It's been a really hot week, but children in Room 13 persevered - proving that they are ready and excited for second grade! I can tell already that we are going to have a really great year!
We spent the majority of this week learning about and practicing some of our important routines and procedures. Students are quick learners and have been demonstrating an amazing ability to listen carefully and pay attention to details! Ask your child to tell you about one of our Morning Meeting greetings, about his/her job this week, or about the story we are reading during snack (Sideways Stories from Wayside School, by Louis Sachar.)
Classroom Rules
As a class, we also spent a lot of time talking about what we need our classroom to be like in order to have a great year. After a LOT of discussion, students decided on the following rules:
1. Treat others the way you would like to be treated.
2. Keep yourself and each other safe.
3. Be quiet when others are talking and working.
4. Take care of our classroom and our school.
5. Try your best and have fun.
Parents should have received a "contract" with these rules on Thursday. I hope you can find time to review them at home with your child and discuss why they are important. I truly believe that they will help guide us all through a safe and fun school year! Please sign and return the bottom portion to show that you have read and understand them.
Reading Log/Math Facts Log
On Thursday, students took home a September Log - along with an explanation for parents. One side of the log is to record independent reading (20 minutes per night) and the other is to record the practicing of math facts (15 minutes per night). Please keep this log in a visible place at home to remind/encourage students to read and practice facts! Students that bring the log back to school at the end of the month will receive a prize!
Math Facts
Speaking of math facts, they are an important part of second grade. Second grade students are expected to complete 50 math addition/subtraction facts in 3 minutes by the end of the year. In order to help them attain this goal, students in Room 13 will be taking weekly timed math fact quizzes throughout the year. Each week, students will be responsible for a new "set" of facts. At the beginning of each week, students will be given a set of flashcards to cut out and practice at home. They will also create a set of cards to practice with in school. Every Friday, students will be quizzed on these facts - as well as facts from previous weeks. We will start with addition facts only and will eventually move to subtraction only, and then to mixed quizzes. This week, students are responsible for the +0 and +1 facts and they will take a quiz on Friday. Please encourage your child to practice his/her facts on a regular basis!
Baseline Testing
Since our week was cut a little short, I did not have a chance to do any of the second grade baseline testing. Students can expect a (painless) assessment in both reading and math next week. I will use all of this information to help guide my instruction over the next few weeks.
All in all, I think we had an extremely productive week and I am so excited about this school year! I hope you are too!
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