FALL BREAKFAST POTLUCK
You should have received an email from Saima Sufi to RSVP to our Fall Breakfast Potluck on November 13th, 7:30-8:45 a.m. I have included the link here as well:
www.SignUpGenius.com/go/20F0D4DACAF2EA75-breakfast/11822047
We will be catering from Cafe Lab so there is no planning necessary. We will also welcome Ms. Atiyah Hamilton to Room 227 and have a farewell celebration for Ms. Holladay. We hope that you can join us!
FLASHLIGHT FRIDAYS
Each Friday, we will dim the lights and read by flashlight! We began this fun, engaging activity on Halloween. Please send in a flashlight (labeled with your child's name) that he/she can keep at school for the remainder of the year. We'd also appreciate some extra batteries to keep on hand.
BACK-UP LUNCHES/SNACKS NEEDED
Our extra snacks and lunch supplies are running low. They have come in handy when a lunch has been forgotten or accidentally dropped on the floor. Please make sure food items are peanut/tree-nut free. Microwaveable mac n' cheese, ramen noodles, etc. are great lunch choice. Pretzels, granola bars, etc. work well for snacks. If you can help, please send in an item or two. Thanks in advance for you donations!
GOOD FIT OR JUST-RIGHT BOOKS
Did you know that choosing a book is like shopping for new shoes? We recently 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. 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 or just right books. Please use this language with your children 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 (click here to download). Ask your child about the 5 Finger Rule and The Goldilocks Rule. Our 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. A great site to find books that interest boys is called GuysRead.com. Happy Reading!
This week we introduced a math notebook. Children will complete math word problems, reflect on their problem-solving strategies, and record their thinking. This notebook will give us a chance to differentiate the curriculum and give the children opportunities to explain their mathematical thinking. This week, we worked on some Halloween themed word problems. Solving word problems can involve many skills. Children need to read carefully, locate information, identify the question they will be solving and decide upon the operation (i.e. addition or subtraction). Word problems allow kids to be creative thinkers and through sharing and reflecting, we hope they will learn that there are many ways to solve the same problem.
CHANGE 4 CRANES FUNDRAISER
We are getting ready to launch our Change 4 Cranes fundraiser before the Thanksgiving Holiday. We are asking each family to send in a sturdy container from home that we can reuse as a donation container. In our effort to “go green,” we do not want to purchase new containers and are hoping to reuse containers you would be recycling to throwing away. Some ideas include 24 oz. yogurt tubs with lids, oatmeal cylinders, plastic baby wipes boxes, etc. Containers need to be able to keep coins and paper money secure. We have Change 4 Cranes decals to decorate our containers. Please send in as many as you can. We need them by Monday, November 18th. Thanks for you support. We'll give you more details as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches.
MS. HARRISON TO PRESENT AT CONFERENCE
I will be away from school next Thursday because Ms. Amy Landry (first grade) and I were chosen to present at the ISACS (Independent School Association of the the Central States) Annual Conference in St. Louis. Our presentation is titled, "What Would John Dewey Do with an iPad."
The children will be left in the capable hands of Ms. Holladay. Please direct any relevant information about dismissal, absences, etc. to her ([email protected]). Also, don't forget that Friday is Faculty Professional Development Day so there is no school for all grades.
Enjoy the weekend!