I hope everyone is enjoying this sunny but chilly afternoon. We went out for a walk a little while ago and enjoyed the fresh air, birds singing, and even saw some spring flowers starting to sprout!

Below is a new source for 1,000 online books for students k-12. This is part of the Lightbox feature from the Follet company, which is a major source and provider of books and technology in our media centers! Click on the link where it says YOU CAN REGISTER FOR ACCESS HERE. After the introductory information is given, select ANY LOCATION, then McHenry IL. Then click GO. Username is guest, password is follett. Getting set up is a little trickey, but once you’re all set you just have to go to destinydiscover.com and log in.

To help make eLearning easier, we are providing free access to eBooks from Lightbox™ and AV2 World Languages through June 30, 2020. You can register for access here.

Lightbox™ offers over 1000 PreK-12 titles in science, social studies, language arts, math and more. AV2 World Languages features high-interest titles in 10 different languages with full audio support.

Parents and students will find these resources interactive, easy to use and a great way for students to independently explore a new topic. We hope that you, your students and their families find this helpful during this challenging time. 

I hope that everyone’s able to enjoy time with your families and staying safe. Take some time to read or listen to a book on line. Storylineonline is a great site to listen to a book and relax. Click on the link Storyline Online in the column on the right side of my blog. Choose a favorite like “Arnie the Donut” or “Carla’s Sandwich”, or try a new one. Enjoy!

I’ll be updating my blog regularly with information, activities, and assignments. If you have any questions send me a message in the comment section, or send an email at ackermm@dearbornschools.org. Take care and stay safe everyone!

Hello- Throughout the break I will be adding activities and lessons that can be used and enjoyed. These will encompass reading, technology, and library skills. If you have any questions or comments, please email me at ackermm@dearbornschools.org or leave a comment and I’ll respond to you. Enjoy!

As part of March is Reading Month, we were doing an author study of author and illustrator Mo Willems. Some of his books include Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, Edwina, the Dinosaur who Didn’t Know She Was Extinct, Knuffle Bunny, Elephant and Piggie We Are In A Book!

We visited his website, which is called Pigeon Presents. You can go to the website by clicking on Mo Willems in the class links on the right column of this page. He has added a wonderful new addition to his link called LUNCH DOODLES WITH MO WILLEMS. Each day at 1:00 he will present a drawing session where you can watch him draw some of his wonderful characters! Be sure to watch!

Hello- Things have certainly changed in the past few days and I hope this finds everyone well and healthy. I’ll be posting activities and and lessons throughout the time that we are at home with our families.

March is still Reading Month! In addition to the books that you have from home, school, and maybe the public library, there is an abundance of on-line reading resources.

Students have been doing a great job perfecting their keyboarding skills using the Dance Mat Typing website! All of the websites I use are posted on the class links section of the blog, down the right hand side. I will add links and lessons continually.

Enjoy this time with your family, keep up the great work that you always do!

Looking forward to enjoying lots of good books during March is Reading Month! I know there are lots of activities planned in our schools. I can’t wait to hear all about the reading fun you have!

The past few weeks students did their first research paper. They learned all about Groundhogs, starting near February 2 for Groundhog Day. They gathered information from a book, a video, and on-line from the Michigan Electronic Library (MEL) website, using the Worldbook for Kids encyclopedia. Research findings were then presented on a 2 or 4 page written document. Good work!

Students are using DanceMat Typing to practice their keyboarding skills, so they can be even better computer users than they already are! They learn how to keep their fingers on the home row keys and where all of the letters are. Keep up the great work!

Students are learning to animation using ABCYA.com/games/animate. They’re learning to make a multi-celled video, complete with animation. Though we’re just starting out, I’m amazed at how well the students are doing and how quickly they learn!

Stories we’ve heard this week are Blizzard by John Rocco and The Snowy Nap by Jan Brett.

Students are very excited to help their classmates on the computer. They offer to help log in, help with tasks, and log off. Sometimes I do ask for helpers, but often I have to remind students to please don’t do the work for classmates, because logging on and off as well as the tasks included are parts of the lesson for the day. I can’t accurately assess how students are progressing if someone does part of their work for them. I remind them it’s part of their schoolwork, just like spelling, math, and science. Keep up the great work everyone!

I hope everyone had a fun and relaxing winter break. In December, we learned to program computers using code, using either or both of the programs CODE.ORG or Code Boogie on ABCYA.COM. We used block language, did great work while having fun and learing at the same time!

Last week we read the book “Goodbye Old Year, Hello New Year” by Frank Modell. We discussed what a resolution was and wrote our own New Year Resolutions.

We will be reviewing library procedures as well as starting research projects. Looking forward to a great year!