On my Radar

On My Radar 

My very favorite blogger College Prepster does a “on my radar” each week and I wanted to give it a try. I love the idea of saying 5 things that I am loving this week! They my not be school related, but I promise they will be awesome!

1.

My school Halloween night

Friday night my school had Halloween night and that was the first that I had ever been too. This was so fun and great to see families and grow as a school family together!! I love feeling like I am really part of something special. I also just really love dressing up!

2. 

1989

Um I secretly love love love Taylor Swift and I love so much that I now have her new CD. I have only listened to the first three songs so far but I am telling you I love them. They make me want to dance! 

3.

Mo… as Always

I got Mo Willems new book called “ Waiting is not easy”

I love this story because I can relate. I hate waiting. I hate waiting for surprised. I hate waiting for my own classroom and I hate waiting to meet the love of my life. But I do love the message of this books which is good things come to those who wait and something are worth waiting for.

4.

Fall

I am so glad that the weather is changing and that it is getting cooler. I love the fall. I love are the beauty out side and I love the smell of leaves. I am a very lucky girl to live in Indiana where the fall is so beautiful.

This is not me but I do not think that this could be a more perfect image! Yay google images!!

What is going on in your world? Anything worth sharing?

Ms. Cara

I am loving Tomie dePaola!!

Our next class will be November 8. Cant wait to see you there!!Oliver Button is a sissy

When I was a little girl I loved watching Barney. One of my favorite episodes was when Tomie dePaola was on. I only remember his drawing, but this was probably 20 years ago and it still is something that I think of often. I never really grew up with reading his stories, but I have always loved his illustrations. 

In my student teaching class we have been reading several of his books. I began to love him so I purchased several of his books. Today I read Oliver Button is a Sissy. This is a book that I have learned a lot about, but I had not read it. This was a great story. It is a story of Oliver Button who wasn’t like typical boys. He preferred to take walks, jump rope, and dance. 

In my second semester in the school of education we read Reading with meaning by Debbie Miller.

 Reading with Meaning by Debbie Miller

        She talked about Oliver Button all through her book and how she used in in her classroom. She talks about reading the book for the following reasons…

•  to build trust in the classroom
• as a read aloud
• looking for deeper meaning
• building schema
• character connections
• using as a classroom book club 

I love the thought of having this book for so many fun reasons. It is a book that I now see as a must have for my collection and for any classroom collection.

I have been on fall break for two weeks now and get to go back and see my firsties on Monday! I am so excited. Are you on fall break? What have you been doing? Do you love Tomie dePaola? Let me know! I would love so much to hear from you.

Keep Reading,

Ms. Cara

Facebook

I am working on learning how to put a Facebook button on here, but if anyone would like to follow my page here is the link facebook.com/mscarafarmer

Have a fabulous day!!

The Princess in Black

I am pretty darn pumped right now! In fact I would say that I am so excited I want to tell you about it right at this very exact moment, but we need a little back story first.

As a child I always grew up wanting to have a girl hero. I grew up always hearing girls rule and girls are the best. I totally believed this, but as someone that loved reading and loved listening to stories I wanted a girl hero in my stories. In 1st and 2nd grade I read a lot of Junie B. Jones. She is great, but she is not much of a hero. I always think about this when I am picking a book for my future classroom. Will the main character of this story empower my students? 

Today, I found something amazing. I found something wonderful. I found something great while I was shopping with my sweet kids that I babysit. We were at the book section (of course, my favorite part of any store) and we were looking at all sorts of fun stories. It was then that I saw it. I saw The Princess in Black by Shannon Hale. I was always a huge fan of Shannon Hale growing up and now I love her even more. 

The Princess in Black

This book was not supposed to be out yet, not until October 14th, but for some reason it was out early and I am so glad. The story follows Princess Magnolia. Princess Magnolia is a proper princess. She always wore pink, always was neat, and always did what a princess needed to do. The thing is Princess Magnolia has a secret. She had a very very big secret. She is not just Princess Magnolia, she is someone else entirely. Princess Magnolia is the Princess in black and she fights crime to keep the people of her kingdom safe. 

I loved this story! I love the way it was written and how easily the reader gets sucked in. This story made me feel like I could do anything. I want every girl to feel like they can rule the world. If you know a little girl or any girl they should read this story. You should read it with them and you should enjoy how very awesome it is to be a girl.

I would say its about at the same reading level as a Mercy Watson book. I would say its great for first and second grade readers. 

Have you read anything that made you smile lately? Whats going on in your classroom? Let me know :) have a great week!

Keep Reading,

Ms. Cara

I wanted to share this so that you could hear Shannon's thoughts on her book and on writing!!

I saw this and I could hardly handle how cute it was. So your sweet child could dress like Princess Magnolia for Halloween!! I love a good book themed costume.