Used Books
In just about a month or so we will be having our used book sale in order to try to raise $100 to adopt an animal from Animal Ark for our field trip in the spring.  We have a few books that were brought in before winter break, but we need lots more!  Please send in any books that have been loved and read by your family and you're ready to give up.  Thank you!  Let me know if you have questions.

MAPS Test Scores
Math MAPS test scores were sent home today in the report card.  Here are some numbers that will help you understand how your child did on the test.

Second Grade

Winter                     Spring

 

Meets Standard:             178                                   184

 

Exceeds Standard:         188                                   194

 

 

The report sent home shows some areas of math as strengths (the green ones) and some "areas of possible concern" (the yellow ones).  Take a close look at the range of scores they got in these areas.  Many times you will notice that the numbers are still "meeting" standard or even "exceeding" standard but are marked in yellow as areas of possible concern.  This just simply means that this was an area that your child scored lower in, not necessarily that there is a concern.

 

Any children who I am concerned about in math or that are working below grade level would be marked "below grade level" on the math section of their report card.  This MAPS test is just one more little snapshot of each student to see how they're progressing through second grade.

 

Please feel free to email me or chat about any questions or concerns you have about this or the report cards as well.

 

Have a great weekend!!

February Calendar

February Calendar by missdeane

Valentine's Party

Our Valentine's Party will be on Thursday, February 14th at lunchtime (starting at 11:15).  We will be having a pizza party and I will be asking for $2 from each student to cover the cost of pizza.  Please let either me or Jill Lorenz know if you would be willing to help bring in a sweet treat, some fruit or veggies, drinks, or plates and napkins that day.  Thanks so much!

Shapes Games
We have been learning a lot about 2D and 3D shapes in class lately.  Some of the kiddoes have been having a hard time with this.  Below is a link to a site with a whole bunch of shape games. Make sure to hit up IXL for some extra practice on this as well.

Shapes Games

Spectra Art
On Friday Maddie's mom came and to teach another Spectra Art lesson.  This time we learned about the artist Wayne Thiebaud and made gumball machines with chalks.  So much fun!

Book Project
The first book project assignment will be coming home on Friday along with the book to use with it.  Students will have approximately one month to read the book and complete the project at home.  Students are allowed to use the book they're given for the book project in their book bags as long as they finish the book that is currently in there.  I know it can be confusing to read several books at once.  Some of the children that have recently finished their book bag have been sent home with a picture book for each night for the remainder of this week in order to avoid reading two chapter books at once.  So any children who have chapter books in their book bags need to finish those before their book project book can count as that, otherwise they will have two books.  Please let me know if you have any questions.  The  books for the book project will be kept at home allowing them to read over the weekend if you'd like and book bag books can also be taken home to finish those quicker.

Cereal Boxes
We will be using cereal boxes to make our mailboxes for valentines.  Could you please send in any empty ones that you have?  Thanks! :)

Math Homework
In the homework this week there is an addition page with 2 and 3-digit addition.  The students must use a math strategy called "partial sums". We practiced this a lot this afternoon.  Please let me know if you have any questions.  There is an example of how to solve the problems this way on the top of the homework sheet.  I need to be able to see each step of the adding (10's, 1's, etc).  If students do not show their work or use "carrying" or "regrouping" they will need to redo their homework. It is important for the kiddos to learn different strategies and understands how to implement them.