This week we introduced the Kentucky Bluegrass awards to 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders.
"The Kentucky Bluegrass Award is a student choice program. The KBA promotes and encourages Kentucky students in kindergarten through grade 12 to read a variety of quality literature. All Kentucky public and private schools, as well as public libraries, are welcome to participate in the program."
A committee creates a list of books each year and students are able to read the the books throughout the year and vote on which title they liked the best. Many schools in Kentucky participate in the program to encourage student reading and engagement. I like the program because only Kentucky students can vote on titles, making them feel special! I've been attempting to read as many KBA books as possible, so far I've read Crossover and The Boundless and both have been wonderful!
The Crossover / Kwame Alexander –
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2014.
Fourteen-year-old
twin basketball stars Josh and Jordan wrestle with highs and lows on and off
the court as their father ignores his declining health.
The Boundless/ Kenneth Oppel.
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2014.
The Boundless, the greatest train ever built, is on its maiden voyage
across the country, and first-class passenger Will Everett is about to embark
on the adventure of his life as he enlists the aid of a traveling circus to
save the train from villains.The Crossover is written in verse, one of my favorite styles as it is emotional and succinct. The Boundless is an adventure novel about a young boy who witnesses a murder and now finds himself hunted on the strongest, fastest moving train in the country during the time when settlement and exploration were still alive in young America.
The full list of titles for KBA books can be found at: http://kba.nku.edu/
In other classes Mrs. Jennings started an author study with Pete the Cat and Eric Litwin. I love Pete the Cat books- I'm not sure of anyone who doesn't! The class listened to The New Guy and then watched a video of the story.
With second grade classes Mrs. Jennings is continuing to teach about fables and tall tales. We worked together on this lesson, I was able to introduce and remind the class about key characteristics of a fable- that they normally have animal characters and teach a lesson or moral. Then we read the story Mr. Murry and Thumbkin about a mouse who worries too much and a mouse who worries too little, Each were able to meet in the middle and become best of friends. Mrs. Jennings jokes with students that one character is her, and one character is her husband and students are asked to guess which character they think Mrs. Jennings it- Thumbkin who never worries or plans, or Mr. Murry who worries all the time. It was funny to see what student's thought!
CEBS Dispositions:
Values diversity - Willingly works with others from
different ability, race, gender, or ethnic groups. Welcomes feedback and
interaction with others. Listens carefully to others and respects the views of
those perceived as different from self.
Values collaboration. Actively seeks out and incorporates
ideas of others. Takes leadership in working with others to improve the overall
environment. Regularly share information and ideas.
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