Happy New (School) Year everyone!!!

We are off to an amazing start to this unusual year.  Most of your kids have had library at least once and are getting used to our new “temporary normal”.

Library, like everything else this year, looks a little different.  Mrs. Graser and I will be bringing library to your students on a cart every week. We’ve done this before, during testing weeks, but never quite this way. The good news is, we will be checking books out, but because we are traveling by cart, students will be limited to one book. We also won’t check out every week, but for the time being, we will check out every other week. Obviously, we can’t bring the whole library on two carts so the selection will be a little less varied, but we are communicating with each group of students to tailor the books that go to each classroom as much as we can. Once our older students get reacquainted with our online catalog, they will also be able to send requests to the library to check out specific books.

When books come back to the library, they will be held in quarantine for 6 days and then put back into circulation. This is at the recommendation of OCLC (a national library research group) and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

This seems like an excellent time to remind everyone…if you have any library books from last school year at home, please have your student bring them to school as soon as possible. Classroom teachers will be able to return them to the library. There are lots and lots of books still checked out from when we left for the pause. Eventually, we will send out reminders. If you have any questions about overdue books, please email me at dabbott@westgenesee.org.

In the coming weeks, we will be reteaching all of the online resources we introduced during the spring in our remote lessons. Students will be shown the revamped library website and resources like Bookflix, SORA, and MyON to remind them how to access ebooks and audiobooks whenever they want.

Stay tuned for more news from the library (carts)!

And don’t forget to

READ4FUN!

Mrs. Abbott

(Email me at any time at dabbott@westgenesee.org)

 

Hello Everyone,

I hope you and your loved ones have been staying safe and healthy. It certainly has been a wild and unusual summer vacation so far and we still have a month to go.  I’ve run into quite a few of you while out and about and all I can say is I miss you all so much! So much, in fact, I’d like to do another book club as a way to spend some time with anyone who is feeling the same way. The One and Only Ivan has been made into a movie and will start streaming on Disney+ on Friday, August 14th. I’d like to repeat what we did for Artemis Fowl...I’ll read the book in installments on zoom. If you have a copy of the book (pretty cheap at Walmart, Target or on Amazon), you can read along, if you don’t, you can just listen in. Then, anyone with Disney+ can watch the movie and we’ll have a zoom meeting afterward to get together and talk about it.

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate is a beautiful story about friendship and loyalty. Ivan is a silverback gorilla who has lived at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall for 27 years. He is generally content with his situation, but when Ruby, a baby elephant, comes to live at the mall, Ivan wants to find a way to give her a better life. The book won the Newbery Medal for outstanding children’s literature in 2013. Many of my students know that Charlotte’s Web is my all-time favorite book, and Ivan reminds me of that book a lot. I’m so excited to share it.

 So here’s how we’ll proceed. I’ve made a google classroom for the book club. All grade levels are welcome. If you are interested in joining the club, send me an email at dabbott@westgenesee.org. I’ll send you the classroom and the code to join. You’ll be able to join the zoom from the classroom.  I’ll start reading on Monday, August 10th. When we have an idea of who is in the club, I’ll announce reading times. Sessions should be about 30 minutes on most days. I’m confident we can do the book in five sessions.  I’ll record the zoom every day and post it to the classroom. If you can’t make any session, you can watch it there. 

If you have any questions, feel free to email me. I hope to hear from you soon.

 READ4FUN!

Mrs. Abbott

 

Dear Stonehedge Families,

I can’t believe the time has come again to wish everyone a wonderful summer! It sure has been a long and strange late winter and spring. We’ve made a lot of changes in how we’ve interacted, taught, and learned, but we’ve made it through and I do hope you all can enjoy the official summer break to the utmost.

New York State's summer reading theme is "Imagine your Story"

But since it is nearly summer, I can’t sign off without talking a bit about summer reading. Next week’s library lesson on the WG learning portal…the last for a while…is all about summer reading; you’ll find details from all of our local public library branches, including videos explaining their summer reading programs. Most public branches are doing curbside pickup now and the library links will give you the best information on how to take advantage of their services. The library lesson also has a handy list of Little Free Libraries in the greater Camillus area. These are informal collections of books that you are free to keep (or better yet, read something and return it and take something new!) Little Frees are also a great place to rehome books you might want to give away. The library lesson also includes book suggestions, including the 5^th going into 6^th grade recommended reads…including audio files of each book’s first chapter read to you by my student teacher Elizabeth Lutz. There are also welcoming videos from both middle school librarians, Mrs. Bush from CMS and Mrs. Chemotti from WGMS. 

I can’t stress enough how important it is to read over the summer!!! No matter what the format, any reading you do is beneficial to you.

I’m sharing with you my book stacks…the one on the left is the stack I’ve read since we’ve been paused (by all rights, it would be bigger but I think I read Artemis Fowl and The Arctic Incident six times apiece prepping for the AF book club!) The one on the right is made up of the books I hope to read over the summer. Will I make it through the stack? I’m not sure, but I know I’ll have fun trying. Have fun with your own stacks and have a wonderful summer!

Until we meet again,

Don’t forget to

READ4FUN

Mrs. Abbott

Happy Spring?

Hello Stonehedge Families

Last time I wrote, it was snowing. This week we hit 90° and I have been swimming. So goes springtime in CNY!

I am so proud of my “Artemis Fowl” book club members. We’ve had a core group of about 7 or 8 kids who have tuned in daily to listen to me read and follow along if they have the book. I have to give them credit, it’s not been an easy read, but it sure has been suspenseful. We made it through the first book in 11 days and have started the second adventure in the series The Arctic Incident. We’re hoping to finish in time for the movie premier on Disney+ on June 12^th.  We can’t wait to see what the folks at Disney do with Eoin Colfer’s criminal mastermind and his fairy foes. 

And as if we need another excuse to read, J.K. Rowling has done it again. The wizard behind the Harry Potter series has dusted off an idea she originally created as a bedtime story for her kids and is sharing it online for free. The story is called The Ickabog and takes place in the kingdom of Cornucopia. Rowling is releasing a few chapters at a time and the whole story will be published in the fall with all proceeds going to charity. In the meantime, she is encouraging all budding artists to submit illustrations for the story. The publishers in each country will be selecting artwork from fans for publication. Click here to read the story and get details about the illustration contest.

I hope that everyone is still having fun with the library lessons on the Learning Portal. This week we reminded you that Reader’s Theater is a really fun way to share a story with someone while you also work on your reading skills. In the coming weeks, we share some webcams and sites so you animal lovers can get your science on. We also have a hysterical lesson on making up your own jokes. (I can’t wait to see the flip grid for that one!) We’ll also be reminding you about the importance of reading over summer break and giving you tons of resources to make that fun and easy.

Keep having fun…stay cool and

Don’t forget to Read4Fun!!

Mrs. Abbott

Fowl...Artemis Fowl

Hi Stonehedge families,

First of all, thank you so much to all of the students and staff that helped out with the virtual "Poem in Your Home" celebration/library lesson last week. It's hard to reimagine some of our favorite school traditions in this new, strange time, but the resulting Flipgrid outdid my wildest expectations. Thank You.

As my fourth-grade book club members may recall, I had plans of having a special book club this spring to read Artemis Fowl by Eion Colfer in anticipation of the release of the Disney movie in theaters in June. 

It has just been announced that the movie will now premiere on June 12^th on Disney+. I think we may still have time to read the first two books before the movie comes out. I’ll be reading (hopefully) a chapter a day on a zoom meeting that interested students can join live. The readings will be recorded and saved on a special Google Classroom for kids who can’t make the zoom. As we get closer to June, we may plan a watch party or at least have a zoom meeting to discuss the books and the movie.

Artemis Fowl is a series by Eion Colfer about a twelve-year-old criminal mastermind who encounters dwarves, fairies and other magical creatures on a quest to find his missing father. The movie is reported to be based on the first two books in the series.

The books are recommended for grades 4 and up, but all grade levels are welcome to participate, subject to parental approval. The movie is PG.

If you would like to be part of this virtual book club, look for the access code in your teacher's Google Classroom.

I’ll start reading via daily zoom meetings at 1pm starting Monday, May 11. You’ll be able to access the zoom link from the Artemis Fowl Google Classroom. If you have the book, feel free to follow along. All are welcome.

Hope to “see” you on Monday!

Don't Forget to READ4FUN!

Mrs. Abbott

Poem in Your Home

Hello again Stonehedge,

“Spring has sprung, the grass is riz, I wonder where the daisies is?”

When I posted the picture of the snow last week, I was pretty confident that it would be the last time we’d see it for a long while…I was wrong! As I look out my window, it’s very hard to convince myself that next week is the last week of April!

As I noted in that blog, April is Poetry Month and the last week of April is very special because the last Thursday of April is traditionally “National Poem in Your Pocket Day”. This is a day that I look forward to all year long. At Stonehedge we make a big deal out of PiP…we explore poetry in library for a few weeks, introduce our students to fun, kid-friendly poets and we encourage them to find a poem they like, put it in their pocket on Poem in Your Pocket Day and then share the poem with as many people as they can over the course of the day. This leads to much activity and excitement as kids stop and take time to share their chosen poem to fellow students and staff members…everyone gets into the act.

This year we have to think outside of the box, so we’ll be doing a virtual Poem in Your Pocket Day ("Poem in Your Home"...get it?) all week long. On the library lesson on the WG Learning Portal that is linked to the district website, you’ll find everything you’ll need to celebrate PiP. We’ve included links to websites of Stonehedge’s favorite kid’s poets. Everyone in the family can find a poem that will make them giggle. The lesson invites you to hold a family poetry slam and then, there is a link to a Flipgrid  where you’ll be encouraged to record yourself reading your poem to share with all the elementary schools of West Genesee (don't worry, it's fun and easy). Let’s make this the most memorable Poem in Your Pocket Day ever!

DON’T FORGET TO CHECK OUT THE PTA’S VIRTUAL BOOK FAIR!!!

https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bookfairs/cptoolkit/homepage.do?method=homepage&url=stonehedgeelementaryschool1

As always, if there is anything I can do for you, my email is dabbott@westgenesee.org.

Don’t forget to READ(POETRY)4FUN!

Mrs. Abbott

Happy Friday everyone!

April is “School Library Month”.  It’s hard to celebrate School Libraries from home, but then again, there is snow on the ground and it doesn’t even feel like April, so it just goes to show that sometimes everything gets a little topsy-turvy.

I’ve been invited to quite a few class meetings via zoom and I love seeing everyone. In the past, when library has been  “on the road” for testing and other events and I bring my library lessons to the classroom, I used to joke about seeing kids in their “natural habitats”. Now we are taking that idea to a different level. One thing is for sure, it’s great to see those smiling faces wherever they may be. (And I’ve loved meeting parents, pets and baby brothers and sisters too)

I just want to remind everyone that your Specials Teachers (PE, Art, Music, and Library) are putting out new activities every week. Art and Music have their own Google Classrooms, but PE and Library lessons are still on the Learning Portal on the WG District Website. This week’s library lesson gives you a chance to explore myOn, which is an eBook platform. If you are running out of things to read at home, myOn has lots of material to explore…including a kid-friendly news section. There is also a Flipgrid at the end of the lesson. We want to hear what you think of this great resource. Next week, we’ll be showing you another place to get eBooks and audiobooks called Sora. This reading app is bound to be popular because you can find a lot of your favorites from the “real library” like Dog Man, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Guts and Harry Potter.

Here’s a great idea from Mrs. Hayes in third grade…how about making a habit of visiting your special’s google classroom or portal link on the day you have that special? Makes sense right? Give it try!

Besides being "School Library Month" April is also "National Poetry Month". Usually in April at Stonehedge we would be exploring poems in library class and preparing for Poem In Your Pocket Day and our open mic poetry night, Poetrypalooza on April 30^th. We can’t do those events the normal way this year, but, if you check into the library lesson the week after next, you’ll find that we’ve come up with a new way to celebrate!

I hope everyone is doing their best to make the best of this strange and interesting time.  If you need anything from me, want to send me a shout out to be read on Fridays or just want to say "hi", email me at dabbott@westgenesee.org 

YOUR LIBRARY STAFF MISSES YOU!

Don’t forget to READ4FUN!!

Mrs. Abbott

Hello Stonehedge!!!

Well…a lot has happened since last month’s blog! I hope this note finds everyone well and comfy at home. (maybe you still have your PJ’s on, who knows?)

Me on PJ day last week

I want you to know that Mrs. Graser. Mrs. Eichhorn and I miss you all very much! But I guess, for now, we all need to put on our “patient pants” and do what we have to do.

By now, I’m hoping that everyone has started a new routine of checking your grade level portal pages as well as Google Classrooms to see what your teachers have planned for you. You may have noticed the library has a section on the portal too. Starting on Monday, April 6^th, there will be new library activities posted there. All four of West Genesee’s elementary librarians have worked together to plan these lessons. They are fun connections to what we have already done in library or what we would normally be doing. Wherever we could, we made lessons that span multiple grade levels and that can involve the whole family, if you wish. A new lesson will be posted every week until we can get back to our “real” library (all those books…waiting to be read!)

In the meantime, Mrs. Graser and I have been busy popping into some of your class meetings. It’s been so nice to keep in touch in any way we can. If you haven’t seen us yet, you probably will soon.

Mrs. Graser and I connecting during last week's Reading Day

I hope everyone is taking advantage of this “quieter time” to do plenty of reading. If you are running out of things to read at home, our first two library lessons will show you places to find lots and lots of reading material online.

Don't forget...pets make great reading partners!

If you need me for anything… dabbott@westgenesee.org

Don’t forget to READ4FUN!

Mrs. Abbott

Hi Stonehedge!!!

Our very first Stonehedge “I Wonder” STEAM Showcase is fast approaching! After two months of wondering, planning, research and construction our kids have a lot to show off.

The showcase is this Thursday, March 5^th from 6-7:30. Set up for participants is from 4-5.  Participants should not bring projects to school on Thursday, but rather come back to school between 4 and 5, set up and then return to school at 6 for the showcase.

Everyone is invited to the Showcase, even if you didn’t do a project. There will be science experiments, engineering projects, research displays and art pieces set up from lobby to lobby and then some.

Every K-2 class will have some type of artwork displayed. We are looking forward to a great turnout. We hope to see you there!

4^th grade Book Club is going strong. We have a group of about 25 book lovers who meet every other Friday to talk about whatever they’ve been reading. We’re all hearing about some great new books and authors. It’s a great way to ease students into public speaking and also to practice good listening habits. We have a great group of kids and we’re having a lot of fun!

Every day is a great day to READ4FUN!

Mrs. Abbott

Hello Stonehedge Families...Happy New Year from the Library!

January is research month! I’ll tell you what’s going on during class in a minute, but first I want to talk about the Stonehedge “I Wonder” STEAM Showcase! We rolled out basic information in library when we got back from break and classroom teachers talked about it in K and 1st-grade classes. The STEAM Showcase is a new event that is replacing both the Blue side’s  Winter Wonderland and the Gold side’s Science Fair. The new event opens the door for collaboration between grade levels so siblings and friends from both sides can work together and gives the students more freedom in topic and project choice. Students can research any topic they choose and do projects beyond the typical science experiment or engineering project, including research displays, art projects, and even performance pieces. It’s not too late to get involved.  Our next Open Library Research “Night” will be Thursday, January 30th from 3:30-5pm (Note this change in time from earlier schedules) Meet your child when you can after school to work on their project. Everyone must be picked up by 5pm! The Art Room will also be open for students who need to work on an art project. The Showcase itself will be Thursday, March 5 from 6-7:30 pm. (This time has also changed from earlier schedules). Contact me at dabbott@westgenesee.org if you have questions.

Back to library class! 5th graders are starting our Puerto Rico research project. Classes have been divided into groups in order to explore many aspects of life on the island. We will be making Google Slides presentations to share our knowledge. 4th grade is doing a similar project with New York State as a topic. 3rd grade is finishing up a deep study of Folktales, Fables, and Myths. 2nd grade is reviewing research resources and helpful hints on how to look for answers to our questions.

Kindergarten and 1st-grade classes have been enjoying Caldecott award-winning books. Ask your student what the Caldecott is given for. (hint: it’s the pictures!) This year’s award winners were announced on Monday the 27th. The Undefeated, Illustrated by Kadir Nelson and written by Kwame Alexander, was the medal winner. Honor books were Bear Came Along, illustrated by LeUyen Pham and written by Richard T. Morris, Double Bass Blues illustrated by Rudy Gutierrez and written by Andrea J. Loney, and Going Down Home with Daddy Illustrated by Daniel Minter and written by Kelly Starling Lyons.

Stay tuned…

Don’t forget to Read4Fun!

Mrs. Abbott