Happy Friday!

Happy Friday!

I hope you have had a great week!  We have been very busy in 2nd grade!

Today, we went to Hickman High School to see a jazz performance.  The students were very well behaved and enjoyed the concert.  Check out the pictures here.

Here is what we will be working on next week and some important information about the rest of the year.

Reading

• Next week in reading, we will be working on different components of poetry.  We will learn about the components and then have the opportunity to identify them in various poems.

Writing

• We will continue working on opinion writing next week.  The students were able to choose a topic of their choice and will be researching the topic and then writing an opinion piece about the topic.  This will be one of the writings they will share at Oreos and Opinions.  

Math

• We are wrapping up our measurement unit.  Our current plan is to test on Wednesday, May 4.  After we finish up measurement, we will move onto early algebra.  These will actually be concepts the students have already seen such as finding the missing number.  

Science

• We are continuing to learn about the needs of plants in science.  We are also going to start discussing food chains and ecosystems in preparation for our field trip to Runge.  

ST Math

• Our school now has ST Math available to the students.  They haven't used it yet, but will next Monday in Media.  It is a website that has games to practice math concepts.  The games have no words, the students have to use their problem solving skills to identify how to get Jiji (the penguin in the game) across the screen by solving different math problems.  Once students set up their account (next week in Media), they will be able to access ST Math from home also.  On the Symbaloo on the RBE Media Center website, they can click on the penguin which will take them to ST Math.  Again, they won't have access until next week, but starting next week, if they want to play around with it at home, they can.  The first few times they play, it might be frustrating to them since they aren't directions, they have to figure out how to play each game.  There is research behind the program that shows that nonverbal (all pictures) allows the students to use more problem solving skills and to ultimately be more successful.  

Homework

• Just a reminder that weekly homework is finished as of today.  If the students would like to continue doing homework, they will get a sheet on Monday they can fill out.  They will need to reading for 15 minutes and do 15 minutes of math facts and get both initialed by parents.  If they do this for 3 days of the week, they can eat lunch in the room on Friday.  This is not at all required, it is completely optional.  

Important Upcoming Events

• Friday, May 6: Ms. Rottjakob's pizza party (your student doesn't need to bring a lunch)
• Wednesday, May 11: Runge Field Trip
• If you have signed up to chaperone and haven't let me know about releasing your contact information, please do so.  This will allow chaperones to coordinate carpooling to Jeff City if they would like.  
• Friday, May 13: Variety Show
• Tuesday, May 17: Oreos and Opinions from 7:45-8:15 (Please remember to RSVP on the blue sheet sent home)
• Friday, May 20: Field Day and Dress like Summer day (No swimsuits)
• Tuesday, May 24: End of the Year Lunch Bunch (Please remember to RSVP if you will be coming, the invite was on yellow paper)
• Thursday, May 26: Last day of school, early dismiss at 12:10
• Thursday, June 2: Summer School Open House, 4:30-6:00

Have a wonderful weekend!

Mrs. Ross

Oreos and Opinions and Lunch Bunch :)

We have two fun parent and student events planned in May.  Your student brought home a sheet about them both today and there is an RSVP to be returned at the bottom of each.

Oreos and Opinions
The students have worked so hard on their opinion writing and would love to share their hard work.  Also, who doesn't love Oreos?  :)  So, why not put them together.  On May 17 from 7:45-8:15, please join us in the classroom so your student can share their awesome opinion writing.  Please fill out the RSVP at the bottom of the invitation and return it with your student.

End of the Year Lunch Bunch
On Tuesday, May 24, we will be having an end of the year lunch bunch for students and their parents (or grandparents, special friend, etc) from 11:00-12:00.  The students will go to recess like normal from 11:00-11:15 and then we will have lunch in the pavilion.  You may bring fast food in for your child if you would like, or they can buy a school lunch or they can bring their lunch from home.  On the permission slip, please make sure to mark what they will be eating for lunch (brought by you, school or brought from home) and also let me know if you will be purchasing a school lunch.  This will be a fun way to celebrate the end of the year.  :)

Runge Field Trip
YEAH!!!!!  Everyone has turned in their permission slips.  If you signed up to be a chaperone, please email me to let me know if I can share your contact information (if so, please send me the information you would like me to share) with other chaperones to possibly coordinate carpooling.

Homework
As a reminder, this is the final week or "normal" homework.  Next week, students can do opitinoal homework if they would like.  They can read and practice facts for 15 minutes each night.  If they get this signed at least 3 nights during the week, they can eat lunch in the room on Friday.

Pizza Party
As a reminder, we will be having our Pizza Party for Ms. Rottjakob next Friday, May 6.  Students will not need to bring a lunch that day.  They will still need a snack if they want one in the morning.  I have had a parent volunteer to send in drinks.  If you are willing to send in fruit/veggies, cookies or chips, please let me know.  I will be providing the pizza for everyone.

Have a wonderful evening!

Mrs. Ross

CHICKS!!!!

We were lucky enough to have feathered visitors today also.  :)  Third grade is MAP testing this week and also have chicks, so since the chicks would be a distraction during MAP testing.  We got a chance to chick sit for Mrs. Freese and Mrs. Croom which meant, we got to play with chicks.  Enjoy the pictures below of the students and the chicks.  :)

Mystery Reader :)

We had a surprise mystery reader this morning.  :)  Kenzie's uncle, Officer Wilson, from the Columbia Police Department.  He was originally scheduled to come during Reading Week, but he was called into work unexpectedly, so he had to reschedule.  He read Officer Buckle and Gloria, brought in stickers for the students and answered questions the students had about his job.

Happy Tuesday

Happy Tuesday!

I hope you have all had a wonderful day and stayed dry.  The students were able to go out for part of their first recess today before the rain came in.  Hopefully the forecast is wrong and we are able to go outside a bit more the rest of the week.

Early Out
Tomorrow, April 27, is an early out day and we will dismiss at 12:20.  If your student is going home a different way than normal, please be sure to let me know by tomorrow morning.

St. Jude's Children Hospital Fundraiser
Thank you to everyone who has donated to our St. Jude's Children's Hospital fundraiser so far.  As a school, we have already raised over $2500 (and that was as of Friday).  The fundraiser will continue until May 15 if you would like to send in money to donate.  Thank you to those who have already donated!

Runge Field Trip
Permission slips for our Runge Field Trip went home in Friday folders.  If you haven't returned the permission slip with your student, please do so.  Since we are going out of town, I need a permission slip for each student.  If you need an additional copy of the permission slip, please let me know and I can send another one home.

Library Books
We have 3 more times to check out library books this year (crazy!).  Please be checking at home for any library books that might be lost at home.  I want the students to be able to check out library books the last few times for the year.  :)

Lots of Important Information  :)
I will be posting updates on the blog with information about the end of school.  Please make sure to check the blog often so that you get all the information needed.  :)

Have a wonderful evening and try to stay dry!  :)

Mrs. Ross

Happy Friday/Outdoor Classroom

Happy Friday!

We were busy little beavers today!

Our day started out with the 4th and 5th grade choir performance.  The students were a fabulous audience and really enjoyed it.  The 4th and 5th graders did an awesome job!  I can't wait until our kids get to 4th and 5th grade to watch their choir performances.

After the choir performance, we went to Makers Space.  Today the students played with Ozobots.  They are small robots that are programmed and coded to run off different colors.  The students put them on premade "tracks" and then were able to use markers to make their own tracks.  The Ozobots also change color based on the color of the marker.

This afternoon the kids were awesome helpers in the garden.  They helped to mulch half the garden.  They worked so hard to make the garden look nice.  They will probably sleep well tonight!  :)  You can check out the pictures here.

Then we finished up our Earth Day with some science observations around the Outdoor Classroom.  We went to the garden, the butterfly garden, the prairie and the pond.

Please check out the Newsletter.  If you request a paper copy, it is in your student's Friday folder.

In your student's Friday folder, you will find a permission slip and information about our Runge Field Trip.  Please read over the information and sign the permission slip and return it to school with your student.  A signed permission slip is required for your student to attend this field trip because we are going out of town.  If you would like to help and attend the field trip, please make this on the permission slip.

Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy this weather!

Mrs. Ross

A Message From Mrs. Reynolds

RBE Parents and Families,                                                                                                                                                                                                                            April 20, 2016

This year our annual RBE Clean-Up Day has been combined with RBE Outdoor Classroom Week, which started on Monday, April 18^th.  I apologize for not having a schedule of the Clean-Up Projects out to you sooner, but below you will find each class and their assigned projects.  The projects are happening tomorrow, April 21 and Friday, April 22.  If you are able to volunteer to tomorrow, please email me at ereynolds@cpsk12.org with the day/time.  We especially need help on Friday!  If you are able to volunteer on Friday, please sign up here: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090949acac2da64-clean

If you are able to help classes with mulching and have access to a wheelbarrow, wagon, shovel, rake and/or pitchfork, please bring those along with you!  Make sure the items you bring have your name on the handle.   We would love to have additional spring bulbs as well.  Other items that we need are 5 gallon buckets (kitty litter buckets would work also) and large plastic containers (like from yogurt, butter, or sour cream).  We need 6-8 buckets and at least 25 plastic containers.  These items will be kept in the garden and will be used by classes to water the garden plants. 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_-ZG60SFrLubFRxQ1FXdUZxcGc/view?usp=sharing (This is a link with additional information about the rest of RBE Outdoor Classroom Week)

Thank you for your time and consideration,

Emily Reynolds, 1^st grade teacher and RBE Outdoor Classroom representative

Happy Wednesday!

Happy Wednesday!

I hope you all have had a wonderful day.  We were very busy in Room 27 today.

We worked on a special project today.  I am attaching pictures, but won't tell you what it is for.  :)  It is a secret.  :)

We also had an opportunity to tour the outdoor classroom today.  The weather didn't completely cooperate, so we had some we shoes when we were finished, but the students had a blast.  We toured the garden (I didn't get a picture there due to the light rain), then the prairie, the pond and the butterfly garden.  We are very lucky to have such a wonderful outdoor classroom at RBE.

 Learning all about the prairie

 Learning about animals we might see in the pond

 Looking for animals in the pond

 We found a lot of frogs, can you see the one in the picture above?

 Our last stop was the butterfly garden.

 They learned about native Missouri plants that attract butterflies.

There is a great path through the butterfly garden.  We will have to go back after the flowers are blooming.

We will continue celebrating Outdoor Classroom week the next two days.  On Friday, we will help in the outdoor classroom by spreading mulch around the garden.  I talked with the kids today about wearing older clothes and shoes on Friday so if they get a bit dirty, it's ok.  Also, Friday is Earth Day, so our dress up day is to wear Earth clothing, meaning anything representing the Earth, nature or just the color green.

Have a wonderful evening and hopefully the weather holds out the rest of the week so we can enjoy some time outside enjoying our wonderful Earth.  :)

Mrs. Ross

Happy Monday!

Happy Monday!  

We had a great day.  We have kicked off Outdoor Classroom Week with an assembly this morning.  We honored the people who originally came up with the idea for the Outdoor Classroom, and learned about all the parts of the Outdoor Classroom!  We learned about the prairie, pond, amphitheater, the arbor, and the garden.  We will get to go on a tour of the Outdoor Classroom on Wednesday (fingers crossed about having good weather because I know rain is in the forecast).  Second grade also performed a song in the assembly, and the whole assembly also sang a song called "One Seed" (Click here for video)..

We started talking about Earth Day is coming up on Friday.  To enjoy the beautiful weather today we had Word Study outside.  We went on a nature walk and the students had to fill in an ABC chart with words that they found in nature.  

This week we will be talking more about how to take care of the Earth.  We will be reading passages about Earth Day and pollution, writing about ways that we can reduce, reuse, and recycle.  Make sure to ask your student about what they can do to help take care of the Earth each day! :)

Your students brought home their geometry and subtraction tests today.  Please look over both tests with your student and sign them and return them to school.  

Have a fabulous evening and stay dry!

Mrs. Ross