Newsletter #1 Friday, September 3, 2010
Dear Families,
The first week of school has gone well even if the heat has been record setting. The heat has reminded me of the importance of keeping hydrated. Please feel free to send in water bottles for your child to keep at his or her desk during the day. Since children would be keeping the bottles with them at their desks, please fill them only with water as it does not stain. Of course, other beverages are fine during the snack and lunch time.
You are familiar with our home-to-school or homework folders by now. These will go home each night. Please use these to send in all communications with school personnel. Homework will be sent home four nights a week, Monday through Thursday. As the routines become more established math and cursive homework will assigned on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Spelling homework will be assigned on Wednesday nights.
I will talk a lot about mentor text during the course of the year. I introduce students to many authors and texts over the year. The writing is used as models of what writers do. Throughout the course of the year I will identify the mentor text we are using in the classroom and what they are being used for.
Mentor text: Wilfrid Gordan McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox
All the Places to Love by Patricia MacLachlan
Saturday and Teacakes by Lester L. Laminack
Purpose: To model how memories can be of an object, a person, or a place. This is then used as a springboard for a summer memory for the assignment “We Had a T-rrific Summer.”
My class newsletter will be sent home on a biweekly basis. A copy will always be posted on the school website. I would like to reduce my use of paper. Please fill out and return the attached survey so I know how you would prefer to receive the newsletter in the future.
I have posted the class specials schedule on the web site. It is important to note PE is on Wednesday and Thursday. Your child should be dressed appropriately for the class. This includes having sneakers.
Have a great Labor Day weekend.
