Week of August 31, 2009

What a great group of students we have! They did a fine job of arriving at school on time, with their school supplies all in order. Thank you parents for helping with this transition from summer back to school; the fall weather probably helped too!

Continuing in the theme of “Sharing Stories”, we are reading “Come Back, Jack”, and focusing on the skill of comparing and contrasting. We are comparing this story to the one we read last week, comparing the characters, and even noticing how the un-named little girl in the story changes. At home, ask your child which “Jack” stories are featured in “Come Back, Jack” (eg. “Jack be nimble…”). Later in the week we will read “The Library”, a fanciful story written in rhyme. We will work together taking ungraded “practice tests” on these stories: a heads-up for you & your child.

See the attached EDM (Everyday Math) newsletter for parents, about our first math unit, “Numbers and Routines”.

Re: the optional Scholastic Book Order that was due this Friday… I have extended the deadline until next Tuesday, 9/8, in case you would like to order and pay for the books online. Here’s how:

• SIGN UP at www.Scholastic.com/bookclubs. On the parent page, click the "Don't have a User Name and Password?" link, then register for your own username and password. When prompted, enter the one-time Class Activation Code: 1FFAG. This code ensures that your order is sent to me.
• SELECT the books you'd like to order from over 500 titles available online....and take advantage of online-only specials and discounts.
• SEND your order to me online by the due date. Books will be delivered directly to our classroom, as always, and I will send them home with your child.
• An added benefit is that our class earns a FREE book every time a parent places an order online.

Homework begins this week. Expect a packet to practice basic math facts each Monday; your child will memorize these facts best if s/he does 1 page/day. Also expect the list of spelling words to learn for Friday’s test, along with 4 pages of the Spelling workbook due on Wednesday.

Daily: read aloud to an older person for 20 minutes, practice math & spelling

Due Wednesday: Spelling workbook, pages 2-5

Friday: spelling test on words beginning with bl, gl,pl; Also, 5:30P–7:30 is the Longfellow Picnic

Due next Tuesday: Mad Minute packet, optional book order (online or paper)

Parents, please make every effort to come to our Curriculum Night this Thursday, from 6-7 in our classroom (203) – this will help you understand our classroom expectations and how you can best support your child this year.

Welcome to second grade! News for the week of August 25...

Welcome to Room 203, a Rainbow of Friends! I hope everyone had a fun and renewing summer, and is ready for a new school year of learning and growing in many ways. I look forward to a rewarding year working with your child! It was a pleasure being able to meet many of you at last Thursday’s Open House.

Parents, look for a newsletter from me at the beginning of each week, providing helpful information, such as upcoming assignments and what we’re doing in class. I send home a paper copy, and put it online, linked to the Longfellow web page; à Staff à 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd à Lambshead, and click on “web”.

We start off the year reading, then illustrating the book, A Rainbow of Friends. This story, written in rhyme, sets the stage for a classroom community that includes everyone and accepts all of our strengths and weaknesses.

We will also begin our Language Arts theme, “Sharing Stories” by reading a fun story, “Ant and the Three Little Figs”, about 2 boys sharing the story of The Three Little Pigs.
Homework:
Bring in your school supplies, if you have not already done so; please also bring in a water bottle, with your name on it, as we have no water fountain in the classroom.
Read for 15 minutes each evening;

“Homework” for parents:

~~ As I teach my “Rainbow of Friends” I seek to work with the different learning styles, personalities and interests of each of my students. You can help me get to know your child better by sending me some notes on your child’s strengths, weaknesses, concerns and so forth. I find this helpful, and I keep it confidential. Thank you!

~~ In addition, I invite you to fill out an online form, which will save you from having to fill it out on paper! Go to my webpage; to the right of my newsletter, at the top of the column is a link for a form you can fill out which will give me useful contact and allergy information, as well as your permission for walking field trips and the internet.

Coming
~~ This Friday: 5:30 – 7:30 PM – Longfellow’s Back-to-School Picnic

~~ Next Monday, 8/31: Picture Day! And PE day (bring or wear gym shoes!)

~~ Curriculum Night: Thursday, Sept. 3, from 6-7 PM in our classroom (203). This is an adult evening, but if you are not able to arrange for childcare, please come with your child(ren). I look forward to seeing you then!

~~ Friday, September 4 – optional Scholastic book and “click” orders are due (attached).

The best ways to reach me are by email (jlambshead@op97.org), by sending me a note with your child (put it in the clear pocket in the center of your child’s “take home” folder).