WEEKLY UPDATES (Spring 2008)

2 May 2008 

Dear Children's Literature Readers,
This semester is coming to a close!
Our last session will begin with our final visit to Tibbetts. You have 
planned your final meeting with the sixlets. Let me know if there is 
anything else you need from me other than video and camera. Anything to 
xerox?

We will match up again at our UNM classroom at 1:45pm for our 
conclusion and Finale:

1. webpage presentations-highlight Author/Illustrators, Book talk, 
literary elements, booklist
 
2. Genre presentations

3. Play Jeopardy

4. Add Katy Beatty's reflections to your webpage
5. Post your final reflection (similar to midterm)
6. Please be prepared to present your webpages making sure your content 
is up to date.

7. Finale celebration including our story rely anthology

I would like to submit your final grades the end of our class on May 5!

I hope you have enjoyed this semester. I have enjoyed our time 
together!-)........................frances

Remember, master teachers are teachers who know stories, read 
children's literature and are connecting students to stories and 
literature.

April 7, 2008

Dear Genre-ists!
It is becoming very interesting listening to your genre 
presentations-more interesting listening to me! Thank you Christine 
(Science Fiction) and Nikki (Fantasy) for your insightful presentations.
Thank you for being our scribe today,  Chelsea!

Please remember to post your Tibbetts reflections and lessons plans on 
your websites.

Next week we will return to the Farmington Public Library (2:15pm)after 
Tibbetts for a tour with Barbara. Come ready for the library tour first 
and then we can return to our cars to get the rest of our materials for 
class and prepare for genre presentations and talk about censorship and 
book awards.

Upcoming events & visitors:
April 21 - Katy Beatty children's author and founder of John's Shelf
April 28 - Sheeresa Chiquito FPL Youth Services Librarian talking about 
Youth Services Resources & Flo Trujillo, Youth Services Coordinator
May 5 - Anthony Chee Emerson Fine Arts Gallery visit on Main Street
Take care and hope you are continuing to enjoy your reading!
frances
P.S.
(Chrsitine, you might be interested in reading the series Ugglies, 
Pretties, Normals by Westerfeld; also Anne McGaffrey is another science 
fiction writer you may enjoy reading.)

March 17, 2008

Dear Poetry Performers,

Thank you for playful poetry presentations today! You passed your 
midterm exam with dramatic flair!

Thank you, Nancy for being our class scribe today. Please post your 
class highlights on our blog at 

I look forward to reading your midterms and responding individually via 
email since we did not have time during class today.

Please continue to post your books on your booklist and annotations; 
genre & literary elements; children's lit web resources. Be thinking 
about who your favorite author/ Illustrator may be. Don't forget to 
check out each other's webpages either!

Think about your alias CHARACTER & you will introduce them next time we 
meet on March 31.

We will meet at Tibbetts on March 31. Carry on without me as teachers 
in Penny's and Beth's classes. We may meet at the library AFTER, AFTER, 
AFTER Tibbetts on 3/31 but I will confirm with you that day, OK!

Thank you, Nancy, for being our scribe today. We missed Nikki and 
Fredrick will be working at home awaiting his sscheduled back surgery 
in April. It was a treat to have Vickie join us in class! She made 
quite an impression as the dentist in the Crocodile's Toothache, didn't 
she!

Please save for your records!-)...................Frances

Hallelujiah, spring has sprung! Enjoy your well-deserved Spring Break!

March 6, 2008

Dear Children Litters!

Hope you enjoyed the children's literature video.
Thank you for being the scribe Nikki and next week Christine will be 
our scribe (3/10).

GUESS WHAT?
Real mushers were at Koogler Middle School yesterday showing their sled 
and dogs! It was great. I will post some pictures soon to show you!
___________________________
REMINDERS:
12:40 meet at Penny's or Beth's classrooms
2:30pm - UNM classroom

....BETH-finish up persuasive writing assignments
____________________________
....PENNY-begin Lit circles with Woodsong by Gary Paulsen. Prepare by 
reading your book. It is fine to finish reading the book in preparation 
for work with the students. Also be prepared to read out loud, with 
expression, excitement and engagement. SInce student have done lit 
circles last semester we will see them as "experts" who will show you 
how to conduct them.
3 things to have them do after reading suggested by Harvey Daniels is
1. STOP'n'JOT in their journals-
2. Write where they are -what they're feeling/ illustrate where they 
stopped.
3. Encourage them to use sticky notes during on pages during reading 
they want to share or have questions about for later
Check out the Iditarod webiste and become familiar with the race and 
background as pre-reading background for reading WOODSONG at 

_________________________________

Midterm summary and evaluation due on your webpage for 
March 17. Do not forget to give yourself a grade.
I am checking your webpages now and will be sending you feed back about 
your pages.
_________________________________
If you have questions, give me a holler...................

Also be ready for your genre and literary element presentations (and 
jeopardy answers).

Thank you.................Frances

Feb. 7, 2008

Dear Children's Literature readers,

Thanks to our winter wonderland weather we did not have class Monday, Feb. 4. Please continue to read and add to your booklist.

Penny and Beth will be expecting you next Monday, Feb. 11. Remember to record your reflections about your interactions and experience that day in your Teaching Reflections.

Ms. Smith (ACE) will be teamed up with Mary, Sarah, Nikki, Nancy & Chelsea

ACE pages to review:

Ms. McDaniels-Hill (Persuasive Writing) will be teamed up with Barbara, Christine, Shantel, Anna & Frederick

Members of each team visit the websites provided above as background preparation before Monday, Feb. 11.

Please take the initiative as independent learners in preparing yourselves. I will return for our Tibbetts visit at 12:40pm on Feb. 25.

I forgot there is no school on Monday, Feb.18, Presidents' Day, so there will be no school at Tibbetts. Please use this day to your advantage taking care of  our course responsibilities: read email from 2/4; read our course syllabus; browse our course blog to see what's on there of interest to you; and create web page IF you want-optional.

Remember, you do not need me to be 'snooping around' for you to be productive learners. If you have questions that can wait until 2/25, I will address them. If they cannot wait, talk it over with another peer or call Dawn at our UNM office. Dawn also has a copy of our email correspondence.

Enjoy yourselves and your learning adventures. Until we meet again...................Frances