Festival of Cultures

Last week we prepared our room for the Festival of Cultures.

Festival of Cultures
Thank you so much for helping your students plan and complete their India assignments.  I was really impressed by all the different projects that came in this morning.  I truly appreciate all of your effort with this assignment as well as all the the different homework activities I send home.

Home Reading Books in the Bright Orange Bag
Thank you for reminding your students to bring back their Take Home Reading Books to me today.  I want to make sure every student has a new set of books to read over the holiday break.  Even if you forgot today, bring it in tomorrow or Wednesday and I will change the books out. 

Subtraction Exam in Math
This Wednesday, December 17th, we will have an exam covering subtraction.  We practiced our skills today in class today using scratch paper and completing careful work.  The students did well.  I sent home an eight question study guide last Thursday.  If your students can understand the concepts on the study guide they will do well on the exam.  The study guide is due Wednesday.

Curriculum Overview
Literacy - Recognizing the new information we learn when reading non-fiction books, including non-fiction books about India

Math - Subtraction of three-digit numbers, understanding how and why to regroup, preparing for an exam on Wednesday 12/17.

Writing - Studying and emulating the style of one of our favorite authors, Jonathan London.

Language Conventions - Contractions

Leadership - Habit 3 - Put First Things First

Please Bring In Those Orange "Take Home Reading" Bags!

In Room A-2 every student is reading books at their level every day. 
I am hoping with the Take Home Reading book bags we can keep up that reading over the Winter Break.

I hope you are doing well.  Your children keep telling about all of your holiday preparations--I can tell you are enjoying the season.  This past weekend I put holiday lights up with my son and he loves waiting for them to come on each evening.  Here is the Room A-2 newsletter for the week:

Festival of Cultures - India
Last week the students and I began reading about India and recording some of our new learning in a notebook.  This week we will continue our study and work together to create a map of India's major cities and landforms.  We will also make and write about the Flag of India.

Home Reading Books in the Bright Orange Bag
Please make sure your student brings back their Take Home Reading Books to me next Monday.  I want to make sure every student has a new set of books to read over the holiday break.  Even if you forget next Monday, bring them on Tuesday or Wednesday etc.  I will send out another email reminder about this and contact you directly if needed.

Curriculum Overview
Literacy - Recognizing the new information we learn when reading non-fiction books, including non-fiction books about India

Math - Solving subtraction problems with numbers that have many zeros in them making regrouping more complicated.

Writing - Studying and emulating the style of one of our favorite authors, Jonathan London.

Language Conventions - Adjectives and adverbs

Leadership - Habit 3 - Put First Things First

This is what the Take Home Reading book bags look like.

Festival of Cultures in Two Weeks

This week our class is being featured on the video announcements.

I hope you had a wonderful and relaxing Thanksgiving break.  Here is the newsletter for the week:

Festival of Cultures - India
This week we will begin studying the country of India.  Through reading books, visiting websites, and watching video clips we will be learning about the geography, holidays, sports, and landmarks of India.  Make sure you are working with your students on their at-home projects.  Information about this project went home in last week's Monday envelope.  If you need another copy let me know.  The lined paper provided in that packet can be used for students to write a summary and explanation of their project that they can read when they present.  The projects are due on Monday, December 15th, the festival is on Tuesday, December 16th.

Science/Social Studies/Word Study with Ms. Sepich
For the next couple of weeks our Science, Social, Studies, and Word Study lessons will be put on hold.  This will allow us the needed time to study India and prepare for the second grade Festival of Cultures.

Toys for Tots
The Student Lighthouse Community Service Action Team is excited to announce an upcoming service project for the month of December.  Silver Springs Elementary will be an official collection site for the US Marine Toys for Tots 2014 campaign.  Please send in any new unwrapped toys to Silver Springs from Dec. 1-12.  No stuffed animals, please.  Keep this project in mind as you begin your holiday shopping!  We can’t wait to see our Silver Springs community synergize to make this holiday season a little brighter for some very needy children!

Curriculum Overview
Literacy - Recognizing the new information we learn when reading non-fiction books. 

Math - Using subtraction to solve math sentences with missing pieces.  Solving subtraction problems with multiple steps.

Writing - Studying and emulating the style of one of our favorite authors, Jonathan London.

Language Conventions - Adjectives and adverbs

Leadership - Writing about how we have used the Seven Habits in our lives.

Happy Thanksgiving Week!

Students conduct an experiment to see how much water a cup full of sand can hold.

Here is what we have planned in Room A-2 and at Silver Springs this week!

Science
In science we are beginning a study of groundwater.  Last week students conducted an investigation to see how much water a cup full of sand could hold.  Pictures and videos are in the photo gallery.  This week we will conduct the same experiment with a cup full of pebbles. My goal is for students to see that the materials that make up Earth's surface can hold a surprising amount of water.

Festival of Cultures
Each year the second grade classrooms at Silver Springs participate in a festival of cultures.  Each second grade classroom focuses their study on one particular country.  This year our class is focusing on the country of India.  After Thanksgiving Break I will begin working with our class to study the history, culture, and customs of India.  Part of this unit involves an at-home project where students focus in on one aspect of India.  Information about that project went home today in the Monday envelopes.  While you are working on this project your students will most likely need to write less in the Room A-2 Homework Journal.

Unicef Halloween Donations
I've been meaning to thank all of those who participated in the Unicef Trick-or-Treat Fundraiser.  Our class raised $45.26!

Toys for Tots
The Students Lighthouse Community Service Action Team is excited to announce an upcoming service project for the month of December.  Silver Springs Elementary will be an official collection site for the US Marine Toys for Tots 2014 campaign.  Please send in any new unwrapped toys to Silver Springs from Dec. 1-12.  No stuffed animals, please.  Keep this project in mind as you begin your holiday shopping!  We can’t wait to see our Silver Springs community synergize to make this holiday season a little brighter for some very needy children!

Curriculum Overview
Literacy - Making Text-to-Self and Text-to-Text connections with fiction books.

Math - Three digit subtraction with regrouping in the tens and hundreds.  Understanding how we can use addition to check our work.

Writing - This week we will continue publishing and perfecting one of our favorite stories.

Science - For the next couple weeks we will be studying groundwater.  Students will conduct investigations to see how much water different kinds of earth's materials can hold. 

Social Studies with Mrs. Heron - We are learning how our community of Northville belongs to bigger regions such as our state, country, continent, and the world.  We are finishing Unit 2 and students are taking their quiz either this week or next depending upon their class.  Please go over the study guide with your child to prepare.

Word Study with Mrs. Sepich - We are continuing to work on the words 'commotion', 'sprinted', 'raucous', 'savored', and 'pursue'.

Leadership - Writing about how we have used the Seven Habits in our lives.

It Was Great Meeting You All Last Week!

In our erosion experiment we saw that the roots from grass held soil together and kept water from washing it away. The tray with just soil did not fair as well and much of the soil was washed away by the water.

It was really nice sitting down with all of you last week to discuss your children and their academic progress.  As the school year continues I will continue to be in touch.  Always know that you can contact me with any question or concern you have.

Making Connections with Books
This week I will begin really focusing on helping students make connections to both the books we read as a class and the books they read independently.  There are two specific types of connections I want students to make.  First, students can connect books to previous experiences they've had.  For example, last week we read a story where a boy lost something on his walk home from school.  Many students connected the boy's search for his lost item to similar times when they had lost things. 
     Students can also connect events and characters from one book to events and characters from another.  An example might be a strict teacher in one book who seems similar to a strict librarian in another book.  When your students read at home ask them about what they read, and what connections they made.

Eagle Express Weekly Email
Do you receive the weekly Eagle Express email message?  The Eagle Express contains important information about events happening at Silver Springs and is sent on the Silver Springs Listserv.  Please subscribe to Silver Springs School by going to northvilleschools.org and clicking on "Listserv."

Book Fair: Online Purchases until Nov. 22nd!
You can shop our Scholastic Book Fair online this week.  Get your final wish list items or make holiday purchases by visiting scholastic.com/fair until Saturday, November 22nd.  All purchases benefit our school!

Curriculum Overview
Literacy - Making Text-to-Self and Text-to-Text connections with fiction books (see above for more info)

Math - Three digit subtraction with regrouping.  Understanding how we can use addition to check our work.

Writing - This week we will continue publishing and perfecting one of our favorite stories.

Science - We are continuing our study of erosion and how plants and roots prevent erosion.  At the end of this week we will also conduct an experiment to better understand groundwater.

Social Studies with Mrs. Heron - In Social Studies we will be learning about how when humans change our environment it can have positive and negative consequences.

Word Study - Students took a short quiz last week over our last 5 words.  Please review these with your child.  Try to use them at home to keep them in their memory.  Below are the new words and their definitions that we will begin to learn this well.

Commotion - (verb) making a loud noise or disturbing others

Sprinted - (verb) to run or go at full speed for a short distance

Raucous - (adjective) very loud noise

Savor(ed) - (verb) loving how something tastes, enjoying it

Pursue - (verb) to follow & try to catch something

While we do write down the kid friendly definitions in our vocabulary journals, the goal is to have students become so familiar with the words that they can give their own definition of the word (not the memorized one) as well as be able to make a “7-up sentence” (a sentence with at least 7 words) using the word correctly.

Leadership – Understanding Habit 2, Begin with the End in Mind.

Conferences This Week

Students use the Promethean Board and personal white boards to practice addition skills during math.

Science Alive
Last Friday the Silver Springs PTA provided our class with an amazing presentation on different animals from Science Alive.  I took many photos, including photos of Room A-2 students getting 'hugged' by a six-foot-long Burmese python.  Check them out in the Room A-2 Photo gallery linked to the right.

Parent Teacher Conferences
Thank you all so much for working with me to find a time to meet for parent/teacher conferences.  I know some of you signed up many weeks ago, if you need to check on your time you can find it posted here.

PTA Reflection’s Program
Calling All Artists!  Come be a part of PTA’s Reflections program. The world needs to know your inner artist! Reflections is a National PTA sponsored art contest. Entries are accepted from all grade levels and all abilities are welcome. Choose from Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography, or Visual Arts. This year’s theme is, “The world would be a better place if...” Please submit your Reflections entry no later than Tuesday, November 18th. For information find the Reflections link under our District’s website: http://www.northvilleschools.org/node/583 or contact Gina Esposito: 815-822-2809 or espy66@att.net

Cyber Bullying Parent Presentation
On Tuesday, November 11th, a representative from the Michigan Attorney General’s office will present a school-wide assembly on preventing cyber bullying.  They will also be staying that evening to deliver a presentation for parents only on this important topic at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 11th in the Silver Springs Multi-Purpose room.  The presentation will follow the PTA meeting scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. Child care will be provided.  We hope you will be able to join us.

Curriculum Overview
Literacy - Monitoring our comprehension with both fiction and non-fiction books.  Paying attention to our thinking when we read.  Asking questions and taking notes about what texts help us learn and make us think about.

Math - Students had an addition exam this morning.  This week we will begin studying three digit subtraction.

Writing - This week we will continue publishing and perfecting one of our favorite stories.

Science - We are studying erosion, why it occurs and how it transforms landscapes. 

Social Studies - We are learning about how different forms of transportation on land, air, and water are used to move people or goods from one place to another.

Word Study - The next time Mrs. Sepich sees each class there will be a short quiz on the words from the last cycle.  We will then begin to learn the following 5 words from the book "The Bee Tree" by Patricia Polacco.  commotion, sprinted, raucous, savored & pursue.  Word study continues as well with each group getting new sorts this week.  The "old" sort will come home in the Monday Envelope.  Please review it with your child by asking them to complete the sort and explain the vowel and/or letter sounds.

Leadership – Understanding Habit 2, Begin with the End in Mind.

Using scratch paper gives students the space they need to do careful and accurate work.

Halloween Parade Was Amazing!

Students were excited to see so many parents in the gym.

It was great seeing so many of you at the Halloween party and parade.  A big thanks for all of your help and to Mrs. Weiland for planning.  After school on Friday it got pretty cold, I hope your trick or treating wasn't too chilly.  My son loved being out, luckily his lion costume was made of warm fleece and went over his clothes. 

Upcoming Dates
Today, November 3rd – Family Roller Skating Night - 6:30 PM
Tuesday, November 4th - No School - Teacher Professional Day / Election Day
Friday, November 7th - Red Wings Game
Monday, November 10th - Book Fair Opens (More Below)
Thursday, November 13th - Half Day Dismissal at 11:55 AM - Conferences
Friday, November 14th - Half Day Dismissal at 11:55 AM - Conferences

Parent Teacher Conferences
Don't forget to sign up for parent teacher conferences by clicking here.

Book Fair Next Week
From the Eagle Express: Get ready for the book fair coming to our media center November 10-14! Your students will be able to make wish lists or purchase books during their library time this week. Also, parents will be able to shop during conferences. Here is the book fair schedule:

Mon. Nov. 10 - Open during a.m. classes
Tues. Nov. 11 - Open during a.m. classes
Weds. Nov. 12 - Open during a.m. classes AND 4 pm to 7 pm
Thurs. Nov. 13 - Open during a.m. classes AND 1 pm to 7 pm
Fri. Nov. 14 - Open during a.m. classes AND 1 pm to 3 pm

Curriculum Overview
Literacy - Non-fiction: understanding the features in non-fiction books.  For example we will study: diagrams, captions, graphs, headers, glossaries, indexes, etc.

Math - Addition of three-digit numbers, understanding how and why to regroup, preparing for an exam on Monday 11/10.

Writing - Writing about our lives, stretching out small moments into fantastic writing pieces.  This week we will continue publishing and perfecting one of our favorite stories.

Science - We are studying erosion, why it occurs and how it transforms landscapes.  One big take away from this week's experiment is that land covered with plants and trees resists erosion.

Social Studies - We are working on identifying natural and human characteristics on local maps.

Word Study - This will be the final week to work with our first 5 vocabulary words.  We will be playing games such as charades to act out the words along with many other movement activities in order to make deep connections to the words that will hopefully become a part of the students long term vocabulary.  Students are also beginning a new sort this week.

Leadership – Adding data to our leadership notebooks.

Halloween Week

Last week's school-wide Leadership Assembly was co-M.C.'d by a student from our classroom!

Here are the notes for this week:

Leadership Assembly
Our school had an amazing Leadership Assembly last Thursday.  Different classes gave presentations on the lessons and projects they were studying in their classrooms.  The school data managers also challenged Silver Spring's boy students to raise the school reading average for boys.  One student from our classroom helped M.C. the entire assembly!  I posted some photos and a short video from the assembly in our classroom photo gallery.  You can access our classroom photo gallery buy clicking on the link to the right.

Home Reading Books
Each student went home today with two or three home reading books.  I put the books in a bright orange bag to help students keep track of it.  These books should be at your child's reading level and are great to use for reading practice.  Students can bring them back next Monday for fresh books.  If you ever feel like the books going home are two easy or too difficult please send me an email and let me know.

Important Upcoming Dates
Tuesday, November 4th - No School - Teacher Professional Day / Election Day
Thursday, November 13th - Half Day Dismissal at 11:55 AM - Conferences
Friday, November 14th - Half Day Dismissal at 11:55 AM - Conferences

Parent-Teacher Conference Sign Ups
Remember, you can sign up for parent teacher conferences by clicking here.

Halloween Parade Repost
This is the same information about Halloween I posted a few weeks ago: Silver Springs will be celebrating Halloween with our annual costume parade on October 31st.  Students will bring their costume to school that day and we will change in the afternoon for our party and the parade.  The parade will begin at 2:45 PM.  We will parade around the hallways of the school building.  Parents and families are welcome to dress in costume and attend the parade.  Parents will have a special viewing location located in our gym.  If you would like, you can see me after the parade to sign out your child.  You must sign students out with me if they are going to leave early with you.  Please follow these guidelines when planning your costume:
-Face make-up, hairspray, etc. must be applied at home.
-No fake weapons of any kind are allowed at school.
-No fake blood and no scary costumes. (If it might scare a kindergartener, please don’t wear it!) We encourage students to dress like a storybook or historical character, superhero, or something else fun and positive!  

Curriculum Overview
Literacy - Non-fiction: understanding the features in non-fiction books.  For example we will study: diagrams, captions, graphs, headers, glossaries, etc.

Math - Addition of three-digit numbers, understanding how and why to regroup

Writing - Writing about our lives, stretching out small moments into fantastic writing pieces.  This week we will begin publishing and perfecting one of our favorite stories.

Science - Earth Science.  We have a quiz this week and then will conduct an experiment on erosion.

Social Studies - In Social Studies we are continuing to learn about maps.  We learned how to find approximate distance using a map scale last week.  This week we will be learning about coordinate graphs.  We will also review maps to prepare for an upcoming quiz.  Please look for a review sheet to come home soon.

Word Study - This week we continue to work with words, discussing the many patterns that students are learning.  ALL students are introduced to all of the various word sorts for each group, each week.  They then focus on their own group's sort to practice with many activities.  We have also begun introducing and working with new vocabulary words.  The first 5 words are: ultimatum, demand, strike, impatient & neutral.  Students have learned how to pronounce the words and have been introduced to the definitions.  This week they will begin their vocabulary journals, writing each word, synonyms & antonyms for each, as well as illustrating each word and writing a "7-Up" sentence for each word (a sentence with at least 7 words.)  See if your child can talk to you about what these words mean!

Leadership – Setting our learning and personal goals for this marking period.  Look for a copy of your student's goals to go home soon.

This is the orange bag I will use to send reading books home with students.  Bring it back every Monday.  If you ever feel like the books going home are two easy or too difficult please send me an email and let me know.

Sharpen the Saw Night Was Tons of Fun!

A Room A-2 student oversees a giant game of Jenga.

It was great seeing so many of you last week at the Sharpen the Saw Family Night.  It was a lot of fun participating in those games and activities with you and your kids.  Here is the update for the week:

Halloween Recap
I wrote a full summary of the Silver Springs Halloween parade plan in last week's blog post.  Here are a few important reminders for that day:
-Students will bring their costumes to school, we will change into them before the parade.
-The parade starts at 2:45 PM.  We will parade through the hallways of the school, there is a special viewing area for parents.
-Make sure costumes are elementary school appropriate--if it might scare a kindergartner please don't wear it--no fake weapons as well.
-We will have a classroom party with cider and donuts at 2:00 PM, students will change during the party.
-If you come to the parade and want to take your student home early you need to sign them out with me when you leave.

Parent Teacher Conference Sign Ups
As I wrote last week, Parent Teacher Conferences are scheduled for November 12th, 13th, and 14th.  I have created a online sign up form at SignUpGenius.com where you can choose the time that works best for you.  It is important that I meet with all of you, if the times posted don't fit your schedule please let me know.  You can access the sign up page by clicking here.

Box Top Contest
We are having a school-wide Box Tops For Education contest.  If you have any box top cut-outs bring them in this week with "Mr. Luxon, Room A-2" written on the bag.



Curriculum Overview
Literacy - Making connections with fiction books.  The Art Lesson by Tommie dePaola.

Math - Addition of three-digit numbers, understanding how and why to regroup

Writing - Writing about our lives, stretching out small moments into fantastic writing pieces.  This week we will begin publishing and perfecting one of our favorite stories.

Science - Earth Science, understanding that when it rains some rainwater soaks into the earth while other water flows downhill forming streams and rivers that eventually flow into the ocean.

Social Studies - In Social Studies we are continuing to learn about maps.  We learned how to find approximate distance using a map scale last week.  This week we will be learning about coordinate graphs.  We will also review maps to prepare for an upcoming quiz.  Please look for a review sheet to come home soon.
 
Word Study - This week we continue to work with words, discussing the many patterns that students are learning.  ALL students are introduced to all of the various word sorts for each group, each week.  They then focus on their own group's sort to practice with many activities.  We have also begun introducing and working with new vocabulary words.  The first 5 words are: ultimatum, demand, strike, impatient & neutral.  Students have learned how to pronounce the words and have been introduced to the definitions.  This week they will begin their vocabulary journals, writing each word, synonyms & antonyms for each, as well as illustrating each word and writing a "7-Up" sentence for each word (a sentence with at least 7 words.)  See if your child can talk to you about what these words mean!

Leadership – Setting our learning and personal goals for this marking period.  Look for a copy of your student's goals to go home soon.

"Sharpen The Saw" Family Night This Thursday!

Students watch amazing school announcements on video every morning.

I hope you had an excellent weekend!  Here are the updates for this week.

Homework Journals
Thanks again for getting those Homework Journals in to me last week and again this week.  Last week I was so impressed that every single student brought in their journals and had writing for me to read.  And you did it again this week!  Thank you!

Reminder About Our Humanities Schedule
Our art teacher, Mrs. Brooks, is planning a painting lesson this coming Thursday.  Have your children wear less important clothing on that day!  Just as a reminder, here is our room’s weekly schedule of special classes:
Monday: Spanish and Gym
Tuesday: Music
Wednesday: Library
Thursday: Computer Lab and Art
Friday: Gym

"Sharpen The Saw" Family Night
As I mentioned a few weeks back, "Sharpen The Saw" Family Night is this Thursday, October 16th.  This will be a fun night of family games and activities.  I will be there helping out and running some of the games.  Admission is FREE!  That night the Silver Springs Staff will also be sponsoring a silent auction to benefit The Leader in Me and pizza and drinks will be on sale.

Halloween Parade
Silver Springs will be celebrating Halloween with our annual costume parade on October 31st.  Students will bring their costume to school that day and we will change in the afternoon for our party and the parade.  The parade will begin at 2:45 PM.  We will parade around the hallways of the school building.  Parents and families are welcome to dress in costume and attend the parade.  Parents will have a special viewing location located in our gym.  If you would like, you can see me after the parade to sign out your child.  You must sign students out with me if they are going to leave early with you.  Please follow these guidelines when planning your costume:
-Face make-up, hairspray, etc. must be applied at home.
-No fake weapons of any kind are allowed at school.
-No fake blood and no scary costumes. (If it might scare a kindergartener, please don’t wear it!) We encourage students to dress like a storybook or historical character, superhero, or something else fun and positive! 

Parent Teacher Conference Sign Ups
Parent Teacher Conferences are scheduled for November 12th, 13th, and 14th.  I have created a online sign up form at SignUpGenius.com where you can choose the time that works best for you.  It is important that I meet with all of you, if the times posted don't fit your schedule please let me know.  You can access the sign up page by clicking here.

Curriculum Overview
Literacy - Studying how characters change across a text.

Math - Three digit addition up to 1,000

Writing - Writing about our lives, stretching out small moments into fantastic writing pieces.  This week we will begin focusing on the writing process: drafting, editing, revising, and publishing.  Publishing is simply perfecting one favorite piece.

Science - Earth Science, understanding that when it rains some rainwater soaks into the earth while other water flows downhill forming streams and rivers that eventually flow into the ocean.

Social Studies - We have begun our new unit which is called “Where is my Community” by learning about maps.  We are learning that using the title, map key, symbols, and directions can help us to read a map.
   
Word Study - This week, in addition to their word sorts, students are also beginning their instruction on vocabulary.  We will begin a vocabulary journal in which students will be defining vocabulary words (from both curriculum and everyday life), identifying synonyms & antonyms, illustrating the words as well as using them in a sentence.  Games, songs and cooperative work will reinforce the words   

Leadership – Organizing our leadership notebooks.  Working on Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind.

Thanks For Your Help With The Homework Journals!

In science students conducted an experiment to study how water and land interact.

Room A-2 Families,

After this weekend it is clear that fall is here!  I hope you are staying warm.  Here are a few notes for the week:

Homework Journals
Thank you for getting those journals back to me today.  I was able to read them and write a simple note for every student this morning while students were in Spanish class.  I read through a lot of great student writing!  Thank you!

Science
In the picture above students are observing what happens when rain falls on a mountain.  In the students' experiments water flowed downhill in little rivers that collected at the bottom in what could be considered either lakes or oceans.  Also, as the water went downhill it took a lot of sand with it--we will be studying this idea of erosion more in the coming weeks.

Unicef Donation Boxes
The Silver Springs Second Graders decided that they wanted to participate in a Unicef fundraiser this Halloween.  You and your student can elect to take a handheld donation box out during trick-or-treating to collect spare change.  More information about this activity is in your Monday envelope.  This activity is totally optional.

Word Study With Mrs. Sepich
I mentioned last week that our class visits Mrs. Sepich once or twice a week to study words and vocabulary.  Mrs. Sepich has this information to share with you:  In word study, students have been working with word sorts each week.  We begin by meeting in small groups based on the initial spelling stage your child was in based on a pre-assessment that was given.  Some students are working with digraph sounds (ch, sh, th, wh), some students are focusing on the difference between long and short vowel sounds (words with cvc or cvce patterns/ consonant, vowel, consonant/) while some groups are working with long vowels (cvce or cvvc) and the different ways to get the long vowel sound.  Finally, some students are working with "other" ways to have long or irregular vowel sounds such as au, aw, ou, etc.

Each week we begin by meeting about the sort, explaining it so students understand the vowel patterns.  Students then cut and work the sort at their seat.  In following days, students work through a speed sort, a no peeking sort and a writing sort.  All of these sort activities should be internalized now.  When each sort comes home, your child should be able to explain how to do the activity at home.  This would be wonderful review for your child.

Curriculum Overview
Literacy - Identifying story elements in fairy tales and folktales: characters, setting, events, problem/resolution, and theme or message of the text.  Ask you students about The Lion and Mouse.

Math - Place value and numbers to 1,000.  Ordering numbers from least to greatest.  Adding and subtracting by tens and hundreds.

Writing - Writing about our lives, stretching out small moments into fantastic writing pieces.  This week we have been focusing on strong emotions, recalling moments from our life when were strongly happy, sad, proud, or worried.

Science - Earth Science, understanding that when it rains some rainwater soaks into the earth while other water flows downhill forming streams and rivers that eventually flow into the ocean.

Social Studies - Reading and using maps.

Leadership – Preparing our leadership notebooks.  Working on Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind.

Welcome to the Room A-2 Classroom Blog!

During the first week of school we composed this Mission Statement as a class.