Surely Someone Will Read It

I've often wondered how many parents actually read my weekly newsletter.  I know they have busy busy lives and some have papers coming home from several different teachers.  I continue to send it home in faith though.  Surely someone will read it.

I've posted about my newsletter before, but I felt the urge to tell a little bit more about my favorite parts.  Plus, Laurie from Chickadee Jubilee shared with me how to post this very cool view of it without taking a picture like I would normally do.  Thanks Laurie!

• I always include a quote, because I'm not smart enough to say it like the experts.
• I don't want to get too wordy, but I like to keep parents informed about some of what their reader, writer, speller, mathematician, and thinker will be up to.
• There are always school-wide happenings that I don't want parents to think they never heard about, so I remind them of things not to forget.
• Ask Me About is one of my favorite sections.  This is in honor of the many times a child has been asked, "What did you learn today?" and they gave the infamous response of,  "Nothing."  Oh, huh.

• Finally, when parents turn over the newsletter they get to read a few writing samples.  I love sharing these with parents each week.  I get to highlight my little authors, the author's parents feel all warm and fuzzy, parents see where their young writer fits into the spectrum of typical writing ability, and maybe, just maybe, parents will not pass up a chance to read my newsletter because they hope their little darling's writing is on the back.  Crossing my fingers!

A Newsletter Treat

I send home a weekly Friday newsletter.  I've been tempted at times to take a survey to find out how many parents actually read it, but I'm chicken.  What if only three do?  Oh well, I'll keep sending them home regardless.  At least no one can say I'm keeping secrets.  


My newsletter has several sections:  Reading Workshop, Writing Workshop, Math, Theme, Handwriting, Don't Forget, and Ask Me About.  I suppose they aren't the most exciting things a parent could read over the weekend, but I sure do hope they pay attention to the back.  That's my favorite part at least.  That's where I feature the writing of a few authors from our room.  I choose pieces they've written during Writing Workshop, shrink them down to fit on the page, and translate the hieroglyphics of first grade writing for parents.  I hope it sends the message that we're all writers worthy of being featured and enjoyed by audiences even outside of our classroom.


Here are the two pieces that I'm hoping parents are reading on the back of their newsletter as I type this.

I went to the zoo with my uncle and Nicole and they were holding hands.  (Check out the talking bubble.)

First we saw the butterflies.  They were landing on us.

 Then we played on the giraffe slide.  My uncle pushed me down.

 We were playing wall ball with my brother and his friends.

It was rolling in the grass.  We were chasing it.

I got it.  My brother almost got it but I got it.