WISHTREE

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Some of the most meaningful lessons are the ones that come from unexpected people, places and things. Katherine Applegate, author of Newbery-Medal Award winner The One and Only Ivan, continues to distinguish herself for helping young and old readers alike understand complex themes while providing meaningful doable solutions. I particularly enjoyed Dominique Browning's review in The New York Times but only read it after I finished the book. If you are looking for a great read for your classroom to teach tolerance this may be for you. I would plan it for a March/April read culminating in a May 1st wishtree event. However, wishtree is a good read anytime and has many different possible lesson extensions from a science unit on trees to a focus on fact vs. opinion. I also believe this book would be a great family/home schooler read. Check out Common Sense Media's review if you want more information before you read it. I've also included the book trailer below. Email me if you need more ideas to teach with this wonderful story.

MS. M's MATERIALS - COLLECTIONS!

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I have had wonderful success with a unit on collections with 2nd graders. You could also use these same materials with different grades, but for me 2nd grade was perfect. I generally started the unit with a brief discussion about collecting and collections. As a whole group we ask ourselves, "What is a collection?" Some of the big ideas this unit explores include how collections benefit people, how collecting and collections help us learn new things, and how we develop personal interests and study something in depth. I always share a few items from some of my collections and then we begin reading about a boy named Donavan who collects words in Donavan's Word Jar by Monalisa DeGross. This unit involves many more books (some listed below) and we transition into 2nd graders first research project where they present their collections to the class. Students also make their own word jars and learn how to use a dictionary. Finally, we graph the entire 2nd grade collections - during my time at Orchard Gardens that meant graphing what 4 classes of 2nd graders collect! Inbox me if you would like more details on how to structure this unit and a detailed list of standards and objectives.

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Shop your local indie bookstore.

Shop your local indie bookstore.

Getting Ready for 3rd Grade

What does it mean to be cool? Robbie York is starting 3rd grade and he wants it to be the best school year ever. For Robbie the best school year ever means being cool.
We begin our journey by discussing my second graders feelings about 3rd grade -- some are nervous and afraid the work will be too hard. Some are wondering if their teachers will be nice. Some students have also heard that in 3rd grade you have to take very important tests.
In our novel, How to be Cool in the Third Grade by Betsy Duffey, our main character Robbie has some definite opinions about being cool as well as some very big challenges to overcome to get there. I won't post a pic of the book cover until my next post - the students are challenged to make a picture in their own mind of what Robbie and his friends might look like.* At this age students are becoming readers and they often reject books because of the illustrations. This year we have worked very hard at making pictures in our own mind of how the characters may look. Our students will recite, "don't judge a book by it's cover," as we all do, but all too often emerging readers don't allow themselves to read books because of the cover picture. This is a great book to talk about so many different themes including self-perception, school and bullies as well as would you have selected this book if you saw the cover. We are on the 4th chapter and the students are thoroughly enjoying the story. In addition to reading, there are many different skills that we learn in library class including how to select books and not limit ourselves to specific genres and covers that look cool. This is a perfect book to do just that.
*(Note: We did the same earlier this year with Donavan's Word Jar!)

We're Collectors!

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My second graders finished their unit on collections by reading two more books about collections and gave many more collection presentations! We read Let's Go Rock Collecting by Roma Gans and I shared my rock collection. Did you know rocks are the oldest thing you can collect in the world?! We used another book specifically about rocks and minerals to identify my rocks and talked about how collectors label and "curate" their collections.
We also read a picture book called The Button Box by Margarette S. Reid. I also shared my button collection and we talked about the different ways collections might start.

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During each class different students also presented their collections. I was struck by how well the students presented their collections and the incredible questions that their classmates asked about their collections. Several of our classmates collect Pokemon Cards and were very knowledgeable about all of the cards that they had and how they wanted to build their collection. Other types of collections that were presented included rocks, shells, action figures and my favorite -- books!! Having a collection helps a child learn so many different skills. Collecting builds WONDER and CURIOSITY in a child. Collecting allows you and your child to build stories, do research and learn to take care of things that are important to them.  Check out the benefits of collecting here. Happy collecting!

A Collection for Kate!

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In second grade we continue our unit on collections and collecting with A Collection for Kate by Barbara deRubertis. Kate signed up to give her collection report weeks ago the problem is she doesn't have a collection! She decides to wait and see what the other students present and only becomes more and more worried that she is not ready.
In addition to our read aloud that spans three classes our students are also presenting their own collections. Your child may bring in one or two items from their collection to share with the class.

Ethan from Ms. Rigueur's 2nd grade went first with his collection of wrestling action figures. He was skilled in presenting and knowledgeable about all things wrestling. Students in his class asked excellent questions. 

We LOVE words!

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My second graders continue their Word Jar Projects as we read two more books about "word gatherers" and "word lovers." We are reading The Boy Who Loved Words by Roni Shotter and Max's Words by Kate Banks. Both books focus on the importance of collecting and the magic of collecting words. I love focusing on collecting with my second graders. They are the perfect age for the responsibility and excitement that being a collector brings. 

The Book Fair is Here!

Our Annual Book Fair will run from January 9th through January 17th. My Media Class Students did an amazing job setting up the Fair this year. They made special sections for shoppers including a "Shopkins," animals, graphic novels and heroes and history areas. The Book Fair is open to all Orchard Gardens students and their families. Students generally purchase books during their regularly scheduled Library Class or after school. The Fair will be open until 5:00pm every day. ALL proceeds from the Fair go to purchasing more BOOKS for our library. Your child should have a flyer for the fair. You can also preview titles and purchase books online CLICK HERE PLEASE. 

Our New Giving Tree!

As promised, the 2016 Giving Tree made by the students and staff at Orchard Gardens from recycled damaged book pages! Hundreds of "leaves" with messages of peace, love, happiness and understanding create the canopy. Watching my younger students' excitement as the tree blooms and "hugging" the tree before they get to our "reading rug" never gets old. My wish for the entire Orchard Gardens Family is that you have peace, love, happiness and understanding each and every day of 2017 and beyond!

The Giving Tree Keeps on Giving

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Every December I read The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein to every library class including electives and we create a new giving tree. All students and staff are encouraged to write a message of loving, caring, giving or sharing to someone special in their life. Someone who is like a tree in that they stand tall for them whether they are perfect or may sometimes make a bad choice... this person is a person that loves you without conditions and loves you as much on a Monday as any other day of the week. The messages stay on the tree until June as a reminder of the people that matter in our lives and are always there for us. You could hear a pin drop when I read it to my 7th and 8th graders this year. For some of them it will be the last time I read the story to them - the first was when they were in Kindergarten!

Leaves from old maps

Shel Tree

In addition to reading the book, we watch the original movie narrated by Shel Silverstein and a short adaptation of the original. Each year we share something special about the people that love us unconditionally and represent our "tree." We also compare the different media for storytelling and our own different understandings of the story as we grow older. The December 2016 Tree is made with leaves from damaged book pages.


Previous trees include theDecember 2015 tree made from old maps, the December 2014 tree dedicated to Shel Silverstein on the 50th Anniversary of The Giving Tree done in the illustration style of Silverstein; our multi-colored leave tree from December 2013 dedicated to Nelson Mandela and a traditional green tree from December 2012.

Mandela Tree

Green Leaves

You're Invited!

Don't miss the December Arts Show!

Wednesday, December 21st

4:30 p.m. Stroll the art galleries

5:00 p.m. Performances in the auditorium by the OG Band, Theater, Dance, Strings, Chorus and Piano students.

The Lion's Den and other Orchard Gardens novelties will be on sale.

Word Jars and Word Games!

Grade 2 Library Media students are increasing their vocabulary as we continue to read Donavan's Word Jar. We all learned about a dictionary, "a collection of words in a-b-c order" and used the dictionaries to play a fun word game. Many students have also started working on their own Word Jars. The challenge is to fill your jar with as many words as you can of different sizes...you must be able to read the word and use it in a sentence! Pictures to follow!

Second Graders Are Collectors!

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Orchard Gardens Second Graders already know quite a bit about having a collection. Prior to reading our first chapters of Donavan's Word Jar by MonaLisa DeGross we shared items that that we collect; rocks, shells, dolls, wrestler action figures, toy cars, teddy bears, marbles and more. We then met Donavan and his classmates who also collect things like marbles, buttons and stamps - but none of us were like Donavan, the main character of our story, who collects WORDS!

Inspired by the word NUTRITION on his morning cereal box, Donavan begins his journey of collecting words. In this unit, your child will enjoy increasing their vocabulary, learn basic research techniques and presentation skills as they share and discover the important world of collecting. Students may bring ONE item from their collection to class to share. Visit the Smithsonian Kids Collecting Site with your student to learn more about the value of collecting.

We End the Journey Trilogy with Return

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Return, the final book of the Journey Trilogy was released this past August and it did not disappoint. Mr. Cipriani's Class, like most of my classes that read the trilogy, devoured the opportunity to hold all three books, look for more details and practice telling the story themselves.

Sharing wordless picture books are an important part of our library class for new and emerging readers. Check out Reading Rockets for more information on Sharing Wordless Picture books. Also check out the book trailer for Return!

Our Reading Journey Continues with Quest!

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This week most of my K-2 classes continued with Book 2 in the Journey Trilogy -- Quest by Aaron Becker. The second book picks up right where the last book ended with the girl, the boy and their purple bird riding the bike they created. It starts to rain and they take cover under a bridge in the park. There is  a large wooden door - a secret door - under the bridge. Their quest begins when the orange King appears and asks for their help before he is taken away by the "evil soldiers aka bad guys!"
We discuss the meaning of a quest - a journey with a purpose! The kids "are searching for something like pirates search for treasure," says Kelmary. Enjoy the book trailer with your child, they will fill you in on all the details of the story!

Here we go!

Our reading journey continues with an amazing trilogy from Aaron Becker. Book one, Journey, a wordless picture book and 2014 Caldecott Honor Book. Each page unfolds mystery and intrigue and stimulates so much conversation and imagination in the library. Students quickly recognize connections between Journey and Harold and the Purple Crayon (Lesson One).

If you have the opportunity to visit the library OR purchase this book it will not disappoint. Journey is a book that can be read over and over again by "students" of all ages. Enjoy the book trailer that follows and consider, "What if there was something magic that could take you away? Where would you go? What would you do?"

Harold and the Purple Crayon

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As emerging readers I help our students learn to THINK and IMAGINE as we read our stories. Thinking is quiet and we can do it with our eyes open and closed! What we think is ours and no one can tell you what to think or how to think. When you think you can think about real things or imaginary things. When we read, we think about the story and the words in the story. GREAT readers can make pictures in their minds of what we read and all of my students are GREAT readers in training.
Harold and the Purple Crayon is a perfect introductory book to illustrate thinking and imagining. Prior to reading the story we discuss the words "think" and "imagine." We then read the story aloud followed by watching the animated version. After reading and viewing we share either orally or with a purple crayon on paper where we would go with our own purple crayon. This year Jayden took a voyage on a submarine, Patrick was an astronaut going to space and Evilene took her mom to the park.

Welcome Back!

It has been a terrific start to the school year. I LOVE seeing how much everyone has grown over the summer and meeting many new OG students. I also LOVE seeing how many people's names I can remember.  But even Ms. M sometimes needs a little help with names and that's why we play The Name Game to welcome everyone to Library Media. It's silly, it's fun and underscores the importance I place in students and teachers calling each other by their names. We show respect and caring when we remember each other's names. In our school this is an enormous challenge because there are so many of us - but we CAN DO IT! Watch Shirley Ellis rhyme with ease and play this game at your next family gathering - it's fun with a purpose. I've also provided the words so you can follow along!

Orchard Gardens Welcome Back B-B-Q

Join us! 

Back to School B-B-Q! 

Meet teachers, enjoy some food and order uniforms!

Wednesday, August 31st

2-4 pm

Free Ebooks on Open eBooks

Download the App here. If your child attends a Title I school, the school librarian, reading teacher or even principal may have the access code. This is a great free resource, but you will need the access code for your child's school.

Spring ARTS Festival!!!

Don't miss our end of the year ARTS Festival. Stroll our hallways beginning at 4:00 pm and see original art by our students K-8. Join us in the Auditorium at 4:30pm for spectacular performances by Theater, Chorus, Band, Dance, Strings and Piano students. Thursday, May 26th! See you there.