First Thursday of the School Year!

Today we started to solidify some of our procedures in class.  We had some extra practice lining up, getting ready for lunch and cleaning up, and clearing off our desks to transition.  They’ve also had lots of chances for brain breaks!

We started the morning off STAR testing.  This is the test that will determine the reading levels the students will be reading within for the first trimester.  They did a great job taking their time, taking breaks when needed, and reading carefully!  Next week I’ll send these reports home so you can see their levels.

After morning recess, we did another morning work practice.  Whenever we do the morning work together, the students have a chance to earn a sticker.  After 5 stickers, they’ll receive a reading log/flash card pass that can be used in place of doing their reading or flash cards for an evening.  Many of them have already earned a sticker!

We also did our first Math-a-Minute today.  Math-a-Minutes are something that we do almost daily in 2^nd grade.  They’re small strips of colored paper with 15 math problems that they try to complete in 1 minute.  It starts with +0 and, as students complete and pass them, they become harder and more challenging.  I remind the kids that my expectation is that they just do the best that they can do each day.  I also tell them that there will be some Math-a-Minutes that take them several tries before they pass.  Look for their Math-a-Minute in their homework folder this afternoon!

After lunch, we had our second P.E. time.  They kids had a blast!

After P.E. we did a practice memory work test.  Then the students wrote in their interactive journals for the first time.  Interactive journals are ungraded journals that the students write in each week.  I write back to them, always asking them a question, and they then write back to me the next week.  It’s a great way to get to know your student on a different level!

We ended the day with a math assessment, which will help me see where the students are at in math.  This will help me determine what we should review from 1^st grade and what we can move right into. 

Tomorrow is our first memory work test!  They can use the pink practice test that we did today to help them prepare for tomorrow’s test!

First FULL Day of School!

 We successfully finished our first full day of school, and I’m sure we’re ALL tired!  What a fun day it was, though!

We started off the morning with our first question of the day. Today the question was: Would you rather be able to slide down a rainbow or jump on clouds?  Ask your 2^nd grader what their opinion was and why!

We also took a tour of our desk, figuring out what each folder and book was for.  The students learned about their reading strips, which are used to help them follow along in their books without skipping lines.  Several of them were excited to try them later this afternoon!

After a tour of our desk, took a tour of the classroom.  We saw where everything is located and I answered questions about what things were used for.

I also showed the class the blog and answered questions about some of the things on the blog.

Then we talked about our class jobs. Those who have jobs this week had a chance to do their job for the first time.  Ask your child if they have a job this week or if they’re on vacation!

After recess, we did our first morning work paper together.  I told the students that, if we go over morning work together and they get 100% on it, they get a sticker.  After 5 stickers, they get a reading log or flash card pass!  They turned them in today and we’ll do another one together tomorrow.

We also talked about our lunchtime procedure, and then had a chance to put it into action.  During lunchtime, we started to listen to a read aloud: Dinosaurs Before Dark by Mary Pope Osborne.

After lunch, we went over our classroom library procedure, and the 2^nd graders had a chance to check out their first classroom library book.  They’ll keep these books in their desk and will return them when they finish them.

The students also got a chance to learn more about me!  Ask them what they learned!

Then we discussed our rules (1. Show respect, 2. Make good decisions, 3. Solve problems), and we all signed a paper, agreeing to follow those rules this year.

After our last recess, we packed up early, got our gym shoes on, and listened to the first little bit of The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo.  Then they had their first P.E. class!

First day of school!

 What a great start to the year we had today!

We started off the day with chapel.  Mr. Haan shared a great message this morning about names, and he gave each of the students a new name: Child of God!

 

After chapel, the 2nd graders learned some procedures to help our classroom move smoothly.  We discussed our morning routine, how and when to use the restroom, how to make sure they have all of the materials they need, and what to do to end our day.

 

Then we had a chance to go out to recess.  Ask them what they did at recess!

 

After recess your student learned about their homework sheet.  This week the reading log is yellow and it is extra credit (this week only)--I am giving them a chance to get familiar with it and get in the habit of keeping it in their homework folder.  If your child reads for 20 minutes each night, please initial for the night.  They will bring their sheet back each day.

 

Note:  The second graders’ first memory work test is this Friday. We’ll do a practice fill-in-the-blank test on Thursday this week so they’ll get a hang of it before we test.

 

The students also had an opportunity to learn about the card color management system.  Be looking for their card colors to be filled out throughout the week--today we all ended on green!

 

We read a book called First Day Jitters.  The twist at the end of the story is that the girl who is nervous about school is the teacher!

 

We also got a chance to start designing our door decoration.  Each student will be decorating a heart puzzle with good things God has given them.  When we finish them, we’ll cut them out and they’ll become part of our door decoration!

 

We packed up and talked about how our dismissal procedure works.  It was a whirlwind of a day!

 

Note:  I will be updating the blog each day this week, but will update less frequently after that--about once a week for the rest of the year.  Just so you're prepared. :)

Things to Know:

 First day:

Our first day of school is Tuesday, August 29.  It is a half day, so dismissal is at 11:15 AM.  Please review our drop-off and pick-up procedures (at the bottom of this post) to help it run more smoothly.  We will not be having lunch at school that day, unless your child goes to Eagles' Nest, so please keep that in mind when planning.

The first day of school starts with chapel.  I'd like to invite you to stay and worship with us on our first day, if you are able!  It is truly a wonderful thing to hear so many children singing and worshiping together with their teachers and classmates!

Pick-Up:

2nd grade lines up on the curb for pick-up line, closest to the crosswalk.  Students who go to Eagles' Nest will do so before the rest of the class heads outside.  Students with older siblings will go with their older sibling to that grade's line; those with younger siblings will pick up their sibling and sit with them in our line.  Thank you in advance for your patience in pick-up line this first week as we all get the hang of the procedure!

Volunteering:

We still have some open volunteer opportunities in our class.  Check out the yellow sign up sheet on the desk outside of our classroom this week!

Our greatest need is for our library time from 12:30-1:30 on Tuesdays.  You’ll arrive a bit early to check books back into the library.  At 12:30, half of the class will come down to check out books.  You’ll supervise and check books out to the students.  At 12:55, the second half will come down to library and I’ll take the first half back to class.  At 1:25, all of the students will return to the classroom, and you’ll be done!

A volunteer packet need to be filled out by each volunteer each year, regardless of how many times you are volunteering during the year.  I have packets available in the classroom.  You read the packet, fill out and return the first two pages, and you're ready to go!  Please let me know if you would like a packet sent home with your student.  Once the packet is turned in, you'll receive an email with an online Sexual Abuse Awareness Training (this is good for two years, so if you completed it last year, you won’t have to do it again this year).  It takes about an hour and must be completed before volunteering in the classroom.

Important Schedule Information:

Below is the list of specials for this year.  Please send your child with appropriate shoes and a water bottle on P.E. days.

• Monday:         Spanish
• Tuesday:        Library/Technology
                             Reading Buddies
• Wednesday:   P.E.
• Thursday:      P.E.
• Friday:           Spanish

Welcome to 2nd Grade's Blog!

Welcome to the blog for Bethlehem Lutheran's 2nd grade class!  I am excited to be using this website as a way to communicate with you this year, keeping you in the know about upcoming events, as well as sharing what we are doing throughout the school year with you. Below are a few things to be ready for before school starts.

About Mrs. Picker:

The bio at the bottom of this page has some general information about me and how I came to teach at Bethlehem.  Please take some time to peruse it and get to know me!  I'm happy to answer any questions you have about me!

Supplies:

All school supplies are taken care of through your registration fee.  Below are the only supplies that the second graders need to bring (if you haven't given them to me already):

• water bottle with pop-up lid
• backpack
• 1 large box of Kleenex
• 3 large containers of sanitizing surface wipes
• gym shoes with non-marking soles (these will stay at school throughout the year)
• child-sized headphones (no ear buds, please)