Over the last few months, I have enjoyed teaming with the classroom teachers to rev up kids for the new Illinois state book award for 3-5 graders called the Blue Stem Award. In a joint effort, the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade teachers and I “booktalked” the new books with such glee that the students are flocking to check them out. While this article is being written, 3rd graders have learned about the K-3rd Monarch State Book Award and soon K, 1st, and 2nd graders will have their turn to enjoy the “booktalks” as well. Our “booktalks” and interactive displays have created a book frenzy here in the LMC. However, our book supply does not always keep up with our student demand. I like to remind parents that although we do have multiple copies of Illinois state award nominee books (Monarch (K-3), Blue Stem (3-5), and Rebecca Caudill (4-8)) here, titles are also available at Anderson’s Bookshop http://www.andersonsbookshop.com/ and the Naperville public library http://springbrook.ipsd.org/.
This is the Blue Stem Award interactive softball display. After students finish reading one of the nominees, they put a softball in the jar of the book they have read.
This is the Blue Stem Award interactive softball display. After students finish reading one of the nominees, they put a softball in the jar of the book they have read.Thank you to the generosity of Spring Brook parents and staff with their support of our book fair. Our book fair made around $3,000 that goes back directly to our students. We really appreciate the teachers and LMC volunteers who worked at our fall book fair. Your involvement helped our book fair to run smoothly. Last year we used book fair money to purchase items including, multiple copies of Blue Stem Award nominee books, Monarch Award nominee books, and Rebecca Caudill nominee books. Keeping 21st century skills in mine, we purchased a digital camera and 15 microphones for tech projects (such as PhotoStory3 that incorporate voice). We also purchased print materials including student magazines, multi-leveled non-fiction books which support our curriculum, and low level books for K and 1st grade emerging readers for our new Early Readers section.
These are some of the LMC's new books for our new Early Reader section (ER) for K and 1st graders who are emerging readers.Please continue to stay connected to Spring Brook by visiting: http://springbrook.ipsd.org/ and check out the LMC tab!
