Mrs. Porter's Second Grade Newsletter

Week of October Sept. 30-Oct. 4, 2013

Calendar of Events

Monday, Sept. 30-Prayer service in the chapel at 7:30AM for parents

Tuesday, Oct. 1^st-Mandatory parent anti-bullying meeting in the church at 6:00PM

Wednesday, Oct. 2nd- Mass 8:30AM

Friday, Oct. 4th-Turn in your trash bag sales-Last Day! 

 

Hopefully, your child has been able to play on the 'www.firstinmath.com' website.  I look for the player of the day each morning who gets to wear a special VIP badge for the day.  The first goal for each student is to complete Skill Set 1 and First in Tens.  The practice gyms are always good for practicing the math facts too.  The more stickers he/she can earn the better.  If you don't have a working computer at home, I will be getting students on the site here at school as well.  I do ask that kids try the website during homework time whenever possible.

 

You will be seeing some more math story problem worksheets come home this week.  I know that first grade taught the students that they were to use the “draw the picture” strategy for solving word problems.  In second grade, we start exploring other strategies for how to solve math problems.  Some of the ideas we have had so far are using a number line, counting on with a picture, and using the tens and ones.  In every problem, I will be looking for the equation, answer, label, and a picture or explanation showing how the answer was found.  The Unit assessment is this week so please go over the homework pages carefully with your child and make sure that all parts are shown.  Thank you for your help!

 

Please keep sending in those box tops-especially on Monday mornings!  Thanks for your support so far.  We are still working toward a pizza party!

 

Here’s the scoop for next week:

Reading: Daily 5/ Compare/Contrast-begin making individual goals for the year

Religion: Ch. 3:  We Reflect-Ten Commandments

Math: Story problems- strategies, using pictures, labeling

Spelling: Please review “Words to Learn” words every night as well as the focus words for the week!  Don’t forget to go on www.spellingcity.com at least once.

Science:  Plant/Human/Animal life cycles continued
Social Studies:  Good citizens

Have a wonderful weekend!

Mrs. Porter’s Second Grade News

Week of Sept. 16-20, 2013

Calendar of Events

Tuesday, Sept. 17-Field trip to see Mr. Mojo at Scecina-9:00-11:00

Wednesday, Sept. 18-Mass at 8:30AM

My blog is up and running-yeah!  If you want to have an e-mail notice whenever I update my blog, just put your e-mail address in the white box at the top of the page and press submit.   The website iswww.mrsporterssecondgrade.blogspot.com.  I do believe that there is a way to translate the blog to Spanish for those that are interested.

During Community Circle time this week, we talked about the difference between being a bully and doing an unkind act.  We also shared some examples of friends who we have seen acting like Jesus.  It’s always a good conversation starter to ask your child how he/she acted like Jesus today.  I am looking forward to watching Mr. Mojo at our field trip on Tuesday to see his presentation on bully prevention.

We are still finding out when or if we will be participating in the First in Math computer program this year.  I will let you know as soon as I find out.  Next week’s fact of the week is +4 facts!  Please start practicing at home.

We are asking everyone to check your child’s progress so far this year on the MSP website by Friday, Sept. 20^th.  Please note that not many grades have been taken so far in second grade, but I do encourage you to check out the new report card format.  If you have forgotten your child’s login(like I have), please contact the office.  Second grade will continue to show percentages this year.

I have been able to meet with and listen to some of the students read this week.    I will be letting you know if I have a great concern about the reading level of your child.  I will then base my results on forming my reading groups in the classroom.  The students keep improving their stamina during read to self, writing, word work, listening, and read to someone.  What a fun way to become better readers!

Part of the reading program emphasizes picking good fit books.  This is a way to help your child pick out books:

I- I choose the book

P-What is the purpose for reading it?

I-Does it interest me?

C-Can I comprehend(understand) what the book is about?

K-Do I know most of the words?

Based on the Lexile reading score from the Benchmark testing that we recently completed, I will give your child’s reading level to him/her.  I will also be highlighting the Lexile reading score on your child’s results.  These results will be coming home next Friday.  Please look these scores over and we will discuss them in detail at our parent/teacher conference in October.  If your child is scoring at the “Below Average” range, this has been noted and we will be working extra hard to help them raise those scores next time.

Don’t forget to send in those box tops!!  Reading logs are due on Monday.   

Here’s the scoop for next week:

Reading: WRAPS individual reading tests-Character study.  Listen to reading, using prior knowledge in your reading. Read to Self, Read to Someone.  Building stamina!

Religion: Chapter 2 in Reconciliation book

Math: Make 10/+4 facts

Spelling: Word Preview Monday; Test on Friday

Science: Work on science notebooks; life cycles of trees/humans/butterflies

Mrs. Porter's Second Grade News

Week of Sept. 9-13, 2013

 

Calendar of Events

Saturday, Sept. 7-Happy Birthday Karmen! Also, Happy Birthday to Daylynn on August 30^th!

Wednesday, Sept. 11-8:30AM All School Mass

Friday, Sept. 13-8:30AM  Mrs. Porter’s Class Mass

Friday, Sept. 13-Field Trip permission slip due

I have decided to take another week to give the Unit 2 spelling test.  Please continue to review the words on the lined paper each night.  Also, a “Words to Learn” paper was placed in the Keep in Binder folder in the binder.  Please keep this page in the binder because words will be added to the list throughout the year to be practiced.  Any words that are missed on a spelling test will be added to the Words to Learn list.  It is your child’s responsibility to put papers in the binder where they belong, but please help go through the papers in the evening.  I do encourage parents to look over homework and all papers that come home.  If your child misses problems, have them correct them.  I would also have them fill in the math fact pages for practice.

Next week, we will concentrate on +3 math facts(8+3, 3+3, 5+3, etc.).  I will send that math fact sheet home on Monday that you can use however you wish.  This stays at home.  Five minutes a day concentrating on math facts will make a big difference!  I can really tell the students who are practicing!  The reading log will also come home on Monday, so this will stay in the Keep in Binder section as well.

 

Please be sure to take a look at your child’s planner every night.  This will have some daily communication from school in it and your child’s homework.  I appreciate all of those students who remember to have mom, dad, grandma, or grandpa sign this each night!  They have done a great job getting used to this routine!

I will be assigning the Act of Contrition prayer as part of the nightly homework.  I have included the words at the end of this newsletter so you can make sure to have a copy at home.  I will send home the Reconciliation books periodically, but most of the time we will be working on them here at school.  Make sure to always send the book back the next day!  I think this is probably the fourth Act of Contrition that I have taught at the various parishes/schools I have been at, but the message stays the same!

 

I am attaching my Star of the Week schedule to this newsletter, so please take a look at when your child has the week.  We will be celebrating that student during the week.   You will get a letter and poster the week before your child is the Star of the Week.  Please work on this as a family at home.

 

Our first class mass is next Friday at 8:30AM.  This is a more personal mass where our class is the only one present.  If your child has a part, it will come home on Monday.

Permission slip for Mr. MOJO field trip at Scecina will be due on Friday, Sept. 13.  These will come home on Monday as well.

Please e-mail me if you ever need anything or have questions! 

Here’s the scoop for next week:

Reading: Daily 5 routine, WRAP and Sight word testing, Reading logs

Religion: Chapter 2 in Reconciliation book

Math: Plus 1 or 2 Bingo, addition strategies, +3 math facts

Spelling: Go over words to learn and word preview words for Unit 2.

Science: Butterfly Life Cycle

 

Act of Contrition

My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart.  In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against you, whom I should love above all things.  I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin.  Our Savior, Jesus Christ, suffered and died for us.  In his name my God, have mercy.