Read Every Day!

Encourage your child to enter Scholastic's Read Every Day contest to have a chance to win a custom home library and a poster from Taylor Swift. There will be 31 winners and you can enter every day. Last day to enter is November 26, 2010. The contest's goal is to promote daily reading, of anything - newspapers, magazines, on-line texts, even books! Go to the following link and sign up today! http://www.scholastic.com/readeverydaysweeps/

Read Every Day

Its Time to Buy the Cards!

Well, its time to start getting serious about the upcoming holiday season. I knew it was time when riding down the main street of my town (before Halloween) and saw the Christmas banners already posted on the streetlamps! But I am a step ahead because last year's one snow event furnished me with a great picture that I plan to use for this year's Christmas card. This will be a simple and stress free task by using Shutterfly's holiday cards. I will simply chose my favorite card design from their Christmas cards designs or Christmas photo cards . This year I have chosen the Gifted Tag Christmas 4 x 8 photo card for 1 to 2 photos. I will then upload my photo or photos directly from my computer. I can then add text and other finishing touches. After that I will decide how many cards I need, and order! Mark that job off the list!

Scholastic Launches You Are What You Read

Scholastic has launched a new social networking site for those who love books and reading and to help promote the importance of reading. Users may list the five books that have had the biggest impact on their lives. They will also find the "bookprints" of many recognizable names from education, media, publishing, entertainment and more. Users will have the choice of several activities and have the opportunity to interact with others who share a love of reading and books. The site is a part of the celebration of Scholastic's 90th anniversary and is a part of their global literacy campaign, Read Every Day. Lead a Better Life. For further information visit:
http://youarewhatyouread.scholastic.com/adults/ .

Free Phonics All-in-One Reading Program

For parents, teachers, tutors, or anyone who wants to teach a child to read, Progressive Phonics is a free resource available on-line. Books and worksheets are available for downloading or can be viewed on-line. Free registration is required, but you can view sample books before registering. Check it out at this link:

http://www.progressivephonics.com/

Roald Dahl Day - September 13th

Today is officially Roald Dahl Day. You may recognize him as the author of James and The Giant Peach, Matilda, Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, Fantastic Mr. Fox and more. To help celebrate you can download a party pack which comes complete with activities, printables, instructions, historic facts and party or lesson ideas. Make your Roald Dahl Day a great one by visiting the following web site:

http://www.roalddahlday.info/Resources.aspx

Become a Revolting Reader by reading three Roald Dahl books. Check out the details at

http://www.roalddahlday.info/Competition.aspx

Tha Cat Tips His Hat to Science

On Labor Day PBS introduces "The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!" It is a new PBS series that will be introduced on Labor Day. Based on Random House's Learning Library series, it is a half-hour program with Martin Short as the voice of the Cat. The Cat leads his viewers to explore the natural science world, helping them learn through daily adventures.

This is a link to fun online games and activities.

http://pbskids.org/catinthehat/

Rooting For New Words

Helping children become familiar with common root words helps them figure out the meanings of unfamiliar words. Here is a game that teachers and parents can use to help from ReadWriteThink called Make-a-Word Card Game:
http://www.readwritethink.org/parent-afterschool-resources/printouts/make-word-card-game-30249.html

The Online Etymology Dictionary http://www.etymonline.com/index.php is a great resource for understanding what words meant and how they sounded in years past.

Inspire Reading with Ramona and Beezus

Take your children to see "Ramona and Beezus", but be prepared to read the books! You and your children will love Beverly Cleary's wonderful character and will want to follow all of Ramona's adventures. Get a preview of the fun at the following links. Go see the movie, then be ready to whip out the library card on the way home!

Have fun and happy reading!

(If the links won't work, copy and paste the address in your browser address bar).

http://www.ramonaandbeezus.com/


http://books.google.com/books?id=lw6K8J8-KRoC&dq=ramona+and+beezus&printsec=frontcover&source=bn&hl=en&ei=wPJKTICMMYL_8Ab8tYk1&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CEQQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q&f=false

Vocabahead

Easter Fun in Peter Rabbit's World

Second Grade's President Day Program

Second Grade's President Day Program

Here is a link to some reading games on learningtoday.com. The site has access to some free reading games and you can sign up for access to more games and activities that are designed to help build key reading skills in phonemic awareness, phonics, sight words, vocabulary and reading comprehension.

http://www.learningtoday.com/corporate/reading-games.asp

Gadsden Job Corps has adopted the first graders at our school. The Job Corps visited and brought gifts for students and teachers!

http://www.tv24.tv/videoPlayer/?video=/uploadedFiles/File/news_Other_1265955239.flv

Help Mitchell earn $5,000.00 and help your child become a stronger reader by registering your child and logging their reading minutes at the following link:

http://www.parents.com/reading/ramitchellelementaryschoolgadal

The contest begins March 8, 2010 and ends May 31, 2010. The winning school will be based on the total minutes read, divided by the number of students enrolled at the school at the time of contest registration, so each reading minute counts!!

I found a blog that I think will be especially helpful for parents and teachers wanting to help their children with beginning reading skills: http://beginningreadinghelp.blogspot.com/ .

Also, check out the Animoto video of our Storybook Christmas near the bottom of the page.

Here is another site that parents and teachers may find helpful for their students:
http://www.smarttutor.com/home/. It is an elementary program for helping to build skills in reading and math.

Help Mitchell win a visit from Jan Brett by visiting the link below and entering the contest. Thanks to Mrs. Bradley for finding and sharing this contest with us!

http://www.janbrett.com/contest_2010/free_school_visit_contest_2010.htm

I just checked out iknowthat.com. You may sign up for a free account that will give you access to games in pre-k through 6th grade and in many subject areas. The Punctuation Paintball in 1st grade language arts was fun! There are also home and school subscriptions available.