Today we took a break from reading chapters so that we could talk. 2nd grade really wanted to talk and have conversations with me in circle time. So we did. And it went so well, I decided to have the same discussion in my first grade classes. During circle time, the kids got to tell me all about the books they read this year that were non-fiction and tell everyone what they learned about in the book. What ensued was a great discussion about historical figures like George Washington and Martin Luther King Jr. as well as pet care, dinosaurs, Biblical events, natural disasters, and hot rods. The kids were also able to tell me the difference between a book about "Danny The Dinosaur" verses a book about a dinosaur exhibit in a real museum. We also talked about the difference between books about a character living through a natural disaster like in Dear America verses books about the real event. The kids have definitely learned a great deal this year about fiction and non-fiction.
Spring Picture Day... in the library. Instead of normal time, I moved from classroom to classroom and the kids did not get a chance to check out books. That's okay! In middle school study halls, kids were still given a chance to study. They also enjoyed standing at the door and giving the younger kids high fives and compliments. In 3rd grade, we read from "I Survived The Attacks of September 11, 2001" The " I Survived" series is a very popular series written for the younger chapter book readers. Each book crafts a story of a young person trying to survive a major catastrophe. Some of the series highlights events in the distant past like the San Francisco earthquake. Other highlight events like the recent Japanese tsunami. You can read more about it at the author's website:
http://www.scholastic.com/isurvived/bookSep11.htm 2L -- We read the first chapter of The Outer Limit by John Peel. This scary tale explores the question "What if animals went to war with humans?" 1 P -- We read "A Duck So Small" by Elizabeth Holstein. This little tale features a duck that all the other ducks laugh at and call useless because she is so small. It turns out small can sometimes save the day. 4R I have many students in 4th and 5th grade who are currently reading A Series of Unfortunate Events. Lemony Snicket has an incredible website with lots of pages to explore. Click on the picture to the right in order to access his site.
2L -- Today we chatted about brothers and sisters, about how we fight our siblings but how we are always there for them when they need us. Then we read Milo, Sticky Notes & Brain Freeze. This is a new one that we have just added to our collection.
1L & 1P -- We read Fluffy and Baron. This is a short book but shares a beautiful story of friendship. Greetings on this very cold Fat Tuesday! Today, as we came off a snow day, 6th grade arrived to study hall, first period, with very little to do. Several of them chose to read. Kindergarten KSAM & PM -- Mrs. Haake was here to read with the kids today. She read My Rotten Redheaded Older Brother by Patricia Polacco. Patricia Palacco has written and illustrated a great deal of books. She has a really great site which you can find by clicking her picture below. 4R comes in this afternoon. We will be reading My Life As A Fifth Grade Comedian by Elizabeth Levy -- ba-dum-cha
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