Happy New Year 2012

Wishing you a very happy, healthy, successful year.

Mrs. Wetherell

Merry Christmas 2011

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Mrs. Wetherell

Happy Hanukkah 2011

source: www.dreamstime.com

Last rotation of 2011

Even though it was the last week, classes were still in session and learning continued in the library this rotation.

Fifth graders continued with their lotus diagram of Lewis and Clark. New print sources were introduced as well as specific sites on the Internet. Students researched uniform topics as well as self selected topics relating to the expedition. Afterwards students selected books for track out.

Fourth grades either completed Polar, the Titanic Bear and learning about primary sources OR we brainstormed topics related to North Carolina. After student prioritized the topics, we downloaded a lotus diagram and saved it to a word document used to place information when studying different topics. The topics the students chose were: Symbols, Coastal plains region, Pirates, Lighthouses, Piedmont region, Famous NC people, Mountain region and Famous NC places. A work in progress!

Third graders finished print sources on Helen Keller and all but two classes viewed the Helen Keller DVD which showed her life (animated) from 2 -7 years old. Primary sources were shown at the end of the DVD which we discussed. Students took notes from viewing the DVD and placed the information on a section of a lotus diagram. It will all come together within 6 rotations of media special.

Second graders continued their journey through listening to Bill Peet books. Most classes listened to the selection titled, Merle, the high flying squirrel. Merle was certainly afraid to try anything new! We discussed some of our own fears after sharing our thoughts about what Mr. Peet's message in the book really was about. We connected this book with Melanie Watts', Scaredy Squirrel, which was similar and even more humorous!

First graders shared their thoughts on the holidays, Elf on a Shelf, and some of the traditions that happen with their own family. We followed up with Dav Pilney's, Dragon's Merry Christmas, It's Christmas David and Olivia helps at Christmas. We truly enjoyed media special this week and had a wonderful time chosing books for track out.

Kindergartners listened to a cajun folk tale titled, Why alligator hates dog, by J. J. Reneaux. It is a pourquoi tale which is a "why" story. The kindergarteners were all wide eyed and transfixed in the story. We followed up with our song...I have a book for you and made book selections. If time permitted we read either Olivia helps at Christmas or It's Christmas David!

Learning never stops and I try to make it as fun as possible. I want all students to develop a love of books as well as become life long readers. Sometimes just sharing a story is educational and worthwhile to accomplish the above objectives. Maybe if you haven't included storytime during your daily routine, it would be a great time to begin during track out.

Happy reading,

Mrs. Wetherell

photo source: www.hallmark.com/

1.6 Billion Reasons to keep Libraries

What did we learn this rotation?

All huskies were engaged in learning in the library this past rotation.

Fifth graders revisited their notes taken during the Lewis and Clark DVD. We brainstormed who was instrumental in making the expedition successful. After brainstorming we chose five topics or individuals to include on our Lotus Diagram. We took our notes to the computer, downloaded a Lotus Diagram to a word document and begin to fill in important events and information. Since we have just begun, this will be a work in progress for a while. Lotus Diagram was found on this site.http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.cfegreenville.org/myimages/lotus_expanded.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.cfegreenville.org/quality-tool-templates.php&usg=__Ck4JNeebwq2eUTwmgzYzf8s6RMY=&h=545&w=783&sz=54&hl=en&start=31&sig2=Ndnt0P6c6Dl_cJde2saS4A&zoom=1&tbnid=wE0pKEMi0Ad7QM:&tbnh=100&tbnw=143&ei=22jjTsWhMM7LtgeckpX3BA&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dlotus%2Bdiagram%26start%3D21%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26gbv%3D2%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1

Fourth graders were introduced to primary/secondary sources. I chose Polar, the Titanic Bear as the focus story. http://www.polarthetitanicbear.com/aboutpage.html
and http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-biography/margaretta-corning-spedden.html What a facinating story! We will visit the online encyclopedia to view the photographs and information given at the time when Daisy Spedden boarded the Titanic.

Third graders were introduced to Helen Keller, who became blind and deaf at the age of 18 months old. We discussed how people can overcome certain obstacles in life. Some obstacles are much bigger than others. After winter break we will visit this Web site:http://www.afb.org/braillebug/hkmuseum.asp

Second graders learned about Bill Peet, author and illustrator of more than 30 books for children which have been praised by parents, teachers, librarians, and children because they make reading fun and teach positive values. During his 27 year career making animated films, Bill Peet became Walt Disney's greatest storyman. (http://www.billpeet.net/)
We read Big Bad Bruce and the message we took from this story is to treat others the way you want to be treated. Next week we will be reading The Whingdingdilly. Some classes have listened to this story and have made connections to Big Bad Bruce. However, the message they have learned is to be happy with who you are.

First graders were introduced to Tomie dePaola. We learned a little about his life and his passion for drawing. He has written both fiction and non fiction for children. His most famous book, a folktale, is about Strega Nona. However, I read aloud Bill and Pete this week about a crocodile who is beginning school and his best friend is his toothbrush, Pete....ask your child about this:-) http://www.tomie.com/about_tomie/index.html

Kindergarteners were introduced to folk tales and how they were handed down from generation to generation. We began with Verna Aardema's, Borreguita and Coyote. What a smart little lamb! We learned where the folk tales are located in the library (398.2) and sang a song to help us remember the call number on the spine label. http://readinglady.com/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=24 and http://www.schoollibrarymonthly.com/columns/authorauthor/index.html

(To the tune of "The farmer in the dell")

I have a book for you,
I have a book for you,
If you want a folk tale,
Choose 398.2.

If time permitted we played a game of telephone to show how words/stories change by telling them over and over.

Happy reading and Happy Holiday preparation!

Mrs. Wetherell

Books to be thankful for....(Thanksgiving Themed Books)

The Pilgrim's First Thanksgiving by Ann McGovern

Thanksgiving Is For Giving Thanks by Margaret Sutherland

On The Mayflower by Kate Waters

Pilgrim Children Had Many Chores by Gina Lems Tardif

Did You Know? by Sandi Hill

Sarah Morton's Day by Kate Waters

Samuel Eaton's Day by Kate Waters

Tapenum's Day: A Wampanoag Indian Boy in Pilgrim Times by Kate Waters

Feeling Thankful by Shelley Rotner

Story of the First Thanksgiving by Elaine Raphael

One Little Two Little, Three Little Pilgrims by B.G. Hennessy

Three Young Pilgrims by Cheryl Harness

Alligator Arrived With Apples : A Potluck Alphabet Feast by Crescent Dragonwagon

Story of Thanksgiving by Nancy Skarmeas

Thanksgiving by Alana Willoughby

The First Thanksgiving Day: A Counting Story by Laura Melmed First Thanksgiving by Linda Hayward

Thanksgiving Is… by Louise Borden

First Thanksgiving by Garnet Jackson

If You Sailed on the Mayflower by Ann McGovern

Off to Plymouth Rock by Dandi Daley MacKall

Story of the Pilgrims by Katharine Ross

Thanksgiving Day by Gail Gibbons

Giving Thanks: The 1621 Harvest Feast by Kate Waters

Daily Life in the Pilgrim Colony 1636 by Paul Erickson

Squanto and the Miracle of Thanksgiving by Eric Metaxas

The Wampanoags by Alice Flanagan

Corn is Maize by Aliki

I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie by Judith Schachner

Eating the Plates: A Pilgrim Book of Food and Manners by Lucille Recht Penner

Homes in the Wildreness: A Pilgrim's Journal of Plymouth Plantation in 1620 by William Bradford (edited by Margaret Wise Brown)

Gobble: The Complete Book of Thanksgiving Words by Lynda Graham Barber

Turkeys, Pilgrims, and Indian Corn: The Story of the Thanksgiving Symbols by Edna Barth

Colonial Kids: An Activity Guide to Life in the New World by Laurie Carlson