Halloween Fun...SPOOKY

Happy Halloween!  I know that many of our students recently enjoyed participating in the fun activities at the Upper School Halloween Bazaar and this next week will be full of excitement as the big "Trick or Treating" day approaches.  Here are some fun activities that you can do at home and a link to a great Time for Kids page with lots of interesting information about the history of Halloween, printable pages to color, costume and make-up ideas, and even recipes for spooky treats like the monster cupcake pictured.   Have a safe and fun time with your friends and family this week!

Carve a Pumpkin game 
(several different spooky online games can be located here)

The First Trick or Treaters


Time for Kids Halloween History
 (click on the topics on the left side of the page to see more Halloween things)


More Halloween History

Halloween Q and A

Creative Writing Prompt:
"What if you found some unusual footprints in your backyard? Would you follow them to see where they went or would you be too scared to follow them?  Write a paragraph about this situation and don't forget to say what you found!

Coffee Talk

SAVE THE DATE:
Since the Fall of 2013, faculty members in grades JK-4 have been engaged in a process of identifying key beliefs about teaching reading, establishing language arts standards for St. Mary's, and evaluating reading programs. Come and join reading consultant Dr. Rene Lee and CKLA Development Coordinator Sheri Burkeen as they explain the process and how it will impact reading instruction in the future. This is something you don't want to miss!
Coffee Talk - Thursday, October 16th at 7:30 AM, Moss Hall Library

Happy Columbus Day!

Check out the website below for some fun Columbus Day activities:)

Columbus Day Activities and Links

Writing Tall Tales...

Fall Break Fun Activity:

Tall tale heroes, such as Davy Crockett and John Henry, are often based on real people. Help your child write her own tale based on someone she personally knows. She will learn how story elements work together as she gives some thought to an amazing person in her life.

What you need:   

Paper and pencil

What you do:

     1.  Start this activity by reading (or having your child read to you) several tall tales based on the lives of real people.  You can find several at American Folklore.

     2.  As you read, explain that these stories are about real people, but that the people who told the stories added to them and the stories became tall tales.  Help your daughter identify elements of a tall tale - exaggeration, humor, and a rival.  

     3.  Who does she know that would make a good tall tale hero?  Perhaps she knows a pilot or a police officer.  Does she know someone who works harder or faster than other people?  Does she know someone extremely strong or courageous?

     4.  Once she has picked someone, have her write something factual about this person.

     5.  Add exaggeration - how can she make the feat bigger or the challenge scarier?

     6.  Can she add humor?  One way to do this is to exaggerate.  Also, consider physical humor such as something messy.  You can also change details.  What if your cowboy rode a pig instead of a horse?

     7.  Who is the hero's adversary?  Who is it that messes things up for him again and again?  Make this person larger than life too.  Finally, how does your hero triumph?

When the tale is done, help your daughter create a book to give to her larger-than-life hero (use ipad apps like StoryKit,  Book Writer,  Scribble My Story, StoryBuddy 2, Creative Book Builder, or Story Creator).

By Sue BradfordEdwards 
from www.education.com 

Good article promoting reading!!

Here is a link to an article in the Wall Street Journal newspaper about the benefits of reading:))

http://online.wsj.com/articles/read-slowly-to-benefit-your-brain-and-cut-stress-1410823086

The amazing skill we call "reading"!!

Please check out this great video created by my friend Josh Clark and the folks at the Bodine School in Germantown.  We realize know why reading is such hard WORK:)

The Miracle that is Reading video

Also, I just added a good video link about the "dyslexic" brain to the "Information about Learning Differences" tab at the top of this blog.

Congratulations 2014-15 Think Tank Third Graders!!

Congratulations to our 2014-
15 St. Mary's Think Tank Third Graders who created, designed, and built this year's entry into the Lichterman Scarecrow Contest.   Our entry, "Wyld, St. Mary's Style" won an Honorable Mention award in the Best School Entry category!!  Special thanks go to Melissa and Jason DeLany, Roberta Kustoff, Craig Royal, and Lynn Isaacs for their help in gathering supplies and organizing girls:)  Thanks also to our 4th grade advisors Ellie Monaghan and Riley DeLany.  The awards will be handed out at 6:15 pm during the "Stomp in the Swamp" event this Sunday, September 14 at the Nature Center. Voting for the "Most Popular" Scarecrow will continue through the end of September so please go check out the amazing competition but vote for "Wyld" and show your St. Mary's spirit!