Gray's Kiddos
The Happenings of Room MC-1
Monday, January 27th
Calendar
January
1.28 - Child Safety Puppeteers
1.30 - Child Safety Puppeteers
February
2.7 - Early Release Day
2.13 - Valentines Day Celebration
2.14 - No School - Presidents Day Weekend
2.17 - No School - Presidents Day Weekend
2.21 - Early Release Day
2.28 - End of 2nd Trimester
Odds and Ends
Hey everyone! I can't believe we are already in the last week of January.
Last week the 2nd grade team started doing some strategic grouping for reading. On Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays our second graders are split into different reading groups. The goal of this grouping is for intervention and well as enrichment. Your child is working with one of the 2nd grade teachers on skills that they need to work on. Every 6 weeks we will reassess and kids will have the chance to move around. Week 1 is under our belts and the kids and teachers are super excited about reading!
Clay Project - Thank you so much for sending in the $10 for the clay project with Chic. If you haven't yet there is still time to do so. For my two kiddos that were absent on Friday - they will get to go with the other 2nd grade classes to complete the project.
Child Safety Puppeteers-
Please send back the Opt-Out from only if you DO NOT want your child to participate. Presentations are this week.
Art -
A few weeks ago our students were asked to complete an art project for the K.A.R.E Crisis Nursery which helps support local families in need. The art work will be displayed at the Grass Valley Courtyard Suite's Gallery during the month of February. Although they can be viewed whenever the families like, the reception Union Hill will be invited to is February 16th, from 12-2 PM. Artwork will be priced modestly, likely $5.00, and proceeds will benefit K.A.R.E Crisis Nursery which helps support local families in need. There isn't pressure to purchase, and art will be returned to Union Hill students whether the works are purchased or not.
The art reception will include snacks, hot chocolate, and an art station for kids to make greeting cards for local seniors.
Families can walk around viewing artwork from several schools enjoying the many renditions and interpretations of love from Nevada County school children.
STAR READING/MATH - kids are finishing up these two assessments this week.
Curriculum Update
*more on top no need to stop
*more on the floor - go next door - get ten more
*number is the same - zero is the game
READING - This week we are reading a Biography about Helen Keller and focusing on Author's Purpose. There are three reasons why an author might write something: to persuade, to inform or to entertain. Student discovered today that Helen Keller was written to inform us how Hellen learned to communicate using sign language, and braille. This Friday, we will have a guest coming to talk to the kids about braille. They will get to see and feel it. Be sure to ask them.
WRITING - Students have completed their research on polar bears and tomorrow will be doing the writing. We are also working on using capitals and punctuation marks when we write!
Handwriting - Students handwriting has been getting very sloppy. Starting last week we have been working on slowing down and being neat. When a student has to redo an assignment I will be stapling a little note to it letting you know that they had to take some time at recess to fix. We have talked a lot about why it is important to write neatly. Please reinforce with your child at home when they are completing their homework.
Silent Reading - Kids are silently reading daily during class. Be sure to encourage reading at home. Listening to an audio book is just as good as reading the book. Listening to you read or an audio version the kid are hearing great fluency. When reading with kids be sure to ask a few questions along the way. ex/ Why did the character do that? Who is your favorite character?, etc.
AR Tests - Last week I sent home a sheet that showed the AR tests that students have taken. Tests must be taken at school. The library is typically open before school. Students can also take AR tests during silent reading. The first 10-15 minutes of silent reading everyone is reading silently. Then for the last 15 minutes the kids will change book, and take an AR test if they need to. If you kiddo finishes a book at home feel free to have your student put a sticky note or write it in their planner as a reminder for them to take it.
LEXIA - Please continue to encourage students to work on meeting their Lexia goal. Lexia has a default goal of 12 units per week. Students were are working below grade level will need more units per week in order to reach the end of 2nd grade goal by the end of the year. My personal goal is to write in each students planner on Monday how many units they need per week.
TECH - This week in tech we will be working on our typing skills by typing our polar bear research!
PE - Our PE days have changed. Our new days are Mondays and Fridays. Please be sure make sure your child has appropriate footwear.
Technology Links
xtra math -https://xtramath.org/#/signin/classroom2?c=7GL8XJNN
log in - select name and and then add 4 digit code (In the back of their planner the kids have a 4 digit code they need)
Lexia - https://www.lexiacore5.com/?SiteID=3144-5749-2242-0166
log in - firstnamelastname
passsword - student
IXL - https://www.ixl.com/signin/unionhillschool
check the back of their planner for log in information
Think Central - https://www-k6.thinkcentral.com/ePC/start.do?orgID=04471918 -
username- firstnamelastname
password - student
Kids can use think central to log in and look at reading and math. Please let me know if you are having any problems accessing technology at home.
PTC
- PTC Meeting - February 12th
- Follow us on Facebook and stay up to date! https://m.facebook.com/uhsptc/