I LOVE TO READ

Beginning January 3, 2011, Delta Middle School students have an opportunity to participate in the WISH-TV sponsored "I love to read" challenge.

The rules are pretty simple.  Students will keep a log of their reading time on a daily basis.  The goal for our students is a total of 2,500 minutes and 1,000 minutes for a class.  Students and classes with these minimums are eligible for prize drawings.

The only reading time that CANNOT be recorded on the log is text book reading.  Assigned books or novels are okay as well as personal reading time, reading aloud by teachers, parents, etc. as well as books on tape or CD.

A student at each grade level of all of the participating schools will be chosen randomly to receive a $1,000 savings bond and one classroom per grade that reaches the the challenge minutes will be chosen to receive a $250 check for classroom supplies, field trip, etc.

An award ceremony will be held at the Children's Museum of Indianapolis in April for all the winning students and classrooms to receive their checks.  The winners are also guests of the museum for the day and enjoy a reception after the awards program.

Another Contest is on the Way!

As winter fast approaches--yes, it does seem to be here already--we may be entering another reading contest with prizes, money and recognition.  MORE TO FOLLOW SOON!

This month is already in full swing.  Friday, December 10, is the annual teacher breakfast sponsored by National Junior Honor Society.  We have several parents and students supplying some delicious food and tasty beverages as well as students serving the teachers and hopefully having time to sit and dine with them as well.  We only hope the weather is calm and school is in session.

Watch for news about the contest, stay warm, be kind, and read something you enjoy.  If you've run out of favorite authors, ask friends or the friendly staff in the library for suggestions!

Update at the lmc (library/media center)

What a busy month--book fair, NJHS food drive, NJHS lock-in and bell ringing for the Salvation Army kept me hopping.  A great big THANK YOU for all who participated by assisting the set up at the book fair, buying the book fair products, bringing in food, working at lock-in or ringing bells at the Muncie Mall.  Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did...now that it's over and I can reflect on everything.  You were all great--staff, students and parents. 

Kudos to Mrs. Cook, Mrs. Finley, Ms. Horst,  Mrs. McMillan, Mrs.Meacham, and Mrs. Virgin for all their help at the book fair as well as my dear mother who accompanied me every day of book fair.  Also, for the lock-in, a special hats off to Mrs. Anderson, Mrs. Brelage, Mrs. Gibson, Mrs. Hahn, Dr. Hall, Mrs. Kirby, Mrs. McCowan, Mrs. Melton, and Mrs. Minch for their assistance at the lock-in.  And finally, thanks again to Mrs. McCowan for helping with the bell ringing at the mall and also to Mrs. Virgin, Mrs. Emrick and my mother.  It would have been a really long day for me without your able helping hands!  You all rule! 

Since the last Reading Counts post, I've uncovered more bookworms in the library.  Did you know that sixth graders Aubrey Holten, Cedric Hofstetter, Conner Davis, Morgan Whitmer, Marissa Skeen, Andrew Dunnuck, Hunter Miller, Laurel Woolums and Maddie Harris have more than 100 points now?  Sixth graders Raymond McQueary and Rachael Hiatt have more than 300 points, Maddie Gullion has more than 400 points, Michael Himes has more than 600 points and Libby Fox has hit 1,000 plus points!  Perhaps I should include how many million words these avid bookworms have digested.  Awesome!

Seventh grader Franklin Dargo, Katelyn Milligan, Thomas Nelson, and Evan White have more than 100 points now; Austin Haynes and Kayle McKnight have passed 200 points; Kimberlyn Mendivel, David Engle, and Jessica Minch zoomed over 300 points; Anna Groover has more than 500 points; and Drew Ellery passed more than 600 points.

Eighth graders making more than 100 points for the first time are Annaliese Bankson, Megan Clark, Stephany Cortner, Taylor Sanders, and Grace Wilson.  Carrie Bradshow now has more than 200 points; Alyvia Morgan and Arryn Dennard passed 300 points, Delaney McCaslin and Hallie Dietz are beyond 400 points; and Shaylie Hall speed read through 500 points.  However, Emily Kirby  leaves everyone in the dust with more than 1,400 points!  What is her secret?

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I hope it is a wonderful time for you--family, food and fun.  Make some wonderful memories.

BOOK FAIR IS COMING SOON!!!!

Next month--that would be November--we have a book fair scheduled in conjunction with lunch with parents.  I still haven't figured out all the nuances of the middle school book fair, but here's what I do know.  A) It will be held in the wrestling room which is near the cafeteria.  B) The book fair will be open during the week of November 8-12 for students.  C) On November 9, sixth grade students who are accompanied by a parent or guardian will be welcomed to shop at the book fair during that lunch period.  Unfortunately, because of crowded conditons, friends may not also come with each other and a parent.  All students will have the opportunity to shop different days and times.  D) On November 10, seventh grade students and parents/guardians will have an opportunity to shop during lunch--again students with parents only..  E) On November 11 (also Veteran's Day) eighth graders may shop with parents/guardians during lunch.

We're very excited about some of the new books that will be available.  One book that is due on November 9 is the newest Diary of a Wimpy Kid  and we will have it that day too!!!   

I will try to get more informatin out as time draws near' don't forget to mark your calendars!

Reading results update needed

Here it is, Friday, end of day and I was looking at the reading reports for different grades and classes.  What a difference three weeks make.  We have added several more students who have more that 100 Reading Counts points: Sydney Decker (6th grade); Raymond McQueary (6th grade); Luke Prince (6th grade); David Engle (7th grade); Austin Haynes (7th grade); Kayle McKnight (7th grade); Carrie Bradshaw (8th grade); Joseph Dalton (8th grade); Joshua Minch (8th grade); Alyvia Morgan (8th grade) and Tanner Wilburn (8th grade).  Those who have passed the 200 point milestone are Jonathan Basey, Maddie Guillion, Jonah Haley, and Rachael Hiatt--all sixth grade; Sidney Barkdull; Anna Groover and Jessica Minch--seventh grade; Arryn Dennard; Elise Eppard; and Shaylie Hall who are all eighth graders.  With more than 300 points are Jared Hunt (6th grade); Hallie Dietz and Delaney McCaslin (8th grade).  Those exceeding 400 points are Michael Himes (6th grade); and Drew Ellery (7th grade).  At more than 600 points--yes, I did skip 500 points and went directly to 600-- are two young ladies--Libby Fox (6th grade) and Emily Kirby (8th grade).   The Reading Counts program actually keeps track of word count and both Libby and Emily have exceeded the two and a half million words count!

Also, we have some new reading incentives too.  If sixth graders read a least five Young Hoosier books before March 15, 2011, they will be invited to popcorn and a movie in the media center.  If five books are read and tests taken earlier, then the students will be issued a pass to the media center for the following month.  This will also be true for seventh grade students who have been challenged to read Newbery award books and eighth grade students who have a wide range of classic book choices.  In November passes will be issued to sixth grade students Sydney Decker, Libby Fox, and Maddie Gullion for reading at least five Young Hoosier books and seventh grader David Engle has also earned a pass for reading Newbery books.   There may be more students as well since we have a remaing two or so weeks before November 1.

Finally, some students are wanting even more incentives--free books, so the gauntlet has been thrown.  Any student who has more than 500 Reading Counts points for the year will receive a paperback book from the spring book fair!

Paws to Read

My dog Max is a wirehair dachshund and a terrific little guy that has earned a Canine Good Citizenship certificate and is also a member of Therapy Dog International.  Being a TDI dog means he is welcome in different public facilities where we are invited.  An obvious site where I love to go is the public library and he is also welcome!  He listens to children read to him and seems to really enjoy meeting new people.  He and I will be at Kennedy Library on Thursday, October 7 at 6:00 p.m.  Hope to see you there too!

Delta National Junior Honor Society

We have quite a large group for our NJHS chapter and many different service projects available.  One project recently was on a Sunday afternoon in Yorktown at Morrow Meadows.  Some of the student pictures are on facebook at the following:  http://www.facebook.com/#!pages/Muncie-IN/WGE-Federal-Credit-Union/14097559249281?ref=ts

There are also many other opportunites for our NJHS students to participate in service projects.  One is our L.I.F.T. program which is after school (one hour is required for L.I.F.T.) and another is during Family Fitness night at the high school.  Both involve tutoring students.  Another possibility is helping with a swim meet that is an all day event at DHS on Saturday, October 30.  And, thinking ahead to November, we can also be bell ringers for the Salvation Army at the Muncie Mall on Saturday, November 20, in front of the JC Penney's store inside the mall.

Whatever students choose to do, it is a positive experience and appreciated more than words can express.

Reading Counts is busy

While it took some time accessing Reading Counts and enrolling students, business is booming now.  Oh, for those who haven't heard of Reading Counts, it is similar to Accelerated Reading.  Anyway, I wanted to mention some names of students who are doing a fabulous job of reading and passing those tests.  As of  just a few minutes ago, sixth grade students with more than 100 points are Sidney Barkdull, Conner Davis, Jonah Haley, Rachael Hiatt, Aubree Holten,  and Jared Hunt.  Libby Fox surpassed 200 points while Michael Himes has more than 300 points.   What a tremendous beginning for these sixth graders.  I'll try to update occasionally as there are others who are very close to 100 points as well and the scores change by the minute as students take tests.  I can't keep up with them!!  But that's what makes it fun!

Drew Ellery is leading 7th grade with more than four hundred points while Anna Groover has more than a hundred points, and it appears that they will be joined by several others soon.  And in 8th grade, Arryn Dennard and Tanner Wilburn are over the hundred mark, while Shaylie Hall and Delaney McCaslin are beyond 200 points, Hallie Dietz has more than 300 points and Emily Kirby leads all students with more than 500 points.

Homework Hotline

Occasionally you may find yourself at a loss and need help with homework later in the evening.  If you are having problems with math or science, read the following.

Homework Help for Students Available by Phone, Online
Students in grades 6-12 who are having trouble with math or science assignments can find help with just a phone call or computer mouse click!

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology will again offer free tutoring every Sunday through Thursday, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. EST. Hoosier students can call 1-877-ASK-ROSE (1-877-275-7673) and receive personal attention as they work through difficult problems.

Students calling the hotline will need to provide their first name, their school's name and be prepared with necessary materials:
- Homework assignment;
- Textbook (if available);
- Paper;
- Pen or pencil; and
- Calculator (if necessary).

Homework questions can also be submitted online at http://www.AskRose.org.
Responses to online questions are given during the Homework Hotline's hours of operation, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. This program is funded by Lilly Endowment, Inc.

Tutoring is provided by college students who were recommended by their professors. Tutors are chosen based on technical and communication skills. They are trained on how to best answer questions and explain difficult concepts to younger students. In order to provide help with questions, tutors are armed with copies of state recommended textbooks and Internet access. While they are not to give students the answers to problems or assignments, tutors will help students analyze questions and come up with solutions.

Teachers may access lesson plans, articles, a summary of Indiana's academic standards and other educational resources when visiting http://www.AskRose.org.

Thousands of Hoosier students took advantage of this educational resource during the 2009-2010 school year. Homework Hotline tutors answered a record 46,228 calls and conducted 3,405 online tutoring sessions last year. Nearly 80 percent of phone calls to the hotline dealt with math problems. As we enter a new school year, please remember this great resource providing Hoosier students more tools to help them succeed academically.

Writing contest for students

Even though our book fair is a few weeks away, we are already in contact with Scholastic or at least the folks at Scholastic are in contact with us!  Today I learned about a writing contest sponsored by Scholastic that appears to be pretty darn terrific if you'd like to go to New York City (with parents or a chaperon such as myself or your language arts teacher or maybe an entourage of all of us!) courtesy of Scholastic.  The essay is a scant two hundred fifty words of a favorite book that will always be remembered and why.

It would seem the most difficult decision is choosing a favorite book and then writing succinct but eloquent words about reading.  It looks like a great contest! 

Here is the link: http://www.scholastic.com/readeveryday/essaycontest.htm?esp=CORP/ib/20100823/acq/unpd//liveevents//taylorswift_ESSAY_teacherHomepage

You may need to copy and paste.  Good luck to any Eagle who decides to enter!