MrsMbookclubs

2011-11-27T22:55:00.001-08:00

Hello Everyone!

I hope everyone is doing well! Natalie's school is doing a book donation for Children's Memorial (see attached flyer). Also, please see Heritage Grove website for more info http://www.psd202.org/HeritageGr/index.php.

Also, Little Scholars Academy, Inc. (my new preschool is doing well). I think all of the parents are settled in and are happy so far (for being a new preschool (35 students)).

Thanks everyone, and if you don't have any thing at this time you would like to donate that's OK too!

Have a great holiday if i don't talk to you soon!

Marcia

Natalie said Hi! 7th grade do you believe it!

update of new preschool and summer bookclub!

2011-05-18T05:48:00.000-07:00

Hello:

Well, end of school year is coming and that means summer bookclub! The new preschool is coming together nicely so far... We should be right on schedule to start-up! We have not decided on a book for summer bookclub, but the surrounding schools always suggest the Caudills! We shall see!

Talk soon!

Mrs. M!

update

2011-02-06T10:30:00.001-08:00

Hello Everyone:

Long time no talk - My Holidays were wonderful and safe. We survived the blizzard in Chicago and I don't think I have ever seen so much of it! To continue, I am starting my own preschool in the fall of 2011-2012. I am very excited and we, (my co-teacher and I) are getting anxious to complete the paperwork. Lot's of it!! We have come across some wonderful family, friends, teachers and parents that have been very beneficial and supportive in this process. I will let you all know how is proceeds as we come into the stretch. It will only be academic including tutoring kindergarten through 2nd grade! Also, I really love following the authors my daughter and I have enjoyed in the past and looking forward to read some of the new books published this year!

Talk soon,

Mrs. McKee

Thank you Mrs. Pearsall! We loved your book! We are "All Shook Up"

2010-08-03T22:09:00.000-07:00

update on All Shook Up Book Club

2010-07-25T08:01:00.000-07:00

We are just finishing book this week, but I have some pictures I will post on the blog. Before that I had a fundraiser for one of my 5 years old students (cancer), in June so I am a little backed-up with my blog.

On July 29th across specific movie theaters, one day only they are showing a movie about Elvis's life! The book club is going to try to get together and go see the movie. Until then, our last day with the book is July 20th and we are watching an Elvis movie. I have not picked one out yet but I am going to blockbuster tomorrow. Any suggestions?

On a personal note, the preschool I teach at has been acquired by new owners and we have been trying to enrich the current curriculum and get it up and running by the fall! A lot of work but we are excited.

Some of the activities for the book have been listening to Elvis music. One of the dad's from the reading group made each girl a CD of Elvis's greatest hits. We made poems, movie posters a plaque and we are still going to do the coffee mugs at Color Me Mine. Originally when we were going to do the coffee mugs, there was a storm that night in Chicago and no one could go. So we had to reschedule.

One of the questions I would ask the girls throughout the book was; Do you feel the same way Josh does as he deals with school his dad and friends. It seems as the book moved on, there was always an opportunity for the girls

to have some kind of connection. These girls are going to middle school and there were a lot of connections throughout the book.

I am overwhelmed with the author's response to the book club!

Thank you Shelley for the teacher's guide for myself and Michelle Kuhn at the elementary school to use for the fall book club! I will also be working with the middle school so I will also need the guide for there book club.

Truly Shelley, It was so exciting to hear from you and the girls will be excited that you sent an e-mail!

A signed book and bookmarks would also be an awesome contribution to the book club. We will try to call you so the girls can say hi and thank you! Talk soon! Mars. McKee

2010-06-09T05:55:00.000-07:00

Well, our first book club went well. Two of the students have been to Graceland! They knew a lot about Elvis already. In fact, one of our student's father is a huge Elvis fan. I have a poster that was given to me from the last concert Elvis has performed but I am still looking for it...I'll try the attic. Well next week we will be creating our "slogans" and decorating our coffee mugs. We brainstormed a little to come up with some slogans. Interesting.... still working on them. Talk soon.

Summer Book Club - All Shook Up

2010-05-31T07:33:00.000-07:00

Our summer book club this year will be All Shook Up, by Shelley Pearsall (Caudill). We are very excited. Also, there are exciting choices for teacher resources. We are definitely getting an Elvis impersonator. How fun is that! We may have to watch some old Elvis movie's too just to get the students to see who Elvis really was! What is your favorite Elvis movie?

Well, the book club starts on June 8th so watch for updates and pictures of our favorite journeys throughout our readings!

Talk soon,

Mrs. McKee

My daughter's book A Person Named Whoville

2010-04-03T09:26:00.000-07:00

My daughter's new book, A Person Named Whoville is about a boy who lives in Australia and wanted to build a house for his family. Along the way his mom get's mugged and they look for the mugger throughout the book. Also, Whoville comes up with this elaborate house that has a bowling alley, bouncy house and slides to name a few... I am so proud of her!

Mrs. McKee

Naked Mole Rat Letters Book Project

2010-02-09T12:17:00.001-08:00

Naked Mole Rat Letters

2010-02-06T06:20:00.000-08:00

Well,

My daughter just finished the Naked Mole Rat Letters and loved it! The book was about a young girl named Frankie who discovered through email a relationship her dad was developing with another woman, Ayana! Although Frankie's parents were divorced, she did not want her mom to be replaced. The relationship grows through email but takes interesting avenues through the emails.

Natalie will be going to middle school next fall so the choices for the upcoming summer session book club will be given from the school. We are excited to find out which books will be assigned!

Talk soon.

Mrs. M!

update on Frame and Glory in Freedom, Georgia

2009-12-29T06:52:00.000-08:00

Well, the book was fantastic and since the book surrounds a spelling bee we are planning on creating a "team" in the near future. Probably, second and third graders. This should be fun.

Talk soon,

Mrs. M.

Fall book club

2009-08-27T08:51:00.000-07:00

Our new book club this fall is the books written from the author Barbara O'Connor i.e. "How To Steal a Dog" and "Greetings From Nowhere". The students are excited and we will try to go through her whole series by the end of the year!

Talk soon!

Ending Tom Sawyer

2009-08-27T08:47:00.000-07:00

Well, we finished on August 18th and watched the movie, "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer". What a great movie. A least the kids understood the dialect after reading the book. Jodie Foster was Becky Thatcher. Overall, the kids love the activities along with the reading and had a wonderful experience venturing through a literary classic! What an accomplishment. Congratulations to all my book club kids!

Starved Rock Adventure

2009-07-30T06:46:00.000-07:00

Well, to continue, the book club went to Starved Rock to see a recess cave. Also, we played in a waterfall in St. Louis Canyon at Starved Rock. The kids had a blast! The last activity will be a treasure hunt in our backyard. Then we will watch the movie with Jodie Foster! Can't wait to see the students reactions and connections to the movie. Every year we wait to watch the movie after we read the book and the connections to the book are fascinating! The conversations during the movie are exciting and they get it!!!

Talk soon!

Marcia

potato sack races and built a mini wood raft

2009-07-14T21:10:00.000-07:00

As we continue The Adventures of Tom Sawyer we see Tom and Huck have run away because of what they saw at the graveyard and their adventures on the raft and on the island. Today at bookclub we built a raft out of sticks and string and had potato sack races! Fun for all!!

cemetery visit for the Adventures of Tom Sawyer

2009-07-08T11:58:00.000-07:00

Yippee!

We are half way done with The Adventures of Tom Sawyer book. Although, it is challenging for the students they seem to be grasping it and their exposure to a literary classic is a good thing!

We visited the Wheatland Township Cemetery on Tuesday and everyone had a ghoulish time! The girls' thought the head stones as old as 1800 were cool! It was creepy and peaceful at the same time. However, when I asked the students what their favorite part of the book was so far approximately half the students said the graveyard scene! Who would have thought.

Next week building a raft and potato sack races! Should be fun...

Mrs. M.

Tom Sawyer update...

2009-06-30T20:39:00.000-07:00

Well today we painted the fence (whitewashing). The weather was perfect for painting and the girls had a great time! The paint and tools were all ready for us (from the owner of the house, Stu), and I brought some drop cloths and other essentials. We got the job done and the fence looks great! Thanks to the girls for volunteering their time!

Found a fence to paint!!

2009-06-12T09:31:00.000-07:00

Well I found a fence in Plainfield, IL to whitewash (Paint). My daughter and I finally got enough courage to walk up to a door in historical Plainfield, IL and talk to the owner about his white picket fence that needed painting. He was very kind and volunteered the tools we needed to do the job! Of course the labor is volunteer work, but it seemed like I was supposed to go up to this house!

We are so excited!

2009-06-10T08:16:00.000-07:00

Well, The adventures of Tom Sawyer reading club is underway. We reviewed slavery and a brief synopsis on the Civil War. We made homemade butter and spread it on fresh bread! Yummy! We are still looking to volunteer and paint a fence! We contacted the Park District, State Representatives, Township and Food Pantry, still to no avail. I may have to go door to door. The ideal thing would be to find an elderly couple or individual to help them with the summer cleanup! Still searching... Each week the students are given a list of nine vocabulary words to look up and fill in the sentences provided. Good job so far!

Update next week....

Tom Sawyer summer book club

2009-04-26T21:20:00.000-07:00

Well, this year the summer book club will be "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. We are scheduling events and activities to go along with this story. This story will take us through many adventures and character building events. First, we are going to locate some family or community building in our local town that needs a fence painted ( i.e. Tom Sawyer whitewashing the fence). Also, the the students will have a great experience and be a volunteer at the same time! The group is excited. I will update as we go along to see where our experiences take us... Mrs. McKee

2009-04-09T11:13:00.001-07:00

Hello Ms. O'Connor:

Here is a picture of my 4th grade daughters town she built for her book report, "How To Steal A Dog"! She made a coffee house, Carmelia's house, Willy's dog house down the gravel road, Mookie, Luanne, car with details like beach towels hanging for privacy and milk crate, food and Toby. My daughter added a lot of detail as she wrote her story like; green shutters, brick on the house, moths on the light post and more. As a family we enjoyed her creativity and interest in the project, how enriching! In addition, many recycled materials were used throughout this project. From doll furniture to grass on the board donated by Meijer grocery stores in Plainfield, IL.

Thank you for writing the book!

Also, if you are ever in Plainfield, IL, please feel free to visit, Eagle Pointe Elementary. Our budget is low, but if are traveling through town, the reception you will get from the community and students is exceptional.

Very appreciative,

Mrs. McKee

Teacher

(Natalie's mom)

Bookclub for the summer

2009-04-08T17:24:00.000-07:00

We are going to decide on the book to read for the girls in May. Any suggestions? I think one of the classics of course like:

little Women, Mary Poppins, Little House on the Prairie, A Wrinkle in TIme Pride and Prejudice or Treasure Island?

How To Steal A Dog by Babara O'Connor

2009-04-08T05:45:00.001-07:00

Hello,

My daughter read "How To Steal A Dog" and built a town relating to the story for a book report. She is in fourth grade and she has had a fabulous time creating this story through construction.

I would like to forward a picture to Ms. O'Connor.

Mrs.Mbookclubs