Monday, November 11, 2013

Can she do it? Yes she can (and she did!) -- 200 Strong

Ella did it. She read more than 200 books in 10 calendar months. Yup. That about sums it up. Awesome. A sweet, great achievement.

I'm guessing you want some details.

Here's the background: I made a grand bet with my seven year old. I bet her she could read 200 books in 9 calendar months. Around about the start of summer, with camp and vacation and just needing a break, we extended the reading challenge by one additional month. 

The revised bet: Ella could read 200 books between December 1 and October 1.  In first grade, we set a goal of 100 chapter books during the school year, which she hit. A goal of 200 books in second grade seemed the obvious next step. Heaven help my family books budget and her reading schedule if this keeps growing exponentially. By 8th grade she will need to move into a convent and spend all day reading. These books were almost entirely read during 2nd grade and the first month of 3rd grade.

Bet you want to know what she read? Almost all of the books were chapter books suitable for a second grader or older. Her school uses the guided reading program/levels. Using this program, we read books between levels "N" and "V." She choose a majority of the books herself. I picked a select few "required" books. These tended be books of the classic sort, books moms like their kids to read. But among the classics, she had plenty of choice. I set aside a pile of classics and she chose from those ones that interested her the most. Some day Ella will have to read certain books just because someone (a teacher, professor, etc) says so.  But for now I want her to enjoy reading as much as possible. I want her to read stories that get her excited and keep her up late. There is no shortage of classics to choose from and it was interesting for me to see what she gravitates toward and what she is intrigued by.

She read about fairies (so many fairy books), dragons (and more dragons), wild horses, magic horses, talking dogs, cats, one-eyed serpents, Greek goddesses, princesses, siblings, star wars, oragami, mice, goddesses, world record holders, deer, fried worms, parents and so much more.

The incentive? Of course there was a prize. The prize for successfully hitting her goal was three fold. First, lunch with mom at a place of her choosing. Thankfully she didn't pick Trump Plaza. Second, dessert (as grand and sweet and piled as high as she wants) at a place of her choosing. Third, a $100 gift card to Barnes and Noble to be used on books, writing journals, and magazines ENTIRELY of her own choosing. I am going to put a future blog on the structure of the winnings and why we picked these three specific things.

What did mom love the most about this reading challenge? Ella's spirit of excitement as she plowed through books, especially as she hit the last 30 days and figured out a strategy of how many books she needed to read each day (including selecting certain rest days where she didn't read a thing). Those 200+ books -- their plots, characters, lessons, settings, descriptions -- are all in her head now, swimming around, sparking new ideas and thoughts, spilling off into her creative endeavors, and reminding her again, and again, about the power, the wonder, the joy that comes from stories.

Books Read Between Dec. 1 2012 and Sept. 30, 2013                 

How to Eat Fried Worms
By Thomas Rockwell
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 3.5
Guided reading level: R

The Trouble with Tuck
By Theodore Taylor
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 4.1
Guided Reading Level: R
  
Nerds Series (3)
Michael Buckley
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 5.3
Guided Reading Level: V

Goddess Girls Series (4)
Joan Holub
Interest Level: Grades 4 - 7
Grade Level Equivalent: 4.3
Guided Reading Level: S

Beastquest (12)
By Adam Blade
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 4.6-5.2

Dealing with Dragons (2)
(Enchanted Forest Chronicles Series)
By Patricia C. Wrede
Interest Level: Grades 6 - 8
Grade Level Equivalent: 7.3

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda (Series)
By Tom Angleberger
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 4
Guided Reading: T

The Penderwicks 
By Jeanne Birdsall
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 4.8
Guided reading level: S

Chincoteague Series (1)
By Marguarite Henry
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 5.8
Guided reading level: R

My Fathers Dragon
By Ruth Stiles Gannett
Grade Level Equivalent: 4.8
Guided reading level: N

Judy Moody Saves the World
By Megan McDonald
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 3.3
Guided reading level: M

Judy Moody Predicts the Future
By Megan McDonald
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 3.2
Guided reading level: N

Judy Moody Predicts the Future
By Megan McDonald
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 3.2
Guided reading level: N

Ivy and Bean Break the Fossil Record
By Annie Barrows
Interest Level: Grades K - 2
Grade Level Equivalent: 2.7

Socks
By Beverly Cleary
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 5.4
Guided reading level: O

Ribsy
By Beverly Cleary
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 4.1
Guided reading level: O

Smart Dog
By Vivian Vande Velde
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 5.8

Wings of Fire 
By Tui T. Sutherland
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 7

Princess School (2) 
By Jane B. Mason
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 4.3
Guided reading level: P

Fairy Magic Series (23)
By Daisy Meadows
Interest Level: Grades 1 - 4
Grade Level Equivalent: 2.7 – 4.6
Guided Reading Level: M

Lucky Stars Wish Upon a Pet
By Phoebe Bright
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 3
Guided reading level: M

Baily School Kids Series (6)
By Marcia Thornton Jones
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 4.3
Guided reading level: M

4th Grade Fairy Series (2)
By Eileen Cook
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 3.2
Guided reading level: P

Magic Pony
By Elizabeth Lindsay
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 3.6
Guided reading level: N

 Origami Yoda – Secret of the Fortune Wookie
By Tom Angleberger
Interest Level: Grades 4 - 7
Grade Level Equivalent: 5
Guided Reading: U

Origami Yoda -- Darth Paper Strikes Back
By Tom Angleberger
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 5
Guided Reading: V

The Surprise Attack of Jabba the Puppet
By Tom Angleberger
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 7

B Magical
By Lexi Connor
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 4.3

Junie B. Jones Series (7)
By Barbara Park
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 2.1-2.3
Genre: Comedy and Humor, Realistic Fiction, Series
Guided Reading: M

Muggie Maggie
By Beverly Cleary
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 5.1
Guided Reading O

Going Going Gone
By Judy Blume
Interest Level: Grades K - 2
Grade Level Equivalent: 2.0

The Girls Book of How to Be the Best of Everything
By Juliana Foster
Interest Level: Grades 4 - 7

Ralph S Mouse
By Beverly Cleary
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 4.1
Guided Reading Level: O

Runaway Ralph
By Beverly Cleary
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 4.1
Guided Reading Level: O

Third Grade Angels
By Jerry Spinelli
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 2.3

Fourth Grade Rats 
By Jerry Spinelli
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 2.6
Guided Reading Level: Q

Guinea Dog
Patrick Jennings
Interest Level: Grades K - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 2.3

Whatever After
By Sarah Mlynowski
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 6
Grade Level Equivalent: 3
Guided Reading Level: S

Fairy Godmother Academy
By Jan Bozarth
Age Range: 8 and up 
Grade Level: 3 - 7

Ramona and Her Father
Beverly Cleary
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 5.4
Guided Reading Level: O

Ramona Quimby Age 8
By Beverly Cleary
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 3.5
Guided Reading Level: O

Beezus and Ramona
By Beverly Cleary
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 4.8
Guided Reading Level: O

Geronimo Stilton Series (4)
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 3.4
Guided Reading Level: N

Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg
Gail Carson Levine
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 5.3
Guided Reading Level: Q

In the Realm of the Never Fairies: Secret World of Pixie Hollow 
By Monique Peterson
Age Range: 7 and up 
Series: Disney Fairies

Moxie Maxwell Does Not Like Stewart Little
By Peggy Gifford
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 4.8

Aloha Kanani – American Girl
By Lisa Yee, Jennifer Hirsch and Sarah Davis
Age Range: 8 and up 
Grade Level: 3 and up

McKenna – American Girl
By Mary Casanova
Age Range: 8 and up 
Series: American Girl Today

Sage – American Girl
By Jessie Haas
Age Range: 8 and up 

Super Fudge 
By Judy Blume
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 4.2
Guided Reading Level Q

Fudge-a-Mania
By Judy Blume
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 4.5
Guided Reading Level Q

Frankly Frannie
By A.J. Stern
Interest Level: Grades 2 - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 4.4

Secrets of Droon series (15)  
By Tony Abbot
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 3.1-4.3

Clementine
By Tara Pennypacker
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 4.5
Guided Reading Level: O

Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great
By Judy Blume
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 4.2

Secret in the Attic Series (6)
By L.A. Peacock
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 2.2
Guided Reading Level: Q

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series  (2)
By Jeff Kinney
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 5-6.5
Guided Reading Level: S, T

Disney Fairies Series (8)
Age Range: 6 - 9 years
Grade Level: 1 – 4

Stink
By Megan McDonald
Interest Level: Grades 2 - 3
Grade Level Equivalent: 2
Guided Reading Level: M

A to Z Mysteries Series (3)
By Ron Roy
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 2.6-3.9
Guided Reading Level: N

Sophie Simon Solves Them All
By Lisa Graff
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 4.2

Owen Foote Super Spy
Stephanie Greene
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 3.5
Guided Reading Level: N

My Weird School Series (13)
By Dan Gutman
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 3.1
Guided Reading: S

Guinness book of world records 2011

Guinness book of world records 2013

Sideways Stories from the Wayside school
By Louis Sachar
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 4.9
Guided Reading Level: P

Stone Fox
John Reynolds Gardiner
Interest Level: Grades 2 - 4Grade Level Equivalent: 4.0
Guided Reading Level: P

Dolphin Diaries
By Ben M. Baglio
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 4.3
Guided Reading Level: Q

Animal Ark: Racehorse in the Rain
By Ben M. Baglio
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 4.3

Penina’s Doll Factory
By Miriam Walfish

Around the World in 80 Days: Classic Starts
Age Range: 7 - 9 years
Grade Level: 2 - 4

The Fairy Realm
Emily Rodda
Interest Level: Grades 2 - 4

Mini Mysteries – American Girl (2)

Emily Windsnap Series (2)
By Liz Kessler
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 5.2


Agent P's Guide to Fighting Evil

Castle in the Attic
By Elizabeth Winthrop
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 5.9
Guided Reading Level: R

Fabled 4th graders of Aesop Elementary School
By Candace Fleming
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 3.3

Fabled 5th graders of Aesop Elementary School
By Candace Fleming
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 3.3

39 Clues Series (2)
By Rick Riordan
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 3.4
Guided reading R

Never Girls (3)
By Kiki Thorpe
Age Range: 6 - 9 years
Grade Level: 1 - 4

Little Wings #1: Willa Bean's Cloud Dreams
By Cecilia Galante
Age Range: 6 - 9 years
Grade Level: 1 - 4
  
A Whale of a Tale (Mermaid Tales Series) (3)
By Debbie Dadey
Age Range: 6 - 9 years
Grade Level: 1 - 4

Chocolate Dreams (Candy Fairies Series) (3)
By Helen Perelman
Age Range: 7 - 10 years
Grade Level: 2 - 5

Girl’s Best Friend (Maggie Brooklyn Mysteries Series) (2)
By Leslie Margolis
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 4.5

Poppy’s Perfect Home (Flower Fairies Series) (2)
Age Range: 7 and up 
Grade Level: 2 and up

A New Beginning (Magic Puppy Series) (3)
By Sue Bentley
Age Range: 8 - 12 years
Grade Level: 3 - 7

Honey’s New Friend (Kitten Club Series) (3)
By Sue Mongredien

Catch Us If You Can (Jewel Thieves) (2)
By Hope McLean
Interest Level: Grades 3 – 7

The Jewel Kingdom
By Jahnna N. Malcolm
Interest Level: Grades 3 - 5
Grade Level Equivalent: 2.9
Guided reading level: N

Magic Tree House Research Books (3)
By Mary Pope Osborne

100 Ways to Bug Your Parents 
By Lee Wardlaw

Princess Primers:: A Fairy Godmother's Guide to Being a Princes
 By Stephanie True Peters

Bambi – Disney Classic Series
Spaceheadz
By  Jon Scieszka
Age Range: 7 - 10 years
Grade Level: 2 - 5

Bakugan
By Tracey West
Age Range: 8 - 12 years
Grade Level: 3 - 7

Snake Attack – Ninjago Series chapter book
By Tracey West
Age Range: 7 - 10 years
Grade Level: 2 - 5

Legends of Chima chapter book: Attack of the Crocodiles 
by Greg Farshtey
Age Range: 7 - 10 years
Grade Level: 2 - 5 

Snake Attack – Ninjago Series chapter book
By Tracey West
Age Range: 7 - 10 years
Grade Level: 2 - 5

Legends of Chima chapter book: Attack of the Crocodiles 
by Greg Farshtey
Age Range: 7 - 10 years
Grade Level: 2 - 5

Friday, September 13, 2013

3rd Grade Has Started!

We've been away for awhile -- actually all summer, in Cape Cod, at camp, saw family in Boston -- but 3rd grade has started! So we are back posting. This year we are going to attempt to read a lot more books. We have a big surprise coming -- in 17 days to be exact -- about what Ella has been reading over the past year.

Ella's book blog is going to be filled with some exciting posts this year so stay tuned!

Let us know if you like our posts - we'd love to hear from you!


P.S. in our classroom this year, we have our own library and we use it for S.Q.U.I.R.T.  

Ella's Book Blog

Best,
Ella (with some help from mom)

Thursday, May 16, 2013

A new series about kids that go back in time with a magic compass: War with Washington

Title: War with Washington

Author: L.A. Peacock

Rating: **



Review: When the magic time compass whisks Jess and Josh back to colonial times in America they find our that there is great suffering at Valley Forge where George Washington and his troops are living. When Josh and Jess land and find themselves upon a Tory spy/farmer selling pumpkins to the British.  Their mission is to find their uncle who is a messenger from the colonial congress and give him an important message from Benjamin Franklin in France.  The papers told Washington that France would be an ally. They rode in a dog sled with Lady Washington and Pierre to Valley Forge. I always thought soldiers marched to the sounds of drums and flutes but I learned from this book that they march to drums and fifes. I like Jess the best because she is a little more logical.

Friday, May 10, 2013

On Tap for Next Week: Children's Book Week


Next week is dedicated to children's books. A national event, Children's Book Week has a long history dating back to 1919. It is the longest-running national literacy initiative in the United States. Next week, local libraries across the country are hosting special story times and events in honor of the week. Details of events arranged by state are listed here. Love the poster. 


Reading Nook

The best reading chair ever. And yes we purchased one. Perfect fit for a 7 year-old bookworm to curl up in and read half the night away. You can find them here




Pottery Barn