Next week (February 10-16) is Random Acts of Kindness Week, which usually coincides with Valentine’s Day (February 14). Second grade this week is hearing Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch, by Eileen Spinelli. It is a nostalgic favorite of mine. Pennekamp old-timers (such as myself) may remember when this book was dramatized here by the second-grade classes. Third grade will be hearing Each Kindness, by Jacqueline Woodson, which is about a missed opportunity to include a lonely classmate.
In an interview in School Library Journal, author Jacqueline Woodson said this about the ideas behind Each Kindness:
I think there’s this sense people have that tomorrow will always come—that we’ll always have another chance at something. But of course, it’s not always true. People die. People move away. Whatever the reason is, sometimes that moment is, as Chloe says, “Forever gone.” When I got to this line in the book, I knew that’s what this book was saying to me and by extension, once it was published, to the world: that we can’t assume we’ll get another chance. So do the right thing in this moment—be kind. I think kindness is so easy. It connects people, and it’s empowering. It feels good to compliment someone and watch their face light up. At night, our family has to say what kind things we’ve done during the day. The beauty of this is it makes us all slow down during the day, take in what we’ll be bringing to the dinner table.
Kindergarten and first grade will be voting this week on the nominees for the California Young Reader Medal. TK voted last week, with very different results in the two TK classes! I will announce the results of our voting next week, once all the voting is done, and then our results will be tallied with those of students all over California to determine the statewide winner.
After voting, the kinders will hear Sock Monkey Rides Again, in anticipation of Valentine's Day. (Thanks to Heidi Snively, the wonderful library media specialist at Grand View, for bringing this fun book to my attention!) Grade 1 will hear Brownie Groundhog and the February Fox, a light, short picture book about Groundhog Day (which also delivers a message of friendship). Did you hear? Punxsutawney Phil said six more weeks of winter!
TK is done with CYRM so we are reading about bears this week, in support of their study on that topic. The TK students have been given time lately to look at and read a selection of library books during their class visit. They seem to be really enjoying this! I don’t think I’ve mentioned lately that parents may check out books (10 at a time) from the Pennekamp library. Please feel free to come by whenever the library is not in use for a class visit.
That leaves grades 4 and 5. With both these grades I am continuing to read aloud our chosen novels.
Next week begins Pennekamp’s “Literacy Month.” Watch for special activities not just at the library but all over school throughout the coming weeks!
Kindergarten parents, you have begun receiving a "courtesy notice" from the library simply advising you what your child has checked out and when the item is due. The notice does not necessarily mean the item is late! I simply wanted a way to let parents know what materials are checked out. Kindergarteners should return their library books on their class's library visit day (Cannon, on Monday; Rios, Vanderpool/Schneck, and Vavao, on Wednesday) so that they can take a new book. Thank you for helping your child locate and return his or her book on "library day."
In an interview in School Library Journal, author Jacqueline Woodson said this about the ideas behind Each Kindness:
I think there’s this sense people have that tomorrow will always come—that we’ll always have another chance at something. But of course, it’s not always true. People die. People move away. Whatever the reason is, sometimes that moment is, as Chloe says, “Forever gone.” When I got to this line in the book, I knew that’s what this book was saying to me and by extension, once it was published, to the world: that we can’t assume we’ll get another chance. So do the right thing in this moment—be kind. I think kindness is so easy. It connects people, and it’s empowering. It feels good to compliment someone and watch their face light up. At night, our family has to say what kind things we’ve done during the day. The beauty of this is it makes us all slow down during the day, take in what we’ll be bringing to the dinner table.
Kindergarten and first grade will be voting this week on the nominees for the California Young Reader Medal. TK voted last week, with very different results in the two TK classes! I will announce the results of our voting next week, once all the voting is done, and then our results will be tallied with those of students all over California to determine the statewide winner.
After voting, the kinders will hear Sock Monkey Rides Again, in anticipation of Valentine's Day. (Thanks to Heidi Snively, the wonderful library media specialist at Grand View, for bringing this fun book to my attention!) Grade 1 will hear Brownie Groundhog and the February Fox, a light, short picture book about Groundhog Day (which also delivers a message of friendship). Did you hear? Punxsutawney Phil said six more weeks of winter!
TK is done with CYRM so we are reading about bears this week, in support of their study on that topic. The TK students have been given time lately to look at and read a selection of library books during their class visit. They seem to be really enjoying this! I don’t think I’ve mentioned lately that parents may check out books (10 at a time) from the Pennekamp library. Please feel free to come by whenever the library is not in use for a class visit.
That leaves grades 4 and 5. With both these grades I am continuing to read aloud our chosen novels.
Next week begins Pennekamp’s “Literacy Month.” Watch for special activities not just at the library but all over school throughout the coming weeks!
Kindergarten parents, you have begun receiving a "courtesy notice" from the library simply advising you what your child has checked out and when the item is due. The notice does not necessarily mean the item is late! I simply wanted a way to let parents know what materials are checked out. Kindergarteners should return their library books on their class's library visit day (Cannon, on Monday; Rios, Vanderpool/Schneck, and Vavao, on Wednesday) so that they can take a new book. Thank you for helping your child locate and return his or her book on "library day."
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