Career Day by The Bazillions. What do you want to be when YOU grow up?

Cookies.  We've baked dozens of sugar cookies to pass out to Highland students this last week of school.

Cookies are a symbol of good will during the holidays but remember not to eat too many! 

Top Ten Things to do over break:

10.  Go for a walk.

9. Write a thank you note to someone.

8. Make a craft.

7. Draw a picture.

6. Play in the snow.

5. Call a friend.

4. Write a story.

3. Explore websites on our Highland blog.

2.  Play a board game or card game like UNO.

1. READ a BOOK!  (of course)

Happy Holidays!  Merry Christmas!  Happy Kwanzaa!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Highland students and families;

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.  We all have much to be thankful for everyday.
Count your blessings.  Write them down.    Share them with each other. 

If you think you don't have anything to be thankful for;  think of your mom or dad, think of friends at school or in your neighborhood, think of a teacher at school who cares about you, think of your strong and healthy body, think of the beautiful library your school has and all the books in in that you are able to read.

with warmest wishes,

Mrs. Holt

(who is very thankful to have such a fun job
with amazing and smart students to inspire!)

Here are some Thanksgiving related games and websites to enjoy if you find yourself with some
extra free time over the long weekend.

Primary Games-Turkey Pardon.
Thanksgiving information
Kaboose-Thanksgiving
Thanksgviving puzzles

5th Grade Book Clubs

Our book club has begun for the year and we read In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson by Betty Boa Lord.  We had lots to discuss from bullying, Chinese culture, baseball, and the difficult process of feeling at home in a new country.

We now have the task of choosing our next book.  Click on your first choice in the survey below.

August brings end to summer fun!

Don't worry...we plan to have plenty of fun back at school.  So pack up your back packs and let's embark on the best school year ever!  I've read lots of books this summer and I hope you have also.  Be prepared to share with me what your favorite activity was over summer break.  We have much to explore in books, on-line, and in our own backyards so come prepared with your brain ready to go.

Howling for Halloween

Reading Halloween books this week to a few classes makes me want to share some Halloween book love.

Halloween books give me special credence to use all sorts of fun voices for read-alouds!  Students are thrilled as I stomp around our reading circle reading these favorites.

1.  The Perfect Pumpkin Pie by Denys Cazet:  I love pie and this book makes a great read-aloud about a dead man's love for pie. 
This book has a marvelously fun refrain about pumpkin pie with delightful illustrations.

2. That Terrible Halloween Night by James Stevenson:  Louie and Mary Ann think they have Grandpa tricked when he doesn't know that October 31st is Halloween but it's really Grandpa tricking them.  Kids love the speech bubbles in the illustrations and the ending had everyone thinking!!

3. The Three Bears' Halloween by Kathy Duvall: Mama, Papa and Baby Bear dress up for Halloween and trick-or-treat around the forest.  When they find a house door open they venture in...A funny take on Goldilocks, kids love it when they figure out the story is the reverse of the original. 

4. Where's My Mummy by Carolyn Crimi:  Little  Baby Mummy wants to play one more round of Hide and Shriek and runs away from Big Mama Mummy.  When she doesn't come looking for him, he has to search for  her in some unusual places.  John Manders illustrations show us a perfectly creepy graveyard with a wildly un-frightning but fun cast of characters.  This also has some easy repitition for young ones to repeat with you. 

5. Boris and Bella also by Carolyn Crimi:  A romantic tale of a friendship that forms between Bella Lagrossi and Boris Kleanitoff-one messy and one tidy vampire, both wishing to host a Halloween Bash.  Everyone heads to Harry Beastie's party instead as he's neither messy or too clean.  Cris Grimly illustrates this one for Crimi and they are perfectly spooky!  Crimi is the only author on this list to have their own website...such a shame!!  I think it should be a requirement for publishing houses to get a website up and running for an author with a few books under their belt, at least!  [soap box moment]

I discovered this interesting interview with Crimi at Make It Better, a North Shore publication.

Check out these fun Halloween Sites:

Pumpkin Carving Artist
Pumpkin Nook