Marek Library Information
December
Happy Holidays!
Wow! The time is flying by! November was filled with fun activities in the library, along with a lot of learning! Geoff Rodkey arrived on November 7 to speak to our 4th and 5th Graders at 9:00 a.m. We had our annual Barnes and Noble Book Fair. We kicked off the event with Family Night on November 14 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. New books will be coming shortly! We already have many of the new electronic books. Please go to the Library website for more information about those or use the OPAC catalog to see what we have! You'll also find information about events, access to reference materials and electronic book options!
http://www.alvinisd.net/domain/1863 - Library Website and OPAC CatalogBook Adventure
Update!Internet Explorer is sometimes not working with the quizzes for Book Adventure. Try Mozilla Firefox for your internet browser if you're having trouble.
Geoff Rodkey
What a treat! He was very entertaining and educational!!!
Thanks, Mrs. Anton, for the WONDERFUL sign!
Become a REACH Reader
Would you like to read one - to - one with a child who needs you? Please send an email about available days and times to Anita if you are interested. (aphipps@alvinisd.net)
Barnes and Noble Book Fair
Thank you for supporting our Book Fair! I haven't received results yet, but I appreciate everyone stopping by and saying you were with Marek!
Classroom Happenings
Students have been very active and engaged in learning in the library!
Kindergarten has accomplished amazing things to date. We've done research on community helpers, learned about senses, and are checking out books from around the library! They've learned about 2x2's, colors, transportation, nonfiction and fiction, the and there's much more to come! Recently we worked on nocturnal animals and Invention Showcase information and Thanksgiving.
First Grade has worked on learning about the sun, moon, and stars, clouds, fiction and nonfiction differentiation, community helpers, apples and Johnny Appleseed, Christopher Columbus and much more! They are learning about putting information in their own words and reading for information. We did research on bodies of water and used the Scholastic Thanksgiving website to learn about the First Thanksgiving.
Second Grade has worked on Anansi the Spider stories, learning about Eric Kimmel and character traits vs. physical characteristics. They've worked on genre studies, fiction and nonfiction differentiation and nonfiction text features so far. We are moving to information gathering about the first Thanksgiving and author';s purpose.
Third Grade in Ms. Stevens' language arts classes are working hard on their author study. Students chose one author to study. They did biography research on their author and will analyze two to three books by that author. They've been using the new technology devices to do in-class research, as well. Mrs. Shirah's classes are working on creating their own country and government. Mrs. TImme's classes are creating games based on a mathematician or scientist. Mrs. Yesland's and Miss Green's classes spent time doing research on the three branches of government. They created an ebook on EPubBud to share their information. Miss Green's class also has worked hard to determine ways to be great readers with their buddy classes. I know their buddies appreciate their efforts! Mrs. Yesland's classes learned about the difference between physical characteristics and character traits.
Fourth Grade is using the new devices so effectively. They're learning about Google Sites to communicate information learned. Mrs. Wiedemann's and Mrs. Muras' language arts classes researched Texas Native Americans and how they live in the different Texas regions. The questions they wrote to guide their research are amazing! We are now moving to poetry and European explorers of Texas. Mrs. Griffin's language arts classes are working on genres and just-right book choices. Mrs. Taville's science people worked on landforms in the library and continue to use the devices to create wonderful products.
Fifth Graders are amazing readers. It's delightful to watch them choose and enjoy reading! Mrs. Matula's classes are doing a project to "rebrand" a country on a continent of their choice. They've researched continents and have chosen locations for their new country and the genre of poetry. They'll work on this project all year to create a government and all the elements of a new country. Mrs. Tamez's class is currently working on colonial America. We just finished a research project of the Southern, Middle and New England colonies and one about "players" of the first Thanksgiving.
Marek Library
Mrs. Ann-Marie Brown
Ms. Natalie Melenric
Email: aphipps@alvinisd.net
Website: www.alvinisd.net
Location: Mary Marek Library
Phone: 281-245-3241
Anansi the Spider
Illustrations by Janet Stevens
Studied by 2nd and 3rd grade students
Sun, Moon and Stars
Texas Native Americans
Federal Government
Studied by 3rd Grade
Communities
Kindergarten, First and Second graders studied this!
Thanksgiving!
(Visit Scholastic's website about Thanksgiving)