Week Ending 9/22/17

We've had a great week in room 250!  Our routines are getting solidified, students are following expectations, and our learning throughout the day is amazing!  

Important information:

• The conference Sign Up schedule was released earlier this week.  If you have not signed up for a slot yet, please do and remember that it's a time for you and your child to attend. Here is the link: Sign Up Genius
• If your child has a dismissal change, please be sure to let me know.  Also, there is no riding the buses if you are not assigned to that bus so please make other arrangements for play dates.
• Our Flu Clinic is on Tuesday, September 26th...please be sure to return your forms if needed.  
• Wednesday, September 27, is an early release day at 12:30.  
• Wednesday, September 27, is Open House.  This is an adult evening where you will learn from the 2nd grade team what the year will look like and then have an opportunity to visit our classroom.  6-6:40 is grades 3-5, 6:45-7:15 is PTO and our principal, and 7:20-8:00, you will meet with our team.  For the first part, we will meet in the auditorium, and then continue on to classrooms until 8:00.  
•  I have started an Amazon wish list for books for the classroom.  If you would like to help, you can check out the wish list here: Amazon Book Wishlist

3, 2, 1 things you need to know about our week...

3 books we read this week were Going on a Book Hunt (to talk about choosing just right books), Chrysanthemum (as part of our Bulletproof lessons), and Slowly, Slowly, Slowly Said the Sloth (to talk about how to sound out words).  *Ask you child one way they can sound out a difficult word.  

2 math skills we worked on completing hundreds charts with a team and using <, >,  and = signs to compare numbers.  Ask your child to compare two numbers, such as "Which is larger?  343 or 123?"

1 writing activity we completed for writing was the narrative writing prompt. Students worked hard and though it was difficult for some...that information lets me know where they are in their writing and how to move forward with what they need to know and build on what they already know how to do.  

Week ending 9/15/17

We've had our first full week of school!  The class has been getting along really well, learning about each other, expectations, and the classroom.  We've also started some real work and I've been getting to know them a little bit more each day about their academic strengths.

Important Information:

• Next Thursday, September 21, there is no school.
• Tuesday, the 26th, is the flu shot clinic.
• Wednesday, the 27th, is an early release day at 12:30.  
• Please keep in mind there is no climbing on the large tree outside the art room.  
• If you'd like to send in extra clothes in a zip-loc bag for your child, you may and it will stay in their lockers.  Sometimes extra clothes are needed due to spills, mud at recess, etc.  
• I will be setting up a conference schedule over the weekend and will post in Monday morning.  Conferences are held the end of October during the time given to us by the district.  I will be posting it early so you have to time to adjust schedules if needed.  This will be a time for you and your child to discuss work and behavior.  
• Our AD and OO buses are full, so there is no riding another bus or going on a play date with a student who takes the bus.  If you have a play date with students who ride the bus, please make other arrangements for pick up.  Thanks!

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

3 math skills we worked on this week were counting the value of coins, counting the value of bills, and learning to play Top-It and Number Squeeze.  

*Ask your child at home to play number squeeze with you!

2 books we read during reading workshop were Wild About Books and Mrs. Brooks Loves Books.  We are spending this time setting up reading workshop routines, talking about choosing just right books, and starting to begin reading groups.  

1 Responsive Classroom activity we completed were writing our hopes and dreams for the school year.  

First Week of School!

Hello families!
We have a had a great first week of school!  It's been wonderful to get to know your children and I look forward to learning more and more about them as the year goes on.  Almost each week, I write a short blog so you can see what we've been working on and use it as a start to a discussion about your child's day and week.

Important Information:

• Please follow this blog by entering your email address in the "Follow" section on the right of your screen.  That way, you should receive updates automatically. 
• Please continue to send in yummy and healthy snacks each day.  We have lunch at 11 so on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, we will have snack in the afternoon.  On Tuesdays it will be in the morning.  
• Specials: Monday is PE and music, no special on Tuesday, Wednesday is PE, Thursday is library, and Friday is art.

3, 2, 1 things you should know about room 250 this week...

3 morning meeting activities we did were the clap game, hula hoop around the group, and the game 4 Corners.  It's so important your child is here on time so they will able to join our morning meeting.  It's a time to check in with each other, share and learn about each other, and play a cooperative game to begin working as a community.  

2 read aloud we heard this week were First Day Jitters and Wemberly Worried.  We talked about how many of us were really excited about school to begin...but also a little nervous as well.  

1 closing circle activity we shared was "What was something you felt proud of yourself for this week?".  Ask your child what they said.

Also, I need your help!  I would like to do one big Scholastic book order just for September and then I won't ask again!  When families order books, not only do their children receive books, but as the classroom teacher I receive points based on how many books were sold.  Those points...I then use to shop for books to add to our classroom library!  It's a fabulous way to put new and fun books in the students' hands to read and enjoy all year.  I also may be looking at doing a book raffle at the end of each month but still need to think about the details!  :)

The shopping link is right here and it will stay open till Friday, the 22nd, then I will send it all in.  

Ordering link: https://orders.scholastic.com/H6JBB