Vermont Red Clover Winner .....

Drum roll please.... and the state Winners of the 2012 Vermont Red Clover Award are:

Born Yesterday, by James Solheim with 6,425 votes
Art & Max, by David Wiesner with 3,583 votes (This was Summit's winner!)
Wonder Horse, by Emily Arnold McCully with 3,407 votes

10 Students, 5 Librarians, 2 Districts, and 1 Fabulous Author!

Have you read Marty McGuire by Kate Messner?  We did!  We read it, discussed it, blogged about it, and Skyped it!  As a culminating activity to a book discussion group called Chittenden County Reads (involving 10 students, 5 schools, 5 librarians, 2 school districts, and one fabulous author) we all met on Tuesday, April 15th in Summit's Learning Center to Skype with author Kate Messner.  Kate shared valuable information with students regarding her life and the writing process. She certainly made us feel better by letting us know how many times she edits her stories before they ever go to print! After Skyping with Kate Messner, we enjoyed lunch together and frog cookies for dessert.  Curious about the frog cookies, you may want to read the book! We are looking forward to reading her next book, Marty McGuire Digs Worms!

And the winner is......

And the Summit Winner is…..

Summit students recently cast individual votes for their favorite Red Clover book.  This year’s winner is Art & Max, by David Wiesner with 73 votes.  We voted online this year using a Google form.  After all votes were cast we were able to spend time together interpreting the bar graph generated.  It became obvious to us what books were the school’s favorites, but we were also pleased that each book received votes.  We concluded that students enjoy ALL the Red Clover books even though there is one clear winner.

We can’t wait to find out the winner for the State of Vermont!

Chittenden County Reads

In an effort to extend literacy work beyond the walls of the classroom, five Chittenden County librarians kicked off Chittenden County Reads.  Two students each from Summit Street, Hiawatha, Westford, Essex Elementary and Founders will participate in the reading and discussions of Marty McGuire, by Kate Messner.  We launched this enrichment activity today using Scopia to videoconference with all five schools.  We introduced ourselves, made some predictions, practiced videoconferencing and received our books.  Using writing prompts, each week we will discuss, write and then blog with each other.  The grand finale will be an author Skype with Kate Messner and a luncheon!

Mrs. Macmillan's 2nd Graders Present Owney Project

Today's school-wide assembly was presented by Mrs. Macmillan's 2nd graders. I write this post today to share about our collaborative efforts and express how proud we are of the 2nd graders.  How did the project begin? One day this fall Mrs. Macmillan went to the Post Office to buy some stamps and noticed the display of a dog stamp.  After inquiring with the postal clerk, she came to school to check out Mona Kerby's book, Owney, the Mail Pouch Pooch to share with her students..... from there the project snowballed!

    Mrs. Foley worked with the students to create original artwork from ten of the many places Owney visited.  Mrs. Macmillan and Mrs. Duggan guided students through numerous websites to research their locations. Working in teams of two, students gathered information regarding culture, language, food, famous landmarks and historical events.  Students then wrote postcards pretending to be at each location while sharing what they learned.  Mr. Davidson then introduced students to Google Earth while creating a tour by adding place markers along the way.  The assembly today shared the 3-D Google Earth tour, interspersed with a PowerPoint of the postcard artwork, while students presented their writing pieces.  Bravo to our 2nd Graders!  Job well done!

  

Creative Drama for Red Clover Nominee, Art & Max

Before the reading of David Wiesner's latest book, Art & Max, students participated in a creative drama.  Students developed a deeper understanding of Max's (main character) feelings and actions while also strengthening their understanding of the story.  Students felt like they noticed more details in the illustrations and were able to accurately recall/retell the story.  Have your child act out their favorite part of the story.  Perhaps it will be when Max was completely undone, or maybe when he was looking better than he'd ever looked before, or perhaps when he was feeling strange, angry, or annoyed.  These students are fabulously creative actors and actresses!

"Creative drama is an improvisational, process oriented form of drama where participants are guided by a leader to enact and reflect upon real and imagined experiences." (Words Come Alive, Flynn Center of Performing Arts).

Reading is an Inve$tment

         

         Summit Street School is participating in a statewide program to teach elementary-age children personal finance concepts. We are one of more than 120 Vermont elementary schools who will use the program this school year. The program is managed by the Vermont State Treasurer’s Office and is called “Reading is an Investment.” Participating schools are sent three new books each year that highlight a specific personal finance theme. Through grade-focused lesson plans, school library student activities, and personal reading, students are introduced to basic financial concepts. The 2011-2012 personal finance theme is “Earning and Saving Money.”

There are two parts to this program – personal reading and school instructional activities. As a parent, you have the opportunity to help your child complete a reading log that will then be entered into a yearly drawing for a $250 college savings plan account. There are ten prizes that will be awarded each year. In order to complete a reading log, a student must read three books from a recommended money reading list and complete additional free reading requirements. The reading logs and recommended money reading list are available at the Learning Center or you may print a reading log and reading list by going to www.MoneyEd.Vermont.gov. I will also be sending a reading log home in the Friday Folder.  The deadline for submitting a completed reading log is March 16, 2012.

The second part of the program focuses on library activities. The titles and authors for the 2011-2012 school term are: Give a Goat, by Jan West Schrock; Pitching in for Eubie, by Jerdine Nolen; and Rock, Brock & the Savings Shock, by Sheila Bair.  We have already read the first “money” book together.  Most classes read Rock, Brock & the Savings Shock.  This book lends itself to a great dinnertime discussion.  Students were alarmed at how much money could be saved in a 10-week period.  Ask your child about Rock and Brock’s spending and saving habits.

Students are motivated and off to a great start with their reading logs and books from the recommended money reading list.  The library owns most books on the list and they have been highly circulated this week.  Great Job Summit!  If you have any questions, please email me at kduggan@ccsuvt.org.