Week of 9/10-9/14

Spelling/Phonics– We have our first spelling test this week. Here are our words:
1. they
2. have
3. what
4. there
5. which
6. been
7. now
8. little
9. called
10. get
11. through
12. back
13. much
14. go

Reading– This week in reading we are learning about Inferencing and what it means to infer. We use what we know and clues from the story to make an inference. Our focus will be on inferring about character traits.

Math– We are continuing our unit on coins, their attributes and being able to count a collection of coins up to $1.00. Please practice with your child at home counting a collection of coins. We start with the highest value of coins to the lowest. (Quarter, Dimes, Nickels and then Pennies.)

Week of 8/27-8/31

Spelling/Phonics– We are still reviewing our first 100 “No Excuse” words

Reading– This week we are comparing and discussing “Real Readers vs. Fake Readers”, “What does a real reader look like?” and “Good readers ask questions”.

Math– We are reviewing and working on our doubles (4+4, 5+5), doubles +1 (4+5, 6+7), and doubles -1 (4+3, 6+5). We really want them to learn and memorize their doubles facts because it will help them add their other math facts quicker, especially their doubles +1 and doubles -1.

Homework– Thank you for reading with your child every night and signing their reading logs. It makes a huge difference in your child’s reading if you do read with them at least 20 minutes every night. I am sure you have noticed by now that they have a math homework sheet for this week. Again, thank you to those who have already completed and worked on these with your child. Remember, you do not have to complete all of it on Monday night but it is okay if you did. You have all week to complete it, just make sure that it is complete by Friday morning.

Reminders
*Pep rallies begin this Friday. They are typically held on Friday afternoons at 3:00 in the high school gym. Teachers will not be taking students to the pep rally but you may check your child out to attend one. Just remember that you must send a note to your child’s teacher each week if you plan to check them out. You may send a note or write a note in their planner. Only students who have a note will be sent to the cafeteria at 2:30 for pick up. Adults will enter through the main doors beside the gym (intermediate doors) and sign their student out in the cafeteria. Students must be accompanied by an adult at the pep rally.
*Monday, September 3rd is Labor Day holiday, there will be no school on that day.

Have a great week and hopefully we will get some rain tomorrow!

Week of 8/20-8/24

Hello Parents, welcome to my blog. This is my way of communicating with you about what we are doing in class every week. I will try to post on Monday what we will be doing for the entire week. Sometimes I get busy and may not get to it until Tuesday but I will do my best to post it on Monday.

Homework
Reading-For homework in my classroom your child will need to read a book and have their reading log signed every night. For these first few weeks your child will be reading a book of their choice. If may be a book from home or a book from my classroom. I tried to make sure that they picked a book that they were able to read from my classroom today. Since I have not started my assessment for reading yet, I’m not going to be able to know exactly what reading level your child is on. Please be patient with me as I conduct all my reading assessments. As soon as I am done with them then I will begin my Guided Reading groups and then your child will have a required and assigned reading book for them on their level.

Math– Beginning next week your child will have a math homework sheet that they will receive on Monday and will need to be completed and turned in by Friday. I know that we all have busy schedules and my not be able to do math every single night, that is why I pass the homework sheet out on Monday. This way you can choose what nights your child will be able to do their math homework. I do not care if it is all done on Monday night, a little bit every night or do it all on Thursday night, as long as is it completed and turned in by Friday morning. I have provided a laminate Math Strategies sheet and an expo marker for your child if they need it to help them with their homework. I am slowly introducing these Math Strategies to your child in class for the next few weeks.

Our Focus for the Week- Lessons
Spelling/Phonics– I sent home with your child a note explaining how we do spelling in 2nd grade. On the back of that note is a list of 100 no excuse words that your child should already know how to read and spell. Please review and practice those words with your child for the next couple of weeks. There will be no spelling test for at least 3 weeks. When we get into our routine we will alternate spelling and a phonics skill every other week. When we do start our spelling we will write our spelling words for the week in our planners.

Reading– This week we are reading several different books together focusing on our feelings and CHAMPS behavior. For example, today we read “My Mouth is a Volcano”. The focus of this story is to learn how to wait our turn to talk and to not interrupt others. We need to learn how to keep our important words to ourselves and not “erupt” until the appropriate time. Other books we will be reading this week are: Spaghetti on a Hot Dog Bun, Molly Lou Melon, Do Unto Otters, What If Everybody Did That?, How to Lose All Your Friends and Have You Filled a Bucket Today?.

Math- We are learning about Math procedures for class, examples: Intentional Problem Solving, using our math journal and Number Talks. We are also learning about subitizing and how we can write a number in many different ways. This will help us add and subtract faster.

Week of 5/14-5/18

*We are done with homework for the year. That includes math papers and reading logs. Parents, please have your child check their rooms, backpacks or anywhere you think there may be a book that belongs to the school.

*Throughout the week we will be sending things home from our desk and classroom.

*We have also sent home our last set of graded papers.

*Friday we will have bounce houses during our peripherals time. Please make sure that your child wears or brings socks on that day.

FIELD TRIP INFO
Wednesday, May 16th is our field trip to the Planetarium. Remember, due to limited seating parents will not be able to go to the Planetarium but will be able to meet us at Bergfeld Park in Tyler for lunch. Please make sure that your child brings a sack lunch and drink with their name on it, unless you indicated on their slip for a sack lunch from the cafeteria. You may also sign your child out from the park with their teacher.

Field Trip

Just a reminder if you haven’t sent your $3.00 for the field trip please send it by Wednesday. The field trip is next week. Due to the fire code and limited seating parents will not be allowed to come to the Planetarium but can meet us at Bergfeld Parkin Tyler around 11:45.

Week of 4/23- 4/27

Spelling/Phonics– This week we will review different spelling rules for phonemic awareness.

Reading– We are going to start an ocean and ocean animal theme. We are learning about the different zones in the ocean and what animals we find in that zone.

Math– We are beginning our measurement unit. This week our focus will be centimeters and inches.

*Field Day will be Thursday, April 26th 12:30-2:30. I will have a sign out sheet for you to sign your child out as soon field day is over. We ask that your child not bring their backpack or a change of clothes on that day because our field day is at the end of the day and our classrooms will be locked so they will not be able to come back in the building to get their things. The teachers will come back in the building when field day is over.

Penick Park Field Trip- Earth Day Celebration

Tomorrow is our celebration of Earth Day at Penick Park. We will have our CHAMPS Assembly and then get ready to board the bus to be at the park by 9:00am. I have put our field trip schedule on this blog for you to know where your child will be. They can bring a hat to wear during the day but they will need to keep up with it. Please put sunscreen on them before they leave home. We will be playing a lot and so they need to wear socks and tennis shoes. We would love for parents to help with stations if you are able to come. You would travel with your child’s class. We ask that your child stay with their teacher (Class) at all times. I will have a ziplock baggie with their name on it to put their lunch in because it will be placed in a cooler with ice. We will have one water bottle for them and a place to refill it at the park. If you would like to send an additional drink for them to carry or have with their lunch please make sure to put their first and last name on it. They may also bring a can of corn or live worms for fishing. All fishing equipment and other activity equipment will be provided. Please DO NOT bring any additional fishing poles or sports equipment. Also Mrs. Koonce has asked that you please leave your pets at home. There are some children with pet allergies or that have a fear of dogs and we want this to be a positive experience for them.
I have also told the students to leave their backpacks at home. I will not be checking planners or reading logs, so they don’t need them. Also, if you check your child out at the park their backpack will be left at school all weekend. I will have a sign out sheet if you would like to leave with your child from the park.

Schedule for Penick Park

Station 1 (Softball/Baseball)- 9:00-9:30
Station 2 (Kickball)- 9:35-10:10
Station 3 (Playground)- 10:15-10:50
Station 4 (Gaga Ball/Sidewalk chalk)- 10:55-11:25
Lunch – 11:30- 12:00
Station 5 (Fishing) 12:05-12:35
Station 6 (Playground)- 12:40- 1:10

Important Information

-If your child is getting a snow cone from Kona ice, money is due this Thursday. They will be at the school on Tuesday, April 24th.

-There will be no school on Monday, April 23rd.

– Field Day is Thursday, April 26th 12:30-2:30. You may sign your child out on Field Day with their teacher. Please do not leave with your child until you have seen and signed your child out with their teacher.

Week of 4/16-4/20

Spelling/Phonics– This week is our last spelling test of the year. Here are our words:
New words- end, left, us, never, last
Review words- are, have, their, other, people, find, use, know, our, place, number

Reading- We are finishing up our PBL on the 3 R’s and conservation this week. We are making our final projects all this week.

Math– We are continuing shapes this week with 3D (dimensional) shapes and what the attributes are of each 3D shape. (faces, vertices and edges)

*Don’t forget our field trip is this Friday at Penick Park at 9:00. If your child is bringing a lunch from home please make sure that it is in a plastic bag or baggie marked with their name on it. They do not need to bring their backpack. There will also be a sign out sheet at the park if you would like to take your child home from the park.