When it comes to writing, it really is true that one gets better at writing the more that one writes. To that end, I aim for writing daily (there's rarely a week that we manage to get five days of writing in at school, but it's still my goal).
Not every third grader starts the year loving writing. In fact, not many do! But I always begin with personal narrative, which means that students are writing the true stories of their lives. We start by writing what we know and learning various writerly moves as we go. Many students (and their parents!) are pleasantly surprised to find that they are enjoying writing, once they get going.
Please encourage your child's efforts and do not be overly critical. These are just first tries at writing and it's tough! Right now, our emphasis is on getting as much of the story on the page as we can. Elaboration, revision, and editing come later.
i-Ready Diagnostic Assessment - A few students have finished one section (reading or math) and have begun the second. I expect that most students will have finished one section by tomorrow. (Our assessment block was cut short by school pictures this morning.) Please do not worry if your child reports that they have not finished a section. Better that they do their best than that they finish early by rushing and making careless mistakes.
We've got our first field trip on the calendar: Warrior Queen: Anahit the Brave. I'll wait to send home the permission slip until October, but (for you planning purposes) we will attend this play at The Colony Theatre in Burbank on Tuesday, November 15. It's a morning performance and we will arrive back at Keppel in time for lunch. We don't know yet what we will be receiving from PTA in terms of field trip bus funds, so we are collecting the total cost this trip: $20 per person. We will definitely be going on more field trips this year so we will use those funds another time.
. . . which gives me the opportunity to make a plug for joining our wonderful Keppel PTA! It really is the best bargain in town at $10 per membership. Our goal is to get every family to purchase at least one membership.