Talking Fingers Founder speaks at Asilomar

First Grader parents who volunteer in the lab know how excited the kids have been this year about Read, Write, and Type. It's now their first choice when they arrive at the lab. Besides learning important reading skills, this is also the first year first graders actually had a compelling reason to learn their NUSD logon and password, a skill that they will need throughout their career at NUSD.
 Here's a video of Jeannine Herron, one of the persons who designed and produced this program speaking at a Conference last week in Asilomar on her thoughts about reading.

Spring is Extreme Weather time in first grade.

First Grade, led by Mrs. Thornton's class, starts to learn about weather.In the start of the year, we look at clouds. Then we look at Hurricane formation,Thunderstorms, and Tornadoes. We start tracking local weather, and learn how to read weather Radar. During the year, we look at how the weather and the seasons affects animals around us. Now, at the end of the year, we start tracking Hurricanes and Tornadoes. This year has been, unfortunately for many, a banner year for Tornadoes. This Article might have too many big words for a first grader, but I think a parent could read it to them:

The Facts (and Fiction) of Tornadoes

Lori Mehmen/Associated Press

A funnel cloud touching down in Orchard, Iowa, on June 10, 2008. Lori Mehmen took the photo from outside her front door before seeking shelter.continue reading..

By JOHN COLLINS RUDOLF, JOHN SCHWARTZ, JUSTIN GILLIS, HENRY FOUNTAIN, KENNETH CHANG, DENISE GRADY, and ERICA GOODE

Published: May 25, 2011

Accelerated Reader year to year comparison

I looked up the end of April's results from last year . It's not an exact comparison, becuause we're on May 10th.
But we've read 7,879 book so far this year, compared to 7,191 the end of April last year. Last year we hit 8,178 books by May 26th. I have a feeling we'll probably surpass that number this year. helped by a big increase in 1st grade participation.

Computers and Attention Order Deficit

I saw this article on the NY Times site and thought it quit appropriate for posting here:

Fixated by Screens, but Seemingly Nothing Else

By PERRI KLASS, M.D.

The mother had brought in a note from her son’s elementary school teacher: Dear doctor, I think this child needs to be tested for attention deficit disorder.
“She’s worried about how he can’t sit still in school and do his work,” the mother said. “He’s always getting into trouble.”
But then she brightened. “But he can’t have attention deficit, I know that.”
Why? Her son could sit for hours concentrating on video games, it turned out, so she was certain there was nothing wrong with his attention span.Read More

 I suppose that's why it's always so quiet in the computer lab when we  have free choice.....