March 2018 Newsletter
Dear Parents/Guardians,
Well, we have made it to March! It is hard to believe how time moves so quickly. March is a short month as we will be off for March Break and the long, Easter weekend. If you are lucky enough to head South during the break, for warmer weather, I ask that you please bring back some sun! If you're not heading anywhere warm, please join me in hoping that the cold weather ends soon! Here is a glimpse at some of the things we will be working on in March.
Language:
*We will continue to spend time writing about our reading.
*We will continue to look more closely at characters in a story and infer character traits based on the actions of a character in the story.
*We will continue to practice making predictions and looking for evidence in a story to support our predictions and/or answer questions about stories.
*We will read and compare different versions of the same story (fairy tales).
*We will continue to practice writing our own stories that include characters, setting, events, problems and solutions.
*Students will be reminded to check their own writing for capitals, periods, word wall words etc.
Math:
*We will continue to practice problem solving that involves different math strands/concepts.
*strategies for addition and subtraction of 2 digit numbers will be introduced and practiced.
* We will explore probability - fair/unfair spinners, predicting the outcome of games (likely, unlikely, certain, impossible)
*We will look at the properties of 3D solids.
Science:
*We have been looking at the water cycle and the importance of water in our environment.
* We will also be learning about the wind cycle and how energy from wind can be helpful and harmful. * If time allows, we might start working on our Simple Machines Unit.
Social Studies:
*We will begin to gather and organize information and data about some communities’ locations, climate, and physical features, and the ways of life of people in these communities. To do this, we will use atlases, globes, print, digital or interactive maps to determine location; find photographs in magazines or on the Internet that provide information on people’s food, shelter, and/or clothing etc.
Report Card Envelopes/Slips/Student Work Samples:
Thank you to all parents who have returned report card envelopes and signed slips indicating that the report was received. These signed slips are put into your child's Ontario Student Record so it is important that they are returned. I appreciate the time that many of you took to write comments about your child's learning on these slips. It really is a great way to show your child that you value the work they are doing at school. Thank you also for taking the time to look through your child's work and celebrating all that they have learned/done. We will begin assembling new work samples and will send another sampling of student work at the end of the school year.
River Safety Program:
Our class will enjoy a visit from The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority to inform students about 'River Safety'. This important classroom presentation will occur on Monday, March 5th.
Spare Clothing Check:
Spring is just around the corner and with it comes the slushy, muddy weather. Unfortunately, at this time of year, a lot of children come in from recess wet. Sitting in wet clothing is uncomfortable and not conducive to learning. Please remember to send several pairs of dry socks in your child's backpack and a change of pants and underwear so that they have clothing to change into if they do get wet. Many times, parents assume that they have clothes here, but have forgotten that wet things have come home and the spare set has been used. Sometimes, the items in a child's spare clothing bag have been there so long unused that they no longer fit. If you are unsure about what is in your child's 'change of clothing bag and would like to simply add or change what's in the bag, please send the clothing in your child's mailbag with a short note to indicate what the clothes are for. Thanks!
Heathy Lunches:
Meals have a significant impact on your child's ability to function well at school. For this reason, as teachers, we support and promote healthy eating both at snack and at nutrition break times. If your child is reaching for a sweet treat, we ask them to find and eat a healthy food (thumbs up food) out of their lunch box first, such as an apple, vegetable, yogurt, cheese, sandwich etc. We ask you to help promote these healthy choices by ensuring that your child's lunch always includes some healthy items. Talk to your child about their lunch to see how they feel about the things you are sending and the amount of lunch you are packing. Invite them to help you pack their lunch so they can appreciate what a big job it is. Keep up the good work!
Student Illness Rule:
If your child has been sick or had diarrhea during the night, please do not send them to school the following morning! Although the child may feel better first thing in the morning, often they haven’t fully recovered and feel ill again shortly after they arrive at school. As well, the child still may be contagious and pass the ‘bug’ on to other children in the school.
Lost and Found:
Please make an effort to come to the school and take a look through the lost and found box. There is getting to be quite a collection of unclaimed items. Most times, your child is unaware that they are even missing something or simply doesn't recognize an item as belonging to them. Other times, several students own the same item and are unsure who it actually belongs to, so will not claim it. We keep the lost and found for a reasonable length of time, but unclaimed items will be eventually be donated to the Salvation Army.
March Break:
Just a reminder that March Break is scheduled from Monday, March 12th to Friday, March 16th.
Blog:
If you have not visited our classroom blog in a while, please remember to check it out with your child. Viewing the blog is a great way to spark conversation about the amazing things we are learning. The blog address is on a label in your child's planner. Simply visit staceygradetwoatlittlefalls.blogspot.com for information about what we have been up to in our room!
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to call or send a note in your child's mailbag!
Have a marvelous month!
Sincerely,
Susan Stacey
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January 2018 Newsletter
Dear Parents/Guardians,
Happy New Year to everyone and welcome back! I hope you had a fun but restful holiday and that you are ready to get back to school. I am looking forward to re-establishing our rules and routines and learning together both inside and outside of the classroom.
Learning This Month:
In Language, we will review the importance of activating our schemas prior to reading and using schema to understand and make meaningful connections to things we are reading (text to self, text to text, text to world connections). We will also continue doing daily 'word work' (ie. high frequency words, word families, blends, vowels/vowel teams and we will do some procedural writing. We will read a short chapter book together and learn how to write answers to questions about what we read using evidence from the text and our own ideas. Editing/correcting and improving our writing using our word walls and other class resources will continue to be encouraged.
In Math, we will finish up some measurement activities (using meters) and students will use Miras, geoboards and various manipulatives to explore symmetry. We will continue to learn and practice addition and subtraction strategies. Toward the end of the month, we will be counting and creating money amounts was well as discussing concepts related to money such as wants, needs, saving, borrowing, lending etc..
Properties of Liquids and Solids will be investigated in Science.
Learning about the Provinces and Territories in Canada will be a focus in Social Studies.
Skating:
Please remember that we are planning to go skating on the following dates:
Friday, January 12th and Friday, January 26th.
Note that there are no cost associated with skating as our P.I.A. (Parents in Action) have made funds available for us to use for skating.
On skating days, we have ice booked from 9:30 - 10:30 am. We will be leaving for the rink immediately after attendance has been taken on these dates.
Please note that Parent Volunteers would be appreciated on ALL skating days.
If you are available to help tie/untie skates or assist on/off the ice, we would be grateful!
Please simply send us a note saying which day(s) you are able to attend and whether you are able to help with skates, on the ice or both!
We have a small group of inexperienced skaters who require 1:1 help, so if your child can already skate and you are willing to help another child learn how, we really could use your help!
Walking trip to D.C.V.I.:
On Friday, January 19th, our class will be walking to D.C.V.I. to see one of their drama classes present 'The Lorax'. Please sign and return the consent form for this excursion as soon as possible. There is no cost associated with this trip.
Wildwood Visit:
Our class is planning a second visit to Wildwood on February 7th where we will learn more about how different animals adapt to seasonal changes. Consent forms will be arriving home this month with details about the excursion. This will be a full day excursion (9:30-3:30). If you are able to help supervise on this excursion, please let me know. We need at least 3 parents/grandparents to accompany us on this date!
Other Reminders:
Extra Clothing:
Please make sure your child has a change of clothing here at school. If you are unsure what is in your child's bag, please write a note in your child's planner and I can remind them to bring it home for you to check/re-stock.
Remember to send extra socks and mittens for your child as they tend to need multiple pairs of each at this time of year. Please also check your child's backpack for wet socks and mittens and send a fresh change the next day. The students don't always tell us when they have changed their socks or we don't always get a chance to write a note asking for another pair of dry socks to replace ones they have used. Thanks for your help with this.
Library Books:
PLEASE check the calendar and help your child remember to bring back their library book on or before the Library Exchange day. Students are often disappointed when they cannot get a new book and they really are still dependent on us to help them to remember to put these things into their mailbag/backpack on time.
Illness:
We are at that time of year when many students are coming down with colds and flu. We have students at our school who are medically fragile and exposure to germs may cause them to become very ill. If your child has experienced vomiting or diarrhea due to illness, the Health Unit states that the student must remain at home for 24 hours after the most recent episode. Please keep this in mind when you are deciding if you should send your child to school.
Watch your child's mailbag for more information about our school-wide Cuddle up and Read Literacy Day Activities which is being held on Friday, January 26th. This will be a school-wide P.J. day so get ready for a fun, comfortable day.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact me. If you would like to know more about what's happening in our class don't forget to visit our classroom blog at:
staceygradetwoatlittlefalls.blogspot.com
Thanks for your continued support.
Sincerely,
Susan Stacey
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December 2017
Dear Parents,
The Holiday Season is upon us and Grade 2 will be an increasingly busy place. Even though I know that the month will fly by, I have a lot planned and hope we'll fit it all in!
This month, in Language, we will enjoy listening to novel read aloud called "Santa Doesn't Mop Floors". We will be paying close attention to the main characters in this novel and find evidence to support the idea that he either is or is not Santa Clause!
We will also work on letter writing (as we write letters to Santa) and we will work on some procedural writing (how to dress for recess) and some descriptive writing to explain what our outdoor winter clothing looks like. Some non-fiction writing to share learning about a mammal will also be done. Students will be encouraged to take even more responsibility for editing their writing for spacing, neatness, word wall words, capitals and punctuation.
We will continue to practice using oral language to share our own family holiday traditions/memories with each other.
In Math, we will continue to explore measurement using standard thermometers to describe changes in temperature and rulers/measuring tapes with standard units (cm)(m) to describe length and width. We will also continue to look at 2D shapes (which we didn't quite finish in November) and further work on subtraction.
In Social Studies, we will continue our study of Celebrations to include Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanza. We will also learn about what Christmas was like long ago and see how this celebration has changed over time.
In Science we will wrap up our 'Animal' unit and begin to explore 'Liquids and Solids'.
Shape and colour will be explored in Art.
Check the Weather:
The arrival of snow is imminent. When it arrives, it brings with it the need for warmer outdoor clothing. Labeling your child’s boots, hats, mitts, coat, etc. is very important. The children do not always recognize/claim their own lost clothing, especially when there may be identical items owned by multiple students. (You would be surprised how many students wear identical black snowpants)!
When there is snow on the ground, we still go outside for recess. Please provide appropriate outerwear EVERY day. All children love to make snow angels etc. and doing so in regular pants, rather than in snow pants, makes for a very “damp” rest of the day. Snow pants are a MUST! Please also consider sending a 2nd pair of mittens for the 2nd recess as it is not always possible to dry mittens between recesses and wet mittens mean cold fingers.
Changing clothes is also sometimes necessary if a student gets wet at recess from puddles/snow. Thank you to all the parents who have replenished your child's supply of extra clothing with clothing more suitable for the cold weather. If you would like me to add some warmer clothes to your child’s ’Spare Clothing Bag’, please feel free to send things in the mailbag and I will add it to the bag in their cubbie! Several pairs of socks in your child’s bag are also a good idea as often little feet get wet from stepping in melted show puddles in the hallway or from playing in the snow.
Skating:
Thank you to parents who helped tie skates or supervise on the ice for our first skating session. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate the extra hands and eyes at the PRC! I simply cannot tie 20 pairs of skates alone. We get on the ice so much quicker with your help! We have one additional skating date scheduled before the holidays (and 2 in January) and would be grateful for parents or grandparents who can help tie skates or assist our students on the ice. Please let me know if you are available to help on the following dates:
Friday, December 15th 9:45-10:45
Friday, January 12th 9:30-10:30
Friday, January 26th 9:30 -10:30
Thanks in advance for considering this.
Holiday Concert:
Mrs. Stern has been very busy with our students to prepare for our special Holiday Concert. This year, all primary students are working together to perform a concert called "Toys". Our class is part of Group 1 which means that we perform in a Dress Rehearsal on Monday, December 11th at 1:00 p.m. and our concert is on Monday, December 11th at 7:00 pm. Please reserve this date on your calendar as I'm sure you won't want to miss the opportunity to see your child participate in this special holiday event.
Note: Hopefully the weather will cooperate, but if it doesn't, the snow date for the concert our class participates in is Wednesday, December 13th.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT COSTUMES:
All stage actors have been fitted for a costume. All other students were given a blue sheet several weeks ago asking if they had a costume (that made them look like a toy of some kind) to wear or not. If you checked 'yes' you have a costume, please send it to school in a labelled bag by Wednesday, December 6th. If you checked 'no' you don't have a costume to wear, please have plan to have your child wear red and green and we will provide elf hats and decorations for them to wear. Send red/green items in a labelled bag by Wednesday, December 6th.
Holiday/December Activities:
We have many holiday activities planned this month in our classroom/school as well as several activities that are meant to enhance our Grade 2 curriculum.
We will enjoy a "Let's Talk Science" presentation called "Matter Matters" on Friday, December 8th. This will help us launch our new Science Unit. During this presentation, students will explore the properties and interactions of solid and liquid materials through demonstrations and hands-on/minds-on activities.
We will travel to the Museum to learn about how Christmas traditions, especially the use of catalogues for gift buying, has changed over the past 150 years. We will enjoy their 'Christmas' exhibit, make a craft and participate in other 'hands-on' activities while there.
We will also enjoy a Downtown Walking tour to learn about the history of our downtown. We will see how shops and businesses have changed to meet the changing needs of our community and how the tradition of decorating storefronts has changed over the years.
We will visit the Public Library to enjoy some holiday themed activities and a chance to explore the library resources so that students can appreciate this important community place!
(Museum, walking tour and Library will all happen on Thursday, December 14th).
We will enjoy a. whole school event called "Toonie Theater" (movie in the gym) on Friday, December 15th.
We will enjoy carol singing on Monday, December 18th and Friday, December 22nd.
The last week before the holidays will be extra fun with special 'holiday theme' days each day. See your calendar/student planner for details about when to dress up for Hawaiian Christmas (Monday the 18th), wear a holiday hat (Tues. the 19th) , wear a Christmas sweater or socks (Wed. The 20th), wear red/green (Thurs. the 21st) or wear pjs to school (Fri. The 22nd).
We will also enjoy Mrs. Stacey's favourite classroom tradition - decorating mini gingerbread houses!
Walking Excursions to St. Marys D.C.V. I. :
Last year we were invited to attend a Holiday Band Performance at St. Marys D.C.V.I. We are hoping that will happen again this year but do not yet know the date. Please watch your child's mailbag for a consent form regarding this event. We will send it as soon as we have confirmed the date. On this date, we will be walking to D.C.V.I. with several other classes from Little Falls to enjoy the sounds of some Holiday music. Most likely, we will be leaving our school shortly after morning announcements in order to arrive at D.C.V.I. in time to remove our coats and take our seats. . We will return to Little Falls immediately following the concert.
There is NO cost associated with this excursion.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please send a note, or call the school and I will get back to you as soon as possible.
I wish you and your entire family a happy and safe Holiday Season and all the best in the year 2018!
Please note that classes resume after the holidays on Monday, January 8th!
Sincerely,
Susan Stacey
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November 2017
Grade 2 Newsletter
Dear Parents,
I expect that the month of November will bring colder weather and possibly, with it, the wearing of snowsuits, boots, mittens, etc. It is very helpful if you would label all pieces of your child’s outerwear. I know the weather at this time of year can be very unpredictable, but please have a conversation with your child about the importance of wearing the warm things that you send to school. Please also encourage your child to be independent when dressing themselves in their winter clothing at home.
This month will be another busy one in our classroom.
*In Language, we will continue to practice monitoring our reading for meaning and being a 'word solver' by using a variety of strategies and thinking about what makes sense. We have been talking a lot about the value and importance of describing words and will practice 'visualizing' the things we are reading about as we pay attention to these describing words. We will also continue to write using a variety of forms during Writer's Workshop (lists, letters, narratives, recounts, non-fiction writing-writing about the ways animals and plants adapt.
*In Math, we will continue to explore numbers, adding and subtracting using efficient strategies, number lines and the 100 chart. We will explore number patterns (counting by 2s, 5s and 10s). We will discuss the properties of 2D shapes.
*In Social Studies, we will learn about maps and globes. Mapping skills we will discuss include: pictorial symbols, legends/keys, cardinal directions. We will look at maps of our class/school, community maps, maps of Canada and maps from other interesting places. Remembrance Day Celebrations will also be discussed as part of our on-going investigation into 'Traditions and Celebrations'.
*In Science we will continue to learn about different animal groups (Mammals and Fish)
*In Visual Art, we will continue to explore a variety of art tools and materials to create art. We will specifically explore colour and texture. Students will be encouraged to think more critically about their art and discuss things they like or would like to improve about their artwork.
Other important information:
Progress Reports:
Your child's progress report card should have arrived home on Monday, October 30th. Your child will get a check mark indicating that they are progressing with difficulty, well or very well. During report card interviews, we will discuss plans to target specific strengths and weaknesses. We will continue to work together to help your child succeed. A note explaining more about this first report card will be sent with your child's report! . Hopefully the information sent with the report will help you understand your child's progress and his/her report card.
Parent/Teacher Interviews:
Please note that Interviews will be conducted on the evening of Thursday, November 2nd or during the morning of Friday, November 3rd. I strongly encourage parents to make the attempt to touch base with me at this time. It's a good opportunity for you to ask questions about your child's development and for me to make suggestions about how you can support your child's particular learning needs at home.
Spare Clothing Bags:
Now that the colder weather has arrived, it is more important than ever to make sure that your child has a set of spare clothing that is suitable for the weather. If you are unsure about what is in your child's spare clothing bag and want us to send it home so you can re-stock it....just send us a note and we'll help you out! If you simply want to send more clothes for the spare clothes bag in your child cubbie, please make sure you send us a note in the mailbag telling us to add them to your child's things. At this time of year, several pairs of extra socks and extra mittens are always good to have on hand!
Blog:
If you have not already done so, please remember to check out our classroom blog.
The blog will let you know what we have been doing in the classroom and the skills that we are developing. Pictures of the children ‘at work’ have been posted weekly. Looking at the blog with your child is a great way to get them talking about what is happening at school. You should be able to access the blog by using the following address: staceygradetwoatlittlefalls.blogspot.com
Home Reading Books (Reading with/by your child):
**Reminder**: Your child will be choosing their own books for their reading folder. Please honor their choice. Don’t worry if the book is too easy or too hard for them. There is merit in both situations. Easy books build confidence and allow students to practice fluency and expression in their reading. Harder books offer an opportunity to look for new words or try new reading strategies. Just have fun with this! Thank you to everyone who has been encouraging nightly reading at home. The best way to improve reading is to simply practice! Remember to talk about what your child has been reading. Ask about the characters, setting, events and solution at the end.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you for your continued support in the education of your child.
Sincerely,
Susan Stacey
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October 2017 Newsletter
Dear Parents/Guardians,
The children in our classroom have settled in nicely. Routines, rules and expectations were a major focus in September and will be reinforced throughout October.
This month, we will continue to review and/or introduce new reading strategies and remind students to ask themselves if the words they are saying when reading look right, sound right and make sense. Activating our prior knowledge before reading and checking for understanding during reading will also be encouraged. We are making our own mini word wall and will be reminded to use this tool to spell frequently used words correctly. We will also continue to review letter and vowel sounds so that 'bubblegum spelling' will include as many letters as possible. We will be writing to describe things we have learned about in science and will respond in writing to read alouds. Writing personal narratives (stories about things that have happened to us in real life will also be a focus.
In Math, we will continued to explore number concepts (skip counting, representing, numbers to 100 and we will start/review combining numbers to practicing basic addition facts/strategies. We will use a variety of materials to create repeating pattern and organize data into simple graphs.
In Science, we will continue our study of different kinds of animals by discussing features/characteristics of fish, mammals, birds, amphibians and the reptile animal groups .
We will, of course, discuss Thanksgiving and Halloween as part of our ongoing investigation into Traditions and Celebrations. We will also begin to learn about different map features in Social Studies.
Meet the Teacher Night:
Thank you to all of you who were able to come out on Thursday, Sept. 21st. I enjoyed meeting/seeing everyone and look forward to a great year together.
Stone Soup:
We have been talking about cooperation, collaboration and working together towards a common goal. With that in mind, and with Thanksgiving approaching, I can't think of a better time to read 'Stone Soup' because in the story, the villagers have to work together to make a wonderful soup. Like the story, all students in our class are asked to bring something to contribute to our soup. We will put all of our ingredients together and cook the soup on Friday, October 6th. We will eat our soup during one of our Nutrition Breaks (depending on how long it takes for the veggies and noodles in our soup to soften!)
Please watch your child's mailbag for a special paper about this event which asks you for a specific ingredient. The highlighted ingredient is what your child is assigned to bring. Please send in ingredients on either Thursday, October 5th or Friday, October 6th.
Wildwood Trip:
On Wednesday, October 25th, our class will be visiting Wildwood Conservation Area .While there, we will observe the seasonal changes in trees/plants. We will also participate in activities related to our mapping unit and pretend to migrate like a monarch. Consents for this trip should be in your child’s mailbag in the next day or so. The cost of this trip is indicated on the consent form. Please return signed consents as soon as possible. Payment can be made through school can on line or in cash. We are able to accommodate as many volunteers as we wish on this trip, so if you want to come along and experience the forest with your child on this day, please let me know. The more the merrier! (No extra cost to parents who wish to come...just plan to provide your own transportation to and from Wildwood as we won't have room on the bus).
Orange and Black Day:
On Tuesday, Oct. 31st, we will be celebrating Hallowe'en by having Orange and Black Day. Your child may participate by coming to school that day wearing some orange and/or black. (Note: Do not send your child to school wearing face makeup, dressed in or with a Hallowe'en costume as this is not in keeping with the intent of our school-wide Orange and Black Day celebration). More information about the school-wide ‘Penny Carnival’ activities being planned for this day will come home soon, so watch your child's mailbag for this information.
Breakfast and Balanced Day Lunches:
Thanks to all the parents who have worked so hard to encourage their child to eat a good breakfast before school so that they arrive ready to learn. Thank you also for packing your child's lunch in a way that helps them know what to eat first and what to keep until later in the day. Your children are getting re-accustomed to their school eating schedule. Please have a conversation with your child about the amount of foods being packed. We have had many students lately who run out of things to eat during 2nd Nutrition Break but are still hungry. The amount that students eat can vary from day to day and I know as a parent it can be hard to judge how much to send in the lunch bag. Some days, your child may simply be expending more energy and need extra fuel (food), sometimes they might be growing and eating more, some days they might not feel hungry. Talk to your child about their lunch. Toss in an extra snack or 2 if your child is indicating that they are needing more to eat. Keep up the good work everyone.
Home Reading Program
The purpose of a Home Reading Program is for families to foster an interest in books and reading.
If you complete the log page and return the book in your child’s folder on their next school day, we will try to exchange it for another book right away. If however, you just don’t have time, don’t worry or rush through it. Just keep your child’s folder/book at home so you can enjoy the book when you are able. Please also remember that keeping a book for multiple nights is just fine. Re-reading a text more than once is always a good way to practice fluency and sometimes, students develop a deeper understanding of a text upon reading it a second or third time. Thanks for your help with this program. Please note that I am encouraging students to select their own book for their Home Reading Folder. This means they may choose a book that is too easy for them, too hard for them, or JUST RIGHT. Talk about the choice they made. It’s okay to choose a book that’s too easy. Easy books build confidence. It’s also okay to choose a book that is too hard from time to time. This gives you an opportunity to talk about more advanced vocabulary or a reading strategy that you used while you read the book to them. Listening to you do the reading from time to time also has value. Whatever their choice……..have fun with it. Foster an interest and love of reading!
Spelling Words
You will notice some 'spelling words' on the calendar this month. We have already reviewed the Grade 1 No Excuse words and are adding to the words that we hope students will begin to use correctly in their writing now that they are in Grade Two! Each week, we will do some work with these words. Please note that we do not plan to have a spelling test each week. The words are simply on the calendar so that you can be aware of words that your child should be spelling correctly. At home, you may wish to help your child remember the spelling of these words by playing spelling game or having them practice writing the words in fun ways. Please see the attached page for some fun ways to help your child practice spelling words.
Mailbags/Planners:
Thank you so much for being so diligent at sending mailbags and planners to school every day! I cannot over-stress the importance of ensuring that the mailbag is returned daily and any information in it perused by you daily. Most information will be sent home in letter format, but as we move through the school year, students will be asked to take on more responsibility for recording important dates etc. in their planners themselves. Please continue to send any messages for me in your student's planner. Right now, we check all planners (in case students forget to relay the message of a note) but try to remind your child that there is an important note and ask them to take responsibility for showing it to me.
Blog Update:
You should also be able to access the blog by using the following address:
staceygradetwoatlittlefalls.blogspot.com
The blog will let you know what we have been doing in the classroom and the skills that we are developing. Pictures of the children ‘at work’ will be shared regularly. Looking at the blog with your child will be a great way to get them talking about what is happening at school. If for some reason you did not receive your invitation, please let me know, and I will try to re-enter the information or simply do a google search using the address above. You may wish to check your 'spam' in case your email provider has placed the blog invitation there.
Spare Clothing Bags:
If you have not already done so, please make sure that your child has a set of spare clothing that is suitable for the weather here at school. Extra clothing bags were sent home on the first day of school. If you are unsure about what is in your child's spare clothing bag and want us to send it home so you can re-stock it....just send us a note and I'll help you out! If you simply want to send more clothes for the spare clothes bag in your child cubbie, please make sure you send me a note in the mailbag telling me to add them to your child's things. At this time of year, it is hard to predict the temperature, so a variety of items suitable for all weather conditions is a good idea.
Other things you can do to support your child’s learning at home:
Talk to your child:
Ask specific questions about their day, what they are proud of, things they made, their favourite games,things etc.
Have them retell in their own words the events of a story or TV program they read/watched, or events from their day (watch to see if they tell these events in the correct/logical sequence)
Read TO your child: (books that they would be unable to read on their own)
Try to establish a regular reading time and read daily
Make sure that your child can see the book easily
Before you start, read the title, look at the cover and wonder together what the story will be about. If it is an old favourite, ask your child to pretell the story for you.
Find reasons to write:
Write lists, notes, letters whenever the opportunity arises.
Practice spelling our 'word wall words'/spelling words when you see them come home in your child's planner.
Practice Math Concepts:
Play and talk about the math games that come home in our Math folder.
Practice basic math facts (facts that add to 18) by playing dice games etc.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to ask.
You can always send me a note, phone the school (519-284-3615) or even email susan.stacey@ed.amdsb.ca and I will get back to you as soon as possible.
Have a marvelous month!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Stacey
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September Newsletter
September 5, 2017
Dear Families,
Welcome to Mrs. Stacey's Grade 2 classroom. I hope that everyone had a safe and enjoyable summer and that the children are looking forward to the beginning of our new school year. September is always a busy month. We will be spending the first few weeks getting to know each other and will focus on co-constructing/developing a common understanding of the routines, roles and responsibilities within our class and school. Some of the skills/concepts we hope to touch on this month are outlined below. (Note: some of these may change depending on the needs and interests that the students display in the first few days and weeks!)
Language: Students will be choosing ‘just right books’ for their independent reading bags, we will participate in shared reading, partner reading and independent reading. Review and/or explicit teaching of the things that good readers do (decoding strategies, comprehension strategies) will occur daily. We will also review/learn some of the basic writing conventions, write about ourselves, make simple lists and begin sharing/responding to different picture books both orally and in pictures/writing.
Math: We will be exploring/reviewing numbers, patterning and data management skills.
Science: We will begin work on some of the expectations from the Grade 2 'Growth and Change in Animals' unit. We will start by identifying and describing major physical characteristics of different types of animals (e.g., insects, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, birds). We will also begin looking at the ways animals adapt to survive. We are hoping to get the opportunity to investigate the life cycle of a butterfly/moth and observe and compare the changes in their appearance as they go through a complete life cycle.
Social Studies: We will begin working on mapping skills by learning to recognize and use symbols, colour, legends/key and cardinal directions on a map. We will look at the globe, map of Canada, Ontario and our local community. Students will have the opportunity to make their own maps using key features.
Art: We will be creating name art and self portraits.
Learning Skills:
Throughout the year, we will be learning about each of the key learning skills: Responsibility, Organization, Independent Work, Collaboration, Initiative and Self Regulation. As a group, we will talk about what these skills look like and discuss how we can demonstrate growth in this area.
Grade 2 Homework Expectations
Below are some examples of homework tasks that your child may be asked to do from time to time.
Home Reading: Each student is encouraged to read at home every night. Our 'Home Reading Program' allows students to take home a book from our classroom. Students are required to keep track of the Title and number of pages read each night. Student Reading Logs will be checked each day. More details about the reading program will be sent home soon.
Math: Students will periodically bring home a math game/activity for you to do together. The type of activity will vary depending on the concepts being practiced.
Projects: There may be times where special assignments will be sent home. These may be related to our Science or Social Studies topic or allow for your child to practice their oral communication skills with a specific focus in mind. These will be given with plenty of notice and will be spaced appropriately with all subject requirements in mind. Written expectations will be sent home with any ’special’ assignments as well as a due date. Your child is responsible for making sure this work arrives home and back to school at the appropriate times.
Catching Up after Absence: If your child is absent, a folder will be placed on their desk and any work they miss will be placed in the folder. Upon their return, they may have some work to catch up on at home. This work will come home in the ‘absent student folder’ so you will know why they are completing this extra homework. Please always help your child catch up as quickly as possible and return the folder with the completed work as soon as you are able.
Entry/Exit Procedures
During the month of September, students arrive at school in varying stages of readiness. Please remember to foster their independence and self reliance by allowing/teaching your child to be responsible for getting themselves to/from our classroom and unpacking/packing their backpacks, removing/putting on outdoor clothing etc. The students will gather outside the school (as they would at recess) both before and after school, so this is the logical place to leave them in the mornings and pick them up after school. If your child is having trouble getting ’back into the swing of things’ in the mornings, you may assist your child to meet and greet their friends on the black top area outside the school and then once settled, say goodbye. NEVER leave your child unattended in the hall or classroom at the start of a school day. NEVER leave your child on the playground before 9:00 am as there is no teacher supervision prior to this time.
NOTE: If for some reason, you need to come into the school before/after the entry/dismissal bell, you MUST sign in at the office.
Backpacks
It is important for the children to carry a back- pack to school each day. Your child’s backpack should be large enough to carry items such as a library book, lunch box/bag, personal belongings, mailbag etc. back and forth to home/school. Encourage your child to practice packing and zipping up their own backpack at home so they can feel proud of their independence at school.
Name Labels
Please put your child's name on ALL items of clothing and other materials that they brings to school. Many children have the same shoes, coats, hats, sweaters and backpacks. When we hold up lost articles, the children rarely claim them as their own, so our lost and found just continues to grow over the year. If at any time an item goes missing, please send a note to school and we will do our best to locate it. Please also remember to check our Lost and Found on a regular basis for your missing items.
Mail Bag/Newsletters
I will be giving each child a dark blue, cloth zippered bag (mailbag) in which we will be putting our planners, all notes and newsletters, school work, etc. Please return this bag to school everyday! Please use this bag to send any messages, food/trip money/consents etc. to school. Encourage your child to be responsible for notes and other items going to and from school. Let them know if you have sent a note with them and tell them it is important for the teacher to have it. Let your child unpack and pack their own bags and deliver any messages or work to you at the end of the day.
Throughout the coming year, your child will be bringing home a monthly newsletter and calendar that reflects on our units of study, special days and activities for our classroom. Please encourage your child to check the calendar regularly to help them remember important dates and have items returned on time. I would suggest you post it in a spot where it can be easily referred to. If you misplace your paper copy of the newsletter or calendar, you will also find this information on our classroom blog. (See below for more information about our blog)
Classroom Blog
If you would like to learn more about the learning that is going on in our classroom, please feel free to check out our classroom blog.
Our blog address is: staceygradetwoatlittlefalls.blogspot.com
The blog will regularly highlight different subjects or activities and will show-case student work samples and/or photos of your students actively engaged in learning.
The blog will go live once I have received consents from all families regarding photo documentation. Any students who do not have permission to be photographed will NOT be featured on the blog but may still follow the blog to see the photos of their classmates!
Planners
Each student will be given a 'day planner' to help them keep track of daily homework or special events/projects. Students are expected to have it at school EVERY day. Please check your child's planner each night to assist them in learning good habits. The planner is also a good place to attach notes between teacher/parent. Students will check their planners each morning and pass any messages that you have written on to me.
Sending Money
When sending money, please enclose it in an envelope or smaller baggie with a note that clearly indicates what the money is for. Loose money in a mailbag tends to get lost as students carry it from their backpack in the morning.
Change of Clothes
Sometimes accidents happen and your child may require a change of clothing. It is very helpful if you always have a spare set of clothes for emergency purposes. Your child has brought home an ’Extra Clothing’ bag. Please fill the bag with the required items and return it to school as soon as possible. The extra clothes will be kept in your child’s cubbie so they are handy if/when they are ever needed. Unfortunately, we do not have a lot of spare clothes to lend out, so without a change in their cubbie it would become necessary to phone you in the event of an emergency. Sending ’extras’ is an easier option! Thanks for your co-operation.
Required Materials
Students will be given pencil crayons, crayons, glue stick, scissors and pencils at the beginning of the school year. We also have markers to share in our classroom. It is their responsibility to keep track of the belongings they are given and store them neatly in their desk basket when they are not in use. If we find that we are in need of any new materials as the year progresses, I will send home a note.
Snacks/Lunch
Providing a nutritious lunch and snack will allow your child to think better and learn to the best of their ability. Students are asked to bring healthy choice snacks/lunches to meet their nutritional needs. Our schedule includes two breaks when students will be able to eat their snack/lunch however, school balanced day lunches can be difficult for students to adjust to (especially in September). Usually, I notice that many children are hungry in the mornings and find it a long time to wait for our first nutrition break. Some spend too much time socializing during a nutrition break and need reminders to use the time to actually eat! Please encourage your child to eat a healthy breakfast before coming to school as it is a long time until our first nutrition break (11:15 am). Try to pack your child's lunch in a way that helps them know what to eat first and what to keep until later in the day. Label items with number #1 for first break and #2 for second break or divide your child’s lunch bag in half so children know to eat one part at each break. Your child will get accustomed to our eating schedule. Be patient while they adjust to eating in a group and making their own choices.
Food Allergies/Nut-safe School
Food preparation and sampling will occasionally play a part in your child's learning experiences. If your child is allergic to any kind of food, please bring the allergy to my attention immediately.
Please note that we have children with peanut allergies in some of our classes at Little Falls. Due to the severity of this type of allergy, our school makes every effort to be nut-safe. Therefore, please do not send peanut butter sandwiches or anything with nuts or “may contain traces of nuts” in it to school.
Note: If you are sending a Soy Butter or No-nut Butter sandwich, please attach a happy face or a note indicating that the sandwich is safe. These products look and smell like peanut butter and it’s always helpful for the lunch duty teacher to know that the sandwich is safe rather than thinking that it is unsafe. Thanks for your help and understanding in this regard.
Phys-ed Classes/Shoes
The children will participate in daily physical activity while at school. They will need running shoes for these kinds of activities. Ideally, we would like each child bring a pair of running shoes that may be left at school so that they always have a pair of clean, appropriate shoes for physical activity and indoor use. Having BOTH indoor and outdoor shoes is important at all times of the year. We would like to keep mud and grass out of our classroom as we will often work in groups on the floor. These extra shoes may be kept at school in your child's cubbie in the hallway outside of our classroom. Please label your child‘s second pair of shoes.
Note: Indoor and Outdoor boots/shoes are put on and taken off several times every day. Children need to be able to get them on and off independently. Velcro or slip on footwear is the best for quick changes, unless your child already knows how to tie their own laces.
Water
Water bottles from home can be kept on the corner of desks UNLESS they become a distraction or are misused. Please make sure these bottles are clearly labelled with your child's name. All bottles must go home each night to be washed and refilled.
Milk/Pizza/Food Days
These may be ordered by completing a food order form which should arrive home soon. Please watch for this order sheet in your child‘s mailbag. Please remember to attach the food money to the form in either an envelope or small sandwich bag so that it does not get separated from your order form. Thanks!
Library
Our class will be going to the library for book exchange on a weekly basis. Library exchange dates will be noted on the classroom calendar. Please check your calendar and try to help your child return their book to school by that day so that they are able to get a new book each time we visit the library. Students are usually quite disappointed when they are unable to get a new book, and they really are reliant on you to help them remember to return books on time.
Meet the Teacher BBQ Night
Please note that the date for our 'Meet the Teacher BBQ' is Thursday, September 21st from 5:00 to 7:00pm. The evening is an opportunity for you to pop in and out, giving your child a chance to introduce you to their teachers and to show you their classroom. More information about this special evening will be included in the school newsletter.
Parent Volunteers
If you would like to help our class from time to time, please let me know. Volunteers are often needed on 'out of school excursions' or to help us complete more complex projects in the classroom. All volunteers must have a current 'criminal background check'. For questions about this, please contact the office.
If at any time you have a question, comment or concern about our classroom or your child , please feel free to call me at the school (519-284-3615), send me an email susan.stacey@ed.amdsb.ca or write a note in the planner. Communication between home and school is very important for a successful year.
I look forward to working with you and your child this school year.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Susan Stacey
