This is the last week of school before winter break, so I am making sure to allow plenty of time for students to check out books during their class visits. To this end, grades 4 and 5 this week will not be hearing a story this week but instead will refresh their catalog skills and focus on circulation. The books patrons take this week will not be due until the week classes resume.
Readalouds this week are about the winter holidays (grades K, 1, and 2) or the story of the gingerbread man (DK/TK). Grade 3 is completing an introduction to the Dewey decimal system.
I'd like to announce a marvelous research tool now available to our school community through the generosity of the Pennekamp PTA: the World Book Online encyclopedia. This is a top-notch research database that is age-appropriate for elementary school students. It is available to students at MBMS, so it is a great advantage to Pennekamp's students to become practiced at using it before they move on to middle school. Many students are quick to "Google" a topic or look for it in Wikipedia. Both approaches have their merits, but the information gathered through these means may not be accurate or appropriate. Our World Book Online subscription allows students and their families to use it from home, so maybe during the winter break you will have time to try it out; and I encourage students to turn to it for research-based assignments as well as for information on whatever topics may interest them. Please email me or ask your child's teacher for the username and password.
Happy holidays, and best wishes for 2013!
Readalouds this week are about the winter holidays (grades K, 1, and 2) or the story of the gingerbread man (DK/TK). Grade 3 is completing an introduction to the Dewey decimal system.
I'd like to announce a marvelous research tool now available to our school community through the generosity of the Pennekamp PTA: the World Book Online encyclopedia. This is a top-notch research database that is age-appropriate for elementary school students. It is available to students at MBMS, so it is a great advantage to Pennekamp's students to become practiced at using it before they move on to middle school. Many students are quick to "Google" a topic or look for it in Wikipedia. Both approaches have their merits, but the information gathered through these means may not be accurate or appropriate. Our World Book Online subscription allows students and their families to use it from home, so maybe during the winter break you will have time to try it out; and I encourage students to turn to it for research-based assignments as well as for information on whatever topics may interest them. Please email me or ask your child's teacher for the username and password.
Happy holidays, and best wishes for 2013!
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