A student uses the "Stop and Think!" strategy while watching a BrainPop video.

It has been a real mindset switch for me having a full class set of computers for my students all the time. So often a kid comes up to me with a big question and I start to answer or prompt their thinking and then say "I bet you could look that up!" With this steady access, though, it is important that we give students the same level of skills and strategies for using digital resources effectively as we do for using print. To right the proportion, I broadened the scope of our reading comprehension strategy study to include digital media. We are now working on "Monitoring for Meaning" (knowing when you don't get it and working to fix that) with print articles, textbooks and online media. It was revealing to me how much more easily some kids were able to apply the Stop and Think protocol and organizer with BrainPop videos than with National Geographic Kids articles. Both were high interest and engaging, but I think there is something about the linear progression of video that makes it more concrete that you can pause. You can literally pause! With attractive infographic- and image-heavy layouts it can be hard to turn off the reading.

Our 3-D map is really coming along. We took advantage of the sunny weather and did some

papier-mâché mountain molding on our "front lawn."

I'm hoping everyone can join us Wednesday evening for the debut of our class plays. We are counting on all students coming. Please be at school by 6 so that we are ready to perform by 6:30. There is a school day performance on Thursday at 2 PM if you can join us for that.