Last week the book fair visited our school. I hope you enjoyed visiting the fair and seeing the new books available. Now that you have had a chance to see the books, I need your help! What books would you like me to get from the book fair for our library? I can’t wait to read your responses!
Your Library Lady,
Mrs. Matzat
This week in library we are talking about one of our reading contests in the Reading Incentive Program binder. You have a chance to earn reading olympic medals by reading books in different genres. What is a genre, you ask? Think of it as a fancy name for a type or category of book. Fancy Nancy would love that word! If you read books in our library from the different genres and then come have a booktalk with me, you will have the chance to earn reading points to help you go on our field trip at the end of the year!
Read one book from each genre (make sure it is a just-right book for you) in each medal category to earn points.
Here are the genres for our contest:
Bronze Medal:
Silver Medal
Gold Medal
When you have read your selected books, take the Genre Olympics record sheet to your teacher along with a “Blast Off to the Library” pass. Then “Blast Off” to the library during a flexible time to hold a booktalk with Mrs. Matzat. Be sure to ask for a conference when you reach each medal level.
I hope that all of you choose to participate in this contest. I think you will enjoy reading the different genres of books we have in our library. One of my favorite genres is fantasy. I love stories about things that can’t really happen in real life. What is your favorite genre? Why do you like it?
I can’t wait to read your comments!
Your Library Lady,
Mrs. Matzat 
Welcome back to school, Branson Elementary West students and parents! It’s been a while since I’ve posted on our blog, but now it’s time to get things going again. I wanted to share an exciting new book series with you that was just released today. It is called 39 Clues, and it is a new kind of reading adventure. The story is a mystery that you, as the reader, actually try to solve. Reading the books will help you solve the clues, but there is also an exciting online game and trading cards that give you additional information. There are even real prizes being given away, including a $10,000 grand prize! I can’t wait to read the first book, The Maze of Bones. It’s written by Rick Riordan, the Mark Twain Award winning author of The Lightning Thief. You can learn more about 39 Clues by going to their website at http://www.the39clues.com/. So, here’s a question for you. What would you do if you won the $10,000 grand prize? I can’t wait to read your comments! Remember, when you post a comment, only put your first name and your room number, and don’t put an email address, even if you have one.
Your library lady,
Mrs. Matzat
With the Presidential elections coming up this November, voting fever is in the air! Even though you are not old enough to vote for President, you are old enough to vote for books! Nominate your favorite book at VoteForBooks.com. You can submit your nominations until April 30. On May 1, the top 10 candidates for favorite book will be announced. The general election will run through summer and fall. Votes will be tallied on Election Day, and the winner will be announced on November 5. Submit your nomiation today!
I’m going to have a hard time with this one. I have too many favorite books! Which book is your favorite?
I just got back from the Missouri Readers Awards Banquet and I am so excited! I got to find out who won the Mark Twain Award and the Show-Me Award. The evening started with the presentation of awards to last year’s award winners, so I got to see Lola Schaefer accept her award. She said to tell all of you that she enjoyed her visit to our school very much. After they presented her award, we got to eat our dinner. We had chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans…. What? You don’t want to hear about what I had for dinner? Oh yeah! I bet you just want to know who won the awards. Ok, here’s what you’ve been waiting for (drum roll please…)!
Remember, when our Branson Elementary voters had their voting party in March, they selected Lightning Thief as their favorite book. Let’s see what the state thought:
2008 Mark Twain Award
3rd place - Cryptid Hunters (2829 votes)
2nd place - Double Identity (2849 votes)
1st place - Lightning Thief (5575 votes)
Way to go Branson voters! You helped pick the winning book!
Here are the Show-Me Award results:
2008 Show-Me Award
3rd place - The Great Fuzz Frenzy (14,806 votes)
2nd place - Police Cat (16,902 votes)
1st place - Magnus at the Fire (18,886 votes)
If you haven’t read these great stories yet, be sure to check them out!
So, what do you think of the results of the contest? Do you agree with the choices? Why or why not?
See you when I get back Wednesday!
Mrs. Matzat
It was very hard to select the winners of the Lunch with Lola Schaefer contest. There were so many good posts from which to choose! Thank you to all of the students who particpated. Here are the winners:
Bailey 506
Samantha 407
David 407
Windy 603
Rachel 601
Madelyn C. 402
Zach 406
Justus 302
Congratulations to our winners! You will join me and Mrs. Schaefer for lunch in the library on Thursday at 10:45.
As you know, Lola Schaefer, the author of the 2007 Show Me Award winner Arrowhawk, is coming to visit our school next week. Eight lucky kids have a chance to win lunch with Ms. Schaefer! To enter the contest, you need to write a good descriptive paragraph to me telling me why you think you deserve to have lunch with the author. Here’s what you need to do to enter the contest:
1. Write your persuasive paragraph. Make sure you include specific reasons why you should get to have lunch with her. Be convincing! Type your paragraph in Word and save it so you don’t lose your work.
2. Copy your paragraph and paste it into a comment on this blog post. Your teacher or I can help you do this if you do not know how. Remember to use our Internet safety rules and only post your first name and your room number.
3. Submit your paragraph before the end of the day on Friday.
4. Check the blog next week to see if you are one of the winnners.
Good luck and have fun!
Mrs. Matzat
Now that you have heard the first book in the Spiderwick Chronicles, tell me which of the main characters is the most like you and why you think that character is like you.
I think that I am most like Mallory. I am the older sister of two younger brothers (they are not twins, but they are only a year apart), and I kind of picked on my brothers sometimes, just like Mallory picks on Jared. I was also kind of bossy, just like Mallory.
I hope you are as excited about seeing the Spiderwick movie as I am! Here are a couple of Spiderwick websites that you might enjoy:
The Spiderwick Chronicles Book Website
The Spiderwick Chronicles Movie Website
International Sprite League
Enjoy!
Mrs. Matzat, your library lady
I hope you all have a wonderful holiday, and I can’t wait to see you in January. I have missed you all very much! I made a funny video clip that I think you will enjoy. I hope you got a chance to see my Polar Express video in your class. Be sure to keep reading during vacation (but don’t take your books to Grandma’s house)! I have a few fun holiday links for you listed below. Be sure to ask your parents if it is ok to visit these sites before you use them.
Your library lady,
Mrs. Matzat
Build your own gingerbread house
Build a snowman
Reindeer Orchestra (play Christmas songs by squeezing the deer’s nose) - this is my favorite
Make a snowflake
Santa Sliding Puzzle
Snow Line Game (draw a line to help Santa get the presents) - this one was hard for me, but I’m sure you will figure it out
What great students I have! I was so happy today when I logged on to my computer and saw all the wonderful messages on the blog from my kids. I’m glad to hear that so many of you are reading some really great stories, and that many of you are working hard to move up on the reading bulletin board in the hallway (almost to 100 Christian R. - way to go). Many of you asked where I am. Well, I had to have surgery last Wednesday, so I was in the hospital in Springfield. I am at home now resting so that I can heal and get back to you guys soon! I miss you so much. It is definitely lonely here, though I do have my dog Toby to keep me company. Please keep writing to me to let me know what you are doing and what books you are reading. I just finished a great book called Nim’s Island. Hope to hear from you soon!
Your library lady,
Mrs. Matzat
