An author study at Frank P. Long Intermediate School culminated with a walk-through author museum.
For the past month, fifth grade students in Mary Pettit and Alyce Smith’s class have been utilizing authors as mentors to improve their own writing during a new and exciting Reading and Writing Workshop unit of study through Columbia University’s Teachers College. Divided into groups, each class member read a book by the same author and then collaborated about the author’s writing style, recurring motifs and crafts to develop theme. These elements were placed on colorful posters highlighting the authors’ works. 
The students also learned how to use some of the authors’ crafts observed in the mentor texts to write Fan Fiction sequels, adding characters, rewriting scenes and creating alternate plot twists. 
“This is the way that students can really learn about the author’s craft of writing,” Ms. Pettit explained. “This project also makes them more excited about reading and writing their own stories.”
At the end of the unit, peers had the opportunity to attend a walk-through museum where they reviewed each team’s project highlighting the authors’ works and style including Andrew Clements, Jerry Spinelli, Gordon Korman, Katherine Applegate, Jacqueline Woodson and Raina Telgemeier.      

Frank P. Long fourth graders are more versed on Chinese New Year traditions and legends after a visit from parent Danielle Yuen. Ms. Yuen’s daughter, Cassie Kelly, is a student in Jennifer McNaughton's and Kelly Salmon's class and assisted her mother in sharing their Chinese culture and information about the Chinese New Year. 

The students learned why Chinese New Year is celebrated and the legend of how a monster named Nian showed up after it had been dwelling in the sea all year long. According to Chinese custom, a person must wear red clothing, hang red on the door and make loud noises (firecrackers) to scare off Nian. Traditions such as cleaning your home and eating a big meal on Chinese New Year were also told to the class.

Students then created their own dragon masks and were encouraged to share the Chinese legend of Nian with their families. Red envelopes were gifted to each student to keep them safe and bring good luck through the year.  

Frank P. Long fourth grade students attended an assembly with New York State Division of Justice investigative specialist Alexa Benincasa, who spoke about the fundamentals of online safety, as prepared by the New York State Missing Persons Clearinghouse. The presentation taught safe and responsible online and cellphone practices and encouraged students to keep parents and teachers informed about their online activities.  

Principal Stefanie Rucinski explained that the internet and cellphone use of young students has provided countless academic opportunities, but that children need reminding about rules that keep them safe when using technological devices. “Inadvertent exposure to inappropriate material, cyberbullying or enticement can happen to any child at any time and could have devastating effects,” Ms. Rucinski said.

The presentation focused on how to be internet safety smart, to avoid risky behaviors online and protect personal information and their privacy. Cyberbullying was also discussed, as well as how to block a bully. 

The District’s fifth graders entered and exited the Frank P. Long Intermediate School gymnasium in the escort position, two-by two and linked arm-in-arm, during a culminating performance for parents and faculty of Dancing Classrooms of Long Island. The 10-week physical education unit taught students core moves that form the basis of the merengue, fox trot, rumba, tango, swing, polka and waltz, as well as the importance of teamwork, empathy and respect.  

During the program’s introduction, Dancing Classrooms of Long Island Educational Liaison Jessica Heins told parents, “The students walk away with a can-do attitude.” She also thanked the students by saying, “We are grateful to each and every student who bravely entered into Dancing Classrooms and we celebrate all that you have achieved.”

In addition to great exercise, the goal of the Dancing Classrooms physical education unit was to provide additional opportunities for students to hone teamwork, develop respect for peers and invoke elegance in movement. With the introduction of each dance, the students also learn about diverse cultures. Additionally, by learning the escort position, the students learned two important ideals of ballroom dancing, honor and respect.

During the program, demonstration teams and then groups of students performed each of the dance moves for parents, alternating partners during the performance. To further celebrate the dances’ diverse cultures, select students read poetry and prose to add to the festive occasion. 

The program culminated with all of the teams and faculty dancing the polka. The students were then allowed to escort their choice of a partner onto the floor for one more dance.