Final 3rd Grade Book Club 2013/14

I can't believe that this year has flown by so quickly!  Last week some of the 3rd graders and I got to enjoy two lunch breaks on the front lawn of Moss Hall.  On Wednesday our cafeteria served our lunch out front and on Thursday our book club gathered for the last time of this school year (with Mrs. Stephens as our special guest).  We shared book title suggestions for summer reads which I will add to our book club wiki (soon, I promise!!) - Lower School Book Club wiki link  (remember to use your full St. Mary's email address and your St. Mary's email password to log-in).  If you have any trouble accessing the wiki let me know.  Thanks to Mrs. Moore for the delicious cookies and her support all year!  We have LOVED hearing about the great books that you have read this year and look forward to hearing about your new finds next fall:)

Spring Fun Activities

Here are some fun websites for Springtime activities:

Blooming Gardens

Spring Match Game

Mother's Day Rush (like the Rush Hour Puzzle game)

Spring Slide Puzzle

Spring Word Search

Best Apps for Kids...

I know that many of you have multiple "devices" around your home and if you are like I am you don't want to waste your time (or money) looking for "educational apps".  I recently ran across these websites that review apps and I wanted to share them with you...

SuperKids - this site provides reviews and rating of educational software 

Reading Apps

Appolicious

Anxiety Resources

In conjunction with Middle School Counselor Katherine House's coffee talk tomorrow morning I would like to share a few resources that some parents have found helpful in the past.  As is stated on the Anxiety Disorders Association website - "Anxiety is a normal part of childhood, and every child goes through phases. A phase is temporary and usually harmless. But children who suffer from an anxiety disorder experience fear, nervousness, and shyness, and they start to avoid places and activities." Stress is a part of daily life and it is important that we be good role models to our children on how to deal with it.  Here at school in many of our classes we do yoga stretches and breathing exercises.  Please feel free to share in the comments below any other activities that you have found to be helpful.

Anxiety Disorders Association of America - ADAA website
Huebner, D. and Matthews, B. (2005).  What do do when you worry too much: A kid’s guide to overcoming anxiety.
Chansky, T. (2004).  Freeing your child from anxiety: Powerful practical solutions to overcome our child’s fears, worries, and phobias.
Rapee, R. (2008).  Helping your anxious child: A step-by-step guide for parents.
Manassis, K. (1996).  Keys to parenting your anxious child. 
Fiction book about worry -  The Worry Stone by Marilyn Dengler
NOTE: These resources can always be found under the "Links for Parents" tab at the top of this blog.

After the talk, I will add any new resources shared by Mrs. House.  Hope to see you in the Moss Hall Lower School Library in the morning at 7:30!

3F/3N Nancy Drew Book Club...let the sleuthing begin!

We just completed our study of the Nancy Drew book, The Mystery at Lilac Inn.  A small group of girls from 3F and 3N joined together in the Think Tank to discuss the book.  We used a google doc to share our thoughts and questions prior to class which we then went over together when we met.  Each girl had a "job" that they would complete on the document (or when they were the illustrator they either used the "Wixie" computer program or drew a picture).  We really enjoyed solving this "mystery" and were even able to incorporate a new "thinking routine" into our study.  We used the routine, "Color, Symbol, and Image" to describe how we felt about certain chapters in the book.  I was happy to hear the girls talking about how much they enjoyed the book and several are already starting to read other Nancy Drew mysteries!!

Fairies in the Butterfly Garden!

Yesterday, several first graders helped me install a Fairy Whirligig in the Moss Hall Butterfly Garden.  The musical fairies were purchased with money won by Gobbelina, the Tango Turkey in the Litcherman Nature Center scarecrow contest last fall.  I have also ordered a Gold and Silver dots wind spinner that should arrive at the end of April.  Thanks Gobbelina and the third graders who helped create her:)

Coffee Talk this Thursday

Middle School Counselor, Katherine House, will speak this Thursday, April 10 from 7:30-8:30 am in the Lower School Library.  "It's Not Time to Worry Yet" (from Harper Lee in To Kill A Mockingbird) will be the focus of her talk.  Mrs. House will help us determine what to worry about and what not to worry about as we raise our children.