Is your book a "good fit?"

This week teachers asked me to teach the "good fit" book lesson. This is taken from The Daily 5 reading philosophy from real life teaching sisters Gail Boushey and Joan Moser. I explain that choosing books are just like choosing shoes. They have to be a good fit! After the lesson students choose books based on the acronym "I PICK". After much discussion students decide on their purpose for reading. Next they must choose a book that is interesting to them. However, this can be a daunting and time consuming process. Students are then guided on how to find a book that may appear interesting to them by looking at the cover and following through by reading about the book on the back cover or inside flap. Once the students believe this to be a book that is interesting to them specifically, he/she must open the book to see if they can read most of the words so they can understand or comprehend the text. Students need a great deal of support to be successful in choosing good fit books independently.
The success of choosing good fit books is to have enough books on hand in classroom libraries and in the school library media center. This is why it is so important to have a healthy book budget and a school that backs the media center in providing current and popular books for students to select.

Ten skills every student needs...

What students should learn in school is at the forefront of the education reform debates taking place across the U.S. and elsewhere.

Ed-tech stakeholders for years have been touting the need for students to learn so-called “21st century skills” such as problem solving, critical thinking, and media literacy to prepare for the new global, digital economy, while others are calling for students to have strong math and science skills.

All of these skills are important—but what do educators and other school stakeholders think are the most important skills?

We recently asked our readers: “If you could choose only one, what’s the skill you’d like every student to learn?”

Perhaps surprisingly, while many readers did cite critical thinking as a skill every student needs, another skill was listed nearly twice as much as all other responses combined.

Need a hint? It’s a skill every student has needed since the days of the one-room schoolhouse: the ability to read.

Being able to read, though the most popular response, was certainly not the only one. Another skill that could be considered the most forward-thinking response is having “global empathy.”

Based on the number and quality of responses we received for each suggested skill, we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 skills our readers believe every student needs. What do you think of these responses? What skills would you add to this list? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

According to readers, every student to be able to (in no particular order):

1. Read

“Would it not be reading? Even reading is required for math, which is very important, of course. But I have read recently of residents in poor African nations who are taught to read and are simply buoyed in other areas by their ability to read. It becomes an instant confidence builder.” —June Weis, consultant, SREB Educational Technology Cooperative

“I’d like every student to know how to read—to read deeply, and to truly understand each word. By reading, we can improve our knowledge. I speak from my own experience in studying English online. Now I want to help others to understand that.” –Cata

“If you can read, you can learn to do anything.” —Candace Kavey

“To read well. Reading is the first step to good writing. In order to learn social studies, science, and math, you need to know how to read. Reading is the gateway to all knowledge.” —Krista Bethke

for the rest of the article go to:
http://www.eschoolnews.com/2011/08/11/ten-skills-every-student-should-learn/

Do you glog?

Here is my latest "glog" about my dog. I am using this example to show younger students in the media center what a glog is and how it is used. There are many drawbacks for me to use this popular 21st century site. One, every student must have an account. Secondly, it takes sooooo long for the screens to load. Case in point; I waited forever to load a video to show on my glog. After one hour and only 87% completed, it timed out. I couldn't have 25 students waiting around for something to load. Finally, everyone wants my help IMMEDIATELY! I also have to give students time to check out books. If I could only work with a few students at a time it would be more effective, but far less efficient. Anyway...try it out with the family. What a great alternative to game night and think about all the literacy skills (and memories) you can share...Enjoy!

Mrs. Wetherell

Week of August 1, 2011

I am so excited to be back this year when all our huskies are in school together on a single track! I enjoyed a 4 week break this summer which I haven't had in over 4 years when we converted to a year round calendar. Being a specialist is a little different since I did not track out, but now I can....yeah!!!! I also observed students and parents were a little more excited to get back into the swing of things this year.

Our first week was a busy week and the students were so attentive, polite, and followed directions extremely well (Thanks parents). I introduced the students to Buddy, (see earlier post) and he, in turn, introduced the students to the Highcroft Media Center. Afterwards we listened to a selected read aloud specifically chosen for each grade level (see below). We discussed the "Shelf of Shame" and how we had more books damaged and lost this past year which was more than any other year at Highcroft...so we pledged to take care of our library books this year and treat them like friends....good friends....very good friends.

We also learned media specials would change weekly since we are on a 6 day rotation. We discussed how to remember our library special and if we had difficulty we could leave our books at school to read so they would always be there when needed. We discussed rules and the code of conduct in the media center since it is so large and we have to be extremely responsible.

This coming week our kindergarteners will begin their first full week of school so it will be an exciting time....I will be teaching 6 classes a day plus taking care of a very large faculty and staff....so stay tuned and see what happens during our media specials through reading this blog....enjoy your weekend everyone and....

Happy Reading,
Mrs. Wetherell

*Books read to students this week:
5th grade: Jon Scieszka's, Guys Write for Guys Read ("Brothers"* excerpt)
4th grade: 17 Things I am not allowed to do anymore by Jenny Offill
3rd grade: Mind Your Manners, B. B. Wolf by JudySierra
2nd grade: Patricia Polacco's, Thank you, Mr. Falker
1st grade: Back to School for Rotten Ralph, by Jack Gantos

My friend, Buddy, from CyberSpace introduces Highcroft's Media Center

Welcome Back Husky Families!

Highcroft’s 17,000 volume library serves as a resource for great books and an entry point to information from around the world. Our huskies are engaged in learning - whether researching on one of our 32 media computers, curled up with a favorite book, listening to a read aloud, or locating materials for classroom projects.
In addition to being a vital classroom resource, the library is a place where students explore subjects that interest them beyond curricular expectations. The collection is a learning collection; the nonfiction materials are up-to-date, relevant, and developed with a constant eye to current curriculum.

Above all, the library nurtures curiosity and imagination through quality fiction and nonfiction, integrating technology, and by emphasizing a life-long love of reading.

Happy Reading,

Mrs. Wetherell

New site I just learned about...

The site is titled, http://www.inspiremykids.com/ In fifth grade specials we discussed Ben Carson's life and I wanted a follow up. I couldn't have asked for anything better than this video I just discovered about what inspired him to become a neurosurgeon.

Mrs. Wetherell