What a happy, but exhausting week. I was out two days this week but I will share with you what the students did in the media center.
Many of the classes continued what they were doing from last week. The fifth graders continued work on their lotus diagrams, the fourth graders finished reading Danny/helpful writing tips. One class read about Roald Dahl's first trip in their motor car with his ancient sister of 21 years at the wheel. (Roald actually had his nose almost cut off when she wrecked! Sad, but hilarious as he told it.) Third grade finished with their Esio Trot by Roald Dahl.
Three second grades each had a different lesson. However, all included books written by Patricia Polacco. One class had last weeks lesson about Rotten Richie and the ultimate dare (see last post). Another class had the lesson with the book, Thunder Cake, complete with recipe (see previous posting). Finally, another class had a lesson about how sometimes things do not go according as planned by reading, Rechenka's eggs. This beautifully written story was about a babushka who lived near Moskva (Moscow) who enjoys creating pysanky eggs. She plans to take the eggs that she has worked so diligently on to the village and enter them for a prize. However, all does not go as planned. This is our focus about how sometimes we must change what we plan to do.....which leads to a discussion about our character traits. We finish the book which is very heartwarming. I will follow up with the video (Reading Rainbow) when the students are learning to write "how to" stories.
First grade continued with their homophone stories/Good night, good knight and Dear Deer.
Kindergarteners continued their fiction/nonfiction text set by reading:
Green Snake by David Schwartz(nonfiction) and Small green snake by Libba Moore Gray (fiction). After reviewing the differences, students were divided up between 5 tables with both fiction and nonfiction books laid out so the covers were showing. We sang a song I made up sang to the tune "Here we go 'round the mulberry bush" except we sing....This is the way we choose a book, choose a book, choose a book, this is the way we choose a book, I want a _____. This is where I sing either "fiction" or "non fiction" and the students must choose that type of book. It is immediate observation as to which students understand and which students need more instruction.
Goodbye track 4!
Happy Reading,
Mrs. Wetherell