Mrs. Porter's Second Grade News

Week of Sept. 2-6, 2013

Calendar of Events

Monday, Sept. 2-No School

Wednesday, Sept. 4-8:30AM Mass

This week, we will be reviewing the +1 and +2 math facts.  Some of the kids have really been doing well!  It does take a lot of hard work and practice to really know your facts.  I will continue to send home a practice sheet on Monday that can stay at home.  Feel free to make copies of this page.  Some parents in the past have cut it up into 10 or 20 at a time to study.  You can make flashcards or go online and practice.  I encourage you to set the timer on your microwave or phone for 5 minutes and see how many your child can complete.  Then, have them do the rest for extra practice.  

On Thursday, we had our very first spelling test.  I look forward to seeing how the students did.  When you get the test, you will see three different grades on the back of the page.  One grade is for spelling the words correctly that students are expected to know, another grade is for punctuation skills(capital letters, periods, etc.), and the final grade is a handwriting grade.  Each student will then begin a “Words to Learn” list based on words missed on the test.  The Words to Learn list must stay in the Keep In Binder tab of the GO book.  I did have quite a few students who did not have their spelling words in their binder.  These words are also to stay in the Keep in Binder section throughout the week to be used at home and at school.

If your child receives a responsibility or behavior notice, please look this over and sign it.  I will keep track of any patterns that I see and be in contact with you if necessary.  I ask that you discuss the notices with your child, but please know that sometimes the loss of a color is punishment enough.  I want the system to be a learning tool and not one for students to be in fear of.  We are all learning to be better people and make good choices every day!

We are finishing up the Benchmark assessments and I will soon start pulling individual students to check for Sight Word and Oral Reading skills.  The second and third grades mix reading groups together based on student skill level and we look forward to getting this started.  The students will be keeping track of what they are reading during Daily 5 time here at school.  I will also be sending a reading log home next Monday so I can see what students are reading at home.  This reading log should be kept in the Keep in Binder portion.  

Make sure to send in any Box Tops that you may have at home.  The contest between classes has officially begun!  The Entertainment book fundraiser also came home last week and continues until Thursday, Sept. 5th.  Please sell as many as you can so our school can get a new playground and our class can get a pizza party!  The goal is for each family to sell 2 books. 

During community circle this week, we talked about people that we have witnessed acting like Jesus.  Many of the students mentioned their moms and dads so keep setting that positive example!  I think that fostering a class of students who care about each other tends to ward off any of that bullying behavior that happens.  On September 17th, the students from Holy Spirit will be heading over to Scecina High School to watch a speaker called Mr. MoJo.  He will motivate students about how to deal with any bullying behaviors that they witness or are part of.

I am happy to celebrate birthdays here at school.  But remember, I don’t have any silverware or napkins in the classroom.  So, if the treat is something that needs these items, I would appreciate it if you send them in.  Also, if your child wants to invite students from school for a party, I ask that he/she brings invitations for all of the students or all of the boys or girls.  I just don’t want to have to deal with any hurt feelings that tend to happen when kids start talking about who is/isn’t invited to birthday parties.   Thanks so much!

Here’s the scoop for next week:

Reading: Review long/short vowel sounds/Begin WRAP assessments

Spelling:  Unit 2- Word preview Tuesday/Spelling test on Friday

Religion: Reconcilation book Chapter 1-Baptism-please send a picture of your child’s baptism to school by Wednesday, Sept. 4th

Math: Unit 1-Counting, Coins, and Combinations /+1 and +2 math facts review

Science:  Human Life Cycle

Social Studies: Our country’s signs and symbols

God bless you all!

Mrs. Tasha Porter

tporter@holyspirit-indy.org

www.mrsporterssecondgrade.blogspot.com

Mrs. Porter's Second Grade News

Week of August 26-30

Calendar of Events

Wednesday, Aug. 28-Mass at 8:30

Friday, Aug. 30-No School

Monday, Sept. 2-No School

It was a great first full week of school!  The kids are getting used to my expectations and we’re having fun getting to know each other.  

I do use the color system in my classroom and hopefully you noticed where you can find your child’s end of the day color.  It is a flexible system where students move colors up and down throughout the day based on behavior.  In my classroom, a yellow is a reminder and then the orange is time to reflect.  You will receive a written notice if your child ends on an orange or red for the day.  I also try and call the parents if a consistent pattern of misbehavior develops.  I do always remind students that as long as procedures are followed and they do the right thing, he/she will have no trouble in my class.  But, everybody has bad days where we can learn to do better.  Responsibility notices are different and will be coming home as well.  Please look these over and sign them so I know that they were seen.

 

We had our first Math facts test today.  Next week, our focus will be on +2 facts.  I will send home a practice page on Monday that your child can keep at home to practice on.  I do believe that knowing math facts is an important skill that takes work!  It is also part of the Math Common Core Standards initiative.

This week, we watched a very powerful video on what a bully is, and what the steps are to deal with any bullying behavior that you see.  We had a good discussion at Community Circle about what we can do if we are bullied or witness this behavior.  Ask your child if he/she knows the steps and how to report it.

We are continuing to work on the Benchmark assessments and I will soon start pulling individual students to check for Sight Word and Oral Reading skills.  The second and third grades mix reading groups together based on student skill level and we look forward to getting this started.  The students will be keeping track of what they are reading during Daily 5 time here at school.  I will also be sending a reading log home on Monday to I can see what students are reading at home.  This reading log should be kept in the Keep in Binder portion.  All students who are receiving the sacrament of Reconciliation this year should be gotten a book by now.  They are kept at school except for when a homework assignment is assigned.  Gladys would like $15 from each family to offset the cost of the book.  Please send money to her if you are able.

 

Next week, we begin spelling!  Typically, the word preview will come home on Monday.  These are words that students need to study during the week.  I send home spelling homework on Thursday and the test will be Friday.  This short week, the homework will come home on Wednesday and the test will be Thursday since we don’t have school on Friday.

Make sure to send in any Box Tops that you may have at home.  The contest between classes has officially begun!  

Finally, students are allowed to bring a snack to school if he/she would like to.  I always end the day reading to the students and I don’t mind if they have a snack while I am reading.

Here’s the scoop for next week:

Reading: Daily 5 introduction to Writing/Word Work-We will read a book as a class  called The School Lunch Room.

Spelling:  Unit 1- Word preview Monday/Spelling test on Thursday

Religion: Reconcilation book Chapter 1

Math: Unit 1-Counting, Coins, and Combinations /+2 math facts

Science:  Human Life Cycle

God bless you all!

Mrs. Porter

tporter@holyspirit-indy.org

Mrs. Porter's Second Grade News

Week of August 19-23

Calendar of Events

Sunday, Aug. 18th-Rite of Enrollment for Reconciliation at 4:30PM

Wednesday, Aug. 22-Mass at 8:30

Friday, Aug. 24-Picture Day-Please send back money and order

    Book order due back to school

We are off to a great start in second grade!  Last week was spent making new friends, going over (and over) school and classroom procedures, and getting our brain in learning made.  Ask your child about the special retreat rotations that we did this morning.  This week the real fun begins as we officially start the math program and our "Daily 5" reading exercises.  These are different then the kind of programs that we grew up with, but I believe that they are excellent in preparing children for learning.

The binders and planners will be coming home next week.  Please note the tabs in the binder.  It tells you all about the papers that are included in the binder.  Homework will be listed in the planner and the “color” that your child ended the day on will be colored in there as well.  Please make sure that you sign this planner every night.  Your child should be reminding you about this procedure.  

This Sunday at 4:30 is the Rite of Enrollment for all students who will be celebrating Reconciliation this year.  Your child and at least one parent is expected to attend.  Please meet in the church.  If you are unable to attend, please contact Gladys Tarter in the Religious Education office.

Next week we will be completing the Benchmark assessments.  These computerized tests are given to check what each child understands in the areas of Math, Reading, Science, and Language Arts.  It also helps us know where the students need the most help.  Results will be sent home as soon as these assessments are completed.

I will begin my “Math fact of the Week” practice next week.  Every week, students will concentrate on a specific math fact.  We will begin with +1.  (3+1, 4+1, etc.)  The goal is to achieve 90 out of 100 problems in 5 minutes or less.  I will give a pre-test on Monday and the post-test on Friday.  Each student will be given credit on how much he/she improved from Monday to Friday.  

Sometimes your child will bring home papers that have not been marked by me.  That just means that the paper was done for practice or as a class.  You may review these at home, but you do not need to send them back to school unless it’s in the “Complete and Return” tab.  On that note, whenever your child brings home papers that have problems that are incorrect, please take a few minutes to go over and review the wrong answers with him/her.

Make sure to send in any Box Tops that you may have at home.  The contest between classes has officially begun!  Our first book order will be coming home Monday if you would like to order any books.  Orders are due on Friday.

Don’t forget picture day on Friday!  You may be out of uniform wearing appropriate school clothing.  We do have gym class that day, so tennis shoes are a must.  If you would like to send gym clothes for your child to change into, that is fine with me.  

Finally, students are allowed to bring a snack to school if he/she would like to.  I always end the day reading to the students and I don’t mind if they have a snack while I am reading.

Here’s the scoop for next week:

Reading: Daily 5 introduction-Read to Self and Check for Understanding

Religion: Chapter 1-The Catholic community

Math: Begin Unit 1-Counting, Coins, and Combinations 

Science:  Begin unit on life cycles and start science notebooks

God bless you all!

Mrs. Porter-tporter@holyspirit-indy.org 

Welcome back to school!  I am looking forward to another exciting year in second grade.  Newsletters will be e-mailed and posted here every Friday.