THE RUG IS HERE!!!

Yea! We are heading in the right direction in the library!!

Geographic Bee 2016

EDGEWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GEOGRAPHIC BEE 2016

How to Qualify for the School Bee:

Each 4^th or 5^th grader will take the qualifying test

on Tuesday, December 1, 2015.

5^th grade will take the test at 10:30 am.

4^th grade will take the test at 9:30 am.

The top 8 scorers from 4^th grade and 5^th grade will be named

as the 16 participants in the School Bee.

Our School Geographic Bee is Monday, January 8, 2016.

For the Qualifying Test,

You will need to find on a map the Continents and the Major Oceans:

the Seven Continents

Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America

(The National Geographic Society considers Oceania a region rather than a continent;

therefore we will not accept Oceania as a correct answer

for the continent of Australia.)

 the Major Oceans

Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, and Arctic

You will also need to know the location and major facts of:

these Countries

Germany, Greenland, Syria, Uruguay, and Papua New Guinea

and these States

California, Kansas, Michigan, New Hampshire, South Carolina

You can locate information on these topics from the following resources:

*   any general encyclopedia or atlas

*   The Alabama Virtual Library: www.avl.lib.al.us/  

*   National Geographic Bee website:

www.nationalgeographic.com/geobee/

*   CIA Factbook website:  

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html

*   World Atlas website: http://worldatlas.com

Questions? Ask Mrs. Woodruff, Geo Bee Coordinator.

Heading in the Right Direction in the Library

Big, exciting changes in the Library!!

The Alabama State Department of Education has requested that schools help ensure student privacy by removing reading level indicators from the outside of books.

As we re-label our library books by moving the reading level dots from the spine to the inside back cover, we are also using this opportunity to rearrange our Fiction. The new sections will provide greater choice and make finding books easier for our students.

We will divide our fiction books into three sections:

books with less than 35 pages;

books with 35 to 120 pages;

and books with more than 120 pages.

Within each section, there will be books on a variety of reading levels. Students can select shorter or longer books based on their interest and then check the back of the book to help determine comprehension level.

These three sections will be called by their geographical location in the Library:

Fiction Northwest (the books less than 35 pages)

Fiction West (the books from 35 to 120 pages)

and

Fiction Southwest (the books greater than 120 pages).

By sectioning our fiction books according to length, we believe students will have more choices and have an easier time finding “good fit” reads that match their interests. By naming the sections according to geographic location in the library, we will help students learn another important “directional” skill.

We look to have this project (which impacts over 7,000 books) completed by Spring of 2017…but ambitiously, we are aiming for Spring of 2016. Our PTO Library Volunteers have already helped with Phase I; we are now scheduling/planning Phase II. We will keep you up to date!

AUTHOR DAY FROM THE BLACK LAGOON!!

It's official!

Author Day
March 11, 2016
Mike Thaler
author of
The Teacher from the Black Lagoon Series
!!!!!!!!!!!
Total Excitement and Cheering!

Everybody is Checking Out!

This week we have completed our Library Orientation 

and Kindergarten has learned how to checkout a library book! 

Here's what parents need to know:

• Kindergartners may have one library book at a time. First and Second Grade may have two books; Third, Fourth, and Fifth may have three books.
• Yes, they get to take it home!
• Yes, they must bring them back and return them in order to checkout another book.
• They should keep their library books in their tote/book/bag/pack when they are not reading them. Don't leave a book on the table or the sofa because then it won't make its way back to school to get returned. 
• And don't worry. When a students says, "My mama didn't pack my library book," I remind them that their mama didn't checkout the book. Library books build responsibility!
• If a book becomes damaged, let us take care of it. Get your kid to hand the book directly to me or Mrs. Foster so that we can repair it with special library repair tools. Accidents happen! We want kids loving to read so we don't make a big deal about mistakes.
• If a book becomes lost, that happens, too. Email me and let me know. We'd rather have the book back than you pay for it, so if we know you are looking for it, your child can continue to checkout other books. If it is truly lost, we will let you know the replacement cost. 
• Choosing a library book is a 'novel' thing for our kids. Choosing a library book is one time kids actually get to make their own choice based solely on their preference! Of course this means that sometimes they bring home a book that does not fit bedtime reading. But that's OKAY! Encourage your child to 'read the pictures' with you; share what you find interesting in the book and ask what they find interesting; you might discover something new about your child!
• Enjoy! We want our students to love books, reading, and libraries!

New Library Assistant(s)!!

We are excited to welcome 

Holly Foster 

as our new Library Assistant! 

Mrs. Foster has a background in libraries and is excited about meeting our students and teachers and helping them checkout awesome books.

But the good news doesn't stop there...
we are actually adding about 250+ library assistants! Each of our 4th and 5th grade students have "adopted" a shelf in the library and will assist in keeping those books tall and in order. Ask your 4th/5th grader to explain the acronym S.T.O.R.M. and just what they'll be doing when they STORM the shelves!

Summer Reading!

Click on
The Ultimate Book List...
in the TABS across the top.

Summer is the time of year to read
whatever and
whenever and
wherever!

But finding the perfect book can be difficult.

To assist you in finding a book that is just right, please look at the right-hand tab at the top of the page: The Ultimate Book List.
Here you will find several maps to good reads.
There is a long list of book descriptions arranged by the authors's last names.
There are also several links directing you to books that are 'just like' other books.
When someone asks me to recommend a book for them, I always say, "Tell me a book you've read that you like." Then I will suggest other books that are like those...
Students at Edgewood have learned to say, "I want to read another book just like..."

While this list is long, these are not all of the books in the world. Feel free to leave me a comment as to titles that should be added! And be sure to tell me what you read this summer when we return to school for 2015-2016.

Book Drive!

Once again, Edgewood Library is helping you with your spring cleaning!

Bring your gently-used

books and media

(dvds, cds, video games)…

April 6 – 22

to this library.

We are collecting for the
Media Walk at Spring Festival!

and to support

Better Basics of Birmingham

and Start the Adventure in Reading (STAIR),

helping others enjoy

the world of reading!

¿So many questions?

After a relaxing (yet curious) snow day on Thursday, Edgewood was excited to host scientist, teacher, author Heather Montgomery for Author Day 2015. Mrs. Montgomery really encouraged our kids to ask questions, make observations, and tell stories. She brought animal pelts and bones for the students to touch and hold and study. She showed pictures of caves and trees and (for the 4th and 5th graders) a dead rattlesnake! Student comments have generally been: 'It was gross but cool!' 'She was weird but in a good way!' 'She didn't read her books but she told the story of how she made her books.' And Heather Montgomery commented, "They were inquisitive, respectful, and creative thinkers!" All in all, Author Day was a celebration of curiosity and a challenge to continue exploring the world of ideas.

Add a Book 2015 Update...

Just over 250 new books have been added to our library! Thank you for supporting our students!

Now our kids can:

Press Here
and
discover
Pluto's Secret.
And
At the Same Moment Around the World
and
travel down
A Chipmunk's Hole.
Then they can look for
The Loch Mess Monster
in
The Magic Trap.
But
Shh! We Have a Plan!
Under the Egg
The Pigeon Needs a Bath...
Oh NO!
This Book Just Ate My Dog!
:-)

Talent Show 2015

There's No Place Like Edgewood!

We had a fabulous Talent Show this year, full of singing and dancing and cheering and skits. The only downside of our talented stage directors' excellent arrangement of acts: not enough time for jokes! And this year, you Edgewood kids gave me some great jokes! So here are the best that did not (and some that did) make it into our wonder-filled evening:

(I know, I got a whole lot more, but there's only so much room on the Internet for a blog post!)

Knock, knock.

Who's there?

Justin.

Justin who?

Justin time for the Talent Show!

-Caleb, 4th grade

Why did the skeleton only play the piano?

Because he had no organs.

-Susan, 1st grade

How do monkeys get down the stairs?

They slide down the banana-ster.

-David, 4th grade

What did one toilet say to the other toilet?

You look a bit flushed.

-Flora, 4th grade

What does a clock do when it is hungry?

It goes back for seconds.

-Sadie, 4th grade

What do you get when a chicken lays an egg on top of a barn?

An eggroll!

-Ella, 5th grade

Why did the woman go outside with her purse open?

She expected some change in the weather.

-Kate, 5th grade

What's worse than raining cats and dogs?

Hailing taxi cabs.

-Arianna 5th grade

What do you put on when it's wet?

A coat of paint!

-Kyla, 4th grade

There's a horse on a 20 foot chain and it wants an apple that is 26 feet away. How can the horse get to the apple?

It can walk. I didn't say the chain was attached to anything else.

-Lolo, 5th grade

What do you get when you cross a pig and a centipede?

Bacon and legs

-William, 5th grade

What has one head, one foot, and four legs?

A bed.

-Emma, 4th grade

What has 18 legs and catches flies?

A baseball team.

-Jonathan, 3rd grade and Jacob, kindergarten

What has 0 feet, 3 tails, and lives in a bowl?

Three fish.

-Garrett, 3rd grade

Why did the man keep doing the backstroke?

Because he just ate and didn't want to swim on a full stomach.

-Harrison, 4th grade

Why did the chicken cross the basketball court?

The referee called a foul.

-Jonathan, 3rd grade and Jacob, kindergarten

Why did the dinosaur cross the road?

There weren't any chickens back then.

-Carson, 3rd grade

Why did Jamie go the dance with a prune?

He couldn't find a date.

-Lily, 5th grade

What do you call a girl flea?

A fleamale.

-Riley kindergarten

What did Jack's beanstalk grow?

Climb-a-beans.

-Anne Marshall, 4th grade

What do you call four bullfighters in quicksand?

Quatro sinko.

-Hugo, 5th grade

Why do waiters like gorillas better than they like flies?

Have you ever heard a customer complain about a gorilla in their soup?

-Isabel 5th grade

Why can't you iron a four-leaf clover?

Because you shouldn't press your luck.

-Haley, 5th grade

What geometric figure is like a lost parrot?

A polygon

-Madelyn, 5th grade

When is a dog NOT a hot dog?

When it's pure bred.

-John, 5th grade

Did you hear the joke about the giraffe?

It's probably over your head.

-Merritt 3rd grade

What is the best thing to put in a chocolate cake?

Your teeth.

-Lily, 1st grade

What do you call a red monster sitting on a rock?

A red monster sitting on a rock.

-Lorelai, 4th grade

What do you call a red monster sitting on a rock?

Bob.

-Zoe, 4th grade

What do you call a red monster sitting in a chair?

Zoe just told you, his name is Bob.

-Zoe, 4th grade

What do you do when you want a vegetable?

You call a flower.

-Max, 3rd grade

What did the pennies say to their teacher?

That makes perfect cents.

-Greta, 2nd grade

What did the volcano say to the other volcano?

I lava you.

-Mae Beth, 3rd grade

What does a snowman eat for breakfast?

Frosted flakes.

-Claire, 3rd grade

What did one snowman say to the other snowman?

Smells like carrots.

-Mrs. Burgess, LEAD

Why don't grizzlies wear shoes?

Because they like their bare feet.

or

Because they like their feet bare.

-Jack, 3rd grade

What are soft, white visitors from Mars?

Martian-mallows.

-Alina, 3rd grade

How does a cat go down the motor speedway?

Meeeeeeeeee-oooow.

-Paige, 5th grade

What did the artist draw right before she went to bed?

The curtains.

Mrs. Castle, ART

Why do dragons sleep during the day?

So they can fight knights.

-Cathryn, 4th grade

Did you hear Yousef's joke about the broken egg?

Yes? It cracked me up, too!

-Yousef, 5th grade

Why aren't dogs good dancers?

Because they have two left feet.

-Gabby, 5th grade

What do you get when you drop a piano down a mine shaft?

"A" flat minor.

-Mr. McKibben, Mrs. McKibben's husband

Why did Mozart get rid of his chickens?

They kept saying Bach, Bach, Bach.

-Chloe, 4th grade

What is Beethoven's favorite fruit?

Ba-na-na-na-nahs.

-Ahmed Makik, 4th grade

And my two favorite jokes of the evening:

This from my husband, Mr. Woodruff:

What do vegetarian zombies say?

GGGGGGrrrrrrraaaaiiinnnsss

And this from 5th grader Will...a true genius as this is a totally original joke:

What did the ghost teacher say to her class?

Watch the board and I'll go through it again.

We've got talent all over Edgewood!!!

Add a Book 2015

Hey Mrs. Woodruff, do we have any new books?

Almost!

During the week of February 23, we will hold our Annual Add a Book Celebration. This is wonder-filled opportunity for our students and teachers and families to select books to donate to our library. We have around 300 new books ready for donation...we just need your help. ¿How?
Student brings the signed permission slip.
Classes visit the library on either February 23, 24, or 25.
Student chooses the perfect book to donate and notifies parent of the cost.
Student returns the money to the library.
The book is processed including a bookplate with the student's name as donor.
The donating student gets to be the first to checkout the new library book!! Whoop! Whoop!

Click here for a permission slip.

Or click here.

Just a few of the 300 books...

Author Day!

We are so excited to be hosting 

Heather Montgomery 

for our 2015 Author Day!

An Alabama author, Heather Montgomery loves to ASK questions about the world around us. 

Her science books answer many questions, 

but they also encourage readers to be curious 

and to find out more.

We will spend the day with her on Friday, March 6,

with grades getting special presentations.

As with all of our visiting authors, students can order autographed copies of some books.
Please use the form sent home or the google doc provided here or this Spanish google doc here; send the completed form and payment to the library by Friday, February 13.

It's a New Year...a new chapter!

¿But what were the good books from 2014?

There are many Best of 2014 Lists out there, but this is one of the most comprehensive:

https://s3.amazonaws.com/bankstreet_web/media/filer_public/filer_public/2014/09/19/2014best-books.pdf

Scroll through (while you are relaxed and have time to see all 69 pages of this PDF) to locate your reader’s age range; books are then sorted by fiction and non-fiction and all the subjects in-between. This list is created by The Children’s Book Committee at the Bank Street College of Education in NYC. They are very picky about which books make their list, but parents are still the best judges for which books are best for their own kids.

My personal favorite of 2014 is: The Book With No Pictures by B. J. Novak.

Some books are meant to be studied for their illustrations; some are meant to be read quietly on a rainy afternoon; and this book is meant to be read to children by parents! Remember how I said the joy of bedtime stories is sharing that special time with your kid? Well, this book will have everybody giggling…again and again and again.

¿But what if you are more interested in “technical” stuff?

Checkout the resources noted here on the Homewood City Schools District Site:

http://www.homewood.k12.al.us/?DivisionID=16825&DepartmentID=21127&ToggleSideNav=ShowAll

Common Sense Media offers many suggestions for apps, movies, books, all sorts of entertainment. 

The HCS Librarians are teaming up to provide you with more information on technical ways you can entertain and inform your family. You can even follow us on twitter! @HWDLibrarians