September always seems to fly by... at first, we're just getting to know each other and by the end of the month, it feels like we've been working together for ages. It's been a true pleasure working with your children last month! Their shining personalities make coming to Maple Place a joy for me each day!

In September, students started adjusting to the policies and procedures of the classroom. One skill I try to help teach students is time management and prioritizing - critical executive functioning skills. I ask them to pace themselves throughout the week to make sure they're making the most of their time in class and minimizing the work they need to complete at home. It's difficult to find a balance, but most students are doing great so far! 

We launched our Personal Narrative Unit, which focuses on developing Narrative writing skills such as building dialogue and inner thinking to reveal a character, using sensory details to describe the setting and characters' actions, and using grammar techniques such as coordinate adjectives, prepositional phrases, and simple sentences to enhance our story and pull the reader in.  At the end of September, students wrapped up their Bend 1 Narratives. Please take the time to check out some of the fabulous Bend 1 essays submitted below.  In October, we will write two additional narratives before beginning Unit 2: Investigating Characterization.