Have I Got A Book For You: The Memory Book

This book review was completed by Abby in Fifth Grade.

Title of Book:  The Memory Book

Author:  Carolyn Coman and Rob Shepperson

Summary:  The book was about two girls named Hope and Honey.  Honey gets left in the middle of nowhere.  Hope gets a letter that she needs to go to the WWMB (World Wide Memory Bank).

Reasons I liked the book:  I liked the book because I loved how her sister goes in the memory bank.  In the end Hope and Honey get back together.

I would give this book 5 stars!!

This is another book that is in my to-read pile.  I didn't get a lot of reading done over Spring Break, so my to-read pile hasn't gotten any smaller.  In fact it has gotten bigger!

Happy Reading!!

Miss Hazuda

Have I Got A Book For You: Like Pickle Juice On A Cookie

This book review was completed by McKayla in Fourth Grade.

Title of Book:  Like Pickle Juice On A Cookie

Author:  Julie Sternberg

Summary:  This is a book about a girl named Eleanor.  She is a very smart kid.  In the beginning she had a very bad day.

Reasons I liked the book:  Eleanor is a very generous character! I love the book Like Pickle Juice On A Cookie.  I hope one day you will read it!

I would give this book 5 stars!!

I was thrilled when I read this book.  So many kids came to my mind as I was reading, I knew they would love it!  Ever since McKayla checked out this book, I don't think it has been on the shelf!  The sequel, Like Bug Juice On A Hamburger is being published on April 2, 2013.  I can't wait to read it and then share it with the students!

Happy Reading!!

Miss Hazuda

Have I Got A Book For You: Guinea Dog

This book review was completed by Alexis R. in Fifth Grade.

Title of Book:  Guinea Dog

Author:  Patrick Jennings

Summary:  A boy named Rufus wants a dog.  His mom buys him a guinea pig, but the guinea pig acts like a dog.  Rufus learns to love the guinea pig.

Reasons I liked the book:  I liked the book because I like rodents like guinea pigs.  Also I like dogs.  The guinea pig could do tricks and most guinea pigs can't.

I would give this book 4 stars!!

This book has been in my to-read pile for a while.  I might have to move this book up in the pile.

Happy Reading!!

Miss Hazuda

Three Really Good Apps

The Kindergarten, First Grade, Second Grade, and Third Grade students have to take turns when we are working on the computers.  Those students who are not on the computers are using our Media Center iPod Touches.  We have been using apps that support what is happening in the classroom.  Listed below are the apps we have been using lately.  The students are enjoying them a lot, while having lifelong skills reinforced.  

An app that I have used with Kindergarten and First Grade is The Math Tree by Bellamon.  Click here for information about this app.  I love this app because of the mix of simple addition and subtraction facts.  It is a paid app; the price is $.99.

An app that I have just begun to use with First Grade is Interactive Telling Time Lite.  I have only used the Set the Time part of this app.  This has the students setting time to the hour and the half hour.  The students love this app!  The added bonus of being able to pick a prize to add to aquarium, in the app, was a nice reward for setting the time correctly.  The lite version of this app is free.  I have not used the paid version of this app.  Click here for more information about this app.

A great app for Second Grade, Third Grade, and older students is Counting Bills and Coins.  Click here for more information about this app.  This app has so many different activities, that is what makes it great for a lot of different grades.  The activity that the students have been using is counting money.  This activity allows students to count just coins or bills and coins and type in the correct amount.  The other activities are:  Show Me The Money (students are given an amount and have to show it with bills and coins), Making Change (students read a word problem and have to figure out how much change the person in the problem would get), Matching Amounts (students have to show a different combination of the amount of money given), and Show Value (students drag money over to the board, count it up in their head and the touch show value to check their answer).  The best part about this app is that it is free!

A word of caution with these apps and any others that you have download to your devices for your children, make sure that you are going on each app and playing with it every so often.  Many times the creators, after a few updates have added some ads that are not appropriate for children.  This is why before I use any apps with students I always play around on them, even if I used the app the day before.

Miss Hazuda