IPS/Butler University Laboratory School

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!

When we began working on our Mouse City, I began reading The Mouse and the Motorcycle.  I cannot begin to tel you how incredible it is to watch the children while I am reading.  They are listening so intently and have such a good time while I read this chapter book.  They are predicting, questioning, gasping, laughing.  The best part is that when I get done reading they beg me to read more!  I love it!

I love seeing their minds stretch.  I love seeing their love of reading being fostered.  I love seeing and hearing them make so many connections!

During Math Workshop some of our friends have encountered addition problems that have regrouping into the tens or hundreds place.  I have been blown away by the students’ creativity in solving these challenging problems.  Many students are creating their own meaning and coming up with a way to record these problems that makes sense to them.

We started a new routine at the end of the day…daily news! During pack up and snack the students are now writing about something that we did during the day.  Be sure to check their folders tonight to see what they came up with!