Harcourt Publishing has a great math resource called Think Math available to teachers and students. You will find great online math games, interactive demonstrations of math concepts, math jingles to sing along with, and more! The activities are categorized by grade level and concept. Be sure to check this one out!

The 2010-2011 Show Me Readers Award nominees have been announced. This award is given for the best picture book as voted by kids in the state of Missouri. Be sure to start looking for these books on your book orders to prepare for next year. Here’s the list!

2010-2011 Show Me Award Nominees

Violet the Pilot by Steve Breen
Titanicat by Marty Crisp
Grace for President by Kelly DiPucchio
My Chincoteague Pony by Susan Jeffers
Owney the Mail Pouch Pooch by Mona Kerby
Two Bobbies, A True Story by Kirby Larson & Mary Nethery
Willow by Denise Brennan Nelson
Mr. Muddle’s Holidays by Laura Mielsen
For the Love of Autumn by Patricia Polacco
Lucky Star by Judy Young

As many of you know, I am on the Mark Twain Award committee this year. We just received the list of books that have been selected as the 2010-2011 Mark Twain Award nominees. The committee starts by reading over 200 books that are suggested by publishers, teachers, librarians, and students. We rate the books and narrow them down to a list of 35 that is then sent to several reader selectors across the state. Their rankings are then compiled, and that’s how we get the list!

Now, here’s what you’ve been waiting for (drum roll, please…):

Mark Twain Nominees 2010-2011

Seer of Shadows by Avi
The Magic Half by Annie Barrows
Margret and Flynn by Kathleen Duey
Found by Margarte Peterson Haddix
Go Big or Go Home by Will Hobbs
Stolen Children by Peg Kehret
School Spirit by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel
Safe at Home by Mike Lupica
The Totally Made Up Civil War Diary of Amanda MacLeish by Claudia Mills
Bringing the Boy Home by N.A. Nelson
The Leanin’ Dog by K.A. Nuzam
The Mysterious Case of the Albright Society by Diane Stanley

You  might start keeping an eye out for these titles in your book orders and stock up on them for your classroom for next year.

Enjoy!

This is a just for fun post. I’ve had Christmas on my brain since Halloween, so it’s a good thing I work in Branson where the Christmas season officially begins on November 1. Amazon is giving away 25 free Christmas song downloads – one each day in December! Enjoy some free holiday tunes and have a great holiday season.

Your library lady,

Cindy