Spencer West, a Man with No Legs, Climbs Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, Africa

Climbing a Mountain with No Legs - Spencer West Redefines Impossible and Climbs Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, Africa - WOW!  Click below to read more about Spencer's amazing journey & astounding accomplishment.  

And then ... take a moment to redefine your own possible.

Trees  and Fungi Talk!

View this interesting YouTube clip (4.5 mins) about trees communicating with one another from the Young Naturalist Club (YNC) homepage:  When trees and fungi talk- I wonder what they say? In Mother Tree, UBC Professor Dr. Suzanne Simard talks abouther research showing that Douglas Fir trees in the forest communicate with each other through the help of fungi.

http://www.ync.ca/ 

Enjoy.

Grade Two Suggested Book Titles

Grade Two Suggested Book Titles for Teachers and Parents:

Most review sites offer reading information based on lexile which is based on grade level and book complexity, but these reviews are also based on the books' contents.  The site explains: "For second grade readers, the recommended Common Core Standards reading levels are 450-790 Lexile. Lexile is a measure of the grade level and text complexity of a book. All books included in this site are within this Lexile range.

However, it’s a bit more complicated than that. For example, the classic novelGrapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck falls within this Lexile range. But the topics and emotional content of the book is high school level. We take into account the content of a book before including here. Books recommended here are within the correct Lexile range AND the content is recommended for second grade readers."
Ann Norris Director of 2ndGradeReading.NET

A grade three recommended site will be launched next month: 3rdGradeReading.NET

Note this is an American resource.  Happy researching!  Ms. M.

Thirteen sleeps til we meet again!  Are you wrapping your brain around school yet?  Try out the "Topical Hotties" section to find out about Olympic and Canadian difference makers ("Norton" says Silverlight is a trusted flash player to download).  Also, try out the "How's it Made" series (usually by Discovery, but other authors too).  Blowing bubbles is made possible because of plastics, rubber, and flavouring - yum!

Note always beware of further sidebar options on YouTube sources - most are wonderful, but some can be inappropriate.  So much to learn from so many sources - get reading!  See you soon, Ms. M.

Goddess Girls

I just finished Athena the Wise (book 5) by Joan Holub.  It's based on the Greek Olympus Gods, but when they're young and in training.  I really liked it!  Ms. Milton was looking for a good read aloud last year and I'm going to suggest this series to her.

What suggestions do you have for some good class novel readings?

The above links are to Novelist - check out the Goddess Girls series and much, much more.  You may need to use the user names and passwords I gave to you at the beginning of Sept., 2012.  The stickers with the information are on the inside cover of your agenda.  Otherwise, email me and I'll help you out.  Summer well wishes to you, Ms. M.

Summer Reading

So what are YOU reading this summer?  Check out the "Help...I Need a Book Suggestion" link on the right column for some ideas as well as the Okanagan Regional Library (ORL).   Search the ORL's "enhanced catalog" and be wowed by its options! For example, create your own virtual library shelf and check out other's. Join their summer reading program too!
Also, join this Parkview Library blog discussion and add in your own suggestions - we'd love to hear from you.  


STUDENT BOOK SUGGESTIONS 

•  Grade 4 student Olivia, Vernon: 
• The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart, 
• Caddie Woodlawn   by Carol Ryrie Brink; 
• Awake and Dreaming by Kit Pearson 
• recommends all the I Survived series by Lauren Tarshis 
• Grade 5 student Calvin, Salmon Arm - "Heroes of Olympus" series - The Lost Hero and The Son of Neptune (book 2) by Rick Riordan
• Grade 8 student Kieran, Salmon Arm,  is currently reading Divergent, by Veronica Roth. 
• Grade 9 student Alexa, Vernon: Veronica Roth's books, Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Lainie Taylor; Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo; The Selection by Kiera Cass; Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi; Cinder by Marissa Meyer; Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi; The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
  
  

Until next time, a great summer to you all and wondrous reading.  Ms. M.

Cartoonist Jeff Smith

Thank you Korbin for suggesting the great author Jeff Smith for the Parkview Library Blog Author Spotlight section.  Jeff Smith began drawing his Bone characters at the age of five!  For more information see the Scholastic web site about Jeff Smith (geared for students) or check out Jeff Smith's site boneville.com which will be for a broader audience of kids and adults.  I checked out five interview links to learn more about this cartoonist's life and passion (Note - there are many ads on some of these sites).

Beware that most author sites also have the "read between the lines" message of ... please buy something - which you are NOT obligated to do at all.  Happy reading!  Ms. M.