November 16 - 20

Veterans Day

We celebrated our veterans several ways this week!  Our class was assigned a veteran, Matthew Parris, who is a former Marine, stationed in Japan and Hawaii.  We wrote letters of appreciation to Mr. Parris.  He is now a Darien Tri-State firefighter!  The students got to see pictures of him both in action and with his family and learn a little about him.

I'm so thankful for our veterans ~ such courageous men and women who love our country and are willing to fight for us!  Thank you to Matthew Parris and so many others this Veterans Day Week!

Dates to Remember
Wed. Nov. 18 - Picture Retakes

Thurs. Nov. 19 - 2nd grade concert at Lakeview  7:00 pm

                           Students are asked to wear a solid brown shirt and jeans
                           Please be at Lakeview by 6:45

Fri. Nov. 20 - Movie Night at PV  Inside Out
                     End of 1st Trimester

Tues. Nov. 24 - Grandfriends Day 

                          Report cards go home

Nov 26, 27, 28 - No School  Thanksgiving Holiday

Positive Paw Winner - Sophia
Estimation Jar Winner - Ariana
New Student of the Week - Alyssa

Reading - We will finish our Unit 1 assessment and work on collective nouns and irregular plural nouns.

Math - We will finish our chapter on 2 digit subtraction focusing on problem solving with tables as well as story problems.

Parent Teacher Conferences - I sincerely apologize for having to cancel some of our conferences this week.  I value our conference time, and without a voice, that would be difficult.  So, on Monday, I will send out another Sign Up Genius invitation for those of you who I did not meet with.  I'm planning to have times afterschool on both Tuesday and Wednesday.  If these days are not convenient for you, please contact me and we will schedule something else.

November 9 - 13

School Board Appreciation Day ~ Mon. November 9

We appreciate our school board members!

Dates to Remember
Fri. Nov. 6 - No School
Mon. Nov. 9 - No School  Institute Day
Nov. 10, 11, 12 - Parent Teacher Conferences
Wed. Nov. 18 - Picture Retakes
Thurs. Nov. 19 - 2nd Grade Musical  7:00 pm at Lakeview


Thank you to the following families that sent in food, drinks, and paper goods for the Halloween party last week: Clinton/Williams, Dewart, Miski, Flannery, Durkin, and Kosinski families!

Thanks also to Mrs. Hines, Mrs. Spencer, Mrs. Pecoraro, and Mrs. Hanneman who volunteered to help with the party.  We had a great time playing games, having our picture taken with a special Halloween frame, and eating!  Great afternoon!

Positive Paw Winner - Ariana
Estimation Jar Winners - Olivia and Ariana
New Student of the Week - Jake

2nd Grade Musical is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 19 at 7:00 pm.  Please read the following letter from Mrs. Brockman regarding "costumes" and help needed.

Dear Second Grade Parents:
The musical is approaching very very quickly now and we are still in need of a few volunteers to help organize costumes.  The costumes are not very difficult but do require a little bit of time.  As you know, each class is a different animal.  Instead of doing full animal costumes we are just making headbands with the appropriate colored ears and accessories.  To be on the safe side, we need 25 headbands for each class.

Mrs. Onorato's class are Black Dogs.  Black and white floppy ears (think Dalmatian spots) would be perfect.

Mrs. Walega's class are Red Hens.  I believe there are yellow foam visors in the music cabinet from a previous show.  If someone could glue some red feathers and doctor them up a bit, I think they would work great for the Red Hens.

Caroline Durkin and Pam Hines have volunteered to lead the charge for Mrs. Oliver's class, but they could use some help getting the Brown Horses put together.  Please talk to them about how you can help.

Michelle Brown is organizing the White Sheep ears for Mrs. Schultz's class. Once again, if you can help her out I'm sure she would appreciate it.

And finally, Tracy Moriarty has agreed to help make the Gray Donkey ears for Mrs. Holtrup's class.  This is the largest class and I know she would appreciate another set of hands to make their headbands.

The kids are doing a fabulous job and are going to sound wonderful.  Now we just need to make them look as great as they're going to sound!!  Thank you in advance for helping us out!

Amy Brockman

 Reading - This week we will be doing a Unit 1 Assessment on skills learned during our Friendship Unit.  We'll also be working on collective nouns (flock of sheep, gaggle of geese).

We will also read a story called Chick 'n' Pug, as part of a Nearpod presentation on our iPads.

Reading Logs - Nearly every student was able to participate in show and Tell Day for returning their reading logs.  Thank you parents for encouraging them to read and helping to complete the reading logs.  For November, the students voted to have a Stuffed Animal Day as their reward.

Math - We will continue working on 2 digit subtraction with and without regrouping.  We will also be estimating differences and learning to check our answers with addition.

November 2 - 6

Spooky Story Day

Dates to Remember

Fri. Nov. 6 - No School

Mon. Nov. 9 - No School  Teacher Institute Day

Nov. 10, 11, 12 - Parent Teacher Conferences

Thurs. Nov. 19 - 2nd Grade Music Concert at Lakeview

Fri. Nov. 20 - End of Trimester

Tues. Nov. 24 - Report Cards go home

                          Grandparents' Day

Nov. 25 - 27 - No School  Thanksgiving Break

Positive Paw Winner - Grant
Estimation Jar Winners - Alyssa and Ariana
New Student of the Week - Jania

Reading - We will be finishing our Friendship unit this week by reading How to be a Friend.  We will discuss "I Messages" and work with the vocabulary words compromise, conflict, cooperation, and resolution.  Students will participate in an activity by role playing a friendship scenario with a small group.

Grammar focus will be on the past tense of irregular verbs.

Reading logs for October are due on Monday, Nov. 2.  Pizza Hut certificates will also be awarded to students who have completed their October reading log.

Math - We will continue our new chapter on two digit subtraction, with and without regrouping.

October 26 - 30

Bus Driver Appreciation Week!  

We are so appreciative of the drivers who carry our children to school every day.  The students made cards and wrote thank you notes to their drivers today!

Dates to Remember                                                                      

                                                   
Fri. Oct. 23 - Family Halloween Party at IDE 6:30 pm
Thurs. Oct. 29 - Spooky Story Day  Wear orange and black and bring a Halloween book from home if you have one
Fri. Oct. 30 - All School Parade 1:00 Everyone is welcome!
Fri. Oct. 30 - Classroom Halloween Party 1:30  Only parents who have signed up to help at the party may attend.
Mon. Nov. 1 - October Reading logs are due

Six Flags Reading Log - Today the students are bringing home a blue reading log from Six Flags.  If you are interested in your child earning a free ticket to Six Flags, this blue reading log must be filled out and returned by Tuesday, Feb. 23.  The books your child reads for their regular 20 minutes each night may also count for the Six Flags log.  If you are not interested in getting a free ticket, no need to return the blue reading log.

Classroom Reading logs are due on Monday, Nov. 2.  The class voted to have a Show and Tell Day for all students who return a completed log!

Parent Teacher Conferences - You should have received an email from me this morning inviting you to sign up for a conference through Sign Up Genius.  If you did not get the email, please let me know.  Conferences will be held on Nov 10, 11, and 12.

Reading - Our focus this week will be Poetry.  We will be reading lots of poetry and learning how words and phrases supply rhythm and meaning in a poem.

Vocabulary words will include:  rhyme, rhythm, regular beats, repetition, figurative language, and alliteration.

Grammar focus will be on past tense of irregular verbs.

Math - We will finish working on two digit addition with and without regrouping.  We will learn about estimating sums, and decomposing numbers to add by mental math.  We will then begin subtraction, with and without regrouping.

These can be difficult skills for 2nd graders.  Please check or go over your child's homework with them to be sure they understand the skill.  If you have time, have them explain to you how they got their answers.

Positive Paw Winner - Ava
Estimation Jar Winner - Ariana
New Student of the Week - Emily

October 19 - 23

Thank you to our generous PTO for a delicious pizza lunch!  Thanks also to Mrs. Rizzo, Mrs. Kosinski, and Mrs. Bauer who helped serve pizza, drinks, and cookies!  What a special treat!

These kids LOVE pizza!!

Dates to Remember
Fri. Oct. 23 - Family Halloween Party  6:30 pm
Thurs. Oct. 29 - Spooky Story Day - Wear black and orange and bring a Halloween book from home if you have one
Fri. Oct 30 - All School Parade and Classroom Halloween Parties
Fri. Nov. 6 - No School
Mon. Nov. 9 - No School  Institiute Day

Positive Paw Winner - Ben
New Student of the Week - Olivia
Estimation Jar Winners - Emily and Ken

Halloween costumes - Halloween costumes should be brought to school in a bag and should be easy for your child to put on over clothes.  No toy weapons or make up will be allowed.  Students will be putting costumes on after lunch.

Costume parade will be held outside ~ weather permitting.  The parade will begin at 1:00 and everyone is invited!  Our classroom party will follow at 1:30.  Only those parents who have signed up to help may attend.

Reading - This week we will focus on writing an opinion paragraph.  Students will learn to state their opinion, find reasons that support it, and write a concluding statement.  We will work on editing, and use strong adjectives in our writing this week.  

Grammar focus will be on adjectives.

Math - We will continue to work with 2 digit addition this week, with and without regrouping.  We'll also solve story problems by choosing the best strategy.

Parent Teacher Conferences - Conferences will be held on November 10, 11, and 12.  You will receive an invitation email to sign up (through Sign Up Genius) next Friday, Oct. 23.

October 12 - 16

Dates to Remember                                                                   

Mon. Oct. 12 - No School  Columbus Day
Wed. Oct. 14 - Pizza Lunch in the Room
Fri. Oct. 23 - Family Halloween Party 6:30 pm
Fri. Oct. 30 -  Spooky Story Day
                      All School Parade and Classroom Halloween Party

Progress Notes came home today.  Please check your child's home folder, sign and return the note on Tuesday.

Magazine Drive Pizza Party!
Our class won the prize for having the most participation!  40% of our class participated in bringing in magazine subscriptions!  Thank you to all who participated!  Thank you to our PTO for surprising us with a pizza lunch!

Our pizza lunch will be on Wednesday, Oct. 14.  Cheese pizza and a juice box will be served.  If your child would prefer another lunch, they can bring it, and of course celebrate with us in the room.  Thank you again PTO!

Reading - This week we will be reading Tarra and Bella, a nonfiction story about an elephant and a dog who became best friends.  We'll finish our research writing and also focus on the comprehension strategy of using context clues.

Grammar focus will be adjectives this week.

Math - We'll continue to look at 2 digit addition this week.  We'll begin with mental math, then model problems with and without regrouping, and use symbols to compare numbers.

Estimation Jar Winners - Emily and Alyssa
New Student of the Week - Grant
Positive Paw Winner - Ken

October 5 - 9

Dates to Remember

Tues. Oct. 6 - Fall Picture Day
          Please return payment envelope or pay online
Wed. Oct 7 - Literacy Night at Ide
Fri. Oct. 9 - Early Dismissal  11:35
                   Progress Notes sent home with all students
Mon. Oct. 12 - No School  Columbus Day
Fri. Oct. 23 - PTO Family Halloween Party
Fri. Oct. 30 - Classroom Halloween Parties

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 a text and put those facts into an expository paragraph.

Reading Logs - Almost every student returned their September reading log and was able to enjoy a fun lunch in the room!  We will start all over again this month and work toward a new reward as well as a Pizza Hut certificate!  Nice job everyone!

Grammar focus will be on adjectives and action verbs this month.

Math
This week we will focus on place value and two digit addition.  Continue to work on math facts at home.  The students have many fun apps on their ipads to help with this important skill.

Estimation Jar Winners - Ava, Kate, and Jake
New Student of the Week - David
Positive Paw Winner - Olivia