Our First Weeks!!

Good Morning!

As the first full week of school wrapped up I thought I would fill you all in on just a bit of what we've been up to!



Last week Thursday, we all got a "gift."  If you see a tiny little notebook traveling around with your child, it is their new "Tiny Topics" notebook.  We talked about how sometimes coming up with a topic to write a story about for writer's workshop is sometimes the HARDEST part!  We also learned that topics or story ideas could come to us at ANY time.  That's where this gift comes in.  They can take these with them anywhere they'd like (although the goal would be to have them with at school for writer's workshop time each day).  Anytime they think of a story idea, they jot it down in the notebook and can keep up the good writing!

For the first unit of writing, kids are learning and practicing "Personal Narratives" - a real story that happened to them in their lives.  If you happen to think of "meaningful" topics with your child, encourage them to jot these topics in their notebooks!! :)  It is easy for kids to forget special days they have had in the past, but you might be able to help them remember!  We learned that meaningful story ideas are times we felt strong emotions.  For example, the day you got a pet or had a surprise party the emotion was excitement. They could write a story about a scary time or a time that they were worried and how they got through it.  This was our main focus last week and coming up we are going to learn all sorts of ways to make our stories more exciting to read!!

Here is our Weekly Specials Schedule for Week of 9/18:

Monday: Art 

Tuesday: LIBRARY - *Bring books back!!!

Wednesday: Music

Thursday: Phy. Ed. - **Bring shoes!!

Friday: Music

Reading update:  I have to apologize in advance for the super long notes that I am going to be sending home in your child's new reading folder this week.  It is all really important information on different ways to encourage kids to read at home and how to help them pick good fit books.  Look for that coming home this week!!!


One more quick note: I forgot to tell the kids, but I will be gone at a conference this Monday.  If you have a chance and think they would like to know, they will have a sub on Monday.  

Thanks and have a wonderful week!