Newsletter 3

2005-2006                            Room 302—Newsletter 3
                                   

September 16, 2005

Dear Families,

I hope you’re hearing good things about school.  Our days are packed, and they seem to go by quickly.

In reading….
We’re learning how reading time should sound (pretty quiet) and look (people reading, or looking for books).  We’re trying to read a variety of fiction and nonfiction every day.  One thing effective readers do is make connections between their lives and what they read, and today we read awhile and then shared a connection we’d made.  That will be something we’ll continue to do throughout the year.

In writing….
We’re working here, also, on what it should look like and sound like at writing time.  For special project we all wrote birthday cards for Jordan L. and now each child is making a page in our class book called I Like Myself.

In math….
We learned a new game called Compare, and a similar game called Double Compare.  The games are similar to War.  Each player has a pile of cards (like playing cards), and they turn over one (Compare) or two (Double Compare) at a time.  The player with the highest card (or highest total in Double Compare) says “Me” and then another round is played.  The difference from War is that there is no winner—each player keeps his own cards.  If you have a deck of playing cards, you could play these at home.

Some things worth repeating….
Snacks
Thanks to those who have sent them so far.  If you haven’t, we’ve now got enough to last about a week, so you’ve got some time.  I’ll let you know here if we get low again.

Volunteers
I welcome volunteers in the classroom, but we haven’t started yet.  If you’re interested, let me know, either when you stop by, or by email, or call, or send a note.  You can also sign up at Curriculum night.  I have a sign-up sheet with times that I need people, and I’ll also have the necessary forms for you to fill out when you come to Curriculum Night.

Curriculum night / Back-to-School Night
On Thursday, September 22, 2005 we’ll have our annual night for Kindergarten, First, and Second grade parents and kids to meet at school, hear from teachers, and look around.  We’ll all start together in the gym at 6:30.  Your time with me will be about 30 minutes, so we really won’t have time to discuss individual students that night, but I’d love to talk with you any other time if you have questions about your child.  

Email List
I have about ten families on my list so far.  If you wrote to me and didn’t hear back, please write again.  I’ll respond to your message if I get it.  If you’d like to be on the list, please send me an email.  Include your name and your child’s name so I can identify you.

Classroom Visits
Any time you’d like to visit, you’re welcome to do so.  Just make sure to stop in at the office to sign in and get a Visitor sticker.  

Take-home Folders
We have new folders this year.  They’re red, and they’ll come home every Thursday (and back every Friday).  We had 22 out of 23 back this week—I appreciate your help on this.