A Few Good Books Needed

March 2nd is Read Across America Day. It is a big deal in elementary schools. Visitors are welcome to come read books. Dr. Seuss parties will be thrown. All kinds of fun events!

For the month of March, we are having a book drive to build up classroom libraries. You can help by donating a book to my classroom or to the school itself. Below is a list of books that we would love to have or just contribute your childhood favorite. If you have questions, feel free to email me or leave me a comment. (Books in italics we already have.)

Teacher's Top 100 Books for Children

The following list was compiled from an online survey in 2007. Parents and teachers will find it useful in selecting quality literature for children.

Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
Good Night Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
I Love You Forever by Robert N. Munsch
Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
Oh! The Places You Will Go by Dr. Seuss
The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton
The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
Skippyjon Jones by Judy Schachner
Thank You Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco
The Cat In The Hat by Dr. Seuss
The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
The Mitten by Jan Brett
Crunching Carrots, Not Candy by Judy Slack
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willlems
Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman
Corduroy by Don Freeman
Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes
Stellaluna by Janell Cannon
Tacky the Penquin by Helen Lester
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr.
Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin
Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
Horton Hatches the Egg by Dr. Seuss
Junie B. Jones by Barbara Park
Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Make Way For Ducklings by Robert McCloskey
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
Piggie Pie by Margie Palatini
The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper
The Monster at the End of this Book by Jon Stone
The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett
From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg
Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli
Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann
Olivia by Ian Falconer
The BFG by Roald Dahl
The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Sneetches by Dr. Seuss
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Tikki Tikki Tembo by Arlene Mosel
A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Bark, George by Jules Feiffer
Bunnicula by James Howe
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
Charlie the Caterpillar by Dom DeLuise
Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes
Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary
Frederick by Leo Lionni
Frindle by Andrew Clements
Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel
Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney
Harris and Me by Gary Paulsen
Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion
Hop on Pop by Dr. Seuss
How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
I Love You, Stinky Face by Lisa McCourt
Is Your Mama A Llama? by Deborah Guarino
Jan Brett's books
Knots on a Counting Rope by Bill Martin Jr.
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton
Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney
My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett
My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss
My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
No David! by David Shannon
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss
Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
Stephanie's Ponytail by Robert Munsch
Swimmy by Leo Lionni
The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes
The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Warner
The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper
The Empty Pot by Demi
The Five Chinese Brothers by Claire Huchet Bishop
The Giver by Lois Lowr
The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
The Important Book by Margaret Wise Brown
The Last Holiday Concert by Andrew Clements
The Napping House by Audrey Wood
The Quiltmaker's Gift by Jeff Brumbeau
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
The Story About Ping by Marjorie Flack
The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka
Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
The Wide-Mouthed Frog: A Pop-Up Book by Keith Faulkner

Visitation

Last night I went to the visitation for Jim Wood. I went at 6pm so I guess everybody was at church. When I walked into the room there were pictures, scrapbooks, etc. marking the life of a great man and his family. I passed by the body quickly not because I did not want to pay my respects, but rather because I would like to remember the last time I saw him up and walking around. In the final room in a set of three, there was a tv on playing a home video. Someone had interviewed Mr. and Mrs. Wood about their love. They talked about how they met, dated, and got married. He had a sense of humor and it showed throughout the video. They scrolled pictures of their wedding and then of their precious family. The final clip was of Mr. Wood talking about Mrs. Wood. Apparently, he was a "wild child" (he said that because he played in a band... ha!) but Mrs. Wood "straightened him out." He went on to say that she was so strong in the Lord that she made his life better and made him a better man. He testified that he probably would not be where he was spiritually without her. She batted him on the arm and said thanks. Then, he looked over at her, smiled, and gave her the sweetest kiss. I was thankful that there was nobody there and that I could watch something so beautiful.
The Woods were/are passionate about Christ, helping others, and each other. That is the kind of marriage I hope to have one day.

I Could Never Be...

I remember a conversation Amy, Brad, and I had while in China. It was to the tune of job you could never have/do. We can pretty much do anything for awhile. This week, I have found a job I could never have. I could never be a researcher. Seriously.
I finally finished my research and bibliography after working on it for over a constant week. This might sound silly, but I have never had an assignment like this. Give me bulletin boards, curriculum guides, and lesson plans any day of the week.
I have not even started the actually paper yet, but just having this forsaken bibliography done in APA style makes me feel as though I am done. I could just leap from joy. Really.
15 minute break over... back to the books.

hi sooraj.

Dumpstering "Teacher Style"

So a couple of teachers and I went dumpster diving "teacher style" yesterday. Instead of household items or food like other divers seek, we go keeping our classrooms in mind. My first dumpster experience yielded 2 easels and posterboard. This time, I was able to snag 50 portfolio/scrapbooks, several camera bags, white labels, a large amount of photo printer paper in different sizes, and white butcher paper. Altogether, these items would have probably cost me in the neighborhood of $150. Talk about great savings for a poor teacher's wallet!

happiness is...

putting on Justin Timberlake's "Summer Love" and having a dance party with a friend who is literally across the world. Thankfully nobody walked in my classroom!

nice recovery after deodorant escapade.

you know you are tired when...

you put deodorant on your toothbrush.