Readers & Writers Workshops

Routines are quickly becoming established for both Readers and Writers Workshops. Each class begins with a mini lesson providing the children with a springboard upon which they are able to launch new skills and strategies. Each mini lesson builds upon the previous mini lesson allowing the children enough time to experiment and fully understand big ideas that we take for granted. For example; ways to choose a just right book, where is a good place to read, how to keep track of ones reading, rereading for importance, beginning / middle / end of a story, what content should go within each section, how to choose a title for a story, how do you listen to yourself read for revisions, and so many more.
We also spend time discussing what it looks and sounds like in the classroom during these classes. The children like to pretend that visitors from Planet Xargle are going to stop by any minute and they don't want them to get the wrong idea. Read Earthlets: As Explained by Professor Xargle by Jeanne Willis to find out the whole story!

Off and Running

The first 6 weeks of school are always devoted to setting up routines that will carry us through the year. The 2nd year of looping is a breath of fresh air as everyone knows the routines and only need a bit of regrouping to be back in the saddle again. We've been hard at work learning school rules (be safe, be kind, and be responsible) as well as working on ways to incorporate CARES into our everyday lives. CARES is an acronym for cooperate, assert, responsible, empathy, and self-control. Along with all of this we have learned the 5 words that make up the mandarin character for the verb "to listen". Check your child's blue home folder tomorrow (and every Friday throughout the school year) for a copy of this character and ask your child which part they find the most difficult and which parts they do automatically.
Everyone is enjoying sorting, classifying, and creating patterns in math. Our number corner routine is well underway and encourages the children to think in different ways. The monthly patterns represent growing patterns this year as opposed to repeating patterns. A new challenge for everyone!