10/22 update...

Hello Parents and Students,

We have begun our genre of informational writing. Consequently, our reading focus has shifted from fiction to non-fiction text pieces. As the year progresses, you will see the importance of learning how to read and write in the non-fiction style, as our science and social studies topics begin to play a more important role in school. It is very important that your child can take all those little details about a particular subject and come up with an overall "main idea". The key components of informational writing are:
1. the writing contains facts, not opinions
2. resources are used to support the facts (internet, books, encyclopedias)
3. a main idea is conveyed in the topic and closing sentences

Our Extra Credit Project will be ongoing over the next two weeks (Due no later than Nov. 3rd) The student's reward will be his/her choice of lunch with any 2nd grade friend in our room or a trip to the prize box! We have a very important election coming up in November, and I believe it is very important that our children grasp the significance of this event. Encourage your child to write an INFORMATIONAL PAPER on a topic related to the election. Some ideas may be to write a paragraph about one of the candidates, about the election process, about who can vote in our country, or a past president. Follow the steps below to help write an organized paper:
1. Choose a topic that interests you (make your topic narrow so your focus is clear).
2. Research the topic (use the internet or a book)
3. Make an "umbrella organizer"
a. write topic sentence at top of umbrella (does it state the main idea?)
b. list your three supporting details (words, not sentences)
c. write your closing sentence (restating the main idea)
4. Turn your organizer into a paragraph.
5. Have a parent help edit your paper.
6. Include a graphic (draw your own picture or print one from the Internet).

Thank you for visiting the blog today and encouraging your child to participate in this extra credit homework. The secret message for all you bloggers this week is "Obama or McCain?". Write this in your child's agenda AFTER talking about this year's very important election, and your child will earn a special reward!

Have fun!