Kid's Food Basket

Tomorrow is the last day to donate items to our Kid's Food Basket food drive!  We already have over 90 items.  Thank you for your generosity.  In class, we set a goal to collect 120 items.  We just need 23 more to reach our goal!!  If you would still like to contribute, please turn all donations in by tomorrow.  Thank you!!!

Kid's Food Basket Wish List:

Fruit or applesauce cups/pouches

Granola bars

Cracker packs

Snack size zipper bags

Toasted oat cereal

Cheese crackers

Pretzel twists

February 17: Newsletter

UPCOMING EVENTS:

February 24: Spirit Day - Wear your favorite hat

March 3: Students should be at 50% of their SRC goal

March 10: Early Release - Dismissal at 12:15

March 15 & 16: Parent/Teacher Conference (details soon)

March 17 : St. Patrick's Day - Wear Green  

March 31: Students should be at 75% of their SRC goal

May 5: Students should be at 100% of their SRC goal

OTHER NEWS:

Thank you for all of the donations that came in this week for Kid’s Food Basket.  Your generosity is evident as the food items continue to stack up outside of the classroom.  Thank you for fully embracing this project with your child.  The class set a goal to collect 120 items in two weeks.  After week one, we are over half way to our goal!!!  We have one more week to collect 56 items.  All donations are due by Friday, February 24.  Thanks again for your contributions to this great cause.  

You might have heard from your second grader that we spent a great deal of time on Wednesday discussing behavior expectations in school.  We made a few changes in the classroom to promote leadership.  One huge change is that we got rid of the clip chart!  Instead, we posted four main goals in the classroom to remind students of their expectations at school.  Our goals are to be responsible, be kind, be safe, and be respectful.  Each second grader identify an area that they excel in already.  I posted their choices by putting their pictures by the chosen expectation.  You will have to ask your second grader what area they chose.  I think they were very accurate with their decisions.  Students will continue to earn habit cards throughout the day when they display any of the posted expectations.  In fact, many habit cards were given out last week already.  Students will also be able to earn privileges as team captains when they consistently model appropriate behaviors for school.  We also have a plan if students are not exhibiting the behaviors mentioned on the charts.  Students may need a short break away from the class to reset or change their behavior.  If the behavior continues, the student and I will have a short meeting at recess to make a plan for different choices or a reflection paper will be sent home for you to be aware of the behavior occurring at school.  The students and I are excited about these changes.  I am eager to nominate lots of students for team captains in the weeks ahead.  

READING:

Next week we will continue our informational book study.  Students will make predictions before reading and learn when to stop and think about new learning.  I will also have time to complete a reading assessment with each second grader.  I am eager to see how they have all grown as readers.  I will share my findings with you at our upcoming conference next month.  

I did not send home a new word sort this week.  This week’s sort introduced new spelling patterns for the letter ‘a’.  I want to make sure students are fully understanding this new learning and transferring it into their writing.  We will continue with the same sort next week.  

WRITING:

We will completely dive into our opinion writing next week.  We will brainstorm topics for a persuasive review.  Students will be stating their opinions about their favorite books, movies, songs, places, and restaurants as well as supporting their opinions with multiple reasons and evidence.  We will begin the week by examining a review written about McDonalds.  Students will read three different examples and identify the writing traits that make each one convincing.  

MATH:

We continued to practice subtracting from a 3-digit number this week.  We clarified misunderstandings by fixing errors in our work.  This is a tricky concept to master, but I am extremely proud of the students’ perseverance!  I even introduced an new concept of adding up to find an unknown partner or addend.  The class was able to grasp this idea very quickly.  Next week we will continue to practice these concepts for full mastery.  

February 10: Newsletter

UPCOMING EVENTS:

February 14 - Valentine's Day Party - Wear Red/Pink

Classroom party 9:30-10:30:  All are welcome to join us!!!

February 14 - Sucker/Pencil Sale (see photo below)

February 24 - Spirit Day - Wear your favorite hat

March 3: Students should be at 50% of their SRC goal

March 10 - Early Release - Dismissal at 12:15

March 15 & 16 - Parent/Teacher Conference (details soon)

March 17 - St. Patrick's Day - Wear Green  

March 31: Students should be at 75% of their SRC goal

May 5: Students should be at 100% of their SRC goal

OTHER NEWS:

This week we kicked off a community service project.  We are partnering with Kid’s Food Basket to raise items off of their current wish list.  The donated items will be used to fill sack suppers.  The kids who receive sack suppers are at schools were 90% or more of the students live in poverty.  At school they receive federally funded breakfast and lunch, but often go home and do not have dinner.  The sack supper fills a gap that families often cannot afford to meet.  Your child was able to decorate sack supper bags this week too.  Please see the corresponding note in your child’s Friday folder that further explains our project.  Let’s see how quickly we can make our goal of 120 items!  It is very exciting to see kids helping other kids in need.  In fact, an employee at Kid’s Food Basket spoke to the class this week and told us that 33% of volunteers at their agency are kids!!!  He also told us that over 7,000 sack suppers are made every day!  I can’t wait to see how many items we can collect to fill up those bags!!!!

Today we read a book given to us from Kid’s Food Basket.  It was a book about two friends, Tony and Julia.  The book focused on kids helping kids.  The class loved this book.  In fact, a few of the students were cheering when there was a happy ending.  

A note from Kid’s Food Basket as a follow-up from the book:

Just like Tony and Julia, you have the power to make a BIG difference in your school and in the lives of others.  It doesn’t take much-just a kind word or action.  You can think of it as planting a small seed.  When you plant a small seed of kindness or caring, it can make a big tree of difference and change.  Even if you have been a bully, like Tony, or are bullied, like Julia, you have the power to help others.  Kid’s Food Basket believes that KIDS are the key to ending childhood hunger.  When kids help other kids, bigger things can happen.  

I am so proud and impressed with the second graders and their dedication to this project!!!

READING:

Thank you for completing a few of the non-academic homework activities with your child.  Many of the second graders come in each day excited to share an activity they did at home.  We have heard countless stories about a cloud, a rock, and a very tiny chicken.  Check out the pictures below of some of the other activities families have done this month.  

Autumn as her favorite animal.

Fun family nicknames

Favorite item in the house...a pencil box 

Stories about clouds, rocks, and very tiny chicken

Next week we will be working in nonfiction reading clubs.  Our main focus will be to read and monitor our understanding in nonfiction texts related to one chosen topic.  Students will also come prepared to talk in a reading club about the many facts they learned while reading.   

WRITING:

Next week we will begin a new writing unit.  We will start writing to persuade.  Our goal will be to try to make the reader do something, believe something, or buy something by giving opinions.  Students will learn that opinion writing allows them to express their point of view.  An opinion is a belief, a point of view, a result of an emotion or strong feeling, and can be stronger when supported by evidence, facts, and details.  We will begin by stating our opinions about a variety of different hershey kisses flavors.  Also, we will write opinions about spiders and include facts and details to support our points of view.  

MATH:

We just keep plugging away with our strategies to solve 2-digit & 3-digit addition and subtraction.  This would be a GREAT thing to continue to practice at home.  Overall, most students have a solid understanding of these concepts.  However, I still see errors in their work as they are developing more consistency.  The more your child can explain the strategy they use the better!  If they are stuck on a problem, drawing a picture of the hundreds, tens, and ones is very helpful.  

WORD OF THE WEEK: 

Summarize: to sum up clearly in fewer words

Updates

UPCOMING EVENTS:

February 14: Valentine's Day Party 9:30-10:30

Please join us for the fun!!!

March 3: Students should be at 50% of their SRC goal

March 31: Students should be at 75% of their SRC goal

May 5: Students should be at 100% of their SRC goal

It has been so much fun hearing about all of the non-academic "homework" happening at your homes this week! I am very excited about the time you and your child are able to spend together having fun while learning! Many students spent time counting all of the books in the house.  WOW!  Don't forget to send me any pictures of the activities you are doing at home.  I'll post them to our blog for you to see what others are up to!  Keep up the good work!!!

This Friday we will be wrapping up our poetry study.  I would love students to share a favorite poem they have read and spend time reading a variety of different poems.  Please feel free to send in any kids poetry books you have at home or print a favorite poem for your child to share.  Thanks!

Newsletter: January 27

UPCOMING EVENTS:

February 3: Early Release-Dismissal at 12:15

                      Students should be at 25% of their SRC goal

February 6: No School-Winter Break

February 14: Valentine's Day Party 9:30-10:30

March 3: Students should be at 50% of their SRC goal

March 31: Students should be at 75% of their SRC goal

May 5: Students should be at 100% of their SRC goal

READING:

Today you will find a new Book-it form for the month of February.  However, it looks completely different than the previous forms so please don’t miss it.  The Book-it form is connected to a new homework initiative that we are encouraging all Bauer families to complete.  In your child’s Friday folder you will find a note explaining the new “non-academic” homework.  Attached to the letter you will find a board with 16 ideas to complete throughout the month of February.  All of the activities are easy to complete and are a lot of fun!!!   This is completely OPTIONAL.  However, I highly recommend it.  Research shows that developing fine and gross motor skills, building imaginative thinking skills, and fostering a sense of creativity are critically important skills for young learns. You will start to see these calendars coming home each month.  On the back of each monthly calendar, you will find a reading log to keep track of your child’s reading for the month.  This is the new form that we will use for Book-It.  I am really excited to hear about all of the after-school adventures you will have with your second grader.  Please feel free to send me pictures of your fun or even send in any creations you make as a family.  Again, this is optional, but a great opportunity to enjoy some family fun!

WRITING:

Today students had time to celebrate their realistic fiction writing with the other 2nd grade classroom.  Students were able to read multiple stories written by second graders in both classrooms.  They were very excited to share all of the great writing strategies they noticed in their friends’ writing.  Next week we will begin writing poetry.  We will start by thinking about where poets get their ideas and begin writing our own poems.  

MATH:

We have been working diligently in class to subtract from 200 and any given number less than 200.  Students are learning how important it is to ask, “Can I subtract?” before they begin.  At this point, we are still using a proof drawing to help us fully understand the process of ungrouping (breaking apart something in order to subtract).  Next week we will continue to practice these skills.  3-digit subtraction is a very difficult task, but with time and effort we will get it!

OTHER NEWS:

Today I have sent home a class list for your child to use to address their Valentines.  Our classroom party will be on Tuesday, February 14 from 9:30-10:30.  We would love for you to join us for the fun!

Also, we are in need of a few classroom supplies for an upcoming project.  We will need brown paper bags and sandwich size ziplock bag.  Any donations would be greatly appreciated.  Thank you!

Newsletter: January 20

UPCOMING EVENTS:

February 3: Early Release-Dismissal at 12:15

                      Students should be at 25% of their SRC goal

February 6: No School-Winter Break

February 14: Valentine's Day Party

March 3: Students should be at 50% of their SRC goal

March 31: Students should be at 75% of their SRC goal

May 5: Students should be at 100% of their SRC goal

READING:

Thank you for consistently filling out your child’s SRC home reading log.  It is extremely helpful to see how often they are reading at home.  Also, thanks for completing a word study activity with your child using their word sort cards.  The second graders were very excited to tell me what activity they did at home.  I heard that a few of you were able to sort a bit faster than your child.  I can tell they loved the competition!

Next week we will continue to read books within a series.  It will be our goal to stop periodically throughout our reading to jot down our thinking about the book.  Students will learn important places to stop and think while reading.  We will jot down places where the character learned an important lesson, places where the character acted in a way we didn’t expect, places where something was repeated, and places that created a picture in our minds.

WRITING:

Next week we will wrap up our realistic fiction writing.  We will make sure we have an ending that wraps up the story with a lesson, a hope, a feeling, or a wish.  We will also spend time editing and revising our stories in preparation for a small writing celebration with the other 2nd grade classroom on Friday. 

MATH:

Please continue to have your child practice Xtramath at home.  This week another student completed all of her addition facts.  Congratulations, Kylee!  Keep up the great work!!!

Today you will find a very important family letter in your child’s Friday folder.  This family letter explains the two strategies we will use to subtract 2-digit numbers.  You will learn all about the Expanded Method and the Ungroup First Method.  You will most likely recognize the Ungroup First Method.  It looks a lot like the traditional method of borrowing.  However, in class we call this process ungrouping.  We spent many days making sure students knew what it meant to ungroup.  Ask your child to explain it at home.  They should know that to ungroup means to break apart a group in order to subtract.  We will spend the next few days practicing 2-digit subtraction in class.  We will often refer to three basic rules to help us solve each problem.  Your child will know these rules very well.  We even have motions to match!

More on the TOP

No need to STOP!

More on the FLOOR

Go next DOOR

and get 10 more!

(ungroup)

Numbers the same

Zero is your game!

Newsletter: January 13

UPCOMING EVENTS:

January 20: Spirit Day-Wear Your Favorite Sports Apparel

February 3: Early Release-Dismissal at 12:15

READING:

Please check out your child’s SRC report to find out how many quizzes he/she has taken this week.  Remember their goals are now based on points.  To stay on track, students should be taking 3-4 quizzes a week.  Please let me know if you have any questions about SRC.  

In class, we are reading books in a series.  Each day students read a book in that particular series and then meet in a book club with other students that are reading the same series.  This gives students a chance to discuss the characters, patterns they are noticing, tricky words, and much more.  Your child knows what group they are in so make sure to ask them.  

WRITING:

This week we set many goals for ourselves as writers.  Our main focus as second grade writers is to continue to add sufficient details for the reader to picture our stories.  To do this, next week we will work on adding the internal thinking of our characters and begin to bring our characters to life.  I am excited to share many examples with the class for them to hear how powerful these strategies can be for the reader.

MATH:

Today I have sent home your child’s Unit 3 math assessment.  They did a GREAT job on this test.  I can tell they have a solid understanding of measurement, line plots, and shapes.  Please look over this assessment with your child and celebrate all they have learned!  This week we began Unit 4: Subtract 2-Digit Numbers.  At this point, we have only completed the first few lessons dealing with money.  Students can now count coins including QUARTERS!  This would be a great concept to practice at home.  Students should be able to count a variety of different coins and write the amount with a cent sign and a dollar sign.  Next week we will begin learning the steps to solve 2-digit subtraction problems.  

OTHER NEWS:

Today I have sent home a new reading log.  Please continue to have your child read 5 nights a week for 20 minutes each night starting today.  All reading logs are due next Friday.  You will notice I added a new column for you (or your child) to indicate how many nights they read and how many quizzes they took that week.  I am hoping this will help us stay on start with their SRC goals.  Also, you will find an additional line to jot down the ONE word study activity your child completed with your word sort cards at home.  On the back of today’s reading log, you will find a variety of fun activities your child can do to practice their words.  Thanks for your help with their reading homework!