Expedition Express
 

Our crew continues to make connections and learn about the stories behind the people that built the Transcontinental Railroad.  Currently we are working on writing a friendly letter, from the viewpoint of a Chinese railroad worker to a fictitious family member in China.  The protocol we use for this type of writing activity is called a R.A.F.T.S.  This is an acronym for:
 

  • Role – Chinese laborer
  • Audience – Fictitious family member in China
  • Format – Friendly letter
  • Topic – working on the railroad
  • Strong verb:  explaing and describing

The crew has focused on creating a rubric based on the California Standards to assess our writing skills.  We have also taken a closer look at the 5 parts of a friendly letter.
Question of the Week:  What are the 5 parts of a friendly letter? (date, salutation/greeting, body, closing, and signature).
We look forward to sharing our writing with you next week at conferences.

Crew News
 

Nevada County Library:  Our walk to the library tomorrow has been cancelled due to training for the library employees at the Nevada City branch.  The Truckee library will be closed tomorrow.  All student books will automatically be renewed by the librarian.

Goal Setting Conferences:  Next week is our Goal Setting Conference week.  These conferences are meant to have the parents, teacher, and student all sit down as a team and decide on one academic and one social/character goal the student would like to complete this year.  Please have a discussion with your child at home, using the Goal Setting Worksheet in your child’s Tuesday folder about areas your child would like to improve.  There is also a parent questionaire in the folder as well.  Bring both of these sheets to your child’s conference next week.

Nightly Reading:  In addition to having a conversation with your child about Goals, I would like for you child to get into the habit of reading every night.  This week’s homework is to focus on reading at home for a period of 20 – 30 minutes.  Ask your child following their reading about the important events in the story so far.  Why do they think these events are important.  Please initial the reading log following the reading each night.  Only sign the night’s your child actually reads.

 

SELS News
 

eScrip:  The eScrip contest is in full swing.  I sent home a couple of e-Scrip forms for you to help find family and friends that will support SELS in this no-cost fundraiser.  Complete the form with the name, address, phone number, and Safeway Club card number.

Pitch-n-Putt at Tahoe Donner:  This Sunday, October 23, come out and help the Brisbin Crew earn money to help pay for fieldwork to Yosemite National Park this Spring.  Information on this fun family event is in your child’s Tuesday folder and on the main page of this web site.  See you on Sunday.

Bear Walk:  Monday, October 31 is the SELS annual Bear Walk from 9:30 – 11:30am.  Students may wear costumes to school and participate in the Bear Walk.  Please be sure they are wearing appropriate outfits for school and weather.  Students will be allowed to wear their costumes for the remainder of the day.