Room 21 Newsletter, October 13, 2005

CLASS NEWS

We are almost finished with our first novel, The Captain’s Dog. This week the students mapped the school grounds, much as Lewis & Clark mapped their journey. Next week they’ll have an assignment to do at home looking for plants and other natural features.

For the next round of books I hope to start our first round of Literature Circles. It really helps if each Literature Circle has as group leader. If you can commit to about 45 minutes one morning a week and would be willing to lead a Lit Circle please let me know. If you have questions about how it works just ask, I have materials to assist you. It is fun!

OCTOBER BOOK REVIEWS

Remember the focus of this month’s review is Biographies (or autobiographies). Students are to select a biography, read it and prepare a review that covers both the book and the person the book was about.

I have given each child a planning page to help them think about and prepare their reviews.

The planning page also encourages them to dress as the person from their book, become that person, for the presentations on October 31st.

FIELD TRIPS

Next Thursday October 20th we are going on an all day field trip to the Salmon River at Wildwood. Changes in PPS District policies required that I send out additional permission slips. These went home yesterday (oops I wrote the wrong date). Please return them ASAP.

We have a full complement of drivers, thank you parents.

WISH LIST

I need a volunteer with car next Wednesday Oct. 19th who can drive out to Clackamas and pick up Salmon eggs. Interested? Check with D. Lifton.

If you want to talk to me you can contact me by phone or email: David Lifton 503-916-6336 or dlifton@pps.k12.or.us