Summer Reading

While I am out on maternity leave--my wonderful substitute Mrs. Bachhuber collected lists of books at each grade level that students thought others would like to read. Check out your current grade level, or the one above/below yours. There are a lot of great books suggested by other students listed!

1st Grade
2nd Grade
3rd Grade
4th Grade
5th Grade/6th Grade

READ!

And don't forget to email me a photo of yourself reading this summer!

Encyclopedias With Fourth Grade

In fourth grade this past week we learned about Reference Materials. I found this great slideshare about print and digital encyclopedias on Pinterest that I shared with my students. I love when people share their resources!

I then taught my students how to use our online database encyclopedias using keywords. Students tried to answer some basic questions as a quick scavenger hunt to practice the skills. It was fun and informative.

Kindergarten Research

Kindergarteners Rock at Research! Check out our completed projects. They are awesome!

Mohamed
Showalter
Tyrer AM
Tyrer PM
Vang

In Kindergarten students have been learning about Minnesota in their Social Studies Unit. I collaborated with our Kindergarten teachers to have students research an animal from Minnesota.

Recording Facts

First, I worked with each class to practice using pictures and words in a non-fiction book to find out "What does my animal look like?," "What does my animal eat?," and "Where does my animal live?" We practiced this skill with me modeling using an eBook, and then having the students practice with a hard copy text.

Taking Notes About Minnesota Animals

The next time I met with students, I modeled note taking skills using a book about a Minnesota animal. In two separate class periods students were able to record all that they had learned about their animals on their note taking sheet and draw a sketch of them.

Using the iPads to create images of our animals!

When classes came back to the library, we used the iPads to draw images of our animals to create a multimedia report that can be shared at their kindergarten program. While students were working, their teacher and I took photos of their written work (with the iPad) to create a page in their report with all the facts that they learned. I then used the iPad version of Little Bird Tales--and then teachers uploaded the tales to their class home pages after we recorded their voices reading their reports.

Parent Child Book Clubs

This past month parents and their fifth of sixth grade student met at school to discuss a book that they had both read.

At conferences 45 families chose books that they would like to read together. One month later, we met back at school for treats and conversation. After the book club-- a few families decided that they would continue the Parent/Child Book Club with their child's friends. It was a lot of fun to see families and kids interacting with great books!

We read:
WONDER
ESPERANZA RISING
HOME OF THE BRAVE
NUMBER THE STARS
FREAK THE MIGHTY
LOSER
WATSONS GO TO BIRMINGHAM 1963
HOPE WAS HERE

I provided each group with a list of questions--but encouraged groups to discuss what they thought were important aspects of the book. It was a great night.

Voting for MHL

2nd Grade Research

My 2nd Graders are awesome at research. We have been been reading nonfiction, taking notes, and writing reports all year. Their teachers are so great at collaborating with me, and it shows in the skills these kiddos have. Teaching with these lovely ladies is easy and fun--and our students learn so much! As I look at these completed new projects I am astonished at the growth we see in one year.

Recently, all second grade classes researched a different country from around the world. I helped them get started on the research part--then teachers continued in their classrooms. Students then worked with their teachers to learn skills about writing a paragraph to report their information. I taught them how to create illustrations in Little Bird Tales (which is one of my favorite multi-media creation tools for the primary grades--Go create a free account and play if you haven't yet!) I then worked with teachers to combine student work into books that have an illustration, a topic sentence, and a recording of students reading the paragraphs they wrote. They turned out great.

Check out our class pages with links to our books (I will link up to the last classes as they complete their books):

2 ANDERSON

2 OLSON

2 KATH

2 THEBERGE

Reading Party

Today we ended I LOVE TO READ MONTH with an All School Reading Party! What a fun way to end the day.