Letter A Fun with Ten Apples Up On Top!

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Dr. Seuss writing as Theo.LeSieg provides a wonderful introduction to counting and reading together. The students are captivated as they count, read and watch the lion, tiger and dog balance apples on their heads. The conflict of the story comes when the bear discovers the trio in her kitchen taking her apples!  I've attached a piece found on YouTube where the beginning of the book is put to song...enjoy it with your child.

Our Alphabet Journey Through Picture Books

In library my Kindergarten students (K0, K1 and K2) take a journey through the alphabet as they explore a variety of picture books from A-Z. Picture books are unique in that they combine art with stories and are an introduction to reading. Every picture tells a story and children get excited when they make connections with their world through the stories we read. I start our journey with a silly Dr. Seuss book, Dr. Seuss's ABC, to assess where the students are in their ability to sit and listen during a read aloud and their understanding of letters. Our last book of this project is The Alphabet Tree where students discover that “letters make words, words make sentences and sentences make stories.” During the school year your child will be introduced to over 26 books many of which they will cherish for years to come. Their culminating project is a book that captures all the books we’ve read during the year and other activities they’ve done in the library. The book is yours to keep! Check back on my blog to see what your child has been reading and read it with them. A great book can be read over and over again. Surprise your child by watching and singing this with them!

The Reading Journey Continues with Quest!

Mariana in grade 3 raised her hand to explain to her classmates that "the difference between a journey and a quest is that in a quest you are still on a journey but you have a problem to solve." I could not have said it better myself and it is in these moments that I think I am one of the luckiest people at Orchard Gardens. I have known Mariana since Kindergarten and have watched her grow and our school become a place where amazing learning is happening. Most of my students were able to grasp the difference between a journey and a quest especially after reading Aaron Becker's Quest. See the book trailer that follows and talk to your child about the books we read in library and you will also be impressed.

Please stop by the Library!

Don't forget to visit the Library during Open House.
Thursday, October 1st, 5 - 7pm Can't wait to see everyone and talk about all the great learning that is already going on in our beautiful library and our plans for the 2015-2016 school year. If you haven't visited the library before it is located on the 3rd Floor. See you soon.

We Continue Our Reading Adventure with "Journey!"

Journey, a wordless picture book by Aaron Becker, has stimulated so much conversation and imagination in the library...from 1st through 8th grade the students have been mesmerized by this 2014 Caldecott Honor Book. Each page unfolds mystery and intrigue and builds on the creativity of Harold and the Purple Crayon (Lesson One) and the magic of Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. 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 and consider, "What if there was something magic that could take you away? Where would you go? What would you do?"

Harold Takes Us For a Walk in the Moonlight!

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All classes read and viewed Harold and the Purple Crayon written by Crockett Johnson in 1955.  A classic, this book inspires us to think and imagine. After discussing the story we wrote and shared our own "purple stories."

We're Back!

The first days and the first week are now behind us and we are ready for reading! We played The Name Game using a song by that name first made famous by Shirley Ellis in 1964. It helps everyone in the beginning to learn each others names and it's a lot of fun too! Learning the words to the song takes some PERSEVERANCE, one of our PRIDE values.  Click here for the lyrics and have some fun at home or at your next get together!