The Hour of Code

December 7 - 11 is the week of the Hour of Code.  The Hour of Code is a global movement to introduce students to computer science.  It is designed to show students how much fun coding can actually be.  Thalberg students are completing the Hour of Code tutorials during their Media Skills classes this week.  Here are some Vines of our students coding!

First Graders Learn About the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award

First grade students have been learning about the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award.  This is the award that is given annually to the best book for beginning readers in the United States from the previous year.  We have read several winners and honor books together.  After we read the 2006 Honor Book, Hi Fly Guy, written by Tedd Arnold, the students worked with a partner to create Sock Puppet show telling their favorite part of the book.  Here are some of their puppet shows.

Fantastic Book Friday

The Book With No Pictures a hilarious story that will make the reader sound silly and goofy.  One might not expect a book that doesn't have any pictures to appeal to children, but this is a book they will want to read again and again.  It demonstrates that words can be just as exciting as pictures, and reading is a whole lot of fun.  I highly recommend reading this book aloud to children of any age.  It will be an experience you won't forget.

Check out this video of author B.J. Novak reading the book aloud.

Fantastic Book Friday

One Crazy Summer is the story of eleven year old Delphine and her two sisters, Vonetta and Fern.  It is the summer of 1968, and the three girls have been sent to Oakland, California to spend a month with the mother who walked out on them years ago.  Coming from Brooklyn and their loving Papa and Big Ma, this is a significant shift in their reality.  Their mother, Cecile, is cold and unwelcoming and makes her displeasure at having these house guests readily apparent.

Cecile, who has rechristened herself "Nzila," wants nothing but to be left in peace and quiet so she can work on her poetry and printing.  As it is at home, Delphine is tasked with watching over her sisters and keeping them well fed.  Cecile sends the girls to a summer day camp run by the Black Panthers at the nearby People's Center.  There, the girls slowly make friends and learn about Huey Newton, Bobby Hutton, and how to protect their civic rights when dealing with the police. 

Will the girls ever develop a relationship with their mother?  How will the rest of their summer play out?  Find out in the award winning book One Crazy Summer, by Rita Williams-Garcia.

Check out the official book trailer

Fantastic Book Friday

Wolfie the Bunny is a sweet story about a bunny family who comes home one day to find a baby wolf in a basket on their doorstep.  Mama and Papa are smitten, but Dot isn't so sure.  She fears that Wolfie will one day eat them all up!  As Wolfie grows, Dot becomes convinced that one day the Bunny family will be his dinner.  Will Dot's prediction come true?  Or will she realize that families can come in all shapes and sizes?   

Check out the book trailer to help get you excited about Wolfie, Dot, and the rest of the family!

Introducing the Thalberg MakerSpace

The Thalberg Media Center is thrilled to announce the opening of its new MakerSpace.  Here, the students will be able to work collaboratively to explore, create, discover, and invent.  It is located in the library.  I know this is going to become an integral part of our school.  Take a look at this video to find out more information.

Thank You!

Many families purchased books for our library from the Book Fair.  Thank you so much.  The Thalberg students will certainly enjoy reading these new titles.

Thalberg Students are Practicing Keyboarding Skills

Students in Grades 1 - 4 have been practicing their keyboarding skills.  They are working hard on keeping their fingers on the home row keys, while becoming accustomed to the placement of each letter on the keyboard.  

The Home Row Keys

"QWERTY-home-keys-position" by Cy21 - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:QWERTY-home-keys-position.svg#/media/File:QWERTY-home-keys-position.svg

This has been difficult for many students who would prefer to "hunt and peck" for each key with just their pointer finger.  However, by utilizing the proper finger placement, their typing will become quicker and more accurate.  This is something that you can encourage at home when they are on the computer.

First grade students have been using Dance Mat Typing.  This is a game they can play at home, as well.  Here are some first graders working on their keyboarding skills.

Students in Grades 2-4 have been working with Type to Learn 4.  This can be downloaded on your computer at home for free.  For instructions and the access code, please email me at jgrodzicki@southingtonschools.org

Keep up the great keyboarding work!

Book Reviews Written by Students

Evaluating literature and sharing your opinion with others is an important part of Southington Public School's Elementary Technology Curriculum.  In Media Skills class, fifth graders are working on how to write polished book reviews.  This is something we will work on throughout the year.  This week, fifth graders each posted a book review of a favorite book on Scholastic's website.  This is a great place for students to write their own reviews and read reviews written by other students from around the country.  You can check out their reviews and more by clicking this link.      

Fantastic Book Friday

One of my favorite books that I read over the summer was The One and Only Ivan, by Katherine Applegate.  Inspired by a true story, this emotional novel tells the tale of Ivan, a silverback gorilla who lives in a cage at the Big Top Mall. Ivan has friends at the mall, an elephant named Stella, a dog named Bob, and a little girl named Julia.  They perform for humans every day of the year.  While Ivan has resigned himself to his life at the mall, he is not entirely happy.  But all that changes the day Ruby arrives.  Ruby is a baby elephant who has a tragic past.  She was brought to the mall from a circus, where she was treated very poorly.  All of a sudden, Ivan's life has a new purpose; to keep Ruby safe.  If his plan succeeds, Ivan, Ruby, and everyone else involved with "The Littlest Big Top on Earth" will have their lives changed forever.  Winner of the 2013 Newbery Medal, The One and Only Ivan will stay in your heart long after you've finished the last page.

Check out the book trailer for The One and Only Ivan.

Katherine Applegate answers questions from students about The One and Only Ivan.

Fantastic Book Friday

Fans of The Day the Crayons Quit will be thrilled to learn that the crayons are back!  The Day the Crayons Came Home just came out in August.  It has a similar format to its predecessor, in that the story is told primarily through letters to Duncan from his crayons.  In this case, however, they are postcards from crayons who have been lost, left behind, or forgotten about.  From Maroon Crayon who has spent the last 2 years lost in Duncan's couch, to Orange Crayon and Yellow Crayon who melted together when they were left outside in the sun, these poor crayons just want to come home.  Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers have hit another home run with this hilarious story.  Will there be a happy ending for these crayons?  Read The Day the Crayons Came Home to find out.    

Want to learn more about Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers?  

Click here to visit their website. 

Crayons Picture Books 

     

Fantastic Book Friday

Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast is hilarious story in rhyme from debut author Josh Funk and illustrator Brendan Kearney.  Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast have been living happily in the refrigerator until they learn that there is only one drop left of maple syrup.  The two friends embark on a race through the fridge to see who can get to the syrup first.  Hilarity ensues as the characters ski down a mountain of sauerkraut and wade through Chili Lagoon.  The race is fierce, but there can only be one winner.  Read Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast to find out who makes it to the syrup first.  

In the meantime, you have a tough decision to make.  Are you Team Lady Pancake or Team Sir French Toast?  Check out the trailer to help get you excited about this amazing book!

 

First Week Fun

For their first Media Skills class, all students met with me in the library.  We did some fun activities to help get to know each other, and we also talked about some expectations I have of them when they are in class with me.  The I was able to share one of my passions with the students - READING.

With the K-2 classes, I read Otto the Book Bear, a sweet story about a bear who lives in a book.  Otto can come to life when no one is looking.  When his family moves away, and he accidentally gets left behind, he goes on an adventure to find a new place to live.

With the 3-5 classes, I read Miss Smith's Incredible Storybook, an exciting tale of a teacher who has a book that is unlike any book you've ever seen.  The students enjoyed this book and were excited to learn that the author, Michael Garland, has written three other stories about Miss Smith and her class.

Check out this book trailer for Miss Smith Under the Ocean.  Enjoy.

Miss Smith Under the Ocean Book Trailer

Reading Gives You Superpowers

I hope you're all looking forward to the first day of school.  I know I am.  Here is a fun video to watch to get you excited about all of the reading you'll do this year.

See you on Thursday.  Until then, happy reading.

Hello Thalberg!

My name is Jenna Grodzicki, and I am thrilled to be the new Library Media Specialist at Thalberg Elementary School in Southington, Connecticut.  I will use this blog to highlight the learning that takes place in the media center and to showcase some examples of amazing work created by the students.  I will also post book reviews of some of my favorite children's literature.  I am so excited to begin this journey of learning with you all at the start of the 2015-2016 school year.  Until then, keep reading and enjoy your summer.