Kwami Alexander Author Visit!!

Welcome back, Cockrell Community!!

A new school year means another great author is coming to Prosper!

Award-winning poet Kwami Alexander is coming to Prosper ISD on Monday, October 1st in honor of the Prosper ISD One District, One Read event. It will be a unique event will be a pep rally for poetry (more details will be released soon).

To prepare for the event, Prosper ISD is hosting a district-wide poetry contest. If you would like to participate, all entries are due to the Cockrell library no later than September 17th. To access a paper & electronic entry form (either are accepted), click the links below:

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Want to learn more about Kwami Alexander? Click here! 

Want to learn more about the One District, One Read event? Click here! 

Book of the Day by Mrs. Mattei!!

If you are looking for a great author, look no further than Kate Klise. This AMAZING author came to Sonntag a few years ago and shared her journey to authorship. Since it's been a few years, I thought that a new generation of Sonntag Readers would LOVE to dive into her books!! Check these out!! Happy reading! :o)

Want to check out books by Kate Klise? Head on over to the FICTION section! 

F KLI

Sonntag Library Stats: March/April 2015 Edition

Curious about what's been going on in the library during the months of March & April? Check out the stats below! Happy reading! :o)

Number of Whole Class Visits: 

March: 71

April: 99

Number of Total Items Circulated (Check-Outs & Check-Ins)

March: 4,637

April: 6,611

Number of Items in Collection

13,663

Library Instruction/Programs/Community Outreach 

Promoted and maintained the Coyote Reading Club reading program for all Sonntag Readers

Launched the first-ever 4th & 5th grade Library Crew (library helpers)

Celebrated Dr. Seuss's birthday through month-long Seuss read-alouds and stations in March

Conducted a month-long author study of Amy Krouse Rosenthal with all Sonntag Readers in April 

Hosted author Janet Tashjian & her illustrator son Jake for all Sonntag Readers!

Completed the 5th annual Six Flags Read to Succeed reading program

Planned & conducted research lessons and materials for 5th grade research 

Promoted the "Book Bucks for Great Behavior" program 

Supported classroom teachers by connecting them with MackinVia (online research tools)

Conducted weekly reader's advisory and read-alouds to students

Promoted the first Sonntag Little Free Library for staff & parents

Hosted Preschool Storytime with Sonntag's littlest readers! 

Promoted the 2014-2015 Texas Bluebonnet Award Program with 3-5 grades

Promoted the 2014-2015 2x2 Reading Program with Preschool-2nd grades

Presented a weekly Good Morning Sonntag Book Bits update

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

Hosted open checkout every day for all Sonntag students, parents, and staff  

Coordinated & hosted parent library volunteers

Administrative Activities 

Planned & hosted a variety of library lessons, library programs, & technology opportunities for all students 

Collaborated with Frisco Public Library to bring excitement for summer reading programs

Hosted Sonntag's first-ever 4th & 5th grade Library Crew (student library helpers)

Began planning for the first Scholastic BOGO Book Fair in May

Attended the monthly Sonntag PTA Board meeting as PTA Book Fair Chairperson

Participated and completed the varies duties and activities that are expected as the Texas Library Association District 5 Chair

Analyzed the FISD curriculum to provide teachers with digital content to support classroom needs 

Collaboratively planned with the campus Instructional Coach & Specials team 

Purchased & added new items to the library collection as well as weeding damaged books out of the collection

Collaborated with teachers to pull library materials for classroom lessons

Maintained a blog for staff to discuss Sonntag Staff Book Club books

Adjusted the library schedule to accommodate classes for various activities and testing

Contributed to Specials weekly newsletter

Updated library blog and Twitter (@matteibookbits) account frequently

Opened new parent accounts

Hosted new and returning library volunteers

Professional Development Activities 

Performed the duties as the Texas Library Association District 5 Chair

Attended campus and district library meetings

Read and kept up with new professional library journals & added new materials to future book orders

Read & kept up with professional, adult, young adult, and children's reads 

On the Horizon...

Books acquired from the fall & spring Scholastic Book Fair and Birthday Book Club purchases are on the way!

NEW: Scholastic Book Fairs BOGO event will be open for business from May 27-29

All student & parent books are due Friday, May 22nd 

- 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!

- Books of the WEEK by Mrs. Mattei - 

What a wonderful week in the Sonntag library! In order to get ready for the our visit from author Kate Klise on Friday, October 7th, the students of Sonntag listened to her books and explored her life as an author! The students also learned that she even collaborates with her illustrator sister M. Sarah Klise to create her amazing books. 

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Kindergarten & 1st grades talked all about their imaginary friends (even Mrs. Mattei had two of them when she was a little girl) and listened to Ms. Klise's amazing story Imagine Harry.

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2nd & 3rd grade not only learned about what life was like in the 1800's, they also learned about the incredible 8 foot tall woman named Ella Kate Ewing. Her story is a fantastic example of how it is great to be unique. It was so amazing to see how the kids picked up on the difficult circumstances that Ella Kate lived with each day. Their perspective on how we are supposed to treat others was truly inspiring. In Ms. Klise's book Stand Straight, Ella Kate: The True Story of a Real Giant the students learned about her larger-than-life journey and how she changed her community. 

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4th & 5th grades learned about the life of Kate Klise using the magic of technology. The students rotated through three different technology stations: a Kate Klise glog, a Kate Klise video (see below) on iTouches, as well as a QR code station also using iTouches! The students got such a kick out of learning through technology! Check out some of the pictures from the 4th & 5th grade activities:

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Check out the Kate Klise Animoto from Good Morning Sonntag!

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Want to see the awesome Kate Klise video? Check it out:

Happy reading, Peeps!!! :)

Have I got a treat for you!!! This week in second grade, we read the amazing Daniel Kirk book Library Mouse. We talked about how anyone can be a writer just like Sam the library mouse (who wrote amazing stories about himself and about many other ideas that came to his 'noodle')...all you have to do is put your pencil to paper and let your ideas flow onto the page.

Today in Good Morning Sonntag, I featured the new book Chloe's Great Blue Adventure. What's cool is that the book was written by the father of two amazing Sonntag students as well as a Sonntag 'Preschool Storytimer.'  What is even more amazing is that the names of many of the characters in the story are the names of his children! How cool is that? 

Mr. MacKinnon has always loved to tell his girls stories every night before bed and this book is one of many stories he has created for them. It is such a privilege to be able to have this book in our library! Thank you so much Mr. MacKinnon and family for sharing this book with the Sonntag family! Check out the pictures below! Happy reading! :)

Here is our Sonntag authors display! Students who write their own books are welcome to share it in the library. Our Book of the Day is in the middle. :)

Here is author Art Mackinnon and family sitting with his new book Chloe's Great Blue Adventure!

Here's Jaydon checking out the book for the first time! 

Guess who is coming to Sonntag on Friday, October 7th! 

Click here to find out!!!