summaryredoak

Summary Red Oak

** Susie Axelrod, IMC/TA and Kate Strong, Library/Media Specialist **

[|Red Oak's IMC] is a happily busy place to be! Our students love to visit and we love to have them. We are ever ready with book recommendations or insight into where to find quality resources in the collection, within District 112, or on the Internet. Story times included [|Monarch] nominees, as well as the best in children's literature by such authors as [|Steven Kellogg,] [|Mo Willems], Kate DiCamillo and [|Kevin Henkes] to name a few.

Students learned hands-on how to use Destiny to search our collection and the Internet for appropriate websites for their research topics. Some of the research projects in the IMC included: Thanksgiving in America, Our United States, Our Solar System, Pioneers, Chicago, Owls, Invention Convention, Immigration, and War: What is it Good For?, just to name a few. Technology is a subject we embrace at Red Oak, and fifth grade students worked collaboratively to research and create our first Wiki on the timely topic of climate change. The Climate Chage Wiki was a submission to the Highland Park Environmental Education Program.

Traditional literature, including folk tales, tall tales, fairy tales and short stories were explored and enjoyed. Students shared writing and reading of poetry and experienced the freedom and fun it allows the authors, professional and beginners as well. In the younger grades, simply enjoying the playfulness of words was stressed. For older students, we looked at the elements and techniques used in poetry and the students tried them out for themselves. [|Bill Buscinski of "A Child's Voice"] visited Red Oak for two days and one night of poetry. This inspirational event was co-sponsered by the Red Oak PTA and a 112 Education Grant. ** Poet Bill Buczinsky of "A Child's Voice" **

Certainly, a highlight for our students this year was the visit of world-renowned author/illustrator [|Steven Kellogg]. Mr. Kellogg presented to all of our students, simultaneously illustrating and telling his tales. He explained to students that they too are authors, that we all have a story to tell. This visit was generously co-sponsered by the [|Red Oak PTA] and the 112 Education Foundation. **Author/Illustrator Steven Kellogg **

We closed our year with Red Oak's Second Annual Book Swap! This environmentally friendly program accepts and appreciates donations of gently used books from families and staff. Students are then welcomed to swap one of their books for "a book that is new to them". What a great way to share the joy of reading!


 * Red Oak Elementary School's IMC



Red Oak's Second Annual Book Swap **