Happy Chinese New Year

Calendars are an invention of people. Time passes from day to day with the cycle of the sun rising and setting. Centuries ago people tried to measure time. They created the calendar as a measurement tool to keep track of how fast time was moving. However, just like there is more than one kind of pencil, or one kind of television, or gaming system, there is also more than one kind of calendar. 

The Chinese New Year begins this year on February 16, 2018. Just like our New Year is always on January 1st, the Chinese New Year is always on the first day of their calendar. One of the most interesting things about the Chinese calendar is that they identify each year with an animal. The Chinese say that people who are born during a Year of the Dog are honest, friendly, faithful, loyal, smart, stratightforward and have a strong sense of responsibility.

The Chinese people celebrate their culture in a 15-day celebration of the New Year. They celebrate with fireworks, parades, special rituals and foods.  Click here to watch a Youtube clip to see how some Chinese people celebrate the New Year.

To celebrate Chinese New Year, skip the fortune cookies, which are really an American invention, and try out a tangram puzzle. Tangrams are ancient Chinese puzzles. See below for printable Tangrams.  If you’re in the mood for something with a more artistic flair, download and color this Year of the Dog page. Click here for a link to a coloring page.

Don't forget to look for books on the Chinese New Year at the public library. We will have a few books available to check out at the HES library.

Happy Chinese New Year!

Miss Hazuda (@HESMediaCenter)

Happy Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day is more than just a day to celebrate love. It’s a celebration of who we are as people. As humans we thrive because of our relationships with other people. We work together in groups to solve problems. We have teams to accomplish goals. We have friends to spend time with. We learn from others of all ages. 

The people around us make a difference to us every day.

Which is why February 14th is a great day to write letters and cards to friends and family members we appreciate. 

Valentine’s Day has a long history and there are many different traditions celebrated around the world. The United Kingdom began the tradition of sending flowers, chocolates and cards. In the area of Slovenia (in Europe near Austria and Hungary) February 14th is a celebration of spring. Men and women go out into the fields to being their work. In some countries in Central America February 14th is a traditional day to do acts of kindness for friends. 

Let's keep the kindness going this week whole week. Here are a few things that you can do:

Monday: Read about the traditions of Valentine's Day on Pebble Go.   
               If you need the user name and password, please email me. Please
               make sure you mention who your student is, because this log in is
               only for HES students. Once in the database, go in 
               to Social Studies, and then Holidays. 

Tuesday:  Make a card for a friend or relative. Follow these directions at 
                 Instructables for a simple card or for a more challenging card.

Wednesday: Find a fun craft to do on PBS Kids.

Thursday:  Do like puzzles? Do this interactive word search from National  
                  Geographic Kids. 

Friday:  Do a Random Act of Kindness for someone. In fact, Random Acts
              of Kindness day is February 16th. 
              Here are some ideas for people of all ages.

Happy Reading!!

Miss Hazuda (@HESMediaCenter)

Cookies, Cookies, Cookies!!

 Image from: My Cute Graphics

With the holidays fast approaching, all I seem to be doing is baking cookies! Not that I'm complaining, but sometimes I have to take a break from the cookie dough.  I've got a few good books that you can read and a really fun app for the younger kids.  

One of my favorite cookie books has to be The Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett. I never get tired of reading her version of the Gingerbread Boy. She is one of my favorite authors. I read this too the Kindergarten and First Grade students last week and then we watched Jan Brett draw the Gingerbread Baby. This was a really treat!  She makes it look so easy!  Each year I try and practice, but drawing is not my thing!

There are a few great cookie books that can be found at the Leonardtown Public Library.  Even if they are in there right now, they can always be put on hold.  The first two written by Lisa Campbell Ernst, The Gingerbread Girl and The Gingerbread Girl Goes Animal Crackers. I discovered The Gingerbread Pirates by Kristin Kladstrup last year. I have not personally read Cookies: Bite-Size Life Lessons by Amy Krose Rosenthal, but it looks like one I will be reading real soon. And I can't forget a great cookie one by Mo Willems, The Ducking Gets a Cookie?! What are your favorite cookie books or do you have a great cookie cookbook? Please share in the comments.

An app that I discovered last year, Cookie Doodle, is a a fun app!  It allows the user to "make" cookies.  The user can either use premade dough or mix the dough themselves. Then they bake the dough and can use cookie cutters to make shapes. Finally they can decorate the cookies.  Last year we had a lot of fun with this app.

Happy Reading!!

Miss Hazuda (@HESMediaCenter)

National Picture Book Month

November is National Picture Book Month. This celebration is a recent one for schools, libraries, authors and readers to promote literacy at all ages. Many times in the library we hear these words, "I want to check out a chapter book!" Chapter books are certainly wonderful, but often students want to rush to chapter books because they think picture books are too easy. 







In reality, many picture books are written for older readers at high reading levels. Books with illustrations working together with text can give readers a better understanding of challenging concepts. For example, Carole Boston Weatherford's book Freedom on the Menu tells the story of the Greensboro Sit-in. Doreen Rappaport's biography Eleanor, Quiet No More chronicles the First Lady's transition from childhood to the White House. Photographs like Nic Bishop's in his book Frogs capture wildlife in action-an experience many children don’t have.

Reader understanding of all of these topics are enhanced because of their illustrations. The picture book format provides the right balance to make the topic more accessible for students. 

During November I hope you'll challenge yourself to read a few picture books and enjoy the work of both authors and illustrators!  You can print this calendar in color or black and white with picture book suggestions. Let's read, share, and celebrate the power of picture books!

If you are reading any great picture books, please share with me! Starting today I'll be sharing a great picture book with all classes. Enjoy the video below. Authors and illustrators answer the question: What is a picture book?

Happy Reading!!

Miss Hazuda (@HESMediaCenter)

Choose Kind

R.J. Palacio's book Wonder, published in 2012, kicked off a campaign of kindness in schools and libraries. Click here for a summary on Goodreads. Wonder is best suited for 4th and 5th grade readers, but kindness is for everyone! Below is the book trailer for this book.







Now R.J. Palacio has written a picture book for our PreKindergarten- 3rd grade students called We're All Wonders. Click here for a summary on Goodreads. I love this book just as much as the chapter book! Please help our community by spreading the message of kindness. We could all use a little more kindness in our lives.




The book Wonder is now a major motion picture! The release date for the movie Wonder is November 17, 2017. I am counting the days into I can go to the theater and watch the movie. I think I'm going to have to reread the book before I go see it! Below is the movie trailer. I get goosebumps each time I watch it!

Are you ready to make a difference and to spread kindness to others? Visit the Choose Kind Tumblr and take the pledge to Choose Kind!

If you want to find some other books that highlight kindness, these books can be found at the public library.

PreK-2nd Grade

Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes

Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodsen

I Broke My Trunk by Mo Willems

The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig

3rd-5th Grade

Charlotte's Web by E.B. White

Mr. Lincoln's Way by Patricia Polacco

No Talking by Andrew Clements

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

During the month of October we can make a difference! Let's finish the year with random acts of kindness towards each other. If you need ideas to get started, here are links to printable calendars for October, November, and December.

Share in the comments how you are choosing kind!!

Miss Hazuda (@HESMediaCenter)