Week ending 10/28/16

Hello Families!  We've had another busy and productive week in room 250!  In case you haven't had a chance to check out the new playground...please do!  Many have parents have been working each day to help get this up and ready for the students!  Our class is very excited about playing and exploring and we thank all of you for helping out, whether it was time or a donation!

This blog entry is a bit different as I want to be sure you have all the information regarding the homework which is starting this week.

This past week we practiced homework expectations in the classroom.  We reviewed what homework should look like, learned classroom routines for collecting and passing in homework each week, and we discussed where and when homework should be completed at home, Extended Day, or elsewhere. 

On Monday, October 31st, students will receive a homework packet that will start to come home each week on Mondays. It will be due back in the classroom on Friday, November 4^th.  Our homework routine will continue like this, with new weekly packets on Monday to be returned each Friday.

Monday's homework will be completed in class.  This exception is in place so that those families that celebrate Halloween may do so without the added stress of homework. The first official night of at-home homework assignments will be Tuesday, November 1st.

Other Things to Know:

• Homework should be completed nightly.
• Students complete only the assigned homework, as scheduled on the cover sheet and noted at the bottom of each page in the packet.
• Students check off assignments on the cover sheet as they are completed.
• Students record what they've read at home in the space provided on the cover sheet.
• In class we talked about the different places students may do their homework and where they thought they could work the best.  We also talked about when to do the homework, from right after school with a snack, to after an activity, and also doing the practice after school and reading at bedtime.  

• Families may help students as needed.  An adult must help with the Thursday night word study homework.

• Reading may be done in many ways: independently, with an adult, with a sibling or friend, from a book, from a Nook, etc.  Reading should be enjoyable.

• Our grade level expectation for time spent on homework is 30 minutes per night.  This time should be spent demonstrating best effort.

Please let us know if you have any questions.  Thank you.

- Your Second Grade Team

Week ending 10/21/16

Hi Families!  I hope you've all been enjoying this beautiful weather we've been having!  I know this weekend will be a change but it's been nice while it's lasted!  Our new playground is starting to come together!  The students are so excited and have been watching the crew do a little bit every day!  There have been many parents that have been able to help out already and there is a community build tomorrow morning, Saturday for those that can come help build it.
Important information:

• Conferences start on the 25th, next Tuesday and continue through the 4th of November.  If you have not signed up, please see the Sign Up Genius in a previous post to sign up.  Please remember this is a time for you and your child to attend. They are excited to share their work with you.
• Thursday, November 3rd is a half day with dismissal at 12:30. 
• Homework will begin on October 31 with the first days homework being completed in class that day.  We will also be practicing homework next week in the classroom so students know what is expected.  To prepare for homework, a good tip is to work with your child to determine when homework will be completed every day and where the homework will be done.  Create a homework space for your child to work at each day. 

3, 2, 1 things happening in room 250...

3 math skill we've been working on are showing our work while solving number story problems in math, using fact families to help us identify which facts we know and an easier way to solve the ones we don't, and "What's My Rule?" which helps us use our number sense to solve problems in a different way of thinking.  *Have some fun with math by asking your child to make up story problems for you to solve by showing your work and writing a complete number sentence.  

2 read aloud we listened to were William's Doll and Amazing Grace.  We used these books to make text to text connections and share what was similar between the books.  *When your child is reading at night, ask them if their book reminds them of any other books they have read before.  Often, they will surprise themselves with the connections they can make!

1 writing activity we've been working on is writing what we are proud of ourselves for and what we're still working on.  These ideas will be shared at conference.  

Week ending 10/14/16

There's no official blog this week as I don't typically write a full one on weeks when we've missed multiple days...but...a few important pieces of information:

• Don't forget to sign up for Fall conferences.  (See the link in a previous post.)
• We will be starting homework the week of Halloween.  On Halloween, students will have homework but we will be completing in class that day as part of our "Getting ready for homework at home routine" (so they will not have any at night).  
• We are spending some time at the end of the day on Fridays to talk about social issues, feelings, respect, helping, being kind, making mistakes, stretching their brain, and many more.  We will listen to read aloud about different topics, brainstorm, work together, and learn so much about each other.  Today, we talked about kindness!  We did a kindness brainstorm where students shared their ideas of kindness with the class.  We also watched the video again that was shown at the all school meeting last week about kindness.  Here is the video link if you'd like it: https://youtu.be/nwAYpLVyeFU

Here's a picture of our brainstorm so far...it's still a work in progress. :)

Have a great weekend!

Megan

Week ending 10/7/16

Hello families!
What a beautiful week it has been!  The weather has been great and it's been so nice to enjoy recess during the day.

Important information:

• Next Monday, the 10th, and Wednesday, the 12th there is no school.  
• Don't forget Friday is our library day so please send the books back in then so your child can choose new books. 
• Conferences will begin the end of the month.  Here is a link to the sign up for you AND your child to attend. 
• http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0a4ea8a928a20-deking3

3, 2, 1 things you should know…

3 writing workshop skills we've been working on are magnifying the details in our small moment stories, focusing on a beginning that grabs the readers attention, and writing across multiple pages.  

2 activities we completed in science were observing a germinating seed and talking how seeds travel.  Ask your child three different ways seeds travel. 

1 math activity we've been working on is the "Parking Activity".  Going home today is your child's work and a sheet showing our work as a whole class.  Students really stretch their brains with this activity and I am amazed how fabulous they shared their math thinking and the math process!  I'm very proud of them!

Enjoy the beautiful weekend!

Week ending 10/7/16

Hello families!
What a beautiful week it has been!  The weather has been great and it's been so nice to enjoy recess during the day.

Important information:

• Next Monday, the 10th, and Wednesday, the 12th there is no school.  
• Don't forget Friday is our library day so please send the books back in then so your child can choose new books. 

3, 2, 1 things you should know…

3 writing workshop skills we've been working on are magnifying the details in our small moment stories, focusing on a beginning that grabs the readers attention, and writing across multiple pages.  

2 activities we completed in science were observing a germinating seed and talking how seeds travel.  Ask your child three different ways seeds travel. 

1 math activity we've been working on is the "Parking Activity".  Going home today is your child's work and a sheet showing our work as a whole class.  Students really stretch their brains with this activity and I am amazed how fabulous they shared their math thinking and the math process!  I'm very proud of them!

Enjoy the beautiful weekend!