Ms. Brooke Obviously Needed More Coffee

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Coffee Break

A few pictures from Partner Book Exchange on Dec. 16th

Well it is obvious that Ms. Brooke needed more coffee to begin her week back in 2012 as she found many errors in her communication with you this week. Thanks for being flexible, allowing me to make mistakes, and going with the flow.

Change of Dates
First of all...our Partner Book Read Aloud Share is today at 2:30 (not 12:30 as originally noted). Sorry for the confusion. At any rate, I hope that you can read your child's partner books (both written for and by them). The books will be on display throughout January.

Fantasy Tales were a huge hit at Partner Book Exchange

Happy 2012! Not 2010 as I stated in my reflection blog. I hope it is off to a grand start for you. The weather has been unimaginable and a great delight as friends play tag, race their cars, plan ultimate frisbee moves and share their holiday gifts during recess. This week we shared about Winter Break 2011 from the Author's Chair. First of all, it sounds like you had a mix of great adventures (hiking the Rocky Mountains) and great misadventures (hurt feet and falling Christmas trees!). Second of all, your children are growing, growing, growing as writers! Their use of sensory detail, punctuation and sequence is a delight to see in January and I'm so excited for them to show off their talents at the Author's Coco in February!

Some friends wrote about heroic partners saving the Eifel Tower

Finally, our Project Homework: Generation Study is NOT due on Monday, January 16th because... well... your kids won't be here. I will be at Willowwind working alongside my fellow teachers helping to create curriculum designed specifically with your children (and the thinkers that they are) in mind. Therefore, Project Homework will be due on Friday, January 20th.

We love our partners. 

Project Homework
The purpose of this Project Homework is for you and your child to engage in a discussion about each generation and their contributions to the community that they live in today (our local community, learning community and family community). It also allows your child to see how life has changed in a relative amount of time. Finally, it allows for space in which your child can share about their family and practice their Public Speaking/Presenting Skills. Children will be able to see how their family histories are similar and different as well as tracking how communities, homes, and resources have changed since their grandparents were 5, 6,7, and 8 years old. This may be a project that friends will be able present to their K-6 community at the Our Community and Beyond Night in March. Please e-mail me if you have questions or ideas!

A Racerunner, Wolf and Cottontail share their stories.

I look forward to sharing our week back and the remarkable inquiries your children are making about the Tundra and environmental responsibility. It has been a very successful week back in class and I am reminded that your children are a special part of my day as teaching in this space is truly a dream come true.

Take good care!

Ms. Brooke

P.S. Check out this Press-Citizen Opinion Piece about Willowwind School

Notice the green grass behind our Partner Family!