Reading Aloud Picture Books at Morning Meeting

Leo Leoni's Six Crows

When things are busy and hectic during the holiday season, it's always nice to have routine.  Each day (except for field trip days) we have a morning meeting.  The meeting begins with a greeting-- a handshake, eye contact and "good morning."  Next, I share announcements (usually happenings of the day).  If it's Monday, students share one "moment in time" from the weekend.  Often, we'll review subject matter covered from previous day, a current event or a story.  The meeting ends with a short game.

A favorite Leo Leoni read aloud anthology

Fourth and fifth graders love to hear picture books; during meeting this morning I read Six Crows by Leo Leoni (out of the Frederick Fables anthology).  It's a story about a farmer who built a scarecrow to protect his wheat from being eaten by six crows.  In retaliation, the crows made a "ferocious kite"; the farmer built another, scarier scarecrow "brandishing two swords"; the crows built a "more ferocious kite" until an owl had the foresight to get the two parties together to talk "first in anger, then more reasonable, finally like old friends."  Stories like these are a great springboard to discuss social/emotional growth (specifically cycles and communication).  Students also hear colorful writing and voice that transfers to their own writing.  Plus, picture books are so fun to look at, listen to and read.

Students are learning lots about Lewis and Clark from both our read aloud and Kevin Burn's PBS documentary.  Ask your child about their journey--"How did they get along with Native American tribes?"  "Which tribes were easier to get along with?"  "What were the Native American tribes like at the time?"  "What major problems did Lewis and Clark encounter?"  "What did Lewis and Clark have that the Native Americans didn't?"  "What were they ultimately trying to do?"  Questions like these show that you're involved, and students love to discuss this colorful journey.

Homework tonight is to:
1.  Prepare for reading groups tomorrow (read chapter and do job).
2.  Spelling

***try to bake something for tomorrow's bake sale
***make sure your child gets lots of sleep for the last two days before break

Have a good night!