Summer is here - continue the learning and make it fun! Your child should have come home with a bookmark with book suggestions at their reading level. Remember, readers can explore books on or around their level (in the neighborhood!). While reading "just right books" is a good idea, most important is that the reader is interested in what they are reading.

Collaborating with other librarians, a "Summer Learning" handout was created. Click here to download. Hopefully the ideas and strategies presented are ones that you haven't thought of with your child. Try to m away from "sound it out" when your child struggles with reading and focus more on what makes sense in the text. Look at the photos and contexts of what they are reading. Most of the time, readers will figure it out! 

It is an honor and pleasure to welcome your child into the library and expose them to great resources, bring books alive and be their advocate and friend.  I have the greatest job in the world! Thank you from the bottom of my heart. 


Have a great summer! Visit the public library! Drop me a line! 

Jeffrey
Teacher/Librarian

20 years ago I observed a teacher running a classroom in a way that I dreamed of one day doing.  I remember listening to the way this person spoke with children, the way her classroom was organized, what her students were doing and how everything from her mouth was a question or encouraging praise. This was truly a classroom learning through inquiry. This teacher had a huge impact on my career! I never had a relationship with this person, our time together ended after that afternoon. Through my career, I would often think and speak of this person (she had no idea).

Five years ago, as a math coach, I was in a workshop listening to participants introduce themselves. From a distance, I heard "Kathy Egawa, literacy coach". My colleagues watched as I rose to my feet to see the face of the person who inspired my first years of teaching, and many many years after. After that meeting, Kathy and I re-connected. She loved hearing my story about the impact she made on this new teacher.

Kathy is now a  librarian in the district - she and I, along with another librarian formed a PLC (professional learning community) that meets twice a month. Our time together is filled with new learning, great conversation and food.  I recently spent the day with Kathy at her school, Pathfinder K-8. This was a professional day for me to see another librarian in action, see another space, talk about library logistics and procedures.  On Monday, Kathy spent the day at QAE, holding my hand during my first library inventory (9,245 books and equipment). Kathy and I are continual learners - the fact that I can give back to her after all these years makes me proud to be a teacher.

Have a great summer!

Jeffrey
Teacher/Librarian

149 votes have been placed for the top three picture books in the  WA Children's Choice Award. We have more students than that!  If you haven't already, please take a moment to ask your child to vote for their three favorite picture books.

Clicking here shows you all the books.
Clicking here takes you to the poll to VOTE! Yahoo! Yippee!

Today at the Monday Morning Meeting students learned that a total of 11,387 books have been checked for the year. The two classes with the most check-outs is Ms. Yokoyama and Ms. Leckie!

Have a great week!

Jeffrey
Teacher/Librarian

TOP FIVE MOST CHECKED OUT  TITLES IN  THE QAE LIBRARY!
Grace the Glitter Fairy
Diary of a Whimpy Kid: Dog Days
Diary of a Whimpy Kid: Rodrick
Star Wars: Incredible Cross Section
Bone #5 - Rock Jaw, Master Border

Thanks to YOU and your Scholastic purchases, we raised an additional 6000 points which will provide new books as reading incentives for quite awhile. From the bottom of my heart, thank you! 

Jeffrey

Click here to read the "All About Me" books written by Ms. Marks' kindergarten writers. I can't tell you enough how much your comments, questions, praise and encouragement (whatever you want to call it!) means to a learner. Really, we all need it! Ms. Marks receives each blog comment in her email and often times reads them to everyone. Besides your child, would you be willing to read others and comment? How about together with your child, reading what others wrote and leaving a collective comment? I am counting on you.

                             Click here for ideas on praise and encouragement. 

Ms. Yokoyama's writers have also published "All About Me" books. When you visit their e-folio, click on BLOG and you will find amazing stories. 

Have fun reading these master pieces and seeing why these kindergartners are VERY ready for first grade! 

Happy Days!
Jeffrey
Teacher/Learner