Literacy Lounge📚
A newsletter from your WMS Librarian and Literacy Coach.
We would be happy to support you or to answer any questions. To contact us:
Mr. Chris Cochran 📝
6-8 Literacy Coach
christopher.cochran@watertown.k12.ma.us
Follow my Instagram! wms_literacy_coach
Ms. Paula Cabral 📚
WMS Librarian
WMS Library News 📚
Holy Month of Ramadan
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, and is observed by many members of our school community. This year, it runs from March 10th to April 9th. To honor the holy month, library volunteers helped decorate a Ramadan display in the library. The display includes several books featuring Islamic characters and voices, non-fiction books about Muslim life, and hand-crafted lanterns created by our volunteers. Muslim students who are fasting during this time are also invited to spend their lunch blocks in the library. To all our Muslim friends, we wish you a Ramadan Mubarak!
Read a book for Women's History Month!
March is Women’s History Month. In honor of this month, Ms. Cabral has created a book display featuring books about famous and important women from throughout history. If you are looking for a new book and are interested in learning about strong female figures, stop by the library to browse the display!
WMS Literacy Updates ✏️
What are we reading? What are we writing?
Students in 6th grade are beginning their novel study of Refugee by Alan Gratz. From Scholastic.com: Mahmoud is a Syrian boy in 2015. With his homeland torn apart by violence and destruction, he and his family begin a long trek toward Europe. All three kids go on harrowing journeys in search of refuge, and all will face unimaginable dangers, from drownings to bombings to betrayals.
Students in 7th grade recently finished a found of "Social Issues" book clubs. These books include a selection of middle school literature that features issues that relate to real life. Seeing how characters are affected by social pressure and how they make their choices can help students think through real-life situations.
Students in 8th grade just finished their Coming of Age book clubs. Similar to 7th grade, these text focus on students growing up and facing conflicts. Reading about how characters discover their identify and persevere through challenges can help students consider their own choices and how they respond to conflict.