‘Twas the night before….wait a minute, it’s not that time yet!  It does feel that there are a lot of days mixing in with each other though doesn’t it?  Amidst all these events going on, have you lost days?  I feel sometimes that I am waking up and not remembering which day it is, or what I have to do.

During this time, you have a great chance to read some books, learn something new, or create a new habit or hobby. I challenge you to find something that is outside of your comfort zone and try it.  It can be a different kind of book, a new food, or a new hobby.  So many opportunities for us to grow within ourselves right now.  What will you do??

Stay safe and be healthy!

Well, here we are.  3 weeks into school at home, now looking to be until May 15th!  I have reflected on this time with my youngest, and his schedule with the teachers. One thing is clear to me, the teachers care.  They are in this new phase with the kids and they are struggling the same way the kids are.  One thing that keeps shining through though is they care.  This is what makes a teacher a great teacher-they care. They are looking for the students to learn something and not have as many gaps as they would if they stopped all learning.  This is what makes UA great.

How are you doing with the online platforms that you have to work on?  Are they functioning the way that you would like?  Is there something that you would want to change?  I know that I would want to have the teacher to be a hologram, so we could see her, hear her, and be able to watch what she is talking about.  There are so many science fiction books that this happens in, maybe it will happen one day right?  What is one that you have read that is in the future?  Is there one that was your favourite?

I have placed a link on the Media Services page for you and your parents, as well as teachers.  This link will take you to books and the like to help with reading and other activities.  Be sure to check it out and let me know if you have any questions.

Stay safe and healthy and be mindful!  Don’t forget to keep reading!!!

Mrs. Green

It is all over, authors are opening their living rooms up to us to hear them read.  Scholastic has allowed us to read online to students the books within their collection.
This is amazing!!
I will be reading tomorrow online and posting it on the UA Website.  Look for parts of a book each day.  My focus will be on 5-12.  Check out Mrs. Mingledorff on the K-4 page for her readings as well.

Happy Reading my friends.  Let us know what you decide to read.

Mrs. Green

These past weeks have been a little crazy to say the least.  The coronavirus  has affected us in a way we might not have been totally prepared for.
As of tomorrow, we will be learning online.  This can bring its own sense of chaos to some students and families.  During this time, I will be posting many options for online reading here and within the Media Services pages.

Please know that all of us are in this together.  We are to life up each other and work together to help all!

Stay safe and wash your hands!!!

Mrs. Green!

I hope everyone had a restful and fun Fall Break!  It was unheard of heat here in North Carolina.

I spent the time in Dublin, Ireland reconnecting with friends and school mates of my own child.  They had two Tropical Storms while we were there, as well as mild weather.  The world definitely has some changes temperatures!  I think my favourite activity while I was there was walking.  We walked over 5 miles each day to the activities that we had.  It was fun to see all the people, listen to all the accents, and take in the beauty that is Dublin.  Castles, ruins, Georgian houses, parks, and the double decker buses!

During all that I did manage to read an amazing book; The Boy on the Wooden Box.  It was a story about a boy and his family who were Jewish, living in Krakow, working for Oskar Schindler.  It was a poignant yet real look at how a man who was a Nazi was able to save 1500 Jewish people who worked for him.  I highly recommend this book!

What was your favorite thing to do over the break? Did you read anything that spoke to you?  I would love to hear about it!  Send me your comments and let’s talk about the books!

Hard to believe that we are starting our 5th week of school!  We are halfway through the first quarter.  How has these first few weeks been?  Have you learned something new?  Met someone new?  Read something new?
I am excited to see so many wanting to come to the Media Centers to find new books, check out classics, and just come to work.  We have so many changes this year that it is refreshing to see the students enjoy the changes.

I challenge you this year to read something outside of your comfort zone.  Read something that is more than your normal.  For me, this will be the year I delve into more Realistic Fiction.  I usually stay with Historical fiction or Science Fiction.  This year I am branching out!  What will you branch out to?

I am looking forward to reading your new adventures!!

As we begin the winding down of school and jump into the hot days of summer, we are reminded that we have the time to relax.  We are able to read, swim, sleep in, and not make any lunches!  We are also reminded that we need to prepare for our new year.  This can mean school shopping, reading with your family, or rearranging yourself to be better organized this next year.

Do you know how you will prepare for next year? Are there any ideas or goals that you have made for next year?  What are they?  How will you reach those goals?

I am working with my 6th grader to make sure that he will be organized and prepared to rock through school next year.  We have read our books, bought some supplies, but will continue to gather until the end I am sure.  My goal for this next year is to help as many of my students as I can in the best way that I know how-teach you!  I look forward to collaborating with your teachers to infuse more information that will expand and grow your mind.  Just wait-we will have so much fun!

Keep reading this summer, logging those minutes and enjoying the time with your family that is reading with you!  Mahalo (Hawaiian for Thank you)!

As we begin to see better weather…minus today’s snow accumulations….we begin to think of being outside….watching flowers bloom….seeing new growth all around us.  While that is all about Spring….have you looked at the new growth inside of you?  The ways you have learned this year…to be showcased on the EOG’s and other formats?  Have you looked at what you have read?  What your beginning level of books are and see how they have grown?  This too is Spring…a new beginning and a growth for you!

I encourage you all to come to the Book Fair this next week, April 10-16 and find new and exciting books for you.  I encourage you to ask me about books and let’s open up new worlds and growth within you!!

As we prepare our lunches, our book bags, our alarm clocks, we still long for the sleepy mornings and no alarm clock.  Well, at least some of us do!

Others I know are ready to return and be around our friends and teachers.  I think we are all excited to begin a new year with new opportunities and new beginnings!

As I enjoyed our break, I also enjoyed some of the weather it brought us here in Charlotte.  We went North to Indiana and endured some very cold temperatures for Christmas.  Then back down South to warmer days and quiet time.  How about you?

I was able to read some books over the break-ones I was excited about from Book Fair and also from authors I love.  I read Resistance by Jennifer A. Nielson and Prisoner B-3087 by Alan Gratz.  Both were phenomenal!  I am a historical fiction reader-and these delivered!  It taught me some things about WWII and about the Jewish resistance movements that I had not known before.  If you like history-these are some must reads!!!!

As I wind down on the last night before school again tomorrow, I wish that all my students have a great week, month and year. See you all tomorrow!

Hello to all!

I have been out for a week, and able to finish my book.  I am amazed at the story and astounded that it is in fact based on true events and true people.  I highly recommend picking up a book by Ruta Sepetys.  Here is the link to the book’s site: http://www.betweenshadesofgray.com/

While I have finished this book, I also find that my mind wanders from activity to activity.  I feel sometimes when we are home, whether for sickness, surgery, or weather, this tends to be a pattern: wander with our minds. Mine moves away from the school thoughts to the what if thoughts!  What if Newton never had an apple drop on him? What if Washington had said no to being President? What if we never found the Americas?

So many thoughts, yet where are the answers?  I say in books! I am sure that I can research and find answers to questions, or people who are asking and researching those same questions as me.  Have you?

If someone out there has not written one that answers the what if…….why don’t you?