search for it on Sora.  You can check it out, put it on hold, or even request that I buy that book for our digital library if you can't find it.  If you do this and come and show me, I will give you a small prize and a Sora bookmark.  

I love our expanding digital book library using Sora.  I think it is a great way to read.  Get on and check it out for yourself.  Remember your login is:

User Name: Student ID# 

Password: Your last name

Happy Digital Reading!

It's the Final 4!!

Here are our current brackets.  We are now in the Final 4! Who will you choose to win it all?  What is your favorite book in our tournament?  Which book do you want to check out first?  Comment below so I can see and even put the books on hold for you.  Also, just because I am feeling extra generous...if you come and tell me you read this post, I will give you a small prize!  

Sneak Peak...

Would you like a sneak peak at the books that are "playing" in our Forbes Tournament of Books?  Check out the brackets...

The top bracket is for Kindergarten-3rd Grade and the bottom bracket is for 4th-6th graders

March Madness Tournament of Books 2019!

Let's get this tournament started! I am so excited for our 2019 March Madness Tournament of Books! I hope you are too!  We will start next week and I have some fun books to share.  If you check back next week, you will find the brackets posted.  You can follow along here on our blog.  Don't forget to fill out your bracket.  The student with the most points will win and  receive a copy of the Forbes Book of the Year.

If you are reading this post and come to library and tell me what you love about March Madness, I will give you a Hatchimal! 

Let's join the madness and read!!

CONGRATULATIONS PATRIOT READERS!

I am so proud of our students who have earned the opportunity to attend our Patriot Reading Party! We have over 220 students able to attend.  That is a lot of reading! We will be partying it up on January 28th in the gym.  We will have tons of fun games, face painting, and a delicious treat! Thanks to all our PTA parents who are willing to help make this program a success. 

Now kids...don't stop here. We start a whole new semester of reading to earn our next party in May.  Get those January book marks turned in! 

Keep Reading Patriots!

January is National Brain Teasers Month!

January is National Brain Teasers Month! Are you good at solving riddles?  Check out this link for a list of 31 brain teasers.  This is provided by Alexandria.  They are the company that provides our library software, and they are amazing.  Bring in a brain teaser and see if you can stump Mrs. Chavez.  If you can, I'll give you a treat!

Wow! It's Been Too Long!

I can't believe we are already in January of 2019! I am so excited for what the new year will bring.  I hope you find your first reading treasure this year, or find a new reading treasure! I read so many books over the Winter Break.  Check out the Book Talk tab and read the reviews.  We have a lot of fun things planned for January to make reading a resolution you will want to keep this year.  

Patriot Reading Party!

January 28th at 9:30 am

We have so many fun things planned for this party.  I am so proud of the over 200 students that earned the chance to attend.  

January Patriot Reading Bookmarks!

It starts all over you guys! If you turn in January, February, March, and April bookmarks you will be able to attend our next reading party.  It will be our annual water party.  You don't want to miss that, so read those books!

It's Super Bowl time! One of my favorite times of the year.  We will continue our tradition of playing our very own Super Bowl game during library.  Don't worry...we will have some training before the big game! 

Get excited for a great year and read your heart out!