Author and Illustrator Matt Tavares visits Kindergarten, First, and Third Grade

On Monday, November 28th, author/illustrator Matt Tavares came to visit Zervas Elementary.
With three separate magnificent Creative Arts and Science presentations, Mr Tavares entertained students and teachers explaining the writing, illustrating, and editing process.

Adults have to edit their work too!  This message was delivered when Mr. Tavares showed students his manuscript with editors notes.  Writing and illustrating is a process, one that students got to experience.

Explaining the editorial process to grade 3

Real-time sketch!

Reading a story to Kindergarten

Real-time action sketch!

Explaining revision to grade 1

Real-time action sketch!

Author Bethany Hegedus Visits Zervas Second Graders

On Tuesday October 18th, author Bethany Hegedus spoke to Grade 2 about her books Grandfather Gandhi and Be the Change. Students were also treated with stories of their favorite authors and illustrators that Ms. Hegedus has worked with at the Writing Barn, her writing retreat center in Austin, TX.

Her new picture book, Be the Change, is a Grandfather Gandhi story.  Second in her picture book series about Gandhi and his message of peace, told from his grandson Arun's perspective.  The provocative collage illustrations by Evan Turk guided the discussion as students read what the characters were feeling throughout the story.

Zervas Elementary is a Responsive Classroom school and Ms. Hegedus' picture book of peaceful resolution, aligns with the social emotional learning in our school.  Her visit and the message in her books will be reflected upon throughout the school year.

Ms. Hegedus shares her favorite books from her childhood

Exploring the pictures in the new book by Ms. Hegedus, Be the Change

Reflecting on Gandhi's message

Star Wars Reads Day

Star Wars Reads Day is a nation-wide celebration of reading that is sanctioned by Lucas Films.
Zervas Second Graders celebrated October 11th in library class. 

Students practiced searching the catalog in
visual search.After clicking on the BB8 
reading icon, students learned the 
location  of the Star Wars book in the library.

Listening Centers were set up.
Students scanned QR codes to watch an online story.

Students borrowed books, and chose a center.

Coloring stations were also available.

Some students designed their own lightsabers.
This student created an everlasting lightsaber.

Word searches and puzzles were a challenge to complete

Celebrating International Peace Day with Jubilee!

How can we be champions of peace?  What are our hopes and dreams for a peaceful school year?

These are questions third graders asked on September 21, the UN International Peace Day. Together we read Jubilee! One Man's Big Bold and Very Loud Celebration of Peace written by Alicia Potter and illustrated by Matt Tavares.  A local story about a musician who wanted to celebrate the end of the Civil War with the 1869 Peace Jubilee.

After reading this story, students then thought about their hopes and dreams and how they could help create peace at Zervas Elementary, in their neighborhoods, and during this school year.  We decorated cards that will be saved and opened in June to reflect upon their school year.

And so it begins...

Another school year begins, during the first week of school in library class students get to listen to stories, we discuss the rules and expectations in class, and most of all, what they loved doing last year and they want to do again in class this year.  No surprise, every grade loved using the iPads, checking out books, and coding.  All of these will be done again in library class this year.


September 15th is International DOT Day, a day created by the author and illustrator Peter H. Reynolds.

In the story The Dot, a child finds her artistic freedom of expression.  Students in grades 1-5 watched the Tumblebook of The Dot, and thought about their hopes and dreams and how they would make their mark on this school year in library.

Students watched the Tumblebook of The Dot.  Tumblebooks are available to watch at home, see me for details!

After reading The Dot, students designed their own dot to make their mark, and used the app Quiver to make their Dot 3D.  Quiver is a free app, and the children were very excited to make their designs!

After reading The Dot, students used the app Quiver to make 3D Dots for Dot Day

The Pokemon craze is here, some students make Pokemon dots and tried to capture them using Quiver 

Quiver has lots of possibilities for different pictures.  It's a free app, ask your kids how!

One student wrote a poem dot

Lots of reading themed dots

and more reading themed dots

Get in the Game...READ!

Let the Games Begin!

This year the Newton Free librarians and the Newton Elementary School library teachers got together and came up with suggested reading lists for children entering grades 1-6.  The Newton Free Library is hosting all kinds of wonderful reading events and prizes, details can be found here:

Zervas Elementary School Library

Individual reading lists can be found under each grade tab.  Remember, these are suggested reading lists, the important thing is to READ and HAVE FUN!

Library books are due!

My least favorite time of year, trying to get library books back, when I have spent all school year putting books into gleeful children's hands.  But it is that time, and books are due.  If you have a concern about your child's book, believe they have brought it back, or that it may be lost, please feel free to contact me.  Something can always be worked out.

Oak Hill Middle School Librarian Visits Zervas Grade 5

On Wednesday, June 1st, Ms. D'Elia visited Zervas fifth graders.  Students learned that life at Oak Hill Middle School library is very different than Elementary School.  Our soon-to-be sixth graders are eager to use the 3D printer, try out the green screen, and use a library that is much larger than their library at Zervas@Carr.

Oak Hill also is participating in a One Book One School program.  EVERYONE in the Oak Hill Community will read Losing It by Erin Fry


Information about Oak Hill's Middle School library and reading program can be found here:

Oak Hill Middle School Library

Local Author Visits Grade 3

The Magic of Norumbega

The temperature almost hit 90 today in Newton, but we kept cool in the library with a special visit from local author Leena Kutner.  Ms. Kutner captivated her listeners with stories about historic Newton and the long lost park of Noruembega.  Currently this park is a dog park, but decades ago, it was a popular destination spot.

Peppering her talk with historic photographs, and wondrous stories of this park that no longer exists.  At the turn of the last century, Norumbega Park was THE park in all of New England.  Rides, boating on the Charles River, a zoo, and the famous Totem Pole Ballroom.  Third graders were spellbound by stories of Newton's past, and laws, and many wish Norumbega still existed today.  Thank you, Ms. Kutner for your stories!

Norumbega Park, opened in 1897 and closed in 1963

Spellbound Third Graders

Grade 4 and 5 Coloring and Coding

Fourth and Fifth graders have been testing for PARCC and MCAS for several days.  I decided they needed a brain break during library class for some coloring and coding.

Jung believed that coloring was a great relaxation technique.  Coloring activates different areas of our brain, and as we color we focus on the project in front of us and not on our worries.  I found large group coloring book and fifth graders took turns coloring it together.  I also printed out coloring pages on card stock, cut them, and students got to color their own bookmarks.

Coding and puzzles have a similar effect, students get to use both parts of their brain.  When students complete a level or solve a puzzle, their brains produce the feel-good chemical dopamine, improving their performance and skill.

All in all a lot of positive energy can be created in 30 minutes!

Coloring bookmarks

Group coloring

Coding

Thinking the puzzle through

Students were so pleased with themselves for solving these puzzles!

Thinking the puzzle through

Coding!

Group coloring, and making bookmarks

Irene Smalls visits Grades K-3

On Monday May 16th, local Boston writer visited grades K-3 for storytelling, poetry, movement, and songs.  A special thank you to the generous Creative Arts and Sciences Program for funding this wonderful event!

We have several of Ms. Small's books in the Zervas Library, see Ms. Kinney for availability.

Kindergarten acting out "Down Down Baby"

Grade 1 listening to the story of the Jack Muh Lantern

Grade 2 Taking Dancing Steps

Spring at Zervas

Overdues by Shel Silverstein

It's May, and the weather is glorious, which means there are only a few more weeks until summer vacation!  Time to start looking everywhere for those missing library books: under beds, in closets, on book shelves, grandparents houses...

If a book can't be found, replacement costs are $15 for all books.

The Newton Free Library will be visiting grades 3-5 to showcase their summer reading program. You can find out more about their reading suggestions and incentives here:

Newton Free Library Summer Reading