Happy new year, Dragons and Dragon families! I hope you had a safe, healthy, and fun winter break. It is tough doing things differently and continually revising plans, but I am so impressed by how steadfastly we are all working to protect the health of not only our own family and friends but everyone else, too. On to a brighter 2021! We'll get there!
The PK library is not circulating books at this time. Teachers are borrowing books, and students have been provided with library books required for assigned reading or research, but that's about it. Please note that the Manhattan Beach public library is doing a great job with its sidewalk service, so please make use of this if you are in need of books. They have an extensive collection of audiobooks and ebooks, too. By the way, there are still some books that were checked out from the PK library before the March shutdown that have not been returned. If you happen to have any PK library books, please return them by placing them in the red wagon in front of the school office on school days before 2:00 p.m.
Weekly Zoom visits for every class continue. January's themes are new books for a new year (January 5 to 8), Martin Luther King, Jr., Day (January 11 to 15), and inventors and inventions (January 18 to 22). Then, with the week of January 25, we begin reading the nominees for California Young Reader Medal! The students always enjoy participating in this annual contest. I hope to finish presenting the nominees before the February break. Voting will take place during the week of February 22, and PK's results will be announced during the week of March 8, which is a math-themed week just ahead of Pi Day on March 14 (3.14, that is).
There's one notable exception to the weekly themes: in the week of January 5, grades 4 and 5 will be hearing Balderdash! John Newbery and the Boisterous Birth of Children's Books, by Michelle Markel, because it's almost time for the American Library Association's Youth Media Awards, including the Newbery Medal, which recognizes "the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children." With these awards and the CYRM contest, this is surely awards season for children's literature--a very exciting time for those of us who love these books. It's interesting to look back at all the wonderful works that have received Youth Media Awards, as well as to ponder why some very popular, distinguished, or ground-breaking books have not. So take a look at the various awards and the previous winners. For each award there's a list of past winners if you click through on each prize's name and look under "Further Information" at the right. Be sure to look beyond the most well known Newbery and Caldecott medals to the many other awards that recognize books of great variety and importance.
Oh, and here are some very cool toy houses and other structures: Archamelia :-)
The PK library is not circulating books at this time. Teachers are borrowing books, and students have been provided with library books required for assigned reading or research, but that's about it. Please note that the Manhattan Beach public library is doing a great job with its sidewalk service, so please make use of this if you are in need of books. They have an extensive collection of audiobooks and ebooks, too. By the way, there are still some books that were checked out from the PK library before the March shutdown that have not been returned. If you happen to have any PK library books, please return them by placing them in the red wagon in front of the school office on school days before 2:00 p.m.
Weekly Zoom visits for every class continue. January's themes are new books for a new year (January 5 to 8), Martin Luther King, Jr., Day (January 11 to 15), and inventors and inventions (January 18 to 22). Then, with the week of January 25, we begin reading the nominees for California Young Reader Medal! The students always enjoy participating in this annual contest. I hope to finish presenting the nominees before the February break. Voting will take place during the week of February 22, and PK's results will be announced during the week of March 8, which is a math-themed week just ahead of Pi Day on March 14 (3.14, that is).
There's one notable exception to the weekly themes: in the week of January 5, grades 4 and 5 will be hearing Balderdash! John Newbery and the Boisterous Birth of Children's Books, by Michelle Markel, because it's almost time for the American Library Association's Youth Media Awards, including the Newbery Medal, which recognizes "the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children." With these awards and the CYRM contest, this is surely awards season for children's literature--a very exciting time for those of us who love these books. It's interesting to look back at all the wonderful works that have received Youth Media Awards, as well as to ponder why some very popular, distinguished, or ground-breaking books have not. So take a look at the various awards and the previous winners. For each award there's a list of past winners if you click through on each prize's name and look under "Further Information" at the right. Be sure to look beyond the most well known Newbery and Caldecott medals to the many other awards that recognize books of great variety and importance.
Oh, and here are some very cool toy houses and other structures: Archamelia :-)
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