Author Visit

Hello families of Bauer Elementary,
I am very excited for the upcoming Author Visit!  I can't wait to share my love for reading and writing and creating with your kids.  We should have a great time!

I am writing with an unfortunate update...  This week I was restocking books to bring on my upcoming visits, and found out that two of them are not currently available.  So although they were on the Book Order Form you received, at this time I am not able to get more copies of "Hug a Bull" or "I Love Ewe."  I'm so sorry for the incontinence.

The following titles ARE still available:
• The Hiccupotamus
• Monsters Go Night-Night
• Little Iffy Learns to Fly
• Orangutangled
• The Runaway Mitten
• Spaghetti-Slurping Sewer Serpent

I look forward to a wonderful time with the students of Bauer Elementary next week!

All my best to you,
Author/Illustrator Aaron Zenz

Newsletter: February 16

Important Dates:

• February 20 - Marco's Pizza Night 
• February 24 - Father Daughter Dance
• February 27 - Aaron Zenz Visit 
• February 28 - Reading Kickoff Night 6:30-7:30
• March 9 - Early Release Day

Reading:

This week we began a new unit of study on poetry.  We started by reading many Shel Silverstein poems.  Each one of his poems brought much joy and laughter to the classroom.  We also studied many poems written by other second graders.  As we studied each poem, we read it several times to notice different words or phrases that better helped us, as the readers, understand the meaning of the poem.  Second graders are picking up on this concept very quickly.  They are eager to read and hear more poems each day.
 

Writing:

We started to write brief opinion pieces.  It was our goal to state our opinion clearly as well as provide reasons and evidence to support our opinion.  After taste testing three different Hershey Kiss flavors, students were asked to write their opinion on their favorite one.  Their writing was very compelling.  They used great word choice and specific reasons to be quite convincing.  One student even told me that he loved a flavor of Hershey Kiss so much that his mom bought him more to enjoy at home.  He must have been very convincing!  

Math:

This week we did a lot of work with 2-digit and 3-digit subtraction.  My main focus has been to teach students the WHY before the PROCEDURE.  This is essential when learning a new math concept like two-digit subtraction.  Subtracting multiple-digit numbers can be a tricky skill, but students are getting the hang of it!  We will continue to rely on using base 10 blocks to concretely show the process of subtraction.  This will make sure students fully understand how and why to ungroup as they subtract.  Ungroup means to break apart a unit into smaller pieces in order to subtract.  For example, students can ungroup a ten to make ten ones using base 10 blocks.  With this understanding students are beginning to show this process pictorially and abstractly (just using numbers).  We will continue to practice these skills next week.  We will also learn to subtract with zeros in the tens and ones places.
Here is a poem we learned in class to help us remember when we need to ungroup.  This has really helped them understand the WHY before beginning to subtract.

TWO DIGIT SUBTRACTION

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!

Growth Mindset:
"I'm not giving up today.
There's nothing getting in my way.
And if you knock, knock me over
I will get back up again, oh.
If something goes a little wrong,
Well you can go ahead and bring it on
'Cause if you knock knock me over, I will get back up again!"

-Get Back Up Again (Trolls Soundtrack)

Other News:

• Remember to send in box tops if you have them!
• The Bauer Father/Daughter Dance is next weekend. If you haven't purchased your ticket for your family here is the link:
• https://bauerfatherdaughterdance.eventbrite.com
• Parent teacher conferences will be held March 14th and 20th, stay tuned for details.
• Yes, it was a few days ago, but we are still feeling the love! I always enjoy seeing the students take joy in passing out cards and treats to their friends. Their faces light up as they look through their own cards.

Upcoming Dates

A REAL LIVE AUTHOR WILL BE VISITING BAUER!

Aaron Zenz, an author and Michigan native, will be making a stop to Bauer on Tuesday, February 27. He is so excited to meet our students and talk to them about writing stories and creating art. If you would like to order one of his books for your child prior to his visit, please fill out the form that was sent home with your child or click on the link below and have it back to school by Friday, February 23.

If you have any questions please email: KDeGram@hpseagles.net

Book order link: Aaron Zenz Book Order

Save the Date!! Kick off to Reading Month Night!

What better way to kick off reading month than a night out with your family! Come to Bauer on Wednesday, February 28 from 6:30-7:30 to help us kick off Reading Month. All Bauer students that attend will receive a free book! There will be popcorn, a photo booth, and a lot fun reading activities! Looking forward to a fun family night.

Please RSVP so we can get an idea of about how many will be attending the event: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/16679428388

Newsletter: February 2

Important Dates:

• February 5 & 6 -Mid-Winter Break (No School)
• February 14 -Jump Rope for Heart Fundraiser Due
• February 14 -Valentine's Day/Classroom Party 9:30-10:30/Wear Red & Pink
• February 20 -Marco's Pizza Night 
• February 24 -Father Daughter Dance

Reading:

You will find a new February Book-It calendar in your child's Friday folder.  Please turn in the January Book-It calendars when we return from mid-winter break. 
 

Writing:

Next week we will wrap up our realistic fiction writing unit.  We will make sure our stories end with a hope, wish, feeling, or lesson to wrap up the story.  We will also spend a day revising and editing our stories to showcase our very best writing.   

Math:

Please look for your child's unit 3 math assessment coming home next week.  I am thrilled with their thorough understanding of measurement and shapes.  Next week we will explore 2-digit subtraction. We will work on finding strategies that will allow us to "ungroup".  We will use ungrouping to show how we can break apart a ten or hundred into smaller units in order to subtract.  Please look for a family letter coming home next week that will further explain two helpful subtraction strategies. 

Growth Mindset:

What can you say instead of, "this is too hard!"?  
How many answers can you and your family think of?

Valentine's Day:
We will be celebrating Valentine's Day on Wednesday, February 14.  Our classroom party will be from 9:30-10:30.  We would love to have you join us for the fun!  Also, I have attached a class list to help your child in writing out their Valentines.  Please be sure to make one for every classmate.  Candy and treats are allowed with the Valentines, just be sure that they are peanut fee.  Thank you!  Valentines can be sent in anytime from February 7-14.  

Lucas

Mitchell

Skyler

Isabella

Braylan

Liam

Jillian K. 

Mallory

Trevor

Zach

Nathan

Brayden

Noah

Jager

Weston

Ana

Nate

Brady

Austin

Angelia

Jillian T.

Addelyn

Peyton

January 26: Newsletter

Important Dates: January 30 -PE Apparel Order Forms Due February 2 -Early Release February 5 & 6 -Mid-Winter Break (No School) February 14 -Jump Rope for Heart Fundraiser Due February 14 -Valentine's Day/Classroom Party 9:30-10:30/Wear Red & Pink February 20 -Marco's Pizza Night  February 24 -Father Daughter Dance Reading: Students are each in a reading series book club.  Each day they read a book part of a particular series and meet with their book club to discuss their discoveries while reading.  They've been discussing character traits and clarifying difficult words with support from the text.  Next week we will continue reading books within that same series and think about the author's message with our book clubs.   Writing: Students have been brainstorming topics for their realistic fiction story. They've been working hard at adding details, feelings, and transition words. We will continue writing these stories next week with a focus on developing dialogue and an ending to wrap up a the story.  I've been so impressed with the amount of thought students have put into their stories! Math: We didn't finish up our unit 3 review until this past Friday.  Therefore, the unit assessment will be on Monday.  Your child will bring home their first math journal this Monday.  We have covered all of the content in this journal.  However, you will notice many of the pages have not been completed.  We complete most of our work on whiteboards in class.  The unfinished journal pages could make for great, extra practice at home.  We will begin unit 4 on Tuesday.  It will begin with a review of money.  Our goal to count money including quarters, dimes, nickels, pennies, and dollars.   Growth Mindset: What does it really mean to fail? F.A.I.L=First Attempt In Learning The Bauer Father/Daughter: Saturday, February 24th from 6:30-8:30pm at Bauer.  All Bauer girls, pre-K through 5th grade, and their dad (or other special guy!) are invited to join us for a night of dancing, crafts, a photo booth, snacks, and lots of fun! (Please note: we will have many yummy snacks but dinner will not be served.) **Ticket prices are per family. **Dads, we encourage you to carpool, as parking at Bauer is limited. Thanks for considering! lindseybolhouse@gmail.com To order a ticket for your family, please use this link: https://bauerfatherdaughterdance.eventbrite.com *The above link can also be accessed through the Bauer Elementary Facebook page as well as the Bauer Blog.  Please contact Lindsey Bolhouse with any questions.

January 19: Newsletter

Amazed!  Blown away!  Grateful!

These are just a few of the words that describe my appreciation for your generosity and support.  Thank you for showering me with many "restock" supplies.  I feel very blessed.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.  We can't wait to put these supplies to good use and read these great books!!!

IMPORTANT DATES:

• February 2 - Early Release
• February 5 & 6 - Mid-Winter Break (No School)
• February 14 - Valentine's Day (Classroom Party 9:30-10:30)

READING:

Please remind your child to read each night for 20 minutes. Don't forget to record their minutes on their home reading log. I still collect those each Friday and document the minutes read for the week. 

Today you will find your child's SRC report in his/her Friday folder.  You will quickly notice that it looks a bit shorter.  From now on, the reports will only show the quizzes taken in 2018.  I think this will not only help us save paper, but also allow you to quickly look at the past week for your child's quiz scores.  Remember we are hoping students take 1-3 quizzes or more!!!

WRITING:

Next week we will continue to write realistic fictions stories.  Students will work to develop a believable problem and solution.  We will also include a catchy lead and transition words.   You will have to ask your child what they named their main character.  They had so much fun coming up with their characters' names.  

MATH:

Next week we will wrap up Unit 3.  Students will learn to measure in inches, feet, and yards.  We will also create line plots to show the data from our measurements.  We will then take two days to review for the final assessment on Friday.  Please look for a review coming home on Thursday.  It may be helpful to look over the review with your child before the taking the test.  

GROWTH MINDSET:

There is no elevator to success.  You have to take the stairs.  

January 12: Newsletter

IMPORTANT DATES:

• January 16 - Jet's Pizza Night 
• January 19 - Popcorn/Spirit Day (PJ Day)
• February 2 - Early Release
• February 5 & 6 - Mid-Winter Break (No School)
• February 14 - Valentine's Day

READING:

Please remind your child to read each night for 20 minutes. Don't forget to record their minutes on their home reading log. I still collect those each Friday and document the minutes read for the week. 

We just started a unit on series books. We are reading many Froggy books as an introduction to the topic. Next week students will begin reading a series book in a small group. They seem to be looking forward to this!

WRITING:

Next week we will explore realistic fiction and prepare to write about it! Students will have a lot of time to discuss the characteristics of the genre, read a variety of books, and transfer those strategies to their own writing.

MATH:

This week we began Unit 3: Length and Shapes.  Students are learning how to use rules to measure lengths to the nearest whole-number unit.  We have also spent time recognizing and drawing shapes.  Ask your child to describe the properties of a square, rectangle, triangle, quadrilateral, pentagon, and hexagon.  They know these shapes really well!!

GROWTH MINDSET:

Questions to develop a growth mindset in your child...

What will you do to challenge yourself today?

What will you do to improve your work?

What will you do to solve this problem?

These can make for great conversations around the dinner table!