June 2016 Newsletter
Dear Grade 2 Families,
It's hard to believe it, but it's the final month of school! How the year has flown! It has been a terrific year for us all. We worked hard to achieve the Curriculum Expectations and we had a lot of fun in the process. I have seen a lot of growth in these students both academically and socially. They are to be congratulated for their enthusiasm for learning both in and out of the classroom.
This month will be a busy one as we wrap up our school year!
Happy Un-birthday
In June, we will celebrate June birthdays and any summer birthdays (un-birthdays). All birthdays have been marked on their June calendar (attached)
Other important dates in June:
Please note the following dates on the June calendar that has been prepared for you.
Friday, June 3: Class Picture taken today
Tuesday, June 7: Last Library exchange
Wednesday, June 8th: Splash Pad - bring bathing suit and towel
Thursday, June 9th: School Carnival
Thursday, June 9th: Last Scholastic Book order due
Friday, June 10th: P.A. Day - no school for students
Monday, June 13: All Library Books MUST be returned
Friday, June 17th and Friday June 24th: Splash Pad - bring bathing suit and towel
Wednesday, June 22: Walking trip to Public Library and Hearn's Dairy
Monday, June 27: Class Trip to Camp Kintail
Tuesday, June 28: Water Play Day - bring bathing suit and towel
-Final Assembly/Slideshow presentation
Wednesday, June 29: LAST DAY OF CLASSES FOR STUDENTS
Library Books and Home Reading Books
Please note that ALL library books and Home Reading Books/folders must be returned to school on MONDAY, JUNE 13. After this date, our school library will close so that an inventory of our books can be done prior to summer break. I will also stop sending home the little books in your child's home reading folder. Even though books will not be coming home from school, please continue to read to and with your child. The local Public Library is an excellent resource for books that are appropriate for your child.
Splash Pad Visits
Please make sure you have returned your child's consent form which will allow us to visit the Splash Pad at the Pyramid Centre. There is no cost associated with using the Splash Pad, and we are so close, it would be a shame to miss this opportunity. We are planning to visit the Splash Pad on Wednesday, June 8th and on Friday, June 17th and 24th from approximately 2:15 - 3:00 pm. Please note that the consent reads "use of splash pad for month of June". This way, if we have bad weather, or decide to use the Slash Pad more, we won't need another consent (we would let you know if we decide to go any other days so you will know when to send bathing suit etc.) This consent also gives us some flexibility if we need to adjust our splash time.
On Splash Pad days, you will need to send your child's bathing suit and towel in a separate bag (or have them wear it under their clothes .We will plan to stay at the Splash Pad for about 45 minutes. We will return to school in time to be dismissed at the end of the day. We will NOT change back into clothing once we get back to the school, but we will place the wet towel into the separate bag that you sent it in.
Class Trip to Camp Kintail:
On Monday, June 27th, our class will travel to Camp Kintail for a day of fun. I took my class to Camp Kintail for a class trip last year and everyone had an amazing day. On this date, it is important that you send your child dressed in clothing appropriate for the weather and comfortable shoes are extremely important as we will be on the move for the whole day. It is also recommended that you send extra food and drinks with your child on this day as the extra activity tends to make the kids extra hungry. (A bigger lunch than usual is recommended). I will send home any other important reminders about this trip closer to the date:
Visiting the Public Library and Hearn's Dairy
Normally, Karen Coddington from the Public Library comes to our classroom for a visit. She has come to read us stories and bring us books every month! I thought it would be fun to visit her at the Library for a change, so, on Wednesday, June 22nd, we are going to do just that! We will walk to visit Karen at the Public Library! While at the Library, we will enjoy some stories, crafts and activities. We will be taking our lunches with us. After eating our lunch at the library, we will walk up the hill to Hearn's Dairy for either an ice cream cone or a slushie (the kids will be allowed to choose) before heading back to the school! The ice cream is on me! It's my way of saying 'Thanks' for such an amazing year! Please make sure you send back the consent associated with this excursion as soon as possible.
Summer/Water Play Day
Students will be participating in a variety of activities (some involving water) on Tuesday, June 28th. Please send your child's swimsuit and towel on this day also. (We may get to use the Splash Pad on this date too). This event is planned for the end of the day, so your child will likely come home in their swimsuit this day. Please remember to apply sunscreen to your child's exposed skin prior to sending them to school this day as we will be spending a lot of time outdoors.
Warm Weather Reminders:
With the hot, sunny weather finally upon us, just a reminder that we recommend sending your children to school with a summer hat to provide protection from the sun. Please remember to apply sunscreen to your child for protection, and send extra sunscreen in their backpack if you want them to reapply it later in the day. If you send sunscreen, please have a conversation with your child about how to apply it independently without wasting it or getting it in their eyes.
Last Day Information
As we creep closer to the last day of school, you will notice that your child will begin bringing things home. I will try to send most of their items home prior to the very last day of school, but will need to keep changes of clothing 'just in case'.
Lost and Found
Please take a moment to pop into the school to check out the 'Lost and Found' table if you think your child is missing anything. Any items not claimed will be donated to the Salvation Army!
If I find that we need any last minute special supplies, materials or assistance, we'll let you know!
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to call or send a note in your child's mailbag.
I would like to wish each of you a safe, enjoyable summer!
Sincerely,
Susan Stacey
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May 2016 Newsletter
Dear Parents/Guardians,
It's hard to believe that another month has flown by and that there are only 2 more months remaining in this school year. May and June will be busy for our class as we plan in-school opportunities and excursions/outings to enrich your child's experience here at school. Please check your child's mailbag every night for special consents that may need to be signed and returned so that participation in special events is possible.
Special Dates:
Please refer to your calendar so that you will be aware of important dates.
May 2, 11, 16, 24 and 31st are Library Exchange Dates
Monday, May 9th - P.A. Day - no classes for students
Tuesday, May 17 - Scholastic Book Order is due
Friday, May 20 - Simple Machines Workshop with Discovery Western
Learning This Month:
In Language, we will focus on Non-Fiction. We will talk more about the characteristics/features of non-fiction texts and practice using these features efficiently to find information in a non-fiction text. We will continue using non-fiction texts to gather information to write reports about specific 'real-world' topics such as Endangered Animal Species and various countries in the world. We will also start a new novel study and practice answering questions by providing evidence from the text and our own ideas. In Math, we will work with addition and subtraction of 2 digit numbers with and without regrouping and finish up some symmetry work from April. We will also be exploring 3D solids and measuring perimeter and area! . In Science, we will wrap up our 'Simple Machines Unit' by building a box car. In Social Studies, we will use non-fiction texts to continue exploring different countries and compare different places to our local community.
Discovery Western Workshop
On Friday, May 20th, our class will have the opportunity to enjoy a Science Workshop put on by 'Discovery Western'. On this date we will consolidate our learning from our Simple Machines Unit. We will explore what makes things move and how machines are used daily and improve our everyday life. Students will investigate simple machines and act like an 'engineer' as they create their own mini-catapult.
School Carnival - June 8th
Please mark your calendars so that you won't miss our annual school carnival which is always a big hit with the kids!
We are still looking for volunteers to help the event run smoothly. We are also in need of donations of ‘Jazzy Jars’ for our Carnival. ‘Jazzy Jars’ are theme packages that are put together and displayed at the Carnival. Students can purchase tickets at the carnival for a chance to win a Jazzy Jar. If you are interested in donating a Jazzy Jar, please drop it off at the school office.
Healthy Children:
Just a short reminder about the importance of nutritious food, routine and sleep to a developing child. Sometimes, children need to be told by their parents their sleep requirements and a bedtime routine should be set up so children get enough rest. Studies have shown that young children need 10 to 10 1/2 hours of sleep per night to be at their best the next day. This can be especially difficult to manage at this time of year when children tend to stay up longer in the evenings to enjoy the outside or participate in extra curricular activities like soccer or baseball. Please be health conscious on your child's behalf and have a bedtime routine that meets these goals. You would be surprised how much this can impact their success in school the next day!
If we find that we need any special supplies, materials or assistance, we'll let you know!
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to call or send a note in your child's mailbag.
Have a marvelous month of May!
Sincerely,
Susan Stacey
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April Newsletter
Dear Parents/Guardians,
Spring has finally sprung! With it, comes the muddy weather and the need to dress your child according to the ever-changing weather conditions. Please try to help your child choose clothing that is appropriate for the temperature/weather each day. Talk to them about their clothing choices and explain why you are asking them to wear certain clothes. Dressing appropriately will help us all stay comfortable and healthy.
If you have not already done so, please make sure you return your child's spare clothing bag to school as some students took them home at March break! This is a good time to make sure that whatever is in the bag still fits your child and insure that there is a good variety of 'weather appropriate' clothing in the bag.
This month we will continue to work towards the achievement of several curriculum expectations inside and outside of the classroom. Some of the concepts we plan to work on include:
Language: We will review the comprehension strategy - 'Visualization' by making mind movies and using our senses to make sense of/understand text. We will also look at some different kinds of poetry and begin a short novel study. We will practice recording answers to questions about stories using information from the text and our own knowledge. We will also continue to look closely at characters we are reading about to find evidence from the text which proves certain character attributes.
Math: We will continue exploring money and practice addition/subraction of 2 digit numbers for grade 2s using various strategies (base ten blocks, number lines, splitting number, standard algorithm). Solving problems by showing our thinking in pictures, numbers and words will also be practiced.
Science: We will continue our unit on Simple Machines and begin looking at Air and Water in our Environment.
Social Studies: We will be investigating features of different places and comparing other
places to our own community!
Kiwanis Festival:
By now, you have received a special consent form which will allow your child to travel to Stratford on Tuesday, April 5th (Primary Choir) and Wednesday, April 6th (Grade 2 Choir) to sing at the Kiwanis Festival. Please sign and return this form as soon as possible. There is no cost associated with this excursion. Exact times for departure and return are noted on the actual consent form!
Mrs. Stern has asked that students wear dark bottoms and a light coloured top with NO writing or designs on it. No jeans please!
Earth Day:
Earth Day will be celebrated at Little Falls on Thursday, April 21st.
In honour of Earth Day, we will be doing a class "Litterless Challenge" to raise awareness about the amount of garbage we produce and promote cutting down on litter in our daily lunches. Our class "Litterless Challenge starts on Monday, April 18th. We are hoping that all students in our class will participate. What you need to do is pretty simple. Try to pack your lunch in re-usable containers or choose items that do not involve a lot of packaging. Each day, we will bring in our lunch bag and ask students to count each item in their lunch that they will have to throw out or recycle. We will keep a tally of the number of pieces of garbage we generate and celebrate our results at the end of the week!
On Thursday, April 21st, our class will also participate in a community 'clean up' where we will collect garbage that we see laying around. Please send gardening gloves or rubber gloves for your child to wear on this date as they pick up garbage. We will also participate in a "Lights Out" hour to show our respect for Earth and help to conserve energy.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to call or send a note in your child's mailbag!
Have an AMAZING April!
Sincerely,
Susan Stacey
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March 2016 Newsletter
Dear Parents/Guardians,
Well, we have made it to March! It is hard to believe how time moves so quickly. March is a short month as we will be off for March Break and the long, Easter weekend. If you are lucky enough to head South for warmer weather I ask that you please bring back some sun! If you're not heading anywhere warm, please join me in hoping that the cold weather ends soon! Here is a glimpse at some of the things we will be working on in March.
Language - We will continue to work on Inferring as the reading strategy.
As part of our inferring lessons, we will look more closely at characters in a story and infer character traits based on the actions of a character in the story. We will continue to practice making predictions and looking for evidence in a story to support our predictions or answer questions about stories. We will read and compare different versions of the same story (fairy tales). We will continue to practice writing our own stories that include characters, setting, events, problems and solutions. Students will be reminded to check their own writing for capitals, periods, word wall words etc.
Math - We will be working with money! All students will review the names and values of our coins. We will learn to count, represent, compose, compare and order money amounts to 100 cents (one dollar). We will also practice adding and subtracting money amounts to 100 cents.
Science - We will be working on our Simple Machines Unit.
Social Studies - We will begin to gather and organize information and data about some communities’ locations, climate, and physical features, and the ways of life of people in these communities. To do this, we will use atlases, globes, print, digital or interactive maps to determine location; find photographs in magazines or on the Internet that provide information on people’s food, shelter, and/or clothing etc.
Spare Clothing Check:
Spring is just around the corner and with it comes the slushy, muddy weather. Unfortunately, at this time of year, a lot of children come in from recess wet. Sitting in wet clothing is uncomfortable and not conducive to learning. Please remember to send several pairs of dry socks in your child's backpack and a change of pants and underwear so that they have clothing to change into if they do get wet. Many times, parents assume that they have clothes here, but have forgotten that wet things have come home and the spare set has been used. Sometimes, the items in a child's spare clothing bag have been there so long unused that they no longer fit. If you are unsure about what is in your child's 'change of clothing bag and would like to simply add or change what's in the bag, please send the clothing in your child's mailbag with a short note to indicate what the clothes are for. Thanks!
Heathy Lunches:
Meals have a significant impact on your child's ability to function well at school. For this reason, as teachers, we support and promote healthy eating both at snack and at nutrition break times. If your child is reaching for a sweet treat, we ask them to find and eat a healthy food (thumbs up food) out of their lunch box first, such as an apple, vegetable, yogurt, cheese, sandwich etc. We ask you to help promote these healthy choices by ensuring that your child's lunch always includes some healthy items. Talk to your child about their lunch to see how they feel about the things you are sending and the amount of lunch you are packing. Invite them to help you pack their lunch so they can appreciate what a big job it is. Keep up the good work!
Student Illness Rule:
If your child has been sick or had diarrhea during the night, please do not send them to school the following morning! Although the child may feel better first thing in the morning, often they haven’t fully recovered and feel ill again shortly after they arrive at school. As well, the child still may be contagious and pass the ‘bug’ on to other children in the school.
Lost and Found:
Please make an effort to come to the school and take a look through the lost and found box. There is getting to be quite a collection of unclaimed items. Most times, your child is unaware that they are even missing something or simply doesn't recognize an item as belonging to them. Other times, several students own the same item and are unsure who it actually belongs to, so will not claim it. We keep the lost and found for a reasonable length of time, but unclaimed items will be eventually be donated to the Salvation Army.
March Break:
Just a reminder that March Break is scheduled from Monday, March 14th to Friday, March 18th.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to call or send a note in your child's mailbag!
Have a marvelous month!
Sincerely,
Susan Stacey
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February 2016 Newsletter
Dear Parents and Guardians,
I cannot believe how quickly the month of January went by. It must be true that "time flies when you're having fun". We've certainly been busy in our classroom and the students in this class continue to surprise and amaze me with the things they say, create,read, write, explore and discover.
This month, in Language we will continue to enhance our understanding of things we read by asking questions before, during and after reading. We will practice answering questions that have answers that can be easily found in the text and will also practice answering 'thick questions' which require the reader to think, use knowledge from their schema and look for evidence in the text while reading. We will also continue making connections between different texts. We will be writing our own stories by inventing and describing characters, settings and problems/solutions. Self evaluation and peer evaluation of writing (for writing conventions - spelling, punctuation etc.)will also be encouraged.
In Math, we will finish up some fraction work and begin to practice telling and writing the time using digital and analogue clocks. We will continue to practice basic addition and subtraction facts and applying these facts to problem solving. Toward the end of the month, we will begin addition and subtraction of two digit numbers (initially without regrouping).
In Science, we will continue our study of Liquids and Solids.
In Social Studies, we will talk about the traditions/celebrations surrounding Valentine's Day and also 'Chinese New Year'.
In Art, we will continue to explore elements of shape, color and texture as we create art projects which allow us to use a mixture of art materials and techniques.
Valentine Exchange:
As you may have guessed, we will be exchanging Valentines this month. I have attached a class list so that you can make sure to make a Valentine for every child in our class. Please send in Valentines whenever you have them finished and we can begin the job of sorting them into our special Valentine bags. Our class will celebrate on Friday, February 12th. If you would like to send a special treat for the class, please let me know of your intentions so that we can co-ordinate with other parents. This way we won't end up with too many sugary sweets! Healthy 'special treats' would also be welcomed!
Valentine's Day Class List
Arik Bishop
Blake Callan
Cameron Carson
Emma Gracy
Laicee Libby
Marin Maryn
Meadow Melanie
Nathan Payton
Priya Sophie
Ty William
Report Cards:
Student report cards will be arriving home on Thursday, February 18th. Please make sure to read/discuss the report with your child and take a few minutes to record comments on the bottom of the report. Return the signed comment slip and the report envelope to school as soon as possible. Comment slips are placed into your child's OSR and report envelopes will be re-used for June reports.
River Safety Program:
Thank you to the St. Marys Rotary Club for sponsoring a visit from Upper Thames River Conservation Authority to inform our class about 'River Safety'. This important classroom presentation will occur on Monday, February 8th.
Humane Society Visit:
Our class will be visited by a representative from the Humane Society and a 'training dog' on Friday, February 26th. The visit will provide us with an opportunity to begin discussion of the following curriculum expectations from the Grade 2 Science Program.
* identify positive and negative impacts that animals have on humans (society) and the environment
* identify positive and negative impacts that different kinds of human activity have on animals and where they live
* follow established safety procedures and humane practices specific to the care and handling of live animals, where appropriate, during science and technology investigations
(Examples: make others aware of any animal allergies; handle animals gently or know when it is better not to handle them at all; wash hands after handling animals)
Skating Thank you!:
Special thanks to everyone who helped to tie/untie skates and/or assist students on and off the ice during our skating excursions in January. The children really enjoyed these outings and are so proud of their growing ability to skate around on the ice. Some of our less experienced skaters have even decided they don't need the 'red pushers' anymore.
Please note that we are planning to skate again on Friday, February 12th from 9:15-10:15! If you are still available to help on this date, please let me know in your planner! You can either meet us in the front hall of the school or in the lobby of the pyramid center on this date! Thanks in advance for your help!
Blog:
Don't forget to check out our classroom blog to find out more about what we're up to in the classroom and to see pictures of us involved in our learning. In case you have forgotten, you can access our blog by visiting: gradetwoatlittlefalls.blogspot.com
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to call or send a note in your child's mailbag.
Have a Fabulous February!
Sincerely,
Susan Stacey
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January 2016 Newsletter
Dear Parents/Guardians,
Happy New Year to everyone and welcome back! I hope you had a fun but restful holiday and that you are ready to get back to school. I am looking forward to re-establishing our rules and routines and learning together both inside and outside of the classroom.
This month, in Language, we will review the importance of activating our schemas prior to reading and using schema to understand and make meaningful connections to things we are reading (text to self, text to text, text to world connections). We will also continue doing daily 'word work' (ie. high frequency words, word families, blends, vowels/vowel teams and some expository report writing (state topic, 3 facts, concluding sentence). In Math, we will finish up some measurement activities and begin to explore fractions using a variety of materials (learning/reviewing fractional names, dividing whole objects into parts and discovering the relationship between the number of fractional parts and the size of those parts, comparing fractional parts). We will also look at Probability (using mathematical language) by playing simple games and continue learning subtraction strategies. Properties of Liquids and Solids will be investigated in Science.
Please watch your child's mailbag for a consent form and information about the dates we are hoping to go skating in January. When dates have been finalized and the consents are sent home, please remember to sign and return the form as soon as possible.
Note that there are no cost associated with skating as our P.I.A. (Parents in Action) have made funds available for us to use for skating.
On skating days, we have ice booked from 9:05 - 10:05 am. We will be leaving for the rink immediately after attendance has been taken on these dates.
Please note that Parent Volunteers would be appreciated on ALL skating days.
If you are available to help tie/untie skates or assist on/off the ice, we would be grateful!
Please simply send us a note saying which day(s) you are able to attend and whether you are able to help with skates, on the ice or both!
We have a small group of inexperienced skaters who require 1:1 help, so if your child can already skate and you are willing to help another child learn how, we really could use your help!
Other Reminders:
Extra Clothing:
Please make sure your child has a change of clothing here at school. If you are unsure what is in your child's bag, please write a note in your child's planner and I can remind them to bring it home for you to check/re-stock.
Remember to send extra socks and mittens for your child as they tend to need multiple pairs of each at this time of year. Please also check your child's backpack for wet socks and mittens and send a fresh change the next day. The students don't always tell us when they have changed their socks or we don't always get a chance to write a note asking for another pair of dry socks to replace ones they have used. Thanks for your help with this.
Library Books:
PLEASE check the calendar and help your child remember to bring back their library book on or before the Library Exchange day. Students are often disappointed when they cannot get a new book and they really are still dependent on us to help them to remember to put these things into their mailbag/backpack on time.
Illness:
We are at that time of year when many students are coming down with colds and flu. We have students at our school who are medically fragile and exposure to germs may cause them to become very ill. If your child has experienced vomiting or diarrhea due to illness, the Health Unit states that the student must remain at home for 24 hours after the most recent episode. Please keep this in mind when you are deciding if you should send your child to school.
Watch your child's mailbag for more information about our school-wide Cuddle up and Read Literacy Day Activities.
Note that this Friday, January 8th is a PJ day for our class so your child is welcome to wear their pajamas to school on this date and bring their favorite stuffed animal along with them.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Thanks for your support.
Sincerely,
Susan Stacey
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December 2015
Dear Parents,
The Holiday Season is upon us and Grade 2 will be an increasingly busy place. Even though I know that the month will fly by, I have a lot planned and hope we'll fit it all in!
This month, in Language, we will enjoy opportunities to listen to and retell simple stories in proper sequence by paying close attention to story structure (character, setting, problem, solution). We will work on persuasive writing as we write letters to Santa and we will also continue to write stories/recounts about things that happen in our own lives. Students will be encouraged to take more responsibility for editing their writing for spacing, neatness, word wall words, capitals and punctuation. We will also continue to practice using oral language to share our own family holiday traditions with each other (more information about this little homework assignment will arrive soon). In Math, we will explore measurement (linear- using non-standard and standard units) and use standard thermometers to explore and describe changes in temperature. We also hope to begin investigating probability. In Social Studies, we will continue our study of Celebrations to include Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanza. Shape and colour will continue to be explored in Art.
The arrival of snow is imminent. When it arrives, it brings with it the need for warmer outdoor clothing. Labeling your child’s boots, hats, mitts, coat, etc. is very important. The children do not always recognize/claim their own lost clothing, especially when there may be identical items owned by multiple students. (You would be surprised how many students wear identical black snowpants)!
When there is snow on the ground, we still go outside for recess. Please provide appropriate outerwear EVERY day. All children love to make snow angels etc. and doing so in regular pants, rather than in snow pants, makes for a very “damp” rest of the day. Snow pants are a MUST! Please also consider sending a 2nd pair of mittens for the 2nd recess as it is not always possible to dry mittens between recesses and wet mittens mean cold fingers.
Changing clothes is also sometimes necessary if a student gets wet at recess from puddles/snow. Thank you to all the parents who have replenished your child's supply of extra clothing with clothing more suitable for the cold weather. If you would like me to add some warmer clothes to your child’s ’Spare Clothing Bag’, please feel free to send things in the mailbag and I will add it to the bag in their cubbie! Several pairs of socks in your child’s bag are also a good idea as often little feet get wet from stepping in melted show puddles in the hallway or from playing in the snow.
Progress Reports:
Your child's progress report card will be coming home on Thursday, December 10th. Your child will get a check mark indicating that they are progressing with difficulty, well or very well. I hope the information below will help you understand your child's progress and his/her report card. I have already spoken with several parents about their child's progress. If you have questions about how your child is doing after reading the progress report, please don't hesitate to call and I will get back to you as soon as possible.
A word about student assessment in Reading, Writing and Math:
Reading:
To assess students' reading grade/levels, students are asked to read a certain leveled text, where I note any errors, self corrections and reading behaviors (ie. strategies used, fluency). This is called a 'Running Record'. I also have students retell the story in their own words and/or ask various questions to ensure comprehension. Sometimes, students are able to decode words at a higher level but need to work on developing comprehension. Other reading tasks, such as sight word recognition tests, oral and written story retells, oral responses to read alouds and day to day observations are taking in conjunction with the 'Running Record' results.
Writing:
We continue to work on letter sounds, word families, making words and word wall words. I expect the children to use their letter/sound and chunking knowledge to figure out new words. Our word wall words are posted and we review a group of these every week. The students all recognize these words in their reading and they are also expected to use them correctly in their writing.
To assess students' writing, I look at all of the writing tasks they complete during our Writer's Workshop (letters, lists, recounts, narratives etc.) along with daily writing that occurs in Science/Social Studies and Math. We have discussed the important things to think about in our writing - spaces, capitals at the beginning of sentences and on names but not mixed in the middle of words, punctuation at the end of sentences (.?!). Students are expected to monitor their writing for these things and to set goals to improve their writing with these things in mind.
Math:
Each day, students are involved in 'hands on activities/games ' in math which allow them to use manipulatives to help them show their thinking or solve problems. Student progress in this area is therefore often determined through observation, checklists, quiz and completion of various tasks/problems. There is a daily component to our math program that involves 'showing what you know' using paper/pencil but these tasks are by no means the only method of assessing your child. When you see your child's portfolio of work, you will notice they may or may not have finished paper/pencil tasks. Please note that unfinished paper/pencil work is NOT necessarily an indication of a problem. I have assessed student understanding/achievement based on participation in a number of activities in math (paper/pencil tasks are only 1 portion of what we actually do in our Math time).
Special Thanks:
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Callan's mom - Julie Eaton, for taking the time to come into our classroom to teach us some Zumba dances in October and November. The students really enjoyed her visits! We loved the extra physical activity time these dance sessions provided and she has taught us enough of the basic moves that we are better able to follow 'Zumba Dance' online! Thank you so much for giving us the gift of your time, Mrs. Eaton! We will continue to practice our Zumba whenever we can!
Thank you also to the many parents (and my husband, Jim) who came to help tie skates or supervise on the ice for our first skating session. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate the extra hands and eyes at the PRC! I simply cannot tie 20 pairs of skates alone. We get on the ice so much quicker with your help! You are the best! We have two more skating date scheduled before the holidays. On skating days, we are always grateful for parents who can help tie skates or assist our students on the ice. Please let me know if you are available to help on Friday, December 4th or Friday, December 18th at 9:00 a.m. . Thanks in advance for considering this.
Thank you also to Jocelyn Gall and Jeff McCurdy for offering to accompany us to the Museum and Library this month.
Holiday Concert:
Mrs. Stern has been very busy with our students to prepare for our special Holiday Concert. This year, all primary students are working together to perform a concert called "Flakes". Our class is part of Group B which means that we perform in a Dress Rehearsal on Tuesday, December 8th at 12:15 and our concert is on Tuesday, December 8th at 7:00 pm. Please reserve this date on your calendar as I'm sure you won't want to miss the opportunity to see your child participate in this special holiday event.
Note: Hopefully the weather will cooperate, but if it doesn't, the snow date for the concert our class participates in is Thursday, December 10th.
Walking Trip to St. Marys Museum and Library Program:
Thank you for promptly returning the special consent form which will allow your child to go on a walking trip to the St. Marys Museum on Thursday, December 10. On this date, we will be leaving the school shortly after announcements (9:30ish) and walking to the museum. Once there, we will learn how Christmas was celebrated in the past and compare/contrast how and why Christmas traditions have changed in our community over the past 100 years. We will view the Christmas Exhibit and make a holiday craft while there. We will also enjoy a special visit to the Public Library. At the Public Library, we will enjoy a program which includes holiday themed activities and a chance to explore the resources offered to children which can enhance literacy skills at home and in our classroom.
We will be taking our lunches with us on this date so that we can eat between programs. Since this is a pizza day, we will have our pizza delivered to us at the museum or library.
The combined costs of these programs is $4 per student. Thank you again for returning your money and consent forms as soon as possible.
Special Christmas Craft Session:
Our class has been invited to participate in a 'Christmas Craft Session' on Friday, December 11, 2015 with Donna Nethercott. We have been asked to collect certain materials for this activity.
Will you please send in any of the following items if you have them?
*28 oz tin cans
* medium sized rocks that would fit in the can and provide weight
* medium sized (33 cm tall X 26cm wide) Christmas gift bags
We would really appreciate your help. We need 20 of each item. Thanks in advance for your help!
Walking Excursion to St. Marys D.C.C.I:
We have been invited to attend a Holiday Band Performance at St. Marys D.C.V.I on Wednesday, December 16th. On this date, we will be walking to D.C.V.I. with several other classes from Little Falls to enjoy the sounds of some Holiday music. We will be leaving our school shortly after morning announcements in order to arrive at D.C.V.I. in time to remove our coats and take our seats. The concert begins at 9:30 a.m. We will return to Little Falls immediately following the concert.
There is NO cost associated with this excursion.
Holiday Book Order:
All December book orders must be placed by Tuesday, December 1st so that the books can be ordered and arrive to our classroom before the Christmas holidays. If any parent is wishing to purchase books for a gift, please send the book order and cheque in a sealed envelope. Also, include a note that indicates that the books are Christmas gifts and we will contact you when the order arrives at school or hand it to you directly (concealed in an enclosed bag) when you come to collect your child at home time.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please send a note, or call the school and I will get back to you as soon as possible.
I wish you and your entire family a happy and safe Holiday Season and all the best in the year 2016!
Sincerely,
Susan Stacey
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November 2015 Newsletter/Class Update
Dear Parents/Guardians,
The children in our classroom have settled in nicely. I expect that the month of November will bring colder weather and probably, with it, the wearing of snowsuits, boots, mittens, etc. which means learning a whole new set of 'winter weather routines'. It is very helpful if you would label all pieces of your child’s outerwear. I know the weather at this time of year can be very unpredictable, but please have a conversation with your child about the importance of wearing the warm things that you send to school. Please also encourage your child to be independent when dressing themselves in their winter clothing at home.
Here's what we've been up to in our classroom:
Routines, rules and expectations were a major focus in September and were reinforced throughout October. In October, we reviewed and introduced reading strategies and reminded students to ask themselves if the words they are saying when reading look right, sound right and make sense. Activating our prior knowledge before reading and checking for understanding during reading were also encouraged. We continued using word wall words and 'bubblegum spelling' as we practiced writing to describe things we have learned about in science and when responding to our reading or creating personal narratives (stories about things that have happened to us in real life). In Math, we continued to explore number concepts (skip counting, representing, comparing and ordering numbers to 100. We started combining numbers and began practicing basic addition facts/strategies. We also used a variety of materials to create repeating patterns. In Science, we continued our study of different kinds of animals by discussing features/characteristics of insects, amphibians and the reptile animal groups . We did of course, discuss Thanksgiving and Halloween as part of our ongoing investigation into Traditions and Celebrations and learned about different map features in Social Studies.
November will be another busy month in our classroom. In Language, we will continue to practice monitoring our reading for meaning and being a 'word solver' by using a variety of strategies and thinking about what makes sense. We have been talking a lot about the value and importance of describing words and we will practice 'visualizing' the things we are reading about as we pay attention to these describing words. We will also continue to write using a variety of forms during Writer's Workshop (lists, letters, narratives, recounts, non-fiction writing. In Math, we will continue to explore numbers using number lines and the 100 chart. Addition facts and some strategies to help us remember these facts will also continue to be explored. We will discuss the properties of 2D shapes and compose/decompose 2D shapes. In Social Studies,we will discuss pictorial symbols, legends/keys and cardinal directions on maps. Remembrance Day Celebrations will also be discussed as part of our on-going investigation into 'Traditions and Celebrations'. In Visual Art, we will continue to explore a variety of art tools and materials to create art. We will specifically explore colour and texture. Students will be encouraged to think more critically about their art and discuss things they like or would like to improve about their artwork.
Breakfast and Balanced Day Lunches:
Thanks to all the parents who have worked so hard to encourage their child to eat a good breakfast before school so that they arrive ready to learn. Thank you also for packing your child's lunch in a way that helps them know what to eat first and what to keep until later in the day. Your children are getting re-accustomed to their school eating schedule. Please have a conversation with your child about the amount of foods being packed. We have had some students lately who run out of things to eat during 2nd Nutrition Break but are still hungry. The amount that students eat can vary from day to day and I know as a parent it can be hard to judge how much to send in the lunch bag. Some days, your child may simply be expending more energy and need extra fuel (food), sometimes they might be growing and eating more, some days they might not feel hungry. Talk to your child about their lunch. Toss in an extra snack or 2 if your child is indicating that they are needing more to eat. Keep up the good work everyone.
Community Walks:
Thank you for returning your child's consent to go on 'Community Walks'. You completed these WAY back in September and I have held onto them until now. I hope I will be able to schedule our first walk off school property soon! I will let you know this date as soon as possible. Normally, walk dates will be put on our class calendar, but this month, I will send a special notice once I have decided when we will be venturing off site. Thanks for your understanding!
Home Reading Program:
The purpose of a Home Reading Program is for families to foster an interest in books and reading.
If you complete the log page and return the book in your child’s folder on their next school day, we will try to exchange it for another book right away. If however, you just don’t have time, don’t worry or rush through it. Just keep your child’s folder/book at home so you can enjoy the book when you are able. Please also remember that keeping a book for multiple nights is just fine. Re-reading a text more than once is always a good way to practice fluency and sometimes, students develop a deeper understanding of a text upon reading it a second or third time. Thanks for your help with this program. Please note that I am encouraging students to select their own book for their Home Reading Folder. This means they may choose a book that is too easy for them, too hard for them, or JUST RIGHT. Talk about the choice they made. It’s okay to choose a book that’s too easy. Easy books build confidence. It’s also okay to choose a book that is too hard from time to time. This gives you an opportunity to talk about more advanced vocabulary or a reading strategy that you used while you read the book to them. Listening to you do the reading from time to time also has value. Whatever their choice……..have fun with it. Foster an interest and love of reading!
Ziploc/Mailbags:
Thank you so much for being so diligent at sending mailbags and planners to school every day! I cannot over-stress the importance of ensuring that the mailbag is returned daily and any information in it perused by you daily. Most information will be sent home in letter format, but as we move through the school year, students will be asked to take on more responsibility for recording important dates etc. in their planners themselves. Please continue to send any messages for me in your student's planner. Right now, we check all planners (in case students forget to relay the message of a note) but try to remind your child that there is an important note and ask them to take responsibility for showing it to me.
Blog Update:
In September, I asked parents to let me know if they would view a blog if I were to set one up. Most parents indicated that they were interested in this, so, as you know, I went ahead and created a classroom blog. The blog will let you know what we have been doing in the classroom and the skills that we are developing. Pictures of the children ‘at work’ will be shared regularly. Looking at the blog with your child will be a great way to get them talking about what is happening at school. If for some reason you did not receive your invitation, please let me know, and I will try to re-enter the information. You may wish to check your 'spam' in case your email provider has placed the invitation there. You should also be able to access the blog by using the following address: gradetwoatlittlefalls.blogspot.com.
Spare Clothing Bags:
Now that the colder weather has arrived, it is more important than ever to make sure that your child has a set of spare clothing that is suitable for the weather. If you are unsure about what is in your child's spare clothing bag and want us to send it home so you can re-stock it....just send us a note and we'll help you out! If you simply want to send more clothes for the spare clothes bag in your child cubbie, please make sure you send us a note in the mailbag telling us to add them to your child's things. At this time of year, several pairs of extra socks are always good to have on hand!
Other things you can do to support your child’s learning at home:
Talk to your child:
Ask specific questions about their day, what they are proud of, things they made, their favourite games,things etc.
Have them retell in their own words the events of a story or TV program they read/watched, or events from their day (watch to see if they tell these events in the correct/logical sequence)
Read TO your child: (books that they would be unable to read on their own)
Try to establish a regular reading time and read daily
Make sure that your child can see the book easily
Before you start, read the title, look at the cover and wonder together what the story will be about. If it is an old favourite, ask your child to pretell the story for you.
Find reasons to write:
Write lists, notes, letters whenever the opportunity arises.
Practice spelling our 'word wall words'/spelling words when you see them come home in your child's planner.
Practice Math Concepts:
Play and talk about the math games that come home in our Math folder.
Practice basic math facts (facts that add to 18) by playing dice games etc.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to ask.
You can always send me a note, phone the school (519-284-3615) or even email susastac@fc.amdsb.ca and I will get back to you as soon as possible.
Have a marvelous month!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Stacey
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September 8, 2015
Dear Families,
Welcome to Mrs. Stacey's Grade 2 classroom. I hope that everyone had a safe and enjoyable summer and that the children are looking forward to the beginning of our new school year. September is always a busy month. We will be spending the first few weeks getting to know each other and will focus on co-constructing/developing a common understanding of the routines, roles and responsibilities within our class and school. Some of the skills/concepts we hope to touch on this month are outlined below. (Note: some of these may change depending on the needs and interests that the students display in the first few days and weeks!)
Language: Students will be choosing ‘just right books’ for their independent reading bags, we will participate in shared reading of poetry and begin our review/explicit teaching of the things that good readers do (decoding strategies, comprehension strategies). We will review/learn some of the basic writing conventions, review sight words, write about ourselves, make simple lists and begin sharing/responding to different picture books both orally and in pictures/writing.
Math: We will be exploring/reviewing numbers, patterning and data management skills.
Science: We will begin to work on some of the expectations from the Grade 2 'Growth and Change in Animals' unit. We will start by identifying and describing major physical characteristics of different types of animals (e.g., insects, mammals, reptiles). We will also begin looking at the behavioural characteristics (e.g., predator or prey) of a variety of animals. We are also hoping to get the opportunity to investigate the life cycle of a butterfly/moth and observe and compare the changes in the appearance as they go through a complete life cycle.
Social Studies: We will begin working on mapping skills by learning to recognize and use symbols, colour, legends/key and cardinal directions on a map. We will look at the globe, map of Canada and local community maps. Students will have the opportunity to make their own maps using key features.
Art: We will be creating name art and self portraits.
Learning Skills:
Throughout the year, we will be learning about each of the key learning skills: Responsibility, Organization, Independent Work, Collaboration, Initiative and Self Regulation. As a group, we will talk about what these skills look like and discuss how we can demonstrate growth in this area.
Grade 2 Homework Expectations
Starting shortly, your child will begin bringing home various things (homework) that you can do together at home to support their learning. Below are some examples of homework tasks that your child may be asked to do from time to time.
Home Reading: Each student is encouraged to read at home every night. Our 'Home Reading Program' allows students to take home a book from our classroom. Students are required to keep track of the Title and number of pages read each night. Student Reading Logs will be checked each day. More details about the reading program will be sent home soon.
Math Folders: Students will periodically bring home a math game/activity for you to do together. The type of activity will vary depending on the concepts being practiced. Math folders must be returned in a timely fashion so that additional activities can be sent home. You will need to initial each game/activity when it has been completed and add a comment if you wish. More information about this will come home with your ‘Math Folder’.
Projects: There will be times where special assignments will be sent home. These may be related to our Science or Social Studies topic or allow for your child to practice their oral communication skills with a specific focus in mind. These will be given with plenty of notice and will be spaced appropriately with all subject requirements in mind. Written expectations will be sent home with any ’special’ assignments as well as a due date. Your child is responsible for making sure this work arrives home and back to school at the appropriate times.
Catching Up after Absence: If your child is absent, a folder will be placed on their desk and any work they miss will be placed in the folder. Upon their return, they may have some work to catch up on at home. This work will come home in the ‘absent student folder’ so you will know why they are completing this extra homework. Please always help your child catch up as quickly as possible and return the folder with the completed work as soon as you are able.
Entry/Exit Procedures
During the month of September, students arrive at school in varying stages of readiness. Please remember to foster their independence and self reliance by allowing/teaching your child to be responsible for getting themselves to/from our classroom and unpacking/packing their backpacks, removing/putting on outdoor clothing etc. The students will gather outside the school (as they would at recess) both before and after school, so this is the logical place to leave them in the mornings and pick them up after school. If your child is having trouble getting ’back into the swing of things’ in the mornings, you may assist your child to meet and greet their friends on the black top area outside the school and then once settled, say goodbye. NEVER leave your child unattended in the hall or classroom at the start of a school day. NEVER leave your child on the playground before 8:40 am as there is no teacher supervision prior to this time. If for some reason, you need to come into the school before/after the entry/dismissal bell, you MUST sign in at the office.
Backpacks
It is important for the children to carry a back- pack to school each day. Your child’s backpack should be large enough to carry items such as a library book, lunch box/bag, personal belongings, mailbag etc. back and forth to home/school. Encourage your child to practice packing and zipping up their own backpack at home so they can feel proud of their independence at school.
Name Labels
Please put your child's name on ALL items of clothing and other materials that they brings to school. Many children have the same shoes, coats, hats, sweaters and backpacks. When we hold up lost articles, the children rarely claim them as their own, so our lost and found just continues to grow over the year. If at any time an item goes missing, please send a note to school and we will do our best to locate it. Please also remember to check our Lost and Found on a regular basis for your missing items.
Mail Bag/Newsletters
I will be giving each child a ziploc/plastic freezer bag in which we will be putting all notes and newsletters, school work, etc. Please return this bag to school everyday! Please use this bag to send their planner, messages, food/trip money, etc. to school. Encourage your child to be responsible for notes and other items going to and from school. Let them know if you have sent a note with them and tell them it is important for the teacher to have it. Let your child unpack and pack their own bags and deliver any messages or work to you at the end of the day.
Throughout the coming year, your child will be bringing home a monthly newsletter and calendar that reflects on our units of study, special days and activities for our classroom. Please encourage your child to check the calendar regularly to help them remember important dates and have items returned on time. I would suggest you post it in a spot where it can be easily referred to.
Planners
Each student will be given a 'day planner' to help them keep track of daily homework or special events/projects. Students are expected to have it at school EVERY day. Please check your child's planner each night to assist them in learning good homework habits. The planner is also a good place to attach notes between teacher/parent. Students will check their planners each morning and pass any messages that you have written on to me.
Sending Money
When sending money, please enclose it in an envelope or smaller baggie with a note that clearly indicates what the money is for. Loose money in a mailbag tends to get lost as students carry it from their backpack in the morning.
Change of Clothes
Sometimes accidents happen and your child may require a change of clothing. It is very helpful if you always have a spare set of clothes for emergency purposes. Your child has brought home an ’Extra Clothing’ bag. Please fill the bag with the required items and return it to school as soon as possible. The extra clothes will be kept in your child’s cubbie so they are handy if/when they are ever needed. Unfortunately, we do not have a lot of spare clothes to lend out, so without a change in their cubbie it would become necessary to phone you in the event of an emergency. Sending ’extras’ is an easier option! Thanks for your co-operation.
Required Materials
Students will be given pencil crayons, crayons, glue stick, scissors and pencils at the beginning of the school year. We also have markers to share in our classroom. It is their responsibility to keep track of the belongings they are given and store them neatly in their desk basket when they are not in use. If we find that we are in need of any new materials as the year progresses, I will send home a note.
Snacks/Lunch
Providing a nutritious lunch and snack will allow your child to think better and learn to the best of their ability. Students are asked to bring healthy choice snacks/lunches to meet their nutritional needs. Our schedule includes two breaks when students will be able to eat their snack/lunch however, school balanced day lunches can be difficult for students to adjust to (especially in September). Usually, I notice that many children are hungry in the mornings and find it a long time to wait for our first nutrition break. Some spend too much time socializing during a nutrition break and need reminders to use the time to actually eat! Please encourage your child to eat a healthy breakfast before coming to school as it is a long time until our first nutrition break (10:55 am). Try to pack your child's lunch in a way that helps them know what to eat first and what to keep until later in the day. Label items with number #1 for first break and #2 for second break or divide your child’s lunch bag in half so children know to eat one part at each break. Your child will get accustomed to our eating schedule. Be patient while they adjust to eating in a group and making their own choices.
Food Allergies
Food preparation and sampling will occasionally play a part in your child's learning experiences. If your child is allergic to any kind of food, please bring the allergy to my attention immediately.
Nut-safe School
Please note that we have children with peanut allergies in some of our classes at Little Falls. Due to the severity of this type of allergy, our school makes every effort to be nut-safe. Therefore, please do not send peanut butter sandwiches or anything with nuts or “may contain traces of nuts” in it to school. If you are sending a Soy Butter or No-nut Butter sandwich, please attach a happy face or a note indicating that the sandwich is safe. These products look and smell like peanut butter and it’s always helpful for the lunch duty teacher to know that the sandwich is safe rather than thinking that it is unsafe. Thanks for your help and understanding in this regard.
Phys-ed Classes/Shoes
The children will participate in daily physical activity while at school. They will need running shoes for these kinds of activities. Ideally, we would like each child bring a pair of running shoes that may be left at school so that they always have a pair of clean, appropriate shoes for physical activity and indoor use. Having BOTH indoor and outdoor shoes is important at all times of the year. We would like to keep mud and grass out of our classroom as we will often work in groups on the floor. These extra shoes may be kept at school in your child's cubbie in the hallway outside of our classroom. Please label your child‘s second pair of shoes.
Note: Indoor and Outdoor boots/shoes are put on and taken off several times every day. Children need to be able to get them on and off independently. Velcro or slip on footwear is the best for quick changes, unless your child already knows how to tie their own laces.
Water
Water bottles from home can be kept on the corner of desks UNLESS they become a distraction or are misused. Please make sure these bottles are clearly labelled with your child's name. All bottles must go home each night to be washed and refilled.
Milk/Pizza/Food Days
These may be ordered by completing a food order form which should arrive home soon. Please watch for this order sheet in your child‘s mailbag. Please remember to attach the food money to the form in either an envelope or small sandwich bag so that it does not get separated from your order form. Thanks!
Book Orders
Each month, I will be sending home a Scholastic Book Club order form, from which you may order and purchase books for your child. The books are usually quite good. However, participation is VOLUNTARY. You are under no obligation to buy. Should you choose to place an order, please return the order part of the form, with your money (preferably by cheque made out to Scholastic Canada Ltd.) by the due date stamped on the order form. Please send this back to school in your child's Mail Bag.
Recess
Please note that we go outside twice every day for our recesses (weather permitting). Please dress your child appropriately, according to the weather conditions so that they can enjoy their outside time.
Library
Our class will be going to the library for book exchange on a weekly basis. Library exchange dates will be noted on the classroom calendar. Please check your calendar and try to help your child return their book to school by that day so that they are able to get a new book each time we visit the library. Students are usually quite disappointed when they are unable to get a new book, and they really are reliant on you to help them remember to return books on time.
Meet the Teacher BBQ Night
Please note that the tentative date for our 'Meet the Teacher BBQ' is Thursday, September 24th from 5:00 to 7:00pm. Confirmation/Cancellation of this date was yet to be determined at the time this newsletter was printed. The evening is an opportunity for you to pop in and out, giving your child a chance to introduce you to their teachers and to show you their classroom. More information about the BBQ will be included in the school newsletter.
Parent Volunteers
If you would like to help in our class from time to time, please let me know. Volunteers are often needed to hear students read, learn a new game or help us complete more complex projects in the classroom. All volunteers must have a current 'criminal background check'. For questions about this, please contact the office.
If at any time you have a question, comment or concern about our classroom or your child , please feel free to call me at the school (519-284-3615), send me an email at susastac@fc.amdsb.ca or write a note in the planner. Communication between home and school is very important for a successful year.
I look forward to working with you and your child this school year.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Susan Stacey
