Week ending 11/20/15

We have had a very busy week in room 250!  The Heritage Bear project was due today.  Thank you to everyone who brought it in on time.  They look awesome!  Over the next few weeks we'll be sharing them and asking questions to each other.

Important information:

• Special snack should be coming in on Wednesday.  Please remember to include a drink and a snack.  Bags are coming home today with your child, so please write on the front their name and why you are thankful for them. 
• Dismissal on Wednesday, November 25, is at 12:00.  NOT 12:30 so please plan accordingly.
• Social/Emotional morning will be held on Friday, December 11.  We hope you can join us to see what morning meeting is all about!

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

In math we have been working hard on 3 math skills:  finishing up our addition strategies using open number lines and splitting numbers and we've also started working on counting objects in an organized way and understanding place value (hundreds, tens, and ones).

2 activities we've been working on in reading workshop is focusing on finding non-fiction text features using a Non-Fiction Features Scavenger Hunt and writing out own book to show what we've learned about non-fiction features and their purpose.  

1 thing Adam wants you to know is we have math challenge work that can be complicated but fun.

Week ending 11/13/15

Hello Families!
We had a great pajama day in class today!  We also had a special  visitor…illustrator Ralph Masiello joined us for a great lesson on illustrating and idea building!  Students listed to his ideas, how he got started being an illustrator, and what types of projects he's working on now.

Here are a few pictures from today!
Enjoy and have a good weekend!

Week of 11/2/15

Happy November!
I can't believe it's November already!  Can you?  Thursday was our 40th day of school!  It has been a warm week, so it's been great to get outside and enjoy the weather!
A few important reminders coming up:

• Continue checking in on your child's homework and returning the packet on Fridays.  We had a conversation this week about reading every night and how important it is!
• Wednesday, the 11th, there is no school.
• Thursday, the 12th, at 12:30, we are going to the book fair.  It is up to you if you choose to send money with your child.  You may also join us if you'd like…it is about 20 min.  Students are bringing home a wish list they wrote after previewing the options today.  Please keep in mind that tax is NOT included.  Please send money in a zip loc bag with their name on it and I have asked them all to not be purchasing toys.  If you're ok with that, please find a time they can go with you.  Thanks for your cooperation in advance!
• On Monday, you will receive a cut out bear and directions.  We are having students make "Heritage Bears".  This can be worked on over the next 2 weeks and is in addition to homework.  
• Wednesday, the 25th has dismissal at 12:00 (NOT 12:30).  There is no school the 26th and 27th. 

3, 2, 1 things you should know about this week…

3 non-fiction text features we've been learning to identify are photographs (to show something), captions (to tell about the picture), and diagrams (to show what something is or to show inside something).

2 skills we've been working on in writing is using different writing styles to make our books more interesting.  We can make our words bigger to add excitement, such as "When we arrived my whole family was excited, excited, and even more excited then when we left!" We can also uses ellipses to help us keep the reader in suspense, such as "We arrived at the hotel and saw something strange…"

1 thing Logan wants you to know is we went to look at all the available books at the book fair.

Here are some pictures from our music performance this morning from Crocodile River Music.

Pumpkin Activity

Hi Families!
Instead of a regular blog today, I wanted to share how great this morning was!
* I did want to remind you that Thursday, the 5th, is an early release day with dismissal at 12:30.
We had a great math activity this morning!   Students voted which pumpkin they thought would be the one with the most seeds.  Then each group pulled the pulp out of the pumpkin and made a pile of seeds.  After that they estimated how many seeds they had in their pumpkin.  Then it was time to count!  Each table did a great job making groups of 10 to count the seeds more easily!  Our results are below…we were amazed at the number!
The students did an amazing job!  They really worked together, shared materials, kept pulp under control and on the table, helped each other if they finished before another table, kept voices at a good level and worked so carefully on counting!  They even earned a baseball from me!  Very proud of them all! Thank you to everyone who donated pumpkins!
Here are some pics from today!  These were before things got really messy!
Enjoy the weekend!

Week ending 10/16/15

Hi Families!
It definitely feels like Fall around here.  The weather is beautiful with the sun during the day and jackets at night.  I hope you all have time to enjoy all the activities Fall has to bring!

Important Information:

• If you haven't yet, please sign up for conferences.  They are about 15 minutes long WITH your child.  Here is the link: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0a4ea8a928a20-deking2

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

3 skills we've worked on in math are name collection boxes, completing fact families, and solving story problems by identifying the key information, underlining what they problem is asking, and showing our work.

2 moments were I've seen students really show their care for each other were when one student dropped their snack on the ground, the others were ready to jump in and help him clean up without being asked.  Another time was when one of our students lost his tooth, the entire class clapped for him and his smile said it all.  They really are a great group of students that have empathy and show how they care for each other.  

1 very important skill we practiced this week was homework!  Here's what you need to know...

• Beginning Monday, 19th, students will receive a homework packet.
• The entire week is laid out for you and all the sheets you need are there.
• On Monday, students will read for 20 minutes and write the title of their book, then check that off.  They will complete the math sheet listed there, then check that off.  Then they will complete the Fundations practice, and check that off.  
• The packet is designed to do each night on that night, not all on one night or skip around.  The math and Fundations for Thursday will be taught Thursday so it's important that it's done that night.  Please do not jump ahead.
• The packet should be kept in their RED FOLDER.  They will take it out to work on it and then put it back in and go back and forth to school.  They will only pass it in on Fridays. I explained to them that it is their responsibility to keep it in their folder.  
• If there is a page that is difficult for your child or takes too long, please rip it out and send it in the next morning (even if it's not Friday).  This will help me review it with the student that day instead of waiting.  
• We will be watching to see how it's going the first few weeks.  Please let us know if you have any questions.  

Week ending 10/9/15

We've had a busy week in room 250!  We had picture day, our first all school meeting, and cleaned the room for Open House.  I was happy to see everyone who was able to attend.  If you could not attend, you can still see our presentation on my website, under the Open House tab.  There is no school Monday, for Columbus Day.  

3, 2, 1 things we want you to know about this week…

3 skills we worked on in writing were learning to write better beginning, adding endings that may make the reader wonder what will happen and that wrap up the story nicely, and being detectives with our writing to see if it makes sense,  sounds right, and looks right.  

2 things you should know about homework are that we are going to start practicing homework in school next week so students understand what they are expected to do and we are planning to begin homework at home on the 19th.

1 thing Angela wants you to know is that this week we switched seats in the classroom.  (Helps keep everyone on their toes :))

Week ending 10/2/15

Hello families!
We've had our first full week!  I can't believe it!  It's great to really be in a routine and go through the whole week as scheduled.  The weather has been crazy and keeping us on our toes.  I hope it clears out for the weekend for those wonderful Fall activities!

Important information:

• Thursday is an early release day with dismissal at 12:30.  If there are any changes to the usual, please let me know.  
• Thursday night is also Open House for us.  Ms. McManus sent out an email to families regarding times.  Please remember it is an adult only event.  Look forward to seeing you!  
• As the weather keeps us on our toes, please try and have a sweatshirt in your child's locker in case they get cold or send them in with one in the am.  The room can be varying temps and the students go out for recess as well.  
• Please remember we are trying to be a nut free classroom.  Any nut items can be eaten at lunch.  Thanks for helping with this.  

3, 2, 1 things we worked on this week…

3 reading strategies we worked on this week were sounding out words carefully and slowly, continuing to choose just right books, and making connections to the texts we read and hear to our own lives.  These are all strategies we'll practice all year long.  

2 science activities we worked on were observing the lima bean seed and talking about how seeds travel.  Ask you child to tell you two ways sends travel.  

1 thing Kaya wants you to know is that we played a few math games this week in class.  He really liked Top-It.  (We played Top-It which you can play with a deck of cards, Penny Plate which you can play with 10 pennies and a paper plate, and Grab Bag Addition which you can play with a bag and any 20 objects that you can take turns pulling out.  Ask your child how to play these games.)

Week ending 9/25/15

It's Friday!  I think every one is ready for the weekend!  I hope you and your families are doing something fun and I can't wait to hear all about it Monday!  Monday will be our first full week of school.
Important information:

• As the weather changes, please be sure to send in a jacket or sweatshirt for the mornings or recess times.
• Please be sure your child wears sneakers on Wednesdays and Thursdays for physical education.

3, 2, 1 things we worked on this week were…

3 skills we practiced in math were measuring each other with cubes, comparing numbers using greater than, less than, and equal to, and practicing review problems in math boxes.  

2 books we listened to in read aloud were Miss Brooks Loves Books and I Don't to focus on choosing books that they really enjoy and Slowly, Slowly Said the Sloth to focus on sounding out words carefully and slowly.

1 thing Andrew wants you to know that he was surprised by what the art room looked like.  There were really comfy bean bag chairs.  

Here's a look at some of our math measuring…

Week ending 9/18/15

Hi Families,
We've had a great week!  We've worked on a lot of routines and expectations and have spent time practicing.  Practicing now saves time later!  It's been warm but I think next week will have more September like weather, at least we hope!
Important information:

• Please continue to send in dismissal changes in a note.  It's so helpful!
• Please continue to meet me outside to pick up your child and encourage them to high 5 me before leaving.  This helps me check off each student.  
• Next week there is no school on the 23rd, Wednesday.  

3, 2, 1 things you should know…

3 parts of Responsive Classroom we worked on this week were: setting up our rules and signing them, talking about Rest Stop and how it can help us relax, calm down, take a break, and get refocused on our work, and we learned a clap game in morning meeting.

2 writing activities we completed were the writing prompt and writing about our summers.  The writing prompt was asking them to write a small moments story about anything they wanted, as long as it was true.  They worked really hard!  After I look them, I'll have a better idea of where each child is in their writing journey.  

1 thing Jayden wants you to know about school this week is we practiced telling time and reading books.

Week ending 9/11/15

Welcome back to school!
We've had a great week!  I've really enjoyed meeting and starting to get to know each of our students this year!  This week has been filled with getting to know you activities, learning and practicing expectations and routines, attending specials, and getting our room set up to be "ours".  We will spend a great deal of time over the next month or so learning about each other and learning about our room.  We will practice expectations and routines so each of them knows what I'm expecting and what to do.  We practice, model, and help each other.  The more we practice now, the less we do later and the smoother the year goes.
Important information:

• Specials:
• Monday: Art
• Tuesday: Music
• Wednesday: Physical Education (don't forget your sneakers)
• Thursday: Physical Education (don't forget your sneakers)
• Friday: Library (don't forget your books)
• There is no school on Monday.  
• Thank you for helping with dismissal by coming to get your child and checking in with me before leaving.  I'm asked all the students to say good bye and high five me before leaving.  It's very important to be sure I know who the students go with and as I'm getting to know each of you, this is very helpful!  Don't forget that if there is dismissal changes, please send a note in.

3, 2, 1 things you need to know about our class this week…
3 books we read this week were: Brand New Pencils, Brand New Books, First Year Letters, and Chrysanthemum.

2 skills we practiced in math were telling time and how the calendar works.

1 thing Gabriel wants you to know about 2nd grade is we need to be quiet during fire drills.
Have a great weekend!
Mrs. DeKing