Happy Friday!

This week has been a different type of week and we have found out the importance of routines this week!  We have been focusing on re-establishing expectations throughout the day.

A shout out to the kiddos and Mrs. Neale for making us feel so loved!  We were kicked out of our room today and when we we came back we had a surprise in store for us...checkout our super sweet surprise below! We can't wait to get laminated and hung in our classroom!

Happy School Counselor Week

We are very lucky to have Mr. Smith as our school counselor.  This week is School Counselors Week, so the students made a banner for him.

Special Things Happening

Over the next couple of weeks we have a variety of special things happening!

Parent/Teacher Conferences & Book Fair

We have had wonderful parent/teacher conferences this week and are looking forward to meeting with everyone else next week!  The Book Fair will open next week!  I got a teacher preview this afternoon and there are a lot of variety of books - that I know that the kiddos will LOVE!  I hope that you plan a time to come and check it out!

Monday 2/12 7:30 AM-5:00 PM

Tuesday 2/13 7:30 AM-5:00 PM

Wednesday 2/14 7:30 AM-5:00 PM

Thursday 2/15 7:30 AM-7:00 PM

Friday 2/16 8:00 AM -11:00 AM

*Tuesday 2/20 7:30 AM-3:00 PM* -Special Friends and Family Day!

Special Family & Friends Day

Special Family & Friends Day is Tuesday, February 20.  On this day family & friends are invited to go to specials with their student's class.  Second grade specials are from 1:35-2:25.  Mottaz students will start at Music and then go to Media, and Ross students will start at Media and then go to Music.  With specials being at the end of the day, if your child's special family and friend would like to take your child to the Book Fair visitors are welcome to arrive at school by 1:15 to take students to the Book Fair.  The Book Fair will also be open after school.  If your child's special family or friend will be taking your child home at the end of the day, please make sure that you write a note or send us an email!

2nd Trimester Student Banner

As a reminder, continue to bring in your child's Student Banner to your Parent/Teacher Conference.  The ones that we have received so far are great!  This is a fun way to celebrate all your child's accomplishments over the first two trimesters of school.  If you need a new copy of the banner you can click here or email me.

Valentine's Day

I cannot believe that the middle of February is next week and that means Valentine's Day is on Wednesday!  

Class Party

Our class party will be on February 14 at 1:45-2:30.  If you have not already signed up for party items or to volunteer to assist at a station click here to sign up!  

Valentine Exchange

We will have an opportunity to exchange Valentines BEFORE the class party.

• If you child will like to participate in exchanging Valentines, there are two options.  Your child can exchange with students only in his/her homeroom class (23 students) or with student in both classes (46 students).  We only ask that your send Valentines for the entire class - please do not let you child pick & choose who s/he wants to sent Valentines to.
• Please do not address the Valentines (do not fill in the "To) and only fill in the the "From" line.
• We will be exchanging Valentines BEFORE the party, so please make sure that you send any Valentines with your child at the BEGINNING of the day.

Valentine Mailbox

We will give all students the opportunity to decorate a bag to be their Valentine collector.  However, if your child would like to design a Valentine mailbox s/he can.  This is not a requirement, but some families enjoy doing this together.  If your child would like to have a Valentine Mailbox from home please send it to school Wednesday morning of Valentine's Day (please do not send them in earlier because we do not have space to keep them).

Look At What Happened in Moss World This Week

• Math: We started Unit 6 this week.  We talked about how to collect data using tally marks, and different ways to display data (pictograph and bar graphs).  We also continued to talk about different strategies to solve word problems.  Word problems can be a hard concept for second graders because they have to not only pull the important information from the problem, but they also have to figure out how to solve the problem.  Below are some examples of how we are working on solving word problems.  Next week, we will continue to work on solving word problems.

• Writing: The kiddos continued working EXTREMELY hard on their informational writing and almost all the students have finished publishing their writing!  We can't wait to have a writing celebration for all their hard work!  Next week, we will introduce to the students their second informational writing topic - it's a Who Would Win topic!  They will get to choose two of something that are similar (animals, people, countries, etc.)
• Reading: We reviewed a variety of comprehension strategies this week through read aloud.  Next week, we will focus on identifying the main idea of nonfiction texts.
• Word Study: Next week, we are continuing to work on long vowel patterns.  We will focus on long e words that have "ee" and "ea."  Next week words are: feet, keep, teeth, sweep, week, mean, team, heat clean & weak.
• Science: We finished up our ecosystem study this week by having the students create Venn diagrams of two different ecosystems without the headings.  Then the student went around and had to try to figure out the missing headings.  It was a fun way to end the unit.  This paper along with your child's individual exit slip is coming home in your child's Friday Folder - make sure to ask him/her about it this weekend!

Have a fabulous weekend and looking forward to conferences next week!

Mrs. Ross

Happy Friday!

We have had a great week in "Moss World" this week!

Parent/Teacher Conference

Coming home in your child's Friday Folder is a P/T Conference confirmation sheet.  We have tried our very best to make sure that your child's conference time corresponded with what you requested.  Please fill out bottom portion of this sheet and return with your child by Wednesday(no school on Monday).  

We have P/T Conferences starting on Wednesday and going through the February 15.  We are looking forward to meeting with everyone!  

Scholastic Book Fair

Below you will find the Book Fair hours.  Make sure that you make a plan to check it out!  If you would like to volunteer at the Book Fair check out this link.

Monday 2/12 7:30 AM-5:00 PM

Tuesday 2/13 7:30 AM-5:00 PM

Wednesday 2/14 7:30 AM-5:00 PM

Thursday 2/15 7:30 AM-7:00 PM

Friday 2/16 8:00 AM -11:00 AM

*Tuesday 2/20 7:30 AM-3:00 PM* -Special Friends and Family Day!

 

Special Family & Friends Day

Special Family & Friends Day is Tuesday, February 20.  On this day family & friends are invited to go to specials with their student's class.  Second grade specials are from 1:35-2:25.  Mottaz students will start at Music and then go to Media, and Ross students will start at Media and then go to Music.  With specials being at the end of the day, if your child's special family and friend would like to take your child to the Book Fair visitors are welcome to arrive at school by 1:15 to take students to the Book Fair.  The Book Fair will also be open after school.  If your child's special family or friend will be taking your child home at the end of the day, please make sure that you write a note or send us an email!

2nd Trimester Student Banner

As a reminder, information came home in your child's Friday Folder last week on a fun surprise that we are planning for the class.  Please remember to be working on this and bring it to your child's P/T Conference.  If you need a new copy of the banner you can click here or email me!

Valentine's Day Party

Our last class party will be on February 14 at 1:45-2:30.  The class parties are always a highlight for the students!  Please checkout the classroom party sign up to sign up for items that are needed for the party or to volunteer to help out at a station.  Click here to sign up!

Your child will have an opportunity to exchange Valentines if s/he would like.  

• Your child can exchange with students only in his/her homeroom class (23 students) or with students in both classes (46 students).  We only ask that your child send in Valentines for the entire class - please do not let your child pick & choose who s/he wants to send Valentines to.  
• We have found that it is easier to not address the Valentines (not fill in the "To") and only fill out the "From" line.
• We will be passing out Valentines BEFORE the party, so please make sure that you send any Valentines with your child at the beginning of the day.

If your child would like to make a Valentine mailbox s/he can; however, this is not a requirement.  We will give all students an opportunity to decorate a bag to collect their Valentines.  

What's Been Happening in 2nd Grade:

• Math: This week, we finished up Unit 5.  We will share this assessment at conferences.  Next week we will start Unit 6.  In unit 6 we will be talking about different data displays (bar graphs, picture graphs), solving number stories (word problems), and continuing to talk about different strategies to solve addition problems.  
• Writing: The kiddos are doing a great job publishing their first informational book on their research animal!  They have finished writing their words and have been working on adding nonfiction text features to their writing.  They are doing so good with this and we can't wait to share their writing with you at conferences!
• Reading: We have continued to talk about making inferences.  When you make an inference you pick out clues from the text and use your schema to draw a conclusion.  Next week, we will focus on identifying the main idea in nonfiction texts.
• Science: We started talking about ecosystems.  We have had conversations about the woodlands/forest, prairie, and pond ecosystems.  We started learning about food chains and food webs.  We talked about that everything starts with the sun, and we already know that about the importance of water for an ecosystem.  There also always has to be producer (plants).  We made connections to that herbivores are primary consumers and that secondary consumers are carnivores.  We have also touched on decomposers.  The major difference between a food chain and food web is that a food chain starts with the sun, then producer, primary consumer, and then secondary consumers (bigger animal eats only one smaller animal); however, in a food web it shows animals eat a variety of animals.

Maker Monday

On Monday, we had an opportunity to go and build in Maker Space.  The students had a blast building with Legos, Zoob Builderz, Magnet Tiles, Knex, and Keva Planks.  Some students even worked on putting together a 500 piece puzzle!

Special Visitor

Mrs. Ross's father, Mr. Giles, has a new puppy, Blu!  He is a Blue Heeler.  Blu had an opportunity to come to second grade today and we were happy to see him!

5th Grade Colonial Visit

In fifth grade, students dive deeper into Colonial life, and learn more about different jobs and life of Colonist.  We got to visit Mrs. McGinty's classroom and experience her class's living museum.  The students had fun being able to learn a little more about Colonial life and it was neat to see had Social Studies connects from second to fifth grade!

McTeacher Night

McDonalds is hosting a McTeacher Night on March 6 from 4:30-8:00.  Mark it on your calendar!  This is the perfect reason to not cook and come and see all of the teachers from RBE.  We look forward to seeing you there - more information to come when I will be there!

I hope that you have a wonderful weekend and enjoy watching the Super Bowl!  Please remember that Monday is a Teacher Work Day to help us prepare for grade cards and conferences.  

Mrs. Ross

Happy Friday!

It has been so nice to get back into a school routine of a "normal" week.

Coming Home In Friday Folders:

• Yearbook Order Forms - Yearbooks are $7.  If you would like to purchase a yearbook, you can either order online or return the order envelope with payment.  The deadline to order a yearbook is February 28.
•  2nd Trimester Student Banner - Please read over the information about a fun way to celebrate your child's hard work over the first two trimesters.  The sheet below and a banner is coming home in your child's Friday Folder.
• 

Parent/Teacher Conferences

As a reminder, Parent/Teacher Conferences are right around the corner.  If you have not filled out & returned your time request for your child's conference it is due by Wednesday, January 31.  If you need another sheet you can either click here or email me!

We will be holding Parent/Teacher Conferences over two weeks (February 6-15).

 

The Scholastic Book Fair will also be open February 12-16 and on February 20 for Special Family and Friends Day.  So make sure that you plan a time to check it out...there will be LOTS of great books that your kiddo will enjoy! 

Special Family & Friend's Day

RBE will have a Special Family & Friend's Day on February 20.  Family and friends will have an opportunity to visit your child's special classes.  We have specials from 1:35-2:25.  More information will be coming out soon about this event, but I wanted to make sure that it was marked on your calendar.  If the family or friend that comes to visit would like to take home your child, please make sure that you either send us an email or write a note.

What's Been Happening in 2nd Grade:

• Math: This week in math, we are finishing up Unit 5.  We have been talking about different strategies that can help us to solve word problem.  Below you will find the strategies that we have talked about.  Next week, we will be taking the Unit 5 test.  A few weeks ago we sent home the Home Links for Unit 5 - these are a great resource to review what we have been learning with your child.

• Writing: We are continuing to work on publishing our first informational writing on the animal each student researched.  We have worked on adding a Table of Contents and Glossary to our book, and next week we will add nonfiction text features to help the reader understand more about our animals.
• Reading: We have been talking about the importance of making inferences as we read.  We know that we have to use our schema and clues from the text.  We will continue to work on making inferences as we read.
• Science: We started talking about the different ecosystems that animals live in.  We talked about the importance of water in an ecosystem.  We know that animals can be carnivores, herbivores, or omnivores.  Next week, we continue to learn about more ecosystems and about food webs.

100th Day of School

We had a great 100th day of school yesterday!  We made a class book about what we thought we would be doing when we were 100 years old - we have some really creative kiddos and they came up with such fun things that they think they will be doing in 90+ years!  We also had an opportunity to see what 100 seconds felt like as we did a variety of things (example: jumping jacks or high fives).  Today the students wrote a poem titled "100."  We will be sharing these with the class throughout next week.

Guest Reader

Mrs. Neale was our guest reader today!  She taught us about Duke Ellington.  We were able to listen to some of his music, and hear two books about music: Duke Ellington and Ben's Trumpet.

Tech Talk and Book Talks

Mrs. McKinzie came in today and gave us a Tech Talk.  She shared how to troubleshoot frequent problems when we are on the laptop.  She also showed us everything that is on the Media Center website - we will be taking advantage of some additional websites when we research for our second informational writing!

Mrs. McKinzie also came in to share her January Book Talk with us!  She shared some great books: Thelma the Unicorn (which will be at the Book Fair next month), Read the Book, Limmings, and Malala's Magic Pencil (which we snagged right after the Book Talk and read to the kiddos - GREAT book!).

6 Flags Read to Succeed

A 6 Flags Read to Succeed form came home in your child's Friday Folder earlier this month.  If your child would like to receive a FREE 6 Flags ticket, this form needs to be completed and returned to Mrs. McKinzie by March 1 - no forms will be accepted after this date.  All your child needs to do to earn a FREE 6 Flags ticket is to read for 6 hours and log the book and times read on the form.  If you have additional questions about this program you can contact Mrs. McKinzie. 

Valentine's Day 

• Party: Our classroom Valentine's Day Party will be on February 14 at 1:45.  More information will be coming out about the party soon.  
• Valentine Exchange: We will be having an opportunity to exchange Valentines before the party.  
• Currently, we have 23 students in your child's homeroom class or 46 students altogether in the Moss classroom.  Your can choose whether or not your child wants to do Valentine's for only the homeroom class or for both classrooms.  We only ask that if your child participates in the Valentine exchange that they provide Valentines for an entire class (not just pick & choose who they give Valentines to).
• We have found that it is easier to pass out Valentines to not fill out the "To" line but just fill out the "From" line.  This allows for the students to quickly pass out Valentines and not have to search for specific bags.
• Valentine's Mailbox:
• Each student will have an opportunity to design a Valentine's Day bag to collect Valentines in.  However, if your child would like to bring in his/her own mailbox that is okay.  We ask for you to clearly label the mailbox with your child's name.

As a reminder, Parent/Teacher Conferences are right around the corner.  If you have not filled out & returned your time request for your child's conference it is due by Wednesday, January 31.  If you need another sheet you can either click here or email me!  If we do not receive your sheet on Monday, I will be sending home an additional sheet.  Thank you and we look forward to meeting with everyone!

Have a fabulous weekend!

Mrs. Ross