Happy 2012!

Happy New Year to you all! I hope this posting finds you relaxed and doing well. I thoroughly enjoyed Winter Break soaking in wonderful moments with my family and friends. I am glad to be back. I truly missed your child's smiling face and burst of energy. The half way point of our school year is just around the corner and the Cottontails are gearing up for the much anticipated 100th day of school! What a special accomplishment to look forward to. Here are a few reminders and notes about our short week back together.

~ There is no new Cottontail Communicator, spelling sort, or math packet for this week. New items will go home at the start of our first full week back together.

~ We will spend the remainder of this week easing back into our routines and learning a few new routines. The class was introduced to our new quiet reading time routine today. They did very well and are excited for this new addition to our school day. It was wonderful to sit and listen to the students quietly sound out words as they read to themselves. I am so very proud of them and am excited to watch their reading continue to grow. Because of this new routine please be sure that your child brings their Book Bag to school everyday. Also, please remember, due to our our new quiet reading routine, students do not need to bring their rest time blankest to school.

~ This week, students will receive new Guided Reading books. Take a look at the new books that make their way to your child's home. Clean out the stickered books - those can going your family's at-home library. At the end of January, and throughout February, I will be working with students one-on-one to assess their reading growth.

~ Next week, we will be adding even more new activities to our Morning Meeting routine and introduce Time Test Tuesdays which will help us learn and memorize our basic math facts. More information will follow.

~ Don't forget to join us THIS Friday, January 6th at 2:30 for a late Group Discussion where you can enjoy your child's partner book. You will be able to read with your partner and listen to their partner family's partner books. This is an exciting opportunity for your child to show you their hard work. We hope to see you there. Don't miss it as your child's hard work will soon go home as gift to their partner's home. See you there!

Happy 2012! May the last half of the school year be just as wonderful (if not more!) than what 2011 brought us!