One World, Many Stories!

Happy summer, everyone!  I just wanted to remind you all of the summer reading program, going on now at your local public library!  It's free to sign up, and children can earn prizes by keeping track of the books that they read.  You should also stop by or call to find out what fun programs are being offered over the summer...all for FREE!

During the last week of school, the Ashaway School students designed some beautiful bookmarks, and I brought them all to the Ashaway Free Library.  They are now proudly on display on the circulation desk.  I challenged them to create a design that goes with the summer reading theme, One World, Many Stories.  Anyone who visits the library is welcome to take one.  Please stop in to see their work and pick up one for yourself!

Our students' bookmarks are on display at the Ashaway Free Library!

Zoo You Know Who I Am?

A few weeks ago I wrote about the first graders' zoo research project, which they conducted with the help of their fourth grade research buddies.  In the past, the first graders would use the information they recorded to write a report, but this year we decided to try something new!  Mrs. Ward, librarian at Richmond School, has her first graders use their research to write clues for a project she calls Zoo You Know Who I Am?  We had our first graders write their clues during the school day, and a group of fourth graders volunteered to stay after school to turn them into PowerPoint presentations. 

On Thursday the entire first grade came to the library to use the SmartBoard for our Zoo Am I? game show!  Each time the first grader tapped the board a new clue would appear, and the presenter would choose a student to make a guess.  Mrs. Austin even brought a prize box for the winners!

If you'd like to try out a game for yourself, here they are!

Mrs. Gigliotti's Class

Mrs. Campbell's Class

Mrs. Breault's/Mrs. Austin's Class

Finding a New Perspective!

Earlier this year, fourth grade teacher Mrs. Ornburn and I received a CCIP grant (the Chariho Community Innovative Projects Fund) to purchase four Flip video cameras.  At long last, an idea we mapped out months ago became a reality!

As always, her students researched a lighthouse and built a model.  This year, however, they filmed their models from different perspectives to answer questions such as: “How would the lighthouse look from your own point of view while standing at its base?  If you were a bird flying over it?  If you were the captain of a ship many miles out at sea?”  In the library we brainstormed a list of different perspectives, and then the students chose one to film (either from the list or of their own devising).  

Not only did this activity give the students a hands-on approach to learning, but it also provided evidence of the students’ work even though the models have been taken home.  In addition, it supported my unit on perspective using the picture book illustrations of Chris Van Allsburg (a Rhode Island author), especially the story Two Bad Ants.  I hope you enjoy their video!

4th Grade Rooster Games!

On Wednesday, June 1st, our 4th graders participated in the Ashaway School Rooster Games!  They have been preparing for this since September!  That's when I challenged them to read at least 5 of the books nominated for the Rhode Island Children's Book Award.  I am thrilled to report that ALL of our fourth graders qualified to participate in the games, and we had a blast!

Special Thanks to Mrs. Young and Mrs. Ornburn for all their support; not only did they both read one of the nominated books to their classes, but they've also been very accommodating every time I've appeared at their doors to touch base with the students.  Thanks also to our fabulous P.T.O. who provided the funds to purchase the "Champion Reader" medals and also the pizza for our afternoon celebration!  Thanks to all the moms who spent Wednesday morning in charge of a team...it couldn't have happened without you!  And finally, thanks to Mrs. Steever, librarian at Chariho Middle School, who so kindly shares all the games that she creates and who is always happy to offer her experience and support as needed!

These students earned a Champion Reader medal by reading all 20 books on the list!

Multiple Choice & Short Answers Round - Each team records their answer on a marker board before holding them up for all to see.

Team Red: Winners of the 2011 Rooster Games!

Object Round - matching the titles of the books to objects that represent them

First Lines Round - matching the title of each book to the very first sentence from each story

Creativity Round - Each team selects a book on which to base a performance.  This team created a skit from Tricking the Tallyman.