While I think about it - last week Mrs. Adams sent a walking trip permission slip home in your child's folder.  If you ave not returned this form to school please try to get it filled out this weekend and sent back on Monday.  Leaves are starting to fall and we would love to take a walk along the bike path looking for signs of fall and collecting some leaves.  Thanks so much.  BA

Well, this has been an incredible week.  The Gingerbread Man kept us high with anticipation all week and today we learned he had left the building to travel the world.  He did promise to keep in touch with us through postcards, so we are hoping it won't bee too long before we hear from him!

Aside from that adventure, we also read three different versions of The Gingerbread Man and made comparisons between the three.  We learned that some stories are so old and have become such favorites, that they are retold in different ways.  Each student has made a picture book of the Gingerbread Man so they can retell the story in their own words.  These books are now in their book boxes and as they retell the story to either Mrs. Adams or myself, they will bring it home. 

Throughout the year we make many little books so I am hoping you can find a special spot to put these books as they come home.  Eventually your child will be able to read some of these books and in the meantime, as you read with them, encourage them to finger point to each word so they get the concept of what a word is, and they can begin to identify some of the high frequency words.  We have spent a lot of time working on class expectations and it really makes a huge difference as the year goes on.  We only have 5 rules - be kind, be safe, show respect, do your best, and have fun - and be making daily reference to these rules as needed, the children are beginning to make better choices. 

Enjoy the weekend.  Looking forward to continuing the blog next week.  Barbara Ann

We had no luck tracking down the Gingerbread Man although we did receive two more notes - one that Mrs. McCarthy, our school nurse brought to us, and one that was found on the cafeteria door at lunch time. Mrs. McCrthy said she saw him from behind but he was just too quick for her to catch! Tomorrow is a new day!

I have received some very positive feedback about using this format so I will continue to let you know what is happening in the classroom through the blog.  I will try to update at the end of each day.  Please feel free to make general comments on the blog as well, however, if you have questions or concerns with your child specifically, please contact me through email or by phone. 

Well, things did not go as planned today. First thing this morning our class made a fantastic looking gingerbread man out of the 'dough' Mrs. Adams had prepared. It smelled so good we could hardly wait till snack time so we could sample this delectable treat. We carefully carried the cookie sheet up to the cafeteria, putting it in the oven to cook for a half hour. When we returned to retrieve our treat, the little guy had disappeared, leaving a note saying he had gone off to explore the school. We split into two groups and slowly made our way back to the classroom, searching all the nooks and crannies along the way but to no avail. It seems he was watching the class in PE this afternoon because Ms. Bischoff found a not onn her desk and then our 5th grade buddies came down to our room with yet another note at the end of the day. As we travelled through the halls to lunch, some of our students thought they saw shadows and a leg, but we had o luck catching this evasive creature. Maybe we'll have better luck tomorrow.

Good evening everyone.  This is my first blog and I am trying this out as a means of sending newsletters rather than use the school email that is inefficient at best.  Please respond with the first name only of your child so I will know how many were able to access this blog.  Thanks so much.