This week our students worked on "Hour of Code" with Mrs. Gaughenbaugh in the Innovation Station. The little programmers got to work on programming movements on different applications on the site code.org. We also had the honor of having guest speakers during our morning spark meeting that work as programmers. It was a great connection to STEM!
Nellie's Catwalk for Kids - NC4K The students have been challenged to purchase a book to donate to NC4K by December 5th. Students can also help our school in the process by purchasing the book from our book fair going on right now! The students then need to read the book and write a book review. A packet about this came home last week. If purchasing a book to donate is not in the budget right now, your child will still be responsible for the book review. Choose a book from home or the library that can be brought to school and displayed/shared in our classroom. This is our tiny monthly STEM challenge for December, so all students are expected to participate. Happy book hunting! This week in math we have worked on 2-step story problems, addition with regrouping, multiple solving strategies, and place value. Students that need more support on these concepts are getting extra help from Miss K, using activities and lessons that I have prepared for her to help with individual needs. If you aren't aware of how we run math in our class, we start with a CGI story problem (or on Fridays we do Number of the Day), working independently solving the problem 3 or more ways, then put our "heads together and our bottoms up" to share out with our team. Then we pull together as a class to review different strategies that we used. After that, we take a short time to do a whole class mini-lesson, to introduce a new concept, or to learn a new game. After all of that, we break into skill based groups to rotate through 2 of 4 stations (Games, Instructional Group, Fact Fluency, and Technology). The rotations take 2 math classes to complete. At the end of math, we finish with a math fact test (Monday-Thursday 1-mintue test, Friday 2-minute test). This routine is becoming very comfortable and quick for the class. Important DatesMonday, Nov. 24 - Our STEM Challenges for creating a floor plan and a presentation are due. This will also be a Fusion Day with designing a Core Value Float for a school parade. We will be creating our floats all on this day. If you would like to send in supplies you may have at home, we will graciously take things like cotton balls, pom poms, pipe cleaners, popsicle sticks, string, straws, balloons, etc. If you would like to join us to help manage chaos and construct, please just send me an email. Thank you! Tuesday, Nov. 25 - Core Value Float parade from 9:00-10:00 and First Grade Compassion Assembly starting at 1:30. At the assembly, Mrs. Drury and some surprise guests will be getting "pied" in honor of the school selling over 1200 pies! You are more than welcome to join us for any of these activities! Wednesday, Nov. 26 - Thanksgiving break! See you on Monday, Dec. 1! Monday, Dec. 1 - Back from a lovely long weekend with family! We will be presenting our STEM Challenges all week. We will also be collecting pop tabs for the Ronald McDonald House in conjunction with the activity "How long is Mrs. Luzny's hair?" Monday, Dec. 1 and Tuesday, Dec. 2 - Literacy Night for parents to learn how to help their off-track child with reading. November Newsletter from Mrs. Drury
Reminders
Shout outs!
Today we had the opportunity to take a field trip to the eStem Fab Lab. This lab uses computer programs to design, cut, and etch different materials. The interns took us on a tour and are designing prototypes for houses that our students will "purchase" for use in our community unit. As a bonus, Mr. Coley shared the robots from previous robotics teams. It was a very STEMmy field trip right in our backyard! This past week was full of excitement and a whirlwind of review and routine! We welcomed 2 new-ish students to our class on Monday and immediately went into an intruder practice drill. The class did a phenomenal job at hiding and remaining quiet. The officers running the drill couldn't even enter our room with a key and thought we were at a special! Then we had Tuesday off for Election Day. Wednesday through Friday, we did an excellent job of practicing routine, changing from E/I to an intervention model, starting reading groups, and beginning addition with regrouping during math groups! We also started using our new classroom iPads and iPods! Now to this week 😉 Monday, 11/10/14 -Pie orders are due. -6:00 IEP/504 informational meeting hosted by Mrs. Drury and Miss Paul. This will give basic information about the RTI process, what an IEP/504 is, and how a child is referred for testing. -6:30 PTO meeting. This may be in Miss Lang's room or in the cafeteria depending on the space we need. Tuesday, 11/11/14 -Veteran's Day. Feel free to volunteer in our room or in the building if you have the day off. Just send me an email and I can be sure to have something rogether for you. -afternoon substitute, Mrs. Gadd. The students are familiar with her and she understands our second grade expectations. This week we began leveled fluency sheets for homework. Based on ability, your child either received a first grade, second grade, or third grade passage. If you would like more information on this, please feel free to contact me. Your child should also be working on the November calendar and STEM challenge, reading 20 minutes (this can include the fluency sheet, Raz-kids, Achieve 3000, books, magazines,etc. as long as your child logs it on the Reading Log), and spending 3-5 minutes in fact fluency. Please remind your children each day to check the weather when getting ready for school. Many times students think recess will be indoors and we end up going outside. It is only going to start getting colder and we go out if the real feel temperature is above 32 degrees. Also, please begin looking at your child's agenda every night and sign it. We are writing in them every day and it works great as a communication tool. Say Cheese!Picture retakes will be tomorrow for anyone wishing to redo their pictures. They will also take the pictures of any students that missed the original picture day. Comb the hair and wipe the face! We will be lookin' good!
Our Morning SPARK movement boost the grapevine done monster style! It is so great to be back! It's been 2 weeks and the kiddoes are starting to behave and learn like normal. We have a busy week ahead of us! Here are important dates to know. 10/24/14 No school 10/27/14 Terra Nova testing - In View 1, 2, & 3 10/28/14 Terra Nova testing - In View 4 & 5, Language 10/29/14 Terra Nova testing - math & Social Studies 10/30/14 Terra Nova testing - Reading & Science 10/31/14 October STEM Challenge due - please have your child wear as much of his/her costume as possible for the day. We will be presenting the costumes throughout the entire day. 10/31/14 Fall Festival - Parents may begin arriving at 1:00 PM. The fall festival will be from 1:15 PM to 2:15 PM. This will include a parade to share our costumes, treats, and an activity. Here are also a few reminders. 1. Every student needs to have a book kept in his or her book bag for reading during our morning spark meeting. 2. Research & Development (library) is on Wednesday. All books need to be brought to school even if the child is going to renew them. 3. Health & Wellness is on Thursdays. Please be sure child is dressed for gym class and has appropriate running shoes. 4. The weather has been cold during recess. Please remember to send a jacket with your child. Recess begins at 11:00 AM which usually has not reached to the high temperature for the day. With the increasing use of technology and the need to type on the new state tests (PARCC), we have already begun to work on our skills at school. Unfortunately, we cannot dedicate the full amount of time to typing that the students may need in order to become successful typists. Therefore, here is the information you need for home use of the program Type to Learn 4. The students are familiar with this program and used it last year. Due to updates, the program restarted, which is the perfect opportunity to ensure correct finger placement instead of the "find and peck" method.
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The object of education is to prepare the young to educate themselves throughout their lives. Me, Me, MeI enjoy problem solving, designing, creating, communicating, collaborating, etc.... all of which I expect my students to do. I hope that we have an enjoyable and successful year! Grab my button!Check out the rest of our teaching team!Past Messages
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