Speech with Lisa

We are compiling a group of short stories under the title 'The Enchanted Library.' This is going to be a book about a library where amazing things happen! For a sneak peak, read on: THE ENCHANTED LIBRARY (the first paragraph) Many of you who are reading this book have already found that a library can be an enchanting place. Not only can it be enchanting to look around in a library, with its piles and piles of mysterious books and its knowledgeable librarians and its windows streaming sunlight and its colorful displays and interesting people, but it can be absolutely enchanting to lose yourself in the pages of a book and look up only to find that hours have gone by and the world somehow stayed the same though you were in the pages of a book miles and miles away. This is a story about those times when you get lost. Sometimes when you only think you are far away, you really ARE as far as you think you are. It’s not your imagination!

We were excited to have a visit last week from Doctor Sorenson of Columbia University! Doctor Sorenson will soon be doing a residency in surgery. Doctor Sorenson told some of the sixth graders that his favorite thing about being a doctor is learning ways to help people, and seeing them smiling and happy after he has helped them! He said that he first got the idea to be a doctor because his father was a doctor and always had books about medicine around the house. Talking to people in your family and reading books can give you great ideas!

This week we are writing letters to the author Robert Munsch. We are hoping he will come and visit our school. Apparently he likes to do this unannounced! We will keep our fingers crossed and let you know if he comes, or at least if he sends us some poetry.

Today I got to attend a wonderful conference all about assistive technology in the classroom. There were lots of great ideas for helping all students feeling accepted and successful -- even if they have a disability that affects how they interact with print (blindness, physical disabilities that affect how they can hold a book/turn pages, learning disabilities/dyslexia)! Here were some great ideas/resources: -using ebooks and a collection library of books read aloud from 'Reading for the Blind and Dyslexic' (RFB&D) (you can get free devices to use with RFB&D recordings at aph.org) -www.attainmentcompany.com (they have lots of great products, including Talking Photo Albums, interactive reading books and velcro stories) -using magnets, cookie sheets, and velcro paper as tools for writing words/re-telling stories (this sounds a little weird but I am excited to try this) I also enjoyed checking out Alphasmart's new 'Neo,' a word-processor for students with fine

The Wonderful Happens by the incomparable Cynthia Rylant is Ms. Carvajal's choice for book-of-the-month in May. I hope you get to read and savor this beautiful book. I'm grateful for all the wonderfuls that happened for me this year!

We enjoyed reading this book today; it was suggested by 1st grader (code name:'spelling queen') after we read 'Raising Dragons,' in order to continue the dragon theme. Here are a few words we liked: expensive fantastic magnificent fiercest What do you think Prince Ronald should have said to Elizabeth that would have made her want to marry him? Post your answer in a comment.

"The ability to understand and express emotions is important for managing one's own emotions, understanding the feelings of others, getting along with others, early learning, and school readiness," said researchers in the April 2007 edition of 'Language, Speech, and Hearing in the Schools.' "There is strong evidence that social-emotional development in the first year of life is the foundation of language development and that social-emotional well-being continues to affect both language and literacy as the child matures" (Espinosa, 2002, The connections between social-emotional development and early literacy, The Kauffman Early Education Exchage). So what are some ways to help??? Here are a few ideas from the April 2007 article: 1) Use art therapy to help express feelings-- visual art, writing, theater/skits, etc. etc. 2) Help children notice what is going on within them, help them learn methods to calm themselves when they are upset/anxious 3) Help chil

There are several options available next year for receiving funding at our school! I encourage you to check out the options and make your feelings known to Mrs. Carvajal before the end of the week!!!! Here is a link to more information, you can copy and paste it into your web's browser, or look up 'Fair Student Funding' on schools.nyc.gov: http://app.bronto.com/public/?q=message_preview&fn=Key&type=tracking&id=bhadsykwlituvwrokxmgadnvhpmubba&link=bmrpixiplultnznpkxeytleqcgbbbgl

My favorite thing about my Mom she helps me with my homework I feel happy glad, ecstatic she explains by the easiest way by 5th grader, code name: literature boy