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!