September 16: Newsletter

We really got into the swing of things this week! The class is working so hard to follow our routines and procedures. I could not be more proud of this group! We were able to complete a few assessments and next week I will be testing your child's reading to find their independent level. These will be reported out to you in our data notebooks, which will start coming home the last week of September. 

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Wednesday, September 21: Picture Day

Friday, September 23: Walk-a-thon (We will be walking from 9:00-9:45.  We would love to have you join us!)

Monday, September 26: Hearing Testing and Scholastic Book Order Due

Wednesday, October 5: Evacuation Drill

Friday, October 14:  Early Release/Dismissal at 12:15

READING:

Library began this week!  In second grade, students will be checking out 2 books.  This week students were allowed to check out free choice books.  In a couple weeks, students will make a switch and check out book only good fit books (at their independent reading level).  In class, we will spending the next few weeks during independent reading time building our reading stamina and tracking our thinking in our reader's notebooks.  

Today I have sent home our first Scholastic book order.  If you are interested in ordering please submit your order by Monday, September 26.  If you are interested in ordering online, our classroom code is HM67V.  If you are unable to order online, feel free to send in the order form with a check made out to Scholastic. There are so any fabulous books that scholastic offers. It is worth taking a peek. Order forms will come home each month.  Let me know if you have any questions.  Also, don't miss the red Scholastic folder in your child's Friday folder.  There is a coupon for a FREE book!  

WRITING:

The first unit of writing in 2nd grade focuses on narrative writing, or small moments.  These are true stories of events that have happened to us.  This week we will discuss how to identify small moment ideas and the importance of planning those ideas in many ways (using our fingers, through drawings, playing them like a movie, and with a partner).   In addition to this, we are will work very hard to build good writing habits.  We will practice building our writing stamina and taking ownership of our writing.

MATH:

Right now we are reviewing skills that were taught in 1st grade.  This is important because these are the foundational skills necessary for the more difficult skills to come.  We spent a great deal of time last week understanding a math mountain.  Ask your child to explain how to find the total and the partners in a math mountain.  You will find a Family Letter in your child's Friday folder that further explains the importance of math mountains.  You will also find math mountain cards to use for addition and subtraction practice at home.  We will use math mountain cards in the classroom as well They are a great resource to use to help build fact fluency.
Also, you will notice that your child has math REMEMBERING pages in his/her Friday folder.  Your child will complete a remember page most mornings in the classroom.   This year we will not be completing traditional math homework.  Instead, please look over the remember pages with your child and fix up any misunderstanding and errors.  You do NOT need to return these pages to school unless marked "return to school".  It is my hope that this new type of homework does not take a great deal of time, but will have a lasting impact on their learning.  Thanks for your help!

SOCIAL STUDIES:

Our focus will be on communities this year.  We will begin by learning the characteristics of a community: natural and human characteristics, buildings, businesses, transportation, and diversity.  We will also make a booklet about  the reasons why people live in a community.  Through our study we will learn all the reasons that make Hudsonville so great!  Go Eagles!!!

We had fun celebrating Constitution Day!!!