News & Notes {the last post}

A wonderful school year has come and gone.  The past few weeks were an emotional roller coaster for me (and, it seems for some of the students as well).  There were so many times that I looked out across the room of little faces and suddenly saw 3rd grade behaviors, work, and maturity.  It was an exciting feeling to be watching them grow up (but a bit bittersweet as well).
I know I've told so many of you that I am grateful for the year I had with your children.  I know each child grew so much throughout the year, but, in a way, I am left feeling that I was the learner and your children the teachers.  I am so thankful for each of them.

And speaking of thanks... a huge "thank you" to you and your children for making me feel special!  I have been surrounded by flowers and hand-written notes for nearly a week now... beautiful reminders of all of you and your support.  Thank you, thank you.  (And in the next few weeks, Mr. Grosh and I will be taking a trip over to the Lancaster area to enjoy the gift card to El Serrano, courtesy of you all!  Yum!)

To wrap up, here are a few pictures I took on the last full day of school as we worked on a whale craft and the accompanying math word problems.  The students did a fantastic job with all of those multiplication problems!

As you can see below, someone wore something a little extra for whale week!  I love it when students incorporate something all their own into learning!

Enjoy the summer with your children!  I can say from experience that time with them is time well spent!

Photo Update

Here are some photos that I've been meaning to post for quite some time.  Enjoy!

Following are several of the pictures I took of our field trip to the Museum School.  You can see the students modeling clothing of the day (1953), playing games from that time, learning and presenting about the presidents who served in office up until that time, and participating in lessons for the day.

Here you can see the class working together to put together a large foam map of the United States.  This was a great activity, generously supplied by our friend, Evan Girdharry!

This was an activity from Friday.  Students created beaded bracelets with equal groups of like colors to practice their multiplication.  They did such a great job of working quietly and working together to share their bracelets to create multiplication sentences!

News & Notes {& Pick-A-Coin}

Good afternoon!

I hope you've been able to enjoy the beautiful weather, sunshine, and spring scenery.  Tomorrow is a big day in second grade!  Following are a few details to keep in mind.

--- Field Trip:  We are traveling to the museum school at Carter and MacRae Elementary School.  The bus will leave the school at 9:40 so that we can arrive in time for the 10:00 start of the "school day" at the museum school.  Please remember to pack a lunch for your child if you indicated on their permission form that they would be packing.  There will not be extra lunches available.  The museum school teacher will dismiss students at 1:30 to meet our bus and return to the present day at New Danville.  :)  We will arrive back at New Danville at approximately 1:45, in time to practice for the Spring Concert with the rest of the school.

--- Spring Concert:  The Spring Concert Schowcase begins at 7pm.  Please note that the doors to the school open at 6:30.  Students should report to their seats in the gym no later than 6:50.  Students are encouraged to dress up for this exciting spring event.

One other item to keep in mind at we begin the month of May is the Nickels for New Danville fundraiser.  This fundraiser runs throughout the month of May and proceeds are designated for sprucing up our gym.  Send in spare change as you have opportunity!

A Peek At Our Week:

- Language Arts --- Students are reviewing theirs skills in comparing and contrasting as well as identifying proper nouns.  They will continue to plan and draft their "All About" books during Writer's Workshop.

- Math --- Our focus is still on money, though this week we will dive into making change.  This concept can be difficult for students to grasp so we will move slowly.  Please encourage your child and have patience as their understanding develops.

- Bible ---  Students will continue to develop their understanding of how following Jesus means to care for those around them.

- Social Studies --- We will continue to focus on map skills, this time specifically looking at the 7 continents and where we are located in relation to others areas of the earth.

Last week we started playing a math game called "Pick-A-Coin" which provides students with practice writing dollars-and-cents notation and develops their understanding of the values of coins.  Here are a few pictures of our money activities.

News & Notes (& Measurement Olympics)

Good evening!

The last two weeks have gone by in a blur!  We've moved from a measurement unit on to a money unit in math, begun preparing for our class field trip, and started the final unit of Language Arts for the year.  Can you believe that there is only about a month left of school?!  Another year will have come and gone before you know it.

Please keep in mind the following two events, both on Monday, May 4 (yes, it will be a busy day!):

- The class field trip to the Museum School will be from approximately 9:40-1:45.  Parents who have volunteered to chaperone will receive a more detailed email from me.

- The Spring Program will begin at 7pm.  Students should report to their seats no later than 6:50 that evening.

--- Also please note that this Friday students will be dismissed at 12:30 due to an afternoon staff development meeting.

A Peek At Our Week:

- Bible --- Students will be completing their skits of the miracles of Jesus and begin learning about following Jesus and His call on our lives to care for others.

- Language Arts --- We will be analyzing an author's purpose for writing a given text, identifying and using adjectives to enhance our writing, and tying it all together using a desert themed week.  Students will begin writing "All About Books" during Writer's Workshop.

- Math --- Students will use calculators to add money amounts together and study dollars and cents notation for writing money amounts.

- Social Studies --- We will learn about the various regions of the United States and learn the basic parts of a map.

Here are a few photos of the Measurement Olympics we held as a culminating activity to our measurement unit for math.  Enjoy!