Red+Oak+IMC+Happenings

 Red Oak Students & Staff Let’s Celebrate Read Across America Week March 2 through March 9 and iRead for 112 Foundation March 9 through April 9 Beginning with Dr. Seuss’ Birthday on March 2!

** March 2: Author Tammi Lewis Brown will present her books, Soar ElinorandThe Map of Meto 3rd grade students in the IMC from 1:15 to 2:00. ** 

**Grades K, 1st and 2nd: Highland ParkFireman Brens will read Green Eggs and Hamby Dr Seuss in the IMC. Times: 2nd grade at 2:00 and 2:30 for K and 1st grades. **

** March 7: Grades K - 5th: Read-In-Your-PJs Day! Wear your PJs to school and have your favorite book handy to read at the drop of a hat! **

** March 9: Grades K through 5th: Let’s celebrate the beginning of iRead for 112 Foundation! Prior to seeing the new version of The Lorax in theaters, sign up to relax and see the original in the IMC. Teachers, please sign up for the time that works best for you on The Lorax Google Doc! **
 * March 8: Queen for a Day, Principal Banas  read: Oh! The Places You’ll Go by Dr Seuss to 4th grade students at 2:00 and 5th grade students at 2:30 in the IMC. **    [[image:0-2.jpeg]]
 * Viewings will be at: 8:50, 9:30, 10:20, 11:20, 1:30, 2:15 and 2:45. **

 Red Oak Loves to Read! Mrs. Strong

October, 2011 Red Oak IMC Happenings!



The Red Oak IMC has awakened from its summer nap and is buzzing with student activity! It warms my heart each time I hear a child say: “I love this library”. Students are checking out books, enjoying read-a-louds, doing research, and experiencing new technology purchased by the District 112 Tech Refresh. Thanks to the Red Oak PTA, the beautiful new rug and bookshelves in the library have created comfy areas to enjoy a book and do some research.

Students at all grade levels have had hands-on introductions to the use and care of the new computers and iPads. The iPads have been a big hit! Students in grades four and five have created their own GoogleDocs accounts and will be using them to work collaboratively with other students when they do research.

Kindergarten, first, second and third graders are excited to be involved in the Monarch Readers’ Choice Award again this year. We have read-a-louds of some of the twenty nominated books and the students then review and rate the various books in their Monarch packets. In February of 2012, they will each vote for their favorite Monarch book along with other Illinois students. The coveted Monarch award is then given to the author or illustrator who receives the most votes. We use this opportunity to discuss literary elements with the students and additionally, students have been learning about and reviewing the Dewey Decimal System.

Third, fourth and fifth grade students have been introduced to the Bluestem Readers’ Choice Award. These twenty nominated books are in a variety of genres, which works well as we review and discuss authors’ purpose. Two books: //Moonshot //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">, about Apollo 11and //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">All Stations Distress //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">, about the sinking of the Titanic 100 years ago, are wonderful new works of non-fiction we will be reading and discussing.

Third graders did a mini research project called Marooned. They were marooned on a desert island with nothing but their laptops and World Book Online. In order to survive, they had to research different plants and find keywords that helped them to determine if the plants were edible or poisonous.

Fourth graders are just beginning an owl research project. Fifth graders are researching Native Americans (Mr Nichol’s, Miss Beresid’s and Miss Granquist’s classes) and Explorers (Miss Karon’s class).The students will be using everything from GoogleDocs, World Book and Britannica Online, Destiny to find books, and WebPath Express to find websites during their library classes to gather and complete their research. They will then create flipcharts in Inspire and share their work with fellow students. The Other Felix, to fourth graders on October 18. Several authors/illustrators will be visiting Red Oak this year thanks to the generosity of the Red Oak PTA and the District 112 Education Foundation. Look for more information on those visits in upcoming newsletters.

Thank you to all of the wonderful parent volunteers: Mrs Cutler, Mrs Donenberg, Mrs Ephraim, Mrs Falberg, Mrs Kiefer, Mrs Leskovich, Mrs McAlhaney, Mrs McKeag, Mrs Peddle, Mrs Small, Mrs Turner and Mrs Zucker.

Happy birthday and thank you again to all of the students who have donated books to the Red Oak library collection through the Birthday Book Club. These donations are greatly appreciated. Thanks to Mrs McAlhaney and Mrs. Peddle for all of their work on the Birthday Book Club.

Don’t miss the Red Oak School Book Fair October 26 and 27! Thank you to Mrs Kaden and Mrs Kallish for their organization of the bookfair!

Sincerely, Mrs Strong Library/Media Specialist