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.