Happy New Year!

09/17/2013

0 Comments

 
PictureMy little first grader, Madeline.
A huge "Welcome Back" to all returning parents and a heart felt welcome to our new parents. Thank you for choosing QAE!  We deeply care about all students and work together identifying their needs. To keep parents connected, a "Specialist Blog" email notification has been created so that you receive posts from Mr. R (PE), Nurse Bullinger (Health), Ms. Fischer-Meyers (Intervention), Julietta Skoog (Parent Ed), Ms. Meg (Art) and Mr. Jeffrey (Library and Technology). We believe that the home connection greatly increases success for everyone!
PictureGreat Book Browser!
The library/technology blog will include events happening in the school, programs/apps that students are being introduced to, student achievements, reading celebrations. The library is the heart of the school and it's my goal to create an environment where students want to be, offering something to everyone. The library is open during all recesses and before and after schools. Thanks for letting me know through your comments that you're watching us. 
PictureJulia loves Babymouse!
Last year, the QAE library awarded new books to 146 students who completed a series! Throughout my years of teaching, I've collected thousands of Scholastic points, those points have been used up buying new books for our series readers and now it's time to build up more. Until 9/30, Scholastic is offering 10,000 points for orders over $300. This can be a collective order from everyone. Would you please consider using the activation code (JNB2V) and buying a book or two? OR just send (or drop by) the library a small donation and I'll take care of it. 

Jeffrey
Teacher/Librarian
Add Comment
 

Welcome summer  - and many thanks! 

06/13/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
Have you visited Room 140, looking for lost apparel? Ski jackets, Hanna Anderson, Baby Gap, North Face, Ninjago, etc... - the collection remains huge. Stop by this week. Monday I head to Well Springs Family Center with all remaining items. I have my eye on two sweet jackets for Madeline! 
Picture
The QAE Book Wish List has NO books! Thank you to all the generous parents who visit the wish list and purchase student requested books for the library. Putting personalized donation labels in all the books gives me great pleasure! 

More books to be added soon! 
Picture
Students were introduced to many summer reading opportunities. Seattle Public Libraries and Barnes and Noble are both offering free books to kids that read over the summer. Check out both programs - visit the library! 

Has your child told you about Bibliosasium.com - it's become more popular than I ever imagined. Kids are building their virtual bookshelves and feeling quite proud of their reading accomplishments. In our house when a friend recommends a book to Madeline we then put that book on our "I want to read" list. Please let me know if you need the welcome letter sent again so that you can enjoy Biblionasium. 

Click here for QAE Summer Reading - I created this document to provide more reading support in the home. Summer is wonderful, but if reading takes a break for 11 weeks, that same amount of time is needed to catch up in September. 
This last week was an unexpected emotional one! Having a kindergartner at the school that I teach is not only a dream come true, but huge fun and peace of mind. I didn't think watching the K graduation would be so tough, but those tear just wouldn't stop flowing. Knowing my daughter in being cared for by great teachers gives me such happiness. I've never been more proud of a school than QAE. 

Having the privilege to greet each student who walks into this library, bring books alive and provide reading opportunies makes me one very lucky man!  From the bottom of my heart, thank you to the wonderful volunteers who make the QAE library Program stand out from the others.   And to the parents who read my blog, connect with the happenings in the library, visit digital portfolios and leave powerful comments and read at home! We are all making a difference in the lives of kids. 

Have a great summer - hope to see you in September! For those moving onto another school, thanks for bringing your child to us! Please for anything. 

Jeffrey
Teacher / Librarian
Add Comment
 

Biblionasium! 

06/04/2013

1 Comment

 
Picture
Have you seen your child adding books to their Biblionasium? The company's tag line is "Where Kids Flex Their Reading Muscles". Developed by former colleagues, this amazing site help's kids manage their reading, see all the books they've read and/or want to read on a virtual shelf and record their daily reading. 

Students are enjoying the "Wish List" shelf, where they can place book titles they are wishing for. 

QAE students were registered so they could begin building their virtual bookshelf. Parents were emailed their child's password and direction to register so they can see their child's progress. Please let me know if you need more information. 


Jeffrey 
Teacher / Librarian


 





1 Comment
 

In Search of ....

06/04/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
Next week, myself and wonderful volunteers will inventory the library. Hopefully lost books will be discovered (ones that you thought your child lost) and returned to the correct place on the shelf. Thank you for responding to emails that are sent looking for lost books. Letting me know whether the book is lost or never seen will allow me to remove the lost books from your child's record, preventing more emails.

Jeffrey
Teacher/Librarian
Add Comment
 

Close School Open Summer

05/29/2013

0 Comments

 
Open the barbecue.
Open the sun.
Open the home-run games we won.
Open the picnic.
Open the pool.
Open the summer.
Close the school.

Lee Bennett Hopkins. 
Picture
If you receive notice that your child has overdue/lost materials from the library please let me know and we'll make a plan. Whether it's lost forever, never seen or totally returned, I'd like to account for at least 95% of QAE books. When the library is inventoried next week, it's likely many lost books will be found. Thank you in advance for making great attempts to return all QAE materials to the library before inventory. 

Jeffrey
Teacher/Librarian
Picture
Library Timeline
5/31 Fri. - Last day for check-out
6/2 Tue. - QA Public Library visit to talk about Summer Reading!
6/7  Fri. - All materials returned to the library - classrooms searched
6/11-12 Mon-Tues - Library closed for inventory
6/13 - Emails and phone calls begin in search of lost books. 
Add Comment
 

Proud Authors!

05/23/2013

1 Comment

 
Picture
This post will include a slide show of images taken during Young Author's Day. If you are reading this in your email you will not see the slideshow. Please try to view it again on our computer from the QAE Library site so that you can see all the excitement. Huge. 

The sun was blazing, a great author was visiting, students were ready to share - it was an amazing day watching young writers and illustrators read their stories! Thank you wonderful volunteers (40+), your support made a difference. The groups were small, insuring plenty of time for each author to read their story and receive comments from their peers. 

The day was kicked off by author/illustrator Richard Jesse Watson. He inspired by sharing his beginning as a writer and how he begins stories and the process he takes to publish. After lunch, he gave two interactive workshops on the art of illustrating. After school signed books and student art. 

Hopefully your child's story they shared made it to their digital portfolio. If not, let me know and I can support you with scanning and uploading. My pleasure. 
1 Comment
 

Young Author's Day is Here!

05/14/2013

1 Comment

 
PictureRichard Jesse Watson
QAE celebrates young authors tomorrow! Students will choose their favorite works and read out loud to a small audience. The will finish by receiving encouraging comments and praise from their peers. 

Kicking off Young Author's Day will be a presentation by author/illustrator Richard Jesse Watson. After students read their stories they will visit Richard again for an interactive presentation, hopefully inspiring future authors and illustrators. 

If your child would like a personalized copy of one of his book, they will be available for purchase. Click here to download the book descriptions and order form. 

Thank you to all the volunteers that have offered their time to be with us tomorrow and listen with small groups.  

Jeffrey
Teacher / Librarian
1 Comment
 

Praise is Priceless.

04/04/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
Student Showcase
A student came up to me today and shared with sadness that nobody is looking at her work and leaving a comment. Of course, my next steps were to visit that child's digital portfolio and leave a quick encouraging comment. I spent five minutes looking at all this student's work and left four comments. 

Have you looked at your child's digital portfolio? Do the people in your child's life know that they could be apart of the learning journey? 

Thank you for looking at the efforts of your child and leaving a comment. These comments make a difference. 

Jeffrey
Teacher / Librarian
"A Child needs encouragement like a plant needs water"  Kelly Bartlett (Positive Discipline)

When commenting on a piece of writing or art it may be helpful to start with one of the following stems: 
    - I wonder ....
    - I really like this because ....
    - This makes me remember ....  This reminds me....
    - I can tell you worked hard because ....
    - I noticed ...

Try to avoid - "Good Job", "Way to Go!" , "Nice Work" - while these comments are meant well, the goal is to provide feedback that invites us think about something, consider a change, or move in another direction. Positive comments that encourage, help children feel capable and connect us closer to each other. 
Add Comment
 

C.S. Lewis is missing!

04/04/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
Besides, Prince of Caspian, the entire Chronicles of Narnia series is missing from the library. Not sure where, when, how or who - but these classics are not on the shelf for students to enjoy. Have you seen these books in your house? If so, it's likely a mistake that is easily fixed. Thanks for your open eyes. 

If not returned soon - this collection will be replaced with library funds. 

Jeffrey
Teacher / Librarian
Add Comment
 

Last Day to VOTE! 

04/03/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
If your child voted for their favorite picture book hopefully they are wearing the official "I VOTED" sticker, if not tell them to visit the library.  164 students have voted so far! 

One lucky author will find out this week if they wrote the 2013 WA Children's Choice Picture Book Award! 

                               Click Here to VOTE. 

Jeffrey
Teacher/Librarian
Add Comment
 
<< Previous
Forward >>