Read Alouds: Week of 4/21

Kindergarten

  • Harper. When Randolph Turned Rotten. 
  • Howe. Horace and Morris But Mostly Dolores. 

First Grade

  • Bush. Benjamin McFadden and Robot Babysitter.
  • James. Baby Brains and Robomom.

Second Grade

  • DiTerlizzi. The Field Guide.

National Poetry Month

Wikipedia

Wikipedia is a free encyclopedia written by volunteers who work together to revise and edit the articles. If you register and log in, you can contribute information to Wikipedia. That’s both good and bad! 

Accuracy/Reliability: Recent studies suggest that Wikipedia has a percentage of misinformation similar to other encyclopedias (20% is a common estimate). 

Bias: All authors exhibit some bias. Since Wikipedia is a collaborative work, there may be many points of view represented in the same article. 

Currency: Because it is a collaborative work, articles on current events may be created as events unfold (Hurricane Katrina and the Indian Ocean Tsunami are notable examples).

Using Wikipedia for School Work: 

  • Ask your teacher what sources of information are expected and acceptable. 
  • Ask your teacher how sources are to be cited. 
  • Compare the information found in Wikipedia with information from other sources like Grolier Online, World BookStudent Resource Center, or Fact Monster. (Just like newspapers reporters, it’s always a good idea to check your sources.)  
  • Take advantage of the External Links at the bottom of most articles. 
  • A good way to judge the quality of the information is to check the Discussion and History tabs. 
  • A good way to become a smart Wikipedia user is to check out a couple of articles on subjects you know a lot about (your favorite sport or hobby).
  • Evaluating Wikipedia Articles — download this evaluation checklist from Wikipedia.

Research Citation Guide

BOOK

Rule: Author last name, First name. Title (underlined or italics). City of Publication: Publisher, Date of Publication. pages used if only part of book.

Best source of information is the book’s title page or use InfoCentre.

Example: Wallner, Alexandra. Abigail Adams. New York: Holiday House, 2001.

  

NEWSPAPER OR MAGAZINE ARTICLE

Rule: Author last name, First name. “Title of Article (in quotation marks).” Title of magazine or newspaper (underlined or italics) Date of publication : page numbers.

Example: Terrana, Joan Barton. “Remember the Ladies.” Cobblestone November, 1993: pp. 12-16.

ENCYCLOPEDIA

Rule: Author last name, First name (if any). “Title of Article (in quotation marks).” Title of encyclopedia (underlined or italics) Date of publication : page numbers.

Example: Sklar, Kathryn. “Adams, Abigail.” World Book Encyclopedia  A Volume 1 2006: pp. 32-33.

  

ONLINE REFERENCE SITE

Rule: Author last name, First name (if any). “Title of Article (in quotation marks).” Title of site (underlined or italics). Date you used the website. <URL>.

Best source is to copy and paste information listed on site.

Example: Adams, Abigail (1744-1818).” UXL Biographies Student Resource Center. 21 Apr. 2008 <http://find.galegroup.com/srcx/docId=EJ2108100010 &source Name=port37752&version=1.0>.

WEBSITE

Rule: Author last name, First name (if any). “Title of Article (in quotation marks).” Title of site (underlined or italics). Date you used the website. <URL>.

Example: Abigail Adams” The White House. 21 Apr. 2008 [http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/firstladies/aa2.html].

Printable Version:
Amberly Research Citation Guide (Word)

Read Alouds: Week of 4/14

Kindergarten

  • Beaumont. Move Over, Rover!
  • Steen. Car Wash. 

First Grade

  • Amato. The Chicken of the Family.

Second Grade

  • DiTerlizzi. The Field Guide.

Read Alouds: Week of 3/31

Kindergarten/First Grade

  • Brown. Arthur’s April Fool.
  • Denim. The Dumb Bunnies.
  • LeSieg. Wacky Wednesday.

Second Grade

  • DiTerlizzi. The Field Guide.

April Fools’ Day

How did April Fools Day get started? Here are some links to answer your questions and motivate the prankster in you.

Now take a look at these bogus websites; use your web evaluation skills to analyze why these are only for April Fools.

And while you’re in a foolish mood…..how about blogging about your favorite April Fools prank?

Read Alouds: Week of 3/24

Kindergarten

  • Bang. When Sophie Gets Angry–Really, Really Angry…
  • Vail. Sometimes I’m Bombaloo.

First Grade

Second Grade

  • DiTerlizzi & Black. The Field Guide.

Read Alouds: Week of 3/17

Kindergarten

  • Aylesworth. Old Black Fly.
  • Martin. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.
  • Wheeler. Jazz Baby.

First Grade

  • Krensky. Too Many Leprechauns.

Second Grade

  • DiTerlizzi. The Field Guide.

Read Alouds: Week of 3/10

Kindergarten

  • Stevens. Tops & Bottoms.

First Grade

  • Cazet. Elvis the Rooster Almost Goes to Heaven.

Second Grade

  • Sobol. Encyclopedia Brown Cracks the Case.