Scholastic Book Order Deadline/Outside Reading

Just a reminder that our first Scholastic book order deadline is coming up this Friday. If you only order once this year, make it this first order! We get lots of extra bonus points and free books for our first order. (Directions below.)

Also, a big thanks to the moms who have already done volunteer work for our classroom!! Mrs. Kennedy typed up our outside reading approved list (link below). Thank you, thank you! The kids will add approved books throughout the year to their blue folders and, Mrs. Barnette and I will be adding those same approved books to this online list for easy access. You can view this live online list along with all other important information about outside reading here. This is the SAME information that is in our blue folders, I just added it to our website in case a blue folder gets lost. ;)

Scholastic Online Ordering Directions:

Class Code - GRZHL

Order Due Date - 09/01/17

Subject: Scholastic Book Clubs Class Order Due Date is approaching!

Dear Families,

This is a friendly reminder that your Book Clubs orders are due by 09/01/17. You can place your orders online at scholastic.com/bookclubs using my class activation code: GRZHL

Happy Reading

Outside Reading

As I mentioned, I kind of want to stick with the other class on this since this has been the program here for a while. We will stick to the list (teacher approved books) in our blue reading folders for the 1st 9 weeks like we talked about. Where I misunderstood is, they will not be doing just choice books for the rest of the year. Instead, for the rest of the year, after every 5 books from the list, THEN they can pick a choice book approved by me and you.

That being said, once your child gets to the gold award (30 books), THEN, he/she can read ALL choice books approved by me and you. Of course it can still be books from the list if that's what your child wants to read. :) 

The good news is I will be adding teacher approved books to our list. One way you can see what I added now, is to log in to Scholastic with the directions that I emailed yesterday. There will be a place where you can see "teacher recommended books. These are books that I will add to the teacher approved list.

Hope that made sense! Let me know if not. Have a great weekend!

Spelling-DOL, Vocab-Grammar

As we talked about Tuesday, we will be alternating Spelling and DOL, with Vocabulary and focusing on a grammar skill by using our English books. Next week will be Vocabulary/English. Vocabulary weeks will have less words, but be harder than spelling weeks because the kids will need to be able to spell the words correctly, be very familiar with the definitions and how to use the words in sentences AND many of the words will have more than one definition. Spelling City will be assigned and the kids will have 2 paper assignments as well. Tuesday, flashcards will be due, with the word on one side, and the definition(s) on the other. And Wednesday, STRONG sentences will be due with every definition of the word. For example if a word has two definitions, then two sentences should be written for that word. In a strong sentence, the reader can use context clues to figure out the meaning of the word. For example, for the word ajar, the second sentence would be a strong sentence."The door is ajar. She made sure the door was ajar so that she could hear what was going on in the next room." Until the kids get faster and better at writing strong sentences, I will give them plenty of time Monday and Tuesday to work on them!

First E-News!

Thank you so much for coming to parent night, but thank you especially for making me feel so welcome. I have to say, this was the best parent night ever for me! I am so excited about this school year and working with you and your babes!

A few things we had questions about last night:

• Chapel clothes-Yes, we wear white
• Yes, we do take a bus to Montgomery
• And, yes, Mrs. Covin does know that Sea Lab starts on Easter Sunday. This was the only time they could take us. She says labs will not start until Monday, so drivers are welcome to come on a different day.
• Please send in $10 for a T-shirt if you have not yet

A few other things:

• Outside reading folders are coming home today. These can stay at home until your child has a report ready to turn in.
• The first nine weeks I will not be too much of a "stickler" with cursive. I'll use the spelling tests to let the kids know what letters/words they still need to practice. But, starting the 2nd nine weeks, points will be taken off for spelling if the letter is not formed correctly, so make sure your child is practicing whatever I point out on spelling tests. ;) 
• I will be giving out a free ticket to Six Flags at the end of the school year to any student that reads an EXTRA 6 hours. This is not a requirement. This means any reading done outside of school that will not be turned in for school credit. The book needs to be a "just right" book. Your child should know what this means.

Scholastic:

• Class Code - GRZHL
  Order Due Date -  09/01/17
  
  
  
  

  Let's help make our children successful readers!

  
  

  When children choose their own books to read for pleasure, they enjoy reading more and spend more time doing it. The more your child reads, the better they will do in school and in life.

  
  

  Scholastic Book Clubs flyers are made for you and your child to shop for books your child will love to read. Each month, the flyers are filled with trusted, excellent quality, age-appropriate books chosen by Scholastic for prices as low as one dollar.

  
  

  Plus you will be helping our class when you order: Scholastic matches each order you place with FREE BOOKS for our classroom to share.

  
  

  Thank you for helping your child become a successful reader.

  
  

  Sincerely,

  Mrs. CONSTANTINE

  
  

  Please place your online order to me by September 1_.

  
  

  Please order online if possible, I have found that it's much more reliable and I have never had a mistake made with online orders!

  
  

  Go online to: scholastic.com/newparent

  Look up my name: Tanya Constantine

  Or enter our Class Code: GRZHL

  Follow the instructions to place your order online by: September 1.

  
  

And last but not least, thanks for being so supportive of our first attempt at integrating technology into the curriculum. I know some of us are a little apprehensive, but know that the advancement of technology will continue at an increasingly rapid pace. We will own self driving cars, and our homes will be "smart" before we know it. Technology can be an effective, and sometimes one of the only ways we can connect with our kids. Can it be dangerous? Yes. Do we need to teach them how to be safe using it? Absolutely! (Same with other aspects of life.) Bottom line, ever changing technology is their world and they need to be prepared for it. Critical thinking, solving problems and being able to use technology in new and creative ways will all be "musts" for jobs of the future. As our children move into their challenging teen years, they will be using technology for almost all of their communication, if we want to guide them properly and keep them safe, we ourselves have to become knowledgeable and comfortable with it. If you ever need parent resources for how to help your child with technology, I will be glad to share what I have.

Kahlil Gibran, a wise Lebanese writer, once wrote:

You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, 
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, 
but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

~Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet