October 2006
Click to Listen
Back to the Library

Dear Parents,

Welcome to the October 2006 Grandview Library Newsletter.

I love the fall -- I bet I wrote that last year at around this time. There is something about crisp mornings, warmer afternoons and cold nights that make me appreciate the climate and how we experience fall days here in the northeast.

In 3rd grade, we are learning about climate and biomes of the world using a web-based project organizer that can be worked on from any computer that has internet access. Your children should be able to tell you three attributes of climate. Ask them to show you the movements that help them remember temperature, precipitation and hours of sunlight. They watched a video clip that compared a temperate rainforest biome to a desert biome. We are now beginning our study of deserts.

In 2nd grade, we read the book Mailing May to help kick-off the opening of the Grandview Post Office. Encourage your child to write letters to their friends at school. They can use our web-based postcards or select a piece of stationery which is available in the library. We are beginning a mini-research unit on honeybees. I am reading a challenging book called The Bee Man of Orn to your children. The book includes a short video in which the illustrator shares the many steps required to create just one illustration -- a dragon.

The 2nd and 3rd graders are writing Five Star Book Reviews for books they are reading. Our goal is five reviews and one podcast by the spring of 2007.

In 1st Grade we are reading books which highlight sequence of events, problems and solutions. After reading the book, A New House for Mouse, the children illustrated the sequence of events using apples and holes -- have them share their drawings and re-tell the story! The book Papa Please Get Me the Moon gave the children an opportunity to write about their own "reaching for the moon" goals.

In Kindergarten, we've been reading books that include sequence, repetition and simple storylines and characters. The children listen to and then act out many of our stories.Two favorites are Move Over Rover and Mr. Gumpy's Outing.

Enjoy a cup of hot cocoa and a good book with your children.

Warmly,
Mrs. Chauncey