Summer is Near! Get Your Books Ready!

We are in the homestretch! My summer vacation plans always include lots of reading! Most summers my goal is to average one book per day of break. This includes picture books, graphic novels, early chapter books, middle grade, young adult, and adult books.  I try to read a variety of genre and then make sure I order the awesome ones for the library!

What is your summer reading goal?

Research shows that students (and parents!) who read throughout the summer continue to grow academically. Those who do not read can lose up to three months of academic growth! 

If you are looking for some books to read - check out my Suggested Summer Reads 
(will try to update throughout the summer so check back!)

Series-ly? What's Next?

City of Heavenly Fire by Cassndra Clare
The One by Kiera Cass
BZRK by Micheal Grant
Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
Eye of Minds by James Dashner
Codename Zero by Chris Rylander
The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud
United We Spy by Ally Condie
Archived by Victoria Schwab
Revolution by Deborah Wiles
Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis
Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkowksi
Princess Labelmaker by Tom Angleberger
Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins
The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Feeling Sorry for Celia by Jaclyn Moriarty
Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

New (ish) Young Adult titles

Midwinter Blood by Marcus Sedgwick (Printz Award)
Chasing Shadows by Swati Avasthi
Hostage Three by Nick Lake
Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson
Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
The Summer of Letting Go by Gae Polisner
Far Far Away by Tom McNeal
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
Chapel Wars by Lindsay Leavitt
To All The Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

Some Fantastic Middle Grade Reads

Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo (Newbery Award)
Wig in the Window by Kirsten Kittscher
Sidekicked by John David Anderson
Space Rocks by Tom O'Donnell
14 Fibs of Gregory K by Greg Pincus
Stormwatcher by Maria V Snyder
Riverman by Aaron Starmer
Better Nate than Ever by Tim Federle
Star Wars: Jedi Academy by Jeffery Brown

Great Graphic Novels

Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook by Eleanor Davis
The Silver Six by AJ Lieberman
Astronaut Academy by Dave Roman
Galaxy Games: The Challengers by Greg R. Fishbone
Drama by Raina Tegelmeier
The Lunch Lady series by JJ Krosoczka
Tommysaurus Rex by Doug TenNapel

Something for the Parents

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Letters from Skye by Jessica Brockmole
The Rosie Project by Graeme Stinson
Vicious by VE Schwab
Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosch (NF)
More Baths, Less Talking by Nick Hornby (NF)
The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
Breaking Night by Liz Murray (NF)
Journal of Best Practices by David Finch (NF)
Longbourn by Jo Baker
Americanah by Chinamanda Adiche
Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonsen

Classic/Contemporary Pairs (who does it better?)

To Kill a Mockingbird/Monster by Walter Dean Myers/I Kill the Mockingbird by Paul Acampora

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte/Jane by April Linder
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare/When You Were Mine by Rebecca Searle/If You Come Softly by Jacqueline Woodson
Don Quixote by Miguel De Cervantes/Last Summer of the Death Warriors by Francisco X Stork/Going Bovine by Libba Bray/Spinning Out by David Stahler, Jr.
1984 by George Orwell/Little Brother by Cory Doctorow/Feed by MT Anderson
Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne/Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle/When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
Lord of the Flies by William Golding /Gone by Michael Grant
Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger/Looking for Alaska by John Green
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett/The Humming Room by Ellen Potter
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck /The Pull of Gravity by Gae Polisner
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley/This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel

Oldies But Goodies

Forgotten by Cat Patrick

Before I Go To Sleep by SJ Watson (adult)
The First Part Last by Angela Johnson
I Am the Messenger by Marcus Zusak
Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutcher
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
The Apothecary by Maile Meloy
Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John
The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall
So Much For That by Lionel Shriver (adult)


Don't forget to check out AudioSync YA for two free audiobooks per week until August 20, 2014.
Also, use the link in the sidebar to check out books through Overdrive!

Not all books are appropriate for every student. Please continue to monitor and discuss your student's reading.

Have a happy and safe summer!

Happy Spring Break!

Dress Like Your Faction - February 28, 2014

One Book, One School 2014 Kickoff - Divergent

Mrs. Zane's readers

Today we kicked off our 4th Annual All School Read!

Divergent was chosen by a committee of teachers from different subject areas along with two parents and me, the librarian! Every student and staff member received a copy of the book.

During this celebration of books and reading,  we will utilize a Friday Read schedule every day so that students will have some time to read in school each day.


 TENTATIVE SCHEDULE (the polar vortex has made scheduling very difficult!)

Assigned Reading
Week ONE - Read Ch. 1-8 pgs. 1-90
Week TWO - Read Ch. 9-16 pgs. 91-208
Week THREE - Read Ch. 17-23 pgs. 209-300
Week FOUR - Read Ch. 24-30 pgs. 301-396
Week FIVE - Read Ch. 31-39 pgs. 397-487

Activities
Trivia Questions -4 days a week.
Game Shows - Weekly game show hosted by Mr. Reininga.  We will focus on one faction per week!
Art Contest  - Design a new faction with symbols, colors, motto, and an outfit.
Dress Like Your Faction Contest - 1 winner per grade
Battle of the Book - students and teachers form teams to see who can remember the most!
Family Trivia Night - Divergent and Related Trivia!

Tshirts! -This year we have T-shirts. The order form will be posted soon!

Faction pictures from Mrs. Crawford's class

Erudite

Amity

Dauntless

Factionless

Discovery Blue Ribbon Celebration

Mrs. Harper and Mrs. Crawford are in Washington, DC to receive the Blue Ribbon award on behalf of Discovery Middle School.

What's Happening?
You can follow the celebration on twitter
use hashtag #nbrs2013

FOLLOW THE LIVESTREAM!
http://liveeventaccess.com/blueribbon/
8:00 - 9:30 - Investing in Leadership
12:10 - 3:30 - Awards Ceremony

Crime and Punishment?

Why is Mrs. Harper in jail? And smiling?

FMA Live comes to Discovery!

See story on WSBT - Students get in to hip-hop with physics!