Happy New [School] Year!!

Happy school year Cockrell Elementary Community!! 

Thank you so much for stopping by the Cockrell Library blog. I hope that you are as excited as I am to jump into the 2017-2018 school year. Please add this blog to your bookmarks so you can keep up with all the happenings in the Cockrell Elementary Library. 

If you want to stay connected, please click the links on the right to follow Mrs. Mattei and the Cockrell Library at any time!

It's going to be a great year! 

Look What's Happening @ the GSE Library

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

Book of the Day by Mrs. Mattei!!

This week's series will bring you a TON of holiday cheer!! If you like silly, festive, and mysterious reads, you will love Scott Sonneborn's The North Police series!! I hope you love it as much as I did!! Happy holidays!! Happy reading!! 

Want to check this series out? Head on over to E SON in the library! 

Book of the Day by Mrs. Mattei!

Welcome back, Sonntag Readers!!! It's been too long since we last met and I am so excited to share an amazing read that will tug at your heart strings since it's the LAST book in a very long series. If you are an Elephant and Piggie fans, The Thank You Book is the final book in Mo Willem's amazing series. Please check it out...with a tissue... 

Happy reading! :)

Piggie is determined to thank everyone she knows, but Gerald thinks she will forget someone important.

Want to learn more about this amazing author and series? Click here!

Want to check it out? Head on over to E WIL in the library! 

Spring Scholastic Book Fair is Coming!

Mark your calendars, Sonntag Community! The spring Scholastic Book Fair is right around the corner. The Fair will open in the library on Monday, February 9th and will run through Friday, February 13th. Please click the CRAB below to find out more about regular shopping hours, shopping during Sonntag Science Night, and the Online Fair. More information will be sent home with your student(s) in the coming weeks We hope to see you there! 

Click the starfish to check out the Online Fair for Sonntag!

Library Stats: October Edition

October not only brought cooler weather but it was also an action-packed month! From the fall Scholastic Book Fair and the Texas Library Association's annual Library Snapshot Day to our weekly Preschool Storytimes for future Sonntag students, our students, staff, and parents "fell" into great books all month! Check out the library stats below to find out more about what happened in the library for October! Happy reading! :)

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The Sonntag Library participated in the Texas Library Association's annual Library Snapshot Day. This is a designated day in the month of October that allows a library to take a "snapshot" in the day in their life in order to promote libraries across the great state of Texas. The Sonntag Library participated back in 2012. Check out what happened in the 2014 snapshot! 

Number of Student/Parent/Teacher Visits: 197

Number of Computer Users (Check-ins/Checkouts/Computer searches): 9

Reference Questions: 38

Circulation Stats (Number of Check-ins & Checkouts): 492

Hits to Sonntag Library Blog: 42

Number of children (ages 0-12) participating in library programs: 197

Number of adults participating in library programs: 9

Number of students served by direct librarian instruction: 145

Number of teachers supported activities & collaborative efforts: 5

Number of student participating in non-class related activities: 0

Programs held on Snapshot Day: Open check-out for students, hosted parent library volunteers, 7 whole classes visited the library for check-out, supported teachers by providing advice and library materials for classroom curricula 

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Number of Whole Class Visits: 

114

Number of Total Items Circulated (Checkouts & Checkins)

5,781

Number of Items in Collection

13,313

Library Instruction/Programs/Community Outreach 

Planned & hosted the fall Scholastic Book Fair

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

Promoted the "Book Bucks for Great Behavior" program & gave away FREE books to students whose names were drawn

Taught 2nd, 4th & 5th graders how to use MackinVia (online research tools)

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

Participated in the 2014 Texas Library Association's Library Snapshot Day on October 20th

Promoted the first Sonntag Little Free Library for staff & parents

Wrapped up International Dot Day activities with K-2 students

Hosted Preschool Storytime with Sonntag's lil readers! 

Promoted the 2013-2014 Texas Bluebonnet Award Program with 3-5 grades

Promoted the 2013-2014 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

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 

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

Attended and helped run the Texas Library Association District 5 Fall Meeting & Conference as Chair-Elect 

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

Planned and hosted for the fall Scholastic Book Fair

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 book club books

Adjusted the library schedule to accommodate classes for various activities 

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 

Attended the Plano ISD Library Expo

Performed the duties as the Texas Library Association District 5 Chair-elect 

Attended and helped run the Texas Library Association District 5 Fall Meeting & Conference as Chair-Elect 

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 Scholastic Book Fair on on the way!

The librarian and Sonntag Technology Facilitator will be collaborating with the Kindergarten students and teachers for Turkey & Thanksgiving research

The librarian will be supporting 4th grade research by reviewing how to use the databases with the 4th grade students before they research fall happenings

Introducing the Coyote Reading Club!!!!

(Front)

(Back)

The reading log for the month of September is due on Friday, September 26th. You can turn your completed logs in to your teacher or to the library. Happy reading!! :o)

Battle of the Books 2K14! The Results Are In!!!

The Sonntag Readers have voted and the results are in!!!!*

Many congratulations go out to Smile by Raina Tegemeier for winning Sonntag's first annual Battle of the Books!! Smile received 57% of student votes. Thank you to all who participated. It will be amazing to see which books make the cut next year!

Click the video and links below to find out more information about this amazing graphic novel. 

Want to learn more about Smile or author Raina Telgemeier? Click here!

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*Purefoy Elementary School students also cast their votes at their campus and their final two books were also Wonder by R.J. Palacio and Smile. Click here to find out which book won on their campus! 

Summer Reading Programs 2K14!!!

It's that time of year again!!! Summer is around the corner and it is a FANTASTIC time to make your summer reading list. Mine is a mile long!!  Even though the Sonntag Library is no longer loaning books for rest of the school year, there are a TON of wonderful reading programs out there that are designed for students of all ages. Please click the links below to find out more information about local summer reading programs near you. Happy summer reading! :)

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Stop by the Sonntag library any time before school ends to pick up your summer reading log. Logs will also be sent home with students during Sonntag Celebrates Children's Book week. If you read 10 books this summer, add the titles of the books to your log. Don't forget to return your completed log to the library in August. Students who turn in a completed log will receive a brand new book! Click on the images below to print off a copy of the reading log from home. Make sure you print both pages. :)

(Page 1)

(Page 2)

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Don't forget to send Mrs. Mattei your picture with any Summer Reading Bucket List idea below! Participants will receive a free book in the fall!

(Image and ideas retrieved from http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/2013/05/summer-reading-bucket-list.html)

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Want to get your hands on great eBooks and audiobooks? Check out Overdrive! Click the image below:

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Want to join in on some great book conversations with other students throughout the summer? Check out the Love Your Library blog hosted by the librarians of Frisco ISD. Please be sure to read the comment policies on the left side of the blog before you add your comments. 

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(Image retrieved from www.friscolibrary.com)

Want to find out more about The Mayor's Summer Reading Challenge or other amazing programs at the Frisco Public Library? Click the link below:

www.friscolibrary.com/summer

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Check out the following links to see what's happening at the McKinney Public Library this summer!

(Hall Memorial Library)

(John and Judy Gay Library)

McKinney Public Library Main Page: Click here! 

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Want to learn more about the summer reading programs at your local Barnes & Noble as well as print off a summer reading log? Click here!

Battle of the Books 2K14!!!

The Sonntag Readers have voted again! Play the video below to find out which books made the cut in round 3 of the Battle of the Books. Click the link below for the GoogleForm and Sonntag Readers will be able to cast their votes for this week's winners. Check back next Friday, May 30th to see which book won the first annual Battle of the Books! Happy reading!!

Click here for the GoogleForm to vote in Round 4!!!

Battle of the Books 2K14!!!

The Sonntag Readers have voted again! Play the video below to find out which books made the cut in round 2 of the Battle of the Books. On Monday, the round 3 GoogleForm will open and Sonntag Readers will be able to cast their votes for this week's winners. Check back next Friday to see which books will be moving on to Round 4: the FINAL round! Happy reading!! :)

Battle of the Books 2K14!!!

The Sonntag Readers have voted! Play the video below to find out which books made the cut in round 1 of the Battle of the Books. On Monday, the round 2 GoogleForm will open and Sonntag Readers will be able to cast their votes for this week's winners. Check back next Friday to see which books will be moving on to Round 3. Happy reading!! :)

Library Stats: March/April Edition

(March/April Edition)

It's been an awesome 2 months in the Sonntag library. The library has been BUZZING with activity. Check out the happenings below to find out more about what's been going on in the library. Happy reading! :)

Number of Whole Class Visits: 

216

Number of Total Items Circulated (Checkouts & Checkins)

14,467

Number of Items in Collection

13,292

Library Instruction/Programs/Community Outreach 

Finalized the 4th Annual Six Flags Read to Succeed tickets 

Hosted author/illustrator Melissa Sweet for the entire school!

Adapted the library calendar to accommodate more classes prior to STAAR testing

Hosted Preschool Storytime with Sonntag's lil readers! 

Promoted the 2013-2014 Texas Bluebonnet Award Program with 3-5 grades

Promoted the 2013-2014 2x2 Reading Program with Preschool-2nd grades

Presented a weekly Good Morning Sonntag Book Bits update

Updated the Where in the World Do You Read? board

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

Planned weekly preschool storytimes with future Sonntag students and families  

Coordinated parent library volunteers

Administrative Activities 

Assisted and administered the STAAR test to 4th & 5th grades

Helped the Specials team host the school spirit night at Rosa's Cafe

Creating QR codes for books in the library to allow students to connect with their next books

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 book club books

Adjusted the library schedule to accommodate classes for various activities 

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 

Attended the Texas Library Association Conference in San Antonio, Texas & collaborated with librarians around the state to help make our library even better! 

Planned for summer professional development courses within and out of FISD

Attended campus and district library meetings

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

On the Horizon...

Plans are in the works for the 4th Annual Sonntag Book Return in May (All student/parent books are due on May 23rd)

The 4th Annual Texas Bluebonnet Award & 2x2 Showcase on the blog is coming soon!! 

Information regarding summer reading programs from the Sonntag & Frisco/McKinney libraries will be posted soon

4th Annual Six Flags Read to Succeed tickets will arrive in May

Books purchased at the spring Scholastic Book Fair are on the way

Battle of the Books 2K14!!!

Are you ready for a battle of LITERARY proportions????? The Sonntag Library is hosting it's first annual 'Battle of the Books' to wrap up another amazing year! Each week the students will vote on the most popular books for this school year starting with the top 16. The students will cast their votes using GoogleForms and will be able vote as many times as they would like. Each week I will announce the winners. Check out the top 16 books for this week then check back next week for the winners and the next bracket. Happy reading!

Melissa Sweet Author Visit!!!

Sonntag Elementary had the privilege of hosting award winning author/illustrator Melissa Sweet in the library! The entire school was THRILLED to listen to Mrs. Sweet as she told us the background of her amazing  book Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade as well as Little Red Writing! Check out some pictures from her visit as well as links to find out more about Ms. Sweet and her books. Happy reading! :)

Check out her books here! 

Want to learn more about author/illustrator Melissa Sweet? Click here! 

Want to take a sneak peek of Balloons over Broadway? See below.