Week of September 29th- October 3rd

 Hello Families-

Thank you moms and special guests that came in for Muffins for Moms.  It was so nice to have you all in to our classrooms.  The kids were looking forward to it all week. 

Monday is count day for attendance, it is important for children to be in school every day.. but on Monday we will be taking a special documented attendance.   

Friday is also a PTCO Friday Fun Day, bring in $1 and wear your crazy hat or crazy hair day. 
This week we will focus on ....

Math: In second grade math, we will be finishing unit 2 and will be doing a lesson on Monday for a shortcut for harder subtraction facts, a unit 2 review on Tuesday, a unit 2 test on Wednesday (students will not have homework tonight), and will be starting unit 3 with numeration and place value on Thursday.  Typically your child will have homework Monday through Thursday.  We will be working on higher level thinking activities on Fridays, and will not assign homework over the weekend.  For 3rd grade math students, they are completing the unit 2 assessment, and starting unit 3 which will focus on linear measurement and area. *Please continue to time your child 2 minutes and 15 seconds with their math facts. 

FAST (phonics):  We are working on concept 6 (All King Think Words) this week. We have learned that some consonant sounds distort the vowel. In all and walk, the letter a has a short o sound.  In bank, the vowel has a long a sound. In sing, the vowel has a long e sound.  If your child ever forgets their spelling spiral, please check out the spelling tab on the blog. 
 
Reading: 
In Class: We will be thinking about what we know and writing teaching books.  Our goals for the students are that they understand the term accuracy, and apply it to their teaching book writing.  That they write teaching books on topics that they know and care about.  Lastly, that they include non-fiction visual and text features as well as written text in their teaching books.   

For Homework: Your child will be continuing to work on non-fiction texts, and if they are ready to move on from the non-fiction text feature chart, they will receive other formats to practice their  thinking while reading non-fiction.

Wordly Wise: We are moving on to Lesson 4 this week.  The words we are focusing on this week are: ape, brain, branch, cavern, chimney, dozen, flame, net, spear, and torch.  Check out the wordlywise3000 website for addition support. 
  

Writing: We are continuing to work on Personal Chronological Narrative.  This week your child will receive a prompt to independently fill out for a writing assessment, that will be graded with from Write From the Beginning Rubric.  We will use this rubric to guide our classroom instruction, and to plan for next steps.  This week your child will also be writing about "A fun time you have had with your family".  We are writing into our focused modeled writing notebooks. There is an opening sentence, three sentences for details, three sentences for extended details and a closing sentence.  We are modeling so many wonderful writing strategies within our lessons based on our rubrics and the student's needs. 

Social Studies:  We are continuing to work on Unit 6 "How are goods made and brought to us?" Students will learn how goods are produced and distributed. 

FOSS:  FOSS science is in full swing.  Your child will get to experience FOSS in their classrooms on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:45pm-3:25pm.

Upcoming dates to know:
10/1 Count Day
10/3  PTCO Friday Fun Day, bring in $1 crazy hair/hat day
10/8 Walk to School Day
10/10 PTCO Friday Fun Day, bring in $1 mismatch day
10/10 Pizza and Bingo Night
10/16 Cherokee Trail Spirit Bus
10/16 Pack Assembly
10/17 PTCO Friday Fun Day, bring in $1 mustache day
10/20-11/2 Fall Break

Week of September 22nd- September 26th

Hello Families-

We hope that you all enjoy your nice long weekend! 

Next week we will be sending home your child's binder. This will serve as a portfolio piece, so please do not take anything out of it. Feel free to review the content inside, and return the binders by Friday 9/26.

The Scholastic book fair will be happening all next week.  Our classes will have an opportunity to walk through the book fair to check out the books.   Due to the set up of the book fair in the library, we will not be having regular library check out for books next week.  The Snake Lady will be in on Wednesday, the 24th.  

Muffin's for Moms will be on Friday 9/26. We look forward to having you in to our classrooms.

Friday is also a PTCO Friday Fun Day, bring in $1 and wear your favorite team jersey. 

This week we will focus on ....

Math: In second grade math, we will be continuing unit 2 and will be working on Name Collections, Frames and Arrows, What's My Rule, and Counting Strategies for Subtraction.  Typically your child will have homework Monday through Thursday.  We will be working on higher level thinking activities on Fridays, and will not assign homework over the weekend.  For 3rd grade math students, they are continuing unit 2 focusing on relationships and comparing number stories.

*Please continue to time your child 2 minutes and 15 seconds with their math facts. 

FAST (phonics):  We are working on concept 5 (Vowel Suffix Power) this week. Vowel Suffixes are suffixes which begin with a vowel.  Vowel Suffixes are bullies, which jump over the consonant, and make the vowel say it's own name. In order to protect the short vowel sound, we double the final consonant.  If your child ever forgets their spelling spiral, please check out the spelling tab on the blog. 
 
Reading: 
In Class: We will be working on lessons that help readers discover their passion and become specialists while reading.  We want students to learn that non-fiction reading, is reading to learn, and non-fiction writing is writing to teach.  We want the students to know what a specialist is, and what it means to have passion.  We want them to recognize they come to school with information, and they are specialists in something.  Lastly, we want them to create a list of specialist topics that they know a lot about, care about, and could teach someone about.  

For Homework: Your child will be continuing to work on the strategy: Non-fiction text features.  The students will be reading Non-Fiction Texts, and will be looking for and recording the different text features within their books, as well as where they found them, and how the feature helps them understand the story.   Your child will have a sheet to fill out inside their reading pouch.     . 

Wordly Wise: We are continuing Lesson 3 this week.  The words we are focusing on this week are: antenna, balance, boulder, cliff, joint, machine, motor, muscle, planet, and slope.  Check out the wordlywise3000 website for addition support. 
 

Writing: We are continuing to work on Personal Chronological Narrative.  This week your child will be writing about "A fun time you have had in the Fall".  We are writing into our focused modeled writing notebooks. There is an opening sentence, three sentences for details, three sentences for extended details and a closing sentence.  We are modeling so many wonderful writing strategies within our lessons based on our rubrics and the student's needs. 

Social Studies:  We are working on Unit 6 "How are goods made and brought to us?" Students will learn how goods are produced and distributed. 

FOSS:  FOSS science is in full swing.  Your child will get to experience FOSS in their classrooms on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:45pm-3:25pm.

Upcoming dates to know:

9/22-9/26 Scholastic Book Fair
9/24 Snake Lady at the Book Fair 9/26 Muffins with Mom
9/26 PTCO Friday Fun Day, bring in $1 and wear your favorite team jersey
10/1 Count Day
10/3  PTCO Friday Fun Day, bring in $1 crazy hair/hat day
10/8 Walk to School Day
10/10 PTCO Friday Fun Day, bring in $1 mismatch day
10/10 Pizza and Bingo Night
10/16 Cherokee Trail Spirit Bus
10/16 Pack Assembly
10/17 PTCO Friday Fun Day, bring in $1 mustache day
10/20-11/2 Fall Break

Week of September 15th to September 19th

Hello Families-

It has been so wonderful to start volunteers in our classrooms this week!

On Thursday, there will be a a Pizza Hut Night Fundraiser.



Next week is a short week, the students have a non-contact day on Friday, the 19th
 
***We will be making non-fiction text books in our reading blocks.  If you haven't done so already, please send your child in to school with a photo they would be allowed to paste into their books.  The photo may be printed from a computer, or can be an actual photo.  The students can have friends or family members in their photo, and will be writing a caption to describe what they are doing in the photo.  They will also be drawing a map to show where they were.  Please turn photos in by Tuesday at the latest.   

If your child brings home a math test, please look over, sign, and return to your child's teacher.  We are placing them in their portfolios. 





 This week we will focus on ....

Math: In second grade math, we will be continuing unit 2 and will be working on doubles and addition facts.  Typically your child will have homework Monday through Thursday.  We will be working on higher level thinking activities on Fridays, and will not assign homework over the weekend.  For 3rd grade math students, they will be continuing unit 2.

*Please continue to time your child 2 minutes and 15 seconds with their math facts. 

FAST (phonics):  We are working on concept 4 (Complex Ends) this week. Complex consonants are referred to as blends. Words are complex when they end in two or more consonants.  We will be having a test on Thursday because it is a short week.  If your child ever forgets their spelling spiral, please check out the spelling tab on the blog.  Please remember that although the lists start off with very easy words, they quickly become much more difficult! 

Reading: Your child will be working on the strategy: Non-fiction text features.  The students will be reading Non-Fiction Texts, and will be looking for and recording the different text features within their books, as well as where they found them, and how the feature helps them understand the story.   Your child will have a sheet to fill out inside their reading pouch.     . 

Wordly Wise: We are starting Lesson 3 this week, which will continue into next week.  The words we are focusing on this week are: antenna, balance, boulder, cliff, joint, machine, motor, muscle, planet, and slope.  Check out the wordlywise3000 website for addition support. 
 
Reading: The next week will be focused on exploring non-fiction features.  We will be making non-fiction feature books.  Thank you so much for sending in a photo of your child.  We will be writing a caption that goes along with our photo, as well as drawing a map of where we were.  

Writing: We are continuing to work on Personal Chronological Narrative.  This week your child will be writing about "A fun time with their family".  We are writing into our focused modeled writing notebooks. There is an opening sentence, three sentences for details, three sentences for extended details and a closing sentence.  We are modeling so many wonderful writing strategies within our lessons based on our rubrics and the student's needs. 

Social Studies:  We are starting Unit 6 "How are goods made and brought to us?" Students will learn how goods are produced and distributed. 

FOSS:  FOSS science is in full swing.  Your child will get to experience FOSS in their classrooms on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:45pm-3:25pm.

Upcoming dates to know:

9/19 Student Non-Contact Day- No school for students
9/22-9/26 Scholastic Book Fair
9/26 Muffins with Mom

Week of September 8-12

Hello families!

Today was an absolute blast having all the dads come in.  We can't tell you how much we appreciate you spending quality time in school with us.

The CCSD Fitness Festival is tomorrow :)

Volunteers.. We are looking forward to having you start next week.  We will have a confidentiality agreement for you to sign, and can't wait to have you come in!  
 
MAPS Testing- Second grade has been working hard on MAPS Reading and MAPS Math, we hope to conclude this beginning of year testing next week. 

Next week second grade will be completing hearing and vision testing on Thursday. 

 This week we will focus on ....

Math: In second grade math, we will be starting unit 2 on Monday.  Typically your child will have homework Monday through Thursday.  We will be working on higher level thinking activities on Fridays, and will not assign homework over the weekend.  For 3rd grade math students, there will be a test for Unit 1 on Monday, and they will be starting unit 2 on Tuesday.  .  

Please continue to time your child 2 minutes and 15 seconds with their math facts. 

FAST (phonics):  We are working on concept 3 (Short vowel, long spelling) this week. We will be having a test on Friday.  If your child ever forgets their spelling spiral, please check out the spelling tab on the blog.  Please remember that although the lists start off with very easy words, they quickly become much more difficult! 

Reading: We are continuing conferences this week.  Your child will be responding to their book in their journal. They will be working on the strategy: Think about the text.  They will make connections and ask questions about the story they have read.  Any time your child can use a specific example from the text or their own life the better. Your child will most likely meet on Mondays/Wednesdays or Tuesdays/Thursdays unless they have a Friday set up to meet with your child.  Binders are staying at school this year, and are going to be used for a portfolio.  Your child will bringing home a reading pouch containing their book, and response to lot journal to complete their homework. 

Wordly Wise: We are continuing lesson 2 this week, which will continue into next week.  The words we are focusing on this week are: accident, acrobat, alarm, bounce, enormous, gap, scoop, support, tangle, and weigh. If you'd like to practice the words with your child, please check the Wordly Wise 3000 link on the sidebar.
 
Reading: The next week will be focused on Monitoring Comprehension with a focus this week on Non-Fiction text features. 

Writing: We are continuing to work on Personal Chronological Narrative.  This week your child will be writing about "A time you have a had a problem in a friendship".  We are using a template to write into this week to help the students recognize the writing format. There is an opening sentence, three sentences for details, three sentences for extended details and a closing sentence.  We are modeling so many wonderful writing strategies within our lessons based on our rubrics and the student's needs. 

Social Studies:  We are starting Unit 2 "How are Communities Different?", which goes into greater depth with types of communities (rural, urban, suburban).

FOSS:  FOSS science is in full swing.  Your child will get to experience FOSS in their classrooms on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:45pm-3:25pm.

Upcoming dates to know:

9/6 CCSD Fitness Festival
9/19 Student Non-Contact Day- No school for students
9/22-9/26 Scholastic Book Fair
9/26 Muffins with Mom

Week of September 1-5

Week of September 1-5

Hello families!

We hope you had a wonderful long weekend!  It was fun to hear about the stories and adventures your families had.  Today was picture day, you may still turn in your picture forms until tomorrow (Thursday). 

Even though this is a short week, we will be taking a spelling test on Friday. 

Volunteers.. We are working hard on our sign up genius for volunteering.  Please look forward to genius sent out by your home room teacher this week. 
 
Dads.... we are looking forward to Donuts with Dads on Friday morning

This week we will focus on ....

Math: In second grade math, we will be sending home a review for unit 1 on Wednesday night.  Your child will test on unit 1 on Thursday.  They will not have homework for Thursday night.  Typically your child will have homework Monday through Thursday.  We will be working on higher level thinking activities on Fridays, and will not assign homework over the weekend.  For 3rd grade math students, there will be a review for unit 1 on Thursday night, and your child will test for unit 1 on Friday.  

Please continue to time your child 2 minutes and 15 seconds with their math facts. 

FAST (phonics):  We are working on concept 2 (closed syllables with consonant teams) this week. We will be having a test on Friday.  If your child ever forgets their spelling spiral, please check out the spelling tab on the blog.  Please remember that although the lists start off with very easy words, they quickly become much more difficult! 

Reading: We are starting reading conferences this week.  Your child will be responding to their book in their journal. They will be working on the strategy: Think about the text.  They will make connections and ask questions about the story they have read.  Any time your child can use a specific example from the text or their own life the better. Your child will most likely meet on Mondays/Wednesdays or Tuesdays/Thursdays unless they have a Friday set up to meet with your child.  Binders are staying at school this year, and are going to be used for a portfolio.  Your child will bringing home a reading pouch containing their book, and response to lot journal to complete their homework. 

Wordly Wise: We are starting lesson 2 this week, which will continue into next week.  The words we are focusing on this week are: accident, acrobat, alarm, bounce, enormous, gap, scoop, support, tangle, and weigh. If you'd like to practice the words with your child, please check the Wordly Wise 3000 link on the sidebar.
 
Reading: The next 2 weeks will be focused on Monitoring Comprehension with a focus this week on Non-Fiction text features. 

Writing: We are continuing to work on Personal Chronological Narrative.  This week your child will be writing about "A Trip you have Taken".  We are using a template to write into this week to help the students recognize the writing format. There is an opening sentence, three sentences for details, three sentences for extended details and a closing sentence.  We are modeling so many wonderful writing strategies within our lessons based on our rubrics and the student's needs. 

Social Studies:  We are starting Unit 2 "How are Communities Different?", which goes into greater depth with types of communities (rural, urban, suburban).

FOSS:  FOSS science officially started yesterday.  Your child will get to experience FOSS in their classrooms on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:45pm-3:25pm.

Upcoming dates to know:

9/5 Donuts for Dad
9/6 CCSD Fitness Festival
9/19 Student Non-Contact Day- No school for students
9/22-9/26 Scholastic Book Fair
9/26 Muffins with Mom