Dedham Elementary Schools Celebrate Picture Book Month

Elementary school students in Dedham spent the month of November celebrating Picture Book Month in their school libraries. Picture book month is an international literacy initiative that is celebrated throughout the whole month of November. The elementary school students in Dedham celebrated in a number of different ways.

Avery School celebrated Picture Month month by reading and sharing picture books with each other. Using Skype, 5 classes read collaboratively a picture book with students in Durham, CT and shared their favorite books with each other. 2 classes created videos about their favorite picture books and shared them with each other. 4th grade classes read multiple books by author/illustrator Chris Van Allsburg and shared thoughts about his writing in the form of self-made movies and a Padlet (an Internet wall of digital sticky notes). Other classes read books and shared their thoughts about picture books with Librarian Wendy Garland who created a video about the event. Even teachers participated. Avery staff members submitted their personal favorites and these were displayed on bulletin boards in the library.

At the Oakdale School all students wrote down their favorite picture book on a post-it note and posted it on the Picture Book Wall. All students were encouraged to read as many picture books as they could during National Education Week, November 18-22, with a special picture book reading incentive presented by the Librarian Meghan Nels and Reading Specialists Nina Mancinella and Kristen Cannon. First grade students had a special Skype visit with picture book author, Jane Kohuth. They learned all about her picture book Duck Sock Hop! Second grade students wrote fan mail to Debbie Ridpath - Ohi, the illustrator of I’m Bored. They are anxious to hear back from her! Students in grades 3 - 5 learned about new picture books written this year and some classes shared why they enjoy reading picture books using Padlet. Three classrooms connected, via Skype with classrooms in Athens, GA, Canton, GA, and Durham, CT to celebrate Picture Book Month. They shared picture books and celebrated across many miles.

Students at the Riverdale School celebrated Picture Book Month in a variety of ways. The students watched a short video about Picture Book Month and talked about why picture books are important and what they like about them. The students each recorded the name of their favorite picture book on poster paper to share with the school. The third, fourth, and fifth graders each did an author study using picture books. The third graders studied the books of William Stieg, the fourth graders read some of the books of Eve Bunting, and the fifth graders read the books of Chris Van Allsburg. The first and second graders read a variety of picture books. The Librarian Ingrid Mayyasi also created a bulletin board of the teachers’ favorite picture books. Students enjoyed seeing which book was the favorite of their teacher as well as seeing how many of the books they had read themselves.

Avery Picture Book Month Video http://animoto.com/play/L9XYR2796nOHHyPV4uOYVQ

Oakdale Padlets http://padlet.com/wall/evdcq9ike1 and http://padlet.com/wall/2i2hkbppju