Bring in Pink March is Reading Month Slips Tomorrow!

Students examine a graduated cylinder to determine the capacity of different cups.

Milk and Cookies
On Friday afternoon I came down with a bad cold.  Because I'm still not feeling 100% I will not be at Milk and Cookies tonight.  Sorry for this change.  Mrs. Hunt and a whole host of other teachers will be there--it will definitely be a fun time!

Math Test
We are having a math test this Wednesday on customary measurement (feet, inches).  A study guide went home today and will serve as homework for Monday and Tuesday night.  I believe all of your students are well prepared for this exam.

Writing Reviews
This week, instead of a Homework Journal assignment I sent home with students a form they will use to guide them as they write their final review/opinion piece.  Students have been writing reviews of restaurants, books, movies, and video games.  Today students chose what they wanted to write about for their final piece and took home a corresponding form to help them plan for what to write.  Please help them complete this form and return it by Friday.  If you have any questions please let me know.

Student Led Conferences
Student led conferences are set for April 16th and 17th.  Please sign up for a time to come in and have your child show you their work and progress.  I created an online sign up which you can access here.

March is Reading Month
The March is Reading Month pink slips are due again tomorrow.  We are having a contest to see whether boys or girls can read more and which class can read the most!  Right now we are not doing so well only because so many of our slips came in late last week.  I know we can turn it around, send those pink slips in tomorrow please!

Curriculum Overview
Literacy - In literacy we will be reading non-fiction and seeing if we can sort out what we read to determine what information is most important.  From there we will also be working on internalizing that knowledge and summarizing it our own words.

Math - This week we are finishing up a unit on Customary Measurement (inches, feet, etc.).  An exam is on Wednesday and a study sheet went home today.

Writing - This week students will begin publishing some of their reviews of movies and restaurants.  They will also take home a sheet they will use to help them plan for their post assessment writing piece.

Science - This week we will use graduated cylinders to find the capacity or volume of different containers.  We will also began looking at the differences between mixtures and single substances.

Social Studies with Mrs. Heron - We finished unit 3 last week and will begin our new unit called “How do we work together?”  This week we will begin by reviewing wants and needs and goods and services.

Word Study with Mrs. Sepich - We wrap up our latest set of vocabulary this week with some fun games to reinforce and cement the words in the students minds.  I'm impressed with the amount of students coming up to me to either show me one of our past words they've found in a book they are reading or they tell me one they've found either at school or home.  When I ask them if they can tell what it means, they can!  At school we talk a lot about suffixes, prefixes and base words to help determine the meaning of words.   We will hear the next story from which the 5 new vocabulary words will come from as well as continue with the new sorts that were handed out last week.

Milk and Cookies Reading Night is Next Monday

Students use a balance to compare the mass of different objects.

Milk and Cookies
You children really wanted me to let you know that Milk & Cookies Reading Night is this coming Monday from 6 to 7 PM.  I will be attending but I do not yet know if I will be reading.

Mr. Luxon Not At Silver Springs This Wednesday
This Wednesday I am attending a professional development conference and will not be at school.  Silver Springs visiting teacher Ms. Lebeis will be teaching in my absence.  She is the same teacher who taught for me a few weeks ago when I was out.  The students enjoy having her and she knows Silver Springs really well.

Curriculum Overview
Literacy - In literacy we will be reading non-fiction and seeing if we can sort out what we read to determine what information is most important.  From there we will also be working on internalizing that knowledge and summarizing it our own words.

Math - Last week we finished up our unit on Metric Measurement.  This week we are beginning a unit on Customary Measurement (inches, feet, miles, etc.).  During this unit I also want students to further develop their understanding of perimeter.

Writing - This week students will continue writing reviews of movies and restaurants.  As we write we are trying to make our reviews well-rounded by not only talking about what we love, but also include complaints and suggestions.

Science - This week we are using balances to determine the weight of different objects.  We will also begin studying liquid volume.

Social Studies with Mrs. Heron - Last week we wrapped up and reviewed Unit 3.  Your child is or already has brought home their Unit 3 packet to help them prepare for their test this week.  Please review the concepts in the packet with your child.

Word Study with Mrs. Sepich - Old sorts will be coming home today in the Monday Envelope.  Students will begin new sorts this week, as well as begin playing review games for the vocabulary words.

Leadership - Reviewing our classroom Mission Statement and writing compliments for each other.

Students share the classroom with Leadership Day visitors.

Author Bob McLeod Kicks off March is Reading Month!

Author Bob McLeod came to Silver Springs to help us kick off March is Reading Month.

From time to time it is starting to seem like Spring is around the corner; I hope you were able to get out this weekend.  I have a lot for you to read this week:

Leadership Day
Leadership Day is this Thursday.  Students will be taking teachers and principals from other districts on a tour of Silver Springs.  Please have students dress up a bit on Thursday.  Students should do their best to dress nicely but there is no need to go out and buy new clothes.

No School For Students On Tuesday
There is no school for students this Tuesday.  Teachers will be in meetings both at Silver Springs and districtwide.  We are forecast for snow that day, so maybe it will end up to be a good day for students to stay home.

March is Reading Month Contest
For March is Reading month we are having a classwide and schoolwide contest to see whether the boys or girls of Room A-2 can read more at home.  You and your child can record the time spent reading on the pink sheets that went home last Monday.  Because I want students to focus on this contest for March I will not be sending home the regular reading logs.

Author Bob McLeod
Last week author Bob McLeod visited Silver Springs to kick off March is Reading Month.  He led an assembly for students that was both informative and captivating.  As part of his presentation Mr. McLeod showed students the process he went through to write and illustrate his book SuperHero ABC.  He also gave students a drawing lesson.  If you haven't already discussed this assembly with your child I recommend asking them about it.

Parent Volunteers
If you would like to volunteer in Room A-2 I could use help in the mornings between 9 and 10:30 AM, Tuesday through Friday.  My plan would be to have volunteers do a few administrative tasks (making copies, etc.) and then read with students.  You could volunteer every week, every other week, whatever suits your schedule.

Curriculum Overview
Literacy - In reading we will be reading non-fiction and seeing if we can sort out what we read to determine what information is most important.  From there we will also be working on internalizing that knowledge and summarizing it our own words.

Math - Last week we finished up our unit on Metric Measurement.  This week we are beginning a unit on Customary Measurement (inches, feet, miles, etc.). 

Writing - This week students will continue writing reviews of movies and restaurants.  As we write we are trying to make our reviews well-rounded by not only talking about what we love, but also include complaints and suggestions.

Science - Last week we conducted an experiment where we used measurement of time to record how long it takes for different objects to roll down a ramp.  This week we are using balances to determine the weight of different objects.

Social Studies with Mrs. Heron - Last week we practiced our civic responsibility of voting and then wrote an opinion piece to support our vote.  We have also been learning about American symbols such as the flag, national anthem, Statue of Liberty, etc.  Finally, we are learning about ways to show patriotism such as saying the pledge of allegiance, singing a patriotic song, celebrating national holiday, and learning about our county’s history.  We will be finishing this unit soon, so look for your child’s review packet to come home to study in the next week or two.

Word Study with Mrs. Sepich - This week, we will continue working with the vocabulary words for from the book about Roberto Clemente.  We will be playing games to reinforce both the definition of the word, as well as the synonyms and antonyms that we have learned.  We will also be doing the writing sort for the word sort we've been working on.  This word sort will come home in NEXT week's Monday Envelope.

Leadership - Preparing for Leadership Day this Thursday!

Room A-2 students use an iPad to track how quickly cars and marbles travel down a ramp.

New Books for the Classroom

I just got a whole bunch of new books from Barnes and Nobel to add to our classroom library!

Hello everyone, I hope the cold, long weekend suited you well.  Here is the update for the week.

Pancake Breakfast
Our pancakes for breakfast celebration has been rescheduled for this Thursday.  If you agreed to send in something and have not yet delivered it please send it in with your child.  If you are volunteering to help, Mrs. Wesley will need you that day from 8:50 AM to 10:45 AM.

Curriculum Overview
Literacy - In reading we have been using our inferring skills to better understand the characters in our fiction books.  Ask your students about The Greatest Treasure.

Math - This week we will be reviewing the perimeter of a rectangle and how to calculate distances using simple maps.

Writing - This week students will begin writing reviews of movies and restaurants.

Science - This week we will conduct an experiment where we use measurement of time to record how long it takes for different objects to roll down a ramp.

Social Studies with Mrs. Heron - Students are learning about the difference between personal responsibilities and civic responsibilities.  We are learning that one of our civic responsibilities is voting.  As an extended activity, students will be voting on whether a community should spend money on new playground equipment or a new police car.  They will then be writing an opinion piece to go along with their vote.

Word Study with Mrs. Sepich - We begin learning more about our new vocab words this week, adding them to our journals.  In word study, the new sorts will be worked with this week with many different activities.

Leadership - Habit 4 - Think Win-Win

Thank You For All The Help With Those Homework Journals

In science and math we are learning about different types of measurements including the area and perimeter of a rectangle.

I hope you had a wonder Valentine's Day and long weekend.  Here are the notes for the week.

Valentine's Day Exchange
The students really enjoyed exchanging their Valentine's cards last week.  I really appreciate all the help you provided to make sure each Room A-2 student had cards to give out to everyone.  Thank you.

Homework Journal Special Assignments
Thank you for helping your students with the Homework Journal writing assignments I have been sending home.  It has been nice reading them.  A new one went home this week.

Mr. Luxon Not At Silver Springs This Wednesday
This Wednesday I am attending a professional development conference and will not be at school.  A visiting teacher will be arranged in my absence

Pancakes for Breakfast This Friday
Our pancakes for breakfast celebration is this Friday.  If you agreed to send in something and have not yet delivered it please send it in with your child.  If you are volunteering to help, Mrs. Wesley will need you that day from 8:50 AM to 10:45 AM.

Fun Fair This Friday
Come join us this Friday at the Silver Springs Fun Fair!  There will be inflatables, face painting, games, prizes, food and more!  Pre-registration forms were due last week.  If you are still interested in attending, you can buy your tickets at the door for $15/child and $10/adult.  If you are available to volunteer the evening of the Fun Fair, we need you! We could use a few more parent volunteers for the 2nd shift, 6:45-8:00pm. Please contact Susan Marquardt at your earliest convenience at suzmarq@comcast.net

Curriculum Overview
Literacy - In reading we have been using our inferring skills to better understand the characters in our fiction books.  Ask your students about Erandi from Erandi's Braids as well as Chester and Lily from Chester's Way.

Math - In math we have been comparing lengths and we saw how the shortest distance between two points is a straight line.  This week we will be reviewing the perimeter of a rectangle and how to calculate distances using simple maps.

Writing - This week students will finish up their book reviews and begin writing reviews of movies and restaurants.

Science - Last week we completed our study of how to measure the length, width, perimeter, and area of a rectangle.  This week we will conduct an experiment where we use measurement of time to record how long it takes for different objects to roll down a ramp.

Social Studies with Mrs. Heron - Last week we continued to learn about the concepts of individual rights and the common good.  Students were able to write a letter stating their opinion to a problem we read in a book based on these vocabulary words.

Word Study with Mrs. Sepich - New vocabulary words will be intro-duced this week. They are: Respect, Deny, Professional, mock & hero. These words come from the book: Roberto Clemente, Pride of the Pitts-burgh Pirates.  The old word sorts will come home in the Monday Envelope today. Please find some time to review the sort with your child.

Leadership - Habit 4 - Think Win-Win

Valentine's Day Card Exchange This Friday!

A Room A-2 student speaks during last week's Leadership Assembly.

Hello!  This Friday afternoon I am planning a low-key Valentine's Day card exchange with the students.  As I wrote last week, in preparation for this exchange I would like you to have your child prepare a Valentine's Day card for every student in class.  I sent home a list of students on red paper last Thursday.  Just to be sure I re-sent another copy of the list home today.  Stores like CVS, Target, and Busch's sell very inexpensive cards in sets specifically for school children.  You can use those cards or make something very simple.  If you have any questions please email me.  We will exchange our Valentine's Day cards this Friday so please have them completed by then.

Homework Journal Special Assignment
I sent home a new Homework Journal Special Assignment today.  This week it is on plain white paper rather than yellow.

Curriculum Overview
Literacy - In reading we are learning about and making inferences.  We are studying how a reader can infer something even when it is not directly stated in a text.  Ask your students about Erandi's Braids.

Math - The next two units will be on measurement, both metric measurement (meters centimeters, etc.) and standard or customary measurement (inches, feet, etc.)  This week we are learning how to compare two different lengths.

Writing - Last week we began writing a book review as class.  This week students are writing reviews of their favorite books on their own.

Science - With this unit we are examining what it means to measure and how scientists use measurement.  This week our focus will continue to be on understanding how to measure the length, width, perimeter, and area of a rectangle.

Social Studies with Mrs. Heron - Last week we learned about the three branches of local government; mayor, city council, and court.  We also learned about the difference between a government action and a private action.

Word Study with Mrs. Sepich - As we continue to work with the new word sorts this week, and play review games with the prior 5 vocabulary words, we will also hear the story that our 5 new words will come from.

Leadership - We are setting new goals, look for a copy to come home with your student.

Another Room A-2 student M.C.'d last week's leadership assembly!

Welcome to February!

That's a lot of snow outside our classroom!

I hope you've been staying safe and warm.  I tried going out in the afternoon on Monday and found that the roads were still really rough.  I did see lots of kids out sledding however!  Here are some notes from me and Silver Springs:

Valentine's Day
Tomorrow I will send home a list of all the students in Room A-2.  In preparation for Valentine's Day I would like you to have your child prepare a valentine for every student in class.  Stores like CVS, Target, and Busch's sell very inexpensive valentines cards in sets specifically for school children.  You can use those cards or make something very simple.  If you have any questions please ask me.  We will exchange our Valentine Cards on the 13th of February.

Become a Love and Logic Parent: Classes Begin NEXT Week
The afternoon classes have been postponed to begin February 11th from 2:00-3:30 PM.  Silver Springs encourages all parents that have not attended a Love and Logic Parent Training to attend one of the four-session series being offered at Silver Springs Elementary.

Sharpen Your Saw at Bounce it Up: This Friday
Come Sharpen Your Saw at the Silver Springs Family Night at Bounce it Up this Friday, February 6th from 6:30-8:30 PM.  For $11 per child, you will enjoy two hours of unlimited bouncing, free coinless arcade video games, and two slices of pizza with a soft drink.  A portion of the fee will go to Silver Springs Elementary!  Registration forms and payment are due by Tuesday, February 3rd.  Bounce it Up is located at 30276 Plymouth Rd. in Livonia.  Please see the attached flyer for more information.

Box Tops and Labels for Education Contest
It's contest time! Help raise money for our school! We are holding a contest to see which classroom can send in the most Box Tops. The 3 classrooms with the most points will win a prize! Please send your box tops to school in a baggie or envelope with "Room A2 - Mr. Luxon" written on the outside. Teachers will place the baggies and envelopes in the collection bin outside of the main office at school. Box Tops must be turned in by February 13th to be counted.

Curriculum Overview
Literacy - In reading we are learning about and making inferences.  We are studying how a reader can infer something even when it is not directly stated in a text.  Ask your students about What Mary Jo Shared.

Math - The next two upcoming units will be on measurement, both metric measurement (meters centimeters, etc.) and standard or customary measurement (inches, feet, etc.)  I may send home less math homework for these units if I can't find work that is challenging enough.

Writing - Last week we began writing a book review as class.  This week students will have the opportunity to begin writing reviews on their own favorite books, movies, restaurants, and video games.

Science - Last week we began a new science unit on measurement that augments our math unit on measurement.  This week our focus will be on understanding how to measure the length, width, perimeter, and area of a rectangle.

Social Studies with Mrs. Heron - Last week we learned about the three branches of local government; mayor, city council, and court.  We also learned about the difference between a government action and a private action. 

Word Study with Mrs. Sepich - Students will be receiving new word sorts this week.  Old sorts will come home in the Monday (Wednesday) Envelope.   We will continue with our current vocabulary words for one more week.

Leadership - Setting new goals, look for a copy to come home with your student.