Watch LitWorld's 45 seconds of inspiration: The Global Poem for Change

Now go to litworld.org/poem to add a line to the second annual Global Poem for Change!

Reading Oh Reading!

By Charlie Aronov

Stop!  Drop everything and read!

If you read your brain shall succeed.

If you will read you will get information

on food, math, science, arts, and a train station.

Go home early from school,

so reading can rule!

So listen to me teachers,

just let the kids read!

Were you aware that Avoca students and families now have access to three ebook providers? If not, I highly encourage you to explore these engaging, educational resources with your child!
Tumblebooks
TumbleBookLibrary is an online collection of animated, talking picture books which teach young children the joys of reading in a format they'll love. The username and password was sent to all families via email. (If you did not receive it please let me know and I will happily re-send it.)
Sylvan Dell Publishing
Award-winning picture books and activities that integrate Science, Math, and Geography. These ebooks can be read aloud in both English and Spanish. Many of the titles are available for checkout from our library in hardcover version.  (No username/password needed.)
Bookflix
Scholastic BookFlix is a new online literacy resource that pairs classic video storybooks from Weston Woods with related nonfiction eBooks from Scholastic to build a love of reading and learning. The engaging way to link fact and fiction, BookFlix reinforces early reading skills and introduces children to a world of knowledge and exploration.  The username and password was sent to all families via email. (If you did not receive it please let me know and I will happily re-send it.)

All three of these ebook subscriptions are regularly housed under "favorite links" on this page.

Our kindergarten-2nd graders have been exploring the twenty 2012 Monarch nominated books since September. Last week they were able to cast their votes for their favorite book of the twenty. This morning we hosted our 1st Monarch Butterfly Breakfast to celebrate the joy of reading, and to announce Avoca's choice for the 2012 Monarch winner. The video below captures our celebration as well as the winning titles. Next week we will hear which book won statewide!
2012 Monarch Butterfly Breakfast

Thank you to all of you who participated in our Read Across America contest!
The winners of the AMC gift cards are:
Kindergarten-Insung Y & Ian V
1st Grade-William K & Marianna V
2nd Grade-Nicholas W & Emily V
3rd Grade-Katia C & Mahin L
4th Grade-Nathaniel K & Youngwon K
5th Grade-Connor H & Grace L
Staff-Mrs. Kiedaisch & Mrs. Rick

Join the ITC and the National Education Association this Friday, March 2nd, in celebrating Read Across America day!  The theme this year is Dr. Seuss' The Lorax.

For more information, games, and Read Across America activities, click on the links below!
NEA Read Across America
The Lorax Project
Printable materials
Play games online in Seussville

Would you like to win an AMC cinema gift card to go and see the new Lorax movie? Leave a comment on this post telling us what your favorite Dr. Seuss book is, AND WHY, to be entered in a raffle! Two winners from each grade level, along with two staff members, will be selected at random and announced on Friday, 3/2! Good luck!

Congratulations to our day 3 winners: Ellin (2nd), Ruhina (2nd), and Robin (4th)!  Good luck to all with the final question/activity!

If you could invent a new type of gum, what would it be?  Describe what it would taste like, smell like, look like, etc....  Can it do anything unique?  Draw a picture of your gum and give it a creative name.

Don't forget to bring your gum tomorrow if you have made at least a .50 cent donation to Adventures with Bailey!  We invite everyone to wear pink too!  Thanks to everyone for your participation!

Happy chewing!

Congratulations to our day 2 winners: Katherine K (3rd), Kasey U (4th), and Jonna I (4th)!  Good luck to all with the day 3 questions below!

1. The 1952 Mickey Mantle rookie card is the most valuable Topps Company card. How much did it sell for at auction?

A. $75,000         B. $120,000         C. $1,000,000

2. What is the Official Gum of Major League Baseball?

A. Bubble Yum      B. Bazooka      C. Topps

3. When was the first successful bubble gum invented?

A. 1891        B. 1906           C. 1928

Congratulations to our day 1 winners: Insung (K), Chris V (4th), and Vivian (3rd)!  Good luck to all on day 2!

1. San Luis Obispo, California , is the home of 'Bubble Gum Alley'. What is it?

A. An alley with brick walls covered with ABC (already-been -chewed ) gum wads .

B. The place where bubble gum was invented.

C. The home of the largest collection of bubble gum machines .

2. Richard Walker holds the record for the Chomp Title by chewing 135 sticks of gum for the longest time. How long did he chomp?

A. 5 hours         B. 6 hours            C. 8 hours

3. The Topps company holds the record for having made the largest single piece of bubble gum. How many pieces of normal-sized Bazooka did it equal?

A. 5,000          B. 8,000        C. 10,000

1. How many sticks of gum does the average American chew in a year?

A. 200        B. 300        C. 400

2. How many tons of gum are chewed every year?

A. 50,000     B. 75,000      C. 100,000

3. If all the five-chunk packs of Bubble Yum ever chewed in the U.S. since it's

introduction in 1975 were laid end-to-end, how many times would it circle the earth at the equator?

A. 2        B. 5          C. 7

Turn your answers in to the ITC by 2:00 on Tuesday 1/31.  We will draw 3 winners from all of the correct entries.  Good luck and don't forget to bring .50 cents (or more) for Adventures with Bailey sometime this week in order to chew gum at school Friday afternoon!  Thank you for participating!

On February 3rd, students at Avoca West will join schools across the nation to celebrate bubble gum day! We are looking forward to some fun with gum while raising money for our 4-legged friends at Adventures with Bailey!  Students and staff members may make a minimum .50 cent donation for the chance to chew gum in school!  Check this blog daily during the week of Jan. 30th-Feb 3rd for trivia questions and opportunities to win bonus prizes!