- 4th Grade Goes to the Lonestar Storytelling Festival -

Image retrieved from lonestarstories.org

On Friday, October 14th, Sonntag 4th graders traveled to the Dr. Pepper Arena to listen to some amazing storytellers! They had a fantastic time! Who knows? Someday that next presenter could be one of Sonntag Elementary's own students! Check out a few pictures of the students from the program:

- Kate Klise's Visit to Sonntag -

On October 7th, author Kate Klise came to Sonntag to share her books, life, and her writing wisdom. Students in every grade level learned the tips in tricks to being a good writer. In addition, Kindergarten through 2nd grade classes even had a sneak peek at one of her new picture books that hasn't even been published yet! Check out some of the pictures from her visit:

- Links to Love - 

Want to learn more about Kate Klise? Click here!

Check out the earlier blog post to find out even more! Click here!

Don't you just love fables? I do! Many of the fables that we have come to love were a part of the collection called Aesop's Fables.* One of the fables I remember my mom telling me when I was a little kid was the story of the 'Boy Who Cried Wolf.' This fable stuck with me even as I became an educator and have used it to help my young students understand the importance of telling the truth. This fable can actually be found in our library:

The Boy Who Cried Wolf

Retold by B.G. Hennessy

 

A boy tending sheep on a lonely mountainside thinks it a fine joke to cry "wolf" and watch the people come running--and then one day a wolf is really there, but no one answers his call.

If you love the original tale then you will love Alex Latimer's twist on this story:

The Boy Who Cried Ninja

by Alex Latimer

 A young boy named Tim is accused of lying when he tells his parents that a ninja ate the last piece of cake and a sunburned crocodile landed on the roof, so he figures out a way to prove that he is telling the truth.

- Links to Love - 

Want to learn more about Alex Latimer? Click here!

*Want to learn more about Aesop's Fables? Click here!

Happy reading! :)

- Fall Into Some Great Displays! -

The library has added a great fall book display were students can pick out some great fall books to read! 

Check out our dry erase board! It is a great way for kids to learn and get excited about the fall Book Fair!

Click the image below  for more information about the fall Book Fair! Happy reading! :) 

The Book Fair is coming!! Click here to find out more information about the out of this world reading event! Happy reading! :) 

- Attention Sonntag 4th Graders! -

Image retrieved from http://www.lonestarstories.org

The Lone Star Storytelling Festival is on Friday, October 14th! It will be an awesome day of amazing storytelling! Who will be telling some unique stories at the festival? Check them out!

1. Gay Ducey

2. Bill Lepp - Click here to find out more!

3. Bill Harley - Click here to find out more!

4. Tim Tingle - Click here to find out more!

 * * * * * 

Links for teachers, parents, & the community: 

Event details: Click Here

FISD Study Trip Details: Click Here

How to Get Involved: Click Here

Overview of the Storytellers: Click Here

She sells she shells...Wait. I messed that up. Let me try this again. She sells she shells by the sheashore...Oh, bother!! Anyways, do you you love tongue twisters? I do...mostly. I have a book for you! Check it out...

Six Sheep Sip Thick Shakes and Other Tricky Tongue Twisters

by Brian P. Cleary

Colorful illustrations accompany silly tongue twisters.

The nifty part is that there is even a section of this book that teaches you how to make your own tongue twisters! 

Want to practice more zany tongue twisters? Click here! 

Want to know more about Brian P. Cleary? Click here!

Happy reading...wait...tongue twisting... :)

(August/September Edition)

What a wonderful time of year it is! New backpacks...falling leaves...and a new year in the library! So far this year the library has already been buzzing with excitement by the students, teachers, and parents! In addition, the library has already undergone a few changes to adapt to the eager readers. The library staff shifted shelves in order to make room for a 'Starred Series' section. This section allows students to easily access their favorite series at the point of need. Check out the new section: 

All of the popular series books were pulled from the easy/everybody and fiction sections and were placed on the shelves at the heart of the library. Each series was marked with a name label as well as a picture of one of the books in the series (for easy identification). This section has been a hit with the students!

Here is a perfect example of one of over 44 series sets that are housed in this new section! 

Number of Whole Class Visits: 

August: 32 (Only 1 1/2 weeks of school in August)

September: 92

Number of Total Items Circulated

(Checkouts & Returns)

August: 1,532

September: 5,905

Number of Items in Collection

August/September: 11,453 

Library Instruction/Programs/Community Outreach

Read a Kinder-specific story to new Kindergartners at Kinder Orientation

Greeted new families at Meet the Teacher Night

Hosted library orientation/checkouts for all grade levels

Kicked off the 2011-2012 Texas Bluebonnet Award Program with 3-5 grades

Kicked off the 2011-2012 2x2 Reading Program with Preschool-2nd grades

Presented a weekly Good Morning Sonntag Book Bits update
Open checkout every day for all Sonntag students

Promoted the love of reading through various library displays 

Created technology stations to promote author visit for 4th & 5th grades

Hosted Catherine Fowler to prepare 3rd grade for study trip to Frisco Heritage Museum 

Kicked off a new year of Preschool Storytime with Sonntag families

Administrative Activities

Prepared for Kate Klise author visit in October

Collected money and order forms for Kate Klise visit 

Attended book signing with Tom Angleberger at Barnes & Noble 

Purchased new library books and materials through Scholastic as well as Follett

Collaborated with Sonntag technology facilitator to create book trailers using Animoto 

Collaborated with Sonntag technology facilitator to create technology stations to promote Kate Klise author visit for 4th & 5th grades

Updated the Specials newsletter and library blog weekly

Created a new series section with the addition of star stickers on spines as well as series labels

Opened new parent accounts

Hosted new and returning library volunteers

Collaborated with first grade to get their blog up and running 

Professional Development Activities 

Attended campus professional development prior to the start of the school year

Attended Sonntag Campus Improvement Team meeting in September

Met with Specials team to discuss the needs of the students 

Collaborated with technology facilitators throughout the district at library meetings

Learned about the new Overdrive media software 

Learned about Frisco ISD and state policies through a series of online web portals

Attended a book fair workshop to learn about hosting book fairs at Sonntag

On the Horizon...

Author Kate Klise will visit Sonntag students on October 7th

Attend Lonestar Storytelling Festival with 4th grade on October 14th

Attend Plano/Richardson ISD Library Expo on October 21st

Scholastic Book Fair opens on October 31st and runs through November 4th

New books are on the way! 

- Do You Know the History of Frisco? - 

(Retired Frisco ISD Librarian Catherine Fowler does!)

Last week in the Sonntag Library, 3rd grade students had the distinct privilege of hearing about the history of Frisco, Texas from the Frisco ISD legend Catherine Fowler. In order to prepare for their study trip to the Frisco Heritage Museum Mrs. Fowler brought a wealth of knowledge and antiques to Sonntag for the 3rd graders to see and touch. The students learned about how the pioneers settled this community as well as how much Frisco, Texas has changed over the past 109 years. Check out some of the pictures from the presentation: 

* * * * * 

- Books to Love - 

Want to learn more? Check out these good reads in the Sonntag library:

Frisco: The First 100 Years

by Steve Quinn

Describes the history of the community of Frisco, Texas, through many voices of its past and present residents.

Reading, 'Riting, and 'Rithmetic: Early Schools of the Frisco, Texas Area

by The Heritage Association of Frisco, Inc. 

Describes the history of schools in the Frisco area from the late Nineteenth through the beginning of the Twenty-first Centuries.

* * * * * 

- Links to Love - 

Did you know that Fowler Middle School is named after Mrs. Fowler? Click here! 

Want to learn more about the Frisco Heritage Museum? Click here!

Happy reading! :)