We are almost ready to start the new school year--2013-2014! Summer has flown by. Teachers start back to work (officially) July 29th. You can bet I will be there before then.
There is a registration night July 30 at 5:00-7:00. Hope to see everyone at that time. Looking forward to meeting my new students and greeting the old ones.
There first day of student attendance is August 6th. I believe that is an abbreviated day with students getting out at 11:00. Stayed tuned for further developments!
It's going to be an "Out of This World" year!
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Stress-less
This is a picture of how I felt last week.
Not so this week! I, for one, am glad the TCAP testing is over for K-2 for this year. School's not over yet, however. I still have a few more great weeks left to accomplish a lot in preparing your child for the third grade!
I am going to do a little more with multiplication, of getting students to see the arrays (rows and columns) as 2+2+2 is this same as 3 x 2. We are still going to work on subtraction practice--two and three digits. Also, there will be more writing the next few weeks, emphasizing a strong beginning with great word choices. There will be homework still, but not nearly as much as the evenings are being filled with many outdoor activities. I understand family time.
We will be studying Native Americans starting May 6th. There will be several activities and craft projects, done at school. Also, there will be a few art projects relating to story books I have read to the students. One book is called Giraffes Don't Dance, which shows students that every one finds his/her way to do something, not always the way everyone else does. Those paintings will be up for the Art Show during the Arnold School Play. Hope you will have time to look at the artwork on display.
Not so this week! I, for one, am glad the TCAP testing is over for K-2 for this year. School's not over yet, however. I still have a few more great weeks left to accomplish a lot in preparing your child for the third grade!I am going to do a little more with multiplication, of getting students to see the arrays (rows and columns) as 2+2+2 is this same as 3 x 2. We are still going to work on subtraction practice--two and three digits. Also, there will be more writing the next few weeks, emphasizing a strong beginning with great word choices. There will be homework still, but not nearly as much as the evenings are being filled with many outdoor activities. I understand family time.
We will be studying Native Americans starting May 6th. There will be several activities and craft projects, done at school. Also, there will be a few art projects relating to story books I have read to the students. One book is called Giraffes Don't Dance, which shows students that every one finds his/her way to do something, not always the way everyone else does. Those paintings will be up for the Art Show during the Arnold School Play. Hope you will have time to look at the artwork on display.
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Our Week to Shine
It has finally arrived--the week we have been working the entire year for! TCAP testing! It's our finest hour, so to speak!!! We have prepared and are ready...I am not sure who will be most nervous-the kids or me!
To make it easier on you, there will not be any homework or spelling test this week. We are concentrating on the testing! Our afternoons will be Earth Day Fun.I have a couple projects planned I think your child will enjoy doing! So sit back and enjoy your child this week without the homework battle. Let them run and play outdoors, but get them to bed at a decent hour! Whew! (by the way, free breakfast will be served all week long to K-2 students)
To make it easier on you, there will not be any homework or spelling test this week. We are concentrating on the testing! Our afternoons will be Earth Day Fun.I have a couple projects planned I think your child will enjoy doing! So sit back and enjoy your child this week without the homework battle. Let them run and play outdoors, but get them to bed at a decent hour! Whew! (by the way, free breakfast will be served all week long to K-2 students)
Monday, April 15, 2013
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Review this Week
We are reviewing for our tests next week. These will take us back to the beginning of the year studies...in math, there is place value, expanded form, standard form, how to use a timeline, graphing, telling time, measurement, counting money, and addition and subtraction. Also the newer concepts such as geometry with vertices, faces, edges, making arrays, and knowing about halves, thirds, and fourths. Busy week!!!
Next week we'll begin the tests on Monday. The afternoons will be light things, including studying Earth Day....
Please make sure your child gets adequate rest on the test nights. I need them to be fresh and alert. Thanks for helping your child succeed! We are ready!
Next week we'll begin the tests on Monday. The afternoons will be light things, including studying Earth Day....
Please make sure your child gets adequate rest on the test nights. I need them to be fresh and alert. Thanks for helping your child succeed! We are ready!
Our Mini Walk!
On Friday, April 12, we had a mini walk for the Cystic Fibrosis Find a Cure Campaign at Arnold. We made banners, collected money, and had a great time walking for "a cure." Here are a few pictures.
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| A rowdy bunch of hat tippers! |
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| No words |
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| In the gym |
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| Mr. Chai |
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| who's that sneaking around the corner? |
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| Our sign this year. |
Sunday, April 7, 2013
TCAP Dates for K-2 Have Changed
Dates for our TCAP testing is April 22-26. This change is due to the need for smaller testing groups. In order to do that, we need to use our personnel wisely, thus creating two testing weeks. Please make sure your child is here on these days, as makeup testing is sometimes difficult. The tests will be given in the mornings when students' minds are fresh and alert. Also, make sure your child gets adequate sleep the night before. We need to see the best performance from your child!
I do not like this testing week anymore than you do...it is too stressful for students as well as their teacher. But it must be done, and we will persevere together! Ahhhh! Testing!
I do not like this testing week anymore than you do...it is too stressful for students as well as their teacher. But it must be done, and we will persevere together! Ahhhh! Testing!
Monday, April 1, 2013
Gearing Up for the End of the Year
Welcome Back from Spring Break! We're on the back stretch now, but there is still a lot of work to be done. I am counting on your child to really have good listening ears and a great learning spirit as we getting ready for TCAPS!
Geometry is our focus in math these next two weeks and then we will be working on setting up arrays (the stepping stones for multiplication). Your child will be able to tell about faces, vertices, and edges of 3D figures. They will also be comparing 2D and 3D shapes. Your child still needs to work on learning those addition and subtraction facts! Get a set of flash cards to help them learn them so they do not have to rely on their fingers--which ultimately, will save them time.
The rest of the year calendar is also on the blog under "In Room 222." Lots of things happening. I will need some volunteers for our carnival on May 21. Let me know if you can help out. It is in the afternoon around 2:30 that day.
Homework this week will look like this:
Geometry is our focus in math these next two weeks and then we will be working on setting up arrays (the stepping stones for multiplication). Your child will be able to tell about faces, vertices, and edges of 3D figures. They will also be comparing 2D and 3D shapes. Your child still needs to work on learning those addition and subtraction facts! Get a set of flash cards to help them learn them so they do not have to rely on their fingers--which ultimately, will save them time.
The rest of the year calendar is also on the blog under "In Room 222." Lots of things happening. I will need some volunteers for our carnival on May 21. Let me know if you can help out. It is in the afternoon around 2:30 that day.
Homework this week will look like this:
Saturday, March 16, 2013
What Will We Learn in Room 222 This Week? March 18-22
This week will be a very busy week. Report cards go home and there are parent/teacher conferences on Tuesday and Thursday. Your child will be learning about:
Math/Geometry: Polygons, Angles, Vertices, and Edges. There will even be a "Polygon Glyph Monster" creation.
Spelling: Words with -ed and -ing endings
Reading/Social Studies: We are going to be learning about the Past, creating our own timelines, and learning about Heroes of Tennessee.
Language: Adverbs and Combining Sentences.
Art: We have ART this week with Mrs. Buffington on Wednesday.
The best news: Spring Break begins at 3:30 Friday afternoon!!! No school March 25-April 1.
Kalani and her family are in Puerto Rico visiting her family. Keep them in your thoughts. If any of the rest of the families are traveling, please be safe. I will see you on April 2, 2013, Tuesday.
I am not traveling this spring break. Maybe I can get some much needed flower bed weeding done!!
Math/Geometry: Polygons, Angles, Vertices, and Edges. There will even be a "Polygon Glyph Monster" creation.
Spelling: Words with -ed and -ing endings
Reading/Social Studies: We are going to be learning about the Past, creating our own timelines, and learning about Heroes of Tennessee.
Language: Adverbs and Combining Sentences.
Art: We have ART this week with Mrs. Buffington on Wednesday.
The best news: Spring Break begins at 3:30 Friday afternoon!!! No school March 25-April 1.
Kalani and her family are in Puerto Rico visiting her family. Keep them in your thoughts. If any of the rest of the families are traveling, please be safe. I will see you on April 2, 2013, Tuesday.
I am not traveling this spring break. Maybe I can get some much needed flower bed weeding done!!
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Sunday, March 3, 2013
March, 2013
We began March with many activities for Dr. Seuss and the Read Across America Day. Some of the activities are posted outside our classroom door. Please come by and take a look at what your child has put together.
We now have 5 student computers in our classroom and an Ipad. Kids really enjoy using the computers!!!
Spring Parent Teacher Conferences are Tuesday, March 19 and Thursday, March 21, 2013 from 4-7 PM. I will be sending a sign up sheet home this week for you to list your first and second choice. If you have another child in another grade, let know as I will try to schedule so that you can do both, not at the same time. Because conferences are two evenings, school will be closed Monday, April 1st.
The end of the quarter is March 12th. The report cards will go home on March 19th.
Topics for this week:
We now have 5 student computers in our classroom and an Ipad. Kids really enjoy using the computers!!!
Spring Parent Teacher Conferences are Tuesday, March 19 and Thursday, March 21, 2013 from 4-7 PM. I will be sending a sign up sheet home this week for you to list your first and second choice. If you have another child in another grade, let know as I will try to schedule so that you can do both, not at the same time. Because conferences are two evenings, school will be closed Monday, April 1st.
The end of the quarter is March 12th. The report cards will go home on March 19th.
Topics for this week:
- Continue working with your child on counting money. Have them show you different ways to make the same amount.
- I will be testing for reading levels this week. So have your child read to you to continue practicing fluency.
- We are studying about Government this week. Ask your child every day what they learned in Social Studies.
- We are doing something called "Drops in the Bucket." This is a daily spiraling review of both language arts and math. These are not graded, but reviewed each day for understanding and success.
Have a great week! Spring break is just around the corner!
Sunday, February 24, 2013
I Am Back!
Hello!
I am back from a quick trip to Iowa to see my family. In spite of the really cold and snowy weather, I had a great time! I got to play in the snow and love on my precious granddaughters.
Being back means we have to concentrate on serious preparation for the state testing in April. That's just around the corner! Yikes! If it stresses you or your child, please know that it stresses me a lot more!
This week in math we will be learning to count back change from a dollar. Reading class will be reading stories about Helen Keller. Language class will be working on correcting writing and grammar errors!
Being back means we have to concentrate on serious preparation for the state testing in April. That's just around the corner! Yikes! If it stresses you or your child, please know that it stresses me a lot more!
This week in math we will be learning to count back change from a dollar. Reading class will be reading stories about Helen Keller. Language class will be working on correcting writing and grammar errors!
Sunday, February 10, 2013
It's almost Valentine's Day! The kids are excited. I have an awesome week planned to my class.
Monday, we will be celebrating the beginning of the Chinese New Year. It is the year of the Snake (but there won't be any live snakes in the classroom). The class will be learning about some of the things from the Chinese culture I think they will like. Junie B. Jones has been reading to our class. The class loves her visits!
Tuesday is Abraham Lincoln's REAL birthday. We will be reading about Honest Abe and creating a mobile about him. We will also be decorating our Valentine's Day bags.
On Wednesday, we will study gravity. Wait until you hear what we do!
Thursday is the Valentined themed day. Our party will begin about 2:30. Room parents have something very exciting planned!
On Friday, we will be talking about presidents in honor of Presidents' Day on Monday.
It's a busy, yet fun week for Room 222!!
Monday, we will be celebrating the beginning of the Chinese New Year. It is the year of the Snake (but there won't be any live snakes in the classroom). The class will be learning about some of the things from the Chinese culture I think they will like. Junie B. Jones has been reading to our class. The class loves her visits!
Tuesday is Abraham Lincoln's REAL birthday. We will be reading about Honest Abe and creating a mobile about him. We will also be decorating our Valentine's Day bags.
On Wednesday, we will study gravity. Wait until you hear what we do!
Thursday is the Valentined themed day. Our party will begin about 2:30. Room parents have something very exciting planned!
On Friday, we will be talking about presidents in honor of Presidents' Day on Monday.
It's a busy, yet fun week for Room 222!!
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Fridays
It seems Mother Nature does not want us in school on Fridays. Maybe we will have a full week this coming week. We just go with the flow in second grade~
This week we are starting the money unit in math. I have posted some awesome website games to help students with the money counting. You can help also by letting them count the change in your purse or pocket, or what they find in the couch!! I hope to set up a pretend store in the classroom for a couple weeks for them to test their money counting skills. Do you remember playing "store" as a kid? I hope they find success this way!
We are also learning about Matter in Science/Reading. We will be learning about solids, liquids, and gases. Also, there is a lesson on mixtures and solutions. I love science!
This week we are starting the money unit in math. I have posted some awesome website games to help students with the money counting. You can help also by letting them count the change in your purse or pocket, or what they find in the couch!! I hope to set up a pretend store in the classroom for a couple weeks for them to test their money counting skills. Do you remember playing "store" as a kid? I hope they find success this way!
We are also learning about Matter in Science/Reading. We will be learning about solids, liquids, and gases. Also, there is a lesson on mixtures and solutions. I love science!
Monday, January 21, 2013
Four Day Weekends!
I sure enjoyed the two extra days this weekend! The Snow/Ice Day on Friday turned out to be beautiful! I am glad, however, the administration chose to go the caution route.
Things we didn't do in class on Friday will be done Tuesday: last week's spelling test, the report writing for our Penguins, and 3digit addition. We will be starting the Money unit at the end of this week!
Speaking of Penguins, the kids have really taken a liking to research work. Most have a strong handle on it....their interests are picqued! The next research project will be chameleons!
I will be starting to read the story, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, by Kate DiCamillo (Because of Winn Dixie). Here is a blurb about the book from Amazon: "Kate DiCamillo takes us on an extraordinary journey, from the depths of the ocean to the net of a fisherman, from the bedside of an ailing child to the bustling streets of Memphis. Along the way, we are shown a miracle -- that even a heart of the most breakable kind can learn to love, to lose, and to love again." I think the kids will fall in love with Edward as I did.
Things we didn't do in class on Friday will be done Tuesday: last week's spelling test, the report writing for our Penguins, and 3digit addition. We will be starting the Money unit at the end of this week!
Speaking of Penguins, the kids have really taken a liking to research work. Most have a strong handle on it....their interests are picqued! The next research project will be chameleons!
I will be starting to read the story, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, by Kate DiCamillo (Because of Winn Dixie). Here is a blurb about the book from Amazon: "Kate DiCamillo takes us on an extraordinary journey, from the depths of the ocean to the net of a fisherman, from the bedside of an ailing child to the bustling streets of Memphis. Along the way, we are shown a miracle -- that even a heart of the most breakable kind can learn to love, to lose, and to love again." I think the kids will fall in love with Edward as I did.
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Penguins!
I hope your child is enjoying the penguin study as much as I am! Last week, we made penguins out of toilet tissue rolls, with the help of two room mothers, Mrs. Klingler and Ms. Rhan. Those two extra sets of hands were certainly appreciated. Thanks, Ladies!
This week, since the students have finished their research on their penguin, we will be writing a paper about our newfound knowledge. We will also be making a life-size comparisons of penguins. We will be making graphs to show the differences and similarities!
We are also continuing our daily Power Reading. From 3:00 until about 3:25, we are reading our chapter books. I am seeing a lot more time being spent on the actual reading, rather than the "just looking at the pictures."
Love those penguins! Jack Frost's friend, Pinky, changes locations every day. We have to find his location! Pinky reports to Jack Frost about our classroom behaviors. He hasn't disappeared because of any bad behaviors!
This week, since the students have finished their research on their penguin, we will be writing a paper about our newfound knowledge. We will also be making a life-size comparisons of penguins. We will be making graphs to show the differences and similarities!
We are also continuing our daily Power Reading. From 3:00 until about 3:25, we are reading our chapter books. I am seeing a lot more time being spent on the actual reading, rather than the "just looking at the pictures."
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Welcome to 2013
Welcome to the New Year......I hope the new year brings lots of great learning and wondering in Room 222~
I stayed home the entire vacation..meaning I didn't go home to Iowa...so I did a lot of research, reading, and planning for our second graders. I hope you will see more from your child in the form of reading, writing, and math! They are now halfway to being 3rd graders. Wow! That sounds unbelievable! I need your help to practice addition and subtraction facts with your child, as well as telling time to 5 minutes (12:35, 2:45, 6:15, etc. They can count by 5s). We will be starting our money unit next week!
First of all, I am going to get your child reading out of chapter books. Of course, they will be at a 2nd or 3rd grade level, so not too overly long and intimidating. One of our second grade standards relates to writing an opinion about a book or topic they've read. It states: "W.2.1: Write opinion pieces in which they introduce the topic or book they are writing about, state an opinion, supply the reasons that support the opinion, use linking words (e.g., because and also) to connect opinion and reasons, and provide a concluding statement or section." Whew! I will send a list of great books if you happen to go to the library. (The list has only some of the many wonderful books available).
You will also be hearing about the new behavior color system....much like the old one, but.....everyone starts on purple (I'm being good!). Then yellow is the warning. Blue means 5 minutes lost from recess, orange-lose whole recess, and red is the parent call! So, if your child stays on purple ALL day, they are rewarded! Better colors---more consistancy rewarding all the great behaviors!!!
Again, thank you for your understanding while I was out for my knee surgery. I am doing so much better with the break over Christmas. Unfortunately, I still can't get down on my knees and get back up again.
Looking forward to a fabulous rest of new year.....the rest of the second grade year with your child....it's going to be a splendifferous!!!
I stayed home the entire vacation..meaning I didn't go home to Iowa...so I did a lot of research, reading, and planning for our second graders. I hope you will see more from your child in the form of reading, writing, and math! They are now halfway to being 3rd graders. Wow! That sounds unbelievable! I need your help to practice addition and subtraction facts with your child, as well as telling time to 5 minutes (12:35, 2:45, 6:15, etc. They can count by 5s). We will be starting our money unit next week!
First of all, I am going to get your child reading out of chapter books. Of course, they will be at a 2nd or 3rd grade level, so not too overly long and intimidating. One of our second grade standards relates to writing an opinion about a book or topic they've read. It states: "W.2.1: Write opinion pieces in which they introduce the topic or book they are writing about, state an opinion, supply the reasons that support the opinion, use linking words (e.g., because and also) to connect opinion and reasons, and provide a concluding statement or section." Whew! I will send a list of great books if you happen to go to the library. (The list has only some of the many wonderful books available).
You will also be hearing about the new behavior color system....much like the old one, but.....everyone starts on purple (I'm being good!). Then yellow is the warning. Blue means 5 minutes lost from recess, orange-lose whole recess, and red is the parent call! So, if your child stays on purple ALL day, they are rewarded! Better colors---more consistancy rewarding all the great behaviors!!!
Again, thank you for your understanding while I was out for my knee surgery. I am doing so much better with the break over Christmas. Unfortunately, I still can't get down on my knees and get back up again.
Looking forward to a fabulous rest of new year.....the rest of the second grade year with your child....it's going to be a splendifferous!!!
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