The Rose Canepari Library

After really learning how to use iMovie, I am glad to present the Penguins on Parade production done by the the first and third grades.

This week’s planning started out innocently enough when Mrs. Fisk came to the library and wanted a book on penguins to share with the first grade.  She then went on to do a project in art with them on penguins.

As she and I were talking, I began to think that penguins are a great subject for this week.  So, I planned through.

In PreK we read Penguin Pete by Marc Pfister.  Pint-sized Pete can’t wait to be an adult penguin.  The PreK and I  then walked like penguins around the Reading Room.

Kindergarten and first grade enjoyed their favorite Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester.  This brought back fond memories for them of PreK.

Second grade expanded their penguin horizons with Margaret Rey’s Whiteblack the Penguin. Whiteblack leaves Antarctica to have adventures that he can share on his radio show.  The second grade was able to pick out elements of Whiteblack that reminded them of Margaret Rey’s more well-known character Curious George.

The third grade began their study of penguins with the dance “Penguin Come to Tea.”  After that they were able to settle down to more library-like work by researching penguins in The World Book Encyclopedia.

Back to what started all of this.  Mrs. Fisk brought me the first grade project to hang in the library.  However, before that happens, I’m going to use them and the third grade work to create a montage about penguins.  This should be posted next week.

In the meantime, enjoy the NickJr  video “Rumble, Grumble, Gurgle, Roar” that is written by Jonny Belt and narrated by Whoopi Goldberg.  Little Penguin is hungry and is looking for food.  Follow his adventures as he learns what he can eat.

Well, of course nothing is ever easy.  As I began to look at the various citations that you might be using, I found that there is a plethora (good vocabulary word and a prize to the student who defines it first) of citations that you might need.  So, for the time being, I’ve made a quick cheat sheet of 4 of the resources you might use.  Click here for the cheat sheet.

And if you know what plethora means, write the definition below and be sure to add your name.

A couple of well-loved books as well as their sequels are available at the book fair this week.

For Hugo Cabret lovers, Brian Selznick’s latest book Wonderstruck is available at the book fair.  Released in September, this book is hot off of the presses.  Selznick continues the innovation of Hugo Cabret where he uses illustrations to further or to tell the story.  However, in Wonderstruck two parallel stories are told — one in the past and one in the present.  One story is all in pictures, and the other is all in text.

For a wonderful teaser for Wonderstruck, watch the video below.

Also, Origami Yoda and Darth Paper Strikes Back (the sequel) are available as well. See the posting for September 20th for a book trailer for Origami Yoda.

“When’s the book fair?” has been a recurring question since school started.  Whether an 8th grader or a 1st grader was inquiring, the disappointment was evident on the student’s face when I told her that it wouldn’t be until October.

Well, the book fair is finally here.

The Fall Book Fair has been delivered  and is waiting for you to come shop for many wonderful books from Scholastic.

As in past years, the last day of the book fair is the last day, so shop early for wonderful books for your home library. This year’s selection also includes high-quality hardbacks that are suitable for gifts.  A new section has the 2012 Rhode Island Children’s Book Award Nominees and Rhode Island Teen Book Award Nominees for 2012. Each of these lists provides  wonderful choices for leisure reading.   Also, teacher wishlists will be available if you would like to make a gift to a teacher’s classroom library.

During class visits, students will complete a wish list of books that they’d like to purchase.  Please take time to look this over and to decide which books, if any, you’d like to add to your home library.  The schedule below outlines class visit times.  Please feel free to come before or after school before or after your child’s class visit.

Please note the opening and closing hours.

• Friday, October 28

Book Fair opens at 9:30.

PK-G — 9:30 – 10:00

3L — 10:30 – 11:15

KB — 1:15 – 1:45

8H — 2:00  (Study Hall with Hileman)

Book Fair closes at 2:45.

• Monday, October 31

Book Fair opens at 7:30. 

5th Grade — 8:45

6th Grade — 10:30

7A — 11:15 -12:00 (Study Hall with Cardullo)

7M — 1:15 -2:00 (Study Hall with Magruder)

Book Fair closes at 3:00

• Tuesday, November 1
  

Book Fair opens at 7:45.

2A — 11:15 – 11:45

1M — 12:30 – 1:00

KP — 1:15 – 1:45

3E — 2:00 – 2:45

Book Fair closes at 3:15.

• Wednesday, November 2
  

Book Fair opens at 7:45.

8S — 9:30  (Study Hall with McMahon)

3J — 10:30 – 11:15

2Ang — 1:15-1:45

Book Fair closes at 3:15.

• Thursday, November 3
  

Book Fair opens at 7:45.

1M — 10:30-11

4H — 11:00 – 11:45

Book Fair closes at 3:15.

• Friday, November 4 — Parent-Teacher Conference Day
  

Book Fair 7:30 – 12:30.  The Book Fair will close promptly at 12:30.

Your support of the Book Fair is greatly appreciated.  30% of each sale will help buy books and support the programs of The Rose Canepari Library.  Cash, check, and charge are accepted for your purchases.

If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Edwards at medwards@smcds.org.

This year the fourth grade is beginning Battle of the Books preparation early.  This week the classes are receiving their book lists, worksheets, and instructions and expectations for the coming months.

While 40 books are on the list, each student needs to read only 15 books on the list to participate.  An analysis of the list shows that students may have already read as many as five of the books.  Another 5 or so of the books will be read in class.  Certainly, no student should have a problem reading 5 more books by the end of April.

For all of the details about the Battle of the Books, click here.

As I write this post, I realize that the three books that I am writing about today just happen to be about intergalactic events. I guess that this was some kind of rare and bizarre coincidence; I surely hadn’t planned on it happening that way.

The following book trailers certainly tell the stories better than I can. So, for three out-of-this-world books, here goes.

Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce

Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger

And of course, each of these books is available in The Rose Canepari Library. Click here to check availability.

This week in the library we read a variety of books in the library that all dealt with the same subject: school.
While we didn’t actually read Hemingway or for that matter SpongeBob SquarePants, both did come up in a third grade discussion of Hooray for Diffendoofer Day, a Dr. Seuss book. One of the 3rd graders asked about how books end, and we used all different examples from the 3rd graders’ reading which really did include Sponge Bob and Hemingway. The other class collaborated on portraits that were half one student and half another.
Preschool, prekindergarten, and kindergarten all heard about and discussed school as well. Preschool listened to Slippers at School, the tale of a puppy who hides in a backpack, goes to school, and explores school during the school day. On a similar theme, prekindergarten listened to Minvera Louise’s adventures as she (who is a chicken) mistakes a school for a barn. Finally, kindergarten enjoyed listening to and discussing Kevin Henkes’ Chrysanthemum , the story of a like-named girl who loves her name until school starts.
Kevin Henkes’ Wemberly Worriedwas also featured in first grade. After discussing worries, which first grade doesn’t have, we also talked about what they are looking forward to this year. Topping the list are homework and reading.
I was a Second-Grade Werewolf was a hit with second grade. Thankfully, the main character is only imagining that he is a werewolf.
Fourth grade began with a discussion of Battle of the Books books that they read over the summer. The most highly recommended of the books is Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. We also began reading Surfer of the Century, the story of Hawaiian Duke Kahanamoku five-time Olympic champion. This book is also on the Battle of the Books’ list.

The book bair is coming to St. Michael’s!

Students entering kindergarten through grade 2 do not have a summer reading list. However, they are invited to join in a reading activity that will culminate when school starts in September. No place is better than the book fair to find good books to read for this activity.

During class visits to the book fair, the entering grades 3-8 will be introduced a “bare bones” version of the summer reading requirements. They will complete wish lists of books that they’d like to read for their summer reading as well as for pleasure. Students will bring home their wish lists for parental perusal and approval. Some books will be available immediately, and others will have to be ordered. Regardless, all books will be delivered by the end of graduation on June 8th.

The final summer reading requirements will be posted on the Rose Canepari Library webpage by June 10th.

In the meantime, support the Rose Canepari Library ( 30% of each sale goes back to the library to support library programs).

Class visits and book fair hours are below.

Friday, May 20 —
9:30 — 10:00 — Pre-K 4
12:30 — 1:15 — 2J
1:15 — 1:45 — KP
Book fair open until 3:15.

Monday, May 23 —
Book fair opens at 7:45.
8:45 – 9:30 — 5th Grade
10:30 – 11:15 — 6th Grade
11:15 – 12:00 — 7M
2:00 – 2:15 — 7A
Book fair closes at 3:15.

Tuesday, May 24 –
Book fair opens at 7:45.
10:30 — 11:15 — 4R
12:30-1:15 — 3E
1:15 — 1:45 — KB
Book fair closes at 3:15.

Wednesday, May 25 –
Book fair opens at 7:45.
10:30 — 11:15 — 3L
Book fair closes at 3:15.

Thursday, May 26
Book fair opens at 7:45.
10:30 — 11:00 — 1M
12:30 — 1:15 — 4H
1:30 — 2:00 — 1A
Book fair closes at 3:15.

Friday, May 27 — St. Michael’s Day
Book fair open from 8:00 — 1:00

The book fair accepts cash, credit, checks, and charges to school accounts.

If you have questions about the book fair, please contact Mrs. Edwards at medwards@smcds.org

Today as 3rd grade was  reading Alvin Ho:  Allergic to Girls, School, and other Scary Things, we wondered what a Johnny Astro looks like.  So, thanks to the web, we can see what this marvelous toy from the 1960’s looks like.  Click here to read about Johnny Astro and to answer the questions below.

1.  What were the colors of the balloons?

2.  What was written on the balloons?

Then be sure to answer the following questions and leave your name. Click on comments to leave your name and answers. On Monday, March 7th, I’ll select a winner to win a $5 gift certificate to the book fair.

You also might like to watch the Johnny Astro commercial below.