Mrs. Porter's Second

Grade Newsletter

Week of October 21-25, 2013

Calendar of Events

Monday, October 21st-Parent prayer service at 7:30AM

Wednesday, October 23rd-All School Rosary 8:10AM/Mass at 8:30AM

Friday, October 25th-Reconciliation note due to Religion Education office

It was a pleasure visiting with all of you at conferences last week.  Please know that I am aware of your child's strengths and weaknesses and will use my knowledge to assist him/her in those areas.  Make sure that you are checking for updates of your child's grades on www.mystudentsprogress.com.  

The First Reconciliation celebrations are coming soon!  Our retreat to prepare for this special sacrament will take place on Saturday, November 2nd at 10:00AM, and the actual sacrament will be on Saturday, November 9th.  We will continue to prepare at school as well by practicing what we say and examining our conscience.  Continue to pray the Act of Contrition every night!

This is the final week for Box Tops!!  The final tally day will be on Friday, October 25th.  So, if you are holding on to any at home, please send them in.  

Thank you for your support of the First in Math program.  All of the students in my class are working hard at earning stickers.  The games that students should be focusing on are Skill Set 1, First in Tens, Just the Facts(Whole Number-addition), and 3 to 9.  Students who have completed First in Tens are:  Zoe, Daniel, Karmen, and Connor.  Allan, Owen, and Connor have completed Skill Set 1!  Way to Go!!

The week of Halloween, we will be doing some different activities with a pumpkin.  I am asking that each child bring a pumpkin that he/she can carry by Monday, Oct. 28th.  I will also need lots of parent volunteers on Friday, Nov. 1st from 1:40-end of the day to carve pumpkins.  Let me know if you can help out!

Next week is Spirit Week!  Your child may dress in uniform or Spirit Wear:

Spirit Week Sponsored by Student Council.

Dates Oct. 21st - Oct. 25th

Dress Out Days

Monday - Career Day*

Tuesday - Mix Match & Neon Day

Wednesday - Interview Day*

Thursday - Green & Gold Day - Pep Rally - Please be seated by 1:40

Friday - College & NFL Sports Day

*Please take some time to go over what career dress and interview attire looks like.

Lunch

No assigned seats or grade level assignments for lunch this week! They can sit wherever and with whomever they wish! Parents, please feel free to come and join us for lunch!

Candy Grams

Also know as “warm fuzzies.” You can buy them for 50 cents each. Please write who it is to and that person’s homeroom teacher’s name. Student council will put a piece of candy with it and make sure it gets delivered. You may write to any student or staff in the school. They are for sale at the front office or from Mrs. Amy Moranamaoran@holyspirit-indy.org) You may give all candy grams to Miss. Pusti, Mrs. Amy Moran or turn them in to the school office.

Halloween party information will be coming soon.  If you are the room parent, please let me know when you would like the party to take place.  I can not remember who that is!   I will be giving more information about costumes, etc. soon.

Here’s the scoop for next week:

Reading: Text features, re-read and re-tell; small group work

Math:  Geometry/2 and 3D shapes; rectangles

Religion:  Final Chapter in Reconciliation book; Sins vs. Mistakes

Social Studies: Studies Weekly #6

Science:  Observe and record plant growth-Transplant pea pods/ Tree rings

Have a great Sunday!  Go Chiefs....and Colts!

Mrs. Porter’s Second Grade News

Week of Oct. 14-18, 2013

Calendar of Events

Friday, Oct. 11-Harvest Hoedown 5-8

Tuesday, Oct. 15^th- First Quarter Awards Ceremony at 10:30AM

Dismissal at noon/Conferences 1-8:30

Wednesday, Oct. 17^th-Dismissal at noon-Fall Break!

Thursday-Friday, Oct. 18-19^th-No School-Fall Break

         

No more shorts after fall break!  On cold days, girls may wear navy blue leggings under their jumpers.  Boys need to wear uniform blue or khaki pants with their shirt tucked in.  We are asking that boys wear a white polo shirt, or hunter green uniform top.  We will be going outside for recess as much as possible, so please make sure you send a jacket with your child on those chilly days.  Wednesdays are always jumper days for the girls, and spirit days are on Friday.

Thank you for signing up for parent/teacher conferences!  If you haven’t done so, please do!  I would really enjoy meeting with everyone.   If you can’t come on conference day, then I would be happy to set up another day to meet with you.  I look forward to talking to you all about your child.  These conferences are Teacher-led in second grade until the spring.  This is also the day that they are asking you to pick up any trash bags that you sold.

You should have received an envelope from the Religious Education Office this week. Please make sure that you have looked in the envelope.  There is a very special project that you are asked to do in preparation of the Reconciliation retreat day on November 2nd.  This is due in the Religious Ed. Office by Oct. 25^th.  All students and at least one parent are asked to attend the retreat day.   The Reconciliation celebration takes place on November 9^th!

We are asking that you wait to check on your child’s grades on MSP until Monday. We are finishing up some various parts that are new.  You will not be receiving a paper copy, so this is how you can check to see how your child is performing in school. Please check it by the time you come to conferences on Tuesday.  Remember it will look a bit different this year.

Spirit Week will take place right after Fall Break, so look for information to come from the office about what student’s can wear each day that week.

Here’s the scoop for next week:

Reading: Catch up on unfinished work- discuss going back and re-reading to find answers in a text/Daily 5

Religion: Chapter 5-We are Forgiven

Math: Geometry-review subtraction

Spelling: Review words to learn-no words this week

Science: Observe plants-do fall measurements on each other

Mrs. Porter's Second Grade News

Week of Oct. 7-11, 2013

Calendar of Events

Wednesday, Oct. 9-Mass at 8:30AM-

Thursday, Oct. 10-Flu Shots from 7:00-8:00AM

Gold Reward day for students who have passing grades and no missing assignments

Friday, Oct. 11-End of first grading period/

Harvest Hoedown from 5:00-8:00PM

Saturday, Oct. 12-Parent/Coach bullying meeting from 10:00-12:00AM.  Please attend if you were unable to attend the first meeting.

Please send in your trash bag sales first thing Monday morning if you haven’t already done so!

On Wednesday, I sent home the Energy posters.  If your child is interested, he/she may design a poster and you can enter it at the address provided.  This is completely optional.

Wow!  What a turnout for the parent bullying session on Tuesday evening!  The students were rewarded with a dress down day and extra recess if they had a parent or guardian present.  There will be another opportunity to get information on the program and your child can still earn the reward!  It will take place on Saturday, Oct. 12th from 10:00-12:00 in the school gym.  Please come if you can!

You have the opportunity to have your child receive the flu vaccine here at school on Thursday Oct. 10th.  They will be administering the vaccine in the parish center from 7:00-8:00AM that morning.  You do not have to be present, but you do have to send in the completed consent form and $25 with your child.  Please copy the consent form from the school e-mail, or let me know and I will send you one.

Parent/Teacher conferences are coming soon.  I'm excited to meet with each one of you and go over some important information about how we can help your child learn the very best way.  Please sign up at www.signupgenius.com.  Go to Look for sign up and type in rparsons@holyspirit-indy.org. If you need to meet with me on another day, please send me an e-mail and I will work with you.  I would like to make sure to meet with all parents!

Our class is in fifth place in First in Math and we’re still working toward the pizza party with the Box Tops.  Send the Box Tops on Monday mornings.  Thank you so much for your support in both of these worthwhile programs!  Continue to encourage your child to log on to First in Math every night and focus on Skill Set 1, First in Tens, and the practice gyms for now.

Your child will be bringing home a biography book on Monday. This will be the reading assignment for the night.  I will also send a worksheet with the book to be completed by Wednesday.  Students in the past have really enjoyed learning about biographies so take some time to talk about why biographies are written and maybe even do some research online about the person that your child is assigned! 

I will be sending home the October book order on Monday morning and this will be due on Friday.  If you would like to order online, our class code is GV3KZ.

Here’s the scoop for next week:

Reading: Complete goal conferencing, go to all five Daily 5 stations, biographies

Religion: Chapter 4- We are Sorry

Math: Begin Unit 2-Geometric shapes and blocks

Spelling: Review Words to Learn, and the words on the lined paper

Science: Plant life cycles

Social Studies:  History and Time

 

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.

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