AZ Young Readers Award Nominees
Each spring Gale students participate in the Arizona Young Readers
Award (AzYRA) voting. This year What! Cried Granny by Kate Lum earned
the best picture book; Weslandia by Paul Fleischman earned the best
chapter book. We have posted the list of AzYRA books nominated
for the year 2002. They are great selections for your summer
reading. We will be voting for our favorites in February 2002.
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Summer Reading
The Tucson-Pima Public Library's Summer Reading Program is called
2001: A Reading Odyssey. Go to your nearest public library
after May 24th to sign up. As children read and record their time,
they can earn prizes. Reading is a great way to spend your summer
and the best way to be ready for school in the fall. Our school
Web site has a list of suggested books for students at every
grade level.
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What's New on the Gale Home Page?
Mrs. Ellis's Adventure Room published their group poem about
their giant ladybug model. Students also wrote individual poems
about the insects they created from clay.
Mrs. Wood's Wildcats published their Patricia Polacco Author
Study. Small groups read one of her personal narrative books and
shared their experience with the class. Their Web publishing includes
an illustration and their personal responses to the books.
The Sky Room is publishing some of the delicious poems they've
written in Writer's Workshop. Students have been meeting in the
library to hear, write, and share poems. Reading their poems will
make you hungry!
Ms. Lee's Jigglepops completed their Dr. Seuss Author/Illustrator
Study. Check out their Cat in the Hat illustrations! This month
Ms. Lee shared her students' Ted DeGrazia Artist Study at the International
Reading Association Conference in New Orleans.
The April-May Treasure Hunt has been posted. Congratulations
to all the classrooms that participated in the March Hunt. Two classrooms
will earn a copy of In the Swim by Douglas Florian in the drawing
on May 9th.
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Collaboration Notes
Mrs. Thomson's class is reading books by mystery author John Bellairs.
After visiting his Web site and reviewing the characteristics
of mystery stories, students selected a title to read with a small
group. Sudents who love the Harry Potter books also enjoy John Bellairs
stories.
Mrs. Well's third-fourth grade students wrote poems for Poem in
the Pocket Day. They used exceptional word choice and included feelings
and sensory images. Some students illustrated their poems as well.
They evaluated their own work with a four-point rubric.
Mrs. Ellis's students used excellent word choice to compose their
insect poems based on the clay insects they made with Mrs.
Ross in art class. You can see their work in the display case in
the library hallway.
Mrs. Harding and Mrs. Montaño's kindergarten classes revisited
the culture of Mexico. In addition to hearing a Mexican folktale,
they made sombreros and danced the Mexican Hat Dance!
Mrs. Pickeral's class has been conducting literature circles. Smaller
groups have given more students the opportunity to share their ideas
and personal responses to the books.
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Thank You
Mrs. Petersen and I would like to thank all of the volunteers who
have made our jobs in the Gale School Library so much easier and
much more fun! The 48 (!) Library Student Aides, the 11 Gale Homepage
Committee Members, and our faithful and professional Adult Volunteers.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
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Thank You, Too
Thank you to everyone in the Gale School community who has made
my work in the Gale Library a challenging and joyful experience.
Next year I will be working to complete my degree at the University
and will miss all of you. I'm wishing you the very best as you keep
moving on the path of learning. Your friend, Ms. M.
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