Fall is in full swing in Blaine 309. Our windows offer a wonderful view of the changing leaves on the Midway, geese migrating and autumn storms rolling in. We have a growing collection gourds and children are beginning to collect beautiful fall leaves to add to our nature basket. Excitement is growing as Halloween approaches.
We invite you to share these newsletters with your second grader and use the information as a conversation starter to learn more about his/her school experiences. The bold-faced words are often important vocabulary words that help build and support your child's knowledge of a particular subject.
If you ever have a question or a comment about the newsletters, feel free to email Ms. Harrison and leave a comment for this post (see Comments button in the heading of this post, right side). If you do choose to leave a comment here, please do not include your full name. Instead, simply list your first name or write __________'s mom/dad. This is important in your child's online privacy and safety. If you'd like to learn internet safety for elementary school children, please see Common Sense Media's tips. Common Sense Media is a wonderful resource for parents who have questions about appropriate media and technology for their child. Here you will find helpful reviews of books, apps, video/online games, movies, television shows, etc.
PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES
We look forward to meeting with many more parents on Monday and next week. Below is the schedule. Our meeting time is 30 minutes long so please be on time and wait patiently in the hallway if the door is closed. We’ll open it when we are ready. These conferences are for parents-only. If you cannot find child care, your child may sit in the hall and work on something quietly. The library will not be available. We look forward to hearing more about your second grader!
8:00 Liam 10/18 2:45 Lena
8:40 Charlotte 10/18 3:30 Ellie
11:00 Phoebe 10/19 7:30 Sohrab
11:40 Ethan S. 10/22 2:45 Sarah
12:20 Jake
1:30 Hannah
WHOOPING CRANES
Did you know that the whooping crane is North America's tallest bird? Adult whoopers stand 5 feet tall with a wingspan of 7-8 feet. Despite their height, whooping cranes weigh only 13-17 lbs. (about as much as two gallons of milk). Be sure to to check out the gallery to see how your second grader compares to Wally the Whooper. Even our principal, Ms. Devetski, stood next to Wally!
The whooping cranes have reached Illinois and have traveled 175 miles in total. They are now penned in LaSalle County, waiting for good weather. This week, we learned that whooping cranes live in a wetlands habitat. Their bugle-like call can be heard as far as 2 miles away. They are names for this "whooping" sound. Whoopers have a red patch on their heads that changes to a brighter red and gets somewhat bigger when the cranes are excited or angry such as when courting a mate, defending their territory, and warning against predators. We also learned that whooping cranes dance! Click here to see the video we share the children.
THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN
We received exciting news from the organizer of the Global Read Aloud. Katherine Applegate, the author of The One and Only Ivan, has offered to take questions from the students who are participating in this read along. Last week, the children shared their questions and we submitted them. Katherine Applegate will hopefully answer some of them in a video that we hope to watch in the next couple of weeks.
FALL BREAKFAST POTLUCK
Please save the date for our first potluck of the year, November 14th from 7:30-9:00 a.m. Soon you will receive details about food assignments from our room parents. We hope to see you there!
GOOD FIT BOOKS
Did you know that choosing a book is like shopping for new shoes? Last week, we used this analogy to help the children recognize that it’s important to read books that are a good fit. I came to school with a bag of shoes: my husband’s very large dress shoe, a soft-soled baby shoe and a girl's pink soccer cleat. None of these shoes were a good-fit for me. We also talked about how we choose certain shoes not only because they fit well, but also because they have a purpose. Soccer cleats are different from bowling shoes. We wouldn’t wear our flip-flops to go sledding on the Midway. The same is for books. You may choose a book to learn about a certain topic or just to read for fun. Books, like shoes, also reflect our interests. Finally, it's not all about being able to read the words. Good fit books are also ones we can read fluently and understand. Second graders often become focused on the number of pages in a book (i.e. Harry Potter) instead of thinking about whether they are really understanding they story.
It's important for parents to make sure the books their children are choosing are also content appropriate. Many books may be geared toward older children and the content may be beyond the life experience of a second grader. Just because a child can read all the words does not mean the book is a good fit. It may helpful for you to read these books to or with your child so if there is confusion you are there to discuss it.
We teach children that one of the most important ways to become a better reader is to read good fit books. Please use this phrase with you child and be active in their reading lives to make sure the books they are reading are appropriate. Books that are too easy are also okay because they allow children to experience fluency and good understanding. Throughout the year we will support children in finding good fit books for independent reading. Below is some information for you to help your child choose these books at home. Ask your child about the 5 Finger Rule. Our Blaine Librarians are also a wonderful resource if you have questions about an appropriate second grade book. I also encourage you to read book reviews on Common Sense Media. Happy Reading!
Enjoy the weekend!
We invite you to share these newsletters with your second grader and use the information as a conversation starter to learn more about his/her school experiences. The bold-faced words are often important vocabulary words that help build and support your child's knowledge of a particular subject.
If you ever have a question or a comment about the newsletters, feel free to email Ms. Harrison and leave a comment for this post (see Comments button in the heading of this post, right side). If you do choose to leave a comment here, please do not include your full name. Instead, simply list your first name or write __________'s mom/dad. This is important in your child's online privacy and safety. If you'd like to learn internet safety for elementary school children, please see Common Sense Media's tips. Common Sense Media is a wonderful resource for parents who have questions about appropriate media and technology for their child. Here you will find helpful reviews of books, apps, video/online games, movies, television shows, etc.
PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES
We look forward to meeting with many more parents on Monday and next week. Below is the schedule. Our meeting time is 30 minutes long so please be on time and wait patiently in the hallway if the door is closed. We’ll open it when we are ready. These conferences are for parents-only. If you cannot find child care, your child may sit in the hall and work on something quietly. The library will not be available. We look forward to hearing more about your second grader!
8:00 Liam 10/18 2:45 Lena
8:40 Charlotte 10/18 3:30 Ellie
11:00 Phoebe 10/19 7:30 Sohrab
11:40 Ethan S. 10/22 2:45 Sarah
12:20 Jake
1:30 Hannah
WHOOPING CRANES
Did you know that the whooping crane is North America's tallest bird? Adult whoopers stand 5 feet tall with a wingspan of 7-8 feet. Despite their height, whooping cranes weigh only 13-17 lbs. (about as much as two gallons of milk). Be sure to to check out the gallery to see how your second grader compares to Wally the Whooper. Even our principal, Ms. Devetski, stood next to Wally!
The whooping cranes have reached Illinois and have traveled 175 miles in total. They are now penned in LaSalle County, waiting for good weather. This week, we learned that whooping cranes live in a wetlands habitat. Their bugle-like call can be heard as far as 2 miles away. They are names for this "whooping" sound. Whoopers have a red patch on their heads that changes to a brighter red and gets somewhat bigger when the cranes are excited or angry such as when courting a mate, defending their territory, and warning against predators. We also learned that whooping cranes dance! Click here to see the video we share the children.
THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN
We received exciting news from the organizer of the Global Read Aloud. Katherine Applegate, the author of The One and Only Ivan, has offered to take questions from the students who are participating in this read along. Last week, the children shared their questions and we submitted them. Katherine Applegate will hopefully answer some of them in a video that we hope to watch in the next couple of weeks.
FALL BREAKFAST POTLUCK
Please save the date for our first potluck of the year, November 14th from 7:30-9:00 a.m. Soon you will receive details about food assignments from our room parents. We hope to see you there!
GOOD FIT BOOKS
Did you know that choosing a book is like shopping for new shoes? Last week, we used this analogy to help the children recognize that it’s important to read books that are a good fit. I came to school with a bag of shoes: my husband’s very large dress shoe, a soft-soled baby shoe and a girl's pink soccer cleat. None of these shoes were a good-fit for me. We also talked about how we choose certain shoes not only because they fit well, but also because they have a purpose. Soccer cleats are different from bowling shoes. We wouldn’t wear our flip-flops to go sledding on the Midway. The same is for books. You may choose a book to learn about a certain topic or just to read for fun. Books, like shoes, also reflect our interests. Finally, it's not all about being able to read the words. Good fit books are also ones we can read fluently and understand. Second graders often become focused on the number of pages in a book (i.e. Harry Potter) instead of thinking about whether they are really understanding they story.
It's important for parents to make sure the books their children are choosing are also content appropriate. Many books may be geared toward older children and the content may be beyond the life experience of a second grader. Just because a child can read all the words does not mean the book is a good fit. It may helpful for you to read these books to or with your child so if there is confusion you are there to discuss it.
We teach children that one of the most important ways to become a better reader is to read good fit books. Please use this phrase with you child and be active in their reading lives to make sure the books they are reading are appropriate. Books that are too easy are also okay because they allow children to experience fluency and good understanding. Throughout the year we will support children in finding good fit books for independent reading. Below is some information for you to help your child choose these books at home. Ask your child about the 5 Finger Rule. Our Blaine Librarians are also a wonderful resource if you have questions about an appropriate second grade book. I also encourage you to read book reviews on Common Sense Media. Happy Reading!
Enjoy the weekend!