Happy Tuesday!

 A few notes for your information

*Your child has their first behavior chart stapled in their agenda.  It should stay in there all week.  Please look at it each day and talk with your child about their daily behavior at school--both positive and negative!

*In your child's folder is their first homework assignment.  Please fill out the reading log each night and return to school the next day in their green folder.

*In the back clear pocket of your child's folder is their spelling list for the week.  Please practice these words with your child.  Our first spelling test will be on Friday!  You can leave the word list in their folder, or take it out and keep it in a safe place at home.

*Also in the back pocket is a copy of their login cards for all the programs we use on the chromebook.  You can leave this in the pocket or put it in a safe place at home.  

*Your child is bringing home their math homelink book today.  We completed our first math lesson today!  You can leave this homelink book in their bookbag or keep it at home.  It is your choice whether your child completes the math homework either in the book OR online like last year in first grade.  You do NOT need to do both.  You also do NOT need to tear the workbook pages out and return to school if you choose to complete the paper version.

If you have any questions, please let me know!

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.  One note about quizzes--They are in the process of moving reading counts over to a web based program.  When this is finished (hopefully this week or next) you will be able to take reading counts quizzes at home, and look up book titles at home to see if they are reading counts.  Currently with the old system, neither of those is an option.  

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!

Wonders
This week in Wonders (reading) we will work on the following:

• characters
• setting
• plot (beginning, middle, end)
• realistic fiction
• short a and short i sound in middle of words
• inflectional endings

Math

This week in math we will work on the following:

• using math tools correctly
• 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:

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

Spelling Test

Don't forget to help your child practice the 15 spelling words. Our spelling test will be Friday morning!

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 reading tests in your child's folder later this week.  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.

Have a great week!

Happy First Week of Second Grade!

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

Specials

This year, Creekside will be on a two week rotation for specials.  This is being done for two reasons.  The main one is it will limit exposure to the specials teachers and the entire building of students in one week, which will hopefully keep everyone healthier.  The second benefit to a two week rotation in specials is that it will allow for longer projects to be done in some of the classes like art.  Here is our rotation schedule:

Week 1/2--Library **Mr. Weimer told me today that he will let students check out books frequently during the 2 week library period.  So make sure your student brings their books (or leaves them in their back packs) to return during library time.  There will also be some free reading time in library.

Week 3/4--PE

Week 5/6--STEM

Week 7/8--Art

Week 9/10--Music

Daily Routines

Don't forget to send agendas and green Creekside folders to school daily.  Also, you can send in a water bottle for your child.  If it could already be filled to start the day that would be very helpful.  Don't forget to dress your child for the weather as we will be going outside for mask breaks and recess as much as possible!

NWEA
We are hoping to get all second graders their chromebooks by Friday of this week.  If so, next week we will take our beginning of year NWEA test.  Our class will do the reading test Monday morning, and the math test Tuesday morning.  Results will be sent home when the testing window closes.  

Homework
For 2nd grade homework, your child will bring home a reading log at the beginning of each 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, there will be math home link page (you can complete either the paper version or online version).    There will also be the spelling test to study for each week.   And that's it for homework!  We will probably start this next week.  

**Reading Logs should stay in folders all week so I can check them.  Thanks!

Behavior Logs
Stapled in your child's agenda starting next Monday will be 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 Wonders 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.  Next week the spelling test will be on Friday (8/28).  Be sure to practice all the words!  There will be a list that comes home with the words on Monday.

Beginning of Year Benchmark Tests
This week we will take the beginning of year reading test and math test.  These tests are not going to be used for a grade in the gradebook, 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!

Crayola ColorCycle

Miss Records is still running the marker recycling program for Creekside. 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!