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alphabet mystery (Preschool- K) Lower-case letters come to life in a fun adventure. Little x has left, upset he's hardly used, and the other letters set out to find him. They find x playing the castle xylophone for the mysterious Master, capital M, who threatens to turn them into alphabet soup! Some quick thinking by Little x saves the day, and soon they are all on their way home. | Encyclopedia Brown (1st-4th) Do you remember this gem from your childhood? Encyclopedia Brown is Idaville neighborhood’s ten-year-old star detective. With an uncanny knack for trivia, he solves mysteries for the neighborhood kids. With ten confounding mysteries in each book, not only does Encyclopedia have a chance to solve them, but the reader is given all the clues as well. | A-Z Mysteries (1st-4th)A is for Author . . . A famous writer is coming to Green Lawn! Dink rushes to the bookstore to meet his favorite author, Wallis Wallace, and get all his books signed. But the author never shows up! It’s up to Dink and his friends to track him down. |
alphabet mystery (Preschool- K)
Lower-case letters come to life in a fun adventure. Little x has left, upset he's hardly used, and the other letters set out to find him. They find x playing the castle xylophone for the mysterious Master, capital M, who threatens to turn them into alphabet soup! Some quick thinking by Little x saves the day, and soon they are all on their way home.
Encyclopedia Brown (1st-4th)
Do you remember this gem from your childhood?
Encyclopedia Brown is Idaville neighborhood’s ten-year-old star detective. With an uncanny knack for trivia, he solves mysteries for the neighborhood kids. With ten confounding mysteries in each book, not only does Encyclopedia have a chance to solve them, but the reader is given all the clues as well.
A-Z Mysteries (1st-4th)
A is for Author . . . A famous writer is coming to Green Lawn! Dink rushes to the bookstore to meet his favorite author, Wallis Wallace, and get all his books signed. But the author never shows up! It’s up to Dink and his friends to track him down.
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Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life (Middle School) In one month Jeremy Fink will turn thirteen. Jeremy's summer takes an unexpected turn when a mysterious wooden box arrives in the mail. According to the writing on the box, it holds the meaning of life! Jeremy is supposed to open it on his thirteenth birthday. The problem is, the keys are missing, and the box is made so that only the keys will open it without destroying what's inside. Lively characters, surprising twists, and thought-provoking ideas make this novel an unforgettable read. | Eight Keys (Family Read-Aloud) Elise and Franklin have always been best friends. Elise has always lived in the big house with her loving Uncle and Aunt, because Elise's parents died when she was too young to remember them. There's always been a barn behind the house with eight locked doors on the second floor. When Elise and Franklin start middle school, things feel all wrong. Bullying. Not fitting in. Franklin suddenly seems babyish. Then, soon after her 12th birthday, Elise receives a mysterious key left for her by her father. A key that unlocks one of the eight doors upstairs in the bar . . . | The Invention of Hugo Cabret (Audio choice) Orphan, clock keeper, and thief, Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity. But when his world suddenly interlocks with an eccentric, bookish girl and a bitter old man who runs a toy booth in the station, Hugo's undercover life, and his most precious secret, are put in jeopardy. A cryptic drawing, a treasured notebook, a stolen key, a mechanical man, and a hidden message from Hugo's dead father form the backbone of this intricate, tender, and spellbinding mystery. |
Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life (Middle School)
In one month Jeremy Fink will turn thirteen. Jeremy's summer takes an unexpected turn when a mysterious wooden box arrives in the mail. According to the writing on the box, it holds the meaning of life! Jeremy is supposed to open it on his thirteenth birthday. The problem is, the keys are missing, and the box is made so that only the keys will open it without destroying what's inside. Lively characters, surprising twists, and thought-provoking ideas make this novel an unforgettable read.
Eight Keys (Family Read-Aloud)
Elise and Franklin have always been best friends. Elise has always lived in the big house with her loving Uncle and Aunt, because Elise's parents died when she was too young to remember them. There's always been a barn behind the house with eight locked doors on the second floor.
When Elise and Franklin start middle school, things feel all wrong. Bullying. Not fitting in. Franklin suddenly seems babyish. Then, soon after her 12th birthday, Elise receives a mysterious key left for her by her father. A key that unlocks one of the eight doors upstairs in the bar . . .
When Elise and Franklin start middle school, things feel all wrong. Bullying. Not fitting in. Franklin suddenly seems babyish. Then, soon after her 12th birthday, Elise receives a mysterious key left for her by her father. A key that unlocks one of the eight doors upstairs in the bar . . .
The Invention of Hugo Cabret (Audio choice)
Orphan, clock keeper, and thief, Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity. But when his world suddenly interlocks with an eccentric, bookish girl and a bitter old man who runs a toy booth in the station, Hugo's undercover life, and his most precious secret, are put in jeopardy. A cryptic drawing, a treasured notebook, a stolen key, a mechanical man, and a hidden message from Hugo's dead father form the backbone of this intricate, tender, and spellbinding mystery.
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Animal Teeth!I am working on a mini unit with the preschool students; we have covered animal hair and now we read a book about animal teeth. Our youngest students made shark crafts with shark teeth! | 4th Grade Scary Stories The 4th grade students are writing scary stories. They are working on all steps of the writing process. I love watching their creativity unfold. | Fuzzy Mud! Fuzzy Mud is on the list of "Virginia Readers" for this year. The 3rd grade class had a chance to create their own "fuzzy mud." |
Animal Teeth!
I am working on a mini unit with the preschool students; we have covered animal hair and now we read a book about animal teeth. Our youngest students made shark crafts with shark teeth!
4th Grade Scary Stories
The 4th grade students are writing scary stories. They are working on all steps of the writing process. I love watching their creativity unfold.
Fuzzy Mud!
Fuzzy Mud is on the list of "Virginia Readers" for this year. The 3rd grade class had a chance to create their own "fuzzy mud."
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Fuzzy Mud! They loved this experiment. Each time the "mud" turned fuzzy and bubbly, the students were actually squealing with excitement. | Reading Outside The Fall weather is beautiful! When possible, I take small reading groups outside to read. Sometimes, Mrs. Schneider pops by to do mini vocabulary lessons! | Rainbow Thinking The 5th grade class completed a novel study on Holes with Mrs. Grunstra. . We did a rainbow-thinking activity with colorful post-it notes. Students provided textual evidence to support their answers. |
Fuzzy Mud!
They loved this experiment. Each time the "mud" turned fuzzy and bubbly, the students were actually squealing with excitement.
Reading Outside
The Fall weather is beautiful! When possible, I take small reading groups outside to read. Sometimes, Mrs. Schneider pops by to do mini vocabulary lessons!
Rainbow Thinking
The 5th grade class completed a novel study on Holes with Mrs. Grunstra. . We did a rainbow-thinking activity with colorful post-it notes. Students provided textual evidence to support their answers.
