Speech Bubble Contest

 Optional Writing Contest
Fill in the speech bubble comic came home with all students today...if they wanted to participate.
Details are on the back side of all comics.
Let me know if there are any questions.
These need to be back to school by Oct. 12

Get Your Own Classroom Book!

Our class is working creating our very own professionally bound book! Each student will be writing and illustrating their very own part in the collaborative effort. This is your chance to get your very own copy of our classroom keepsake for families to have in your home!

Below is the order form that came home today. If you would like to order your own book please fill this out and send it back with a check in the envelope, that was also provided. You can also order online. Please send this page back with your signature either way. If you do not want a book, please check the no box and then sign on the line below. I have an image below of where to find that. 

Please have all order pages back by October 12.

I will keep you posted here on the process of putting this all together!

 

STOWE FAMILY!

All kids COMPLETELY loved their new Who Would Win book! The best part was picking out the challenge (animal vs. animal) and then sharing their pick with someone else! There was a LARGE variety! Thank you for your generosity! We appreciate your kindness!

Lunch This Week

Sept. 27 - Oct. 1

Monday - Turkey burger

Tuesday - Chicken poppers and fried rice

Wednesday - Rotini with meat sauce

Thursday - Pizza

Friday - Yogurt Parfait or Ham sub

Journeys Lesson 1 & 2

 

All students are currently in the last steps of their personal narratives. Last week we brainstormed different ideas to write about, and then chose the one that provided the most memory and details. After that we planned! This involved prewriting all the thoughts and details in sequence order. Now everyone is to the point of writing their rough drafts by using a lot of elaboration.
Delivering the HOOK at the beginning was the most fun so far. How do you reel the reader in? Next week we will revise the work and then start our final copies! They are excited to share all their personal experiences and I am excited to read them! 

This week and last week we wrapped up lesson 1 and 2 in our Journey's curriculum. You will see the concepts we covered below. We will also continue to touch on each concept in future lessons, in addition to many more, as the year goes on. 

All students brought home their work pages from lessons 1 and 2. These pages were either checked by me OR we went over the pages as a class. When we go over pages as a class it is the students responsibility to make and changes they need to, ask questions and even star work that was done correctly. We go at a pace that is adaptive to everyone. There is also time at other parts of the day for students to finish any work they might've gotten behind on.
These pages the students brought home also have pages that are not done. There are pages that I do not see as a good fit to our learning in the classroom and we will skip over. However, they are excellent pages to continue doing at home for extra practice. Please try not to recycle and instead encourage your child to put in a safe place to bring out to do through the week or weekend. You will see these packets come home every Friday or even every other Friday.
Thank you for your continued support!

Math Mountains & Fact Families

We have been exploring different addition and subtractions facts using our math mountains and fact families. Students are bringing home their own set of math mountains to use at home and to further practice. 

Give your child a math mountain and have them give the fact family that matches.
We have more to do and build on, but so far they are doing a really nice job!

I stressed to each students, after they are done cutting out the mountains to put them in two separate bags. One for the yellow mountains (less challenging) and one for the blue mountains (more challenging). Then keep these in a safe place for extra practice with anyone in the home!

Coming in HOT!

 HUGE first week! INCREDIBLE attitudes! FANTASTIC participation! Most of all AWESOME effort by all students! I am seriously IMPRESSED by the motivation so far with our classroom! They came in HOT and left ready to recharge for next week! All deserved a little a memento of their beginning to second grade!
Their choice of cars came home Friday! ENJOY!

Big thanks to Grandstay Hotels and Mrs. McPherson (second grade)!! 

Mrs. McPherson did a fantastic write up for our grade level to enter into an a contest for $100 to Staples, some school supplies & POPSICLES! She won!! Now we, and the kids, are enjoying the generosity!! It was a perfect treat for a hot Thursday afternoon!

This week your child brought home a family letter for math and additional resources for continued learning at home! The bottom portion of the letter does not need to come back to school.

You will see more info on all our math units up on the math tab at the top of the blog. 

The bottom part of the math letter mentioned homework. Your child will not have homework each night. I have learned to let small children value the little time they have at home each night. They work hard during the school day and need that rest as well to re-energize for the next day! I do ask the kids read to self, have someone read to them or even listen to a story for 25-30 minutes each night. This could become a bedtime routine or even something to do before school.  

All students have started a classroom management system called Pencil Wars! It is an encouraging way to get students to keep track of their pencils and to take care of the ones they have. Here is how it goes:
EACH WEEK
Students get 4 pencils.
It is their own responsibility to keep track of their 4 pencils, and eraser, and return them safely to their case (toothbrush holder) after each use.
END OF THE WEEK
At the end of the day on Friday, our pencil police (leadership job) will collect and look through all cases. Students who met this responsibility have won the war for the week! Those students will receive a small prize as a reward. Students who did not win the war for the week will get another chance the following week.
PENCIL EXPECTATIONS
If there are any pencils missing, the pencil(s) WILL be replaced, but a prize will not be rewarded at the end of the week.
All pencils need to be in good condition (no erasers snapped off, no pencils chewed on or broken in half, etc.) in order to receive the prize.

Monday

PE 10:55 - 11:25

Tuesday

Music 10:55 - 11:25

Wednesday

PE 10:55 - 11:25

Art 1:15 - 1:45

Thursday

Library 3:15 - 3:45

Friday

PE 10:55 - 11:25

Music 1:50 - 2:20

Learning buddies day and time to come. We will be teaming up with Mrs. DePlaunty's 4th grade class!

Math Exploration

This past week we have been exploring through some of the math manipulatives that we will be using this school year! This helps to give kids a better understanding of what we are working with and also referring to. It also increases interest and excitement with approaching math lessons!

Picture Day

Wednesday, Sept. 22

Go to: Timeless-image.com
Click on: Order Pictures
Then click on: Order as a Guest
Use school code for Westwoods: 1121
​Please note that the code in last Friday's newsletter was incorrect! 1121 is the CORRECT code for Westwoods.
From there follow the prompts, selecting the photo package/options to order and check out using a debit or credit card.
Parents will get an email confirmation of purchase. 
Students do not need to bring an envelope or even a receipt for online orders. Timeless Image will just match the picture up back in the office with the order.

Fall NWEA Testing

Testing Begins This Week
McNitt - 2nd Grade
Monday Reading
Tuesday Math

September Scholastic Book Order

 
Orders due by Tuesday, Sept. 14th
THANK YOU Stowe Family for being our September Book Sponsors!

Behind the Mask

Behind My Mask:
A Super Kid Self-Portrait

This week we did a fun lesson called 'Behind the Mask.' We are masked up and ready to take/make a super kid selfie! Within the lesson we talk a lot about character traits and what words would describe ourselves. Great positive adjectives were in use! We also talked more about lettering, fonts, skin tones, craftsmanship...the list goes on! 
No one is excited about wearing a mask but...it's for our safety. And the best thing we can do for our kids is to put a positive spin on it!