Weekly Update 8/31/2015 - 9/4/2015

Two and half weeks in, and we're still going strong! Thank you all for coming to Back to School Night last week. We so enjoyed spending a brief moment of time with you and sharing more about our classroom. We hope it was an informative and fun night for you and that you left feeling confident and excited for what's to come.

We concluded last week with a fun Friday and our first trip to the Trinity Garden over on 8th Street. We spoke with Nancy Duncan about the various crops being grown, learned about beneficial soil microbes, tasted green beans, and got our hands dirty clearing out a raised bed that we'll soon be using for carrots. Keeping things upbeat for a "Fun Friday," Mrs. Bolding and Mr. Smith's class surprised us in the afternoon for Book Buddies. Typically, we will have Book Buddies with our 5th Grade friends, however a change of schedule reminded us to be flexible and to take advantage of spontaneous learning!

Here are a few pictures of our happenings last week!

Math Workshop

The Grand Opening of our Classroom Library! Thanks to Eduardo, who was our Student of the Day.

"Saving Fred" -- an activity to foster teammwork and critical thinking.
Ask your children about this fun activity!

Reader's Workshop seems to be the favorite part of the day -- your children are constantly seeking to find more time to read during the day, and as teachers, we could not be happier about this! We've been having conversations about building stamina as readers and hope that you will partner with us in this endeavor at home. We have learned that Second Grade readers "grow like beanstalks" and the seeds have already been planted. In Writer's Workshop, we are in the middle of turning small moments into stories -- mostly drawn from summer noticings. This week we are learning to add detail, implement powerful endings, and stretch our stories even longer. Students will have the opportunity to write additional stories should they finish early, and we look forward to publishing these stories over the next few weeks. Ask your children what they are writing about! Routines are beginning to be set into place with Word Study -- students have learned the process of coloring and cutting a sort in order to prepare it for games, they have been introduced to their word study binders, and will be learning various games to reinforce the "ck" rule that we're beginning with. As mathematicians, we can tell your children enjoy a challenge! In Math, we have been focusing on number sense, telling time, and counting money. Please do your best do reinforce these concepts at home as you are able. We hope you have received the parent letters (on yellow paper) as well as the informational sheet on supplemental math that was sent home this week. As your children bring home checked work/pages, please keep these papers at home as we have already covered the material. 

This Friday, similar to last week, we will make our way to the garden across the field for some planting with Mrs. Duncan and Mrs. Rudisill. Stay tuned for pictures of our time together! We wish you all a very happy, relaxing, and family filled Labor Day Weekend. We hope the fall weather will arrive soon!

September Reminders:

• ImaginOn visit this Thursday, September 3rd
• No School -- Labor Day and Professional Development Day: September 7th and 8th 
• TED will be open and available if you and your family should need child care. To sign up, please use this link
• Happy Birthday Mrs. Dufresne! -- September 9th!