April

April is Poetry month! Since we didn’t have Summer Bridge Activities Workbooks when I was growing up, my three sisters, three brothers and I were assigned poetry memorization by my mother during the summer. I can still recite The Owl and the Pussycat in its entirety. While I did not appreciate poetry at that age, I have come to years later. We will spend some time hopefully unlocking the magic of poetry in all grade levels this month.

In anticipation of Loren Long’s visit during Right to Read Week in May, all grade levels will be introduced to some of his delightful books. Loren has most recently partnered with President Obama and illustrated Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters. More information about Right to Read Events will follow soon!

We will do a study of Mark Twain in 4th grade during April. 2010 was the 1ooth anniversary of his death and the year that his autobiography was released. I will be sharing bits of that with the students so that they get the flavor of his writings, and we will also read two charming accounts of his life, The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Suzy) and The Adventures of Mark Twain By Huckleberry Finn. Many of our 4^th grades students this year are reading the Great Illustrated Classics series. I anticipate a run on Tom Sawyer!

Grade levels K-3 will be previewing the story of Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse in anticipation of the production of it at the Madeira High School Medert Auditorium on Saturday, April 16 at 3:00 performed by the Playhouse in the Park Touring Company. Admission is free and the production has been made possible by the Madeira City Schools and the City of Madeira.

Clearly we have lots still to do so we are going to be busy in the library!!