In the Home Office: Third, Fourth, Fifth Grade Book Menus

This year I have planned my lessons for every class for each week for the entire year.  It's really just a pacing guide because I have found that the end of the year sneaks up on me (hard to imagine in September) and I wonder where all the time went.  

Part of my plans include book talks and book trailers for every class once a month.  It doesn't sound like a lot, but I have to admit that last year my book talks were few and far between.

One problem (or wonderful challenge) with book talks is that there is then a mad rush for the books I've book talked and there are inevitable hurt feelings and discouraged students.  So I decided to create these book talk menus.  Students will leave their menus in the Library (any hints for managing the paper would be appreciated) for all third, fourth, and fifth graders.  Each time I book talk new books or highlight oldies but goodies, students can jot down the books of interest to them.  They will then have a running list of titles to chose from throughout the year.

Any suggestions for the format of my book menu?  I haven't made the photocopies yet. ; )

In the Home Office: Teaching Time in the Library

I'm lying low today as I am recuperating from a terrible cold.  It is amazing what an entire day of sleep plus several episodes of The Office can do for the body and soul.  After this post I will be busy Lysoling the entire house.  I don't think Lysol is meant for human surfaces, but I really am tempted...

a time-telling read-aloud recommended by Pat @plynnsal

Grade One is perpetually learning about telling time to the hour, so I created a sheet for 1st graders to fill out when they are finished checking out their books.  Because the sheet included an image from Scholastic (a hand-less clock) I am not posting it here, but here's my suggestion:

:: Open a Word document

:: Insert clipart of a handless clock (mine had googly eyes)

:: Under the clock type "I checked out my book at ____________ : ____________ a.m. / p.m.

:: Have sheets and a pencil available at the checkout desk.  Students can refer to the clock in the library to draw the big and little hands.  Then they can write the hour and minutes and circle a.m. or p.m.

You can front load this activity by going over what time Library time starts and ends  and whether they come in the a.m. or the p.m.

You could do a cute display with their completed clocks that says, "It's Always Time to Check Out a Book"!

I'll be trying this activity in January - I'll let you know how it goes!

In the Home Office: A Thesaurus-related STEAL

I have 3.5 days left 'til Winter Break, but who's counting?

During these days, I like to have lessons that are still "edumacated", but are simple to set up (or to take down when pre-empted by a holiday concert or a delayed school opening) and FUN!

With our abbreviated schedule, I plan to conduct a thesaurus lesson-lite.  I have provided the .word document for you to STEAL (although the Frosty lyrics, of course, are properly attributed).

Give each student pages 3 and 4 of the handout only.  After they fill in the blanks with the required synonyms, they then receive the text of Frosty the Snowman.  They then match the synonym with the corresponding number on the song sheet.  I am sure that you will have at least three students who will volunteer to sing their Mad-Lib'd version.

Or perhaps you can go caroling during indoor recess.

Have fun!