Dear Families,
​Today the students will be put mystery QR codes in our notebooks. QR codes look like those barcodes you find on groceries at the store! When you scan them, they can bring you to websites, videos, or even audio files.

The notebook is now interactive and exciting for students if they are able to scan the QR codes and access the content. You will need a QR reader on your mobile device. Most of them are free in the app store. (I use QRReader.)

**Special Attention** Interims will be handed out on conference night. If you haven't schedule a conference and would like to schedule visit http://bit.ly/1m6JfSE to signup.

Dear World, 
Today we went to the exciting Elephant and Piggie play! Most of us felt like we were in an Elephant and Piggie book. Some of us felt tired. It looked like we were in the book because Piggie and Elephant painted a book and speech bubbles on the floor. Some of us thought we were being watched like we were the story characters.

We noticed how the actors did a little bit of each story and then added a little bit more. Elephant, Piggie and the Squirrelles danced on almost every page. We had to dance too! We did Floppy Flippy hands, clapping and they made us say banana! There was a dog he delivered the mail and then there was a Penguine and he was the ice cream Penguine. 

Goal- Building WILD readers who read for life, not for school, not for you , not for me, but for themselves!  
Look for books to come home each night and please help ensure they come back each day. My hope is the kids come home excited to read the book with you or alone. Reading at home should never be a chore nor homework. If your child struggles with a word, tell them, if your child wants to add the book to Shelfari, add it. Making reading fit into your family life is the expectation and how you do that is as individual as the reader and family! The point is to teach the kids to choose their own books and to make reading enjoyable! Of course, reading everyday is ​IMPORTANT and expected! 
Looking for ideas to raise readers in your home? Visit Colby and Alania Sharp's post on the Nerdy Book Club blog and Mrs. Merkle's post on her blog, The Page Turning Librarian. great ideas and tips to raise readers in natural ways, no timers, no set times, and no rules! These post both offer ideas that make reading a natural part of your families lives, and isn't this the best way to raise REAL readers? WILD readers who will read for life, not just for me, you or school but for just them! 

Goal- Connect as readers, building a reading community enjoy reading. 

Friday was a special day in room 208! Today we read a book with classrooms ALL AROUND THE WORLD! Yep, it's true! We read Chopsticks by Amy Krouse Rosenthal as members of the Global Read Aloud. You can learn more about the Global Read Aloud by clicking here and you can follow the Tweets by clicking #GRAAmy.  

As a member of a writing community we can support one another, offer feedback and share writing ideas. 

Learn about words to make and read new words, build a bank on commonly known words for ease in reading fluently and writing.

High frequency words on our Word Wall- (words we memorize to learn)
come here her that
Word Pattern- (patterns help us make and read new words)
at
​In the beginning of first grade students are often letter name spellers. They spell words by listening for the sounds.  As the year progresses, students need to begin to move from writing words by the way they sound to making sure they also look right.  

Practicing writing words is one way to build this word knowledge.  Here are some tips:  


​Rainbow Write:  Write words on a large card or piece of paper.  Students then trace words with colorful crayon or marker, saying the sounds as they write the letter.  

Window Markers:  Crayola makes window markers that are a fun way to practice writing words.  

Write It:  Other fun ways to practice writing words: pudding, sand, shaving cream, finger paint.

Build It:  Use magnetic letters, cut printed letter squares, letter dice, etc. to practice building the world.  Build it, say it, take it apart and try again.  

Connections:  Use words you know to make new words.  (look can make book, took, crook, shook, etc.  /  the th at the beginning of this is also in the, them, they, etc.)

Find It:  Search for words in books, newspapers, magazines, and other print around our daily worlds.  

Apps:  These apps may be helpful in practicing:  ShowMe, Skitch and Kids Learn.  

​Mathematicians are ORGANIZED AND EFFICIENT (goal- count to 120)

sOne amazing author- Amy Krouse Rosenthal, and a world of possibilities!

We are excited to announce ...
                                                 We will be participating in the Global Read Aloud with classrooms of all ages and from all around the world! We will read Amy Krouse Rosenthal's books and share our learning via Twitter, Facebook, and here on the classroom blog page! 
The possibilities are wide open ahead of us and we are excited to share and learn with classrooms all around the world and we hope you'll follow our journey here!