A long standing tradition at PNA is that of “Parent Lunches”.  These gatherings of students and family happen in every grade at PNA four times a year.  Over the years, they have evolved from just lunches and have branched out into breakfasts and afternoon snacks.  The premise behind these gatherings remains the same however, which is having a special someone (parent, grandparent, friend, sibling) breaking bread and sharing in a classroom activity.

The benefits of “Parent Lunches” are far reaching and important.  They are an excellent way for families to see what a typical activity and way of learning in the PNA classroom looks like.  They offer the opportunity for families to connect with other families in the classroom, which can otherwise be challenging in these hectic lives we lead.  Kids are excited to become the teachers as they explain and demonstrate things they are working on and learning about in the classroom.  And of course, there is always yummy food to share and enjoy!

Our first gathering was an afternoon snack that found the second grader’s families listening and learning about Author’s Purpose.  There were some passages to read together and then decisions to make about the author’s purpose of the passage.  Was that passage intended to Persuade, Inform or Entertain the reader?  Students (and family members) needed to use good reading skills and critical thinking to discern the difference.  Then they were given immediate feedback in the form of QR codes to see if they had correctly identified the author’s purpose.

Thank you families for spending part of your day to come and learn with us!