This Just In--Election Results

The poll has closed and the results have now been tabulated. Those of you who were closely following the poll will notice that the final totals are not what was on the poll when it closed. That is because our kindergarten and first grade students did not vote on the poll. They voted in their library class by putting their ballot in an appropriate bag. One bag was put up for each of the tickets. The nominated books were beside the bags to help make sure that voters knew for whom they were voting. This added 53 more votes to our total, bringing the voters to 305. That is a great turn out.



Now, the results:



The BOOKocrats
The Kid Who Ran For President/ Where the Wild Things Are--42 Votes (14%)

The Democats
A Series of Unfortunate Events/Cat in the Hat--104 votes (34%)

The Indepublicrats
Holes/Amelia Bedelia--64 votes (21%)

The READpublicans
Eragon/Green Eggs and Ham--95 (31%)

The winner is (drum roll) The Democats with A Series of Unfortunate Events and The Cat in the Hat. This party will be writing to author Lemony Snicket to tell him of the remarkable success of his book. The other classes will write to their authors as well. As they say at the Oscars, it is an honor to be nominated.

It should be noted that every party did remarkably well, garnering votes from all grade levels as well as from voters outside the school. The percentages are very close. In many states this would require a run-off between the top two candidates. Everywhere, there would probably be a demand for a recount. For any future elections of this sort we will have to find an improved method of voting to assure us that there is no voter fraud and that everyone gets an equal chance to vote. However, for this election, these will be our final results.

The only demographic for which we have clear data is the kindergarten and first grade block. They voted overwhelmingly--34 votes--for the Indepublicrats, suggesting that Amelia Bedelia is very popular with this youngest group of readers.

The students (and others) who voted and the students who went through the nomination process and supported their candidates are to be commended on a job well done. I hope everyone enjoyed this experience as much as I have.

I am so proud

Our election is winding down. Like most elections from the local to the national level, it has not been without incident. We have had some questionable campaigning, squabbling, and hard feelings among and within the parties. This is not what has made me proud.

What has made me proud is how well our students have handled the problems. People who realize that they may have been part of a problem have stepped forward, shouldered the responsibility for their actions, and gone beyond a simple apology to try to make amends for their actions. Wow. How often do you see that in a political campaign?

Bravo, students and teachers who help to guide these amazing young people.

P.S. There is still time to vote if you have not done so. The poll closes on Monday, December 8. The election may be very close. Your vote counts.

It's Time to Vote

Voting for the President and Vice President books for the Emerson library is now open.

The poll which you see to the left will be open for your vote until December 8. Anyone is welcome to vote. You do not need to be a student at Emerson School. Please vote only once, however, just to keep the election honest.

Before you vote, carefully consider the various candidates. There is information about each party and their candidates posted below. All of the postings include links for more information.

Let your voice be heard.

Democats

The Democats have selected The Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket as their presidential candidate. Their vice presidential candidate is Dr. Seuess' The Cat in the Hat. Here is what they have to say about their candidates.



"The Series of Unfortunate Events is a great set of books. The series is full of excitement, drama, and mystery. The expertise of Lemony Snicket's style overflows into these truly wonderful novels. Will these three orphans escape the claws of a villain beyond thought? Will all unhappy endings finally take a turn for the better? Find out inside this fantastic series."



"The Cat in the Hat (published in 1957) is about two children and a fish that are having a dreary day in the house. Then the Cat in the Hat comes and he gets into a big mess. Then they are having so much fun that they forget about the mess. Suddenly they think that they are going to get into trouble. Will the Cat in the Hat clean the mess? Will the dreary day go on? Find out in The Cat in the Hat."



"Dr. Seuss is a a great author because he uses his creative imagination, mind and good attitude, and his knowledge, experience, expertise, and love of children in his great books. His books are great because they are fun for children to read and they nudge at the truth of the real world while still being fun, creative and imaginative. He was born in 1904 and died in 1991. His Dad owned a zoo and that is probably why his books sometimes star zoo animals. To wrap this up, Dr. Seuss is a great author and VOTE FOR HIM!"

Learn more about the presidential candidate at the Lemony Snicket Official Website.

For more about the Vice Presidential candidate read and listen to this report from National Public Radio.

Indipublicrats

The Indipulicrats worked hard to represent all facets of the population when they selected their name which combines Independents, Republicans, and Democrats into one inclusive title.

Here is what they have to say about their book candidates.

"You should vote Indipulicrats for President because they are cool. We have two great books running--Holes by Louis Sachar and Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish.

Holes is a great book for the teenage reader of fiction.

Amelia Bedelia is a great book if you are beginning to read or if you like a good laugh. It is really funny.

Holes is about a boy named Stanley who is in trouble with the law for stealing some Air Jordans! Then he is sent to Camp Green Lake where he has to dig, dig, dig. It is torture there. Then he escapes.

Amelia Bedelia is about a funny woman who sees directions differently. Then she really gets crazy. She is weird, weird, and, did I say, weird.

So vote Indipublicrats."

The Indipublicrats have also created a list of their cabinet members.

Secretary of State--The BFG by Roald Dahl
Secretary of the Treasury--Brisngr by Chrisopher Paolini
Secretary of Defense--The Hardy Boys by Franklin W. Dixon
Attorney General--Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke
Secretary of the Interior--Castle in the Attic by Elizabeth Winthrop
Secretary of Agriculture--The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Secretary of Labor--Otis Spofford by Beverly Cleary
Secretary of Health and Human Services--The Fairy's Return by Gail Carson Levine
Secretary of Transportation--Warriors by Erin Hunter
Secretary of Energy--Mackinaw City Mummies by Jonathan Rand
Secretary of Education--Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
Secretary of Veteran's Affairs--The Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
Secretary of Homeland Security--Alex Rider by Anthony Horowitz

More information about the presidential candidate can be found at the Louis Sachar website.

Take a look at the vice presidential candidate here.

BOOKocrats

The Bookocrats have their nominees ready for your consideration.

President: The Kid Who Ran for President by Dan Gutman

"The Kid Who ran for President is very funny and will teach you about how much work you have to do to run for president. Who knows? You could run for president like Judson Moon, the main character in the book. Find out at the end of the book if he will get elected or not."

"Dan Gutman was born on October 19, 1955, in New York City. As a young baby he moved to Newark, New Jersey, where he grew up. He originally wanted to a be a psychologist, but he found that it was not for him. He wanted to move to New York and decided to be a writer. After awhile he tried writing magazine articles but they were not successful. In 1982, Pac-man came out and he started a video game magazine. Soon he began writing books for kids. He lives in Haddonfield, New Jersey."

Vice President: Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

"Where the Wild Things Are is a classic children's picture book. The main character, Max, puts on his wolf suit and amazing things start happening. His room turns into a forest! This is a true blue children's book. Read it to find out what happens."

To learn more about the presidential candidate you may visit Dan Gutman's home page.

The vice presidential candidate invites you to learn more at this site.

READ-publicans

The READ-publicans have nominated their top choices for library president and vice president.

Eragon by Christopher Paolini for President

"Eragon is a great book and is not the junk some people think it is. Eragon is the story of a boy who finds a mysterious blue "stone" in a wilderness mountain range called "The Spine". The blue stone turns out to be a dragon egg and Eragon becomes a rider in an amazing adventure never imagined for a poor farm boy. What makes this book the more impressive is that Christopher Paolini, the author, was only fifteen years old when he wrote the book. The series continues in Eldest and later in Brisingr. The fourth and final book is yet to come."

For more information on Eragon and Christopher Paolini visit the official website.


Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss for Vice President

Learn more about Green Eggs and Ham here.

The READ-publicans have also compiled a list of potential cabinet members in the Eragon/Green Eggs and Ham administration.

Secretary of State: Snow Falling in Spring by Moyling Li

Secretary of the Interior: Trail of Tears: The Rise and Fall of the Cherokee Nation by John Ehle

Secretary of the Treasury: The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

Secretary of Defense: The Warriors series by Erin Hunter

Secretary of Education: Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson

Secretary of Energy: Pendragon by D J MacHale

Secretary of Transportation: Olive the Other Reindeer by Vivian Walsh

Secretary of Health and Human Services: Garfield by Jim Davis

Attorney General: Emily Windsnap by Liz Kessler

Secretary of Agriculture: The Yellow House: Vincent Van Gogh and Paul Gauguin Side by Side by Susan Rubin Goldman

Secretary of Labor: The Secret of Platform 13 by Eva Ibbotson

Secretary of Homeland Security: Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat by Lynne Jonell

Head of the Environmental Protection Agency: The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry

More information on the Secretary of Defense--Warriors

"Warriors is the exciting tale of a kitty pet named Rusty who dreams of life living in the forest. One day Smudge, his friend, dares him to go into the forest. As Rusty enters the forest a whole new life opens up in front of him and soon he becomes a warrior of a clan. His dreams come true. Follow him in this exciting series."

The Election of the Year--Coming Soon!!

No one seems to have been able to fight the urge to get involved with politics this year. In an attempt to keep our students from arguing the pros and cons of Obama and McCain, it seemed to be a good idea to have our own election. Over the past several weeks, fourth and fifth grade classes have gone from the primary process to being almost ready for our own election. The difference from earlier elections is that they are creating their own parties to run books for President and Vice President of the library.

We began with nominations for each position. The students worked to define the eligibility requirements for president, settling on candidate being a work of fiction of at least 150 pages that is suitable for upper elementary and middle school students. The nominee can be a single book or a series. The nomination lists were long--much like the national presidential process which seemed to begin with everyone but me throwing a hat in the ring. We had repeated votes (primaries) to eliminate candidates until we came to one winning candidate. Much like the Clinton and Obama battle. it was not always easy to get a consensus for a final candidate. Students gave brief speeches supporting their favorites and some heated, but really quite logical and generally civil, discussions ensued. Not everyone was always happy with how things went. Feeling that they were being disregarded throughout the process, we have had threats of walk-outs by part of at least one party.

Unlike human candidates, books rely on their supporters for a voice, so the presidential candidates did not get to select their vice presidents. Instead, we did another nomination and elimination of candidates. For our purposes, the VP has to be a picture book or easy reader. There was much discussion about a good book versus a recognizable name that might be more electable.

Then there was the selection of a good party name. Some great names were discussed (and some pretty ridiculous ones as well) and the names were slowly winnowed away. There was a desire to appeal to the masses and to cross existing divisions for a party name that appeal to voters and represent a united front.

The parties are currently busy making posters and other advertising. They will have short statements about their candidates and the authors behind those candidates. They are also selecting their potential cabinet.

You, the readers of this blog, will have the opportunity to join the students of our school in voting for the winners. In the coming week, information about each of the candidates along with the cabinet selections will be posted on this blog. A poll will be added to the blog so that you may vote for your favorite party and its candidates. It will be a tough decision since each party has put a lot of thought into picking the very best candidates for this prestigious position. Please consider all that you read about the candidates and vote wisely.

Until the actual election, feel free to leave your comments. Let's get a healthy discussion going here.

What Have I Been Doing?

One of the problems that I am discovering with keeping a blog is that it takes a lot of time to write and edit posts. Another thing that bothers me is that I have no idea how many people read this blog so I have no idea if anyone at all has missed seeing new entries for the past couple of weeks. (If you do read this blog sometimes, please leave a message just so I know you exist out there in cyberspace.)

When I could not find time to write for the past two weeks it was almost always work related--or least related to exhaustion caused by work related activities.

Way back on November 8, I spent the entire day taking advantage of a unique opportunity offered to educators lucky enough to live in the Ann Arbor area. I was one of 50 or so people, including four others from the school, who spent the day learning about the Arab-American community in and around Detroit. Thanks to the University Musical Society (UMS) and their education programs, we all spent 12 hours immersed in Arab culture. Ask me about the day which included a visit to an Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church, some basic Arabic language lessons (plus some children's songs), talks about being a Christian in the Arab World and and Arab Detroit, a tour of the Arab American National Museum--a must see for anyone who has the chance to see its well-planned and informative displays, a lesson in calligraphy, a hands on mosaic project to share with students, some energetic dancing, a tour of a fabulous sweet shop where we tasted sweets straight off the grill, a trip to a market filled with Arabic foods and spices, and a tour of the Islamic Center of America Mosque. Don't forget the food! We ate so well--breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I think there are people who may soon start avoiding me because I can not seem to quit talking about all we did and saw and learned in that one very full day.

Yes, I was tired when I got home from that long day, but I was still eager for the next day. Sunday morning I was ready to go to the bookstore where we held our annual library fundraiser/book fair. One of my favorite pastimes is shopping for books, so I enjoyed the time searching for books to buy for the library, as well as a few for myself. However, the real fun began when people from the school community began to come to the store. There were familiar faces everywhere. Every year I look forward to this event, with the highlight always being the moment when I come upon a group of students discussing their favorite books and making recommendations to people from other classes, people of all ages who may have never talked together at any other time. Then there are the students and parents who come to me for reading ideas and I can get excited over and over again for a favorite title that I read long ago or one I have just discovered. It was a wonderful evening, even if the year's first snow made it hard to go outside in the cold when the last books had been paid for and boxed for delivery to school on Monday morning.

The fun didn't end then. On Wednesday, the library played host to math man and author Greg Tang. A wonderful melding of luck and research brought Mr. Tang to our school where he talked to students in every grade and then came back for a parent presentation in the evening. Mr. Tang probably started thinking about math long before he completed degrees in economics at Harvard, but his books came out of thinking about how people use basic skills for working with numbers and working with young math users. He looks for ways to make math fun and easy. He taught the students (and the adults) some fun games to play and tricks to make adding, subtracting, multiplication, and division easier and faster while making the principles behind his ideas make sense. In short, he was great. Don't believe me? Ask the students of all ages who are still playing his games, testing each other on how to multiply any number by 11, and telling me that things are making more sense every day. Read more about Greg Tang and his books at his website. If you are like me, you will be seeing math in a new light.

One more exciting opportunity for learning came just yesterday when I attended another UMS sponsored event. (Check out their site to learn about other offerings that those of you who do not live in the area will surely envy.) This was a "book club" to discuss a fascinating book by Sandy Tolan called The Lemon Tree. The book is the true and well-researched story of two people who have lived in the same house and picked lemons from the same back yard tree. One is a man who was born in the house in a town in Palestine and forced to move out with his family when the state of Israel was created. The other is the woman whose Jewish family left Bulgaria right after the Second World War to seek a safe homeland and settled in the same house in a city now called Ramle, Israel. Through their two stories, the book gives a balanced and insightful look into the continuing conflict. The book club began with a slide show about the book that you can view here and perhaps get inspired to read the book yourself. The panel for the discussion included several women from Zeitouna which is a group of women from the Ann Arbor area who have been meeting for about six years to discuss the Israel/Palestine conflict. They are a special group in many ways, but primarily for their ability to make their differences into strengths. You see, half of the women have close ties to Palestine and half are Jewish women, many of whom have lived in Israel. They do not try to make changes in the world, only to understand the stories that they each have to tell. Learn about the Zeitouna mission and their film Refusing to Be Enemies and you will probably be as interested and impressed with them as I am.

So, it has been a busy couple of week. I promise to do better in the coming weeks--just as soon as I finish cataloging all the books we got from the book fair, writing thank you notes to the generous people who donated so many books to the library, and thinking on the many things that I have been learning recently.

Book Quest Begins

This week Emerson students in grades four and five will begin regular meetings to read, discuss, and enjoy books as a part of Book Quest 2008. They will also be preparing to test other teams on how much they know about the books they are all reading.

This program was developed several years by Will Purves and myself to replace other reading programs that had resulted in more tears than teamwork. The idea is for every participant to share and enjoy the same five books. The teams then undertake the top secret task of creating a challenge regarding one of the books that they have read. This challenge can be almost anything. For example, if the teams had all ready "The Three Little Pigs" the challenge might include questions about the story. Each correct answer would result in some material for building a house fit for a pig. The team's construction would then be blow tested by a wolf or, more likely, a fan posing as a wolf. Perhaps the challenge would be to run a race that included stops at all of the pigs' houses, with questions to answers or feats to perform at each house. Maybe there would be an art and architecture challenge to built a house better house for the pigs. The options are limited only by time and imagination.

Of course, the books that this year's Book Quest members will read are a little more challenging than "The Three Little Pigs". Here are the great books that we are reading this year.

• Joey Pigza Swallows the Key by Jack Gantos
• Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr
• The Kid Who Ran For President by Dan Gutman
• The Castle in the Attic by Elizabeth Winthrop
• Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien

After the challenges are completed by all teams at our grand finale event, families join for a much loved pot luck dinner.

This event is enjoyed by all, but could never happen without the help of parent coaches who give up their time to come to meetings and to create inventive ways to help students appreciate and understand the books. Thank you, wonderful parent coaches.

Second and third grade Book Quest comes in the spring.