sscanlon

1/23/12 Newsletter

Welcome to another week!  I look forward to having a "regular" schedule with five days this week!  :)  Don't forget about the 100 Day Challenge that is posted in last week's newsletter!  Friday is the 100th day of school! 

This week, we will be continuing with Martin Luther King Jr. and will have a quiz on Wednesday.  Your child will bring home a Social Studies Weekly on him today that you can use to study from.  Also this week, we will begin measurement.  We will be learning the customary measurement system (inches, feet and yards) and next week, we will learn the metric system.  Some students are still having trouble comparing and modeling fractions, so I will work with those students during math centers today and tomorrow and anyone who did not get a 3 on last week's quiz will take another one on Wednesday.  The quiz will primarily cover comparing and modeling, so those are the concepts you should review (see pages 3-5 of the quiz in their Monday Folder today for ideas).  There will also be a quiz on Friday over inches, feet, yards and the appropriate tool to match each.  Students will need to know how to measure, but also which tool and unit to use for various items.  Your child is working hard on a non-fiction book of their very own and it's been great fun!  I sent a bookmark home with them last week that shows you where and how they can find information on their topic.  This is not required, but might be helpful and fun! 

One other announcement...our 2nd grade performance will be February 2nd!  Please read the attached information and plan to be there.  Download FANTASTIC FEBRUARY ad   Download Video order form 2nd grade Thanks!  Have a great week everyone!

Snack

Parents, we are in need of snacks! If you are willing to send something healthy in, we'd appreciate it.  There are lots of ideas below.  Remember, most days, it's best to send your child with their own healthy snack.  Healthy snacks include, fresh cut veggies, crackers, cheese sticks, yogurt (please include spoon), fruit, granola bars, and pretzels.  If you'd like to send in snacks for kids that forget, we'd greatly appreciate it.  Pre-packaged snacks are easiest.  Other ideas include boxes of Cheerios or Kix.  If you think of another low-sugar cereal that's easy to eat with fingers, feel free to send that in.  I don't allow sugar cereals.  Cookies, chips and other "junk foods" are not allowed.  Please be mindful of this rule when you're packing your kids lunches too.  We all love dessert, but have you seen your child on a sugar high? ;)  It's not the best state-of-mind for learning.  Don't forget that water is the only beverage allowed in the classroom, and water bottles must have a flip-top or pop-top, not a screw top.  This helps prevent catastrophic spills.  ;)   Thanks for your support!

1/17/12 Newsletter

Good morning!  Welcome to 2012!  I hope you all had a wonderful two weeks off and MLK weekend!  I want to first of all thank all of you so very much for the thoughtful gifts you put together for me.  The personalized lunch bag and all it's goodies, including the extremely generous gift card were SO appreciated.  Thank you so much to all of you!

Homework

For the month of January, we have combined Science, Social Studies and Health into one column.  Students should continue to do three language arts activities and one from each other category, for a total of six assignments instead of seven.  We are going to be learning about Martin Luther King Jr. this week in honor of his birthday, so students can begin working on those assignments. 

100 Days in School

The one hundredth day of school is quickly approaching!  Please consider participating in the attached fundraiser to help our Relay for Life Team and raise money for cancer.  Download 100 Day Challenge

Math Night

Thursday, January 19th will be Family Math Night.  It starts at 6:30 and will consist of two 30 minute sessions.  We will provide you with strategies to help your child and will play a making change game that you'll be able to take home with you!  Second grade's math sessions will be in Ms. Sukloff's and Ms. Brannon's rooms, which are in the pod area.  Hope to see you there!

Upcoming Curriculum

Currently, we are working on fractions in math.  There will be a quiz Friday.  Students will need to be able to identify fractions and understand what a whole is.  They also need to begin learning the vocabulary words numerator and denominator.  In language arts, we are spending some time reading and writing non-fiction.  We are in the process of researching animals (each child has chosen one) and are learning note-taking skills.  I expect that we will begin our rough drafts by the end of the week.  This is a good opportunity for you to focus on non-fiction reading comprehension at home.  Non-fiction reading comprehension is much harder than fiction, so make sure your child is competent in both.  Discuss the difference between fact and opinion, ask questions at the end of a book and organize information that is learned on a chart or bubble map.  If you need additional ideas, please let me know!  Students will not be moved to the next reading level if they cannot master comprehension of a non-fiction text at that level, so let's work on it!  ;)  Finally, as mentioned earlier, we are learning about Martin Luther King Jr. in social studies.  There will not be a quiz this week, but next week, there will.  These are an important part of your child's social studies grade, so please have nightly discussions about what they have learned about him.  I'll give you more detail next week as to what type of information will be assessed.  For this week, just make sure your child knows who MLK is and why he was important to Georgia and mankind in general.  Have a great week!

Snack

We are in need of healthy, pre-packaged (preferred) snacks again.  Thanks!

12/19/11 Newsletter

Happy Holidays!  I hope everyone's shopping is done!  ;)  Here are our events for the week!

Homework

There WILL be regular homework this week, although spelling will not resume until that first week back, and tests will resume the week of January 16th.  I will not send spelling or handwriting packets this week.  Try to have the regular assignments in by Thursday, but I know it's a busy week and I'm not going to sit students out of our holiday party for homework.  Just do the best you can.  It will be a very normal week at school until Thursday afternoon, so I don't want them to get in "party mode".  ;)  It's best to stick to the regular homework routine if possible to keep them focused. There is no homework over break, but please read!

Thursday December 22nd

Thursday will be Crazy Feet/Sock Day to raise money for our Relay for Life Team.  Bring a dollar and show us your crazy feet!  Download RFL_Crazy Feet Day

Holiday Break

There will be no school Friday (December 23rd) and school will resume on TUESDAY, January 10th.  Happy Holidays everyone!

Download Holiday Message 2011

12/5/11 Newsletter

Hi!  Here are just a couple things in addition to what I already emailed out.  Students don't seem to really be practicing their spelling words at home like I'd like.  So, today I've included a "Spelling Homework Packet" that is due Friday.  Students should use THEIR words to complete the daily activities.  Most students have three words, so even though their are five lines, most will only use three.  I've told the students to PLEASE not do the whole packet in one night.  That defeats the purpose of daily spelling practice.  Thanks for your support on this matter.  In addition, handwriting packets are back.  ;)  Those who received them should also turn those in on Friday.  I've circled two activities that students are required to do this week in math and science/health.  For all other areas, students may choose their activity, but for those two subjects, they may not.  Finally, please send the progress reports back with your signature as soon as possible.  I will then send you a copy for your records.  I so appreciate everything you do for your child!  Have a GREAT Monday and a great week!

11/28/11 Newsletter

I hope you all had a fantastic Thanksgiving!  Little Brady turned one, so we had an eventful week!  ;) Here's what's coming up in and around our classroom.

Angel Tree starts December 5th

King Springs will be helping those in need via the Angel Tree.  See attachment for more details.  Download Angel Tree Permission

Trash to Treasures Tree - Due December 8th

Anyone interested?  Download TRASHTRO2011doc

Book Mobile - Due December 9th

You may remember our Book Mobile from last year.  We're doing it again!  We will collect books for children in our community in need, so clean off those book shelves and please donate new and gently used books for elementary level students.  You can donate anytime between now and December 9th and I'll get your books to the committee.  Thanks!

Holiday Breakfast - December 10th

The Holiday Breakfast will be Saturday, December 10th from 9-12.  Look for more information from PTA in their newsletter that I have forwarded to you.

Skate Party - December 11th

Remember, our skate party is Sunday December 11th from 3-5, so please mark your calendar. 

Holiday Party - December 22nd

We will have a little holiday celebration on Thursday December 22nd, so look for a sign up soon on our Shutterfly site. 

Scholastic Books

Don't forget about our Scholastic Book ordering!  Just email me if you place an order.  Download Scholastic letter 

FREE GROCERIES!

If you are unemployed, you can receive a free Honeybaked ham and one week of groceries on December 17^th, 2011.  Call 678-990-8100 and press 1 for all the information you will need.

11/14/11 Newsletter

I'm really sorry it's been so long since I've had any significant communication.  I've been sick, and this and my grading are the things that fell by the wayside.  :(  I'm still fighting whatever this is, so be patient with me.  It's been kind of quiet with announcements anyway.  Here's what's new in our classroom and what's coming up in the next few weeks!

Accelerated Reader

I had some requests for Accelerated Reader during conference week, and we got that under way last week.  It's a program that I do have some concerns with, so let me explain a little about it.  Many of the books in our media center have AR tests purchased for them.  The way to know if our school has a test for that book is to look at the spine.  If you see a dot sticker, that book has a test.  I have assigned levels to your child so that they know what level they may test on.  Here's where it gets tricky.  One of my concerns with the program is that students sometimes become so concerned with their level and "dot color", that they lose all interest in the love of reading for the sake of reading.  I've told the students that of the two books they get each time they go to the library, ONE of their books should be and AR book on their level.  The students read the book twice (once for chapter books) and then take a 5-10 question quiz on the computer to check for comprehension.  Another concern is that the questions are low-level recall questions...not really accessing the higher level thinking skills at all.  That being said, most kids seem to like taking the tests, and it motivates SOME students to read more.  The 200 Book Club is still our primary reading program, along with Rocket Readers, but this will be in addition to those.  Hopefully between all three programs, there's something for everyone.  For right now, I'm asking each child to pass one test a week minimum, and you can see their progress on the reports that come home in the Monday Folders.  Also, as a reminder, students need to have their library books in their book bag each day so they have access to them and the ability to meet these goals.  Thanks!

Cranberry Day/Author's Chair

On Friday, we're going to have another tasting activity!  Pumpkin Day was so fun, we thought we would taste cranberry foods this time and read our "How to Stuff a Turkey" creative writing stories.  Join us, if you can, on Friday for our Author's Chair at 11:00.  You can also sign up to send in cranberry foods on the Shutterfly site.  We will have that during our snack time that day, so you won't need to send a regular snack that day. 

Homework

The students can choose any homework assignments for this month.  We have not taught energy yet, but the activities are ones that they should be able to do without a problem and will get them thinking about energy for our upcoming unit.  We've only talked briefly about cardiovascular disease, but we did talk about keeping our hearts healthy. 

Appropriate Clothing

As the weather gets colder, please dress your child in the appropriate clothing, since we do go outside most days.  My general rule of thumb is that they need a coat or a thick sweatshirt for anything less than 60 degrees, and if it's below 50, I will not allow them to come with us if they don't have a coat.  Also, make sure your child is wearing sneakers on PE days.  They have PE every other day.  It gets confusing when we have an assembly thrown in there, but I don't know of any assemblies in the near future.  I'll try to send an email when we have another one so you'll know we got off our rotation. 

Sparkles Skate Party

The Sparkles Skate Party we won is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, December 11th.  I don't know the time yet, but wanted to let you know so that you can pencil that in.  I'll let you know more details as I get them. 

Don't forget that there's no school next week!  Students do not need to do homework over the break, but I hope you'll do lots of reading!  I hope to see many of you on Friday at our Author's Chair, but if I don't see you, have a blessed Thanksgiving holiday!

10/24/11 Newsletter

It's conference week!  It was a pleasure meeting with some of you today.  We have a very busy week, so please knock at your scheduled time, thanks!  Don't forget that students are released at 12:10 each day and will need a note if their transportation is different than usual.  I look forward to seeing you all!

10/17/11 Newsletter

Good evening!  We had a great time at the Fire Safety Village today, even though our bus was almost an hour late.  :(  We learned a lot, including the fact that the new law states that children under 8 years old are legally required to be in a booster seat now.  Did you know that?  Weight is not the only determining factor now.  So, if your second grader is seven, be sure they're in a booster seat. Picture Day is tomorrow!  Be sure to send picture envelopes with money if you have not already done so and would like to request pictures.  Please place these in the binders so they don't get left in the book bag.  Thanks!  This is Red Ribbon week, so be sure to check out last week's newsletter to see how to participate.   NEXT week is conference week, and I want to remind you that students are dismissed at 12:10 every day that week.  Also next week, is Pumpkin Day.  We will have some Fall fun, on Friday, October 28th from 10-12, with a break for lunch.  Our whole week will be really condensed, so I usually tell my parent volunteers to take the week off.  I'm not quite sure what our schedule will be for each day yet, but specials and lunch times are different, so volunteer times would be different as well.  It's just easier to not try and work around so many things.  If you'd REALLY still like to do your weekly volunteering, just see me and we'll see what time might work.  I certainly appreciate your help each week, so you just let me know what is best for you.  Room moms will send out more information regarding Pumpkin Day, probably via the new Shutterfly site.  Don't you just love that?  Thanks Tracey Santos!  Speaking of that, I took some great pictures today on my phone, but need to figure out how to get pictures from an iPhone to that site somehow.  I always have trouble downloading from my phone.  If anyone can help, email me!  Well, that's all for now, but this feels like it might be a biweekly newsletter kind of week.  :) 

10/10/11 Newsletter

Happy Columbus Day!

In your child's binder...

Today I placed a permission slip for our field trip to the Fire Safety Village next Monday.  Please let me know if you will send your child with a lunch and usually don't.  Students who bring a lunch from home every day don't need to let me know.  We will be ordering school lunches for that day THIS week (choices are turkey and cheese or plain cheese), so I'll need to know from YOU, not your child, if they will bring a lunch from home that day.  I appreciate your help with this.  I just don't want any children to go hungry because we didn't order them a lunch and then the lunch gets forgotten that day.  A lot of time, the students want to bring a lunch from home, but let's face it, you are the one who's making it, so you decide.  :)  Please send the permission slips back as soon as possible.  No payment is necessary. 

Also in SOME binders, you will find a handwriting packet.  If you see one, it is due Friday.  These will be sent home until your child's handwriting improves (and not just on the packet, lol). 

Tomorrow, you will see a yellow conference letter in the binder.  This will have your child's conference date and time, so please review that and send the bottom portion back as soon as possible.

Speaking of conferences...

Conference Week

Conference week is approaching quickly (October 24-28)!  Last week, I sent an email letting you know my availability.  I have only had one request for the 7am conference and still have four slots left!  If that is a time you would prefer, please let me know asap!  I've made a note of other requests I got last week and hopefully everyone will be happy.  ;)  If you have more than one child at KSE, those conferences have been scheduled back to back.  You can look at the day and time we've selected...hopefully those work.  If you'd rather come two times and take one of my 7am slots, let me know today! 

Red Ribbon Week

Red Ribbon Week is next week, the 17-21st.  There will be daily activities for participation (see below).

Monday – " HEROS ARE DRUG FREE” -  participants wear red shirts OR dress as a hero & have students  read and  sign pledge card!

Tuesday – “DON’T BE A SUCKER. DON’T USE DRUGS!” – For participation we ask students to write 1-2 sentences OR draw a picture about what they have learned about being drug free.

Wednesday – “SOCK IT TO DRUGS”; participants should wear silly or mismatched socks.

Thursday – “I HAVE BETTER THINGS TO DO THAN DRUGS” - participants should wear what they do such as a scout uniform, their team jersey, club shirt/mascot or musical note on shirt,  etc…

Friday – “TEAM SPRINGS TEAM UP AGAINST DRUGS" - participants should wear their favorite COLLEGE jersey/shirt/hat

Picture Day

Please note:  pictures will be taken on October 18th this year and make-ups will be on November 29th.

Family Night in the Media Center

This will be on Thursday, October 20th in the Media Center.  Come for stories with Sarah Cave (Onsager), Hot Chocolate and cookies.  All FREE.  Come in your pajamas.

Math Fact Ice Cream Party

Our ice cream celebration will be this Friday!  Students who have not earned all of their toppings will be tested every day this week, so PRACTICE!  I would love some parent helpers for that day if you're available.  I'll need you at 1:30 in our classroom with your ice cream scoop.  :)  If you have a few extra minutes to help me set up, you can come at 1:15 (we will still be doing math then, but can set up).