Weekly Update

Dear Families,

Writer’s Workshop began in full swing this week with our new narrative unit on personal small moment stories. The students explored small moment stories through literature as they searched for text features for such writing. We discovered that small moment stories only focus upon very specific events. The writer “zooms” in on a particularly interesting event, which is stretched out over several pages using a vivid language and details. The students also learned that the small moment stories we write in class are of personal nature. They are personal narratives about everyday occurrences, such as a specific trip to a friend’s house, the loss of a first tooth, a bike ride, or even about the surprise fire drill we had today. As mentioned before, stories are everywhere-waiting to be discovered. The students did an amazing job adding details to their stories this week. They learned that writers can add interesting details to their narratives by using descriptive language and thinking about where and when the story took place. Writers also include who was part of the story and perhaps even why something specific happened. We cannot wait to share our stories with you when they are ready to be published!

First grade mathematicians published their first number story book online this week. It has been linked on the blog, and it is also linked on the digital portfolio inside the “Best Practice in Math” page (the address for the digital portfolio is www.digitalportfolio2010.pbworks.com). First grade mathematicians are also taking home their first set of completed work from Work Places this week. Please look through their materials and ask them to explain what the games and objectives are at each station. Thank you.

This week the students started interviewing teachers and staff for our “All Around the School” podcasting venture. Two interviews have already been posted on the podbean site. Please access www.mccormack.podbean.com to listen. You can sign up for RSS at that site. We are now podcasting on iTunes! Wow, the students are doing an amazing job speaking with a clear voice, taking turns and listening actively to each other. The podcasting site is already linked directly on the school web-site under my name.

Team Harmony has decided, due to the poor weather conditions forecasted for Friday this week that the Field Trip to Catamount is cancelled. In other words, we are not going to Catamount this Friday. We are trying to re-schedule for Monday next week and will inform you as soon as we have more information. We apologize for the inconvenience this might cause you and your family, but trust that you all understand. We hope you can join us, if we go on Monday. I will send out an email as soon as I receive information. Thank you.

I have created an online sign-up wiki for parent-teacher conferences in November. If you did not receive an email called “Teacher Collaboration” from pbworks, please let me know so I can invite you to access this web-site. Some parents have already signed up and their names have been added. Please sign up electronically.
Access the wiki by clicking on the link inside the email from pbworks, choose your own password.
You need to click on "edit" inside the wiki in order to add your name..
Please do not delete and remove names that have already been entered.
If you need assistance, please contact me and I will be happy to help you!

Ask your child about:
• Earning 51 Respect stickers! (At 100 we are going to have a special celebration)
• Warm Fuzzies
• The Money Song
• Garden Club
• Our Guest Reader, Ms. Kristen. She read the book “The seven silly eaters” by Marla Frazee. Ask your child to retell the story and why Ms. Kristen chose this particular book.
• Our classroom Mail-box

Have a great rest of the week!
Regards,

Maria McCormack