2nd Quarter - The Holiday Quarter

     Welcome back to school after a fabulous fall break.  Autumn is most definitely in the air.  Bring on cozy fires by which to read a great book.

     This quarter is full of holidays:  Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.  These holidays are usually full of family activities that break up the usual evening at home preparing for the next school day.  I try to encourage students to get on top of their reading goals early.  AR reading goals are set according to STAR testing.  Those students who have consistently read the first quarter tend to go up in their reading levels.  New reading levels ignite enthusiasm for new books and reading opportunities.

     Students are encouraged to check out both fiction and nonfiction books.  Fiction is for the pure pleasure of reading.  Informational text (nonfiction that is usually science, math, or social studies based) teaches each of us how to read and retain information differently than the relaxed reading of fiction.  Research indicates that your child will be reading 75% - 90% informational text by the time s/he graduates from high school.  At ILE, we are spending hours locating the best informational texts for students to read. 

     Some of us are auditory readers and need to hear the words as well as see the words.  Go to the Hendersonville Public Library site (http://www2.youseemore.com/hendersonville/default.asp) and look for TumbleBooks.  These books are interactive books - both fiction and nonfiction - that your child can read and be read to.  Oftentimes, there are activities included with the reading.  Many of these e-books are AR books, and your child can test on them at school.  It is a fun and innovative way to read. 

     This quarter, we will also have the Scholastic Book Fair:  November 8 - 15.  The theme is Reading Oasis - A Cool Place to Discover Hot Books!  Think mummies, pharoahs, Egypt.  The library will be closed for check-out for 7 - 8 days.  However, most of the Scholastic books are also AR books.  Plan now.

     Speaking of the Book Fair, I could use some parent volunteers.  I need a DECORATION CREW and BOOK FAIR STAFF for November 7 - November 15.  Are you available?  We are able to purchase MORE books from our sales.  Your help would be invaluable. 

     Let me be the first to wish you a quarter of family fun and holidays!  May parents and kids learn to love reading!

Kathy Gallagher