Learning Center News
Meet Harper!
Harper and his human friend, Michelle, visit the Fleming School Learning Center every Monday afternoon. Harper is a Vermont Certified Therapy Dog as well as being a two year old laborador retriever. Students love to come visit, pet, snuggle, talk and read to and with Harper. This is a special and relaxing time in the student’s day. Therapy dogs are known for helping to make humans calmer and more peaceful.
Meet Annie!
Annie visits the Fleming School Learning Center every Tuesday morning. Paula, Annie’s human, has been bringing Annie for a number of years. Annie, of course, is also a Vermont Certified Therapy Dog. Annie is a Leonberger, a German breed and is about four years old. She is very relaxed and particularly loves dog stories. In warm weather we open the windows so Annie doesn’t get too hot but in winter we all love to snuggle with her.
New Comfy Chairs!
A new and popular addition to the Learning Center are four padded rockers and a colorful “Read Books” rug. We aim to make the library as cozy as possible with with three reading areas complete with couches and over-stuffed chairs, a flickering fireplace, and soft, soothing music. Ahh-h-h! It’s hard to get our work done!
World Almania Jeopardy
Learning how to do research may not sound exciting but that’s not true in the Fleming Learning Center. 4th and 5th graders have recently become acquainted with the 2011 World Almanac for Kids and also The World Almanac and Book of Facts. They can find the table of contents and index in the student version which is filled with colorful page after page of fantastic facts and trivia. With the 1008 page 2011 World Almanac and Book of Facts often used by adults, 5th graders are familiar with not only the contents and index but the quick thumb index and a one page abbrieviated index. Students have perfected their research skills while working in teams of 3 and playing a World Almania game which has them racing the clock to be the first team with the correct answer to questions in 5 categories and worth lots of points. To add to the fun, Learning Center teacher Dr. Madeira put the game into a video format on the TV. Captains of each team use a remote button to answer questions and the score is kept electronically. If you hear some yelling in the library, that’s why!
Did you know…….
Americans go to school, public and academic libraries 50% more often than they go to the movies!
“Write, read, do.”
This is a quote from the author of My Side of the Mountain and Julie of the Wolves, Jean Craighead George. Jean will be 92 on July 2nd, 2011 and is still writing books. Jean is also a naturalist and brings her knowledge of the natural world to kids through both her fiction and non-fiction books. Visit her wonderful web site.
Where in the World?
Students at Fleming know their geography. It might just be because every year 4th and 5th graders gear up for the Geo Bee finals in December. This written and oral quiz will test the world knowledge of the best of them! You might want to start now by checking out some of these National Geographic sites.
Geography Links
We love books!
The Fleming Learning Center, which is our library as well as a wonderful learning space, first and foremost is about books, reading, writing, and authors. A huge part of the curriculum is focused on introducing new books, old favorites, and learning all we can about authors. That’s why Dr. Madeira also sponsors a Writing Club each year where students come to read, journal, and write, write, write. Below are some links to good books.
All About Books
The Joy of Learning
School should be about the joy of learning. Our Learning Center is a wonderful airy and bright space where one can search for just-the-right book or use the computers to work on projects. Or you might just cozy up to the fireplace and relax in one of our many comfortable chairs or couches to read a good book. Then again, you might grab your mini computer and moodle with your teacher about the book you’re reading in class. Whatever you decide to do, have fun learning! You might try one of these other links below.
Other
Tales of Olivia
Once upon a time there lived a pig named Olivia. She lived in a library. Well, actually she lived in the Fleming School Learning Center which is a library and also a kind of classroom. Olivia was Mrs. Madeira’s number one helper. She worked the late afternoon and evening shift after Mrs. Lamson left to go home each afternoon.
Olivia had much to do each night. She had some help from her assistants, Arthur, Linnea, Wild Thing, and Paddington.
One dark and stormy night Olivia had been left with an exceptionally huge pile of books. How could she ever manage to get all those books back on the shelves by morning? What had Mrs. Madeira and Mrs. Lamson been thinking?
Last updated: Sep 30 at 8:29 am