IMPORTANT DATES:
October 17th: ASCA begins
Please notify me in writing if you decide to enroll your child in the PTO's After School Creative Arts Program (ASCA) as this will affect dismissal plans. (Thank you to those who have already notified me). Please visit the ASCA site if you are interested in learning more or registering for classes.
October 19th: Picture Day
More information when it becomes available.
NEW NOTICES:
Responsive Home Workshop: The Social and Emotional Learning Department of the Newton Public Schools will be sponsoring Responsive Home Workshops for families to help you create a calm, supportive and encouraging environment at home. This workshop goes hand in hand with the Responsive Classroom work that we are doing in the classroom. Although I have never attended one of these workshops, I have attended a week-long Responsive Classroom workshop with the presenter, Amy Kelly, and it was phenomenal! I am planning to put on my mom-hat and attend one of these workshops myself just to see what it is all about!
Bus riding for playdates: At this time, students can not take a bus that they are not assigned to without prior permission. Buses are extremely full and do not always have room for extra students. If a child is having a play date with a child on a different bus or a child who does not normally take the bus, pick up arrangements should be made by the parents. Parents may write a note requesting their child go on the bus for a particular date, but will need permission in advance and this wish may not be granted if the bus is full on that particular day.
Noon Snack: Please begin sending in a second, small, non-messy snack (such as a small apple, cheese stick, etc.) to eat during the late morning during a work time. The children eat lunch at 1:10 and have been getting very hungry around noon, so we are going to add this snack to hopefully fend off the hungry horrors! Please distinguish their early morning snack from their late morning snack so that they are clear which is which.
Responsive Home Workshop: The Social and Emotional Learning Department of the Newton Public Schools will be sponsoring Responsive Home Workshops for families to help you create a calm, supportive and encouraging environment at home. This workshop goes hand in hand with the Responsive Classroom work that we are doing in the classroom. Although I have never attended one of these workshops, I have attended a week-long Responsive Classroom workshop with the presenter, Amy Kelly, and it was phenomenal! I am planning to put on my mom-hat and attend one of these workshops myself just to see what it is all about!
Bus riding for playdates: At this time, students can not take a bus that they are not assigned to without prior permission. Buses are extremely full and do not always have room for extra students. If a child is having a play date with a child on a different bus or a child who does not normally take the bus, pick up arrangements should be made by the parents. Parents may write a note requesting their child go on the bus for a particular date, but will need permission in advance and this wish may not be granted if the bus is full on that particular day.
Noon Snack: Please begin sending in a second, small, non-messy snack (such as a small apple, cheese stick, etc.) to eat during the late morning during a work time. The children eat lunch at 1:10 and have been getting very hungry around noon, so we are going to add this snack to hopefully fend off the hungry horrors! Please distinguish their early morning snack from their late morning snack so that they are clear which is which.
REMINDERS:
Water bottles: Please send your child with a full water bottle with a sport cap each day (such as this water bottle or this water bottle. These will be kept in the classroom for your child to stay hydrated throughout the day.
Pick-up: For dismissal, please stand on the RIGHT side of door 19 as you are looking at the school so that your child will be able to see you through the front windows nearest the corner of the school. As there are 2 classrooms dismissing from the same door at the same time, we have decided that our class will exit through the right door and Ms. Patteson's class will dismiss from the left door. I will have children who see their pick-up person line up, say goodbye to me and then they will be dismissed. If they do not see you, they will stay in the art room until they see you through the window. This will help to ensure everyone's safety. Thanks!
CURRICULUM UPDATE:
Water bottles: Please send your child with a full water bottle with a sport cap each day (such as this water bottle or this water bottle. These will be kept in the classroom for your child to stay hydrated throughout the day.
Pick-up: For dismissal, please stand on the RIGHT side of door 19 as you are looking at the school so that your child will be able to see you through the front windows nearest the corner of the school. As there are 2 classrooms dismissing from the same door at the same time, we have decided that our class will exit through the right door and Ms. Patteson's class will dismiss from the left door. I will have children who see their pick-up person line up, say goodbye to me and then they will be dismissed. If they do not see you, they will stay in the art room until they see you through the window. This will help to ensure everyone's safety. Thanks!
CURRICULUM UPDATE:
In reading we:
- Continued working on increasing our reading stamina for independent reading. We have at least 30 minutes of independent reading stamina!
- Discussed "thoughtful reading spots" for independent reading. These spots are personal spaces where you can focus and engage in your reading.
- Learned how to pick "Just Right" books for us using the acronym I PICK. Ask your child what it stands for.
- Began logging our books read on reading logs.
- Read Chopsticks by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, Enemy Pie by Derek Munson, Mercy Watson to the Rescue by Kate DiCamillo and illustrated by Chris Van Dusen and Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson aloud.
- Worked on summarizing stories with somebody...wanted...but...so...then. Please work with this framework at home to help your child summarize books that s/he is reading.
In writing we:
- Began writing small moment stories
- Created a birthday book for Daniel, with each child contributing an individual page.
- Finished up on our hopes and dreams for second grade
In math we:
- Reviewed calendars and months of the year
- Reviewed clocks
- Discussed how to work with partners
- Played Addition Top-It with a partner
- Played The Money Exchange Game
In Science we:
- Made observational drawings, noticing small details in our artifacts
For community building we:
- Shared home news with each other and asked each other questions to learn more
- Played Coseeki
- Played Friend Bingo
- Played Doggie, Doggie Where's Your Bone
- Created class expectations
- Discussed kindness that we have shown or witnessed with each other
Classroom and School Expectations:
We continued to practice and practice and practice our school routines. Some routines that we either learned for the first time or continued to practice were:
- Taking personal responsibility by stopping and responding during Class, Yes and Give Me five
- Making good choices when choosing thoughtful rug spots during group learning times, group transition times or independent reading times
- Quiet time routines
- Morning mail and work routines
- Using scissors safely
- Using crayons in our class
