In between ringing doorbells, I thought I could post about my super fun day yesterday!  And, believe it or not, I did get some teaching done and other library administrative duties, too!

But before any of that happened, I laced up my circa 1980s roller skates and became Astrid, the main character in Victoria Jamieson's beloved (at least in these parts, but I know elsewhere, too!) graphic novel of 2015, Roller Girl.  It was SO fun!  The best part was that Mrs. Kelliher, as well as one of our fifth graders, also dressed up!  Could we be happier triplets?

I wasn't sure about the roller skates.  Literally, I put them on for the first time when I got to school. But I quickly learned that roller skating is like riding a bike and I think I pulled it off that I knew what I was doing!  Roller skating down the halls was a blast!  Mrs. Kelliher was eying that all day and so after all the students left, she laced them up herself (good thing we have close enough shoe sizes!) and she did some mighty moves in the hallway!  A natural for roller derby, for sure!

If you haven't read the book yet, pick up a copy today!  I know kids who finished it in one day.  I know others who "stayed up all night" reading it.  When Astrid and her best friend, Nicole, go in different directions one summer, Astrid to roller derby camp and Nicole to dance camp, lots of growing up occurs.  Astrid learns how to face challenges, make new friends (and keep the old ones), and to push through even when you don't get exactly what you hoped for.  Such a great book!  We love it so much at Castleton Elementary School that it is even a book group in our Mock Newbery project! #RollerGirlLove

Views from the parade route:

A little leap goes a long way:
Posing on the grass (and this picture made it into the ALSC blog!):

Visiting Mrs. Pryde's class:

Posted by Ms. Rattner at 9:43 PM No comments: Labels: first grade, Halloween, Newbery 2016, Roller Girl, Victoria Jamieson

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Dear Mr. Principal, I have redeemed myself....

Today was one of the top five days of my career, no doubt.  And I do believe if I didn't completely redeem myself for that epic observation fail Tuesday, I hope I came pretty darn close.

Was it the Beekle?  Did Castleton become Midnight Gulch?  I don't know, but whatever it was, a "snicker of magic" appeared at Castleton Elementary School this morning.  Fifth graders rocked the house after sharing a winning flag and singing and performing an original song to the tune of "Hey Mickey" called "Hey Chris."  Then, in a magical spindiddly moment, I leapt into the crowd and all our students screamed when they found out that Chris Grabenstein is coming AGAIN to our school in January, just one day after the release of Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics! Believe in the impossible and you just don't know where it will lead you.

*References to A Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd and Fourteenth Goldfish by Jenni Holm.

Posted by Ms. Rattner at 9:44 PM 2 comments: Labels: Chris Grabenstein, jenni holm, Lemoncello, natalie Lloyd

True confessions of an unannounced observation

I completely understand the consequences of me posting on social media my thoughts of today's observation and my feelings of epic failure. However, I think I will feel better if I just come clean. Then maybe I will actually be able to sleep tonight.

First of all it was my own fault! My principal came into the library minutes before my next class, the 9th  sessions out of 10 of kindergarten boot camp. Ahhhh....boot camp. You know I want to change things about the way boot camp ran this year and today helped make me realize I really do need to spend some time on it this summer.

Back to the principal walking in, with his computer in his hands mind you, so I immediately thought he was planning a visit. But actually, no. He wanted to know about NYLA.  But I quickly interrupted and Boom!  My observation was happening.  Grrrr...me and my big mouth.

The very well behaved kindergarteners walked into the library and came to sit with me on the rug in the Dewey Section. Today was Caldecott day.  If you know anything about me, awards are one of my favorite things to talk about. And that's exactly what I did and why I felt like such a failure.

Honestly with only 20 minutes, maybe 25, there really isn't much time for inquiry, sharing, technology especially when my goal is to share great new and classic literature. I had many of my favorites to show, old and new.  It was fun to realize that Sylvester and the Magic Pebble was published the year I was born! Yes! Look that up and you will know how ancient I am!

So we talked Caldecott, medals and then I shared last year's winner, Beekle. By the time we finished reading and discussing (and we had a good discussion, I thought), our time was up. Exhale. Be glad it was over? No way. I thought of all these other things I could have, should have, would have done. Give them the books to look at and rate them. Give them 2016 books (Float!) and rate those. Think, pair, share. Ahhh...Regrets.  I have done all that before but I feel like we had more time then. Excuses. Excuses. I just feel like the whole lesson could have gone so much better.

This week we have Newbery book groups beginning. We have Geisel starting (or at least the planning) and even my wrap up for kindergarten boot camp. Exhale. Exhale. It's all ok. Give yourself permission, Stacey, to just let it go.

In the meantime, I think I will find my own Beekle to listen to my regrets, hold my hand and remind me to expect the unimaginary.
Posted by Ms. Rattner at 10:01 PM No comments: Labels: Beekle, Observation

Sunday, October 25, 2015

Leaping in Lake Placid

It took me a whole week to become myself again after Tari's Bat Mitzvah.  Then we kicked off our NEWBERY PROJECT and a couple of days after that I left for the NYLA conference in Lake Placid. I feel like I'm on the never ending express train, especially since things are looking to slow down anytime soon.  In a week and a half I'm off to AASL in Columbus, OH and then days after I get back my Newbery class begins through the Teacher Center!  Lots going on with many opportunities for leaping!

The NYLA conference was great! I learned a lot, tweeted more and leapt quite a few times.  I used to think when people were looking down at their phones or iPads during a workshop, they weren't paying attention.  Now I know from experience, it could very well mean the opposite.  I was looking down a lot because I was tweeting throughout each workshop I attended.  It's almost like I was writing collaborative notes.  You can find all my tweets from the conference here.

Some highlights:

The conference keynote was by David Lankes.   David is a professor at Syracuse and just amazing.  If you ever have the opportunity to hear him speak, go!  You will not regret it and I don't even think you need to be a librarian to get energized by him.  He posted his keynote on his website and I just had to share it with you! Man, was he good!

Since we are getting pumped for the release of Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics, it was perfect to have all these librarians in Olympic Land!  The exhibit hall was even on the site of the 1932 hockey win!

Exhibit hall for #nyla2015 is on the #Olympic ice! It's a true Library Olympics here @CGrabenstein @CastletonES pic.twitter.com/R88ZbvhnHg
— Stacey Rattner (@staceybethr) October 22, 2015

I learned about using 3D printers, overcoming obstacles, great things happening all over the state in Smackdown 2020, an amazing collaboration between a special ed teacher and the librarian and so much more!  I even tried to find Greek resources for our new student from Greece. Lots of information to soak in.  Lots of laughs and camaraderie, too!

And what do you know?  I saw a college floor mate (SUNY-Binghamton, Endicott Hall, 1987-1989) and housemate (1989-90)!  Susan, who has been working at the Ellenville Public Library (home of the Nevele) for 20 years, always wanted to be a librarian; me not so much!  It took me a long and winding road to get to the amazing place that I am at now and after 25 years it was great to reconnect in our shared profession!

I even got her to leap with me! And a leap at the banquet with the incomparable, Sue Kowalski!  She's my idol! When I grow up I want to be her! ps-She and I have a leaping contest going on!  How could the "leaping librarian" not win???? What a great conference!  It was good to see old friends from graduate school, connect with colleagues and make new friends.  Looking forward to the national conference and SSL in the Spring!

Until then, Newbery book groups begin on Tuesday! Please stay tuned for more on that!

Posted by Ms. Rattner at 9:10 PM 2 comments: Labels: AASL, Chris Grabenstein, David Lankes, Ellenville PL, NYLA, Sue Kowalski

Saturday, October 17, 2015

Leaping at the Bat Mitzvah leads to some Fuzzy Mud

Wow! What a Bat Mitzvah weekend!  We laughed! We cried! and of course, we leapt!

Posted by Ms. Rattner at 7:59 AM 1 comment: Labels: Bat Mitzvah, field goods, Fuzzy Mud, Louis Sachar, Newbery 2016, NPR

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

My name's in print! My name's in print! School Library Connection!

YES!  Last spring the fabulous, Paige Jaeger, asked me to be columnist for the new journal, School Library Connection.  Not one to say "no" often, I took up the challenge and today the first column arrived in the mail!  Woo-Hoo!  I wrote about my experiences with our "Castleton Zoo" project.  Maybe I'll just have to have it on the coffee table on Sunday when 95 people are over for a post-Bat Mitzvah brunch….

In other news, my fabulous volunteer, Mrs. Doe Warland, finished The War that Saved My Life this weekend.  She was up till 2 am reading!  She loved the book so much that not only is she going to lead a book group with it during our Newbery project, but she is also going to recommend it to her adult book club.  Tough, tough issues covered in the book, but done so well and so appropriate for fifth grade.  I know Doe will be hoping for some medal on that cover!  For her next read, I gave her my copy of The Marvels.  I can't wait to hear what she thinks of that one!

My daughter told me tonight that I should blog about all the things I'm doing in preparation for her Bat Mitzvah.  I don't think so.  I am very excited about the weekend and know I won't want it to end.  However, maybe on Monday when the last guests have left, I can curl up and read a good book.  Wonder what it will be for there are so many on my TBR pile.

Posted by Ms. Rattner at 10:53 PM No comments: Labels: School Library Connection, The Marvels, The War that Saved My Life

I spied at a 2 year old birthday party: Crayons quitting, strong girls inventing and dragons eating (with little trees in her future)

I took a break last night from Bat Mitzvah planning and went to a two year old birthday party.  And since I was in the mood for breaks, this was the first occasion I didn't give my young friend books as a gift.  BUT, fortunately, she managed to get a nice stack of hard cover books to add to her collection from someone else.

The popular The Day the Crayons Quit and The Day the Crayons Came Home were two of them.  Then, Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin.  That book is so fun!  A few years ago the author and illustrator, Daniel Salmieri, were at the Hudson Book Festival.  This was before the book made it to the NYT Best Sellers list week after week.  They were just a couple of cool 20 something guys having fun signing their books.  So, we're at this little get together last night and one woman (not the one who gave the books), said Adam is her cousin.  She even went to his Bar Mitzvah!  Yes! I have these life events on my mind right now.  I don't know if anyone else was impressed.  But you know I was.

The final book in the birthday pile was another one I have in my school collection, Rosie Revere: Engineer by Andrea Beaty and illustrated by David Roberts.  A great book to encourage our little friend in becoming a strong, confident girl.  I don't know if I would have ever thought to give that as a gift, but now I certainly will.  Ahhh....I feel a pun coming--Great IDEA! (yes, Rosie likes to invent things!).

I loved meeting Loren Long at ALA and am waiting patiently for The Little Tree to come out at the end of the month (October 27).  We went to an event where Loren spoke about his journey in coming up with the idea of the book.  It was so moving.  A lot of sniffling was heard in the crowd.  I wonder, as my daughter approaches a new stage in her life next weekend, if I should give the book another read this week, and how I might look at it differently.  We always want to hold on to our leaves but sometimes, we just have to give ourselves permission to let go.  I really love this book so much and can't wait till the rest of the world can get their hands on it. (Oh, and did you know I got Loren to jump with me right before the Newbery Caldecott banquet?!)

Loren signed a copy to one of my classroom teacher friends and she read it to her daughter's kindergarten class last week when she went in as a guest reader.  She was so excited to share her book with the class.

How does this relate to the birthday party you ask?  Well, over the summer I gave my little birthday girlfriend a couple of books and a board book of Otis was one of them.

Ok...taking a break was the theme for a few hours on Saturday. Well, the break is way over.  Now back to the grind.
Posted by Ms. Rattner at 11:16 PM 1 comment: Labels: ALA, alaac15, Loren Long, picture books

A little about me... Ms. Rattner
K-5 Librarian in upstate New York. Passionate about reading and getting good, especially new, literature into the hands of kids.
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