June in Tune

Today was the first day of my summer vacation. I got outside did some clean up. Then went inside and did some more clean up, on my computer. Pulling files into order deleting, saving to a flash drive. I am putting together a slide show I hope will be shown at Back to School Night, describing my students as 21st century learners. The slide show is a motivator to get parents to sign permission forms. I am planning to introduce wikis to 5th, 4th and 3rd grade this coming school year. I need permission forms signed by parents before the students may use my wiki. The wiki will be protected no one gets in if I don't authorize it.
I have been working on the wiki on and off for the last three months, trying things out, getting very comfortable with the formats. And I built a wiki for the curriculum team I am working with this summer. Just wanted to see if I could do it fast.

I am going to finish "Masterpiece" tonight so I can get on to another. Only 70 pages to go.

Reading Challenge Continued

I read a "Junie B. Jones" by Barbara Parks, "Shipwrecked". First time ever for a "Junie", and I enjoyed it. "Junie" kept a journal in this one so I'll have to check out some other titles to see if she does it again. "Junie" corrects her spelling mistakes in the journal or is that her teacher? I see why my primary teachers love this series. "Junie" is funny, observant, self-centered and cute!

Now reading "Masterpiece" by Elise Broach. A family of beetles, a boy named James ( I have a James) and the MET as in Museum of Art. James is the son of divorced parents with a stepfather and baby brother. The beetle, Marvin is the artist. They are copying a work of Durer.

So by my count I have orphans (1), motherless child (1) divorced parents (2) in the books I have read, so far. Many of the titles on my summer list come from the Black Eyed Susan Nominees for 2010-2011. Go here I plan to read all of the 4-6 grades novels before the end of summer and do a podcast for each one. These will be opening activities for grades 4 and 5. Other books will be podcast for 2 and 3.

The theme of orphan is not new to popular fiction. The protagonist must struggle against something and what is better than orphan status?

Check out "The English Orphans" by Mary Jane Holmes, who was the Danielle Steele of her day.

daily reading

I read a "Junie B. Jones" by Barbara Parks yesterday "Shipwrecked". Never read a whole one before and I see why she is so popular with my primary teachers. This one had a journal in it so I'll have to check out another one to see if the format is the same. I know it's lame that I haven't read one before. "Junie" corrects her own spelling in her journal, which I think is so cute. And her vocabulary is splendid for a six-year old! Wow wow Wowie!
Now I am on to "Masterpiece" by Elsie Broach also cute. Beetles and boy, James( I have a James) who are in the Metropolitan Museum of Art duplicating a Durer drawing, with pen and ink. Very much feels like Blue Balliett's book set in Chicago. Poor James has divorced parents with a step father and baby brother too.

So let's see so far of the books I've read so far we have children of divorce (2) motherless child (1) orphaned child (1) sibling loss (1). Some of the titles I am reading are from the Black Eyes Susan Nominees grades 4-6 for this year.
Here's the link

The theme of orphan is very common. We probably don't realize how common. We all relate to someone who is going it alone. Where is the conflict if the protagonist doesn't have to struggle against something? Nineteenth Century popular lit is full of orphans including one of my favorites, "English Orphans" by Mary Jane Holmes the Danielle Steele of her day.

reading challenge continued

Oh no (!) I'm a day behind on my reading challenge to read a book a day. But since it's just me it's all good. Interupted by great conversation and dinner with librarian friend Michele. Last day of school we meet for dinner and a movie. This year was our third annual. So we talked and ate and then went to where else... a book store. I bought "The Sixty-Eigth Rooms" by Marianne Malone. Just looked intersting.

I finished "Extra Credit" and "Umbrella Summer". Now reading "Confetti Girl" by Diana Lopez. The chapter headings start with a dicho, a Spanish proverb. Very cool.

I am wondering how to work into fourth and fifth grade plans a novel about a topic they are studying. Have to make a list of suggested titles and make sure the books are in my little library. Reporting out could be an alternate to books reports (so many choices). Now I'm thinking technology and presentations they all need practice talking in front of group. Hmmmm

Back to the books!

Reading Challenge

Over the summer break, which began for my students two days ago, I have offered to play reading bingo with them. They read five books of a genre, or four if they plan their reading with the free space. I thought I would read 24 books for the card, but now I have changed my plan to read a book a day.
I finished Greg Mortenson's "Three Cups of Tea" two days ago, then I read Lisa Graff's "Umbrella Summer" yesterday. Today I am working on Andrew Clement's "Extra Credit", if I stay up a little beyond my bed time I can finish it. How long can I go on with this reading challenge? Stay tuned!

Looking for picture books

It's that time of the year when vendors call and I get to order books. Not much money and I have to stretch it as far as I can.

I am looking for picture books and fiction, plus books about nutrition that are good for primary readers.

I am planning a first unit of research for grades 2-5 to be about nutrition. Needing a topic for study so students learn how to use resources in the media. Within the first five weeks we need to practice research, using graphic organizers and presentations; which format? slide shows, movies, skits or jokes, puppets who knows? 4th and 5th grade will have web links to locate and use but 2nd and 3rd will use print media for the first round. Hope I can find enough! Magazines and news articles would be great for extending the resources.