Mr. Giso's Ways to Learn At Home #3

What's a Memory?  Read Aloud and Scavenger Hunt

Good afternoon, all.  I'm hoping that you have had a happy and healthy weekend.  I've been enjoying all the email I've been getting.  It really puts me in a good mood to keep hearing from students old and new.  A lot of you want to know what I've been doing, since I can't be with you each day.  Teachers are still very busy having lots of video conferences with each other.  We are planning activities to send out and making sure we are reaching out to you.  In addition to that, I have been doing lots of cooking, cleaning and extra long walks with Velma and Winston.  Here is what I made for dinner yesterday--chicken piccata.  Well, it was actually "turkey" piccata because there was no chicken left in the supermarket.  Yummy!

Here is what cleaning in my living room was like this weekend.  I took off the couch cushions, vacuumed them, washed my comfy blankets and dusted lots of things.  Thank you mom and dad who helped buy me my favorite, orange (of course) couch.

Also, here is Velma and Winston on a walk.  They are doing what they do best.  Smelling. EVERYTHING.  Every. Chance. They. GET! I'm over the smelling, but am being patient because that's how they learn about their worlds.

Lots of you enjoyed my reading to you on Facebook, so I have another read aloud and an activity you can do at home.  The book is written by Mem Fox and illustrated by Julie Vivas. Mem Fox is a professor who teaches children's literature (just like me).  She's from Australia (not like me).  Watch me read aloud her book Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge.  You can do that by clicking HERE.

 

After listening to the book, you can go around your house and hunt for things that spark your memory.  I prepared a list of things to gather around your home, just like Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge did to help Miss Nancy Alison Delacourt's memory.  You can use the picture below for your hunt or get a print out of the hunt by clicking HERE.  Special shout out to Mr. Gonzalez @teaching3rdwithmrg on Instagram for the idea of sharing memories that made me think of this book.  Have fun searching for memories!  Let me know what you come up with.  You can even put in a comment here, below this post.  There is a free spot on the hunt, so maybe you can challenge someone to get three in-a-row with you?

Write in a Daily Journal after Reading

Mr. Giso's Journal Idea #3

After reading listening to Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge, write down what you would say if you had to teach someone younger than you what a "memory" is.  How would you do it?  What would you say?  Any examples you would want to include?

Print out my "Journal Pages" by clicking HERE if you'd like to have some paper.  There's a spot for an illustration, too.  Let's have a great week.  I'm going to work some mathematics things you can do and a race you can have at home to teach you about evaporation.  Stay tuned...

Mr. Giso's Ways to Learn At Home #2

Read About the Coronavirus

Thank you to Manuela Molina Cruz @mindhart.kids on Instagram for publishing this book for young children.  I have special permission to share this book with you.  It explains what the virus is, what it does to you and how each of us can do our part to help it from spreading.  There's a page where you can draw how the Coronavirus is making you feel which is a great outlet for children and a resourceful starting point for family discussions.

You can view or print the Coronavirus book by Manuela Molina Cruz by clicking HERE.

                                               

Write in a Daily Journal after Reading

Mr. Giso's Journal Idea #2

After reading about the Coronavirus, you may have some things that are easier to write and draw than talk about.  In your journal, use a page to write down what comes to your mind.

Print out my "Journal Pages" by clicking HERE.

Mr. Giso's Ideas to Learn at Home #1

Be a Scientist for a Day

Thank you Smithsonian National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute.  You can go to their website and view a live webcam of many of their animals in their natural "zoo" habitats.  Watch their naked mole-rats, giant pandas, lions and elephants.  Be patient because sometimes these living things can be hiding from us.  

You can make a scientist's journal page by copying the one in the picture below or printing it out if you're able to.  Draw and record what you see (OBSERVE).  Draw and record why you think you are seeing what you're seeing (INFER).  Record your wonderings (QUESTION).  Once you click on a cam, there should be a FAQ (frequently answered questions) icon to click on to search for answers to your questions.  You can visit the cams whenever you want.  Have fun being a zoologist recording animal behaviors.

Print out my "Webcam Notes" page by clicking HERE.

Visit the Smithsonian National Zoo by clicking HERE.

Write in a Daily Journal

Another great activity can be to create a journal.  Feel free to write and illustrate a picture whenever you are in the mood.  You can use a notebook you may have at home, staple a bunch of pages together to make a book, or print out my journal pages like you see in the pictures below.

Mr. Giso's Journal Idea #1

Since Sant Patrick's Day is this week, here is a journal idea for you.  What does luck mean to you?  Do you have a good luck charm or a lucky number?  Write about it.  If you are one of my students writing me a virtual journal, send me your thoughts and I will tell you about my lucky number and my good luck charm.  Here is a sneak peek.

Print out my "Journal Pages" by clicking HERE.

Mr. Giso's Room to Read Bright Idea #15

Desk Chair Makeover

I gave my desk chair a quick 2 minute makeover.  Here, you can see my desk chair before the makeover.

All I had to do was stretch one cover over the back cushion and the second cover over the seat cushion.  Each cover has an expandable elastic and is supposed to be one size fits all.  I was skeptical at first, but it did fit perfectly with no trouble!  Take a look.

I'm honestly not sure how I stumbled upon this, but it was most likely by doing an Amazon search for "orange" for obvious reasons (it's my favorite color).  These covers are made by Deisy Dee and are described as being perfect for computer office chairs.  Click HERE to order.  Here's the final result.  

What's Mr. Giso Making "Room to Read?" Pick

Title:  Front Desk

Author:  Kelly Yang

Mr. Giso's Book Pick Number:  8

Received or Recommended By:  Mrs. Erps, The Literacy Coach at my school

Number of Pages:  286

Level/Target Audience:  Grades 3-8

Genre:  Realistic Fiction with an Autobiographical influence

Date Finished:  July 29, 2019

Part of a Series?:  No, but the sequel to Front Desk is coming in 2020!

First Lines:  My parents told me that America would be this amazing place where we could live in a house with a dog, do whatever we want, and eat hamburgers until we were red in the face.  So far, the only part of that we've achieved is the hamburger part, but I was still holding out hope.  And the hamburgers are pretty good.

Last Lines:  "Wait, wait, wait!" she said.  "Let's get a picture!"  "I'll take it!" Hank jumped out.  As he held his hand up and clicked, I looked around at my new family and smiled.  It was a picture I'd been waiting a long, long, time for.

Teaching Points:  Immigration, Chinese culture/customs, character development, social justice/injustice, family

This incredible read took me along the journey of Mia and her parents-- all three immigrants from China who traveled to America in search of freedom.  Mia manages the front desk of the Calivista Motel while her parents work tirelessly to clean and upkeep the motel for its guests.  The Tang family, together with the residents who live weekly in the motel, teach us what compassion, loyalty, hard work and freedom really mean.  Family can be chosen.  We follow Mia's hopes and dreams, feel her letdowns and heartbreak and are left with a piece of her heart.  Many accounts of Mia and her parents are based on the author's childhood working in several motels.  This makes this read even more poignant and inspirational for me.

We are reminded of how much we can learn through the eyes of a child and how they are, in fact, listening to their elders-- even if it may appear that they aren't.  Mia reflects, "My grandmother used to say that people don't change.  Our heart is like a rubber band.  It might stretch a little, but it snaps right back."  Mia isn't quite sure that this is true.  She has hope it's not.  Mia knows that if people don't have the power to change, we are in a way, doomed!  I'm with her.  

Reflecting upon this book's significance, Kelly Yang notes "Often during tough times, the first instinct is to exclude.  But this book is about what happens when you include, when despite all your suffering and your heartache, you still wake up every morning and look out at the world with fresh, curious eyes."  This story is so inspiring, and it's not over.  A sequel comes out in 2020.  Thank you Ms. Yang for sharing so much of your childhood with us.

It's a Beautiful Day for Room 126! DonorsChoose.org Project Update

I'm super duper excited to report that 13 generous donors have funded my first DonorsChoose.org project in full!  My thrilled students and I are so thankful and want to wish a sincere thank you to those that helped us meet our goal of ordering six Hokki Stools for our small group, "u" table.

Special thanks to my family members, friends, friends of my friends, colleagues, parents within the Salem community and even two anonymous donors for thinking of us.  Not only have they donated funds, but have left many thoughtful messages too.

I asked my first and second grades to come up with ways to say thank you, so I'll let them say it best...

"Thank you so much!"
"We think we will do better on our studies!"
"We appreciate what you have done for us."
"Thank you for the Hokki Stools.  We can't wait to get them!"
"Thank you for being such a good community member to our class."
"You have been so nice to us."
"We will welcome you in case you want to come visit us!"

What an awesome day for us!  We definitely felt the season of giving today.