October 27: Newsletter

IMPORTANT DATES:

October 31: Classroom Halloween Party 9:30-10:30

November 3: Early Release/Dismissal at 12:15

November 8 & 14: Parent-Teacher Conferences

November 28: Christmas Program

Halloween is right around the corner!   Our Halloween party will be on Tuesday, October 31 from 9:30-10:30.  All parents are welcome to join us for the fun!  Students may wear their costumes to school or change right before the party.  Please make sure all students have a change of clothes.  We will be costume free after our party. 

Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held Wednesday, Nov. 8 and Tuesday, Nov. 14.  Please send back your confirmation paper by Monday if you haven't done so already.  

READING:

October Book-It forms are due next week.  If you would like your child to participate, please sign the calendar and return it to school.  I will then send the calendar back home with a Pizza Hut certificate for a free personal pan pizza for your child.  The coupon is good for pick up only and the child must be present, as well as one coupon per child a day.  Happy reading!

Next week we will learn that readers try to describe a character by naming that character's traits.  We can do this by mixing together all that we have learned about a character through their actions, thoughts, and feelings as they try to get what they want.  We will learn that readers don't just make guesses about a character's traits.  Instead, we name specific examples from the story to prove that the character is a certain way.  We will look for information about what kind of person a character is as we read, looking for places in the text that show off that information.  

WRITING:

This week students drafted the first page of their personal narratives.  They thoughtfully wrote a catchy lead to grab the reader's attention.  Next week we will develop the middle of our narratives by intentionally adding in the character's feelings, thoughts, and dialogue.   

MATH:

Next week we will take two days to review for our first math assessment.  This assessment will cover addition and subtraction within 20 and a variety of word problems.  We will plan to take the official assessment on Thursday.  Please look for a review coming home at the beginning of next week.  It will be helpful to look over the review with your child at home before the assessment in class.  

GROWTH MINDSET:

Next week we will begin to spend time self reflecting on our growth as mathematicians.  Students will share their new learning or thinking each day.  We will use the ideas below to guide our reflections...
*Describe a new strategy you learned.
*Tell a math word you learned and what it means.
*Describe a mistake you made and what you learned from it.
*Explain how you challenged yourself today.
*Tell about something you noticed today and how it helped you solve a math problem.  

October 20: Newsletter

IMPORTANT DATES:

October 24: Holiday Posters Due

October 26: Picture Retake Day and BPC Skating Party 

Time: 6-8pm

Cost: $5 admission, $1 skate rental 

Location: Tarry Hall Roller Rin

 3330 Fairlanes Ave 

Grandville, MI 49418

October 31: Classroom Halloween Party 9:30-10:30

November 3: Early Release/Dismissal at 12:15

November 8 & 14: Parent-Teacher Conferences

November 28: Christmas Program

Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held Wednesday, Nov. 8 and Tuesday, Nov. 14. We are just about finished getting everyone schedule.  A form will come home on Monday letting you know your time and day! 

READING:
I am still looking for TWO  parent volunteers to help out in the classroom once a week to work directly with our 2nd graders.   I am hoping to have a volunteer help students with their reading fluency and math facts on Monday and/or Wednesday morning (9:00-9:40).  Please let me know if you are interested!  A brief job description is posted below.  

Reading:  You will be working with students one-on-one as they read 12 different sentences.  These sentences are called "fluency strips".  The purpose of these sentences is to help build up blending skills with simple 3-4 letter words as well as high frequency words.  In addition to this, the sentences are short and easily decodable to support fluency practice.  
Math:  You will be working with students one-on-one as they practice an individualized list of addition and subtraction facts.  The purpose of these facts is NOT to have students simply memorize the facts but to strengthen their number sense and provide strategies for solving each fact efficiently.  

Our main focus as readers this week was to learn more about the characters.  We read to determine what the character really wanted or needed.  We then made predictions about what the character would do to solve the problem.  Second graders learned that we can grow as readers when we confirm and even change our predictions.  Next week we will pay close attention to how the characters act and feel.  We will better understand the book when we can understand what the character is going through. 

WRITING:

We began to plan our first personal narrative story in this unit as we study authors as mentors.  As writers, we know it is very helpful to plan our stories in MANY ways before writing.  We compared the processes of planning our stories to the practice we do in a sport before the big game.  In second grade, we are learning to plan our stories by...

playing the small moment in our minds like a movie

planning it across our fingers (making sure it has a beginning, middle, and end)

talking it out with a parnter

sketching it across five pages

tracing the lines while thinking of the exact words that will go on each page.

Next week we will take our thought out plans and begin drafting our personal narratives.  

MATH:

We will continue to work through word problems next week.  We will focus on how to think like mathematicians to solve comparison word problems as well as 2-step word problems.  Comparison word problems and 2-step word problems are the most challenging word problems we will face all year.  We are learning that it is so important to give help to others when needed and ask for help when needed.  The more we can talk through these problems with each other to fully understand them the more likely we are to solve them accurately and efficiently.  

GROWTH MINDSET:

I can CHANGE my MINDSET with my WORDS!

Instead of-I am not good at this.   I can say-I am not good at this YET, but I will learn!

Instead of-I am great at this.          I can say-I practiced and learned how to do this.

Instead of-This is too hard.             I can say-This will require a bit more time and effort.

Instead of-This is too easy.              I can say-How can I make this more challenging?

Instead of-I am afraid I will make a mistake.

I can say-When I make a mistake, I will learn from it and get better!!! 

A special THANK YOU to the Parent Club for the ice cream party on Friday!  We enjoyed every bite!!!  Also, a huge THANK YOU to you for helping your child raise money for the Walk-a-thon.   Our class was in second place for raising the most amount of money.  What a better way to celebrate than with ICE CREAM!!!

October 13: Newsletter

IMPORTANT DATES:

October 17: Marco's Pizza Night (Don't forget to mention Bauer when ordering.)

October 20: Scholastic Book Order Due (see details below)

October 26: Picture Retake Day/BPC Skating Party 

October 31: Classroom Halloween Party 9:30-10:30

Today you will find a holiday poster in your child's Friday folder.  This is an optional project!  If your child is interested in participating in the Hudsonville Holiday Coloring Contest, they will need to turn the poster back into school by October 24.   All submitted artwork will be displayed throughout town, and the winners from each grade will be displayed at City Hall, receive a special prize bag, and get to ride on the Holiday Trolley in the parade.  Happy decorating!!!

READING:
Just a friendly reminder that the Scholastic book order is due by Friday, October 20.  To order online, use the code HM67V.   Thanks!

I am looking for a handful of parent volunteers to help out in the classroom once a week to work directly with our 2nd graders.   I am hoping to have one parent each morning to work with students on their reading fluency as well as build upon their addition and subtraction fact fluency.   It would work great to have your help from 9:00-9:40.  If this sounds appealing and works for your schedule, please let me know what day works best for you. Also, you will need a cleared background check before volunteering in the classroom.  This is district requirement.  Feel free to contact the office with any questions about starting this process if you haven't done so already.  Thanks!  I am excited to get started and greatly appreciate your help!!! 
I already have a volunteer for Tuesday and Thursday.  I would love your help for Monday, Wednesday, or Friday.  Please see the job description below for more details.

WRITING:

We are moving on to a new unit of study, but will continue to write personal narratives.  We will begin this unit by reading many books by famous authors and will use the authors as our mentors.  We will keep a running list of the writing strategies we enjoy in their writing in order to try the same strategies as we write.  Our main goals is to make sure we are the main characters in our stories and to provide details that help the reader picture each moment.  

MATH:

We started to learn how to solve compare word problems.  These problems are a bit more challenging than the previous ones we have worked with in class.  Compare problems ask students to compare two things by using the words more or fewer.  At this point, many students have a solid understanding of how to solve these type of problems using counters and drawings.  Next week, we will add in an equation to support our thinking and verify our answers.  

GROWTH MINDSET:

This week we watched a short video explaining how our brains works when we face challenges.  The students learned that our brains are filled with neurons that connect by sending electrical signals to one another.  We found out that this happens when we do many things like reading or riding a bike.  We can help our brains make more of these connections when we do challenging things.  After this video, I asked the students to try to overcome a challenge by figuring out a riddle.  As they were brainstorming answers, a student said..."MY BRAIN IS LIGHTING UP!"  I love how the second graders are learning that we can handle difficult things!!! 

Here is a preview of the job assignments for volunteers:
Reading:  You will be working with students one-on-one as they read 12 different sentences.  These sentences are called "fluency strips".  The purpose of these sentences is to help build up blending skills with simple 3-4 letter words as well as high frequency words.  In addition to this, the sentences are short and easily decodable to support fluency practice.  
Math:  You will be working with students one-on-one as they practice an individualized list of addition and subtraction facts.  The purpose of these facts is NOT to have students simply memorize the facts but to strengthen their number sense and provide strategies for solving each fact efficiently.  

Friday, October 13

A few reminders...
*It's an early release day.  School dismisses at 12:15.
*Only sack lunches will be offered. (No lunch at school)
*Please have your child wear his/her "Be Awesome" T-Shirt
*We have a busy morning! We will attend the walk-a-thon assembly, as well as meet with our school families. It should be a fun way to end our week!

Calling all parent volunteers!

I am looking for a handful of parent volunteers to help out in the classroom once a week to work directly with our 2nd graders.   I am hoping to have one parent each morning to work with students on their reading fluency as well as build upon their addition and subtraction fact fluency.   It would work great to have your help from 9:00-9:40.  If this sounds appealing and works for your schedule, please let me know what day works best for you.  Also, you will need a cleared background check before volunteering in the classroom.  This is district requirement.  Feel free to contact the office with any questions about starting this process if you haven't done so already.  Thanks!  I am excited to get started and greatly appreciate your help!!! 

Here is a preview of the job assignments:
Reading:  You will be working with students one-on-one as they read 12 different sentences.  These sentences are called "fluency strips".  The purpose of these sentences is to help build up blending skills with simple 3-4 letter words as well as high frequency words.  In addition to this, the sentences are short and easily decodable to support fluency practice.  
Math:  You will be working with students one-on-one as they practice an individualized list of addition and subtraction facts.  The purpose of these facts is NOT to have students simply memorize the facts but to strengthen their number sense and provide strategies for solving each fact efficiently.  

Great Opportunity

Attention parents!

Please join us for our first Hudsonville Public Schools Parent Connection Night! This event will take place on Tuesday, October 17 from 6:30-8:00 at Baldwin Street Middle School. You will be able to choose 2 different sessions from the following options:

- Screen Time: Impact, Safety and Setting Limits

- Teaching Kids to Get Along: Navigating the Roads of Friendships and Siblings

- Home Organization: Simple Systems to Help Your Entire Family be Successful

- Positive Behavioral Strategies for Younger Kids: Less Words and More Visuals

These sessions will all be run by Hudsonville staff members Lisa Keskitalo, Kate Randall, Carrie Ysseldyke, and Melissa DeGroot.  Child care will be provided for children ages 5 and up.  We will also have desserts and giveaways!

Please sign up using the following link: 

HPS Elementary Parent Connection Night

October 6: Newsletter

IMPORTANT DATES:

October 13: Early Release Day (students dismissed at 12:15)

October 17: Marco's Pizza Night (Don't forget to mention Bauer when ordering.)

October 20: Scholastic Book Order Due (see details below)

October 26: Picture Retake Day/BPC Skating Party 

October 31: Classroom Halloween Party 9:30-10:30

While the calendar says it is fall, the thermometer is hanging on to summer for at least a couple more days.  I hope you have a great weekend and enjoy the beautiful weather ahead!

Don't miss the Parent-Teacher conference form that was sent home in your child's Friday folder.  Please return the form my Friday, October 13.  Thank you!

READING:
Today you will see a Scholastic book order in your child's Friday folder.   If you are interested in ordering any new books for your child, please submit your order online by Friday, October 20 using the classroom code HM67V.  Don't miss the many great books found in this order including...The Boxcar Children, Flat Stanley, Owl Diaries, Puppy Place, and many more!  Happy reading!!!

We have officially completed our first week of SRC.  EVERY 2nd grader took their first quiz this week.  Way to go!!!  In your child's Friday folder, you will find his/her SRC report. On the report you will see a list of the quizzes your child has completed and the score they earned on each quiz.  Students need an 80% or higher in order to pass the quiz.  Please let me know if you have any questions regarding your child's SRC report.  

Please continue to make sure your child reads 5 nights a week for 20 minutes each night.  It is very helpful to have you fill out and sign your child's reading log.  Thank you to the parents that were committed to this reading homework and filling out the reading log this week.  Students will hand in their reading logs each Friday.  

WRITING:

Next week we will learn how to edit and revise our small moment stories.  We will also take time to celebrate our completed stories by having a mini publishing party next Friday.  Students will get the chance to read many other small moments.  We will work on noticing the great writing strategies used in each story.

MATH:

We have spent a great deal of time working on solving word problems using equations and drawings.  Second graders are finding out that they can show their thinking in many different ways and that explaining their strategy to a math partner helps them understand  the concept even more.  

GROWTH MINDSET:

Each day we are mindful of finding our favorite mistake.  You may be asking..."What is a favorite mistake?"  We have found it very empowering when we can celebrate our mistakes.  Therefore, I take time every day to find a mistake that a 2nd grader has made that we can celebrate.  I have often seen students light up when they are given words of praise.  Now I have seen that same sense of pride when we point out one of their mistakes.  They are learning that their mistake is the perfect way to showcase new learning.  

September 29: Newsletter

IMPORTANT DATES:

October 5: Hearing Testing

October 13: Early Release Day (students dismissed at 12:15)

October 17: Marco's Pizza Night (Don't forget to mention Bauer when ordering.)

October 26: Picture Retake Day/BPC Skating Party (details coming soon)

October 31: Classroom Halloween Party 9:30-10:30

Thankfully the weather was able to cool off mid-week and our classroom become much cooler!  We had many new things starting this week including- Super Switch (Reading Intervention Time) and Scholastic Reading Counts.  Please check out the details below!

READING:
This week we will officially begin our reading homework!  I hope you had a chance to check out your child's book bag this weekend.  You will find a parent letter fully explaining the reading expectations for 2nd grade in the bag.  Your child's reading homework will be connected to an online program called Scholastic Reading Counts (SRC).  2nd graders are typically quite motivated by this program and the incentives they can earn at library.   All you will need to do at home is help your child read 5 nights a week for 20 minutes each night.  Once students finish a book, they can sign up to take an SRC quiz at school.   We will spend a great deal of time this week becoming familiar with taking a quiz on the computer or iPad.  To make this program successful it is very important for students to have their SRC book bag at school everyday (even if they aren't ready for a quiz).  Many students like to read their SRC books in class!   Also, students will hand in their weekly reading logs on Fridays.   Please help your child fill out the chart, sign the bottom, and return it to school on Friday.  Thank you!!!

In your child's Friday folder, you will see a BOOk-IT calendar for the month of October.  You may use the time your child reads for SRC to count also for the BOOK-IT program.  At the end of the month, please sign the calendar and return it to school.  I will then send the calendar back home with a Pizza Hut certificate for a free personal pan pizza for your child.  The coupon is good for pick up only and the child must be present, as well as one coupon per child a day.  Happy reading!

At Bauer, we strive to meet the needs of every child and their unique strengths and struggles.  One way we do this is through our SUPER SWITCH groups.  This is a targeted reading intervention time.  All students participate in a smaller group that targets a specific reading skill for an extra dose of support or enrichment of that skill.  Daily interventions allow students to receive an extra boost in a small-group setting.

WRITING:

Students are on a roll drafting their small moment stories.  Next week we will work on adding details to describe the character's actions, thoughts, and feelings.  We will also revise our leads and endings.  Our goal will be to write a lead that grabs the reader's attention and makes them want to read more as well as writing an ending the wraps up our stories with a wish, a hope, or a feeling.

MATH:

This week we spent a lot of time practicing our double facts.  Please continue to practice these facts at home too!  We are learning that when we know the doubles facts it helps us know many other related facts.  Please ask your child how they can use a doubles fact to solve 6+7.  

Next week the majority of our time will be focused on solving word problems.  We will make a problem solving book that will teach us important steps to follow to obtain an accurate solution.  We will work hard to fully understand each word problem before trying to solve.

GROWTH MINDSET:

Children's belief systems fuel their performance and academic success within the classroom.  As teachers and parents we have the power within our classrooms and homes to feed and encourage a growth mindset.  If a child possesses a growth mindset, they can look at a classroom task with a "go-getter" attitude and are able to bounce back from challenges with an optimistic point of view.  When they fail at something they understand that they can use that experience to learn new ways to achieve growth towards a goal.