Thanks to everyone who made it to parent teacher conference! I hope you have been able to decompress a little and unwind with your kids (even those of you who still had to work) during fall break. I know I needed the rest, yet I am looking forward to the upcoming weeks of school!
Work Expectations
Each day your children are responsible for planning their work, and have done a great job so far. Tomorrow I will be introducing a new step in planning the day. This will include an expectations sheet with specific work required each week. It will be up to your kiddos to plan and complete the work required. This expectations sheet will likely undergo a few tweaks over the next couple of weeks as we work out the bugs together, but the format and use of the sheet will remain consistent.
Ask your children about it tomorrow after school, your interest will encourage them to utilize this tool to help them plan work that is appropriate for their ability level. It will even serve to push those who need just a little nudge.
I am so excited to have received new measurement materials for our classroom! They are cut and ready to be used! Your children have taken to measurement like ducks to water. They love weighing, measuring, filling and all things associated with measurement. Last week we had a “walk off” to test which was further, a kilometer or a mile. Ask your child which is further.
Book Reports
I have had several of you ask about book reports this year. My focus so far this year has been on reading non-fiction in the classroom, and because your students are so engaged with their Scholastic magazines, I have not assigned any book reports (that isn’t the only reason). I really want the reading they do during silent reading, and at home for pleasure, to be just that – pleasurable. My experience last year with book reports were both positive and negative.
The experience was positive when the students were really excited about the particular book and type of book report that was associated with the book at the time (you have some really creative kids), but negative when the students could not find a book that excited them or when they had a great book, but didn’t like the style of book report. It is partly because I’m wrangling with just the right way to go about it that I am delaying book reports. In addition, we have international festival in December (don’t worry, assignments have not gone out for this yet) and Science Fair immediately following in January. I do not want your children to be overwhelmed with home projects, particularly when the about of research they will be doing at home is going to be increasing very soon.
Fall Festival
And finally, the Fall Festival is this week! Mark your calendars for Friday October 23 from 4-7pm. We are in need of 12 volunteers, between mine and Ms. Holly’s class, to help run the Goodie Walk game and the Batman Obstacle. The volunteer slots are for one hour increments. We need 2 volunteers at the Goodie Walk per hour and 2 volunteers at the Batman Obstacle per hour. Please click http://www.wejoinin.com/sheets/nkztu to sign up for a one hour slot. Remember this goes towards your 40 hours of volunteer time the school requires.
Thanks again for all you do to support your kids and our school community!