Welcome back after the long weekend -- I hope that it was a good one for all.

After choice time today, we had our morning meeting. Paco got to read his Star of the Week poster (nice job, Paco!!), and we were able to read a short book before Writer's Workshop today. Our reading project for this week will be an author study this week of Ezra Jack Keats (books like The Snowy Day, Whistle for Willie, etc.). Today we read Peter's Chair, and talked about the "plot" and how the main character changed during the book. Stay tuned for updates on future books this week!

During Writer's Workshop, we learned about "stretching words" to sound them out, instead of the more staccato, sound by sound method (not buh-o-ah-t for boat, for instance). Ask your child if they can demonstrate it - they did a super job, and we got some of our best writing yet today.

We had an all-school drill today where we practiced what we would be in the case of someone suspicious in the school - we call it a "Code Red" drill, so the kids may come home talking about that. We lock the door, turn off the lights, and wait quietly in a corner of the room until Mr. Cadotte (the principal) announces that it is all clear.

We also met a new friend of Mr. High Hat's from our phonics program -- Buzzy Bee. Buzzy, predictably enough, makes the b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b sound. We brainstormed words that began with that sound.

At the end of the day, we got to play a number game on the 100s chart in which I turned some of the numbers around (they are on little cards on a pocket chart) and the kids had to figure out which ones were turned around -- it goes right with the 100s chart work that the kids are doing on their weekly homework.