Student Author Emily

Title:

Student Author Catherine

Title: The Monster Under my Bed

I got a new bed. It was my first time sleeping in it. It was dark and scary and I saw a monster under my bed! I screamed, "Ahhh! There's a monster under my bed." Mom and dad came to see what was wrong. I told them I found a monster under my bed. They said, "There is no such thing a monsters." So they said "Goodnight!" Then I heard a noise. "Ahhh!" So grandma came in to see what was wrong. "I saw a monster under my bed!" "There is no such thing as monsters," said grandma. So she left. Then I saw a tongue. "Ahhh!" I screamed. So my aunt came in to see what was wrong. "I saw a monster under my bed!" "There is no such thing as monsters," they said. So they walked away. I saw it again! "Ahhh! but instead...

it was my dog scruffy. That was a relief. So I started to laugh then I slowly drifted off to sleep. Or is it the dog? I wondered.

Student Author Serena

Title: Stuffy the Dog

Once upon a time there was a dos named stuffy, he was a very odd dog. He would eat cat food. Instead of chasing cats he was friends with them; and he was afraid of dogs. So you see, Stuffy thinks he is a cat! One day Stuffy wished he was a cat and the next day sure enough he was a cat. Now for one year he was happy then he wanted to be a dog. The next day he went to the grassy hills, he wished he was a dog ten times then he fell fast asleep. When he woke up he was a dog again. He raced home, now he would chase cats, only eat dog food and never, ever, ever, wish to be anyone he wasn't. And he was the best dog ever.

Under the Canopy

Our most recent picture under our rainforest tree.

back row: Justin, Taylor, Brayden, Daniel, Aaliyah,

Jessica and Serena. Center: Megan, Regan, Austin, Peyton D.,

Gage, Jaedyn, Emily, and Catherine. Front Devon, Bryce,

Ayden, Ryan and Abby. Absent Peyton M., Brenden, and Alyssa.

Rainforest mural and bulletin boards

The couple examples that I have here of our peek a boo art were lots of fun for the students. Each child selected an animal and then drew a picture of that animal with the eyes located in the peeking slot. After they finished the art portion, they researched books to find three interesting facts about their animal. The art work we see here are from Regan, Catherine, Ryan, and Austin.

The toucan were one of many art experiences we will do while studying South America. We are looking forward to drawing an iguana, an anteater, and three different kinds of plants. This project was created in oil pastel. A couple of art concepts we were working on were; texture, and perspective.

Display of Peek-a boo Art

We have created mural on the wall in our clasroom. It includes the Great Kapok Tree, vines, moss, quetzal birds, butterflies, and assorted animals on the background of a variety of rainforest plants.

The Great Kapok Tree Cast 2

Lynn Cherry's The Great Kapok Tree supports the habits of mind. In the story the students develop empathy for the rain forest animals as the encroachment of man destroys their habitat. As we have studied the South American rain forest we have demonstrated elaboration in the creation of our beautiful classroom rain forest, risk taking as we performed our reader's theatre, and inquisitiveness as we researched the countries, animals and customs of the South American people. I am proud of the community workers we have become. If one student is having a hard time someone is always willing to help them understand or complete their task. They are kind to one another and careful of each others feelings.

Our journey continues with the study of South American legends, exploration of the two other regions of South America; the pampas and the Andes Mountains. We have some great art activities, and the study of South American ancient civilizations.

Thank you for your support at the Celebration of Learning our class have 100% attendance. What a great groups of parents we have. Your activity in your students school is a positive factor in the level of success your child will experience.

The Great Kapok Tree Cast 1

The class has worked so hard the past couple of week preparing for the Celebration of Learning. They have practiced the Reader's Theatre, and created a most beautiful rainforest mural in our room. As we practiced our reader's theatre, one of the things we talked about was fluency. Fluent readers use puntuation to make their reading flow and make sense. We learned to pause at periods between sentences and after commas. Fluenty readers do not read just as fast as they can but instead read with expression. Sometimes we need to slow down so that others can enjoy and understand what we read. The repetition and practice that is necessary for our reader's theatre was a great way to improve reading fluency.