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manhattan beach unified school district
Heidi snively - library RESOURCE specialist
310/546-8022 x5404
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Read-alouds and Presentations Week to Week by Grade Level

5/24/2021

 

Week of May 24, 2021 | TK and Kindergarten | Vacation Plans

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Memoirs of a Goldfish, by Devin Scillian
A goldfish gives a personal account of his experiences while swimming around his bowl as it slowly fills with fish and accessories.
Henny, Penny, Lenny, Denny, and Mike, by Cynthia Rylant
Life in a fishbowl might sound humdrum, but these five fab goldfish friends have it good, until one day one of the friends gets stuck and a special rescue comes from an unexpected source. Presented by Terri Lanoie.
Goldfish on Vacation, by Sally Lloyd-Jones
Three goldfish live in a small bowl, in an apartment building, in the middle of a big city, until one summer they get to go on vacation--in a fountain, with lily pads, and reeds, and other neighborhood goldfish. Based on true events in New York City.
The real Hamilton Fountain in New York City Named after Robert Ray Hamilton (1850-1890), the great-grandson of Alexander Hamilton. He gave the fountain as a place for city horses to have a drink. Located at Riverside Drive and 76th Street.
Crafty Connection Step-by-step video demonstration of how to draw a goldfish in a bowl

Week of May 24, 2021 | First Grade | Adventure in China

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The Story about Ping, by Marjorie Flack
A little duck finds adventure on the Yangtze River when he is too late to return to his master's houseboat one evening.
Video Fishing in China with cormorants
Crafty Connection Activity Step-by-step directions to fold an origami boat

Week of May 24, 2021 | Second Grade | Summer Reading

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Legend of Spud Murphy, by Eoin Colfer
When their mother drops them off at the library several afternoons a week, nine-year-old William and his brother dread the overbearing librarian, but are surprised at what they discover. Chapter 3 of 5.
Crafty Connection Step-by-step directions to make a simple owl scene using potato stamps and directions for a more complicated potato stamp art project. Both require adult supervision.

Week of May 24, 2021 | Third Grade | When Things Don't Go Right

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My Brother Louis Measures Worms and Other Louis Stories, by Barbara Robinson
Mary Elizabeth relates the humorous misadventures of her brother Louis in this collection of short stories featuring two very responsible children who somehow find themselves at the center of chaos.
​This week part 2 of 2: Louis at the Wheel.
The Rabbit Listened, by Cori Doerrfeld

When a child's block castle is destroyed, all the animals think they know just what to do, but the rabbit knows what the boy needs is someone to just listen.

Week of May 24, 2021 | Fourth Grade
Celebrating Memorial Day by Paying Kindness Forward

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Tucky Jo and Little Heart, by Patricia Polacco
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A fifteen-year-old soldier in World War II meets a sweet young girl in the Philippines who helps him remember what he is fighting for as he helps her and others of her village avoid starvation. Many years later she returns his kindness. Part 2 of 2.
Ordinary Mary's Extraordinary Day, by Emily Pearson
A child's good deed is multiplied as it is passed on by those who have been touched by the kindness of others.

Week of May 24, 2021 | Fifth Grade | Summer Reading Teaser

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Video A Tale Dark and Grimm book trailer
A Tale Dark and Grimm, by Adam Gidwitz
Hansel and Gretel walk out of their own story and into eight other classic Grimm-inspired tales as the siblings learn to take charge of their destinies and become the clever architects of their own happily ever after.
Video Hansel and Gretel are famous for eating a candy house. Candy is not gross, and, therefore, not awesome. But what if they ate a house of bugs? Ewww! Now THAT'S gross! The Case for Eating Bugs​

Read-alouds and Presentations Week to Week by Grade Level

5/17/2021

 

Week of May 17, 2021 | TK | Insects 

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Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boy, by David Soman and Jacky Davis
Lulu and Sam know how to include some new friends when they play Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boy, saving the playground from hairy monsters and big mean robots.
Video A simple way to tell insects apart: look at their mouths
Video Step-by-step instructions to make a paper ladybug 

​Week of May 17, 2021 | Kindergarten | Insects, Nature's Composters

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Manhattan Beach Botanical Garden
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Big Bug, by Henry Cole
Beginning with a bug, various objects are revealed using perspective as being big and small in comparison with other objects on a farm. Perspective, or point of view, is also used to describe one's opinion. What is your opinion of the conclusion of Henry Cole's next story?
On Meadowview Street, by Henry Cole
Upon moving to a new house, young Caroline and her parents encourage wildflowers to grow and birds and animals to stay in their yard, which soon has the whole suburban street living up to its name.
Video The soil food web explained using claymation
Crafty Connection Make a bug out of clay, pipe cleaners, and items from around the house
Explore More Find out about the Manhattan Beach Botanical Garden

Week of May 17, 2021 | First Grade | A World of Worms

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Worm Gets a Job, by Kathy Caple
Worm attempts various jobs for his animal friends so that he can buy painting supplies and enter the art contest.
I Can Only Draw Worms, by Will Mabbitt
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Teaches the reader to count to ten using worms that have great adventures or everyday experiences, described but not illustrated due to the author/illustrator's inability to draw anything but worms.
Video Time lapse silkworms
Crafty Connection Students draw segmented worms onto a bookmark, or create worms from clay

Week of May 17, 2021 | Second Grade
Boredom Buster: Summer Reading at Your Library

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Legend of Spud Murphy, by Eoin Colfer
When their mother drops them off at the library several afternoons a week, nine-year-old William and his brother dread the overbearing librarian, but are surprised at what they discover. Chapter 1 and 2 of 5.
I'm Bored, by Michael Ian Black
When a bored girl meets a potato who finds children tedius, she tries to prove him wrong by demonstrating all of the things they can do, from turning cartwheels to using their imaginations.
Video Click here for a read-aloud by the author, and a drawing demo from the illustrator.

Video Click here for Found Object Doodles by Debbie Ridpath Ohi (who probably is never bored!)
Crafty Connection Children draw and cut out a potato bookmark from brown paper.

Week of May 17, 2021 | Third Grade | Responsibility

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Nanette's Baguette, by Mo Willems
Complications ensue when a young frog's mother gives her the responsibility of buying the family baguette.
Video Click here to see and hear the book read aloud by Jeff Paulsen

Video Click here to see Mo Willems stage the scenery for Nanette's Baguette.
Crafty Connection Create a paper village of your own, inspired by buildings from your town.
My Brother Louis Measures Worms and Other Louis Stories, by Barbara Robinson
Mary Elizabeth relates the humorous misadventures of her brother Louis in this collection of short stories featuring two very responsible children who somehow find themselves at the center of chaos.
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This week part 1 of 2: Louis at the Wheel.

Week of May 17, 2021 | Fourth Grade | Memorial Day

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Banaue rice terraces in Luzon
Tucky Jo and Little Heart, by Patricia Polacco
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A fifteen-year-old soldier in World War II meets a sweet young girl in the Philippines who helps him remember what he is fighting for as he helps her and others of her village avoid starvation. Many years later she returns his kindness. Part 1 of 2.
Background The Republic of the Philippines is an archipelagic country in Southeast Asia made up of more than 7,000 islands that are categorized under three main geographical divisions from north to south: Luzon, Visaya, and Mindanao.

Week of May 17, 2021 | Fifth Grade | Summer Reading Teaser

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​Video A Tale Dark and Grimm book trailer
A Tale Dark and Grimm, by Adam Gidwitz
Hansel and Gretel walk out of their own story and into eight other classic Grimm-inspired tales as the siblings learn to take charge of their destinies and become the clever architects of their own happily ever after.
Video A Tale Dark and Grimm may be awesome and a little gross... but what if I told you that you have mites living on...your FACE?! Ewww! Now THAT'S gross! 

Read-alouds and Presentations Week to Week by Grade Level

3/22/2021

 

Week of March 22, 2021 | All Grades | Readathon Begins!

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Shop with code GVREADS and {pages} will donate to GV!
Raising funds for Our School Library March 22 -- April 1
The Grand View PTA is a strong supporter of the school library program and has chosen it to be the beneficiary of the first time ever Grand View Readathon! Find out more

Week of March 22, 2021 | All Grades  
CYRM Picture Books Conclude | Students Vote Online

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California Young Reader Medal Find out about the CYRM program.
Madeline Finn and the Library Dog, by Lisa Papp | Nominee 5 of 5
A warm, encouraging story of a young girl who is learning to read, and the special library dog who helps instill patience, acceptance, and confidence.
Video Madeline Finn and the Library Dog presented by author/illustrator Lisa Papp
A warm, encouraging story of a young girl who is learning to read, and the special library dog who helps instill patience, acceptance, and confidence.
Cultural Representation Reflection TeachingBooks.net One strategy to help students discover a broader understanding of an inclusive society is for them to see what they might not have noticed before. Through reflection, readers think about the cultural representation of characters, setting, and events in the books they read. Then they can compare, contrast, and develop a connection to their own culture while taking a deeper look at the representation of others. Sample reflection from TeachingBooks.net.
Review and Vote Students are encouraged to review the four previously presented CYRM Picture Book nominees and then vote online for their favorite. Voting closes at 8:00 p.m. on March 31.

Week of March 22, 2021 | Fourth and Fifth Grade
Vote Online for CYRM Picture Book for Older Readers

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Online Ballot for Picture Book for Older Readers Students in fourth and fifth grade vote online for their favorite by 8:00 p.m. on March 31. Review the stories, if needed.
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California Young Reader Medal Find out about the CYRM program.

Week of March 22, 2021 | Fourth and Fifth Grade
Vote Online for CYRM Intermediate Novels | Optional

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Online Ballot for Intermediate Novel | Optional Students in 4th and 5th grade vote online for their favorite by 8:00 p.m. on March 31.
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California Young Reader Medal Find out about the CYRM program.

Read-alouds and Presentations Week to Week by Grade Level

3/15/2021

 

Week of March 15, 2021 | All Grades | Introducing the Readathon

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Raising funds for Our School Library
​March 22 -- April 1

The Grand View PTA is a strong supporter of the school library program and has chosen it to be the beneficiary of the first time ever Grand View Readathon! Find out more

Week of March 15, 2021 | TK-Third Grade
CYRM Picture Books Continue

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California Young Reader Medal Find out about the CYRM program.
After the Fall, by Dan Santat | Nominee 4 of 5
The traditional Humpty Dumpty story takes on fresh meaning in the hands of author/illustrator Dan Santat, who spotlights fear, perseverance, determination, and a growth mindset. He himself grew immensely as an illustrator after meeting author/illustrator David Shannon. Dan Santat has said this book is a love letter to his wife, who overcame anxiety and depression. See if you can spot her name scrawled on the wall.
Video After the Fall, presented by ABC Read to Me
Video Dan Santat explains how meeting David Shannon influenced his work.
Crafty Connection Fold and fly a paper airplane. Try this design or invent your own. With thanks to Cruz for the activity suggestion!

Week of March 15, 2021 | 4th/5th Gr. | CYRM Picture Books Begin!

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California Young Reader Medal Find out about the CYRM program.
Poor Louie, by Tony Fucile | Nominee 1 of 5
Louie has the life every chihuahua dreams of, but when the pending arrival of a new baby upsets the balance of the family, Louie starts to wonder if there's still room for him.
Sounding Out Words We Don't Know Pronounce the author's last name. Give it a try! Few-sigh-el? Foo-seal? Then click here to listen to the surprising way the author's family says it.
Video Poor Louie presented by GeorgetownCountyLibrary.
Creative Connection If you don't know already, find out how your name was chosen and turn it into a story, real or imagined. Illustrate it simply, or in great detail. Now tuck that story away in your baby book. I promise you will treasure it when you come upon it when you are older.
Game Tired of your name? Want to be someone else? Visit babynames.com to see what your new name could be.
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Alfie, by Thyra Heder | Nominee 2 of 5
Told for the perspective of the girl, Nia, and then the turtle, Alfie, this story describes what happens when Alfie disappears on the eve of Nia's birthday to find her a special present.

Sounding Out Words We Don't Know Pronounce the author's first and last name. Give it a try! Thigh-rah Head-er? Then click here to listen to the surprising way it is pronounced.
Video Alfie presented by Sankofa Read Aloud
Discussion We don't always realize the impact we have on another's life. Discussion prompts.
Story Extender An interview with the author.
Crafty Connection Step-by-step directions to paint a pet turtle on rocks.
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After the Fall, by Dan Santat | Nominee 3 of 5
The traditional Humpty Dumpty story takes on fresh meaning in the hands of author/illustrator Dan Santat, who spotlights fear, perseverance, determination, and a growth mindset. He himself grew immensely as an illustrator after meeting author/illustrator David Shannon. Dan Santat has said this book is a love letter to his wife, who overcame anxiety and depression. See if you can spot her name scrawled on the wall.
Video After the Fall, presented by ABC Read to Me
Video Dan Santat explains how meeting David Shannon impacted his work.
Video Dan Santat explains why After the Fall is a love letter to his wife.
Crafty Connection Fold and fly a paper airplane. Try this design or invent your own.

Week of March 15, 2021 | Fourth and Fifth Grade
Vote Online CYRM Picture Book for Older Readers

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Online Ballot for Picture Book for Older Readers Students in fourth and fifth grade vote online for their favorite by 8:00 p.m. on March 31. Click the cover images to hear the stories again, if needed.
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California Young Reader Medal Find out about the CYRM program.

Week of March 15, 2021 | Fourth and Fifth Grade
Vote Online CYRM Intermediate Novels | Optional

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Online Ballot for Intermediate Novel - Optional Students in 4th and 5th grade vote online for their favorite by 8:00 p.m. on March 31.
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California Young Reader Medal Find out about the CYRM program.

Read-alouds and Presentations Week to Week by Grade Level

11/30/2020

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Week of November 30, 2020 - TK - Bundle Up in Winter

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Video Segment Animal Behavior (Owl Cam)
Discovery Education Streaming Video (password protected)

Little Owl's Orange Scarf, by Tatyana Feeney
Little Owl does not like his new orange scarf! Can he and his mom come up with a solution on how he can stay warm?
Owl Babies, by Martin Waddell
Three baby owls worry when they awaken one night to find their mother gone.
Video Owl Babies picture book animation

Crafty Connection Look closely at Little Owl. Do you see how the strokes used in the illustration could be the shapes of letters? Draw Little Owl and his scarf on bookmark-sized paper.

Week of November 30, 2020 - Kindergarten - Winter Playtime

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Snow Dance, by Lezlie Evans
Two sisters perform a dance to make it snow and when it snows all through the night they bundle up and head outside for a busy day of angel making, snowball fights, and sledding.
Snowmen at Night, by Caralyn Buehner
After nighttime falls and everyone is asleep in their beds, a group of fun-loving snowmen jump into action and have their own bit of fun while no one is around to see.
Recess at 20 Below, by Cindy Lou Aillaud
How cold does it have to be before Alaskan kids stay inside for recess? For many schools, if it is colder than 20 below zero, they stay indoors; otherwise, it's outside for frosty fun! ​​Compare and contrast with Grand View Kindergarten playground (center field at far right).
Live Video The Manhattan Beach Pier

Video Putting on Snow Clothes First graders show how quickly they can put on their snow clothes all by themselves. Get out several layers of outerwear and see how fast you can put the items on!
Crafty Connection Snowmen coloring sheet

Week of November 30, 2020 - First Grade - Winter Weather

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Live Video The Manhattan Beach Pier
The Blizzard of 1978
New England was hit by a nor'easter with hurricane-force winds approximately 86 mph with gusts up to 111 mph. A typical nor'easter brings steady snow for six to twelve hours, the Blizzard of '78 brought heavy snow for a full 33 hours. 
Blizzard, by John Rocco
Video Hear the story read by author/illustrator John Rocco
After a massive blizzard, a boy becomes a hero when he manages to walk to the local store and bring supplies back to his neighborhood which has been snowed in for days. Based on the author's childhood experience. Compare and contrast this experience with a typical Southern California winter.
Crafty Connections Enjoy this snowmen coloring sheet or make a simple snow globe 

Week of November 30, 2020 
Second Grade - Winter Weather and Winter Fun

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What Do Bees Do in Winter? Find out at Wonderopolis.org
Winter Bees & Other Poems of the Cold,
 by Joyce Sidman
Bees, moose, beavers, snakes, and more... 
discover how animals stay alive in the wintertime and learn about their secret lives happening under the snow.
Ant and Honey Bee, a Pair of Friends in Winter, by Megan McDonald
Brrrr! The leaves are off the trees, and frost is on the ground. It's time for bugs to hunker down and hide out for the winter. But Ant isn't ready to hunker down. Will Honey Bee welcome an interruption of her peace and quiet? (Chapter 1 of 3)
Lemonade in Winter, a Book About Kids Counting Money, by Emily Jenkins
Video Hear the story read by Storytime Bunnies
Despite snow on the ground, icicles on window sills, and discouraging words from their parents, Pauline and her little brother, John-John, decide to open a lemonade stand.
Connection What do you do differently when the weather turns colder?

Video Extremely Epic Blanket Fort
Fun Stuff Honey Bears Coloring Sheet and Busy as a Bee Activity Sheet ​

Week of November 30, 2020 - Third Grade
​Narrative Nonfiction - The Life and Work of Jane Goodall

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Me...Jane, by Patrick McDonnell
Video Hear the story read by Jane Goodall
Little Jane loves her stuffed animal, a chimpanzee named Jubilee, and carries him everywhere she goes. Mainly, they go outdoors, where they watch birds building their nests and squirrels chasing each other. Jane reads about animals in books and keeps a notebook of sketches, information, and puzzles. Feeling her kinship with all of nature, she often climbs her favorite tree and reads about another Jane, Tarzan's Jane. She dreams that one day she, too, will live in the African jungle and help the animals. And one day, she does. 
The Watcher: Jane Goodall's Life with the Chimps, by Jeannette Winter
Video Hear the story read by Elizabeth DeVries
Goodall's passionate love of nature began in early childhood. As an adult, she moved to Tanzania, making the study and protection of the chimpanzees in the Gombe forest a focus of international fascination.
Video Learn more about the life and work of Jane Goodall (running time about 13 min.)

Week of November 30, 2020 - Fourth Grade
Narrative Nonfiction and Growth Mindset

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The Marvelous Thing that Came from a Spring, by Gilbert Ford
The toy was conceived during WWII, when an engineer noticed a spring he'd been working on could "walk" from a shelf. It gained momentum as a pop culture icon when his wife named the toy and marketed it.
Video Hear the story read by Kendra Helsel.The close up page views allow readers to notice the detailed illustrations featuring engineering tools and classic toys, such as using a twisted pipe cleaner to represent steam from a coffee cup!
Video Slinky television commercial 1962
Video Human Slinky
Crafty Connection Make a paper slinky

Week of November 30, 2020 - Fifth Grade
Narrative Nonfiction and Singularity of Purpose and Gratitude

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Snow Flake Bentley, by Jacqueline Briggs Martin
For almost half a century, Wilson Bentley caught and photographed thousands of snowflakes in his workshop at Jericho, Vermont, and made available to scientists and art instructors samples of his remarkable work. His singularity of purpose and passion is astonishing.
Video Hear the story read by Dana Kilgore

Video The Snowflake Man: a short film about Snowflake Bentley
Snow Crystals, by W. A. Bentley
In 1931, the American Meteorological Society gathered together the best of these plus some slides of frost, glaze, sleet, soft hail, and dew on vegetation and on spider webs. Over 2,000 beautiful crystals reveal the wonder of nature's diversity in uniformity; no two are alike, yet all are based on a common hexagon.
Video Images from of W.A. Bentley's book set to guitar music
The Secret of Water: for the Children of the World, by Masaru Emoto
Presents an environmentally friendly introduction to water, its uses, its importance, and invites children to learn about the connection between water and all living things.
Video Children gather in gratitude to see if their thoughts can affect water.

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Read-alouds and Presentations Week to Week by Grade Level

11/9/2020

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Week of November 9, 2020 - TK and Kindergarten
​Picture Book Month and Seasonal Veggie Silliness

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I Yam a Donkey! by Cece Bell
A stern yam corrects a grammatically-challenged donkey.
Video Because TK and Kindergarten miss library this week due to the Veterans Day Holiday, students can enjoy this reading of I Yam a Donkey presented by Mr. Shawn's Storytime.
Crafty Connection Draw a yam bookmark on orange construction paper.

Week of November 9, 2020 - First Grade
Picture Book Month and Feasting Season Silliness

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The Wolf, the Duck, and the Mouse, by Mac Barnett
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When a mouse is swallowed by a wolf, he learns that a duck devoured earlier has set up a table to enjoy the food the gluttonous predator eats.
Crafty Connection Rainbow food choices coloring sheet

Week of November 9, 2020 - Second Grade
​Picture Book Month and National Monuments

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Video Washington, D.C., tour 
One More Acorn, by Don Freeman
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As winter nears, Earl the Squirrel searches for the acorns he stashed in the parks of Washington, D.C. Iconic author/illustrator Don Freeman began this story in 1963. His son completed it with help from an illustrator almost 50 years later.
Crafty Connection Make leaf rubbings on the reverse of the Find the Alligator coloring sheet.

Week of November 9, 2020 - Third Grade
​Picture Book Month - Curriculum Connection to Mystery Fiction

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Who is the Mystery Reader? by Mo Willems
Zoom Squirrel and his pals practice a new superpower while trying to discover the identity of an enigmatic Mystery Reader. 
Private I. Guana: the Case of the Missing Chameleon, by Nina Laden
A detective is hired to search the forest for a missing chameleon.
Video Read by actor Esai Morales presented by Storyline Online. 

Week of November 9, 2020 - Fourth Grade
Picture Book Month - Curriculum Connection to Reading Nonfiction

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Odd Boy Out, by Don Brown
Albert was a peculiar baby with a big head. When he was older he hit his sister, bothered his teachers, and didn't have many friends. In the midst of all this, he was fascinated with solving puzzles and scientific problems. The ideas Albert Einstein (1879-1955) came up with during his childhood as an odd boy were destined to change what we understand about the world around us.
Video N Is a Number: a Portrait of Paul Erdos (trailer)

The Boy Who Loved Math, by Deborah Heiligman
At the age of four Paul Erdos (1913-1996) could ask you when you were born and then calculate the number of seconds you had been alive in his head. But he didn't learn to butter his own bread until he turned twenty!
Website A Magical Answer to an 80-Year-Old Puzzle. Terence Tao, now a math professor at UCLA, was a youngster when he met Erdos.
Having an Erdos Number Paul Erdos published papers with 507 coauthors. In the mathematics community those 507 people have the coveted distinction of having an Erdos number of 1, meaning that they wrote a paper with Erdos himself. Someone who published a paper with one of his coauthors is said to have an Erdos number of 2, and an Erdos number of 3 means that someone wrote a paper with someone who wrote a paper with someone who worked with Erdos. Albert Einstein’s Erdos number was 2. The highest known Erdos number is 15; this excludes non mathematicians, who all have an Erdos number of infinity.
Website Paul Erdos International Math Challenge
At Home Activity Tessellation art with worksheet and video demonstration.

Week of November 9, 2020 - Fifth Grade
Picture Book Month and the Power of Self, the Power of Unity

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I Talk Like a River, by Scott Jordan
When a boy who stutters feels isolated, alone, and incapable of communicating in the way he'd like, it takes a kindly father and a walk by the river to help him find his voice.
Video Thirteen-year-old Brayden Harrington speaks out about stuttering on NBC News

Unstoppable, by Adam Rex
​When a bird and a crab team up to combine the advantages of flight and claws, it gives them an idea: why not expand the team to include other animals who have a special trait--and soon they all set out to rescue their lake from development, because united together they are unstoppable.
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Read-alouds and Presentations Week to Week by Grade Level

11/2/2020

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Week of November 2, 2020 - TK and Kindergarten
Picture Book Month and Self Awareness

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I'm Bored, by Michael Ian Black
When a bored girl meets a potato who finds children tedious, she tries to prove him wrong by demonstrating all of the things they can do.

​Activity Students draw a potato bookmark.

Week of November 2, 2020 - First Grade
​Picture Book Month and Patience

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Betty Bunny Loves Chocolate Cake, by Michael B. Kaplan
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Betty Bunny likes chocolate cake so much that she claims she will marry it one day, and she has trouble learning to wait patiently until she can have her next taste.
Video A little girl mixes and bakes chocolate cake in a cup
Activity Patience mandala coloring sheet

Week of November 2, 2020 - Second Grade
Picture Book Month and Letter Writing

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Corduroy Writes a Letter, by Don Freeman
When Lisa notices that her favorite cookies have fewer sprinkles, her mother suggests that she write a letter to the bakery.
Activity Students write a kind note of appreciation on a Teddy Bear to their parents for supporting the Grand View PTA.

Week of November 2, 2020 - Third Grade - Veterans Day

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Navajo Code Talkers, by Andrew Santella
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The Navajo language is ideally suited to be an unbreakable code. When WWII ended, the Code Talker program was kept a military secret for decades. It was many years before the Code Talkers could be honored for their service.
Video American Indian World War II Heroes Discovery Education Streaming (password protected).
Website Navajocodetalkers.org | Historical Perspective Page (begin 30 seconds in).
Website Nativevillage.org displays a dictionary of Code Talker terms.

Week of November 2, 2020 - Fourth Grade
Picture Book Month and Honoring Canine Veterans

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Wag! by Patrick McDonnell
A little dog is eager to please.
Dogs on Duty, by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent
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When the news broke of the raid on Osama Bin Laden's compound, the SEAL team member that stole the show was a highly trained canine companion.
Video A salute to military working dogs.

Week of November 2, 2020 - Fifth Grade
Picture Book Month and Honoring Canine Veterans

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Hey, Boy, by Benjamin Strouse
The unfaltering love between a boy and his pet.
Nubs, by Major Brian Dennis

A true story of a feral dog in war-torn Iraq who is befriended by an American Marine, then embarks on a treacherous journey to find him when the man is stationed seventy miles away.
Video WFLA News Channel 8 Iraqi dog rescued.
Follow-up Nubs passed away in 2018 of Cushing's Disease after living with Brian and his family for ten happy years. Nubs, the loner desert dog who became a beloved family pet, is buried in Corpus Cristi, Texas, with a view of the ocean where he loved to play.
Recommended Reading Letters from Wolfie by Pattie Sherlock, Saving Zasha by Randi G. Barrow, and Cracker! The Best Dog in Vietnam by Cynthia Kadohata. ​
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Read-alouds and Presentations Week to Week by Grade Level

10/5/2020

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Week of October 5, 2020 - TK - Spiders

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There's a Spider on the Floor, on the Floor Let's sing a silly song!
The Very Busy Spider, by Eric Carle
The farm animals try to divert a spider from spinning her web, but she persists and produces a thing of both beauty and usefulness.
Aaaarrgghh! Spider! by Lydia Monks
A clever spider is lonely and longs to become a family pet.
Video Timed, socially distant visits to the Natural History Museum Spider Pavilion are likely sold out this fall. Get a taste for the experience with this video from 2010.
Crafty Connection Draw a spider bookmark or print The Very Busy Spider coloring sheet

Week of October 5, 2020 - Kindergarten - Spiders

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There's a Spider on the Floor, on the Floor Let's sing a silly song!
Be Nice to Spiders, by Margaret Bloy Graham
The zoo animals become happy and peaceful when Helen the spider spins webs and catches the flies that had made them miserable.
Video Timed, socially distant visits to the Natural History Museum Spider Pavilion are likely sold out this fall. Get a taste for the experience with this video from 2010.
Crafty Connection Wish YOU could have a pet spider? Video instructions to make a puppet.

Week of October 5, 2020 - First Grade - Hispanic Heritage Month

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Click image for recipe and coloring sheet
YouTube Tortillas de Agua, San Pedro, Sonora, Mexico (view to 1 min. 35 sec.)
Tiny Tortilla, by Arlene Williams
Juan Carlos discovers that with patience and the right touch he can transform a tiny ball of special tortilla dough into unexpected shapes.
Coloring Sheet Tortilla Elephant Ears Recipe 

Week of October 5, 2020 - Second Grade - Monsters

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One Hungry Monster, by Susan Heyboer O'Keefe
A small boy tries to control ten insatiable monsters demanding food and creating chaos throughout the house at bedtime.
Just Dessert, by Polly Powell
In the middle of the night a young girl encounters a few scares on her way to an extra piece of cake.
Alfred's Book of Monsters, by Sam Streed

Alfred loves the monsters in his book, but he doesn't like teatime with his aunt--until he decides to invite three of his favorite monsters to join him for tea.
There's a Wocket in My Pocket, by Dr. Seuss
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A boy tells of a whole houseful of unusual creatures.
Coloring sheet Applesauce Cinnamon Oat Muffin Recipe

Week of October 5, 2020 - Third Grade - Reading for Information

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Spinning Spiders, by Melvin Berger
Describes the characteristics of spiders and the methods they use to trap their prey in webs.
I'm Trying to Love Spiders, by Bethany Barton
A humorous introduction to spiders.
Crafty Connection String figures such as Running Dog 
Crafty Connection Instructions to cut a lacy web for decoration

Week of October 5, 2020 - Fourth Grade
Learning to Read, Reading to Learn, Social-Emotional Wellness

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Video A brief overview of the life of Mary Walker
The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read, by Rita Lorraine Hubbard
Mary Walker (1848-1969) was born in the South eight years before the end of slavery. She longed to read but her circumstances made it hard to do so until she turned 116 and was finally able to read her favorite book. This hard-working woman experienced slavery, the civil rights movement, and lived through 26 presidents. She beat the odds and achieved her dreams.

Week of October 5, 2020 - Fifth Grade
Early Communication and Social-Emotional Wellness

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Telegraph machine circa 1900
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SOS telegram sent from the Titanic April 15, 1912
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Perspective On January 27, 2006, Western Union ended it's paper telegram service. Two months later the first Twitter message was sent. Read more.
Video An overview of the life of Samuel Morse (1791-1872) viewed on Discovery Education streaming video (password protected).
Samuel Morse, that's Who! The Story of the Telegraph and Morse Code, by Tracy Nelson Maurer
Samuel Morse was not an instant success. He wanted to be a painter, but when his career in America didn't take off, he sailed to England in 1829 to study. People still did not seem to get his art when he returned, but they were very interested in the electromagnetic system to carry coded messages that he had designed on the voyage home. It took trial and error, but eventually Morse invented Morse code (later modified and renamed International Morse Code) and the telegraph machine. News that once had taken months to reach it's destination now could travel in the blink of an eye.
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Read-alouds and Presentations Week to Week by Grade Level

9/28/2020

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​Week of September 28, 2020 - TK - Apples

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Little Mouse's Big Secret, by Eric Battut
Little Mouse has found a delicious-looking apple and doesn't want to share a bite. So he buries it, and no matter how many of his friends ask what he hid, Little Mouse won't tell.  But when a tree sprouts from the seeds of the fruit, there are enough apples for everyone-and Little Mouse realizes some secrets are even better when they're shared. Read by Hines Creek Municipal Library.
One Red Apple, by Harriet Ziefert
Chronicles the life cycle of an apple: from fruit growing on the tree, to market, to picnic, to seed, to sapling and tree, and finally to a new apple. A joyful introduction to the amazing and delectable way the earth provides food.
Ten Apples Up On Top, by Dr. Seuss writing as Theo. LeSieg
Lion, Tiger, and Dog are balancing ten apples on their heads when two cranky bears chase them.
Crafty Connection Apple tree color by number

​Week of September 28, 2020 - Kindergarten - Apples

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Our Apple Tree, by Gorel Kristina Naslund
A whimsical look at the life cycle of the apple tree. Two sprites guide the tree from spring, when the apple tree blossoms, through summer, when the fruit grows, to fall and the harvest. ​​
Crafty Connection Apple tree color by number

​Week of September 28, 2020 - First Grade - Apples

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The Apple Doll, by Elisa Kleven
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Lizzy's best friend in all seasons is her apple tree. When school starts, Lizzy sees how her apple tree can help her overcome her shyness and make new friends.
Crafty Connection Apple doll instructions

​Week of September 28, 2020 - Second Grade - Apples

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Coloring sheet and applesauce recipe
Applesauce Season, by Eden Ross Lipson
Describes a family's applesauce-making ritual: the buying, peeling, cooking and stirring; the wait for the sauce to cool and the first taste.
Crafty Connection Coloring Sheet and applesauce recipe 

Week of September 28, 2020 - Third Grade - Reading for Information

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Video plant a bee garden
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Honeybee cookie recipe
Give Bees a Chance, by Bethany Barton
Besides making yummy honey, they help plants grow fruits and vegetables.
Video Plant a bee friendly garden
Crafty Connection Bake honeybee cookies

Week of September 28, 2020 - Fourth Grade
Water... Apples... and the Ripple Effect

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Water Is Water, by Miranda Paul
Highlights the various forms water takes throughout the year including autumn fog and rain, frozen ponds and falling snow, steam from cups of cocoa, and snow melt turning dirt to mud.
One Green Apple, by Eve Bunting
It's hard to be the new kid in school, especially when you're from another country and don't know the language. But a field trip to an apple orchard helps Farah feel connected. 
Each Kindness, by Jacqueline Woodson
What if you're cruel to someone and never get the chance to make it right? This deeply personal story takes us full circle back to water. As a lake is rippled when a stone is tossed, a cruelty has repercussions than can never be undone. ​
​Grant Opportunity Deadline 10/1 MBEF Clinton Family Social Inclusion Grant Application

​Week of September 28, 2020 - Fifth Grade - Banned Books Week

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Video "Parthenon" of banned books
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A Book Worth Banning Is a Book Worth Reading
A list of several titles that have been banned or challenged.
Video Puppet Book Banners
A brief discussion about why the American Library Association supports and celebrates the freedom to read.
Video "Parthenon" of banned books

Little Red Riding Hood, retold by Trina Schart Hyman
This adaptation of Little Red Riding Hood landed on the naughty list, though the illustrations merited a Caldecott Honor (1984).
Wolf in the Snow, by Matthew Cordell
When a wolf cub and a little girl are lost in a storm, kindness and cooperation save them. In the end, it's all about keeping an open mind.

Grant Opportunity Deadline 10/1 MBEF Clinton Family Social Inclusion Grant Application
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Read-alouds and Presentations Week to Week by Grade Level

9/21/2020

1 Comment

 

Week of September 21, 2020 - TK - Having Grit & Fun with Numbers

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Click image to sing along with Pete
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Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons, by Eric Litwin
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Pete the cat loves the buttons on his shirt so much that he makes up a song about them, and even as the buttons pop off, one by one, he still finds a reason to sing.

Video Pete sings his song 
Crafty Connection Print this Pete the Cat color by number 
Is That Wise, Pig? by Jan Thomas
Mouse and Cow are making soup, but Pig keeps trying to add strange ingredients.
Video Is That Wise, Pig? read by Story Time Pals 
Activity Connection Cooking with children (safety first!) is a great way to reinforce independence, math, science, language skills, and more. Try these No Bake Kids' Recipes: mud pie, pineapple bagel spread, cinnamon pears, pumpkin pie, and more!

​Week of September 21, 2020 - Kindergarten - Fall Leaves

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Fall Leaves Fall! by Zoe Hall
When fall comes, two brothers enjoy catching the falling leaves, stomping on them, kicking them, jumping in piles of them, and using them to make pictures. Includes a description of how leaves change through the year.
Fall Is Not Easy, by Marty Kelley
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With new expectations to be met, fall can be a tough season for a lot of us.
Crafty Connection Transform ordinary leaves found in the yard into colorful nature collages. Directions.

Week of September 21, 2020 - First Grade - Books and Reading

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Make a book-nibbling bookmark
I Am a Story, by Dan Yaccarino
A celebration of the art of storytelling traces how it has evolved from cave paintings and the invention of the printing press to the digital technologies that inform and unite today's diverse world. Sharp eyes will take note of the starry transition from cave people to contemporary folk as astrological signs reappear as constellations, with a tiny red bird on each page to remind us that stories give flight to our imagination.
Crafty Connection Tiny Birds coloring sheet ​
I Don't Like to Read, by Nancy Carlson
Henry the mouse likes everything about first grade except reading, but with some extra help at school and home, he is delightfully surprised.
Connection Read a book, of course :)
Nibbles the Book Monster, by Emma Yarlett
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Nibbles the Monster enjoys books a little too much!
Crafty Connection Make a book nibbling bookmark. Directions.

Week of September 21, 2020 - Second Grade - Empathy

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Empathy is defined as the ability to understand the thoughts, feelings, or emotions of someone else. An example of empathy is feeling the same amount of excitement as a friend, when they tell you they are getting a puppy or a kitten.
Video Sesame Street: actor Mark Ruffalo and Murray help explain the feeling of empathy.
A Letter to My Teacher, by Deborah Hopkinson
Written as a thank you note to a cherished teacher, the ending brings the love of learning and teaching full circle. 
Discuss Do you think the new teacher will be able to feel empathy for her students when things don't go quite right for them? How might having empathy affect our relationships at home or at school?

Draw and Write Students draw a picture of themselves with their teacher and write a note including a personality trait that they know their teacher will enjoy, and a behavior that they hope to improve during second grade. Show it to your teacher on your next Zoom.

Week of September 21, 2020 - Third Grade - Welcome Fall

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Green on Green, by Dianne White
The animals, fruits, feelings, and colors that characterize each season of the year.
​Lawrence in the Fall, by Matthew Farina

Lawrence the fox accompanies his father into the forest to collect something to take to his school show-and-tell, and encounters the beauty of nature and finds exactly what he needs.
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Video Why Do Leaves Change Color?
​Leaves, by David Ezra Stein
A bear who has never experienced autumn before is puzzled by the falling leaves, unsure whether he should try to put them back or use them as a bed for a nap. Read by Michael DeJohn
Crafty Connection Transform ordinary leaves found in the yard into colorful nature collages. Directions.

Week of September 21, 2020 - Fourth and Fifth Grade
​California Young Reader Medal Intermediate Novel Nominees

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Introducing the CYRM Intermediate Novel Nominees Students in 4th and 5th grade are invited to participate in deciding the most popular fiction novel in California by reading all three CYRM novels and voting for their favorite by June 1. General vote info. Specific Grand View vote info to come. More about the CYRM. Questions? Email Mrs. Snively at hsnively@mbusd.org.
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The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street, by Karina Yan Glaser
The Vanderbeekers have always lived in the brownstone on 141st Street. It's practically another member of the family. So when their reclusive, curmudgeonly landlord decides not to renew their lease, the five siblings have eleven days to do whatever it takes to stay in their beloved home and convince the dreaded Beiderman just how wonderful they are. And all is fair in love and war when it comes to keeping their home. First in a series, fans of The Penderwicks will love getting to know Harlem's favorite family. A story of confrontation and understanding just right for our troubled times.
Video Book trailer at teachingbooks.net
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Save Me a Seat, by Sarah Weeks and Gita Varadarajan
Meet Ravi, who has just moved to the United States from India, where he has always been at the top of his class. Meet Joe, who has lived in the same New Jersey town his whole life, and lives with learning difficulties. Two fifth grade boys born worlds apart and so different from one another --how could they ever be friends? They are united by a common enemy, Dillon Samreen, the class bully. Dillon is Indian American and Ravi oh so wrongly assumes their shared heritage means they will be friends. This story about fitting in and overcoming obstacles features two points of view that will be a hit with fans of Wonder, by R.J. Palacios. 
Video Book trailer at teachingbooks.net
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Restart, by Gordon Korman
Chase's memory just went out the window. He doesn't remember falling off the roof. He doesn't remember hitting his head. He doesn't, in fact, remember anything. He wakes up in a hospital room and suddenly has to learn his whole life all over again, starting with his own name. When he gets back to school, he sees that different kids have very different reactions to his return. Some kids treat him like a hero. Some kids are clearly afraid of him. Pretty soon Chase realizes it's not only a question of who he is, it's a question of who he was, and who he's going to be.
Video Book trailer at teachingbooks.net
I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsberg Makes Her Mark, by Debbie Levy
​As a child in Brooklyn, Ruth learned the importance of a powerful dissent. Her mother objected to the notion that girls shouldn't get an education. Ruth objected to the discrimination facing her Jewish family. In school, she objected to having to take sewing and cooking classes (but still had to), and in college, she objected to the notion that, as a woman, she couldn't pursue a law career. Dissent is the through line woven into this picture-book biography of Justice Ginsburg, and it's a tidy way to demonstrate how her fearless objections to the unfair status quo not only led the way to her career as a Supreme Court justice but also contributed to dismantling many of those discriminatory laws that prevented equal treatment. 
Video I Dissent presented by the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

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    MBUSD begins the 2020-21 school year with 100% distance learning.

    During the time we are apart classes will receive weekly library content via Zoom. Colleagues are welcome to borrow ideas. ​

    MBUSD completes the 2020-21 school year in Phase 5 of our 5-phase plan to reopen our schools.

    Phase 1 - 9/16/20 preschool aged childcare and EDP
    Phase 1 - 9/29/20 MCHS sports training
    Phase 2 - 10/12/20 high need hybrid
    Phase 3 - 12/8/20 grades TK-2 hybrid
    Phase 3 - 3/1/21 grades 3-5 hybrid
    Phase 4 - 3/8/21 grade 6 hybrid
    Phase 5 - 4/19/21 5 days a week in-person learning for grades TK-12 students who select in-person

    Mrs. Snively Reads
    to You

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    Videos of Mrs. Snively reading aloud

    Library Program

    Our students enjoy weekly visits for a presentation crafted to instill a love of reading, to enhance
    Common Core classroom lessons, and to inspire life-long learning. Visits include checking out materials, practicing information literacy, and exercising digital citizenship.

    California Model School Library Standards Read Aloud 15 Minutes. Every Child. Every Parent. Every Day See why it matters at readaloud.org

    What Mrs. Snively is reading right now

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    Mrs. Snively reads adult books, too

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