Welcome Fall!

We have been having a busy week!  I am truly enjoying getting to know all of your children. 
Fall is officially here and we have been observing how the trees outside have been changing.  Each student picked a tree that they will be observing throughout the year and recording/sketching the changes they see each season.  We also learned about leaves and sorted them by their characteristics (shape-simple or lobed, margin-smooth or toothed, etc). 
In math, we are continuing to practice strategies for addition as well as relating addition to subtraction.  The students have been doing this by making Math Mountains, Partner Houses and drawing pictures.
We have been practing alphabetizing in grammar and continuing in our handwriting book.  In Reader's Workshop, students learned how to recommend books to their classmates and have been filling out recommendation cards when they finish a great book.  We have also been learning how to write responses to our reading. 
As you know the students had their math MAP test this week and will be taking the reading MAP test Tuesday Oct. 2nd.  Make sure your child gets plenty of rest the night before and eats a healthy breakfast in the morning.
Have a great weekend!

Mrs. Quinn


**Reminders**

• Chip Shoppe fundraisers due Tues. Oct. 2nd
• Reading MAP test-Tues. Oct. 2nd
• Bring library books Monday

Dodge, Duck And Donate

Homecoming is Friday, October 5 at Dan Patch Stadium. Watch the game and then stay to play dodge ball.

 

The Laker Educational Foundation (LEF) is sponsoring the game with proceeds benefiting Friends of Wolf Ridge.

 

Register now and save.

$10/person or $35/household.

Walkins:$15/person. Ages K-12 & Adults.

Every player will receive a bandana.

 

Go here to register. 

https://www5677.ssldomain.com/summersmashgala/lakerfoundation/dodge-duck-donate.cfm

 

Busy Week!

It has been another exciting and busy week in Second grade!  We had our first all-school meeting, as well as our Chip Shoppe fundraiser kick-off. 
In math we have been learning addition strategies, such as counting on, finding unknown partners or break-aparts and using Math Mountains and Partner Houses.  We started learning about common and proper nouns and made a list of examples from our classroom.  We are continuing to set up Reader's Workshop by practicing expectations, discussing fiction and non-fiction books, practicing strategies to solve unknown words, and learning how to monitor our reading.  Science has been busy as well!  The students have spent a lot of time outside making scientific drawings of observations and using their senses to describe their observations.  We also discussed signs of Fall, including events that occur in our lives as well as in nature. 
In Writer's Workshop, students have been practicing drawing sketches to help them get ideas for writing.  They are doing a great job with this!  Monday the 17th was Constitution Day so students learned why our constitution is so important and did a fun activity. 

**Reminders

• Early Release Day is Wednesday September 26th at 1:50
• Math MAP testing is Thursday, September 27th

Getting Into a Routine!

This week has been busy!  The class has done a great job adjusting to a new teacher and getting the routines down.  I am truly enjoying working with your children.  They each add a little something special to our classroom.  I know that the next few months will be a wonderful experience. 

We are in full swing now with our math curriculum.  I hope the letter I sent home will assist you in helping your children with their homework.  If a concept seems diificult for your child, don't worry.  We will be revisiting them often throughout the units.  The students took their first math timed test for addition.  They will take one each week to help practice their math facts.  We started grammar this week and have been learning about the different types of sentences.  We continued to set up for Reader's Workshop by choosing book nooks for independent reading, reviewing expectations, learning how to choose "just right" books, and creating our reading goals for the year.  We also have been setting up for Writer's Workshop and began our first unit today!  Yesterday we took a tour of our outdoor nature areas, including the butterfly garden and bird sanctuary. 


**Reminders**

• Bring a forever book to share by Monday
• Fall Pictures are Friday Sept. 21st

A Great First Week!

Wow!  The first week of school has flown by!  We have been busy getting to know one another, learning classroom routines, practicing school rules and having fun together.  Some highlights of the week include: setting up and organizing our classroom library, writing our hopes and dreams for the school year, learning new morning meeting games, and creating a self-portrait!

Today we did our first official math lesson from our new math curriculum, Math Expressions.  Today, your child should be bringing home their first math homework assignment.  Please help them complete this and have your child return it to school on Monday.  You will also find a letter describing the program, which includes how to effectively help your child with their homework each night.  Please cut out, fill out and return the bottom portion of the letter to school on Monday as well. 

Mrs. Quinn was here Friday to get to know the kids better and see all of the classroom routines we've been working on.  It was great to have her here!

I've enjoyed getting to know each child this week and look forward to a great year ahead!  Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Have a wonderful weekend!