Week of 3/16

School is cancelled this week.   Mrs. O sent out a letter Sunday night explaining everything.

There are no required assignments for students to complete this week, but it never hurts to keep reading, writing and practicing those math skills.

Please save the Snow Day Packet for the week of the 30th in case we are unable to resume school.

If we are unable to resume school on the 30th, students will have 2 options for completing their school work.

Option 1: Work through the assignment I send home via email.  The assignment will include a video, readings and problems to solve.  This assignment will require some access to a computer.

Option 2:  This is also the best option if you don't have access to a computer.  Read, write about what you read, and complete specified pages in the packet.  I will send more details when the time comes.

I am so proud of all the things the students are learning.  They are all growing in their knowledge.  Students are learning to keep track of their own progress as they record the books they are reading.  We finished our president projects early last week.

Take this time to keep yourselves and your family healthy.

On the right side of my blog, I have added links to IXL, Xtra Math, myon, and AR/STAR.  Students may access those for extra credit this week.

Snow Day Packet

Week of 2/24

Last Friday, the Boise Art Museum came and taught us about different types of masks.  Students had an opportunity to make their own masks.  Hopefully you saw them come home on Friday.

Roaring Readers forms are due on March 20th.  No forms will be accepted after this date.

Next week is Read Across America week.  Students may "Suess-ify" themselves.
Monday 3/2: One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish day (wear red and blue)
Tuesday 3/3: Fox in Socks day (wear crazy socks)
Wednesday 3/4: Green Eggs and Ham day (wear green)
Thursday 3/5: Cozy up with a Good Book day (wear PJs)
Friday 3/6: No school

Week of 1/27

Field trip 
We are going to the Nampa Civic Center tomorrow to see the MTI perform "Wizard of Oz."  The performance begins at 9:00.  We will be loading the bus at 8:20.

Weekend Book Backpack
Beginning this Friday students will have an opportunity to borrow 2 of my books for the weekend.  I will choose 2 students each week to take home a special Book Backpack.  There will be a note inside and I will send an email letting you know the Book Backpack is coming home.  If a student doesn't want to participate they can let me know and I will choose someone else.

Roaring Readers
I sent home the Roaring Readers information sheet in December.  Don't forget it is due on March 20th.  No papers will be accepted after that date.

Valentine's Day
We will be exchanging Valentines on Friday, February 14th.  Students do not have to bring Valentines.  If they do, they need to bring one for everyone in the class.  Students may bring snacks to share, but they need to be healthy treats. 
Student's will get to decorate bags in class to hold their Valentines. If they would like to bring a box from home to decorate instead, we will be decorating on Thursday, the 13th.

Week of 1/20

This month the read alouds I have been reading are all about sled dogs.
We have read Stone Fox, about a little boy who helps save his grandfather's farm.  We just started Akiak, a story about a dog who is determined to lead no matter what.  The next book we will read is called Balto and the Great Race.  If you have access to the movie Togo, your 2nd grader will enjoy making connections between it and the story of Balto.  The 2020 Iditerod race will begin in Alaska on March 7th. Akiak and Balto and the Great Race are both about the Iditerod race.

Field Trip
We are going on a field trip to the Nampa Civic Center on Jan. 29th to see the MTI production of Wizard of Oz.  We will load the buses at 8:20 to be at the Civic Center by 9:00.  We won't arrive back to the school until noon.  I already have 2 chaperones for the field trip and I am unable to take any more.

Second grader's lunch is normally at 11:00.  On this day, they will pick up their lunch at 12:20.  If your child will have trouble waiting that extra hour, you may send a healthy, easy-to-eat-on-the-bus, snack they can eat on the way back to school after the program.  Some good ideas are nuts, or a cheese stick.

Social Studies
We will be spending the next week learning about different African American leaders in our country in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.  I'm hoping to introduce students to some people they may not have heard of before.

Science
Right now we are learning about properties of matter.  Students have been learning that different types of clothing have different properties and it is important to wear clothes appropriate for your activity.  They learned how cotton is soft, absorbent, light and opaque.  It is good for comfort and warmer weather.  Plastic is good for wet weather.  Metal is good for battle, (suit of armor).  If one is going to be running and jumping or swimming, stretchy material is better.

Math
We have been practicing measuring and comparing.  Students need to understand language like shorter, longer, how much more, how much less, difference, and combined.  Some students are ready to add and subtract more complex numbers.  I am searching for mastery of all addition and subtraction.

Reading and Writing
In the next month students will be writing a report.  They have begun collecting facts.  I will help them organize that information into a report.  They will be expected to write multiple paragraphs.

Students are continuing to read books at their reading level and take comprehension tests on them.  If you would like an itemized copy of the comprehension books and tests for your second grader, send me an email and I would be happy to send one home.

Week of 1/13

We've completed our first week back after Christmas break.  I hope everyone had a nice holiday.

Today is the first day of the 3rd quarter.  You will be able to view your 2nd grader's grades on parent portal on January 17th. If you are unable to get onto parent portal please email Mrs. Bowers at
amybowers@visioncsd.org.

Conferences
We have parent/teacher conferences on Monday, January 20th.  If you would like to meet with me regarding your student, please send me an email and a time between 8 and 3:30  that works for you.

Week of 12/16

We just have a few more days of school until Winter Break.  Winter break begins on Dec. 23 and goes until Jan. 3.  The only homework students have over break is to read.  They are welcome to turn in their reading log this Friday if they are afraid they will forget.  I also sent home the Roaring Reader form.  This is a great time to begin to fill that out to get the Roaring Springs tickets.

We have been studying Christmas traditions in other countries.  Each country has an art project that goes with it so our room is looking quite festive with all the Christmas decorations.  Students will be bringing all their Christmas art home on Friday so you can add them to your own decorations before Christmas.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Students will be performing this twice on Friday, December 20th: 9:00 am and 10:00 am.  Students may wear their pajamas on Friday. They are doing well and are excited for the performance.

Thank you for all the wonderful props.  I believe the only thing we don't have is a sort of Santa coat (red coat).

I hope you all enjoy the Christmas holiday.  I am thankful to be able to teach your second grader.

Week of 12/9

I will begin with the most exciting news . . .

Performance
On Friday, December 20th, Students will be performing a Reader's Theater version of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."  They will be performing twice. Once at 9:00 am and then again at 10:00 am.  Students get to dress up in pajamas that day. You are invited to come watch one or both performances.  I wanted to let you know early so you can mark your calendars.

Christmas Gifts
Mrs. Osgood's second grade class is selling ornaments for $1.  If your child wants to buy any, they are available all week to purchase.

Homework
This week normal homework came home.  Next week I will only be sending home a reading log.  Roaring Reader reading log came home last week.  It must be completed and turned in by March 20th in order to receive the Roaring Springs tickets.  Christmas break is a great time to get some of that extra reading in.

Props
This week we need to begin collecting props.  Anything that resembles the item on the list works.  We love homemade things.  If you have anything that would help, please send it in with your second grader.

Christmas tree
stocking
wrapped presents (empty)
stuffed dog
horns (antlers)
read thread
fire place
chimney
log (for the fire)
cans of food
bags or sacks (that Santa would stuff everything into)
cup
sleigh
Santa suit or something like it