We’re Wild About Books!
Students in 3rd and 4th grade heard Maurice Sendak’s classic story, Where the Wild Things Are, read aloud in library classes this month, in preparation for the release of the new feature film. Students love the story of Max and his night of mischief, and joined the wild things in their roaring and gnashing of teeth. We used the book to remind students of the differences between fiction and nonfiction books, and followed up our reading with a search for nonfiction books that could tell us facts & information, rather than entertain us with stories.
4th graders will learn about a new genre each month, and for those learning about fantasy in October, Where the Wild Things Are provided the perfect opportunity to discuss elements of fantasy in fiction. Authors who take the realities of our lives (getting in trouble) and make them into something fantastic (a forest growing in place of the walls in Max’s room) spin magical tales that engage us with their strangeness.
We were fortunate to see two wonderful author presenters this month, hosted by the Teton County Library. Bill Wallace, author of more than 30 books for young people, spoke to 4th and 5th grade students on Tuesday, October 20th. Lucia Gonzalez, Cuban-American author and storyteller, captured the imaginations of our 3rd grade students with her unique performance in English and Spanish.
School is in full swing, and we’re checking out more books than ever. In September alone, more than 3,300 books were checked out!
Add comment October 22nd, 2009
