S.T.E.M. (science, technology, engineering, and math) Club started tonight in the Willard East library. 20 students from K-4th grades cooperated to master a variety of challenges. This group will meet for the next 6 weeks and use their team building skills to tackle missions related to astronomy, digital animation, construction, electricity and much more.
 As my family and I have settled into reading our school wide book club book, Stuart Little, lessons upon lessons have leaped from the pages. We are about 1/4 of the way through the book and we have already talked about measurement, Roman numerals, realistic fiction vs. fantasy fiction and a load of new vocabulary words. Wouldn't it be fun to make a little "Stuart" our of something (paper, Legos, whatever) and put it in a variety of situations around the house in a sort of "Elf on the Shelf" sort of way? I bet the kids could come up with some very creative situations or even just re-live some of the scenarios from the book like when Stuart fished out his mother's ring from the drain. The author, E.B.White, wrote Stuart Little in 1945, seven years before his most famous book, Charlotte's Web. With this in mind, there will obviously be vocabulary words that students (and maybe adults) need explained. What a great learning opportunity! (I confess, I'm a vocabulary nerd and love that kind of lesson.) Here are a few of the words we have come across while we've read...shinnying, handkerchief, inquire, horrified, violet water, worsted suit, washbasin, and seize. Depending on the age of your reader you can modify your list to what needs to be defined and what can be figured out with the context clues provided in the sentences around the word. One of our favorite activities that we did during chapter II was to read "Three Blind Mice" and talk about other old nursery rhymes. One of my most loved memories of spending time with my own mother was listening to and reciting old nursery rhymes. If you are a little rusty on these, let me know and I'll check out one of our great nursery rhyme books for you. How has your family been enjoying our book?  Author E.B.White and his dog, Minnie
I've been preparing our Willard East library board of education report and added a section called, "Let's Dream!" These are a few of the things I've added; astronomy night, STEM Club, outdoor makerspace, green screen broadcasting area, student podcasting and more technology. What would you add?  This is what awaits students for their first day of 2016 in the Willard East library. I can't wait to see their faces!  These are new books requested by students and teachers. They include; the "Warriors" series, "Bob books", new Mo Willems books and replacements to some well loved books.  Our theme area of the library is one of my favorites. Who knew we had so many books about SNOW. I'm not so sure I want all that snow outside, but reading about it is just fine!
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AuthorFourth year librarian with a "few" years of classroom teaching under my belt. Archives
May 2017
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