I hope everyone has a safe and happy Halloween. Thanks to all the parents who are set to help on Friday. Thanks to all the parents who are sending food, prizes and other goodies. Finally, thanks to all those parents who are sending their child to school well-rested and full of a good healthy breakfast to get through the special events of the day.
Reading
We continue to read stories with the theme of kindness. This week we focused on the reading skill of recognizing cause and effect. Reading groups are working on fluency, skimming, looking for the main idea and summarizing.
Math
Please practice math facts at home frequently! The addition and subtraction facts should be mastered securely. Next week we will work on solidifying our understanding of place value and money skills.
Science
Two students each week will be responsible for tending our composter. Students can bring in a small ziplock bag of compostable material. PLEASE NO FRUIT or VEGETABLE peelings. We had some trouble with fruit flies. Items such as leaves, grass clippings, dead houseplant leaves, onion and garlic "papers" are OK. Coffee grounds are useful, too. This week Alexa and Ruby are our environmentalists.
Social Studies
We are focusing on the Eastern Woodland Tribes of North America this week and next. This week we learned about the "Three Sisters" of the Native American diet. We also learned a game and started some beading.
Many of you have asked for a list of the states for our Friday quizzes. Click here for a list of our states in the order they are introduced.
You can now contact me via voice mail if that is easier than email. Dial 708-406-9218 and leave a message.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Room 100 Happenings
Conferences
I enjoyed meeting with EACH family this week! Thank you for coming. If you got home and realized you forgot to ask me something, please do not hesitate to set up another meeting, phone call or time to talk.
Reading, Writing, Math (and all that other stuff we do!)
Hopefully conferences gave you an idea of what we are doing in the classroom and how you can help. I am very pleased with the progress the students are making and I know you have been working hard at home to support our efforts.
Halloween
Thanks to those of you who volunteered to help with the party. It will be just right. Remember that students will change into their costumes AT LUNCH time. Please do not send your child to school in a costume. We will have PE that day, so don't forget gym shoes. If you are helping with the party or will be home that day, it is helpful to have your child go home to eat and change. I can't wait to help the children who stay at school change into costumes, so do not feel like your child will be stranded if you can't help that day. We will be eating lunch one hour later than usual-from 12:00-1:00. Tammy Schulz will provide a small snack to get them through gym and the extra hour!
Mayflower
Your child will receive his/her Mayflower assignments and directions next week with the homework. Please read these over carefully and let me know if you have any questions.
Zero Waste Lunch
Beye School is trying to have a zero waste lunch day this coming Wednesday. Please help your child pack a zero waste lunch. If your child will be getting hot lunch that day, talk to her about only taking packets of things she really needs and how to dispose of them.
I enjoyed meeting with EACH family this week! Thank you for coming. If you got home and realized you forgot to ask me something, please do not hesitate to set up another meeting, phone call or time to talk.
Reading, Writing, Math (and all that other stuff we do!)
Hopefully conferences gave you an idea of what we are doing in the classroom and how you can help. I am very pleased with the progress the students are making and I know you have been working hard at home to support our efforts.
Halloween
Thanks to those of you who volunteered to help with the party. It will be just right. Remember that students will change into their costumes AT LUNCH time. Please do not send your child to school in a costume. We will have PE that day, so don't forget gym shoes. If you are helping with the party or will be home that day, it is helpful to have your child go home to eat and change. I can't wait to help the children who stay at school change into costumes, so do not feel like your child will be stranded if you can't help that day. We will be eating lunch one hour later than usual-from 12:00-1:00. Tammy Schulz will provide a small snack to get them through gym and the extra hour!
Mayflower
Your child will receive his/her Mayflower assignments and directions next week with the homework. Please read these over carefully and let me know if you have any questions.
Zero Waste Lunch
Beye School is trying to have a zero waste lunch day this coming Wednesday. Please help your child pack a zero waste lunch. If your child will be getting hot lunch that day, talk to her about only taking packets of things she really needs and how to dispose of them.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Reading Log and Halloween
Families,
I inadvertently left the reading log off the homework packets. The students noticed and celebrated. (It's always heartwarming to hear how they really feel.) I told them that if they read extra this week they did not need to record the minutes or write the summary. They solemnly agreed. Sorry for any confusion.
When you stop by for conferences please consider signing up for helping with our Halloween Party. There are lots of ways you can help from home, before the party or during the party.
Our party will be at the end of the day for scheduling reasons. Lunch is moved to 12:00 that day and if possible, students are encouraged to go home and get dressed for the Halloween parade. (Of course I will help any child who needs help getting dressed and can't go home!) The parade starts around 1:15. Our party will start when we return around 1:50.
I inadvertently left the reading log off the homework packets. The students noticed and celebrated. (It's always heartwarming to hear how they really feel.) I told them that if they read extra this week they did not need to record the minutes or write the summary. They solemnly agreed. Sorry for any confusion.
When you stop by for conferences please consider signing up for helping with our Halloween Party. There are lots of ways you can help from home, before the party or during the party.
Our party will be at the end of the day for scheduling reasons. Lunch is moved to 12:00 that day and if possible, students are encouraged to go home and get dressed for the Halloween parade. (Of course I will help any child who needs help getting dressed and can't go home!) The parade starts around 1:15. Our party will start when we return around 1:50.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Room 100 Happenings
What a rainy week!
Conferences
I am looking forward to seeing each of you at our scheduled conference. If you cannot make it please send me an email or call the school immediately so we can reschedule. We'll be going over some reading, writing and math assessments and also talking about work habits and social skills. It is a packed agenda and I look forward to sharing my observations with you. The book fair will be going on in the commons throughout the week. Take a minute to stop by on your way!
Reading
Students are working on identifying the main idea and details that support this main idea. This works very well with our writing goals, too. After your child reads for 20 minutes. Ask her if she can tell you what the main idea of the chapter or book was. Have her list some ideas that support that main idea. Encourage her to go back to the book if she is not sure!
Math
Practice! Practice! Practice! The main objective of our unit is to make addition and subtraction facts fluent. Practice these at home, in the car and at dinner! Practice them at breakfast, on the way to the bus...
Writing
We are still working on the writing process. This week we did a timed writing assessment. It was a narrative prompt and I am scoring it using the 6 traits of writing as a guide. I will share those at conferences.
Science
We have our composter-thanks again to Barbara Dolan. We will begin composting next week. We will also be carefully observing some worms before we introduce them to the composter. Cool Stuff!
Social Studies
In addition to the opportunity to see the Teepee on Friday, we have been reading some books about the First Nations. There was some good discussion after we read a book, Encounter by Jane Yolen, about Christopher Columbus. Please ask your child about these discussions. Also, look for information about the Mayflower to come home next week. It will have information about your child's character and the supplies needed for our journey.
Conferences
I am looking forward to seeing each of you at our scheduled conference. If you cannot make it please send me an email or call the school immediately so we can reschedule. We'll be going over some reading, writing and math assessments and also talking about work habits and social skills. It is a packed agenda and I look forward to sharing my observations with you. The book fair will be going on in the commons throughout the week. Take a minute to stop by on your way!
Reading
Students are working on identifying the main idea and details that support this main idea. This works very well with our writing goals, too. After your child reads for 20 minutes. Ask her if she can tell you what the main idea of the chapter or book was. Have her list some ideas that support that main idea. Encourage her to go back to the book if she is not sure!
Math
Practice! Practice! Practice! The main objective of our unit is to make addition and subtraction facts fluent. Practice these at home, in the car and at dinner! Practice them at breakfast, on the way to the bus...
Writing
We are still working on the writing process. This week we did a timed writing assessment. It was a narrative prompt and I am scoring it using the 6 traits of writing as a guide. I will share those at conferences.
Science
We have our composter-thanks again to Barbara Dolan. We will begin composting next week. We will also be carefully observing some worms before we introduce them to the composter. Cool Stuff!
Social Studies
In addition to the opportunity to see the Teepee on Friday, we have been reading some books about the First Nations. There was some good discussion after we read a book, Encounter by Jane Yolen, about Christopher Columbus. Please ask your child about these discussions. Also, look for information about the Mayflower to come home next week. It will have information about your child's character and the supplies needed for our journey.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Second Grade Travels
We have a lot of important dates coming up. Please mark your calendars so you and your child are prepared for each event.
October 16th:
9:00-9:55 Native American Teepee. Children will get the opportunity to sit in a real teepee and imagine what it would be like to live on the Great Plains. This is a PTO sponsored event.
10:30-11:00 Soil Adventure Mobile. Students will look at an exhibit on soil, listen to a story and meet earthworms. It is a supplement to our study of rocks and soil. If you have not already paid your $4.00 to cover the cost of this in school field trip, please send your money immediately.
October 19th
3:05 Conferences Begin
October 20th
10:00 Picture Day. Ordering envelopes went home on Thursday. If you did not receive one please let me know right away.
3:05 Conferences -
October 21st
We will visit the Book Fair as a class. The book fair is open all week after conferences. The proceeds go to support many of our reading initiatives.
2:05 - 6:15 Conferences
October 22nd
11:05 Conferences
October 26th
9:50 Green Team Assembly
October 30th
11:00 Halloween Class Party. This is a tentative time pending parent participation, principal approval and other logistical obstacles!
12:00 Our lunch is moved to 12:00 on this day. We will parade after lunch as a school.
October 16th:
9:00-9:55 Native American Teepee. Children will get the opportunity to sit in a real teepee and imagine what it would be like to live on the Great Plains. This is a PTO sponsored event.
10:30-11:00 Soil Adventure Mobile. Students will look at an exhibit on soil, listen to a story and meet earthworms. It is a supplement to our study of rocks and soil. If you have not already paid your $4.00 to cover the cost of this in school field trip, please send your money immediately.
October 19th
3:05 Conferences Begin
October 20th
10:00 Picture Day. Ordering envelopes went home on Thursday. If you did not receive one please let me know right away.
3:05 Conferences -
October 21st
We will visit the Book Fair as a class. The book fair is open all week after conferences. The proceeds go to support many of our reading initiatives.
2:05 - 6:15 Conferences
October 22nd
11:05 Conferences
October 26th
9:50 Green Team Assembly
October 30th
11:00 Halloween Class Party. This is a tentative time pending parent participation, principal approval and other logistical obstacles!
12:00 Our lunch is moved to 12:00 on this day. We will parade after lunch as a school.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Second Grade Travels
It seems Fall has arrived!
Science
Please see the note in your child's folder about an exciting opportunity to learn more about soil when the Field Museum's Soil Adventure Mobile comes to Beye! The cost for this program is $4.00 per child. Please send payment in no later than Tuesday, October 6.
We have been learning a lot about rocks and minerals. Students learned that rocks are made up of minerals. We are learning to sort rocks by properties and we are learning about different types of rocks. Thanks to all of you who generously shared your rocks from home!
See the link to the left for a fun way to do some cyber mining! Can you find gold?
Conferences
A sign up sheet for conferences will go home on Monday with the homework. RETURN IT THE NEXT DAY! You will have a chance to indicate your first three preferences for conference times. On Tuesday I will compile the list and send home a complete list of conferences. I look forward to sharing your child's work and progress with you!
Tastings
We had our first tasting of the year on Tuesday. Yummy! Please see the note in your child's folder for more information about this second grade tasty tradition.
Reading
Everyone is doing a great job on the reading logs! I am sure you must be noticing the great progress your child is making in reading with these extra minutes of sustained silent reading at home. I know it is not always easy to make your active second grader sit down and read. (Try making 24 of them do it!) Your efforts are showing up in the classroom every day.
Scholastic Book orders are due Monday! Go to the link on the left to place an order.
Writing
We published our first stories. They are fantastic. I'll share them at conferences. We will learn a trick to make our stories more interesting next week. We will introduce a problem into our story!
Math
Practice the basic addition and subtraction facts every day! Buy or make a set of flashcards. We will send home fact triangles next week that should be kept in a safe spot.
Science
Please see the note in your child's folder about an exciting opportunity to learn more about soil when the Field Museum's Soil Adventure Mobile comes to Beye! The cost for this program is $4.00 per child. Please send payment in no later than Tuesday, October 6.
We have been learning a lot about rocks and minerals. Students learned that rocks are made up of minerals. We are learning to sort rocks by properties and we are learning about different types of rocks. Thanks to all of you who generously shared your rocks from home!
See the link to the left for a fun way to do some cyber mining! Can you find gold?
Conferences
A sign up sheet for conferences will go home on Monday with the homework. RETURN IT THE NEXT DAY! You will have a chance to indicate your first three preferences for conference times. On Tuesday I will compile the list and send home a complete list of conferences. I look forward to sharing your child's work and progress with you!
Tastings
We had our first tasting of the year on Tuesday. Yummy! Please see the note in your child's folder for more information about this second grade tasty tradition.
Reading
Everyone is doing a great job on the reading logs! I am sure you must be noticing the great progress your child is making in reading with these extra minutes of sustained silent reading at home. I know it is not always easy to make your active second grader sit down and read. (Try making 24 of them do it!) Your efforts are showing up in the classroom every day.
Scholastic Book orders are due Monday! Go to the link on the left to place an order.
Writing
We published our first stories. They are fantastic. I'll share them at conferences. We will learn a trick to make our stories more interesting next week. We will introduce a problem into our story!
Math
Practice the basic addition and subtraction facts every day! Buy or make a set of flashcards. We will send home fact triangles next week that should be kept in a safe spot.
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