Whenever you read a good book, do you wish that you could change the story to create a different ending? If you said 'yes' to this question then I have a perfect historical fiction series of books for you! The You Choose Interactive History Adventure series not only allows you to choose how the story progresses but also allows you to decide how the story ends. Check out a few of the titles that the Sonntag Library has. Happy reading! :) 

Presents an interactive history of the Battle of the Alamo in March 1836 from the perspective of both a Mexican soldier and a Texian rebel.

Describes the events surrounding the sinking of the ship "Titanic" in 1912, revealing the historical details from the perspectives of a first-class passenger, a third-class passenger, and a crew member.

An interactive, choose-your-own adventure depicting life during the Dust Bowl in the United States. Includes three story paths, fifty-three choices, and nineteen endings.

Describes the events of the nineteenth-century California gold rush, revealing historical details of how miners traveled, how they looked for gold, and their impact on California's history.

- The Sonntag Library is Going Mobile! - 

Extra! Extra! Read all about it...on your Smartphone! You can take the Sonntag Library with you anywhere you go using the official Sonntag Library app! Take a peek at this nifty Web 2.0 tool:

Want to get the first official Sonntag Elementary App? Scan the QR Code below. Once you have scanned the QR Code, save the website to your home screen and you are ready to roll!

Want to take a peek at the app on your computer? Click here! 

Happy reading!! :) 

 - Do you love writing crazy stories? 4th grade does! - 

4th grade has been reading the realistic fiction book Frindle by Andrew Clements.  In this book, 5th grader Nick Allen decides to change the name of a very important writing tool, the pen, to the made-up word known as the Frindle. You wouldn't believe the amount of chaos this causes in Nick's school! 

During the 4th graders' library time, the students had the opportunity to create their own stories using a free website that is similar to Mad Libs. Using the amazing website Wacky Web Tales and an iPad, the students used the parts of speech to create their own stories. The students not only had a blast creating these hilarious stories, they also had practice with grammar and tricky parts of speech. Check out a few of their creations!

- Links to Love - 

Want to learn more about author Andrew Clements? Click here!

Want to make your own Wacky Web Tale? Click here!

Have you ever been up for a midnight snack in the kitchen and wondered what happens in the refrigerator when you close the door? If you have then Fran Manushkin's book The Shivers in the Fridge is for you! This fantasy book tells the story of the Shivers family who live out their lives in the refrigerator. There are earthquakes, weird monsters, and even family members who disappear! Check this book out to find out what happens to this tiny family. Happy reading! :) 

The Shivers in the Fridge

by Fran Manushkin

One-by-one, the members of the Shivers family disappear from the inside of their chilly refrigerator home.

- Links to Love - 

Want to learn more about the author? Click here!

Want to read more books by this author? Click here!

- Six Flags Read to Succeed is Here! -

It's a fantastic reading program for Sonntag readers of all ages and grade levels!

Click here for more details! Happy reading! :) 

Word[le] up!?

Okay. So, maybe I was stretching on the title...just a little...

Anyways, in honor of the movie Hugo, 5th grade has been reading the AMAZING Brian Selznick's book The Invention of Hugo Cabret. 

The students love this epic novel! Last week I posed an important question to them: If you could have your very own automaton [like Hugo], what would you have it do? The students came up with a 'garden variety' of creative answers. After discussing the answers, the students had the opportunity to write down their ides:

Once the students finished adding their ideas, they were compiled into a nifty word cloud generator called Wordle. It's an amazing web tool! Check out the final product:

* * * * * 

- Links to Love -

Want to make your own Wordle? Click here!

Want to know more about Brian Selznick or The Invention of Hugo Cabret?

 Click here!

Want to learn more about the movie Hugo? Click here!

Happy reading! :) 

Do you love dogs? Do you love poetry? Then I have a book for you! This nonfiction book has photographs as well as carefully-written poems about the behavior and characteristics of 'Man's Best Friend!' The photographs are silly and young readers will love to read this book over and over! Happy reading! :)

Loose Leashes

By Amy Schmidt

Collects photographs and sixteen poems that explore the behavior and characteristics of dogs, and features the title selection, along with "I Will Not Go to the Groomer," "Learning to Swim," and others.

- Links to Love - 

Want to preview this book before you check it out? Check out this Google Books preview:

(December Edition)

Happy New Year, Y'all!! I hope you and your family had a wonderful break and a fantastic holiday! I had an awesome break but it is so great to be back and working with Sonntag students, family, and the community. :)

This New Years I decided to make a reading resolution. I plan to read 100 [or more] books by the end of 2012. If you would like to make this resolution, check out my post here. It is a simple and easy way for me to not only to read some great children's, teen's, and adult reads but it is also a great way for me to better serve the patrons of my campus. What's your New Year's resolution? 

      2012 Reading Challenge

          

      

       

     

           

       

      

     

 

        Mrs. has      

        

          

             read 9 books toward her goal of 100 books.                 

     

     

       

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        9 of 100 (9%)

     

      

       

   

          view books

       

Another exciting event for the Sonntag library is that I (Mrs. Mattei) won a grant from the Frisco Education Foundation! With this AMAZING grant, 4 iPod Touches will be added to the library for students to use for research as well as finding their next great read! 

Want to know more about this amazing foundation? Click here! 

Want to know more about other grant winners? Click here!

Want to learn more about Mrs. Mattei's grant? Click here! 

Check out the Sonntag library statistics for the month of December! Happy reading! :) 

Number of Whole Class Visits: 

55

Number of Total Items Circulated (Checkouts & Checkins)

3,275

Number of Items in Collection

11,548

Library Instruction/Programs/Community Outreach

Hosted UIL Spelling meeting with UIL Spelling compeditors

Promoted the 2011-2012 Texas Bluebonnet Award Programwith 3-5 grades

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

Presented a weekly Good Morning Sonntag Book Bits update

Maintained student writer & new items displays to promote reading interests 

Updated a daily Fact of the Day by Mrs. Mattei fact

Open checkout every day for all Sonntag students, parents, and staff

Weekly preschool storytimes with future Sonntag students and families 

Modified the library schedule (as needed) to accommodate classes who needed to check out books before Winter Break

Hosted the Sonntag Student Counsel meetings in the library

Hosted 4th grade students as library helpers 

Hosted parent library volunteers

Hosted staff luncheon in the library

Facilitated staff book club meeting

Administrative Activities

Contributed an article for the PTA newsletter

Collaborated with a 3rd and a 4th grade teacher to create leveled book browsing boxes for their classrooms
Helped administration relieve grade levels during lunch and recess duties

Attended and facilitated a booth at the Sonntag Science Night

Planned UIL Spelling meetings and activities

Met with Scholastic representative about the spring Book Fair

Contributed to Specials weekly newsletter

Purchased new library books and materials through Scholastic (using Book Fair profits)

Processed new library books acquired during Scholastic Book FairUpdated library blog weekly

Opened new parent accounts

Hosted new and returning library volunteers

Professional Development Activities 

Attended campus meetings and staff developments

Read and kept up with new professional library journals 

On the Horizon...

New books from the fall Scholastic Book Fair are on the way! 

UIL Spelling Team will be attending weekly practices in the library 

3rd Sonntag staff book club meeting in January & February

Spring Scholastic Book Fair will be open from February 13th through February 17th 

I hope you all had a fantastic break! I had a restful and exciting break but I am so happy to be back! 

Did anyone make a New Years resolution? I know they are often hard to keep (I know this FIRST hand) but this year I am going to make a tangible New Years resolution that will not only benefit me but it will [most importantly] benefit the readers at my school and beyond. I plan to read 100 books this year. Whew! That seems like a tall order! I was inspired by my former fearless leader Dr. Leigh Ann Jones who has also made this goal for herself. Check out her post here. 

I am so excited about this challenge! If you want to follow the books I read or see how far I am in my challenge, check out my GoodReads site here. If you have any suggestions please let me know! 

I hope you have a wonderful New Year! Happy reading! :)