Do you know how to choose a “just right” book for you? If you don’t, let me tell you how. In Mr. Erf’s class, at the beginning of the year, we all got book boxes. We each choose 5 books. If we understand most of the words and can understand what the author is saying, we have chosen a just right book.
After we read it for a while, we might say to ourselves, “This book is too easy.” Well, I have read easy books before. If it is too easy, you should put it back because it is definitely not a just right book for you. If you keep on trying to find a just right book and cannot find one, you can ask an adult who knows your reading level (your teacher) to help you. After they tell you your level, you can find books at home, in your class and you can check out books at your library. If you do not choose for an adult to help you, you can keep trying and might eventually find one on your own.
As you can see, choosing a just right book isn’t so hard, but it is important. When you are reading a just right book, you can become a better reader. By doing this, you will have more fun reading the books you have chosen.
We enjoyed a wonderful trip to the Grove this week. I am very grateful to the parents that joined us, Mrs. Hersh and Mrs. Dominic, and our community volunteer Michael Heyman.
The morning began with a visit to the old schoolhouse. Our young “scholars” received names and family occupations consistant with the era. They were led through studies in ‘riting and ‘rithmetic before getting an eye-opening lesson on discipline “back in the day.” What a contrast to classrooms of today!
We enjoyed getting together with Ms. Kelly’s kindergarteners this morning! As the culmination of work done in Ms. Walsh’s Literacy Enrichment class, third graders first read to their little buddies. Then the kindergarteners chose their own just right books and shared them with the big kids. As you can see below, everyone had a wonderful time!
CLICK HERE to see pictures from our time together.
Today we began our day with Math Test 1. Everyone put in a lot of effort! When this first test was over, students could share a thought if they wished. Click below to listen in…
As Mahin described previously, we have been studying ecosystems for several weeks now. As part of our discussion, we enacted one aspect of ecosystems: the energy pyramid. We talked about how there is generally one consumer that is at the top of a food chain – it has no predators. It eats other consumers, who in turn eat producers, which get their energy from the sun. Each level requires a larger quantity of the level below it to provide enough energy to sustain itself.
Today we demonstrated this with a Energy Pyramid Chant. Notice how each level of the pyramid is represented by a greater number of students than the one before.
Each day, as part of our morning routine, we take a body break. Whether it is trying out a yoga position, doing a relaxation/refocusing exercise, or having a “dance party,” it is helpful to break up the morning. Recently we included the opportunity to practice the music that will be part of the 3rd Grade music performance later in the year. It is something that all the students are familiar with and gets more participation from the boys than doing the Macarena (…again!). From the look of it, we will be in for a treat at the actual performance!
I am pleased to share news from Room 28 as presented by a special guest Science Reporter. Mahin’s writing can also be found on the Avoca West Student News website. Thank you Mahin!
In science we are learning about ecosystems and about herbivores, carnivores and omnivores. We are learning about life cycles and food chains. For example, we learned that the sun makes a plant live and a plant is a producer. Then, a rabbit eats the plant and a rabbit is a consumer. Next, a fox eats the rabbit. Everything a living thing eats gives that thing energy and the more energy you get the better. Here is another example: the sun helps a plant live and a mouse eats the plant. Then a snake eats the mouse. Then a hawk eats the snake. Then when a hawk dies a small animal or insect which is a decomposer helps it decompose and then the cycle goes on and on and on.
We are also seeing if tree bark, spinach, a rubber egg, a pear core, pages of a book and a metal screw will decompose. What we do with the stuff to see if it will decompose is to put them in a sandwich bag and in the bag we put a mix of dirt, leaves, twigs and branches in with the stuff.
We also learned about biomes. Did you know that we live in a biome? The biome that we live in is a deciduous forest. Mr. Erf teaches us about biomes and Mr. Erf told us that there are many different types of biomes. Some biomes are hot and dry and very few animals live in a very hot place. Some biomes are cold. Did you know that polar bears live in a cold desert? Mr. Erf also showed us some worms and told us how some worms’ poo is good fertilizer and makes the soil fresh and rich. I think it’s gross that worms’ poo is good fertilizer and makes soil fresh and rich.
Another thing we have learned about in science is plants. We learned that plants’ roots stay under ground and that plants drink the water that you or the rain gives them. Mr. Erf made plants so interesting for us. We wanted to learn so much more about them that we made a big sigh when Mr. Erf told us that we were moving on to the next unit.
In science lab we made fish tanks. All we did to make them is take a big jar and put rocks in it. We filled the tanks with water then we put the plant in. We put a tropical fish and a snail in, too. There is one fish tank on each table. My fish ate so many leaves on the plant that there are no leaves in the water so the fish ate parts of the stem. Plants are so interesting and we will learn more about them. These are some things we have learned about in science. Science is very educational and you should try to learn more about it.
February is Black History Month. Information provided by Avoca School District can be found HERE. Among the things I love about books is that by reading about someone else’s life, I often learn more about myself as I learn about others. A really good book can do both! For me, the story No Mirrors In My Nana’s House is this kind of story. While it shares the experience of one African American person, to me it describes the love that all children deserve. It reminds how I wish to reflect back to the people around me, particularly my students, the wonderful things I see in them. I hope you will enjoy it, too.
To view No Mirrors In My Nana’s House, click on “More Stories!” You may see it fullscreen by clicking HERE
