Musings from a middle school reading specialist. I encourage my students to read, talk, write, and have fun!
I parent two amazing young-adult daughters with my husband of 30+ years.

March 21, 2014

Is the box here? SOLC #21


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I manage the Scholastic book orders for two 5th grade classrooms.  The teachers share the points, and I'm happy to help.

Last week I handed out book orders with a plea to return the forms quickly.  Our spring break begins at 2:30 p.m. today.  After collecting from a few stragglers, I placed the order last weekend.

I love 5th graders, but they are still working on the skill of delayed gratification.  The morning after the first student handed me his book order form he asked if I had the books.  I explained that I would be ordering the books altogether, and it usually took at least five days to receive the books once I ordered them.  He understood.

Each day this week, I have been stopped and asked about the books by each of the seven students who ordered.  Each time I explained what I knew based on emails from Scholastic:  the order was placed, the order was shipped, the order was in transit.

Have I been annoyed?  Of course not!  They can't contain their excitement for NEW BOOKS!  I'm excited to get the box, and not one of the books inside is for me!  This enthusiasm for reading fills my heart!

Today we hope that the UPS truck will arrive before our 2:30 dismissal.  I asked the office staff if they can call me when the box arrives.  I do plan to stay after school until the box arrives.  I may even make deliveries to students' homes.  They need these books for spring break!

Happy reading to all! 
(Please cross your fingers for us!!!)

UPDATE:  At 1:30 p.m. the book box was delivered!  The kids were very excited to see me come to their classrooms with my arms full of books.  Happy spring break reading to all!

12 comments:

  1. Ooooo...fingers crossed!!! I hope the books arrive in time!

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  2. You are so lovely. Staying back and making home deliveries, now that's passion and commitment. Good on you. I would love to be getting a box of books too. :)

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  3. Did it come?! I love what a daring passionate teacher you are, willing to drive those books to homes if you have to. You GET how important having books is!!

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  4. That is so great that your kiddos are so excited about reading! That's so wonderful! Did it arrive in time? The fact that you are even considering doing "home deliveries" speaks volumes about how important you know reading is!

    I love how you described "delayed gratification" as a skill. I'd never thought of it like that before. :)

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  5. I certainly hope the box of books got there - I love it when the boxes from amazon are waiting for me at home. How wonderful that you have so many readers that can't wait to get their hands on new books!!!!

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  6. It's great that they are so excited about books. I hope they came today! Our kids ordered these Minecraft books that were on back order - waiting almost a month.

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  7. I get just excited as the kids about "the box." I do hope they arrived in time!

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  8. Oh how I remember waiting for Scholastic book orders when I was a student...and that was a LONG time ago. When I taught 5th grade (I loved that grade) we would discuss the books on the list...and then they made their orders. Those were the olden days when there was no email tracking! So glad your books arrived before spring break!

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  9. Glad to hear the books arrived just in the nick of time and so happy that these students are dedicated to their reading. Have a great spring break!

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  10. Even I don't have much patience if I am waiting for new books to arrive. Perhaps that is why I love my Kindle! Happy spring break to you!

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  11. Love, love, love when the Scholastic boxes arrive! So much fun!

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  12. Excitement for new books is always satisfying and never gets olds, love my own daughters excitement of going to the library.

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