FALL 2017

I am excited to share some new learning opportunities with my students this year.  New programming will be offered that includes group book clubs, therapeutic art and expressive writing, as well as  REIKI, mindfulness and relaxation techniques.   I will also be planning 1 on 1 tutoring sessions, speech and language therapy, as well as parent workshops.

I will also be offering classroom visits which will focus on language development, reading skills and/or written work; depending on the requests of each teacher.

Sessions will be altered, depending on each students' needs.   All sessions are offered in a low stress, interactive setting.  

I have over 25 years experience working in school settings, as a Communicative Disorders Assistant, with all levels of learning.

Please visit my Facebook page for updates on programming for this year.   Feel free to contact me with any questions.

Plans for this year- complete and publish SUNLIGHT TO MOONLIGHT.  This will include a complete curriculum to accompany the story book.  This book is intended for primary level teaching, and can easily be altered between 1 to 1 use, as well as classroom size groups of students.   I wrote this book about my own children, my day with my kids:)  More information will be shared as I have more information as too when the book will be re-released. 

January the 27th was Family Literacy Day.  It marked the beginning of Tree Top's first 'Tournament of Books"!  I have chosen 16 books that will face off against each other each week.  One book per week will move on to 'compete' against another book.  Books will be voted on by all of my Tree Top students, until there is one remaining book.  This book will be crowned WINNER at the end of the tournament.
This week the books are:  Edwina the Emu (by Sheena Knowles) vs Even More Parts (by Tedd Arnold).  Students are marking books on art work, interest level of book, reading/vocabulary, and message/lesson the book is conveying.  Each book will have a mark out of 20.  So far this week, it is close, but "Edwina the Emu" is in the lead so far. There are still 5 students to vote by the end of the week:)

Read to Feed had a very successful first year, thanks to all of my students and their families!  As a group of 16 students, they raised $411 cash for the Food Bank and 687 items of food were donated!  They read 303 books and 7562 pages all together! These numbers have gone far past my expectations, and shown me a little of what a few students are capable of! I can't wait to see what next year brings.  

I have plans for a Tournament of Books, starting on January 27th (which is also Literacy Day)! I have chosen 16 books that will compete in a tournament format, students will vote on their favorite each round until we deem a winner!  I will keep you posted on books chosen and who wins each round.  Please leave you comments and vote for your favorite. I will keep track of all votes and keep a running tally. 

What are you doing for Literacy Day?? Volunteer to read at local school or seniors home? Donating some books to a daycare, school or family that would love to read some new books?  Let me know what you do:)

Also,the students of Tree Top Learning will be learning about the Olympics! The Winter Olympics starts February 7-23rd. Canada has a strong team going to represent us again this year, and I want my students to learn about some of them.  

I hope to keep more in touch viz this blog as well as my Facebook page.  Please check in when you can:)

Melissa

READ TO FEED"READ TO FEED"- Tree Top Learning begins a new campaign today. Sponsor a student a can/food item OR money that will support the Petrolia Food Bank. Each of my students will be tracking the number of pages, chapters and books they read over the next 6 weeks. Each of my 17 students will be asking for sponsors that will support their reading by pledging to give to the Petrolia Food Bank (food items OR money) for every page/chapter or book they read. The more my students read; the more people they will feed!:) PLEASE CONSIDER JOINING US ON THIS CAMPAIGN!!!:) Share how many books you are reading and how many cans/food items you collect for The Petrolia Food Bank. If you live in another community, read to feed for your local food bank. PLEASE TAKE PART and keep us all posted on this page!!

Summer programs will be posted in the next couple of weeks. Here are some I am planning for:

1-'CITY PLAN': This group will work on planning a city, including lay out, mapping, identifying what they would like in their city and construction of the city (using recycled materials). Focus for this group will be on reading, spelling, mapping and following directions.

2-'WRITING BASICS': This group will... target written work, including punctuation, use of capitals, sentence structure, including detail in writing, expanding on sentences, etc.
Please contact if interested in either of these camps and continue to check for details and more camps to be listed soon.

3. -'THE ART OF WRITING': This program will focus on writing AND art.  *Artistic display of words, poetry and lyrics:)  

A full schedule with  costs, dates and times will be shared soon. Please contact me if you have any questions.

TEXT @ 328-5106 if you have questions or would like to reserve a spot:)

FREE INFORMATION NIGHT will be held April 24th, from 7pm-8/8:30 pm. I will have an Occupational Therapist here to talk about handwriting norms and expectations for school aged children, to answer questions you may have regarding your own child and also to discuss the "Handwriting Without Tears" program. I have room for a few more. Please contact me if interested by calling or texting at 328-5106. This is FREE! No sales pitch. No gimmicks. Just for your information:)