Wescott LMC

World Read Aloud Day is Feb 3rd! “LitWorld founded WorldRead Aloud Day in 2010 in celebration of the power of reading aloud to create community, to amplify new stories, and to advocate for literacy as a foundational human right. Over the last eleven years, World Read Aloud Day has evolved into a global movement of millions of readers, writers, and listeners from communities all across the world coming together to honor the joy and power of reading and sharing stories, and continue expanding the definition and scope of global literacy.”

How are you going to celebrate this year? Check out information on virtual author read alouds!

Looking for a book to read for MLK Day? (Pictured here, Martin’s Big Words by D Rapport) Check our catalog, or use one of the following resources:

• MLK: All About the Holidays from PBS Learning Media
  
• BrainPop Jr free video about MLK
• Scholastic has some good resources, including a script for a playabout MLK (grades 3-5)
  
• National Education Association MLK lesson plans for grades K-5

Author Kate Hannigan will be visiting Wescott 3rd-graders virtually on Tuesday March 16th from 1-2! Hannigan is the author of The Great Chicago Fire: Rising from the Ashes graphic novel, which ties in PERFECTLY with the 3rd-grade Chicago history unit.

More details and a book order form will be coming soon. Mark your calendars now!

Winter Reading started at NPL, but it is not too late to join! Let’s keep our students reading over winter break! Encourage them to sign up for the Winter Reading Program at the Northbrook Public Library. Here is the link with more information, and here is a link to a video about the program. Please share with your families.

I’ve had so much fun the past few weeks checking out the “best books of the year” lists from the following sources (You Matter, pictured here, by Christian Robinson, has appeared on several of the lists). How many have you read?:

• The 25 Best Children’s Books of 2020 from The New York Times
  
• NPR’s Book Concierge: Our Guide to 2020s Great Reads
• Best Children’s Books of 2020 from the Washington Post
  
• Here are the finalists for the 25th Annual Audie Awards, presented by the Audio Publishers Association
  
• Here are the Best Books of 2020 according to School Library Journal
  
• Evanston Public Library puts out a Best Books list each year! Check out their picks for 2020’s 101 Great Books for Kids!

• Best Books for 2020 from American Indians In Children’s’ Literature Blog
• Best Books for Kids 2020 from the New York Public Library

Click here for a list of eReading resources you and your students can access during the pause and beyond!

I am happy to meet with students who need help selecting an eBook or a book from our catalog!

We plan on delivering remote book check out during the Adaptive Pause! We have been checking out books to remote students all year, and wil extend the offer to all students after Thanksgiving. Please click here for more information.

The PTO Online Book Fair Starts Tomorrow!

You’re invited to shop our Scholastic Book Fair online! All purchases benefit our school and connect kids with new books, favorite characters, and more. 

You’ll love the NEW option to shop directly from the virtual bookshelves and enjoy these special online features: 
• Over 6,000 items, including new releases, best sellers, and value packs
• All orders ship direct to home
• FREE shipping on book-only orders over $25
• All purchases support our school and earn 25% back

Consider books for your upcoming birthday and holiday purchases! 

Find more information here: https://www.scholastic.com/bf/wescottelementaryschool

Check out the digital flyer here: https://bookfairsfiles.scholastic.com/flippingbooks/F20-custom-booklist/F20-custom-booklist.html#p=1

Book Fair runs November 10 – 23

I know it is hard to believe, but I have already scheduled our annual visit from Ms. Sarah from the Northbrook Public Library to talk about the Winter Reading Program. She will be Zooming with each grade level during the morning meeting time from 8:50-9:15. Mark your calendars now!

8:50-9:15 am

• 1st-grade – Monday 11/16
• 2nd-grade – Tuesday 11/17
• 3rd-grade – Wednesday 11/18
• 4th-grade & 4/5 S- Thursday 11/19
• 5th-grade – Friday 11/20

Friday is Halloween! Since the maker space is not open in the library this year, I am bringing maker space activities to the classroom! This week and next week we will be making CREEPY CHARACTERS!

• 1st-graders are reading Creepy Carrots and Creepy Pair of Underwear by Aaron Reynolds. After comparing the stories and discussing characters, setting, problem, and solution, students will design their own Creepy Carrots and Creepy Underwear!
• 2nd-graders will be reading The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams. We will be making the different parts of the scarecrow and working on story sequencing.
• 3rd-graders are reading My Teacher is a Monster and Leo, a Ghost Story, and making their own ghostly characters.
• 4th-graders are reading She Made a Monster: How Mary Shelley Created Frankenstein. Students will then create their own Frankenstein monster using images of animals and PicCollage.