October 3 - 7

Dates to Remember...

Mon. Oct. 3 - September Reading logs due
Tues. Oct. 4 - Fall Picture Day
                     Please return payment envelope or pay online
Fri. Oct. 7 - Progress notes go home with all students
Mon. Oct. 10 - No School  Columbus Day
Wed. Oct. 25 - Early Dismissal  11:35
Mon. Oct. 31 - All School Parade and Classroom Halloween Parties

Math - This week we will continue working with numbers to 1,000.  We will work on finding number patterns, and comparing numbers.  Our chapter test will be near the end of the week.  

Reading - Our focus this week be on collecting research and learning about text features.  Students will be researching either hippos or the Aldabra Tortoise (both characters in Owen and Mzee).  We'll discuss author's message and relate it to the essential question, "How can stories help us learn life lessons?"

We will focus on shared research.  The students will pull important information from both a text and digital source and put those facts into an expository paragraph.

Reading Logs are due on Monday, October 3.  Our class voted to have a Show and Tell day for everyone who returns a completed log!  We'll have our Show and Tell day on Wednesday, Oct. 5.

Grammar focus will be on action verbs.

New Student of the Week - Ella
Positive Paw Winner - Ryan

Birthday - Marnie Oct. 5  Happy Birthday Marnie!!

September 26 - 30

Thank you to all the families who donated money to purchase books from the Book Fair!  I was able to choose 7 new books for our classroom library.  We love our new books!!  

Dates to Remember
Tues. Sept. 27 - Early Dismissal  11:35
Tues. Oct. 4 - Fall Picture Day
Fri. Oct. 7 - Progress Notes go home with all students
Mon. Oct. 10 - No School  Columbus Day

Last Magazine Turn in Day is Tuesday, September 27.  

Reading logs are due on or before Monday. Oct. 3.  Our class voted to have a Show and Tell Day as their reward!  All students who return completed logs will be able to bring something special to show the class.

Thank You for filling out the Name Jar information this week.  We had some wonderful conversations about the origin of the students' names!  Students designed their own name stamp and wrote in their journals about their names.  

Next week we will read the text, Owen and Mzee.  It is a story about 2 animals that formed a bridge of friendship, that also helped them live happier lives.  Discussion will focus around author's purpose and we'll talk about using context clues to find the meaning of unknown words in a text.

Grammar focus will be on plural nouns.

Math - This week we will continue working with 3 digit numbers.  We'll read and write numbers in word form, expanded form, and standard form.  We'll continue to "build" numbers.  We'll finish the week by counting on and back by 10 and 100.  

We will also be taking our 5 minute timed tests (addition and subtraction) this week.  Many students should be practicing their math facts at home.  Please encourage your child to use their flash cards or Xtra Math during the week.  

Science - We have learned about all 5 food groups.  This week we will learn about Smart Snacking!  

New Student of the Week - Mia
Positive Paw Winner - Andrew
Estimation Jar Winner - Nick

September 19 - 23

Dates to Remember
Thurs. Sept. 22 - Book Fair and Ice Cream
                         Social at Ide @ 6:30    

Tues. Sept. 27 - Early Dismissal  11:35
Mon. Oct. 3 - September Reading Logs due
Tues. Oct. 4 - Fall Picture Day
Mon. Oct. 10 - No School  Columbus Day

From our head room parent, Mrs. Rerucha:

Parents,

My name is Jeanne Rerucha (Allison's mom) and I will be the room mom for Mrs. Oliver's class this year!  At curriculum night, many of you signed up to help with planning the parties (which is great). I will email you when it gets closer for what we need. We are only allowed to have 4 parents attend per party, so I will draw out of a hat to keep it fair.

I will also reach out during the year to coordinate a class gift.

Will you please email me with you and your child's name so that I have everyone's correct email address? I will use that for communication.

Thanks and looking forward to a great year!

Jeanne  Jeanne Rerucha

             
Name Jar Assignment
All students brought home a Name Jar questionnaire on Thursday.  Please fill it out and return it to school on Monday, Sept. 19.  Thank you to those that have already returned it!

Reading - This week we will do a close read of Weird Friends:  Unlikely Allies in the Animal Kingdom.  We will read to determine the main purpose of a text and also discuss how specific images in a book help to clarify the text.  Next we will read, The Name Jar.  The story is about a little girl who recently moved to America from Korea and is getting used to a new school.  

Students brought home a "questionnaire" yesterday.  Please take a few minutes to answer the questions relating to your son/daughter's name.  We will be discussing our names next week and this information will be helpful.  

Math - We will begin chapter 2, Numbers to 1,000.  We'll start by grouping tens as hundreds, explore the value of 3 digit numbers, and modeling (building) 3 digit numbers.  

Science - We learned about the Fruit Group this week.  We read about Queen Anna Banana and how fruits contain Vitamin C, which helps our skin heal.  We'll learn about the Grain Group next week, represented by Prince Waffle.  

New Student of the Week - Ryan
Positive Paw Winner - Amey 
Estimation Jar Winner - Andrew

Sept. 12 - 16

It was great to see so many of you on Thursday Night during our Curriculum Night!  I love that you're all so interested in helping your children become better learners!  Feel free to email me if you have any specific concerns or questions.

Reading - We're finished with our Fall Reading and Math MAPS Assessments.  Next week the students will take the AimsWeb Reading test (on Friday).  We'll continue to launch our Daily 5 routine by working on Work on Writing as well as Read to Self, Read to Someone, and Work on Writing.

We'll begin our first Literacy Unit, Friendship.  We'll read books and do activities focusing on "What it means to be a good friend".  We'll discuss character traits and compare and contrast various characters in the texts.  We'll also practice making text to text connections. 

Reading logs - Your child should be reading 20 minutes most nights.  Please encourage your child to record their reading in their reading log folder.  

Math - We are working on Counting Patterns within 100 and will finish the chapter next week.  Our next focus will be on Numbers to 1,000.  

Spelling - Your child will be given their first word sort on Monday.  We have been practicing how to work with the sorts this week.  Please encourage your child to work with the words each night.  No test will be given this week.

iPads - We spent time today discussing proper care, use, and safety of the iPads.  We also reviewed the basic functions of the ipad.  Please help in reinforcing responsibility with your child's device.  They know to be sure it's fully charged when arriving at school each day and they are not allowed to download any apps at home.  

Dates to Remember:

Mon. Sept. 12 - Magazine Drive Kick Off

Thurs. Sept. 15 - Team 66 Circus at Ide

Thurs. Sept. 22 - Book Fair and Ice Cream Social at Ide

Tues. Sept. 27 - Early Dismissal

Tues. Oct. 4 - Fall Picture Day

Positive Paw Winner - Nick
New Student of the Week - Gio
Estimation Jar Winners - Olivia and Haley

September 5 - 9

It's Official!  We are the Mighty Wolves!!

Dates to Remember
Mon. Sept 5 - No School  Labor Day
Week of Sept. 5 - Aimsweb Testing (Math)
Wed. Sept. 7 - Curriculum Night  6:30- 7:30                                          
Fri. Sept. 9 - iPads!!
Mon. Sept. 12 - District Magazine Drive Kick Off
Thurs. Sept. 15 - Team 66 Circus at Ide
Thurs. Sept. 22 - Book Fair and Ice Cream Social
Tues. Sept. 27 - Early Dismissal

Math - We will continue working on place value with tens and ones, expanded numerals, and showing a number in different ways.  We'll finish the week by looking for patterns within 1,000.  We've been learning some new math games this week and will use them in our "Work Places" (stations) next week.

Reading -  We will continue some benchmark testing this week.  Our class is focusing on building community and getting to know each other.  We've been going over expectations for Daily 5 and have been building stamina during Read to Self and Read to Someone.  This week we will work on Work on Writing and Word Work.  We'll also learn to choose Good Fit Books.

Reading Logs - Your child brought home a reading log inside a red folder this week.  Second graders are expected to read for 20 minutes most nights.  After your child has completed their reading log, read for 21 days, return the completed folder to school.  Our class has voted to have a Show and Tell Day as a reward!  I'm hoping every child will be able to participate!

Spelling - This week we will be practicing our spelling word sort procedure.  For this practice week, every student will be using the same words.  They will practice cutting the words apart, sorting them, and using them during Daily 5 ~ Word Work.  The week of September 12, the students will be divided into Spelling groups based on a spelling inventory. I will explain more during Curriculum Night, or if you have further questions, please ask.

Science - We have started a unit on Nutrition and have been introduced to the Royal Food Family.  This week we learned about the Milk Group and why it is important to eat foods from all 5 food groups.  Next week we will learn about King Henry the Egg and the Meat Group foods.

New Student of the Week - Allison
Estimation Jar Winners - Ella and Gio

Birthdays - Isabella  August 24
                  Andrew  August 28
                  Ella  September 6