Monday Matters: Week of April 30, 2007

Ahh, here it is the end of April and Silver Star is back on schedule.  The state assessment testing is complete except for a few make-up tests. The weather has been wonderful.

The end of April means May is here.  I try very hard not to think that I have only “___” more times with each class.  It does creep in. I panic and think, “oh no, I haven’t done this or this or this.”

Kindergarten will be hearing Stella Louella’s Runaway Book by Lisa Campbll Ernst and/or And the Dish Ran Away with the Spoon by the Steven sisters: Janet and Susan. Love these books. We will act them out a bit.  This will take the next two weeks when I swap books between the four classes.

First grade is continuing to explore nonfiction and its features. I like using the 500’s as that where most students are interested.

Second gradeis will investigate the children’s encyclopedia.

How to get third graders transitioning to other chapter books? Provide a spring reading challenge with a chance to vote on a favorite.  I am introducing several titles.

Fourth and fifth grade are a tad bit behind. The looks on their faces during the last two weeks said it all, worn out from thinking hard on the assessment tests.

I used the time to read to them (something they don’t get a lot of in library these days).   I read from  2008 Sasquatch Reading Award nominees and the Young Readers’ Choice 2008 nominees.  Have you read M.T. Anderson’s Whales on Stilts? Quirky but kids seemed engaged in the story. Of course, I always worry if guards shooting at the main characters (who are children) makes for a good read aloud.  I mean, in my head they see more violence on television on at the movies but would you hear about it if a teacher read that out loud. Seems like a double standard in a way.

So we will pick it up again, tall tales for the fourth graders and creating new shelf holders for the fifth graders.

I just received and email Robin Brande. I won chocolate. Oh, yum!  I also managed to write a poem a day at my personal blog, Deowriter.

Happy Reading.

MsMac