Rainy Tuesday...

Box Tops

Did you know that Creekside collects Box Tops?!  We turn them in and get money to use for our school.  The two classes that collect the most valid (showing a product code and expiration date) and unexpired Box Tops each month win a little ice cream treat, provided by the PTO,   We also collect Coke codes on caps or cases, Tyson A+ labels, and School Spirit labels, which are found on Sunbeam and Aunt Millie’s bread products, as well as pop can tabs, which are just consolidated and delivered to Riley Children’s Hospital.  So send those in when you can!  I've heard that boxtops are now going digital and you can even scan them online now!

Reading Counts

Keep reading at home!  When your child finishes a book, they can take a quiz on it on their chrome book to earn Reading Counts points!  Each 25 point level reached earns them special prizes.  Most books in our classroom library are reading counts.  If you have any questions about a book at home--let me know.  I can look it up and see if it has a quiz for it on the computer.

Spelling test on Friday

Don't forget to study those memory words and this week's pattern words (words that end in -le and -ng).  The spelling test will be on Friday!

Labor Day

Don't forget--NO SCHOOL on Monday to celebrate Labor Day!

Early Release

Don't forget tomorrow is Wednesday!  That means Early Release day!  Dismissal will start at 1:40

Math

Here is what we are working on in math this week:

• bar graphs
• solving multiplication number stories
• solving division number stories
• multiplication fact triangles
• measuring mass

Next Tuesday, I will send home the math unit 1 review packet.  This does not need to be returned for a grade.  It can be kept at home and worked on as review, to make sure your child understands all the math concepts we have worked on so far.  This will be a very good review to complete at home, before the unit 1 math test.  The review packet will look very similar to the unit test. The math test will be on Wednesday, September 11.

Superkids

Here is what we are working on in Superkids this week:

• -le and -ng words
• memory words: want, look, play, come, any, some, day, or, very, new, out, good
• nouns vs. verbs
• rhymes
• comprehension
• book club book--Frog and Toad Together

Writing

Here is what we are working on in Writing this week:

• 6 traits
• writer's workshop routines
• asking for help while writing
• spelling anchor charts

High Ability

Here is what we are working on in our high ability unit this week:

• 5 types of changes
• types of language
• how language changes over time
• emotion words
• writing nursery rhymes

Upcoming Dates

Here are some dates to add to your calendar:

• 9/2--NO SCHOOL
• 9/5--DIBELS beginning of year testing
• 9/10--walk a thon kick off
• 9/10--PTO meeting @6pm
• 9/11--school picture day
• 9/11--Bingo For Books @5:30-7
• 9/16-9/20--College GO Week (more info TBA)
• 9/20--movie night
• 9/27--walk a thon $ due
• 10/4--end of 1st 9 weeks
• 10/4--walk a thon @1pm
• 10/9-10/10--Parent Teacher conferences (more info TBA)
• 10/10--Fall Book Fair Family Night--3-7pm
• 10/12-10/20--FALL BREAK-NO SCHOOL
• 10/25--movie night

Have a great week!

Happy Tuesday!

I hope you have all had a great week so far!  Here's what's going on around our classroom...

Box Tops
Did you know that Creekside collects Box Tops?!  We turn them in and get money to use for our school.  The two classes that collect the most valid (showing a product code and expiration date) and unexpired Box Tops each month win a little ice cream treat, provided by the PTO,   We also collect Coke codes on caps or cases, Tyson A+ labels, and School Spirit labels, which are found on Sunbeam and Aunt Millie’s bread products, as well as pop can tabs, which are just consolidated and delivered to Riley Children’s Hospital.  So send those in when you can!  I've heard that boxtops are now going digital and you can even scan them online now!

Reading Counts
Keep reading at home!  When your child finishes a book, they can take a quiz on it on their chrome book to earn Reading Counts points!  Each 25 point level reached earns them special prizes.  Most books in our classroom library are reading counts.  If you have any questions about a book at home--let me know.  I can look it up and see if it has a quiz for it on the computer.

5,000,000 words read!
Speaking of reading, the class has set a goal to read 5,000,000 words in second grade together!  The reading counts program will keep track of all the words read for us.   If we reach our goal, we will have a special celebration!

Superkids
This week in Superkids we will work on the following:

• contractions
• homonyms
• synonyms
• /wh/ words
• /th/ words

Math

This week in math we will work on the following:

• elapsed time
• telling time to the minute
• rounding to the nearest 10 and 100
• number lines

High Ability

This week in our high ability unit we will work on the following:

• things that change
• things that do not change
• categorizing
• making generalizations

Writing
Here is what we are working on in Writing this week:

• 6 traits
• writer's workshop routines
• asking for help while writing
• spelling anchor charts

Spelling Test

Don't forget to help your child practice the 12 memory words and the -wh and -th pattern words!  Our spelling test will be Friday afternoon!

Math Online

On nights that your child has a math homelink, they can either do it on paper in the workbook, or on the computer.  You do not need to have your child do the online version and the paper version in the same night.

BOY progress checks
You should see the beginning of year (BOY) math and superkids tests in your child's folder today.  These were not for a grade, instead I will use them to help guide instruction and groups.  They also give me a good baseline for what your child knows already.  


Early Release
Don't forget tomorrow is Wednesday!  That means Early Release day!  Dismissal will start at 1:40!

Scholastic Book Order
Also going home today you will find the first Scholastic Book order form.   I will send home a book order every month from September-April.  Don't forget you can order online if you choose instead of sending a check in to school.  This month's order is due August 29th.  There is never any pressure to order, but it's a great way to add to your child's home library if you do choose to order.  Any books purchased by families can also give points to our classroom that I can use to buy books and materials for our classroom!

Have a great week!

Welcome to Second Grade!

Welcome to 2nd grade!  It's going to be a great year of learning and fun!

Facebook
If you haven't done so already, be sure to "like" Mrs. Dunn's 2nd Grade on Facebook!  I will post the blog, important reminders, and lots of pictures about our weekly adventures!  

Superkids
Monday we started our Superkids reading curriculum.  Look for a "backpage" sheet to come home in your child's folder.  This can stay at home all week, and is to help your child study for the spelling test at the end of the 5 day unit.  I want them to complete the spelling pages, but they don't need to be returned for a grade.  They are just for spelling practice.  More info on spelling tests below!  

NWEA
This week we will take our beginning of year NWEA test.  Our class will do the math test Tuesday morning, and the reading test Thursday morning.  Results will be sent home when the testing window closes.  Last year, your child took the K-2 test which was read to them.  Starting this year, your child will take the 2-5 test, which is not read to them.  It is a bit harder of a test, so don't be discouraged if the fall scores drop.  That is normal, and they will rebound and I'm positive they will all meet their growth goals at the end of the year!

Homework
For 2nd grade homework, your child will bring home a reading log a few nights a week.  Their homework is to read their reading counts book or another book for at least 15 minutes.  There is a place for the parent to sign by each night.  Once we start math facts, there will be a spot to sign when your child has practiced their math facts. There will be the spelling test to study for each week.  To help study for the spelling test, there will be a couple Superkids Backpack pages that come home during the week.  The backpack pages do not need to be returned.  There will NOT be a reading log on nights that there is a superkids page.  So there will be a math home link, and either a superkids page or reading log.  The goal is 20-25 minutes on homework.  And that's it for homework! :)

The math pages and Superkids back pack pages do not need to be returned.  The only thing I will collect is the reading logs.  For the reading logs, your child can read library books, books from home, or reading counts books they have borrowed from our classroom library.  Anything they read we can check the next day to see if it has a reading counts quiz--if it does, they can quiz on it if they want in the morning.

Behavior Logs
Stapled in your child's agenda Monday was their behavior log for the week.  Be sure to check it nightly and see if they have any letters marked.  If so, please talk to your child about that behavior at home.

Agenda
Please make sure to return your child's agenda to school each day so that they can write homework, the quote of the week, and/or important reminders inside each day.

Spelling Tests
As part of the 2nd grade Superkids curriculum, we will have spelling tests once every 5 days in the unit.  I'll have the boys and girls write in their agenda when the test is most weeks.  This week the spelling test will be on Friday.  Be sure to practice all the memory words and the pattern words!  All of the memory words will be on the test, and some of the pattern words will be on the test each week.

Early Release--Wednesdays
On Wednesdays again this school year we have early dismissal. Normally we dismiss at 2:20, but on Wednesdays we will dismiss at 1:40.  All aspects of our dismissal process will be moved forward 40 minutes for our dismissal on Wednesdays. This begins tomorrow, Wednesday, August 14th, and will be each Wednesday during the school year. Cub Care is a great option here at Creekside. Also, the Boys and Girls Club and Girls, Inc. also are aware and have made plans to accommodate our students. Please send in a note tomorrow or email me if your child will do something different than their normal transportation on early release Wednesdays.


Beginning of Year Benchmark Tests
Last week we took the beginning of year Superkids test and beginning of year math test.  These tests are not going to be used for a grade in the grade book, but for me to use as a starting point to group students.  Once these are finished and graded, I will send them home for you to look at!

Chrome books
All 2nd, 3rd, and 4th graders have chrome books to use in the classroom.  We will use these a lot this year--from NWEA testing, Superkids and Everyday Math games, typing practice, google classroom, and research opportunities.  The class will also have free time, where they will be allowed to do Xtra math games, compass learning, Prodigy (another math website game) and more.  You should already have login information for Superkids and Everyday Math from Kdg and 1st grade.  If you need it again, please let me know!  I am sending login info home today for Prodigy and Xtra math.  These are just two more resources for things you can do at home!

Crayola ColorCycle

Last summer Miss Records ran across the Crayola ColorCycle Program.  You may have seen it on social media as well.  If you are not familiar with the program, it's Crayola's way to save the environment and tons of landfill space by recycling used markers and turning them into clean fuel!  So, she signed Creekside up!  If you would, here is how you can help!  Send in any used, dried out markers to our classroom.  When our basket is full Miss Records will take care of sending them in to Crayola.  

The one key reminder I have is that the program takes ALL plastic markers of any kind:  Crayola, non-Crayola, hi-lighters, dry erase, Do-A-Dots, Sharpies!  As long as it is all plastic, you can put it in the basket. 

Thanks in advance for your help in this simple way to take care of the earth!

Have a great week!