December 2023

These choice boards were created by Shannon McClintock Miller and have some fabulous resources.  Enjoy!

The padlet for Hour of Code was created by ISD's Sarah Shero.

Hello Cedar Trails Teachers!

     I hope you all are enjoying the coziness and joy that the holidays bring.  I love the sweater weather and revisiting my favorite holiday books and movies!  

     This December I am adding a twist to our normal Hour of Code activities.  We will be using technology to help us find good books that we are interested in reading.  Older students will be using Flip, Book Creator, Destiny Discover, Seesaw, and Curipod to help us find a good book to read and recommend to others.  Younger students are learning more about library genres and listening to a lot of good book recommendations.  With access to so many fun technology tools, we can truly customize our reading experience!  I am looking forward to adding Destiny Engage later this month.  This extension of Destiny will allow students to easily recommend books, allow teachers and students to create reading challenges as well as let students earn badges for different goals met.

      If you haven't had the opportunity to learn all about our new Capstone Interactive Ebooks, be sure to check out my tutorial here.  

      It has been a true pleasure helping you put together collections to assist in your classroom teaching.  Do not hesitate to reach out and ask for a collection of books.  Currently, I am working on curating our collection of SEL books.  These books will get a special sticker and be integrated among the regular picture books.    My goal is to also add a choice board each month with ebooks and other resources that connect to your grade level curriculum.  

      If you have not already heard, BEN CLANTON and ANDY CHOU MUSSER will be visiting Cedar Trails for Read Across America!  YAY, and a HUGE thank you to our PTSA for sponsoring this event. I am finalizing the details, but he will be giving three presentations.  K/ 1 friends will have a thirty-minute presentation while students in grades 2-5 will have 45-50 minutes.    He will be here during the week of Read Across America, March 4-8, 2024.

Happy Reading and Warm Wishes,

                    Julianna