Iditarod News for our Class

Dear Families,
It is that time of the year again!  The Iditarod Race has begun in Alaska and the children on Team Harmony follow the race through reading and writing.  Each student chose a musher to follow before our Winter break and we will visit various web-sites in school to check where these mushers are in the race.
The Iditarod Race also brings some changes to our weekly reading and writing homework.
First, each child will receive a brand new homework folder when we return to school.  Luckily, it is still red and it will still have math homework.  The reading logs, however, have changed.  The children are still expected to read on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights, but the writing logs look different from before.  Each night has one whole page of writing that goes along with the reading.  The children are encouraged to give a brief summary of what they read and then choose their favorite part OR the most important part of what they read.  In the latter section, it is particularly important that the children "back up their thinking" and justify why it was their favorite part (or the most important part).
The children will write "a contract" in school with me and Ms. Winter.  They will reflect on their own reading and writing needs and choose how much, or how long, they will read every night.  Most children choose to read for about 15-20 minutes, then write in their logs.  It is also important that each log reflects a "just right" book for your child.
For each reading log your child brings into school, he/she will be able to move forward on the real Iditarod race.  We have a map of the race and there are several check-points along the way. We also give different prizes along the way to encourage the children to keep reading and writing.  The children do not race against each other; rather they race against the real mushers and dogs in the Iditarod race.  It is very exciting to see their enthusiasm as they try to stay ahead of, or catch up to, "their own" musher!
Your child's new homework folder already have many Iditarod reading logs.  If your child wishes to complete more, please use the ones already attached inside your folder, or simply print extra ones from our wiki.  I have linked the file for your convenience (in case your child wishes to write more and the folder is in school!).
Here is the link.  I have linked informational letters explaining this race as well.
All reading logs are linked in the Printable Section of the wiki.

I have also created a web-site on the wiki in case your child wishes to learn more about this exciting event.  It is linked here (but always stays as a separate site on the wiki)

I think that is all for now.  Please let me know if you have any questions.  Happy reading and writing!

Maria

PS.  Since we do not have classes on Monday, homework folders will go home on Tuesday and they are due back on Thursday.