Thumbs Ups all Around

What a week it was in the Lily Pad!  The temperatures were cooler and we worked hard.  We also welcomed Poseidon and Obama back to their place of honor!

We began Writer's Workshop on Tuesday, writing in our newly decorated composition notebooks.  Students were busy writing small moments from their lives in their Writer's Notebooks.  We have quite a crew of storytellers and the teachers are excited to see these small seed ideas grow into beautifully crafted personal narratives!  We learned two different strategies that writers use if they are "stuck" and can't think of anything to write.  Students practiced choosing a person or place that matters to them, brainstormed special moments associated with that person or place and wrote stories about that idea.

It has also been a week full of wonderful stories written by some of our favorite authors.  Ms. Miller is sharing a funny book about being late for school!

We finished up our classroom guidelines, rights and responsibilities and put the finishing touches on the way we want our classroom, The Lily Pad, to be. Here is a Wordle we made that expresses words that are important to our community.

Finally, during Reader's Workshop we discussed and practiced things that go into making readers successful.  We talk about the thinking that readers do (make connections, predictions, like and dislikes, etc.), we practice reading books at our "just right level", we shared ways that readers choose books and discussed our reading and thinking with partners.

Another word about food allergies/dietary needs in our classroom: We do have a student with a peanut/tree nut allergy so we ask that students refrain from bring treats that contain nuts to our classroom.  Also, we have a student whose family practices Kosher eating.  This means no pork products and that meat and dairy items should not be mixed.  The way this may apply mostly to our classroom is with Marshmallows (ie: rice krispie treats.)  Thanks and contact me with questions or concerns.

Upcoming events in the Lily Pad (and at Marquette):

• Monday, September 12 - Marquette Mile t-shirt design due
• Tuesday, September 13 - PTG Meeting and Ice Cream Social
• Monday, September 19 - 3rd Grade Talk like a Pirate Day (and dress like one, too!)
• Friday, September 23 - Picture Day
• Friday, September 30 - 3rd Grade Pancake Breakfast (held in classrooms)