Last week was a busy and productive week.  Hopefully this week will be the same.  The reading workshop time is coming along.  I only have a few more kids to assess for reading levels.  The kids are enjoying the independence of reading to self, working on writing and reading with a friend.  They are doing a great job keeping the room clean and staying on task.  The writing workshop program we use continues to amaze me.  We have started using the word wall as a tool for spelling words correctly (knowing all of the sight words helps) and most kids are writing stories with words and pictures. 

REMINDERS AND THANK YOUS:
<ul>
	<li>Thank you to Heather Edelman for being our mystery reader last week.  The kids really enjoy having someone different in the class to read.</li>
	<li>Thank you to the families (of girls) who were able to donate snacks this month. </li>
	<li>Library bags were collected, but the students will not get new bags until next week on Monday.  Traveling bags will be sent home tomorrow.</li>
	<li><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Field Trip forms and money are due!  </span></strong>There is a $13 charge for this field trip ($8 for chaperones).  Trip forms and $ are due no later than Monday, October 26th.  I will not be at school on Tuesday, October 27<sup>th</sup>, and will only collect money through Monday.<strong></strong></li>
	<li>The field trip is scheduled for Wednesday, October 28th.  Please send a <span style="text-decoration: underline">sack</span> lunch with your child on that day.  Please volunteer to attend if possible.  .<strong></strong></li>
	<li><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">The Hispanic Heritage Celebration is this Friday! </span></strong>  Participate in the gallery walk before school and stay to see other classes dance in an assembly at 9:30 am. <strong></strong></li>
	<li>Family Math Night is next Thursday, October 22<sup>nd</sup> from 6pm-7:30pm.</li>
	<li>Progress Reports will be sent home tomorrow.  Please sign and return the report as soon as possible.</li>
</ul>
 

This week we will enjoy books about Mexico, including “Isla” “Gathering the Sun” and “Abuela”.  We will practice and learn the following poems:  “The Elephant who Jumped a Fence” and “Six Little Ducks”.  We will learn more about beginning and ending sounds and patterns in phonics.  In math we will continue with unit 2.  We will practice writing the numbers 9 and 0.  We will practice telling time to the hour and explore straightedges and dominoes.  Please keep the paper clock, sent home later in the week, for use at home.  We will continue to practice counting forward and backwards by 1s, 2s, 5s and 10s.  We will work on a special art project this week celebrating the life of Frida Kahlo.  In science we will begin our study of liquids.

The Literacy Parade is fast approaching- help your child to think of a costume that relates to literature in some way!