Distance Learning Day 1

This is an amazing opportunity for all of us to get out of our comfort zones.  I don't know what else to say.  This is different and difficult and we are all adjusting.

I am grateful that we get to experience this together.  I am thankful we are healthy right now.  I am thankful we can still communicate even if it's not as good as face to face.  I will never take a day in the classroom for granted again.

Here are some hard working 2nd graders from today.

 

Week of 3/30

We never imagined this spring would turn out the way it has.  If you are anything like me, you would prefer to simply go back to school as usual this week.  I know your family is making many adjustments during this time, trying to figure out how our temporary "new normal" looks.  I want to let you know I am available to help in any way I can.

As we enter into a new school format, please feel free to contact me if you need any help.  I am available to you and your second grader.  I have worked hard to try and foresee every possibility and difficulty.  I have tried to take each household into consideration in my plans, but I have inevitably forgotten something along the way. 

I prepared a packet for the week which includes practice papers for each day along with instructions for each day.  If you are unable to begin this packet because you are waiting to pick it up from the school, students may work on the Winter Packet also (I sent it home last December). If students do some of the winter packet, they can save some of the 3/30-4/3 packet for next week.  Between the two packets, they have 10 days of work.

I have prepared online videos for instruction (links below), but all other work is paper and pencil.  Online activities like Myon, IXL, Xtra Math and Read Works are optional.  I have links to all these sites on the right side of my blog. 

If students finish reading a book, I would still like them to take an AR (Accelerated Reader) test on it. if they are able.  That usually only takes a few minutes.

Some 2nd graders will complete these assignments with ease and will want more challenging tasks.  I have created some options for those tasks within the assignments.  You are free to work on the packets at the pace that works for your family.  You do not need to strictly adhere to the days I listed.  At the end of the week let me know what your students have completed so I can give them credit for school for the week.

Please communicate with me so I can help you adjust the assignments to fit your 2nd grader.  Spend this week focusing on quality of work and low stress, not quantity. 

Just because your child is learning at home does not mean you, as the parent, should do all the work.  Your child and I should be working the hardest, if you find that you are worn out with their school work, let me know.

Each day includes practice pages for math, language, spelling, writing, reading, science and social studies.  I have also included some opportunities for art.  Don't let your child race through those, it is a good opportunity to create something great.  Mrs. Ellis has created some music activities and all 2nd graders should spend time moving and playing.

Winter Packet

Packet 3/30-4/3

Matter Unit 4 Part 1

Matter Unit 4 Part 2

Matter Unit 4 Part 3

Mrs. Ellis's YouTube channel

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.