Book Chat with Mrs. Matzat

Keyboarding Extravaganza!

CINDY MATZAT — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:55:45 +0000

I found some great new keyboarding sites that I thought you would like to use as you practice your keyboarding skills. Pick a different one each day (or stick with your favorite) and see how quickly you can improve your typing skills. You’ll be a pro in no time! Be sure to leave me a comment and tell which one is your favorite!

Super Hyper Typer Spider

Keyboard Climber

Fearless Freida

Learn to Type

Typing Adventure Level 1

Typing Adventure Level 2

KeyMan

Dance Mat Typing

Hugo Cabret movie comes out soon!

CINDY MATZAT — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 20:10:00 +0000

One of the most popular books in our library the last couple of years has been The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick. This Caledecott-winning story is an amazing book that really relies on the illustrations to help tell the tale. The 526 page book has 300 illustrations, so even though it seems like a long story, many of the pages are pictures. Here’s a brief description from the author’s website:

“Orphan, clock keeper, and thief, twelve-year-old Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity. But when his world suddenly interlocks with an eccentric girl and the owner of a small toy booth in the train station, Hugo’s undercover life, and his most precious secret, are put in jeopardy. A cryptic drawing, a treasured notebook, a stolen key, a mechanical man, and a hidden message all come together…in The Invention of Hugo Cabret.”

I really love this story, and I am excited to see how they adapt it into a movie. The movie comes out in theaters on November 23. Check out the movie website to see the movie trailer.

If you have read this book, share your thoughts about it by writing a comment. If you get to see the movie over break, let me know what you think about it.

Your library lady,

Mrs. Matzat

Diary of a Wimpy Kid – Cabin Fever Contest!

CINDY MATZAT — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 19:26:30 +0000

I hope you enjoyed watching the live webcast on Tuesday with author Jeff Kinney. I learned a lot of things about him as a writer. I would love to hear what you thought about the webcast. Be sure to share a comment and tell me the most interesting thing you learned during the webcast.

Because I’m such a cool library lady, I have 10 brand new copies of Diary of a Wimpy Kid – Cabin Fever that I’m giving away. Now you know me – you have to show me that you should win one of these great books! So, I’m having a contest. To enter, you have to create your own comic story! Ten lucky winners will be chosen to get a copy of the book!

In the new book Cabin Fever, Greg Hefley is stuck at home with his family over the holidays because of a blizzard. Create your own “wimpy kid” style comic showing what your day would be like if you were trapped at home over the holidays with your family. Be creative! You can pick up a copy of the contest form from Mrs. Matzat, or ask your teacher to print one for you from the link below. The contest ends November 22. Good luck, and I can’t wait to read your “wimpy” stories!

Click here for contest form

It’s Book Fair Week!

CINDY MATZAT — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 14:36:19 +0000

I get so excited during book fair week! I love seeing all of the new books that are out there. Shopping the book fair is a nice way for your family to get new books for your home library, and it is a great way to help earn money for the library to earn new books, too! Even if you are not planning to shop the fair, I do want you to let me know which books you like so that I can purchase some of them for our library. After watching the book fair video and looking at the books at the fair, what are some of your favorites? Share those with me by commenting on this post.

Also, don’t forget that Family Reading Night is is Tuesday, October 11 at 6:00 in the East gym. We have lots of fun stories, games, crafts, and snacks. Bring your whole family because Reading Night is free! If you want to shop the book fair, it will also be open that evening.

I can’t wait to hear which books you like!

Mrs. Matzat

Winter’s Tail is now a movie!

CINDY MATZAT — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 17:19:51 +0000

Last December I wrote to you about a great book in our library called Winter’s Tail: How One Little Dolphin Learned to Swim Again.

This amazing, true story of a dolphin who lost its tail has now been made into a movie that opens in theaters this Friday! The movie is called Dolphin Tale, and it looks like it will be great! To see a preview of the movie, click the poster below.

Even if you don’t get to see the movie, be sure to check out the book from our library. You’ll find it in our nonfiction section at 639.97 Hat.

Go to last year’s post for more information and activities about Winter.

Let me know what you think of the book once you read it, and if you get to see the movie, let me know how it compares.

Mrs. Matzat

Welcome back! (and some free onlinebooks!)

CINDY MATZAT — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 19:15:57 +0000

Greetings, Elementary West students! I’m so glad to be back at school with you this year. I’m so sorry that I had to miss the first week of school, but as most you know, I had to take care of my mom while she was sick in the hospital. But, I’m back now, and it has been so nice to see all of you again, and to get to meet my new second graders.

I hope that you all had a wonderful summer break. I spent a lot of time with my family, I taught a bunch of computer classes to teachers, and I read LOTS of great books. What did you do that was fun this summer? Did you get a chance to read any books?

I wanted to share a new website that I found. It’s called Children’s Books Forever, and it has several picture books that you can read for free online! All you need is a computer with Internet access. I hope you enjoy the stories.

Be sure to leave a comment telling me about your summer and let me know what you think of this website.

Mrs. Matzat

Summer Reading Programs – Earn free stuff for reading!

CINDY MATZAT — Mon, 23 May 2011 13:20:38 +0000

Summer is a great time to do some extra reading! You can really take time to enjoy several books without the extra pressures of school. Many local libraries and books stores are offering special reading programs where you can earn fun prizes, including free books! Be sure to check these out and share them with your parents. The Taneyhills library in Branson and the Taney County Library in Forsyth usually have summer reading programs as well. They just don’t have a website that I can link to.

Springfield Greene County Library – Springfield, MO
http://thelibrary.org/oneworld/

Christian Country Library – Ozark, MO
http://cclsummer.blogspot.com/2011/04/session-sign-up-and-reading.html

Scholastic Summer Challenge
http://www.scholastic.com/summer/

Scholastic Summer Challenge Booklist Ages 6-7
http://printables.scholastic.com/content/collateral_resources/pdf/11/SCBookList572011_006.pdf

Scholastic Summer Challenge Booklist Ages 8-10
http://printables.scholastic.com/content/collateral_resources/pdf/11/SCBookList8102011_007.pdf

Scholastic Summer Challenge Booklist Ages 10-12
http://printables.scholastic.com/content/collateral_resources/pdf/11/SCBookList102011_008.pdf

Barnes and Noble Summer Reading Program Imagination’s Destination
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/summerreading/index.asp

Books a Million Junie B. Jones Summer Reading

See local Branson store for information

And the winners are…

CINDY MATZAT — Wed, 18 May 2011 12:51:28 +0000

I read lots of great entries from kids who want to eat lunch with Kelly DiPucchio, and the winners have been selected. Drum roll please…

And the winners are:

Faith 506

Gabby 505

Lucy 505

Aden 408

Jenny 506

Ian 311

Congratulations to these kids. You will be eating lunch in the library tomorrow at noon!

Another contest in honor of our author visit! Win an autographed copy of Clink!

CINDY MATZAT — Tue, 17 May 2011 00:36:58 +0000

In honor of our author visit by Kelly DiPucchio this week, I’m hosting yet another contest for you! This time, the prize is an autographed copy of her newest book, Clink!

Last week, we read the story of Clink, a robot who was programmed to play music and make toast. There were some other robots in the story as well. Zippy could play baseball and clean up laundry at the same time. Blade could do fancy hairstyles. Penny could help with homework and make chocolate chip cookies. If you could design a robot, what would you name it? What would you program your robot to do?

Get a copy of the contest entry form from your teacher or Mrs. Matzat. Your job is to design your own robot. Give it a creative name, and tell me what you would have your robot do. Be sure to draw a colorful picture of what your robot looks like. The winning robot designer will get an autographed copy of Kelly DiPucchio’s book, Clink!

The deadline for the contest is this Wednesday, so get started now! Good luck!

Mrs. Matzat

Win lunch with Kelly DiPucchio

CINDY MATZAT — Mon, 16 May 2011 15:23:23 +0000

On May 19, Kelly DiPucchio, the author of one of my favorite picture books, Sipping Spiders Through a Straw, is coming to visit our school! Six lucky kids have a chance to win lunch with Mrs. DiPucchio! To enter the contest, you need to write a good persuasive paragraph to me, telling me why you think you deserve to have lunch with the author. Here’s what you need to do to enter the contest:

1. Write your persuasive paragraph. Make sure you include specific reasons why you should get to have lunch with her. Be convincing! Type your paragraph in Word and save it so you don’t lose your work.

2. Copy your paragraph and paste it into a comment on this blog post. Your teacher or I can help you do this if you do not know how. Remember to use our Internet safety rules and only post your first name and your room number.

3. Submit your paragraph before the end of the day on Tuesday, May 17.

4. Check the blog Wednesday morning to see if you are one of the winners.

Good luck and have fun!

Mrs. Matzat