Happy Friday!

Happy Friday!

Wow!  What a fabulous first week of 2nd grade!  Each week, I will post a blog update with information about what we did that week and what we will be doing the following week. 

This week, we focused on building our Team Moss community.  The students are enjoying learning about each other through Me Bags.  If your student hasn't brought in their Me Bag yet, please do so next week so we can learn about them.  We have also been going over classroom expectations.  We have created a classroom matrix as well as a matrix for flexible seating.  This will be help the students to be safe, respectful learners.

Our Learning for Next Week

Math
Today, we took our pretest for Unit 1.  As a class, we discussed the purpose of the pretest.  The pretest is for the teachers to see what the students already know and help guide instruction.  The pretests also allow us to see the growth the students make during the unit.  We will start unit 1 on Monday.  In your student's Friday folder, there is a parent letter about unit 1.  This unit is an introduction of many different concepts that we will cover more in depth throughout the year.  This unit also has some review from first grade as well. 

Writing
This week, the students had a chance to do some free writing about anything they wanted to in their free write notebooks.  This gets them in the swing of writing again.  Next week, they will get to write a fun story about what they think their teachers did over summer vacation.  Our first writing unit is personal narratives (small moment stories). We will be introducing this unit next week and discussing what are components of a personal narrative. 

Reading
This week, students were able to pick out books for independent reading.  They had opportunities to read these books and start to build up their independent reading stamina.  The students are also learning how to write short summaries of books as well.  On one of our classroom's doors is a "Look What We're Reading" and the students have a post it with the title of a book they are currently reading.  When they are finish reading the book, they will write 2 sentences about the book.  The students will then meet with a teacher to discuss the book and get to trade out their book. 

Next week, we are going to focus on story elements.  The students will learn about characters, setting, problem and solution and then identify them in different book.  This will help with their 2 sentences about the book they are reading because we will discuss the importance of including these in their summary. 

We do not have nightly homework, but please encourage your child to read at home.  We will be sending home a BINGO board for at home activities, which will include reading, if your child would like to complete the activities.

Social Studies
We will flip flop science and social studies throughout the year.  We will start with social studies.  Next week, we will continue working on building our classroom community.  Then, the students will learn about a meaning of the different parts of the Pledge of Allegiance.  They will then illustrate the Pledge of Allegiance to create a quilt.

Friday Folders
Our first Friday folder went home today.  They are light blue.  Inside the Friday folder is our weekly Friday Folder Checklist.  Please review this checklist and sign the bottom of the checklist.  Every other week (and sometimes weekly), there will be comments.  Please read over the comments.  On the back, there are also important upcoming events. 

In the Friday Folder this week, you will also find a Health Form that needs to be filled out and sent back to school.  These need to be updated each year.  It is important we have up to date health information about your child.  There is also a picture order form.  Our picture day is September 9.  You can either fill out the form and return to school, or you can order online.  If you order online, please send in a copy of the receipt with your child. 

Sticker Charts
As part of our PBIS system at Rock Bridge, our students get stickers for being safe, respectful, learners.  The stickers go on their sticker charts and then once they fill them up, they earn a reward.  The students have been earning a lot of stickers this week and many have already filled up sticker charts.  When they fill them up, the reward they choose will be written on the back.  This helps them to remember their reward the next day. 

Snack
Just a reminder, that we have individual snacks in 2nd grade.  Please help your student remember to pack a snack each day if they want one. 

Earbuds
The students will start using the computers in media next week, as well as in the classroom.  If your student doesn't have earbuds/headphones, please help them to get a pair so they have them at school.

Pictures from the Week
Check out Twitter @MossRBE to see fabulous pictures from the week. 

Have a fabulous weekend!

Mrs. Ross