IPS/Butler University Laboratory School

We have been working hard to prepare for our Author Celebration tomorrow! Friends have been putting finishing touches on their stories and helping. We have been practicing the skills of problem solving, negotiation, and being flexible in deciding how to present our stories, how many to share, where to present etc. I am really impressed with how seriously the kids have been taking this planning process and how they have been democratically solving issues that arise with planning. The children have totally taken ownership over this event. Make sure to come tomorrow at 6pm to celebrate our wonderful authors!

Tags: celebration, collaboration, story workshop, writing

BRRRR….what a cold day! Today we read a book about MLK, Jr.  Then we had a wonderful discussion about who he was and what he stood for-primarily peace and kindness were the traits we talked about.

Today we began our Family Fun Bag.  Each day we will send home the family fun bag with one child where there are some activities and books to do at home with your child.  This is a fun way to connect what we are doing in school at home.  We hope that you have fun with it and please let me know if you have any questions!

This morning, during Reader’s Workshop, we had a great conversation about non-fiction.  I asked the kids: “Why do we read non-fiction?”  Instantly hands went up and here are some of the answers they shared:

“We read non-fiction to learn new things.”

“We read non-fiction to explore ideas that we don’t know about!”

“To grow as readers.”

“To gather new ideas!”

We read a book about clouds.  Together we learned that clouds that are thin and wispy show the weather will be good.  At the end as we shared more things we learned Raki said, “Mrs. Clark, I learned that you can’t walk on clouds!  They are made of gas and you would fall through them!”

We read a story today called Punctuation Takes a Vacation.  All of the punctuation is being forgotten about so they decide to take a break.  This story began some great discussion on the different types punctuation and why we need punctuation.  I challenged the students to fix a spot in the story that they were working on where they forgot punctuation.  We will continue exploring punctuation during Story Workshop this week.  On the Wednesday night writing homework challenge your child to go back and check for punctuation and capital letters!