Lunch with Laini

Been promoting Laini Taylor’s new book Blackbringerwith my fourth and fifth graders.  I invited them to read the excerpt and prepare questions, write a letter, or draw a scene.

Fifteen students were invited to “Lunch with Laini”.  In this intimate setting, students queried Laini about where she gets her ideas for writing, where did the names in Blackbringer come from, and when she began writing.
What kids took away from their time with her:

1. Keep a notebook. Not necessarily to write a whole stories but for keeping ideas, thoughts, weird stuff in, and juicy words!

2. Supports the whole notion that “Fact is stranger than fiction” Laini records weird facts in her notebook.  For example…there are beetles that eat flesh, leaving  skeletons perfectly intact or haruspicina, the ancient practice of divining entrails. 

3. Read, read, and read some more.  Laini showed a slide of the books at her bedside, mountain of books to read.

4. Don’t stop writing. She did for a while and regrets doing so.

5. A paper dictionary provides more opportunities for words than looking words up digitally.

6.  How the book’s title went from just Blackbringer to Faeries of Dreamdark:  Blackbringer.

Laini is showing students important necessities of writing: a fabulous writing room, coffee, her editor, and other tidbits.

I discovered that many of these students are serious writers themselves.  Having time with Laini really gave them nudges in the right direction. 

We anxiously await the arrival of Faeries of Dreamdark: Blackbringer  in June.  You can visit Laini here.

Thank you, Laini, for visiting Silver Star.

Happy Reading.

MsMac

Monday Matters: Week of April 16, 2007

Taxes are done.  Hooray. The other exciting thing was the wonderful shout-out and poem dedication to me by Elaine Magliaro at Wild Rose Reader.

This week begins three weeks of WASL testing (Washington State Assessment of Student Learning). Always a stressful time for everyone!

I  make the library a place of respite, especially for third through fifth grade during this time. So here’s what is happening:

Kindergarteners are involved in an author study of Keiko Kasza. Love her work.  First graders will be learning about the kinds of books in the 500 section of the library. Second graders get to do poetry things in honor of National Poetry Month.

Now, above I just said that third through fifth will get a respite. I just realized that third grade may not consider learning about Melvil Dewy as a respite. But it reminds me of a funny story.  I asked third graders how the library is organized. A third grader said I have the nonfiction in the “yellow”, section, the everybody books in the “blue” section, and the chapter books in the “blue” section. My color system (thanks to Powell’s Bookstore’s colored rooms) is working

Fourth graders are exploring tall tales. My fifth grades will start designing new place holders for the kindergartners to use next year. (A perfect project for this year’s fifth graders)

I will interview staff and students about books they have read again and again for “Tuesday Tidbits”.

Speaking of reading, am off to read this month’s book-club choice, Waiting for Snow in Havana.

Happy Reading.

MsMac

Poetry Friday: Wing Nuts: Screwy Haiku

In Wing Nuts: Screwy Haikuby Paul B. Janeczko and J. Patrick Lewis, senryu, an alternate form of haiku is explored.  Senryu is playful and funny, often focusing on the foibles of human nature. This collection does just that. here are a few of my favorites.

Swift punishment
for drinking from milk carton…
mouthful of curdles

Grumpy bear growl
blends with chirp of rusty hinge…
Mom and Dad snoring
Noah Webster had
no choice except to put
the cart before the horse

A senryu goes
bouncing along into
a giant poetry tree

A funny addition to our collection. Kids love funny poetry.

Happy Reading.

MsMac

What’s New Wednesday: Spring Fling

The kindergarteners, first, second, and third graders have just finished listening to the twenty nominees for the Washington Choice Picture Book Award(more on that another day). 

So “Spring Fling” was developed. I circulate 10 of the books and I read the others. This is an activity that students and teachers look forward to doing.  I circulate ten-twelve of the new titles  the library receives before going out to general circulation.  This year teachers and students will have a weekly  preview the following titles:

Swift Thief by Michael Dahl
Porch Lies by Patricia C. McKissack
Manners on the Telephone by Terri DeGezelle
The Napping House by Audrey Wood
Bony Back by Michael Dahl
Mr. George Baker by Amy Hest
Little Lost Bat by Sandra Markle
Learning to Fly by Sebastian Meschenmoser
Plant Plumbing  by Susan Blackaby
An Island Grows by Lola M. Schaefer
Song of the Water Boatman by Joyce Sidman

And that’s what’s new this Wednesday.

Happy Reading.

MsMac

Tuesday Tidbits

Back from last week’s spring break. what a glorious week. But as a fourth grader reported to her teacher, “we needed another day off to rid ourselves of tummy aches (wonder if the reference was to all the Easter candy) and get the things done that we were suppose to do.” I so agree.

Before spring break I surveyed what our staff about the books they are currently reading. The third grade team had a variety of books; from Jane Austen to Camus’ The Plague to books on the Muslim faith. 

I discovered that Mrs. Grabner, 2nd grade teacher, was reading Left to Tellby Immaculee Ilibagiza. I am currently reading it as well.   Mr. Baker, fourth grade, is reading When We Were Orphansby  Kazuo Ishiguro, Mrs. Morishige was beginning Piccoult’s My Sister’s Keeperand our principal, Mrs Locascio was also reading Piccoult.

Mr Yates, 5th grade, hoped to get Feedby M.T. Anderson read over the break while Mrs. Nagely, also 5th grade read Mindful Politics: A Buddhist Guide to Making the World a Better Place by Melvin McLeod.

Purple Hibiscusby Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie was read by Ms. Steen, our “Strengthening Families” coordinator as well as Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin.

So many books, so little time.  I am in the midst of also reading an ARC of Blackbringer, by Laini Taylor.

What’s on your nightstand?

Happy Reading,

MsMac 

Poetry Friday: “Today”

I am on Spring Break this week. The weather could not be any better. Have played at the beach, gotten some work done, and read. 

Last week, our poet Sabina, reminded me of a practice that I let lapse.  She showed the students her little notebook filled with poems she collects that inspires her. AHA!!(sound of the light bulb going on), I have a notebook like that. I want to resume that practice.  My poem, today, comes from my little collected poems book.

Today

Today I will not live up to my potential.
Today I will not relate well to my peer group.
Today I will not contribute in class.
  I will not volunteer one thing.
Today I will not strive to do better.
Today I will not achieve or adjust or grow enriched
or get involved.
I will not put up my hand even if the teacher is wrong
and I can prove it.
Today I might eat the eraser off my pencil.
I’ll look at clouds.
I’ll be late.
I don’t think I”ll wash.

I need a rest.
      –Jean Little

It reminds of spring break. I read it to fourth and fifth graders last week. They thought it wildly funny.  I am off to enjoy the final days of vacation. (And to write a poem at my other blog, Deowriter. My goal is a poem a day for National Poetry Month.)

Happy Friday. Go read a book.

MsMac