The Ultimate Community Garden

                            
My classroom is known as Room 102 ~ With the Garden View!  We see everything that goes on in the garden.  Mothers with young children in wagons and strollers stop to admire the colorful zinnias and sunflowers.  Senior citizens stop by and often pick the abundant  cherry tomatoes.  The school district's yard crew also snack on the tomatoes.  All of the classrooms have been observing the garden on a regular basis.  One class whipped up a batch of pesto using the basil.  Visiting author Ron Hirschi did some field work and research in the garden.  There are beautiful butterflies, insects and birds using the garden in food chains and lifecycles.  Over the summer, the Mid Ohio Food Bank and other local food pantries received some of the fresh vegetables.  My class and our Kindergarten Buddies,  Mrs. Williams' morning class  signed up to put one of the plots to bed for the winter.  We look forward to next Spring!
      I introduced my students to another community garden.   Rabbit Hill by Robert Lawson.  This book won the Newbery Award in 1945.  It was written at the end of WWII.  The theme is renewal, compassion and hope for the future.  It is a reflection of how our country felt at that time.
      I have a personal connection to Rabbit Hill.   It was my mother's favorite book.  I grew up with references to the story.  One summer a young rabbit was a regular visitor in our family garden.  He became our Little Georgie.  In 1981  my parents moved to a lovely country home with a few acres and a woods.  They planted several large gardens.  It became their Rabbit Hill complete with a statue of St. Francis of Assisi.
      I oversee two gardens at school.  Our Tremont Community Garden growing outside and my garden of students growing intellectually inside.  I look forward to spending time in each garden everyday.

 Enjoy this poetry book too! 

Outside the Box

     My students (past and present) know that I am not a fan of markers. Crayons are my preferred art medium.  J’adore les crayons!  I like everything about them. . . the shape, the feel, the smell, the colors, the textures you can create. 
      I was browsing through an art gallery in the Short North a few weeks ago and came across an artist, Christian Faur,  who creates unbelievable artwork with the pointed end of crayons.  The effect is similar to pointillism (think Seurant) or pixels or a lite brite. 

      This fall I will be taking a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) course through Miami University. I completed one STEM course this summer. Consequently, my students will be thinking and creating outside their box of crayons.

      I am looking forward to teaching and learning with you. 
                     See you next Tuesday!

Purple, Green and Yellow is available to read right now on Tumblebooks!
Go to  http://www.ghpl.org/kids and click on Tumblebooks.  Enjoy!

Bad Kitty!

     This is what greeted me first thing this morning.  I instantly thought  BAD KITTY !  I was also reminded of the Bad Kitty books we enjoy reading.  I felt a connection to the author, Nick Bruel.

      I have a habit of googling the author of most books that I read. I make a personal connection.   I find it insightful.  Don’t you wonder why authors write the books they write?

 Try googling an author.  I recommend  Beverly Cleary and Rick Riordan for starters.

    When school begins, we will be sharing our summer reading experiences.   Be prepared to share an author website.

      

State Standards Literary Text Benchmarks C and D for 3^rd Grade 

C. Recognize the defining characteristics and features of different types of literary forms and genres.

D. Explain how an author’s word choice and use of methods influences the reader.

100th Day

            We enjoy clean water environments in our community.

                          This is the lake at Lane Woods. 

        During each school year we celebrate the 100^th day.  It is a happy occasion.  According to one news source, this Wednesday will be the 100^th day of the BP oil spill.  This numerical perspective is sad, daunting and deplorable.  Is there an end in sight?  What about the clean-up and long term consequences?  When we return to school, we will discuss these questions.  Why???   Read the Geography Standard and Benchmark at the end of this post.

Two resources we will use in the discussion.

Oil Spill Tracker  website
Click on the Play button just above the map.


The spill is measured in barrels.  How much is in a barrel of oil?
There are 42 gallons in a barrel.
The easy way to remember the number of gallons in a barrel of oil: There are 7 letters in gallons and 6 letters in barrel. 7X6=42 gallons.     42 US gallons.

Geography Standard

Students use knowledge of geographic locations, patterns and processes to show the interrelationship between the physical environment and human activity, and to explain the interactions that occur in an increasingly interdependent world.

Benchmark C.  Identify and explain ways people have affected the physical environment of North America and analyze the positive and negative consequences.

Summer Science

Cicadas have arrived !  The last week of June I heard cicadas.  I thought I was hearing things.  It was too early.  Well then I saw my cat,  Jinx,  stalking a cicada.  Proof positive. 
  I follow John Switzer's column in the Sunday Dispatch.  More proof!
A little googling provided more information. Click on  Ohio cicadas  and  cicada mania.
 This year we will be studying (hands on) a few insect life cycles.


 Science Standard:  Students demonstrate an understanding of how living systems function and how they interact with the physical environment. This includes an understanding of the cycling of matter and flow of energy in living systems.


On the lighter, creative side (language arts) I will read Bug Boy to the class.

Happy 4th of July !

Have you seen the inflatable on Leeds Road between Abington and Onandaga?

It is definitely worth a drive by. To give you size perspective, my grandsons Joey (7) and

Cam (5) are standing between the Eagle's toes.

Learn about the State Birds. Cleaver and fun!

Welcome!

The purpose of this blog is to communicate with my students and their parents.

I am a classroom teacher/librarian. It is all about reading and books ! Reading is empowering. When you read you control your destiny !

I hope you are reading a variety of genre this summer. Your favorite food may be pizza BUT to grow and be healthy you must eat a balanced diet. It is the same for reading. You grow as a reader to learn, to be informed and to be entertained.

I have an idea! Be thinking about a reading (genre) pyramid similar to the food pyramid.

Should all genres be equal portions in your reading pyramid?

Should each student have a personal reading pyramid ?

What other factors need to be considered to create a reading pyramid ?

HF! BC!

Picture books that celebrate reading.