*Each week, I will post a few of our very own authors’ persuasive reviews. I must say, they are very convincing! Please read and enjoy. The reviews can be found by clicking on the tab at the top of the blog called CRITICS’ CORNER.

*Today, we are beginning our 10 day adventure in math workshop! We are working through a project called , Measuring For The Art Show. This project will take our mathematicians on a journey of problem solving and exploration as we get ready for an art show. I think you will be excited to see some great math thinking throughout the next two weeks! To share some of what we are learning, I will post each day’s Math Log on the tab at the top of the page called Measuring For The Art Show.  Please be a follower, and feel free to respond!

*Be sure to send in your Jump Rope For Heart forms if your child is interested in participating. We are also still collecting forms for the Superbowl Pancake Breakfast.

Tonight’s HW:

*Grammar sheet (2 sides)

*Word Study- trackers should be back next week

*R20+

*We are still on the Tomie train! Be sure to ask your reader to share some of the traits that we are seeing throughout many of Tomie dePaola’s books. Be sure to share a seires that you enjoy if you have a chance.

*Coming Soon! Be on the look out for a new feature on our blog called Critics’ Corner. Here, I will be posting some of the wonderful reviews that the children have composed. Be sure to pay close attention to their hooks, details, and audience. Are you convinced???

*Many thanks for the hand-written change in dismissal notes~they are a great way to ensure a smooth dismissal for all. Thank you for your support.

Tonight’s HW:

*reading sheet

*word study

*R20+

*We are continuing to take a close look at Tomie dePaola. He is everywhere!! We are realizing where Tomie got so many of his ideas from-from his childhood. We know that there are so many childhood memories make great stories!

*We are beginning to publish our reviews. Be on the look out-as they will be placed prominently throughout the school. We’ve got important information to share!

Tonight’s HW:

*Math sheet (2 sides)

*Word Study

*R20+

*I have to take a moment to compliment some of the reading and thinking I witnessed today! During the past few days, we have begun our author study in readers’ workshop. We are looking at how an author develops his or her ideas within one genre, and across other genres. Tomie dePaola is a great example. He has written many stories about his childhood (memoir), as well as many fictional stories such as Strega Nona. He also writes legends/folktales, and even non-fiction books. Our goal as readers is to explore relationships through the many titles we are reading. Today, in book clubs-some readers were making amazing connections amongst Tomie books! Grace, Will, Kevin and Hudson read The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush-which is a story about a little Native American boy who does his best to follow his dream of becoming an artist. The group connected this book to The Art Lesson, as Tommy also tries to follow his dream-as well as in the book, Stagestruck.  Similarly, Patrick, Sara, Luke, Keegan and Daniel were reading Tomie dePaola’s book, Oliver Button Is a Sissy, and they were able to connect the underlying theme of accepance and knowing who you are and who want to be. It was surely a moment to be proud!

Have fun at Bingo Night tonight!

Homework

Reading charts are due on Monday

*Tomie, Tomie, Tomie! We are taking a close look at one of our favorite author’s Tomie dePaola. Be sure to ask your reader about his or her favorite Tomie book!

Tonight’s HW:

*reading sheet

*word study-GREENS-be sure to bringi your trackers

*R20+

*We are beginning our authors’ study unit in readers’ workshop! We are going to take a closer look at the works of Tomie dePaola. Please be sure share your favorite author with your child-and be sure to tell them why you like to follow that author through his or her series. Hand in hand with this, we are also writing book reviews for our favorite childhood picture books-so it might be a great idea to dig up your child’s most favorite read. Today- we revisited one of my all time favorites, The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. Turns out, there are lots of reasons I’d recommend this book to a new mom or dad, a young child or even a teacher who is going to teach his or her class about patterns, days of the week or counting (audience).

*OOPS-reading charts will go home tomorrow-or families can always print out a copy from the page at the top of the blog.

*Just a reminder-you can enter your email into the link to the right-Follow Me. This will send each day’s blog update right to your email. Hope parents are making use of this feature I’d love feedback on the usefulness of this.

Tonight’s HW:

*Math sheet (2 sides)

*Word study-YELLOW GROUP, see you tomorrow! Bring in your trackers!

*R20+

*We are officially critics! We have begun writing reviews. We have been reviewing books, movies, restaurants, vacation spots and even video games. Today, each critic-or writer, received a little memo pad. This is an important tool that they will be using to collect and keep track of ideas they might like to review. Critics are free to bring their memo pads home-but PLEASE help your child remember to bring their memo pads back to school each day! As I’ve mentioned, please take full advantage of any opportunity to expose your child to a real life review-even your own opinion of a favotite.

*Just a reminder-please send in notes indicating a change of dismissal with your child.

Tonight’s HW:

*math sheet (2 sides)

*word study-all groups are following their trackers. Trackers are due back next week.

*R20+

*We are beginning our next unit in writers’ workshop. We are learning how to compose persuasive reviews. During the next few weeks, students will be thinking and writing about books, movies, restaurants, video games (just to name a few). Please consider this if you are visiting a restaurant, seeing a movie-or traveling to a new or favorite place. You might want to ask your little reviewer what they liked or didn’t like about a variety of experiences and be sure to ask WHY If you happen to come across a “real life” review, please be sure to point it out-or even send it in.

*We are also firming up our retelling skills this week-especially thinking about important details to include in a written retell. Details to include in a great retell might be;

                               who, when, where

                              what does the character want, think, need or feel

                              what is the problem

                              is the problem getting worse

                              is the problem solved

                               has the character learned a lesson

                              has the character changed (feelings or behavior)

Including these types of questions in your at-home book talk will build important foundations as your child begins the task of composing a written retell. Please call with any questions.

Tonight’s HW:

*Cloze sheet (2 sides)

*Word study-all groups should be following their trackers. Trackers are due back next week.

*R20+

Happy Thursday

*What have you given rave reviews?

We are beginning our writing unit on persuasive reviews, and your help would be greatly appreciated! If you come across any examples of reviews-whether it be a book review, a movie review, restaurant, etc… please send in a copy. We’d love to make a little collection to gear up for this unit.

*We are also practicing writing our summaries. We know a good written summary includes lots of details such as;

who, when, where

an awareness of the characters’ feelings, wants or needs

a problem, and if it gets worse

a solution

a lesson

an awareness of a change in the characters’ feelings or behaviors

Incorporating some of these detials into your at home reading will provide great reinforcement of what we are practicing at school. Please call or email with questions.

*Many thanks to the parents who have sent in written notes for dismissal changes! It provides a much smoother and safer end to the day!

Tonight’s HW:

*grammar sheet (full sentences a MUST)

*R20+

*word study-BLUEs- I’ll see you tomorrow! Don’t forget your trackers!

*We are making connections in readers’ workshop this week. Good readers are able to connect to certain parts of the book as they read. Maybe they connect to a character, or a setting-maybe even a problem that takes places in the book. Sometimes, readers are able to make text to text connections. That means they are making a connection between two books. Please share any connections you might be making as you read aloud or together with your child.

*Just a reminder, trackers and reading charts are accessible throught the tab at the top of the blog.

Tonight’s HW:

*reading sheet

*R20+

*word study-GREENS-bring in your trackers!!