Month: September 2013
Hello Families
We are moving right along here in Room 25. We have mastered our daily 5 routine, moving quickly through our 2nd grade math review and we have started our personal narrative writing through our work with courageous problem solving.
Daily 5
Daily 5 is the reading program that we use CSS from kindergarten through 4th grade. It is a system that allows students to make their own choices about improving their reading and writing skills. They get to think about what they need to work on, what they want to work on and who they want to work with. Since they have been doing this for many years now they have just jumped right in. They are empowered to improve their own reading and a writing skills as well as have some fun reading and writing. For me as a teacher I get to evaluate each student individually and work with them personally to give them exactly what they need. I also get to spend time with each student personally, which is really special because one on one time is tough to come by. As we get further into the year students will get to be part of book groups to allow them to share their enjoyment together.
Math
In the beginning of our year we are really working on solidifying our second grade skills and setting up our independent math time. We are focusing on our addition and subtraction strategies. We discovered yesterday that subtraction really isn’t as hard as we thought it would be. Also this month in number corner we are working with money. You can support our class time by allowing them to work with and keep track of money. The grocery store is a great place to practice and think about money. How much do we need? How much will be left? Head to the Math Learning Center for the bridges home connection. They are broken up into units and we are in the middle of unit 1.
Courage Writing
As a whole school we are exploring the idea of Courageous Problem Solving as a part of our school mission. We are thinking about how we can be courageous and what we can do to solve hard problems in our community. Students have created a courage journal about a time they were a courageous problem solver. They are hanging outside our classroom. These pieces of writing are meeting for 2nd grade and now we are moving them on to a piece of writing that is aiming for 3rd grade expectations. They are starting off really good and they will be ready for back to school night.
In our snack/free choice times are coming alive with creation of he yarn variety. Special thanks to the Buchholtz family for finding those awesome knifty knitter looms at a yard sale. They have really had a good time making scarves and hats.
Bella and Emily with their 1st scarves!
Nuts and Bolts
We had a great first week! It’s amazing how fast they get into the swing of things. Just some things that you might want to know as the year get started, if there are things I’m not thinking of please let me know and I will tell about those as well.
1.)Our specials schedule (ok it gets a little crazy with A and B schedules because there is an extra art or an extra PE on any given week, I am not going to go into that fine of detail for you just know we either have 2 PE’s and 1 art or 2 arts and 1 PE, depending on the week.)
Monday – PE
Tuesday- PE and Art
Wednesday – Art
Thursday – Library (check out day)
Friday – Library
Matt and I will also be trading classes on Fridays. He is teaching science and I am teaching technology. So both classes will get 1 session of science and one session of tech every Friday.
2.) Thanks so much to those of you who handed in your paperwork. If you haven’t gotten it in yet please do it ASAP.
3. We will be starting up our invention center next week. Please send in your recyclables so we may make them new.
Homework will start next week so ask your kiddo if they have a Monday due date. It will come up fast.
A Message from our Lovely Librarian
CSS 3rd Grade 