Target 3 – Flexible Learning Environments: FWSU will maximize flexible learning environments by redefining the school day, promoting learning experiences that extend beyond the school classroom, and fostering creativity, innovation, and differentiated learning opportunities for all.
Action Step: Develop opportunities for students to collaborate, innovate, create and conceptualize in all learning settings.
Within the structure of the Reader’s Workshop launched earlier this year, third graders recently studied Patricia Polacco, an author and illustrator of numerous picture books for children.
Mrs. Palermo’s students used Patricia Polacco books to demonstrate the different elements within a story including, focus, character, setting and problem/solution.
During the author’s study, students designed “star books” made from scrap-booking material to highlight their book reviews and used a series of graphic organizers to scaffold their individual narratives that included the elements within a story.They then put their narratives into book format that they illustrated.
A culminating celebration included students sharing their book reviews and narratives with each other.
And then they made Thunder Cake!
Thunder Cake is the story of how Patricia Polaaco conquered her fear childhood fear of Michigan thunderstorms with the help of her grandmother.
The FWSU Story 