On Our Way to Becoming Writers

In the mornings before the 8:10 bell rings, I allow the students to work anywhere in the room.  I have no restrictions.  I allow this time for them to talk to their friends and do something that makes them happy.  The photo to the right warms my heart because the writing center is overcrowded and it is by CHOICE!  Our class is full of blossoming writers who have no hesitancy about writing words or drawing pictures to convey meaning.  Little do the children know that reading and writing go hand in hand but I know it.  This photo shows that Room 115 is on its way to becoming lifelong readers and writers!

This week in reading we are studying the letter "Zz as in zebra in the zoo."  The word wall words are:  see, nine, of, he.  As you study word wall words, do not neglect the words from the first nine weeks.  I will assess the children on all of our word wall words in December.  I know your evenings are busy but remember to do the twenty minutes of reading.  If you are not doing the twenty minutes of reading pull out the handout from our small group meeting about why not to skip your twenty minutes.  As a parent that handout haunts me on busy nights when it would be so easy to skip our twenty minutes of reading.  Thank you so much for supporting your child as an emerging reader.

In math we continue to work with number sense, making sets and understanding parts and wholes.  We are learning songs that help us skip count.

On Friday we are having a pumpkin day where we study, investigate and read books about pumpkins.  We need to do research before our field trip to the pumpkin patch on Wednesday, October 27.  Parents are welcome to join us on our field trip.  The cost for parents is $5.00.  Parents will pay for their admittance at the pumpkin patch.  We've started to decorate our classroom in preparation for our pumpkin day.  On Friday we made a scene from the book "Five Little Pumpkins".  Our assignment did not allow us to use scissors.  We could only tear our paper into the shapes we needed.  It was an excellent  fine motor skill activity but the children wanted to use their scissors sooooo badly!

 The children had great fun acting out the poem "The Worm Song."  Our poetry journal is fun part of our week.  We spend all week on one poem.  We make mental images of the poem. We search for words we can read. We listen to see if the poem has a rhythm and read with our friends. We act out the poems and of course we illustrate!  Hopefully you are enjoying the poems as much as we are.

On Friday the PTA surprised us with  a Popsicle party for our class' 100% membership.  Popsicles are an excellent way to end a very busy week.  The PTA works so hard for the school.   Please support the PTA with the following activities this week:

• Chicken fundraiser is due Wednesday, Octbober 20

• Spirit Night at the Eastchase Chick-fil-a is Wednesday, October 20 (be sure and tell the cashier that you are with our school.)

Library books are due on Tuesday.  Tuesday is also the day when the grade level t-shirts (the rainbow shirt) may be worn with jeans.

November book orders are going home on Monday.  You may order online or send your order to school by Friday.  Book orders are voluntary! If you order on-line, our class code is GL88R.

Email me with any questions or concerns you may have.  As always thank you for trusting me with your child.