Checking In and a Freebie!

Well, the first week ended awkwardly when we got our first snow day...er, "flood day" I should say. After a week of non-stop downpours, the city was flooded and the police advised we close for the day. Oddly, I was sad to miss our first Friday of the school year. I love Friday's because that is the day we meet up with our 4th grade book buddies class. I'm particularly excited because the class we are partnering with has many of my sweet duckies from years past. We will have to put off meeting the buddies until this Friday.

We are chugging along pretty well and making progress with procedures and behavior. Daily 5 is not where I'd like it to be but I always forget how little stamina they have from the get-go. I also have a few kids who are hell bent on "pretend reading." They are purposefully just pretending during read to self practice which requires us to stop after only 2 or 3 minutes. I can tell they probably did the same thing last year anytime they were supposed to do independent reading. It makes me sad that they would rather pretend then actually read but I guess I've got my challenge for the year.

Tomorrow, a letter will be going home to all the second grade families explaining that we will be hiring a new teacher and creating an additional class any day now. It usually takes me a while to get attached to my class but there are a few that I would absolutely hate to loose to a new teacher. I've never been the teacher that instantly loves my class on the first day of school. I don't know why but it takes a while for us to warm up to each other. But after we do, don't you dare steal my sweet ducklings new teacher!

Anyway, here is a letter I send home to parents at the beginning of the year asking for volunteers. I erased my name from the letter and left a blank so you can sign your name if you choose to use it. And for all you Mo Willems fans, be on the lookout for a pigeon-themed class book freebie coming soon :P

Click the picture to download.