Week of October 19, 2009

• In kindergarten this week we read two non-fiction books entitled Scarecrows by authors Lola Schaefer and Calvin Harris.  We also read a story called The Shy Scarecrow by Mary Packard.  There are no kindergartners that have a scarecrow at their house...and neither does Mrs. Welt.

• First grade read one of my favorites Humbug Witch by Lorna Balian. We also featured author Cynthia Rylant by reading chapter 2 of Henry and Mudge Under the Yellow Moon and Moonlight the Halloween Cat.  Cynthia Rylant is also the author of the Poppleton, Mr. Putter and Tabby and High-Rise Private Eyes series. Older readers will enjoy her Newberry Medal winning Missing May.

• The second grade classes are taking their field trip to U.D.F. Step 1 in making ice cream is the cow!  This week in library we read Cow written by Malachy Doyle with beautiful illustrations by Angelo Rinaldi.  It tells of a day in the life of a dairy cow. Our lesson then took a fun turn with The Cow Who Clucked by Denise Fleming and a video of the Caldecott Honor book Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin.

• For the Love of Autumn was thoroughly enjoyed by the third grade this week.  This was their first introduction to author and illustrator Patricia Polacco.  We will be reading Patricia Polacco's biography and reading many more of her books in the springtime. Many stories that she shares with us are written from her childhood memories.  Her books and illustrations have become favorites with me.

• Wow! The fourth graders have really impressed me with their map skills. We began our work with the Children's World Atlas in September during our study of 9/11 by locating New York City, Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania. This week they had some really tough questions that they had to answer. No sweat!! Ask your child to tell you about the Antarctic Treaty, or what is the smallest country in Europe, or maybe locate the Great Barrier Reef.  If they can't tell you, just give them an atlas and they will be able to look it up for you!