Week's Reading Selection-2/25/08

Your child is reading “Leah’s Pony” by Elizabeth Friedrich. This Depression-era story tells about Leah, who must make a difficult decision when her family’s farm is devastated by drought and dust storms. You may enjoy discussing the story and doing these activities with your child. Together you can develop and expand your child’s anguage skills.
More Stories About the Past
Talk with your child about some historical facts he or she learned from “Leah’s Pony.” You may be able to find these
historical fiction books in your local library:
• Dust for Dinner by Ann Turner, HarperCollins, 1997.
• Mailing May by Michael O. Tunnell. Greenwillow, 1997.
• Going West by Jean Van Leeuwen. Puffin, 1997.
Hard Times
Your child can interview you or other family members about disasters such as floods, droughts, or blizzards. Help him or her record answers to questions such as these: Did your community ever experience a natural disaster? What kind of disaster was it? What do you remember about that time? How did neighbors help one another? How did you and your neighbors help one another? How did you and your neighbors rebuild the community? Your child may wish to share the interview with classmates after he or she finishes reading “Leah’s Pony.”

February Book Report(File Folder)

In celebration of Black History Month, the students will read and research information about an African Americans who has made a major contribution to this country. Historically however, their contributions have not received adequate acknowledgement . By completing this report , students will become familiar with some of the men and women whose endeavors in government, science, the arts, and sports have left a lasting legacy. In sharing the information they acquire, students may develop an awareness of the qualities of character common to those who have made a difference in the world.
The student will create a postage stamp, do a mini-report on the obstacles overcome by the person and how he made a difference, do a timeline, and more. Please plan quality time to read to your child as well as assist where needed with report.

Week's Reading Selection-2/18/08

No Class Reading Selection This week.

POW Recognition: Mark

Principal's Outstanding Work Recognition: Febuary 5, 2008

Week's Reading Selection-2/11/08

Your child is reading a play called “The Crowded House,” based on a Jewish folktale. The play tells the story of an eleven member family who feel extremely crowded in a tiny cottage. The local wise man’s advice just makes the situation worse. But in the end, the family learns the wisdom of being grateful for what they have. You and your child may have fun sharing this repetitive story and doing the activities on this page. Together you can enrich your child’s language skills.
Stage Stars
Find it Fast! While reading this play, your child is learning some important skills that require reading quickly:
• scanning to find specific information and
• skimming to find the overall ideas.
You can demonstrate the importance of these skills by scanning for things such as a number in the phone book.
Ask your child to scan the newspaper for you to find the times at which a movie is showing or the dates of a sale at a local store. Have your child skim a news story and tell you the gist of it.

Stage Reading
Reading to each other is a wonderful way to enjoy a story.
For the play, consider dividing the roles and perhaps using
different voices for each character. You could even add
sound effects.

Week's Reading Selection-2/4/08

Your child is reading “Lon Po Po: A Red Riding Hood Story from China” translated by Ed Young. This folktale, set in China, is a story of three young children who outwit a cunning wolf who claims to be their Po Po,or grandmother. The wolf’s greed for gingko nuts, however, saves the children’s lives. You may enjoy discussing the folktale and doing these activities with your child. Together you can develop and explore your child’s language skills.

More Tales to Read. Talk about different folktales and fairy tales with which your child is familiar. You may be able to find these tales in the library:
• Fire Race: A Karuk Coyote Tale by Jonathan London. Chronicle, 1993.
• Little Red Cowboy Hat by Susan Lowell. Henry Hold, 1997.
• The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig by Eugene Trivizas. Simon & Schuster, 1993.

Your Own Fairy Tale. Discuss a few familiar fairy tales that you and your child have heard or read together. Then select one tale and invite your child to create a new version of it by changing around some of the details. Possible alterations include where or when the story takes place, how the story ends, or which character is good or bad. Encourage your child to write the new version of the familiar tale and present it to family and friends.

Week’s Focus Skill: Compare and Contrast. It is to tell the how things are alike and different.