If you are of a certain vintage, or maybe just enjoy boy bands, I know you can hear the New Kids on the Block singing when you read that title!

I wanted to take a moment to share about our NC Reading Association's Annual Young Authors and Illustrators Contest. I will be talking about it with classes over the next several weeks, and I would love for some classes to participate this year!

What is it? It is an annual writing and illustration contest for students in grades K-12 (and teachers in the "Forever Young" category) to write and draw about the given theme. This year's theme is "Your voice matters! Celebrating EVERY Reader's Story," and it is a great opportunity to have your students write poetry, prose, fiction, or nonfiction all about themselves and their stories.

Who can participate? Any teacher who is a member of the Crystal Coast Reading Council can submit entries. (Click here to become a member!)

How do you get started? Check out this link for more resources!

When is the deadline? November 1, 2022

Why should I do this with my class? Our ELA goal team has set writing as a focus for the past two years, and this is one way to get your kids writing in an authentic setting with an audience. Winners will be recognized at the county level and also have the opportunity to be state winners, published in an anthology with other winners from across North Carolina. It is a wonderful opportunity for your students to win a state level award, and it is an awesome chance for some of our kids who may not be athletic or have a special "thing" that sets them apart yet to show their academic and creative talents!

If you would like any help in getting started with this project, please let me know! I would love to support you and can offer writing mini-lessons, introductions to the project, and more. Just let me know how I can support you!

Also, just because sometimes you need a moment of inspiration, check out this poem by Patricia Starek. YOU make a difference!

"We Are Different" by Patricia Starek

K:

• Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson
• Go Away, Big Green Monster by Ed Emberly
• I Need My Monster! by Amanda Noll

1st:

• Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds
• Creepy Pair of Underwear by Aaron Reynolds
• Pumpkin Soup by Helen Cooper

2nd:

• Reading Different Version of Fairy Tales (lessons/activities created by Ms. Tawney, our library intern)
• Discussing GENRES and what that word means (examples)
• Leo: A Ghost Story by Mac Barnett (illustrated by Christian Robinson)

3rd:

• Skulls by Blair Thornburgh
• Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras by Duncan Tonatiuh
• Skeleton Hiccups by Margery Cuyler

4th:

• Patrick Carman "3:15" stories--"Intruder Alert!"
• Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz--"Just Delicious" and "The Babysitter" (audiobook)

5th:

• Patrick Carman "3:15" stories--"Snap!"
• Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz--"The Dream" and "Harold" (audiobook)

Stations/Centers/Activities:

• Guess the Mystery Book (book quote station)
• Book Recommendation Station
• Ride and Read Station
• Puzzle station
• Lego Station: Build a haunted house, a fire station, a pumpkin patch, or an apple orchard
• "I Spy" station
• Magnet boards
• Bookmark Creation Station
• Reading Personality Little Miss/Little Mister Station

Full "STEAM" Ahead!

Check out this awesome site/app from the Smithsonian Science Education Center that incorporates physics and engineering into mini golf course design challenges. This is a fun way to get kids thinking, persevering through challenges, and creatively finding ways to solve problems, and it is something they can do with just a few extra minutes here or there throughout your week. Enjoy! (Note--there is music, so you'll want them to have headphones on for this task for minimal disruptions!)
Click here for more fun games from the SSEC!

Classroom Noise/Volume Management:

You may have already seen this, but if not, I wanted to share. Bouncy Balls is a website that provides visual feedback to student voice levels, helping them manage their own volume more effectively. Check it out! They have different visuals (even eyeballs that would be fun for our upcoming spooky season!), so check it out!

Alternatives to Quizlet:

I've recently heard some teachers discussing the fact that Quizlet is now limited in its *free* offerings, and there have also been concerns about its FERPA and COPPA compliance (which poses safety and privacy concerns for students), so people are seeking alternatives that accomplish the same goals. Here are some things you might like to use with your students to reinforce concepts and study vocabulary or other important facts you want them to remember:

PearDeck Vocabulary

Flippity

Wordwall

Studystack (free w/ ads)

Quizizz

Quizalize

Knowt

Brainscape

Gimkit

Are Jamboards Your "Jam"?

Some of you may already be using Jamboards as a collaborative space for student learning. If not, or if you want to learn how to make these work even better for you, check out this awesome video tutorial session from Eric Curts of the blog "Control Alt Achieve." (You can also click HERE for resources that go along with this tutorial session.)

*Please note schedule changes below due to intervention times. You may want to print a new copy of this!*

10/3-10/7: B Week (Golightly testing mtg 10/5 in the a.m.; Golightly Out 10/6-10/7 presenting at NCSLMA Conference)

10/10-10/14: A Week (Golightly DTL Mtg off-campus 10/12--back by noon; No School 10/10)

10/17-10/21: B Week

10/24-28: A Week

10/31-11/4: B Week

Email: emily.golightly@carteretk12.org
Website: bit.ly/golightlyreads
Location: 219 Chatham Street, Newport, NC, USA
Phone: 2522234201
Facebook: facebook.com/nesmediacenter
Twitter: @EmilyGolightly3