Short week!!

October 22, 2008
Dear Families,
Hello and I sure hope you are getting this!! I’ve been informed that my weekly newsletters have not been making it home lately. I apologize – I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong with my email list, but I’ll get it worked out….

So, this week included many special events:
1. The class did some election research in the computer lab so that they are informed for voting. We voted online today using mockelection.com, and we will also participate in the school’s election on November 4th. A few middle school students stopped by today to register us to vote. Students even took a “Freeman’s oath.” This year, students may ALSO vote at town hall when you vote!!

2. Vermont children’s author Natalie Kinsey Warnock visited our school this week! What a treat for the students. Natalie was raised on a VT farm and continues to live in the NE kingdom. She writes stories that are related to her experiences as a child or that come from family stories. Her presentations were great! Ask your child about them.

3. Students were able to practice using a compass today in math. This can be a very challenging and frustrating task. Ask your child if they were successful!

4. We are doing great work in writing. This week we studied our mentor texts for patterns in structure. We also examined how authors write effective beginnings. Then, students wrote 3 possible beginnings for their memoirs. Many students came up with great ideas. Some students will be completing this task at home over the long weekend.

Next week we will start to study and practice a variety of specific comprehension strategies for reading. We will complete our geometry unit and we will start a new session of “Team time.”

** We will not be dressing up for Halloween. Students may bring in extra special Halloween treats for our TFK time on Friday. That will be our harvest celebration!


Thanks
Cara 