September 9, 2019
The first week of school has been a busy one. Students have become familiar with the school, our classroom, the playground, and the garden. They learned rituals and routines for quiet reading, writers' workshop, math, recess, lunch, Out & Abouts, and All School Meetings.
The Barn Swallows started the week by doing getting to know you activities. We played Hickety, Pickety, Bumble Bee and learned how to greet each other by saying, "Good morning," smiling, and looking another person in the eyes. They learned the importance of helping each other to feel like they belong in our classroom community. They talked about ways to be a good friend when reading books together, playing outside, sitting on the rug, and eating lunch together.
This year we will be integrating lessons about social-emotional strengths with reading. This week, I read aloud books about celebrating differences, being supportive of each other, and being polite in order to help students begin to develop a sense of belonging. We read All Are Welcome Here, Ricky the Rock Who Couldn't Roll, Do Unto Otters, and School's First Day of School. Students also read in partners and small groups and shared what they like about their favorite books with the class. If you're interested in helping your child to develop a sense of belonging through reading at home, you can:
On Thursday, we visited the Backyard Garden for our first Out & About. Barn Swallows learned how to use trowels safely and to take care of garden gloves and other garden supplies. They toured the different areas of the garden and explored, using binoculars and magnifying glasses to observe soil, insects and plant parts up close.
Please don't forget to send your child to school with a water bottle every day and with a lunch on Fridays, even if they get school lunch Monday through Thursday. On Friday, we have a short day but it is too long for first and second graders to wait to eat until after school.
I have links at the top of this page to view photos, upcoming Out & Abouts, a schedule for our visits to the Forest Grove City Library, and the snack schedule. Next week will be the first week that I'll be ready to post photos.
Please email me if you have any questions or comments, e.conway@gmail.com.
The first week of school has been a busy one. Students have become familiar with the school, our classroom, the playground, and the garden. They learned rituals and routines for quiet reading, writers' workshop, math, recess, lunch, Out & Abouts, and All School Meetings.
The Barn Swallows started the week by doing getting to know you activities. We played Hickety, Pickety, Bumble Bee and learned how to greet each other by saying, "Good morning," smiling, and looking another person in the eyes. They learned the importance of helping each other to feel like they belong in our classroom community. They talked about ways to be a good friend when reading books together, playing outside, sitting on the rug, and eating lunch together.
This year we will be integrating lessons about social-emotional strengths with reading. This week, I read aloud books about celebrating differences, being supportive of each other, and being polite in order to help students begin to develop a sense of belonging. We read All Are Welcome Here, Ricky the Rock Who Couldn't Roll, Do Unto Otters, and School's First Day of School. Students also read in partners and small groups and shared what they like about their favorite books with the class. If you're interested in helping your child to develop a sense of belonging through reading at home, you can:
- Create personalized book baskets (or small stacks) for each family member that reflect the interests of each person in the family.
- Have your child interview family members about groups to which they belong. They can ask questions like: Who is your best friend and why? What is your favorite thing to do? What was your favorite thing to do when you were my age?
- As a family, create a list of your favorite things to do together. Include things that have to do with reading such as your favorite books or poems to read together, your favorite songs to listen to together, your favorite types of reading materials to read together (books, cereal boxes, internet articles, magazines, newspapers), or your favorite places to read together.
- Create read aloud times that are rituals, and try finding time for the whole family to read together. One suggestion is having a family dinner book club. For details about dinner books clubs, go to https://growingbookbybook.com/literacy-activities/family-dinner-book-club/.
- Notice and celebrate the unique qualities and accomplishments of your child as a reader. (Georgia loves books about horses. Luke likes books about bees and Greek myths. Naomi finished another chapter book.)
On Thursday, we visited the Backyard Garden for our first Out & About. Barn Swallows learned how to use trowels safely and to take care of garden gloves and other garden supplies. They toured the different areas of the garden and explored, using binoculars and magnifying glasses to observe soil, insects and plant parts up close.
Please don't forget to send your child to school with a water bottle every day and with a lunch on Fridays, even if they get school lunch Monday through Thursday. On Friday, we have a short day but it is too long for first and second graders to wait to eat until after school.
I have links at the top of this page to view photos, upcoming Out & Abouts, a schedule for our visits to the Forest Grove City Library, and the snack schedule. Next week will be the first week that I'll be ready to post photos.
Please email me if you have any questions or comments, e.conway@gmail.com.
