Reading: We are practicing routines and building reading endurance so that students can independently choose from the Daily 5 activities once small group reading instruction begins. These routines take time at the beginning of the year, but the payoff for independent learners is well worth the time spent. Your child will have opportunities to visit and check out books from the library throughout the week. I encourage each child to take advantage of the wonderful collection of materials that our library offers.
Spelling: Each week your child will bring home ten spelling words to learn through practice activities. The goal is to learn the spelling words so that there is transfer to writing in all academic areas. I do not give a weekly spelling test. Your child's spelling grade for reporting purposes will be determined by the spelling of words in their academic daily writing projects and benchmarked spelling tests.
Writing: Our first unit of study in writing is poetry. Your child will learn how to write free verse poems, one of which will be published for our class anthology. Poetry writing will then be woven into many literacy activities throughout the year.
Newsworthy: This year we will begin to implement the new State Standards in all subject areas. The two subject areas that will be affected with the most changes to align with the standards are writing and science. In writing there will be a heavier emphasis on nonfiction and expository products.
The small stuff........
Breakfast Children need to arrive at school with their bodies fueled and ready to learn. Please provide a high protein breakfast for your child each morning. We don’t eat lunch until 11:15 which is a long time to go on an empty stomach or a high carb only breakfast.
Water bottles I encourage children to bring tight fitting water bottles withWATER ONLY! NO CLEAR SPORTS DRINKS! Children need to stay hydrated for optimum learning.
Birthdays We love to acknowledge and celebrate your child’s birthday. If they wish to bring treats, great! Please send treats that are easy to pass out and not too messy. If your child has a food allergy and cannot partake of birthday treats, please let me know so we can make other arrangements. We currently have 24 students in our class.
Math: We are using the 4th edition of the Everyday Math program. Your child will be bringing home worksheets called Home links in their homework folder each Monday. They will be on bright colored paper and should be looked at, discussed, and completed at home and kept for continued practice and future reference. They are a great practice and review tool for you to use at home, and reinforce with your child what he/she is learning at school. If you ever have questions about the skill and strategies in the math program, you can access the Everyday Math Website via our 2nd grade website. Under the Resources, you will find a link that will take you to the Everyday Math Parent Letters. Please start now to help your child tell time using an analog clock (hands and face) to the hour and half hour. An analog wrist watch makes a great gift! One more skill to work on at home now is recognizing coins and being able to count change up to $1. Keep a cup of change on the table and take a handful out often and have your child count it. Also, start practicing addition and subtraction facts using flash cards 0 – 18. Children should be able to respond to any given problem within three seconds!
Social Studies/ Science: Our first focus for social studies will be communities and on science it will be the properties of matter.
Snacks Our recess is in the afternoon. Many children like to bring a healthy snack to eat at this time.
Scholastic Book Orders Throughout the year I send home Scholastic book order catalogs. If you wish to order books, please order online using the directions under the “Scholastic Books Orders” tab on my website or send the completed order form(s) along with one check with the total amount made out to Scholastic Book Club.
Remind101 Grab Your Phone! Enter this number! 720-408-2408 (this isn't my personal cell number) and text @mrsmullers You then have signed up to receive reminders from our classroom. You don't have to give your cell number to me, but you will receive quick reminders when special things are coming up. I would love to try this extra communication piece this year, so please sign up.