BOOK SWAP BOOKS AND BOOK CHOICE
The children had a wonderful time choosing books at the annual book swap. There was a great variety of books to meet the interests and reading levels of all children. It's not usual for parents to be disappointed by the books children choose to read. We may see their choices as too easy or perhaps wish our children would choose "better quality" literature. When children are given the opportunity to choose books to read, it's important, however, that we validate those choices. It is okay for children to read books that are too easy, to read the same book over and over, or enjoy fantasy books or comics. After all, adult readers have strong preferences in what they choose to read too! We want to foster children’s confidence, interest, and ability to select books for themselves and we hope they will ultimately become lifelong readers and learners.
It's important to expose children to a variety of books, both fiction and nonfiction, poetry, historical fiction, fantasy, mystery, graphic novels, etc. so they can begin to identify their interests. Here are a few resources to help you motivate your child to read or to find appropriate books:
Reading Rockets is a national multimedia literacy initiative offering information and resources on how young kids learn to read, why so many struggle, and how caring adults can help. We recommend their article What Parents Can Do: Reading Tips From Kids and invite you to explore their other helpful resources.
GUYSREAD.COM: a web-based literacy program for boys founded by author and First National Ambassador of Young People’s Literature Jon Scieszka. Their mission is to help boys become self-motivated, lifelong readers. See this site for terrific book recommendations and more!
BOOKLIGHTS: This PBS blog has gathered experts and book lovers to share their recommendations, favorite books, tips, tricks and advice to help children experience the joy of reading.
WHOOPING CRANES
We were deeply saddened to hear about the loss of whooping crane #10-12. Operation Migration has release a lovely video in her honor and we have posted it in our classroom blog. We invite the children to make comments there (no last names please) and we will talk more about it tomorrow at school.
FIELD TRIP TO LINCOLN PARK ZOO
On Tuesday, October 30th, we will take a short trip to the Lincoln Park Zoo to learn about gorillas and other primates. We will depart Lab School around 10:15 a.m. and return in time for dismissal at 1:20 p.m. Our parent chaperones are Audris Wong, Sarah Abella and Tara Marsh. Please send your child with their regular snack and a picnic lunch and beverage (labeled in a paper or plastic bag). All items in their lunches should be disposable (no lunchboxes or tupperware please). We are looking forward to learning more about gorillas and making connections to the character Ivan in our read aloud, The One and Only Ivan.
HALLOWEEN REMINDERS
You should have received a copy of the Halloween Parade Map sent in your child's backpack on Friday. The parade will begin at 9:15. Parents are welcome to watch along the route or go to Upper Kovler Gym for the all-school sing along. The children will be getting into their costumes when they arrive for school. If you'd like to help, feel free to stop by. We also invite parents to help us take photos and share them with us (digitally via email, on a flash drive or CD) so we can add them to our Halloween photo album on the classroom website.
We are planning a low-key Halloween party after the parade and will resume our regular day with P.E. at 12:20 (DON’T FORGET GYM SHOES). Your child should bring his/her regular snack and lunch. If you have donations for the party (decorations, non-candy treats for the goody bags) feel free to drop them off in the classroom anytime up until Wednesday morning. Thanks!
Children need to manage their costumes with relative independence. They will only wear their costumes during the parade and will need to change back into school clothes before we go continue with the rest of our day. Elaborate face make-up is discouraged, as are weapons. If a sword, light-saber, etc. is a vital part of your child’s costume, he/she may carry it but may not use it as a weapon. Please be mindful of the younger children in our school who may be frightened by scary costumes.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS FROM OUR WEEK
Don't forget - there is NO SCHOOL next Friday, November 2nd due to Faculty Professional Development Day.
Enjoy your Sunday!
The children had a wonderful time choosing books at the annual book swap. There was a great variety of books to meet the interests and reading levels of all children. It's not usual for parents to be disappointed by the books children choose to read. We may see their choices as too easy or perhaps wish our children would choose "better quality" literature. When children are given the opportunity to choose books to read, it's important, however, that we validate those choices. It is okay for children to read books that are too easy, to read the same book over and over, or enjoy fantasy books or comics. After all, adult readers have strong preferences in what they choose to read too! We want to foster children’s confidence, interest, and ability to select books for themselves and we hope they will ultimately become lifelong readers and learners.
It's important to expose children to a variety of books, both fiction and nonfiction, poetry, historical fiction, fantasy, mystery, graphic novels, etc. so they can begin to identify their interests. Here are a few resources to help you motivate your child to read or to find appropriate books:
Reading Rockets is a national multimedia literacy initiative offering information and resources on how young kids learn to read, why so many struggle, and how caring adults can help. We recommend their article What Parents Can Do: Reading Tips From Kids and invite you to explore their other helpful resources.
GUYSREAD.COM: a web-based literacy program for boys founded by author and First National Ambassador of Young People’s Literature Jon Scieszka. Their mission is to help boys become self-motivated, lifelong readers. See this site for terrific book recommendations and more!
BOOKLIGHTS: This PBS blog has gathered experts and book lovers to share their recommendations, favorite books, tips, tricks and advice to help children experience the joy of reading.
WHOOPING CRANES
We were deeply saddened to hear about the loss of whooping crane #10-12. Operation Migration has release a lovely video in her honor and we have posted it in our classroom blog. We invite the children to make comments there (no last names please) and we will talk more about it tomorrow at school.
FIELD TRIP TO LINCOLN PARK ZOO
On Tuesday, October 30th, we will take a short trip to the Lincoln Park Zoo to learn about gorillas and other primates. We will depart Lab School around 10:15 a.m. and return in time for dismissal at 1:20 p.m. Our parent chaperones are Audris Wong, Sarah Abella and Tara Marsh. Please send your child with their regular snack and a picnic lunch and beverage (labeled in a paper or plastic bag). All items in their lunches should be disposable (no lunchboxes or tupperware please). We are looking forward to learning more about gorillas and making connections to the character Ivan in our read aloud, The One and Only Ivan.
HALLOWEEN REMINDERS
You should have received a copy of the Halloween Parade Map sent in your child's backpack on Friday. The parade will begin at 9:15. Parents are welcome to watch along the route or go to Upper Kovler Gym for the all-school sing along. The children will be getting into their costumes when they arrive for school. If you'd like to help, feel free to stop by. We also invite parents to help us take photos and share them with us (digitally via email, on a flash drive or CD) so we can add them to our Halloween photo album on the classroom website.
We are planning a low-key Halloween party after the parade and will resume our regular day with P.E. at 12:20 (DON’T FORGET GYM SHOES). Your child should bring his/her regular snack and lunch. If you have donations for the party (decorations, non-candy treats for the goody bags) feel free to drop them off in the classroom anytime up until Wednesday morning. Thanks!
Children need to manage their costumes with relative independence. They will only wear their costumes during the parade and will need to change back into school clothes before we go continue with the rest of our day. Elaborate face make-up is discouraged, as are weapons. If a sword, light-saber, etc. is a vital part of your child’s costume, he/she may carry it but may not use it as a weapon. Please be mindful of the younger children in our school who may be frightened by scary costumes.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS FROM OUR WEEK
- Thanks to Sarah and her mom for coming in to teach us all about the Muslim holiday Eid al-Adha. They also shared two sweet treats with us - doughnuts and a $100 chocolate bar!
- Last week we introduced and worked with identifying place value (up to the thousandths place) in math. We are also working on reading and writing numbers as high as the thousands and this is something you can practice at home. Be sure to ask your child about base-ten blocks and the games Race to 100 and the Trash Can Game.
- During Reading, we read a story about nuña beans or popping beans that are found in several South American countries. We used this story to identify details, an important strategy for reading comprehension. Details are simply words that describe something (such as color, size, shape, etc.) Some children are only half way through this story and we will continue it next week.
Don't forget - there is NO SCHOOL next Friday, November 2nd due to Faculty Professional Development Day.
Enjoy your Sunday!