Book Review: Goofballs (The Crazy Case of Missing Thunder)

Welcome to “Keep In Touch Tuesday” and our Third book review. We are featuring the book, Goof Balls (The Crazy Case of Missing Thunder) by Tony Abbott.  Read my book review below and leave any questions or comments in the Comments and Trackbacks section.

Goofballs (The Crazy Case of Missing Thunder) By Tony Abbott




There is nothing like a good mystery and the Goofballs love solving mysteries.  The Goofballs are four friends, Jeff, Brian, Mara, and Kelly.  They meet at the town library to solve mysteries.  In The Crazy Case of Missing Thunder, the Goofballs solve their latest mystery and it has to do with a missing horse, named Thunder.  Did you think Thunder had something to do with the weather?  I did, until I read the book.  I can't tell you the rest.  You'll have to read the book to find out how the mystery is solved.

I enjoyed reading this book.  I also liked the fact that the main character is a boy named Brian.  However, I think both boys and girls will like this book.  I think this book is especially good for its play on words, like thunder and Thunder and porpoise and purpose.  The book also uses a lot of interesting words like suspicious, mysterious, and culprit.  This book was funny and I kept wondering how the Goofballs were going to solve the mystery.  I give Goofballs, The Crazy Case of Missing Thunder-5 STARS.  Leave your comments below and Happy Reading!

Book Review: Katie Kazoo, Switcheroo (Anyone But Me)

Welcome to "Keep In Touch Tuesday" and our second book review. We are featuring the book, Kattie Kazoo, Switcheroo (Anyone But Me) by Nancy Krulik.  Read my book review below and leave any questions or comments in the comments section.

Katie Kazoo, Switcheroo (Anyone But Me) By Nancy Krulik


Have you ever been bullied?  Hopefully, you have not.  If you have been bullied before, you probably felt like Katie.  You wish you could be someone else--anybody--else!  Katie ruins her favorite jeans, lets out the loudest burp in the history of her school, and gets teased by the classroom bully, all in one day!   It's no wonder that she wants to be anybody else.  However, in the words of someone famous, "Be careful what you wish for."  Katie soon discovers that things are not always as they appear to be.  Read the book to find out what Katie discovers.  You might enjoy reading other books in the Katie Kazoo series:


Katie Kazoo-Out to Lunch
Katie Kazoo-Oh, Baby!
Katie Kazoo-Girls Don't Have Cooties
Katie Kazoo-I Hate Rules!

I enjoyed reading this book.  Both boys and girls will enjoy reading this book too.  I love the title of this book because the word "switcheroo" is one of my favorite words.  Just ask my first graders.  I give Katie Kazoo, Switcheroo--5 STARS.   Leave your comments below and Happy Reading!

Book Review: Heidi Heckelbeck and the Cookie Contest

Welcome to "Keep In Touch Tuesday" and our first book review.  We are featuring the book, Heidi Hecklebeck and the Cookie Contest by Wanda Coven.  Read my review below and leave any questions or comments in the comment section.

Heidi Heckelbeck and the Cookie Contest by Wanda Coven



Have you ever entered a contest before?  Heidi decides to enter her family's recipe in the local cookie contest.  After learning what the other kids are making, Heidi decides <em>her</em> cookies are too plain.  She wants to change the name of her cookies and spruce them up to make them really special.  However, things don't turn out like Heidi expects.  I can't tell you the rest.  You'll have to read the book to find out how the drama ends.  I enjoyed reading this book.  There were a lot of funny parts that really made me laugh.  I think both boys and girls will enjoy reading this book.  I give Heidi Heckelbeck and the Cookie Contest - 5 STARS.  I thing you will enjoy reading this book too.  Happy Reading!

Keep In Touch Tuesdays

I hope you'll join me for Keep In Touch Tuesdays. Every Tuesday, I'll post a review on a new book I'm reading. Hopefully, you'll be inspired to read the book too. You may discuss the book with me by leaving a comment. You can also ask questions or share something that you're reading or doing this summer. Below is a list of the dates and book titles I'll be reviewing. The first book review will start in a week. This will give you time to get the book and read along with me. Remember to check the Library or Book Mobile for copies of the book. You can also purchase any of the books from Amazon or Barnes and Noble for about $5 or $6. If you can't get your hands on a copy of the book, don't worry. I'll tell you all about it in my review.

Happy Reading!

June 26th
Heidi Heckelbeck and the Cookie Contest By Wanda Coven

July 3rd
Catie Cazoo Switcheroo (Anyone But Me) By Nancy Krulik

July 10th
Goofballs (The Crazy Case of Missing Thunder) By Tony Abbott

July 17th
Bad Kitty Gets a Bath By Nick Bruel

July 24th
Mercy Watson To The Rescue By Kate DiCamillo

July 31st
Hi! Fly Guy By Tedd Arnold

August 7th
I Spy Fly Guy By Tedd Arnold

August 14th
Bink &amp; Gollie By Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee

August 21st (Open to suggestions)

School Is Cool!

Create your own slideshow

Fluency Poems on Animoto

December Poem-Animoto Fluency Work Each week my first graders practice a new fluency poem during our morning meeting time. The poem is introduced after we read our morning message together. The title of our newest poem is, December. We use poetry to practice our fluency. Poetry is a fun way to practice reading with expression, to learn about punctuation and phrasing, to notice and identify word families, and to work on our word accuracy strategies. At the end of the week, we illustrate our poems, and then we place them into our poetry notebooks. Walking Museum After our poems are illustrated and placed in our poetry notebooks, we share them with our classmates. A fun way to share our work is to have a Walking Museum. During the Walking Museum, we walk around our table groups and notice the great work of our classmates. Daily 5 During our Daily 5 time, we also make good use of our poetry notebooks. We use them during Read to Self, or independent reading. We also use our poetry notebooks during Read to Someone, when we read with a buddy. As you can see, we love using poems to work on fluency. We hope you enjoy our illustrations too. Just click on the Fluency Poems-Video link at the top. You'll see our illustrations via Animoto. How is fluency practiced in your classroom?

Reflections Contest: The Winner Is....

Each school year our PTA/PTSA sponsers a district wide Reflections Contest.  Students participate in one or more catagories which include Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Musical Composition, Photography, and Visual Arts.  In each category, students enter, based on division (primary, intermediate, middle, and senior).  Four winners are selected by division in each catagory.  There are first, second, and third place winners selected as well as an award for honorable mention.  This year's theme was "Diversity Means..."

When Rachel, one of my first graders, brought her entry to school, I looked at her beautiful drawing and said, "That looks like a winner to me." as Rachel displayed her always beautiful smile.  Well, Rachel submitted her entry back in November.  We recently found out that Rachel was in fact the first place winner in the Visual Arts category!

Mice and Monsters

My first graders love going to their music special on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Mrs. Myers is great at engaging the children to learn new things in music. This video is called Mice and Monsters. Watch the actions and movements of the first graders. They had so much fun!
First Graders at Music Special from Valerie Ruckes on Vimeo.

Draw-A-Rhyme

Directions:  Tell children they are going to draw a picture.  Read each rhyme with the underlined word left out.  Have children fill in the blanks orally, then add those parts to their drawings.

The Snowman Song

We love to sing songs during our morning meeting time in first grade. How do we sound? Click on "Untitled" below.
Untitled from Valerie Ruckes on Vimeo.

Reading With Liz and Luzy

My first graders love to read with Liz and Lucy (the dog).  Liz is a wonderful woman who enjoys sharing a book and her beautiful dog with the children at McGregor.  Lucy is a beautiful and huge dog know as a Newfoundland.  Lucy is so good with the children.  She sits patiently while Liz reads the story.  Afterwards, she gives Liz high fives, and then she lets each child stroke her lovely black coat.  Thanks for reading with us Liz and Lucy!

You can also visit Liz and Lucy at the Rochester Public Library on Wednesdays in the Youth Room.  Please call Youth Services first to make an appointment.

Family Read-Along

Personalize your own photo album

BEGINNING OF A NEW SCHOOL YEAR - WORDLS

Ready, Set, Go!

School starts on Tuesday, September 6th.  I'm almost ready, and set, to go!  I've unpacked supplies, and arranged the room.  As you can see, it looks a lot different from the "before" pictures.

View of the SmartBoard and Meeting Area

I still have a few things to tweak, like my number line.  I didn't consider that it would be hidden by the curtains, until after the curtains actually went up.  I don't know about you, but sometimes things go up, and then they come down again.  I still have to place name tags on tables/desks, finish the coatroom area, and last but certainly not least, organize the classroom library.  I have bins to label and more books to put out.

I'm also planning to change the corner bulletin board, and I still have to complete my new board for math workshop.  It's a good thing I still have another week to tie up all those loose ends.

 I'll keep you posted on my progress.

View from doorway entrance

Small group work area and reading area

View of Friends and Family Board and Safe Place

More places to read

2011-2012) A New School Year!

It's August and it's time to prepare for a new school year.  This is what our classroom looks like before school starts.  There are supplies to unpack, funiture to rearrange, books to organize, and the list goes on and on.  As you can see, there is lots to do before school starts.  Stop by again to see our classroom's transformation.

Welcome To Our New Classroom Blog Site

This Blog is currently in creation mode.  I'm in the process of moving my other classroom blog to this site. Stay tuned!