Return of the Daily Routine, Take Home Books, and Curly Straws!

Tomorrow is the big day!  I return to school and the daily routine/daily juggle begin again.  I'm not certain how smooth it will go, both for me and for the kiddos!  My little man was sick over the break so our normal sleep schedule is way (I mean WAAAAAAY off!)  That 5:30 am alarm could be the end of me! 

Since it is now the second part of the year, I am changing up our take home book routine.  This is the first year that I have really stuck to take home books.  Don't get me wrong here, I sent home books in the past but I just wasn't as intentional about all of the pieces as I am this year.  I started the whole thing off with just picture books being sent home so the families could establish some kind of reading routine at home.  There was a book log included with this as well.  Now for the second half of the year, the kids will take more of the reading responsibilities on.  I will send home a leveled reader at each child's current reading level.  He/she will read the book to someone at home, complete the book log included, and make sure to use the fancy and fun curly straw that I am sending home as well. 

The two pictures are what the curly straw pointesr look like and the little note I attached to them!  My biggest concern with switching over the reading responsibilities was that parents were not going to be as picky as I am about tracking print.  I'm hoping and keeping my fingers tripled crossed that the kids get beyond excited about these pointers and tracking print just happens because they want to use the pointers!

~Erin