Parents of 4th Grade:
Your child is getting ready for 5th grade when he/she will need to write a short research paper using library resources. We are reviewing how to access information, and all about the different Collections in the library. Together we have done an Interactive Writing sample for the Easy Collection. Each child has then filled out a practice sheet which has been followed by a short quiz to make sure your child is on tract. We will begin with the Fiction Collection by next week, and then continue with Non-Fiction, Biography, Story Collection and Reference. The learning strategy will be the same for each one.

Parents of 5th Grade:
As you may remember, your child has been working on a short research paper which will be the bulk of his/her grade for the year. Most students are doing great! I am proud of them!! This is a necessary skill as we approach Middle School. Note-taking is done during library period and to make sure your child does not fall behind, I periodically pick up notebooks and comment on their notes. Also, on the first week of March, I will be collection a First Draft. This first draft needs to be turned in to me with six Source Cards (2 books, 1 encyclopedia article, 2 internet articles,and 1 on-line magazine article) as well as the notebook showing notes taken during this school year. This allows me to make sure that the 780-word paper has been written from the information your child has gathered, and to make comments on the Final Paper which he/she needs to turn in in April.
This is the date due for the First Draft per section:
Section Date Due
Section A March 5
Section B March 3
Section C March 1

I have been learning a lot from notes taken by your children....on topics I did not know much about. It has been fun for me as well!!