UNICEF Benefit at Jones Pumpkin Patch

Jones Pumpkin Patch is having a Children's UNICEF Benefit this weekend on Saturday and Sunday from 10-4pm.  Fawn Hollow's Art Teacher, Mrs. Scarpati, will also be there to carve pumpkins as part of a demonstration they have planned for visitors.

This is a children's event to benefit UNICEF with face-painting stations, tattoos, a pumpkin sculptor and Mrs. Scarpati! 

Sounds like a fun time....  Mark your calendars!

 

Laps for Learning

Reminder: Our Laps for Learning Walk-A-Thon kicks off on Monday! Students will be participating during their physical education class time over the course of the week. Students are invited to wear their team color on the day they walk (Farias = GREEN). Pledge sheets can be returned on the day that your student is scheduled to walk. Please use the following link to access information regarding walk times and team colors. http://www.fawnhollowpto.org/laps-for-learning-walk-a-thon.html.

We are also still accepting volunteers to help us count the laps as the students walk and cheer them on in their efforts. Volunteers are welcome for any of the classes, but we have a particular need in the following classes:

Farias, Room 10 - Monday, 10/21, 9:45-10:15

Carter, Room 4 - Monday, 10/21, 10:15-10:45

Haughton, Room 34 - Monday, 10/21, 12:30-1:00

Fracassini, Room 35 - Monday, 10/21, 1:15-1:45

Mysogland, Room 31 - Tuesday, 10/22, 2:45-3:15

If you are interested in volunteering for these or any of the classes, please contact Tanya Lennon (TanyaLennon@aol.com) or Kelly Tsichlas (KellyTsichlas@gmail.com) to be added to the volunteer schedule.

Writing Realistic Fiction

Students have been busy working on their first piece of writing for publication - Realistic Fiction.  Each morning, students write in their Writer's Notebook.  These short pieces become seeds - ideas for a formal and complete published piece of writing.  Students were taught to take those seeds and turn them into fiction.  Even if they wrote about themselves doing something over the weekend, the idea can be similar but the characters and/or the setting can change.  Students learned that authors often write about their personal experiences and what they know but change the characters and setting t
o make it a "new" story rather than a piece of writing on an "old" event.

Students have chosen which seed they would like to continue to work on and develop.  We've talked about the importance of setting and describing it for the reader.  We also have been working on creating believable characters who might have struggles and motivations.

The hardest part for students is the idea that writing can change - writing can have multiple drafts.  Students are learning and practicing what good authors do every day and for many of them it has been an eye-opening experience.  Ask your child about their characters and the story they are developing around them.  It will be wonderful seeing all their hard work in their final completed piece of writing.

The Text Said

These are the three magic words that I teach students to use when responding to open-ended questions in reading.  The three words - The Text Said - forces students to prove their answer by using evidence from the text.  This also shows if the person responding to the question fully read the text and understood what they read.  The only way to prove one has understood what they read is by responding orally or in written form and by using evidence from the text.  By using the three magic words, it helps students to focus their answers and is a reminder to use information from the text to show understanding.

PTO Meeting - Tonight

The first PTO meeting of the new school year is tonight!  Hope you can come to hear about all the exciting things the PTO has planned for this year. Participating in our PTO is a great opportunity to be involved in our Fawn Hollow community while having fun and meeting other families.  The meeting will begin this evening in the teachers' lounge at 7 pm with a meet and greet with Mrs. Kosisko followed by the general meeting at 7:30 pm. 

Reminders

Open House - tomorrow, September 12 starting at 7pm in the All Purpose Room.  If for some reason you can not make it to the Open House - not to worry.  I will send all the hand-outs home with your child on Friday.  Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

TODAY is the last day to order books from Scholastic Book Club.  To the right of this post, click on the Scholastic Book Club link to enter your order.  If it's your first time ordering online, you will need the class activation code which is: GW9ZN.

Hope to see you all tomorrow - think cooler weather!!  Today was tough! 

Scholastic Book Club

Scholastic flyers went home today with a letter explaining how you can place your order.  Orders may be placed online at scholastic.com/readingclub or you may return the order form with a check.  Please make checks payable to Scholastic - No Cash Please.

Students also received their GRL today or Guided Reading Level.  Their level was determined using testing done at the end of third grade.  I have told students that they should read books at their GRL, one level down - which should make for an easier read, or one level up - which should be a bit of a challenge.  A student's GRL will change during the year when other assessments are given.  Students will always know when their GRL changes so that they read appropriate books at their reading level.

The reason I mention this is because every Scholastic flyer will showcase certain books and reading level information.  Some schools use GRL while others use Lexile Level, for example.  Not every book will show a GRL, but the majority of books in the flyer will have that information printed below the book description.  Again, this is a way to make sure you are buying books that your child will be able to read and comprehend with little frustration.

Another great resource to use when selecting books at a store or library is http://www.scholastic.com/bookwizard which will allow you to see what GRL a chosen book is.  Bookmark this site!

Enjoy looking through the flyers and shopping.  All orders need to be in by Wednesday, September 11.