Updates

We are into our 3rd week of school and I'l like to give you a little update of some of our classroom activities.

We are well underway with Reader's Workshop and are concentrating on finding "Just Right" books in order to become fantastic readers.  This week we also started a read aloud with the book, Stone Fox. Students are learning to think deeply and respond in their journals.

In Math we began the Cathy Fosnot unit called Groceries, Stamps, and Measuring Strips.  Students are working collaboratively in small groups to explore various strategies for determining items at the grocery store, and the cost of stamps.  Some of their thinking includes repeated addition, doubling, grouping, and multiplying.  Students are not only discussing their reasoning, they are also writing about their thinking and sharing strategies.  We are lucky to have the document camera in our classroom, and students are enjoying sharing their work.

Students did a great job decorating their Writing Journals!  This week we started brainstorming for story ideas, and we also wrote small moments about special people in our lives.  Tomorrow we'll begin thinking about places that have impacted us.

This month Reading takes precedent on the homework front!  It's tremendously important to create reading lives at home, and this means reading at least 25 minutes every night.  Don't forget, students must record their reading in their logs.

As you know, we have started using assignment pads to keep track of homework.  Students are getting into a routine and they are doing a terrific job.  I think it's just great that parents are even signing the entries.

Thank you for sending tissues and wipes!