This week we started Guidance classes with Carolyn Tatlock. We have rotating related arts on our schedule on Tuesdays and for the next few weeks, the students will have classes with Carolyn Tatlock, learning about strategies and skills around friendship and social situations. Tomorrow, the students will take home a project they completed with her about their own individual strengths called "Hooray for Me." It is inside your child's Thursday folder. This project fits so nicely into our classroom expectations about always trying your best and being safe, kind and responsible.
This week's Thursday folder also contains an informational sheet about the Book Fair at WCS. As indicated in my earlier email, we are scheduled to go to the Book Fair on November 12, sometime in the morning. Some children bring in a small sum of money to purchase books. We advise $5-10 only. Some children only browse and write a "wish list" and return with their parents during the Book Fair's evening hours. If your child wishes to bring in money, please tell your child that we only purchase books at the fair with the class. Pencils, pointers and other trinkets cannot be purchased with the class. I will do my best to explain sales taxes to our young children (!) as the total purchase price will not reflect the price tag of the book. This, of course, is a very difficult concept to understand for our young learners, so I appreciate your support and discussions at home. If your child wants to buy a book with us, please send in his/her money in a small ziplock bag with the name written on the bag in sharpie. I will collect all the money in the morning and hand them out as we board the bus to WCS. Thanks again for your support!
This week in writing, the children continued to add more details to their personal narratives. We continued to explore small moment stories in many books. The students learned how to expand their narratives by adding the 5 Ws (who, what, where, when, why). In other words, the children are encouraged to think about how they can answer questions like who was there, where the story took place or when it took place in order to magnify a small moment in their personal narratives. We also have a fun little "high 5" hand with the words written down on each finger to help us think of these strategies when we write. Ask your child to explain.
This week, we also conducted the district-wide on-demand writing assessment. All children in the same grade level across our district write a small piece on the same topic. This writing prompt is a ni9ce balance to the writing we do in our writer's workshop, a time when the students meet with the teacher, their editing partners and work on a piece for many, many days, or weeks. The kids did very well. I am so proud of them.
This week, we also celebrated Crazy Hair Day! The children filled the BeeHive again! Here are some pictures:
As the weather changes, please remember to send your child to school dressed in weather appropriate clothing. An extra pair of socks can be placed in your child's locker in case your child's feet get wet from stepping in a puddle or in wet grass. Thanks!
Lastly, we are so sad to hear that our friend Krish will be moving to another town. We wish him and his family all the best! Krish will continue to blog with us on KidBlog so please stay in touch online!!
Have a great rest of the week.
Best,
Maria
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