I apologize for how long it has been since I was last on here. I really am in need of feedback from parents as to whether this is suitable or if you would like a paper newsletter. I don't think it would be weekly.
Anyway, we have been very busy here! We have been practicing our Daily 5 routines and incorporating them into our guided reading. I assessed the students this past week and am pleased with the growth that some of them have made.
I want to thank all of you for making sure your child is dressed for the weather. They are usually bundled up and ready for the cold and snow. I do keep extra hats and gloves in my room that they may borrow so rest assured they are not going out in the cold without them.
A few reminders - The Christmas concert is Monday night at the high school at 7:00.
Our Christmas party will be Wednesday so make sure the gift for the gift exchange is here if they are participating. Wednesday is our last day until after New Year's. Where has the time gone?
Keep practicing on the ixl and xtra math at home. We do xtramath 3 mornings a week in the room. At least once a week we go to the lab to do ixl.
I hope everyone stays warm and has a great weekend.
Mrs. Staker
Friday, December 17, 2010
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Wed., Nov. 10
Apologies for letting this slip lately. We have finished up our telling time unit in math and will take the test on Friday. Our next unit will be geometry. I am thinking with Thanksgiving break coming up we may do a little problem solving in there also.
Second grade is changing the way we are doing reading starting next week. Mrs. Gardner and I are going to start a new way of teaching reading (new to us) called the Daily 5. It will still allow us to meet with small groups or individual students and work on the skills they need. The students seem excited about the change, with the little I have told them so far, so I hope it helps them all become better readers and writers!
Second grade is changing the way we are doing reading starting next week. Mrs. Gardner and I are going to start a new way of teaching reading (new to us) called the Daily 5. It will still allow us to meet with small groups or individual students and work on the skills they need. The students seem excited about the change, with the little I have told them so far, so I hope it helps them all become better readers and writers!
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Thursday, Oct. 28
First of all, thank you to all the parents who came to conferences. It is so important that we keep communication going between us as the year progresses.
Second, the weather is changing so please make sure your child is dressed appropriately. A sweatshirt for outside recess probably won't be enough anymore. There are days when a hat and gloves are even needed. As soon as we get snow (sorry) we will be requiring snow pants and boots also. Hopefully, that is a ways away!
As your student may have told you, we released our butterflies on Monday afternoon. I would have loved to keep them through conferences but that wouldn't have been fair. Mrs. Gardner's class is still waiting for them to emerge.
I am going to attempt to upload a few pictures this week on my blog so wish me luck. For some reason I have had problems doing that. Remember there is no school tomorrow so enjoy the long weekend!
Second, the weather is changing so please make sure your child is dressed appropriately. A sweatshirt for outside recess probably won't be enough anymore. There are days when a hat and gloves are even needed. As soon as we get snow (sorry) we will be requiring snow pants and boots also. Hopefully, that is a ways away!
As your student may have told you, we released our butterflies on Monday afternoon. I would have loved to keep them through conferences but that wouldn't have been fair. Mrs. Gardner's class is still waiting for them to emerge.
I am going to attempt to upload a few pictures this week on my blog so wish me luck. For some reason I have had problems doing that. Remember there is no school tomorrow so enjoy the long weekend!
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Wednesday, Oct. 13
Are we ever excited! Yesterday when we went home we only had one butterfly larva that had made a chrysalis. Today we have 10, and we were lucky enough to watch one actually make it's chrysalis!
We will be discussing why our butterflies are changing faster than Mrs. Gardner's butterflies. Her larvae have not changed as of noon today. There is a reason. Ask your child why that is happening.
We will be discussing why our butterflies are changing faster than Mrs. Gardner's butterflies. Her larvae have not changed as of noon today. There is a reason. Ask your child why that is happening.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Friday, Oct. 8
Love this weather and so do the children!
BUTTERFLIES - Our butterfly larvae showed up on Wednesday afternoon. The class was very excited to check out their larva. Each student has a cup of their own with one in it and there is a class cup with 4 or 5 in it. We did some initial observations about size, shape, color, etc. Then the students described their larva and drew a picture of it. I had them all do predictions as to when they think they will turn into a butterfly. Our predictions ranged from 2 minutes to 8 months. We will see if anyone is close to the date that the first one changes. Today they were amazed to see how much they grew. Below are a few of their observations:
The larva grew overnight almost double.
They are moving more.
Eat a lot of food because there is less food in the cup.
They like to hang from the lid.
We will be finishing up our subtraction chapter next week and plan on the test next Thursday. We will review on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Today the students shared their animal reports with the class. Their reports and dioramas will be on display in the media center during conferences. They did a very nice job on these. We will be studying insects on Monday and Tuesday. We will review animals on Wednesday and then take a test on Thursday. I know it seems like a lot of tests on Thursday but there is no school on Friday.
Mrs. Faircloth will finish her teaching next Thursday. I will be taking over the morning work next week while she finishes up her units in the afternoons. The last week she will spend some time observing some of the other classrooms in our building. She has done a nice job. You should find a homework assignment in your child's Friday folder. Please have this brought back by next Thursday. The students should give them to me, not Mrs. Faircloth. If your child does not have one, it is because they will be working on it here.
Reminders:
Book orders are due back on Mon., Oct. 18th.
No school next Friday.
Please return conference slips next week in case we need to make any changes.
Have a great weekend!
BUTTERFLIES - Our butterfly larvae showed up on Wednesday afternoon. The class was very excited to check out their larva. Each student has a cup of their own with one in it and there is a class cup with 4 or 5 in it. We did some initial observations about size, shape, color, etc. Then the students described their larva and drew a picture of it. I had them all do predictions as to when they think they will turn into a butterfly. Our predictions ranged from 2 minutes to 8 months. We will see if anyone is close to the date that the first one changes. Today they were amazed to see how much they grew. Below are a few of their observations:
The larva grew overnight almost double.
They are moving more.
Eat a lot of food because there is less food in the cup.
They like to hang from the lid.
We will be finishing up our subtraction chapter next week and plan on the test next Thursday. We will review on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Today the students shared their animal reports with the class. Their reports and dioramas will be on display in the media center during conferences. They did a very nice job on these. We will be studying insects on Monday and Tuesday. We will review animals on Wednesday and then take a test on Thursday. I know it seems like a lot of tests on Thursday but there is no school on Friday.
Mrs. Faircloth will finish her teaching next Thursday. I will be taking over the morning work next week while she finishes up her units in the afternoons. The last week she will spend some time observing some of the other classrooms in our building. She has done a nice job. You should find a homework assignment in your child's Friday folder. Please have this brought back by next Thursday. The students should give them to me, not Mrs. Faircloth. If your child does not have one, it is because they will be working on it here.
Reminders:
Book orders are due back on Mon., Oct. 18th.
No school next Friday.
Please return conference slips next week in case we need to make any changes.
Have a great weekend!
Friday, October 1, 2010
Friday, Oct. 1
Love this weather! The students are certainly excited about Homecoming today! Lots of blue in our classroom. Jocelyn Sieh won the most blue in our room with 20 blue items on today. Congratulations Jocelyn!
The students are starting their dioramas for science. They sketched out a picture of what it will look like and have written a rough draft of their paper. I think these are going to be a great learning activity.
In math they have been working on subtraction. We did the basic count back using a number line which was really just a review. Today they used unifix cubes to work with a partner to make doubles facts.
I was really impressed with the spelling tests we took this week. Thanks to all who helped their child prepare for these tests. You will find the tests in the Friday folder.
Also in the Friday folder are 2 comprehension tests we took this week. I may get the grammar assessment checked today but if not, it will come home next week.
Mrs. Faircloth has one more week of teaching all subject areas. After next week, I will take over reading again. She will continue with science and math.
Next week we will do some fire prevention activities and have an assembly on Thursday with the Reinbeck Fire Department. They always do such a great job with the kids.
Wednesday is an early dismissal for inservice. We will be working on reading with the Gladbrook teachers. Students will be dismissed at 12:45.
The students are starting their dioramas for science. They sketched out a picture of what it will look like and have written a rough draft of their paper. I think these are going to be a great learning activity.
In math they have been working on subtraction. We did the basic count back using a number line which was really just a review. Today they used unifix cubes to work with a partner to make doubles facts.
I was really impressed with the spelling tests we took this week. Thanks to all who helped their child prepare for these tests. You will find the tests in the Friday folder.
Also in the Friday folder are 2 comprehension tests we took this week. I may get the grammar assessment checked today but if not, it will come home next week.
Mrs. Faircloth has one more week of teaching all subject areas. After next week, I will take over reading again. She will continue with science and math.
Next week we will do some fire prevention activities and have an assembly on Thursday with the Reinbeck Fire Department. They always do such a great job with the kids.
Wednesday is an early dismissal for inservice. We will be working on reading with the Gladbrook teachers. Students will be dismissed at 12:45.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Monday, September 27
I apologize for no post this past weekend. Where did the weekend go? We have finished our reading theme for the first 5 stories. We are now having a review week. This week will look differently than previous weeks. The students will be testing quite a bit. Today they will take a sentence dictation pretest. This will be 5 sentences with some spelling words in them. To pass the test every sentence must be spelled correctly and capitalization and punctuation correct. If they pass the pretest they have freetime during spelling on Friday. On Wed. they will take a multiple choice spelling test and Thursday is a 20 word test. That list will come home today. In this way we cover every spelling word we have had this theme. Today we are taking a reading skills test. This includes vocabulary and the story elements we have been working on. The students will also take two tests over comprehension. It is a very busy week as we will still have guided reading during the week.
Hopefully everyone had a chance to look over your child's math test. This week we will start subtraction strategies. Ask your child if they can explain bubble math to you. It is something new we are doing.
We are still studying animals and will be working on our dioramas. Thanks to all who have sent boxes and/or items for their child's diorama.
If your child wants to purchase any of the items the cheerleaders are selling, send it to school with the money in a baggie or envelope. We give them to the cheerleaders and then they will get the items to us on Friday.
Sounds like we are going to have a great week weatherwise so enjoy it.
Hopefully everyone had a chance to look over your child's math test. This week we will start subtraction strategies. Ask your child if they can explain bubble math to you. It is something new we are doing.
We are still studying animals and will be working on our dioramas. Thanks to all who have sent boxes and/or items for their child's diorama.
If your child wants to purchase any of the items the cheerleaders are selling, send it to school with the money in a baggie or envelope. We give them to the cheerleaders and then they will get the items to us on Friday.
Sounds like we are going to have a great week weatherwise so enjoy it.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Field trip reflections
We got to see comeone milk a cow.
We watched a dog show.
There was a talking tree walking around.
There were ducks, kittens, white tiger, cows, peacocks, and calves.
We saw a 520 pound pumpkin.
We watched a dog show.
There was a talking tree walking around.
There were ducks, kittens, white tiger, cows, peacocks, and calves.
We saw a 520 pound pumpkin.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Week of Sept. 13-18
Boy, did we have a great day for our field trip! The weather was absolutely beautiful and the kids were very well-behaved. We always seem to have a few wanderers (don't quite pay attention to where they are going) but with 2 adults in each group, it was manageable. I think everyone had a good time and learned something new. I know I did. They were tired by the end. Some of the students' observations will be added on Monday.
If your child has not brought a show box to school yet please send one soon. If you need one, let us know.
Thursday is our test over addition strategies. We will send home a review sheet for you to see before the test. After addition strategies we will begin working on subtraction strategies. They are basically very similar to the addition strategies with a few new ones. The students just keep getting better on math probes! They needed 160 to get 5 minutes of extra recess and they got 217! Way to go!
Our smile plan seems to be helping many of the students stay focused or refocus. I will send those home on Monday. We did not use them on Friday due to the field trip.
Most of the class is actually ahead in their A.R. goals. Nice job. We don't always get much time to read in class so when they read at home it is always good practice. On the days we have guided reading they are more likely to get some time to read A.R. Thanks to Mr. Bixby (from the high school) for coming and getting all of the computers in our room hooked up to internet. Now we have 3-4 (depending on the day) that can now be used for A.R. tests instead of 1. When the computer lab is busy it is hard to get all the tests taken.
Hope everyone has an enjoyable weekend!
If your child has not brought a show box to school yet please send one soon. If you need one, let us know.
Thursday is our test over addition strategies. We will send home a review sheet for you to see before the test. After addition strategies we will begin working on subtraction strategies. They are basically very similar to the addition strategies with a few new ones. The students just keep getting better on math probes! They needed 160 to get 5 minutes of extra recess and they got 217! Way to go!
Our smile plan seems to be helping many of the students stay focused or refocus. I will send those home on Monday. We did not use them on Friday due to the field trip.
Most of the class is actually ahead in their A.R. goals. Nice job. We don't always get much time to read in class so when they read at home it is always good practice. On the days we have guided reading they are more likely to get some time to read A.R. Thanks to Mr. Bixby (from the high school) for coming and getting all of the computers in our room hooked up to internet. Now we have 3-4 (depending on the day) that can now be used for A.R. tests instead of 1. When the computer lab is busy it is hard to get all the tests taken.
Hope everyone has an enjoyable weekend!
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Tuesday, Sept. 14
It is good to be back from my trip. Mrs. Faircloth is now teaching all subjects except math. She will pick that up next week. I hope everyone received the letter about our field trip on Friday. Please remember to send a sack lunch but no drink. They need tennis shoes and a jacket or sweatshirt. This is an excellent educational field trip, and I am excited that we get the opportunity to attend again. We have started a class-wide behavior plan. We just seem to have a lot of chatting going on, as well as some behaviors that are very distracting. The students have 6 smiles every day. They can lose a smile for various things which we discussed. At the end of the week (in the beginning) they need to have 25 out of 30 smiles left to earn a reward. This week is a practice week. We are hoping to discontinue the plan for the majority of the class by the time of conferences. I will send home their slips on the following Monday so you can see how your child did the previous week. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Sat., Sept. 4
I apologize for being late with my Friday blog. This was a very busy week! We started guided reading groups this week so it was hectic. The students will be doing guided reading on Tues., Wed., and Thursday during a normal week. My student teacher will start doing them the week of the 13th. I have tested all of the students and grouped them with students of similar abilities. Please be assured that if I notice a student struggling or moving ahead of others in their group, I may test them again or possibly try them at another level. That is one of the great advantages of guided reading - the flexibility to work with students to meet their individual needs.
This coming week I am only here on Tuesday. My student teacher will be teaching reading and science beginning Tuesday. My substitute while I am gone will be Kate Offner. As you may remember, I am going to visit my son in Mississippi before he deploys to Afghanistan next month.
We wrapped up our unit on rules and laws. Now we move into science and the students will be studying animals. Mrs. Faircloth would like them to bring a shoebox to school in the next week or two for a project. If you don't have one let us know and we will find one for your child.
I hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful weather this holiday weekend. Next Friday there will not be an entry as I will be gone. We will be right back at it the following week though. Thanks to all who read my blog. It is here for you to get information and feel free to comment.
Mrs. Staker
This coming week I am only here on Tuesday. My student teacher will be teaching reading and science beginning Tuesday. My substitute while I am gone will be Kate Offner. As you may remember, I am going to visit my son in Mississippi before he deploys to Afghanistan next month.
We wrapped up our unit on rules and laws. Now we move into science and the students will be studying animals. Mrs. Faircloth would like them to bring a shoebox to school in the next week or two for a project. If you don't have one let us know and we will find one for your child.
I hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful weather this holiday weekend. Next Friday there will not be an entry as I will be gone. We will be right back at it the following week though. Thanks to all who read my blog. It is here for you to get information and feel free to comment.
Mrs. Staker
Friday, September 3, 2010
Friday, Sept. 3, 2010
In math we used ten frames to make 10. Our reading story was "Henry and Mudge Under the Yellow Moon." We learned what to do if two people have a problem.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Wednesday, Sept. 1
We started guided reading today. In math we practiced adding with spinneers. Addition strategies we used were doubles, near doubles, and counton. We got over 105 digits on math probes so we had extra reecess! We had 135 digits correct.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Friday, August 27, 2010
We read a book about being a friend to a new student.
On Wednesday, we had 5 minutes of extra recess becasue we got over 50 digits correct on our math probe. Our class total was 104. Next week we need 105 digits correct.
Rosa Parks changed laws about "colored" people and being ablle to do the same as white people.
We completed a full week of school with only a shortened day on Monday. It was a good week. We are still working on some routines for second grade. As a reminder, the students will be bringing home spelling homework on Tuesdays - due back on Wed. They also have moth practice sheets on Thursday night that are due on Friday. Thanks for helping with that.
There are book orders in their Friday folders today. These are due back next Friday. Included is a pink letter about ordering on line. They have made it much simpler this year so feel free to try that. If you send the order to school, checks need to be made out to Scholastic. One check for all of your orders.
In math we have been working on addition strategies. They have remembered quite a bit from first grade! We will be doing Bubble math starting next week. Mondays are addition and Thursdays are subtraction. Hopefully, by next Friday the students can explain it to you but they haven't tried it yet.
Every Tuesday is math probe day. They are working to beat their personal best as well as the class best. Quite the challenge.
Next Monday my student teacher starts. Her name is Casey Faircloth. Mrs. Faricloth will be with us through most of October.
I hope everyone has a great weekend.
On Wednesday, we had 5 minutes of extra recess becasue we got over 50 digits correct on our math probe. Our class total was 104. Next week we need 105 digits correct.
Rosa Parks changed laws about "colored" people and being ablle to do the same as white people.
We completed a full week of school with only a shortened day on Monday. It was a good week. We are still working on some routines for second grade. As a reminder, the students will be bringing home spelling homework on Tuesdays - due back on Wed. They also have moth practice sheets on Thursday night that are due on Friday. Thanks for helping with that.
There are book orders in their Friday folders today. These are due back next Friday. Included is a pink letter about ordering on line. They have made it much simpler this year so feel free to try that. If you send the order to school, checks need to be made out to Scholastic. One check for all of your orders.
In math we have been working on addition strategies. They have remembered quite a bit from first grade! We will be doing Bubble math starting next week. Mondays are addition and Thursdays are subtraction. Hopefully, by next Friday the students can explain it to you but they haven't tried it yet.
Every Tuesday is math probe day. They are working to beat their personal best as well as the class best. Quite the challenge.
Next Monday my student teacher starts. Her name is Casey Faircloth. Mrs. Faricloth will be with us through most of October.
I hope everyone has a great weekend.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
August 24, 2010
The weather is certainly nicer today than it has been!
Today we learned about the president and government. Some people took their first A.R. tests today. Addends are the numbers you add together in addition problems. The sum is the answer.
The students have spelling homework on Tuesday nights. They receive a spelling sticker if they bring it back on Wed. These stickers can be used for trips to the prize box!
Pictures are on Thursday so if you plan to order, send the form and the money by then.
There are purple sheets in your child's bag about A.R. Please read and sign so that your child may bring it back to school by Thursday.
Today we learned about the president and government. Some people took their first A.R. tests today. Addends are the numbers you add together in addition problems. The sum is the answer.
The students have spelling homework on Tuesday nights. They receive a spelling sticker if they bring it back on Wed. These stickers can be used for trips to the prize box!
Pictures are on Thursday so if you plan to order, send the form and the money by then.
There are purple sheets in your child's bag about A.R. Please read and sign so that your child may bring it back to school by Thursday.
Friday, August 20, 2010
First week of school
We made it through the first week. Everyone worked hard and did their jobs. We have written our classroom rules and posted them in our classroom. The students also took their first math checker this week. I was pleasantly surprised by the abilities they show in math. We even had a 100%! This week we really practiced some of the routines that take place in second grade.
The students will have spelling homework one night a week starting next week. I am not sure if it will be on Tuesday or Thursday yet. It will almost always be a yellow, two-sided worksheet that practices the skill that week. We always have pretests on Monday and posttest on Friday. They have the opportunity to get a challenge list if they get the first 10 words correct on the pretest. The last two words are bonus words. The students also can earn spelling stickers. When they have earned 12 stickers they can go to the prize box.
Next week we will be taking the STAR test on the computers. We tried today but there were some technical glitches that stopped us. Once that is done I will send home A.R. goal sheets for you to look over and sign. At that time we can start A.R.
I hope everyone enjoys the weekend. Know that my door is always open to visitors and would love to have you stop in for a visit.
Mrs. Staker
The students will have spelling homework one night a week starting next week. I am not sure if it will be on Tuesday or Thursday yet. It will almost always be a yellow, two-sided worksheet that practices the skill that week. We always have pretests on Monday and posttest on Friday. They have the opportunity to get a challenge list if they get the first 10 words correct on the pretest. The last two words are bonus words. The students also can earn spelling stickers. When they have earned 12 stickers they can go to the prize box.
Next week we will be taking the STAR test on the computers. We tried today but there were some technical glitches that stopped us. Once that is done I will send home A.R. goal sheets for you to look over and sign. At that time we can start A.R.
I hope everyone enjoys the weekend. Know that my door is always open to visitors and would love to have you stop in for a visit.
Mrs. Staker
Puppies!
Today Mrs. Faircloth brought three of her 8 week old puppies to school. The kids were so good to the puppies. She told them all about how they are sent to the people who buy them. She also told them about the different puppies and their personalities.
First day of school
Our first day in second grade was hot! We did math timed tests. Today we have P.E.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Welcome to Second Grade!
Thank you for visiting my blog. In second grade we will not be sending home a newsletter. As part of our technology integration, my blog will be taking the place of the weekly newsletter.
Updates will be occurring several times a week with summaries of the students' day as they journal as a class. They will spell the words and tell me the punctuation that will be needed.
On Fridays there will be a post from me about our week and any announcements you need to know about.
Updates will be occurring several times a week with summaries of the students' day as they journal as a class. They will spell the words and tell me the punctuation that will be needed.
On Fridays there will be a post from me about our week and any announcements you need to know about.
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