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Friday, September 3
Teacher's Corner: Cereal Box Book Reports (Katie & Kimble Blog, ages 7-10)
by
Linda Thieman
on Fri 03 Sep 2010 01:37 PM CDT
Teacher's Corner: Cereal Box Book Reports
 As so much of the plot of Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish
centers around a box of cereal, I thought this clever and fun idea to
build a book report around a cereal box was the perfect class or
homeschool activity to feature here on the Katie & Kimble Blog. The
activity comes from the book 24 Ready-to-Go Genre Book Reports by Susan Ludwig (Scholastic) and was adapted for the Katie &
Kimble Blog by Mrs. Barbara Day, a 4th grade teacher from Des Moines,
Iowa.
24
Ready-to-Go Genre Book Reports: Engaging Activities with Reproducibles,
Rubrics, and Everything You Need to Help Students Get the Most Out of
Their Independent Reading
My
students read fiction, and created a Cereal Box Book Report. Students
were to invent a cereal based on a fictional book that they had read
during the month. They were to think of a name and shape for the
cereal that was somehow connected to the book they had read. We
covered real cereal boxes with paper, and each side of the box was to
follow a specific guideline:
 * Front: the name of the cereal and picture to go with it.
* Back: A game based on the story, which must include information from the story.
* Right Side: Ingredients—the characters and story setting. (Some of
the kids got confused on this one and just listed food ingredients.)
* Left Side: A summary of the book, including the main conflict and resolution.
* Top: The title and author of the book, and the student’s name.
The
last step was for students to plan and present a commercial for their
cereal to the class. I was very pleased with the results. We had 100%
completion of this project, and the kids seemed enthusiastic.
Thank you to Mrs. Day for
sharing your classroom experience with us, and to Ms. Ludwig for
allowing us to reproduce such an exciting classroom activity from her
creative book. We appreciate it!
 Mom’s Choice Awards® has named the Katie & Kimble series among the best in family-friendly media,
products and services. Winner: Juvenile Books Series.
Now you can read the first 6 chapters of Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story for free. Click here to download the PDF. All the pictures are included!
Monday, August 30
Read 6 Chapters of the Award-winning Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story for Free! (for ages 7-10)
by
Linda Thieman
on Mon 30 Aug 2010 03:58 PM CDT
Now You Can Read 6 Chapters of Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story for Free!
 Now
you can read six chapters of Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story for free! Yes, that's half the book and it includes all the pictures from the first half of the book.
No
special software is needed. It's a pdf file that you can read with any
version of Adobe. It doesn't cost you anything and we don't collect your email address!
To read Chapters 1 through 6, click here!
Mom’s Choice Awards® has named the Katie & Kimble series among the best in family-friendly media,
products and services. Winner: Juvenile Books Series.
[Reading Level 3, 280L, for ages 7-10]
Nine-year-old Katie Russell and her family look
normal. But the Russells don't know they are living with Kimble,
the ghost of a ten-year-old girl. That is, until Katie discovers Kimble
and the two of them set off on a quest to find out what happened to
Kimble's mother.
Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story (Book 1 in the series) and Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish (Book 2 in the series) are available here:
Paperback version: $5.95
Click here to order Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story!
Click here to order Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish (Book 2)!
Instant download version: $2.48
Click here to order the instant download editions.
Saturday, August 28
Kids Can Help Save the World Here! (Katie & Kimble Blog, ages 7-10)
by
Linda Thieman
on Sat 28 Aug 2010 12:11 PM CDT
Kids, You Can Help Save the World Here!
 If you've read the award-winning Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story, you know that Katie is the kind of girl who likes to HELP people and animals (um, and ghosts!). Now, here are three ways that YOU can help people and animals, too.
It's fun and it's important.
And you can learn great things at the same time! I've added all three
to the Katie & Kimble Activity Corner on the right sidebar of this
blog. That section of the sidebar is called Save the World.
 1) A 12-year-old girl named Mimi Ausland from Oregon started a website called FreeKibble.com.
Kibble means pieces of dog or cat food. Every day, Mimi adds a new Bow Wow
Trivia question about dogs. If you answer the question
(correctly or not), Mimi will donate 10 pieces of kibble to dogs who
live in shelters. This really adds up! Mimi has provided dogs with
thousands and thousands of pounds of dog food. That must be very heavy
to carry!
 2) Mimi also started a site to help feed cats. So if you go to the FreeKibbleKat.com website and answer the Meow Trivia question every day, Mimi will donate 10 pieces of kibble for cats!
 3) The third way that you can help is found at FreeRice.com.
Here, if you answer questions correctly, FreeRice will donate 10 grains
of rice to a hungry person for each question you answer. This can add
up quickly, because you can keep answering questions as long as you
want.
FreeRice has all kinds of questions. You can start at the
lowest level and build your English vocabulary. Or you can do the same
thing in other languages, too, like Spanish and French.
They
also have questions about art and famous artists, where you get to look
at famous pictures. You can also look at maps to answer questions
about countries and world capitals. And you can practice your math and
multiplication tables and earn rice for hungry people at the same
time! You also get to keep track of how much rice you've donated.
So, have fun, learn things, and help dogs, cats and people! Here's to saving the world!
Mom’s Choice Awards® has named the Katie & Kimble series among the best in family-friendly media,
products and services. Winner: Juvenile Books Series.
Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story (Book 1 in the series) and Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish (Book 2 in the series) are available here:
Paperback version: $5.95
Click here to order Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story!
Click here to order Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish (Book 2)!
Instant download version: $2.48
Click here to order the instant download editions.
[Reading Level 3, 280L, for ages 7-10]
Nine-year-old Katie Russell and her family look
normal. But the Russells don't know they are living with Kimble,
the ghost of a ten-year-old girl. That is, until Katie discovers Kimble
and the two of them set off on a quest to find out what happened to
Kimble's mother.
Thursday, August 26
Katie & Kimble Blog: A Visit from a Baseball Player!
by
Linda Thieman
on Thu 26 Aug 2010 12:34 PM CDT
Katie & Kimble Blog: A Visit from a Baseball Player!
 Have
you read the story about the baseball player I knew when I was a kid?
It's over on the right sidebar of the Katie & Kimble Blog. It's
called "When I was 9: The Baseball Player," and it's a true story.
When
we lived in Minnesota, Rich Rollins was the third baseman for the
Minnesota Twins. He was also our neighbor. When I created the Katie
& Kimble blog, I wrote a true story about Rich and posted it on
the blog.
Well, one day, Rich's son, Jim Rollins, was googling his dad's name and
he came across my story on this blog. Then, when he went over to visit
his parents, he showed them the story. Here is what Jim had to say: "I showed [my dad] the story and he really enjoyed the memory."
It was a lot of fun for my family to hear from Rich, his wife Lynn, and their son, Jim, too! Thanks, Jimmy!
Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story (Book 1 in the series) and Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish (Book 2 in the series) are available here:
Paperback version: $5.95
Click here to order Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story!
Click here to order Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish (Book 2)!
Instant download version: $2.48
Click here to order the instant download editions.
[Reading Level 3, 280L, for ages 7-10]
Nine-year-old Katie Russell and her family look
normal. But the Russells don't know they are living with Kimble,
the ghost of a ten-year-old girl. That is, until Katie discovers Kimble
and the two of them set off on a quest to find out what happened to
Kimble's mother.
Wednesday, August 25
Katie & Kimble Go Green! (Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish, for ages 7-10)
by
Linda Thieman
on Wed 25 Aug 2010 09:59 AM CDT
Katie & Kimble Go Green!
 You might not notice how “green” the Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story chapter book series is until you get to the second book, Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish.
In the second Katie & Kimble
book, we discover that the Russell family is trying to eat healthier
foods. Can you think of an example? That’s right—they only have pizza
on special occasions and they don’t eat much red meat anymore.
Katie’s
family also cares about the earth and about all living things, like
trees. For example, when Katie’s dad does the grocery shopping, he
takes cloth bags with him. No paper or plastic for him! And when he
puts up a swing on the old oak tree in the backyard, he’s very careful
not to harm the tree and he doesn’t use any nails at all.
Mr. Russell also shows how much he cares about the earth when he sings one of his favorite songs in Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish. It’s called “For the Beauty of the Earth.” It’s a beautiful old hymn. You can listen to free samples of the song here.
For the Beauty of the Earth
Fun Katie & Kimble Hint: On the sidebars, click on the yellow stripes for a little surprise or two!
Mom’s Choice Awards® has named the Katie & Kimble series among the best in family-friendly media,
products and services. Winner: Juvenile Books Series.
Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story (Book 1 in the series) and Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish (Book 2 in the series) are available here:
Paperback version: $5.95
Click here to order Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story!
Click here to order Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish (Book 2)!
Instant download version: $2.48
Click here to order the instant download editions.
[Reading Level 3, 280L, for ages 7-10]
Nine-year-old Katie Russell and her family look
normal. But the Russells don't know they are living with Kimble,
the ghost of a ten-year-old girl. That is, until Katie discovers Kimble
and the two of them set off on a quest to find out what happened to
Kimble's mother.
Tuesday, August 24
Six MORE Moms Review Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story (ages 7-10)
by
Linda Thieman
on Tue 24 Aug 2010 12:54 PM CDT
Six MORE Mom Bloggers Review Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story
Here you can read reviews of Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story
(a chapter book for ages 7-10) written by some wonderful mom bloggers.
See what moms are thinking about this new chapter book series by
children's book author Linda Thieman!
[Reading Level 3, 280L, for ages 7-10]
1) The Homeschool Messenger (Susieqtpie’s review of Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story)
“...It
is 106 pages of pure fictional fun! Don't let the Ghost Story title
keep your young ones from reading the book. It isn't a scary book!
Katie moves to a new town with her family and discovers a kindred
spirit! She goes on a quest that is engaging and heartfelt!”
2) Moomette's Magnificents Reviews (Cindi’s review of Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story)
“...make sure to add this charming mystery book to your child’s reading list this summer!”
3) The Post-it Place (Jyl’s review of Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story)
“...a
book that will keep children engaged and wanting to know more. It isn’t
frightening at all, so no worries that your child won’t be able to
sleep at night; it is just fun, excitement and a little suspense.”
4) From Melissa's Desk (Melissa’s review of Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story)
“I recommend this fabulously written book to all children ages 7-10!”
5) 'Deal'ectible Mommies (Candace’s review of Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story)
“Not
only is Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story a fun read, it allows Milla
and me to have some precious time together every night before bed. She
makes a point every night to bring me the book and curiously awaits the
next adventure!”
6) Homeschool Buzz Reviews (Kathy’s review of Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story)
“Kimble
is so pleasant you quickly forget she's really a ghost!... Another
spunky character is Katie's dog, Twinkle; her ever present, playful
English sheepdog is very appealing.”
Mom’s Choice Awards® has named the Katie & Kimble series among the best in family-friendly media,
products and services. Winner: Juvenile Books Series.
Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story (Book 1 in the series) and Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish (Book 2 in the series) are available here:
Paperback version: $5.95
Click here to order Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story!
Click here to order Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish (Book 2)!
Instant download version: $2.48
Click here to order the instant download editions.
©2009-2010 by Linda Thieman
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