Thursday, September 3

Volunteer opportunities are still available!  We have lunch parents signed up for every day of the week (thank you so much!), but I'm always glad to have more than one person in the classroom at lunchtime, so let me know if you'd like to double up with someone!  I'd also love to have one more person help out with library on Thursdays from 1:45-2:30--let me know if you'd like to help out with that!

Today was another full day of learning procedures, getting to know each other, and getting into our routine.

We started the day off with P.E.  If your student hasn’t brought in their gym shoes yet, please do so by next week!

Then we did our first Math-a-Minute.  This is a timed, one minute test that helps students become more fluent in their addition math facts.  They have one minute to correctly answer 15 addition problems.  It starts with +0 and, as they pass them, moves up.  This is an individual thing—they move at their own pace and it is not part of their math grade. 

We also took our STAR reading test today.  This test gives me some valuable information about your child's reading fluency and comprehension.  I will send these reports home when all students have tested.  Please know, I understand that we are coming off of months of summer and they are still adjusting to a new class and teacher--these scores are just a starting place. I have other tools for assessing your student's reading skills and use many different observations and tools in order to assess your student.

We settled into silent reading, checking out classroom library books (which will stay at school).  I was impressed how quietly and responsibly the second graders looked for books and handled them!

We also wrote in our Interactive Journals for the first time.  Interactive Journals are an informal way for me to get to know the students on a more personal level.  They aren't graded, and they serve as a weekly dialogue between me and your student.  I love doing them and know that they're a good use of our time!

After recess, we did a practice memory work test (their first memory work test is TOMORROW).  We went over this together and is coming home today.  They can use this to help them study and prepare for tomorrow.

We ended the day by listening to The Rainbow Fish.  This story teaches a lesson about being generous and looking beyond yourself.  We’ll also use this story for our first book report.

Thank you so much for sharing your 2nd grader with me this year!  I am thoroughly enjoying each day!