Stripes and Fairies and Pirates...Oh, My!

This week we read a variety of books by our featured author, David Shannon.  We began the week with my favorite David Shannon story, A Bad Case of Stripes.  The book tells the story of Camilla Cream, who loved lima beans, but would never eat them because she was afraid of what other kids would say.  After coming down with a mysterious ailment that causes her skin to break out in stripes, stars, and polka dots (among other things), Camilla finally realizes that she needs to be true to herself.  We discussed the author's message in this story as well as the distinctive characteristics that make it a David Shannon text.

Later in the week we read, Alice the Fairy, about a little girl who longs to be a "permanent fairy," but who only manages to make a mess and upset "The Duchess."  We talked and wrote about what we would do if we had magic powers.  We also discussed who "The Duchess" might be and who the character of "Alice" might based on.

This week we will read two books illustrated by David Shannon:  How I Became a Pirate and Pirates Don't Change Diapers.  Both are very funny reads, and I'm sure the children will love them.  We will spend time talking about how the main character changes in the story.

Our scientific discoveries took led us to explore solids in liquids this week.  We explored various solids:  a cardboard square, a popscicle stick, a cookie, fruit chews, raisins, a hard candy, rock salt, rice, and lima beans.  Then we predicted what would happen if we placed the solids in water.  After putting them in water filled baggies, we made observations of changes after 10 minutes, and found some fascinating discoveries!  Two days later, we made final observations and drew pictures and wrote about the changes.

In math we are continuing our study of geometry, polygons, and symmetry.  We played a lot of fun games designed to help the students understand the attributes of various shapes.  We also are working hard on addition facts, particularly doubles facts.  Please review these nightly with your child at home.  Students should be at the point where they do not need to use their fingers or any other aids to calculate doubles facts (i.e. 1+1, 2+2, 3+3, etc.). 

No school on Friday in observance of Good Friday.  Enjoy your long weekend!

The Wonderful World of David Shannon

(Author David Shannon illustrates his character "David" at Linda's Storytime in Monroe)

Welcome to Room 125's new online format.  I encourage you to visit weekly to catch up on what's happening in our classroom and to make comments on any units of study on which we are working. 

This week we embarked an author's study of the works of David Shannon that the kids are really loving.  We began with Mr. Shannon's most famous books, the "David" series.  Based on his own childhood experiences, the David books recount the experiences of the very mischievious and often naughty David.  As we read these stories, our students are thinking of words to describe David's character trait(s) and then finding evidence in the text to support their opinions.  Next week, we will culminate our experience by putting David on trial for his naughty behavior.  I will act as the judge, one student will serve as the defendent, and the rest of the students will be our lawyers out to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that David is guilty as charged.  After listening to David's defense, students will deliberate, come up with a verdict, and even take part in a penalty phase of the trial where they will come up with ways David can make better life choices (assuming he is found guilty)!

Students have spent time in centers creating David characters out of construction paper and writing about David's character traits.  Of course, they are supporting their opinions with plenty of evidence from the words and pictures in the texts.

We are also working on an author's chart where we write down our observations about David Shannon's writing and illustrating style along with any questions we still have about this author.  In doing this, students are able to recognize distinctive patterns in Mr. Shannon's writing.  Later we'll compare his writing style with other authors we will be studying.

Based on what students recognize about our author's craft, many of them have chosen to write their own books in the style of David Shannon when they go to the writing center.  They've really come up with some clever writing, and it's clear they have picked up on the nuances of how this author creates his work.

Later we'll read other books written and illustrated by David Shannon (see sidebar).

We're just finishing up our How To books as part of our Writer's Workshop unit of study.  I'm learning how to do everything from swimming, to "crazy crawling," to playing a variety of Wii games!

Our math studies have focused on fact families.  Last week we made "Funky, Fancy Fact Family Houses," played a great addition fact game called The Calculator and The Brain, and reinforced addition doubles facts.  The Calculator and the Brain is a great game you can play at home with your child.  You need three players and a calculator, and preferably a chart or list of addition facts 0-9.  The first is the Caller; the second is the Brain; while the third acts as the Calculator.  The Caller says an addition fact.  The object of the game is for The Brain to do the mental math and guess the sum before the Calculator can find it using the calculator.  If the Brain guesses the fact first, he/she writes down that fact (in class, we colored in the facts on a addition fact chart).  The kids had a blast with this game.

During our investigative science studies we continued to explore solids and liquids.  We first checked out the differences between solids, granular solids and liquids.  Students worked in cooperative groups with mung beans, red beans, lima beans, rice, and cornmeal and a variety of containers to see how the materials could be poured.  Later this week students will work to sort "soup mix" into its various parts.

Remember, our field trip to SCSU to see Junie B. Jones is March 16th.  All students need a bag lunch as we will not be returning to school in time for hot lunch in the cafeteria.