In case you were wondering...

"Based on historical data from the Registrar of Copyrights, DC Entertainment recognizes that the world's most popular Super Hero — Batman — was first introduced to the public 75 years ago on March 30, 1939, in Detective Comics #27.

It was common practice in 1939, and remains so today, for publications to go on sale prior to their indicated cover date. Thus, while the Bat-Man (as he was then known) first appeared in the May 1939 cover-dated issue of Detective Comics #27, that issue actually hit newsstands on March 30, 1939."

 - DC Entertainment

Happy 75th Birthday Batman!

I {Heart} Books

Ah books…

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love thee cover, binding, pages crisp and bright

The times my soul can read, to its overwhelming delight

On the beach, at school, in bed at night.

I’ll read thee by sun and candle-light. 

Heroes, animals, kids from decades past,

Hand a book to me, so I can read at last.

I'm totally not even joking. I love books.

They make such nice companions.

Literally.

I usually read one book at home and I listen to another while I'm driving in the car. I especially love children's chapter books and young adult fiction. As many of you know, I am always on the look out for new books to read and you guys have recommended some amazing novels! 

I've been reading for quite a few years now, and I do have my favorites. When I decided to write this post, I thought I would list my Top 10. Then, I realized that was quite a challenging task! Instead, I've come up with grade-level categories. Books were sorted based on reading level, maturity level, and the age of the novel's main characters.

NOTE: The books below are my recommendations as of today, March 31, 2014. The list will grow and change as I discover new children's literature!

Click on the graphics below for a closer look at titles and authors.

To read my post on Boy Books, click here.
For my list of Chick Picks, click here.
To see what the high schoolers are reading, click here.

What book would you add to my list of recommendations? 

Stay tuned for student Book Club samples later in the week.

Yours truly,

What is Common Core?

Click on the image to enlarge.

Mama Owl's Eggs!

Well, it's confirmed! Mama Barn Owl laid two eggs (so far)!

Nice observation Mackenzie!

Click here for the original post and Live Barn Owl Cam.

Whooooo will leave a comment next?

Show & Tell

Many students are working on animal-themed projects this year. From art to poetry to science, they are all different, but equally cool. Take a look at the samples below and leave a comment to let your classmates know what you think of their work.

If you have something to share, send it to Mrs. Sol. It may end up on this blog or in a Class Connect session!

The Winter Fox

By Hailey

A little winter fox,

As orange as a sunset,

So beautiful.

The whispering winds of winter comes,

With a hush of silence,

And turns the fox cotton white.

What a fascinating sight. 

Lion By Cameron

Panda Bears By Carson from Mrs. Sol

  Even Vamp got a super cute cat drawing from Rebekah. Vamp loved it so much, she wrote a thank you note on it in her neatest cat printing...

Keep up the great work!

More Owl Observations

Many of you have enjoyed watching the live Barn Own cam this week. Adrian and Alysah deserve a big thank you for sending in another amazing link! Check out Mr. and Mrs. Tiger, two Great Horned Owls hanging out in eight year old Alessondra's a planter box in Oklahoma.


Live streaming video by Ustream

For more information about Alessondra, her nest cam, and Mr. and Mrs. Tiger, click here.

Let us know what you observe by adding a comment!

The Barn Owl Channel

This is cool. Check out The Owl Channel live owl cam! Here you can watch wild Barn Owls (Tyto alba)  live 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They roost and nest in an owl box called The Hideout. A camera is placed inside The Hideout, others are outside to watch them come and go.

 

Live streaming video by Ustream

Today in Class Connect, we learned a few things about amazing Barn Owls like the little guy above. Here are the resources, if you want to check them out:

Barn Owl Presentation

Barn Owls from rsol68

Presentation Links

• Barn Owl Video - http://safeshare.tv/w/ViqVOmDRVQ
• Barn Owl Info - http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Tyto_alba/
• Live Barn Owl Camera - http://www.ustream.tv/channel/9579359
• Barn Owl Presentation - http://www.slideshare.net/rsol68/barn-owls-32412780  
• The Mighty Owl - http://mrssolsclass.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-mighty-owl.html

Don't forget to turn in your Class Connect Reflection before the end of the month!

For a printable PDF of the Barn Owl Reflection sheet, click here.

Happy Pi Day!

Tomorrow, March 14, is Pi Day.

...and by Pi, I mean Pi (as in the math kind of Pi).

However, if you want to eat pie on Pi day, that's okay with me!

In fact, I think you should start the day with a pancake pie.

Have pot pie for lunch.

Order a pizza pie for dinner.

Then go straight for the chocolate cream pie.

But that's just me.

So, what is Pi?

    Here are a few fun Pi Day resources:   Pi Day at the Exploratorium Scholastic Pie Day Fun How to Celebrate Pi Day Mrs. Highley's Class Make a Pi Necklace Celebrate the Circle  Pi Day Around the World TeachPi.org   

 

Students enjoying Pi Day at Western Connecticut State University.

Seriously, celebrating Pi Day is as easy as 3.14159.

Have fun!

My Teacher is an Alien

Kids tell stories.

Dads act them out.

 Kid Snippets!

Oh, how I'd love to do this with your crazy-ninja-alien-exploding-candy Quick Write stories! Ha!

100 Yummies

Today, I took a trip to my mailbox to see what 100s Day Projects I would find. 

Little did I know I would find this...

Well done, Jason.

Well done.

Lesson Reflection

For this month's work sample. I'd like to you attend a Class Connect and write up a reflection about what you learned and how you contributed to the class. You can attend any Class Connect... even a Monday Meeting will do. If you attended a Class Connect this week that you want to tell me about, that's fine!

Use the Class Connect Reflection sheet to think about the class you attended. When you are done, you can k-mail, e-mail or mail it to me before March 28.

In order to contribute, you'll have to participate in a live class, not a recording.

 

If you need the printable copy, check your k-mail or click here.

[Teacher Friends: for a generic Exit Ticket to use for any subject or lesson, click here]

Please let me know if you have any questions.
I look forward to your reflections!

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

If he were alive today, Dr. Seuss would be 110 years old! 

 

Theodor Seuss Geisel, known to the world as Dr. Seuss was born on 2nd of March 1904 in Howard Street, Springfield, Massachusetts. He is widely recognized for his contribution as a writer, poet and cartoonist. He wrote 46 books for children mainly based on imaginative characters and rhymes. His work has also been adopted into many television specials, feature films and television series.  

From The Cat in the Hat, to Green Eggs and Ham, to Horton Hears a Who, Dr. Seuss wrote many popular stories in his lifetime. Many of his books were created to help children learn to read. All of his books teach a valuable lesson.

For example...

I love that story and I'm betting you didn't know who Gerald McBoing-Boing was before today!

What is your favorite Dr. Seuss book?

For more Seuss-y fun, visit Seussville.com.