Our first full week is done!

You survived your first full week! Take a well deserved break and do something fun.

Do you love drawing and telling stories?  So does Jarrett Krosoczka. He's a famous author and illustrator. He is most famous for his Lunch Lady graphic novels. You can draw with him and his kids every day at 2:00 (that might be 1:00 our time) and see all the Draw with Me videos on his YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/studiojjk or his website: http://www.studiojjk.com/



Cutest read-aloud ever from Waukesha HAWS shelter. Two-week old foster kitten is so adorable!
https://www.facebook.com/HAWSofWaukesha/videos/222271395683830/

Are you keeping a journal of this weird time in your life? I am! I take a picture every day and I write

about it in a book. Here is one of my earlier entries:
Day 8 Wednesday March 25: Sending happy thoughts to anyone who walks by!

Need some ideas for what to take pictures of? Here you go! This should get you through April. You don't have to do them all. It is just some suggestions.

1. I am ...
2. Your virtual learning space
3. Good morning
4. A furry Friend
5. Something interesting outside in nature
6. A quiet place
7. How I'm feeling
8. Draw a picture of something
9. Who are you connecting with and how?
10. The view outside your window
11. Something you made
12. Jump (have someone else take the picture)
13. Some water in your house
14. A picture of you from behind
15. Good night - ready for bed
16. A hobby
17. From the side 
18. Something that begins with the first letter of your name
19. Explore something in your house or yard that you've never noticed before
20. Play
21. A close-up of something
22. A picture from above something
23. An out of focus picture
24. Something that is your favorite
25. Something you do every day
26. Signs of Spring
27. A toy
28. Something you do in your free time
29. Something that makes you smile
30. Something that took a long time for you to do

Thursday Already!

I've been trying to limit facebook events, because I know some may not be on Facebook, but I couldn't resist this one. Country music icon Dolly Parton is starting a weekly bedtime story called, "Goodnight With Dolly" starting tonight! Take a look at her April offerings! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0MpwxxTbrBOz1g1X-BynUA



Even our local Waukesha Public Librarians are getting on board with read alouds. It's a Facebook link, but I'm fairly certain you don't need Facebook to see it. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=215162469589879










Finally, I had some help with today's blog. This is my kitty Milo.

Are you in the groove yet?

Just like when you are in school, it is helpful to keep a schedule when you are home. I just found this fun site for families with things to do to keep you learning interesting things both on and off line. It is called Wide Open School. There are activities for students in many different grade levels - including life skills.  My favorite section of this is called Daily Schedule.






I also found this cute video from Mo Willems about one of his newer Elephant and Piggie books called I Really Like Slop! I think you'll love the video, but DON'T TRY IT AT HOME!

Tuesday

PBS Learning Media has a fun website that anyone can access for free. There are videos, interactive games and even entire lessons! Just make sure you click on the tab that says for students. There are fun activities for everyone K-12. You can click on one of the topics on the first page or search for just about anything that interests you including art and music and performance arts like dance.

Joe Wilder and the Capitol Case is a fun detective game based in Wisconsin History. The cases take about an hour to solve so make sure you have a chunk of time before you get started.

Enjoy!

Welcome Back!

Welcome Back! I hope you had a safe and relaxing Spring Break. Let's find some fun things to do online!

There is still time to catch up with Kate Messner's Ranger in Time Book Club. If you like dogs and time travel, you'll love Ranger in Time. Ms. Messner is currently reading Ranger in Time: Rescue on the Oregon Trail. Each week she posts a new video of the next chapter. She is even answering some reader's questions. If you like this one, you'll love the rest of the series that you can access on Sora (or Overdrive).

If you like Pete the Cat, you may enjoy his virtual story time and drawing demo every day at 11:00 am Central Time. Unfortunately Pete is only doing this on Instagram @petethecatofficial but he's got some fun videos on YouTube. You can find those here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZyvbuv6Nomrsfxy3zoJ-Ag
We even have a few Pete the Cat Read-Alongs in Sora.

And speaking of Sora, if you want to find some fun things to read even when you can't get in the library, don't forget about our eBooks and audio book collection on Sora. Need help getting started? Here are some videos to get you going.  If you aren't a Waukesha student, you can use your public library card and the Libby app. anywhere in Wisconsin. Call your public library if you need help getting started - or you can ask me.

And don't forget - Let's be kind online!

Happy First Fully Day of Spring ...

... and tomorrow is the start of Spring Break.

Here are some fun things to do to TAKE A BREAK!

Outdoor Scavenger Hunt
Don't collect the items, just mark them off the list or take photos. See how many you can find in your yard or neighborhood. Then get inspired by this list and make your own. Give it to a friend. Thanks to Emily Van Gundy Stockwell and Kentucky Writing Project for the idea. (source: Facebook)

Non-Screen Ideas
Take a break from your screen! A calendar of ideas are listed below. You don't have to wait until April 1 and you don't have to do them in order. Start with one that is the most interesting to you. Mark them off when you complete them. See if you can do them all before the end of April. Save your favorites to do again.

Our book for today is an oldie, but a goodie Harry the Dirty Dog, read by another oldie, but goodie, Betty White. There are many actors reading on this site. Plenty for you to enjoy all week. Thanks to the Screen Actors Guild Foundation for this resource!

I'll be back next week.

Happy Spring!

Tonight at 10:49 is the start of Spring! 

I hope your virtual learning is going well. 

Here is a fun idea - Astronauts on the Space Station reading to you!

Check out Story Time from Space

Here is Josh Gad reading to kids on Twitter! You may have to use a parent's device to access Twitter.

Here is a fun site if you like animals: The San Diego Zoo for Kids!

And don't forget our own Milwaukee County Zoo. You can see what our zoo animals are up to online even if we can't visit them in person for awhile on ZooCams.