Persuade me!

We have begun our next unit of study in writing - Persuasive Writing!
Today we began talking about what it means to persuade someone.  Where do we see persuasive writing? When is it used?  Why is it used?  What does it look like?

This week, for homework*, we're going to hunt for persuasive writing - writing that contains an opinion and supporting facts and details to convince you to agree with the author's opinion.  Your child will have a slip explaining the assignment and asking for some information about the piece they found.

We began planning a piece of persuasive writing today.  We want to convince someone to watch our favorite movie or TV show, or to read our favorite book.  First, we had to state our opinion of that movie/TV show/book being great.  Then, we had to give three reasons why our opinion was correct and back those three reasons up with details.  Last, we had to write a conclusion, or a restating of our opinion.  Persuasive writing has 5 parts:

- Opinion
- Reason, details
- Reason, details
- Reason, details
- Conclusion

We will continue writing persuasive writing all month on a variety of topics!  Check back to see some of our work!


*(As a side note about homework, the math flash-cards sent home last week should be reviewed until all are fluent.  Maybe quiz your child with the cards. If he/she gets the correct answer, put it aside.  Continue reviewing those that are answered incorrectly until all of the cards can be put aside.  Fluency is important!)

Announcements!

1 - On Wednesday, February 29th our class will be performing in the Music Share.  I don't know what time the performance will be, but I will send out information once I receive it.  We will be playing recorders, drums, and shakers.  This event is being led by the S'cool Sounds music program we take part in on Tuesdays.

2 - Tomorrow, Thursday, February 16th our class will be visiting East Side Middle School.  We will be hearing/reading nonfiction pieces of writing that the students at the middle school wrote.  They will be similar to the nonfiction piece of writing we did in November/December but in a more advanced level.  I think it will be a great way for our students to see where their work will be headed as they grow and mature as writers.

3 - You will be receiving a form regarding Cook Shop today.  On Wednesday, February 29th, our class will be observed by people from Cook Shop during our chef lesson about grains.  They will be bringing some reporters, apparently, as well.  They need this form completed in order for your child to participate. 

4 - If you have not done so already, please sign and return the last page in your child's progress report.  There is also space for you to write comments/questions/concerns should you have any.  There are a number of forms that have not been signed and returned.  Thank you!

Cook Shop with Families

As I've written before, Cook Shop is a great program for public schools in NYC.  We learn healthy eating habits, explore the food groups, and actually cook healthy foods!

Today for Family Friday, we made a delicious Greek yogurt Vegetable Dip.  We had to cut, measure, grate, and mix to create the dip.  We also made creative pictures using healthy snacks.  Parents, if you took pictures, please send them my way - I didn't get a chance to take any!

The recipe for the dip:

We worked in groups of 5 to create the dip.

Next, we got bowls and bowls of fresh fruits and veggies -- cucumbers, red peppers, carrots, green peppers, celery, orange peppers, radishes, yellow peppers, green beans, and tomatoes.  We created beautiful pictures using these healthy snacks on our plates.  We made flowers, suns, boats, people, zombies (complete with tomato-guts oozing out of the head wounds), names, and lots more!  

A parent sent in a picture of her child's creation:

A flower with a bright yellow sun shining above

Again, parents, If you got a picture, please send it to me!  

Then we tasted our beautiful creations with the dip.  Yum!

Thanks to all of the parents who came today and helped us cook.  I hope you enjoyed your time in our classroom.  Our next cooking lesson will be the week after Mid-Winter Recess - we will be working with grains!

Family Friday

On Friday, 2/10/12, we will be having our next Family Friday event!

We will be learning more about the Cook Shop program and making some creative and healthy snacks together.  We have studied vegetables and fruits in our program so far, and we will make the best use of that knowledge.  We will begin studying grains next week!

Join us from 8:45-9:30 on Friday to help your child fall in love with healthy foods and get some recipes for your own kitchen!