Family Newsletter

Dear Families,
It is getting colder and colder every day, it seems like.  Please do not forget to send your child to school with appropriate outdoor gear as we go outside every day.  Thank you.

Reading:
Last week, the students continued to receive individualized instruction in our guided reading groups.  We are all learning how to follow the expectations of sustained quiet reading and focus on engagement, making sense of the words and stories while choosing "just right books".  We also discussed the importance of having a quiet and cozy spot to read; not just at school, but also at home.  I shared several special spots I have in my own house and a very special spot my son Ryan just created for reading.  Ask your child to tell you what he did!  In our classroom, we take turns using "Big Joe", a silly name for a larger, comfy chair in our newly created reading nook in the back of our classroom.  Come by to take a look.  Perhaps your child will share some of the ideas we came up with for creating a comfy reading spot in our classroom so you can do this at home too.
A quiet, comfy reading spot is, of course, not complete without a stuffed animal that is always ready to listen to a good story.  The students also received this and these stuffed animals now accompany them in reading, if desired.

Writing:
The students started writing their small moment stories last week.  This is a larger writing unit which we will explore for the next few weeks.  In this unit, the students will learn to find stories in the everyday, small moments, that happen all the time.  They will also learn to stretch these stories out over several pages, adding details to both the words and the pictures.  Last week, the students listened to the mentor text, "Sheila Rae the Brave" by Kevin Henkes.  We discussed how the main character was brave.  We made personal connections to the character and the students shared a time they themselves showed bravery.  After sharing our stories verbally, the students started writing them down on paper. 

GUM:
Once a week, we have GUM on the schedule.  GUM stands for Grammar, Usage and Mechanics.  During this 20 minute block, the students practice penmanship, hand-writing and learn about language conventions and grammar.  I would like to offer the students sugar-free gum during this time.  Please let me know if you do not give permission for this.  Thank you!

Mindfulness:
We practice mindfulness every day in our classroom.  Through a variety of activities, the students learn about emotional self-regulation and strategies to calm down. So far, the students have learned different breathing techniques, such as the snake breath, and they have also learned some yoga.  Ask your child to explain the rag doll.  Every day, I read the book "Stella Diaz has something to say" as part of our Global Read Aloud, and the children practice mindful mandala coloring.  I hope you can encourage your child to use some of these strategies at home too in times of emotional upsets and challenges.  Stay tuned.  I hope to share new mindfulness techniques as I introduce them in the classroom.

Reminders and Upcoming Events:

• If you have not signed up for parent-teacher conferences yet, please do so.  I look forward to sharing about your child's day at school!
• Harmony House will go to the Flynn Theater on 10/25.  The bus leaves at 9am and we will return around 11:30 or 12.
• There is no school on Wednesday 10/9 due to Yom Kippur.
• There is no school on Friday, 10/18 due to parent-teacher conferences.