Tuesday, April 4 8:00-3:00

Today's Hours: 7    Total Hours: 9    Hours remaining: 91
This is a picture of my Coding display, which included an introductory message from me, a story I wrote in middle school with HTML coding involved called "Pixilated Pup," Lego pieces, books from the library, and a place to submit their ideas, predictions, and stories around coding, including what the next big thing will be! I wanted to tie into literacy with the concept of predictions and the prompt to brainstorm, read, and write. The display will only be up for two weeks before it holds the students' Art Show! With writing competitions for National Poetry Month and April being a month of rain showers, it seemed fitting. I also think coding, reading, and writing are all wonderful rainy (but really *any*) day activities.  

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Today, after arriving early and taking some pictures while appreciating the natural morning light, Heather and I turned the library computers on, greeted the parent volunteers, went to the school assembly, and finished a tour of the second half of the school. The assembly had a quartet performance preparing for Solo and Ensemble competitions this Saturday, and a previous faculty member who now works in Michigan discussed NepalOrphanHome, an organization for which students raised over $4,000. An 8th grade language arts teacher who runs Expressions, a group that publishes a yearly journal, introduced the competition for April’s National Poetry Month. One of my favorite stops on the tour was the room with a letter press machine, which I later used. I also observed a classroom with station recording on a SmartBoard where students drag their symbol (lifelong and attached to them to help before they can read) to their activity.  Then, I was able to observe Vicki’s 10am class. She sang participatory songs about rain while they looked out the window (“pizza” and “jelly beans” - what a rain that would be!), then read two picture books. The final song was “Nicky Nacky Noo” http://www.funnysongsforkids.com/childrens-classics/my-hand-on-my-head-nicky-nacky-nocky-noo. She told them she would see them Wednesday and the letter would be “U” so they guessed umbrella as the theme – more rain books! I signed up for the InfOhio listserv at Heather’s suggestion and I also emailed the curriculum director to set up a meeting. We looked at the Usborne Bookstore catalog and I made a Coding display case for the next two weeks. I also participated in a library class for 2nd graders on information literacy, as they searched YP.com and the school directory to find names and phone numbers of party elements and guests to plan an event! One girl did not know what town she lived in, and others needed help spelling words as they searched. Most needed help distinguishing ads from reviewed businesses and help finding where the phone number was located. It was fun to see them think about what kind of cake, pizza, activities, and friends they would like to have! It was a wonderful first day back to school after break, and I am excited for future days!

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