It was a wonderful, busy second week of school. In math, we played Math Bingo and Pop Math on the iPads to help practice our addition and subtraction math facts. We also played Cash Cow for fun. It's an all-time second grade favorite! We introduced a math tool called the math rack and the children worked on a few pages in their math journals while teachers observed their approach and attitude toward problem-solving. We are getting to know all the young mathematicians in the classroom!
During our literacy time, we worked with Ms. Siddique, learning specialist, to introduce fiction and nonfiction texts and began to categorize the books in the classroom library. Working with one or two partners, children examined a basket of books and decided together how to label it. Some interesting conversations took place during the process, "If there are illustrations, instead of photographs, is the book still nonfiction? Should we label this basket biography or history? Look how these books are all by the same author and they are also all about sports!"
We also talked about two of the three ways to read a book: Read the Pictures and Read the Words. Next week we will introduce the third way: Retell the Story. Finally, the children practiced something called Read to Self. During this time of day, children choose a comfortable, quiet spot to read independently. As the year progresses, the children will learn how to choose just-right books and build their stamina for reading for longer and longer periods of time. Stay tuned...
It was wonderful to see so many of you at Parent Night and we look forward to talking with you at our Fall Conferences. You should have received an email inviting you to sign up for a time slot via SignUpGenius. Sign-Ups, the Snapshot of Second Grade, the Class Directory, and the Parent Survey are now password protected under FOR PARENTS section. The password was emailed to you. Please let us know if you have trouble accessing these documents.
CULTURAL TRADITIONS
We love to celebrate and learn about different cultural traditions in our classroom. Each year we celebrate some school wide events, such as Halloween. However, other celebrations come from the students and the families in our class. In previous years, parents have volunteered to read stories, teach us how to play games, and make crafts and foods. We’ve learned about Hanukkah, Chinese New Year, Turkish holidays, Northern and Southern India, Irish folktales, Greek mosaic art, Mexican Easter eggs and more! If you have a cultural tradition that you would like to share with us, please let Ms. Harrison know. Our schedule is quite busy, so we’ll have to plan ahead. We hope you’ll participate!
APPLE PICKING
Our annual apple picking field trip will take place on Wednesday, October 2nd. Each student will fill a small bag of apples that costs $3. You will be billed through the FACTS system for this amount. Parent chaperones will be able to buy their own bags at the orchard. We have room for a few parents on the bus. You are also welcome to drive and meet us there. If you decide to drive, we recommend that your child ride the bus with the rest of the class so he/she can experience the entire field trip with our new community of learner & friends. We will provide more details and directions later. This is an all day field trip. Please email Ms. Harrison if you'd like to join us.
HELPFUL TIPS/INFORMATION FOR SCHOOL PASS
The dismissal system is improving all the time as we adjust to School Pass. Here are some tips and reminders to help you do your part:
ALVIN AILEY DANCE THEATER FIELD TRIP
You should have received an email inviting you to sign up as a parent chaperone for our annual second grade trip to see the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in February. To reserve our seats, we need to order tickets now. We need a firm commitment from you by next Friday, September 27th and we will not be able to refund your admission fee if you cannot make it. Tickets cost $12. The Laboratory Schools will send you an invoice using the FACTS online billing system for the cost of your child's ticket and your ticket if you choose to join us. In the sign-up, please include the first and last names of the adults attending.
During our literacy time, we worked with Ms. Siddique, learning specialist, to introduce fiction and nonfiction texts and began to categorize the books in the classroom library. Working with one or two partners, children examined a basket of books and decided together how to label it. Some interesting conversations took place during the process, "If there are illustrations, instead of photographs, is the book still nonfiction? Should we label this basket biography or history? Look how these books are all by the same author and they are also all about sports!"
We also talked about two of the three ways to read a book: Read the Pictures and Read the Words. Next week we will introduce the third way: Retell the Story. Finally, the children practiced something called Read to Self. During this time of day, children choose a comfortable, quiet spot to read independently. As the year progresses, the children will learn how to choose just-right books and build their stamina for reading for longer and longer periods of time. Stay tuned...
It was wonderful to see so many of you at Parent Night and we look forward to talking with you at our Fall Conferences. You should have received an email inviting you to sign up for a time slot via SignUpGenius. Sign-Ups, the Snapshot of Second Grade, the Class Directory, and the Parent Survey are now password protected under FOR PARENTS section. The password was emailed to you. Please let us know if you have trouble accessing these documents.
CULTURAL TRADITIONS
We love to celebrate and learn about different cultural traditions in our classroom. Each year we celebrate some school wide events, such as Halloween. However, other celebrations come from the students and the families in our class. In previous years, parents have volunteered to read stories, teach us how to play games, and make crafts and foods. We’ve learned about Hanukkah, Chinese New Year, Turkish holidays, Northern and Southern India, Irish folktales, Greek mosaic art, Mexican Easter eggs and more! If you have a cultural tradition that you would like to share with us, please let Ms. Harrison know. Our schedule is quite busy, so we’ll have to plan ahead. We hope you’ll participate!
APPLE PICKING
Our annual apple picking field trip will take place on Wednesday, October 2nd. Each student will fill a small bag of apples that costs $3. You will be billed through the FACTS system for this amount. Parent chaperones will be able to buy their own bags at the orchard. We have room for a few parents on the bus. You are also welcome to drive and meet us there. If you decide to drive, we recommend that your child ride the bus with the rest of the class so he/she can experience the entire field trip with our new community of learner & friends. We will provide more details and directions later. This is an all day field trip. Please email Ms. Harrison if you'd like to join us.
HELPFUL TIPS/INFORMATION FOR SCHOOL PASS
The dismissal system is improving all the time as we adjust to School Pass. Here are some tips and reminders to help you do your part:
- ALL dismissal plans and changes need to be recorded in School Pass. If you are still having trouble, please contact Brent LaRowe.
- If you plan to pick up from the classroom, please be there 10 minutes before dismissal (arrive by 3:00 or 2:00). To avoid congestion in the halls, we are changing our dismissal route and will now go down the northeast stairwell (playground side) and walk down the east first floor hallway to the Lobby. If you miss us at the classroom, please meet us in the Lobby.
- You can report absences and early pick-ups on School Pass and we encourage you to do so. If your child must leave school early, he or she must be picked up at the classroom. We cannot send your child to Lobby to wait for you.
- Please make sure you check the "date range" for your child's dismissal options. Some children only came up in the system for the first week of school. You can select the entire year if you'd like and login to School Pass to make changes as they come up.
- We recognize that many of you are frustrated with the wait-time once you enter the driveway. We hope this is improving! From our end, it takes about 30 minutes or less to dismiss all children once we have reached the Lobby. Please remember that our dismissal doesn't even begin until 3:10 on M, W, TH and 2:10 on Tu and F. If you arrive earlier than those times, be prepared to wait longer.
- Friday dismissal is the longest wait. Please be patient on Fridays. The entire school (N-2nd grades) is dismissed at the same time - 2:10 pm. That means 600+ students!
ALVIN AILEY DANCE THEATER FIELD TRIP
You should have received an email inviting you to sign up as a parent chaperone for our annual second grade trip to see the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in February. To reserve our seats, we need to order tickets now. We need a firm commitment from you by next Friday, September 27th and we will not be able to refund your admission fee if you cannot make it. Tickets cost $12. The Laboratory Schools will send you an invoice using the FACTS online billing system for the cost of your child's ticket and your ticket if you choose to join us. In the sign-up, please include the first and last names of the adults attending.
HOPES AND DREAMS FOR SECOND GRADE
This week, we asked the children what they were looking forward to this year. The teachers have been helping the children articulate their "hopes and dreams" for second grade. First, the children brainstormed a list of all the things they had accomplished in first grade. Not everyone accomplished or experienced the same things. Below is their wonderful and amazing list:
IN FIRST GRADE WE...
got better at singing, subtracting, adding, and drawing
learned about penguins, crystals, brains, honeybees and volcanoes
learned how to act and perform a play
became a faster runner
learned to have neater handwriting
became a better speller
learned how to make books
learned about fractions
learned new songs, like the Raspberry Song
learned how to tell time and divide
learned how to build a marble track
learned how to read
made new and better friends
Now, the children are beginning to think about what they hope to accomplish this year and they will write down one hope and/or dream next week. According to Responsive Classroom, this process:
This week, we asked the children what they were looking forward to this year. The teachers have been helping the children articulate their "hopes and dreams" for second grade. First, the children brainstormed a list of all the things they had accomplished in first grade. Not everyone accomplished or experienced the same things. Below is their wonderful and amazing list:
IN FIRST GRADE WE...
got better at singing, subtracting, adding, and drawing
learned about penguins, crystals, brains, honeybees and volcanoes
learned how to act and perform a play
became a faster runner
learned to have neater handwriting
became a better speller
learned how to make books
learned about fractions
learned new songs, like the Raspberry Song
learned how to tell time and divide
learned how to build a marble track
learned how to read
made new and better friends
Now, the children are beginning to think about what they hope to accomplish this year and they will write down one hope and/or dream next week. According to Responsive Classroom, this process:
sets a tone of collaboration and mutual respect. It fosters reflection and self-knowledge by prompting children to ask themselves questions such as "What’s important to me at school? What do I want to learn more about? What’s easy for me? What’s hard for me? What do I want to get better at?"
Sharing hopes and dreams also creates a meaningful context for establishing classroom rules. Once hopes have been articulated, discussions can begin about what rules will be needed to help everyone’s hopes and dreams come true.
Next week, we will begin to think about class rules that we decided upon together. We invite you to talk to your child about his/her hopes and dreams. Later we will also involve you in this process - What are your hopes and dreams for your child this year?
DON'T FORGET
Don't forget to send in your child's coins for their math toolkit. Also, please complete the Parent Survey if you haven't done so yet. Thank you!
All newsletters will be available to you at anytime on this website. If you ever need to look back for information, please use the Archives listed on the right side of this page.
Enjoy the first day of autumn tomorrow!
DON'T FORGET
Don't forget to send in your child's coins for their math toolkit. Also, please complete the Parent Survey if you haven't done so yet. Thank you!
All newsletters will be available to you at anytime on this website. If you ever need to look back for information, please use the Archives listed on the right side of this page.
Enjoy the first day of autumn tomorrow!