The Bees' Knees

2010-08-28T16:22:00.001-04:00

The Last Day of School

2010-06-03T20:20:00.001-04:00

It is hard for me to believe that the school year is over. It has been eventful!

We survived several nasty go rounds with the flu, broken bones, headaches, bellyaches, and some hospitalizations. We learned addition, subtraction, and multiplication facts. We studied dinosaurs, plants, germs, and light and color. We learned about communities, government, and our ancestors. We went from beautiful printing to gorgeous cursive. We laughed together, prayed together, played together, and worked together. We learned about discipline, organization, and respect.

Your children are wonderful! They are so caring and loving towards each other. Oh, there were moments of arguing and disagreement, but just like in any family, these moments were forgotten quickly and the class is stronger for them.

Your children made me laugh with their stories and antics. They made me cry when they raised their sweet voices in song and earnest prayer. They reaffirmed my deep love of teaching each time they said they loved school or the day went so fast or they didn’t want to be done yet. I will miss them.

Please be sure your children read every day this summer. Encourage them to read independently. Read more complex, difficult stories to them. Make sure they practice their math skills. Ask them to tell you the time, make change for a dollar, count coins, practice their addition and subtraction facts, and work on story problems. There are some great websites with free practice games (just “google” free [addition] [subtraction] math practice problems). Encourage them to practice spelling words on SpellingCity.com. All the lists from second grade will remain up and you can also search for third grade words. If you need any ideas or suggestions for fun ways to practice academics, please feel free to drop me an email at dittman.amy@gmail.com.

Thank you for all your support this year. It was truly delightful getting to know you and your children. I feel very blessed to be a small part of your lives.

Enjoy your summer!

ONE MORE WEEK

2010-05-21T18:16:00.001-04:00

I find it difficult to believe that next week is our last week of classes. Students will still have a spelling test and a reading test. There will also be one last assessment in math, science, and social studies.

Here is our schedule for the last week of school:

Monday 31 NO SCHOOL

Tuesday 1     Cleaning Day

Wednesday 2 Erie Zoo

Thursday 3    Retreat

Friday   4       Last day of school (early dismissal)

www.smories.com

2010-05-06T19:30:00.001-04:00

My husband is a wonderful source of information about new and exciting educational opportunities. Today, he sent me information about this site, www.smories.com . I went to it and was very excited! There are a number of short stories read by children on it and more stories are added each month.

Although it is a new site, it seems like a great place to let your children visit, especially over the summer. Check it out and let me know what you think!

Sniffle! Sniffle!

2010-05-05T17:22:00.001-04:00

We have opened our last box of Kleenex just as allergy and cold season seems to be in full swing. If you are able to send in a box to help us in this situation, we would greatly appreciate it!

May News

2010-05-05T16:56:00.001-04:00

Students will have a busy month!

May

6 Thursday      7th grade play at 1:15PM

7   Friday          Donuts with Dads from 7:45-8:30

10 Monday        Early Dismissal at 1:30PM

13 Thursday      Ascension Thursday Mass at 1:45PM at school

14 Friday         Rosary Field Trip with Guardian Angels

17 Monday       Swimming at YMCA 1-2PM

20 Thursday      Spring Concert 7PM

21 Friday          Final school mass

24 Monday        Swimming at YMCA 1-2PM

28 Friday          Swimming at YMCA 1-2PM

31 Monday        NO SCHOOL

June

1 Tuesday         Cleaning Day

2 Wednesday     Field Trip to Erie Zoo

3 Thursday        School-wide retreat

4 Friday            LAST DAY for students

May Crowning

2010-04-28T17:12:00.001-04:00

The May Crowning, presented by kindergarten, first, and second grade, will be on Tuesday, May 4th at 2PM in the gym. Previously, the time was listed as 2:15PM.

Students with speaking parts will be bringing them home today. Please be sure that they practice so they will be comfortable on Tuesday.

All are welcome to attend.

Missing Books

2010-04-28T17:08:00.001-04:00

I was completing the second grade textbook inventory this morning and discovered that I am missing one social studies textbook (new last year) and three science textbooks. Students rarely bring these home, but I have sent them to students who have had extended absences. Please check this evening to be sure one of these book is not sitting on a shelf in your home. If you should find one, please return it tomorrow.

I really appreciate your help with this matter.

Mass

2010-04-12T17:12:00.001-04:00

The children did a wonderful job at Mass last Friday. I was so proud of them. We only had a few chances to practice and there were some very difficult words! I thought they read beautifully, sang like angels, carried the banner and gifts so seriously, and really followed along during the service. They are a delightful class.

Pencils

2010-04-12T17:05:00.001-04:00

I hate to ask again, but the pencil gremlin seems to have visited our room and eaten all our pencils. We are in dire need! I know I ranted about this before but out situation really is not the fault of the children. Quality pencils are difficult to find. The graphite falls out when sharpened or the casing grinds away unevenly and we all find it frustrating! If you have any pencils to donate, I would be very appreciative. Thanks for your help.

Just an Update

2010-04-10T09:49:00.001-04:00

The dinosaur book is completed and has been mailed. It should arrive at school in about four weeks. The unveiling is a huge event for the second grade!

Next Tuesday, we will be making our own fossil castings. Your child will be bringing theirs home at the end of the week, if all goes well!

We are going to be starting our last unit in reading soon. The theme is courage. The stories are a lot of fun. I think you will enjoy reading them with your children.

We have learned all the lowercase letters in cursive and will start the uppercase letters next week! The children can’t wait to write their names, so I am allowing them to print the first letter and write the rest in cursive…just so you wouldn’t wonder at the strange writing!

Monday is an early dismissal day. Enjoy this lovely weekend!

A Little Note

2010-03-13T08:19:00.001-05:00

Mrs. Finch was in for me last Thursday and Mrs. Puleo will be in on Monday as have to take my mom to the hospital. The students are very comfortable with both teachers and will experience very little disruption of their classroom routines. I will post a note about any future absences as soon as I have that information. I appreciate your patience and your prayers.

Student Writers and Illustrators

2010-03-07T09:31:00.001-05:00

Your Child is about to be a Published Author!

Last week we began our dinosaur unit in reading. The children each drew a dinosaur name and learned which dinosaur they will be researching for a book to be published at the end of March.

The children will find out all they can about their individual dinosaurs from a minimum of two sources. Information will be gathered on a research sheet. Students will then write rough copies using their gathered information. They will also sketch preliminary illustrations. Final copies and illustrations will be written after the editing process is completed. All the work will be sent to the publisher in time for our March 25^th publication date.

Tomorrow you will receive a form so you may order a copy of the dinosaur book. Be sure to check if you want the regular ($14.95) or deluxe copy ($4.95 extra). Also be sure that you add the shipping and handling fee ($2.95). Checks may be made out to STUDENTREASURES PUBLISHING. You may order as many books as you wish.

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO ORDER A BOOK! I always purchase a copy for the school, so if you choose not to order a book, your child will still have the opportunity to borrow it from the library. If this is the case, YOU MUST CHECK THE NO BOX AND SIGN THE FORM.

The company will only print the books if all students have returned a signed form regardless of whether or not they are ordering one.

All forms must be returned by Monday, March 15.

This is the fifth year that I have done this project. It is always an exciting time in our classroom! I have copies of the previous books if you would like to see one. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

March Newsletter

2010-03-04T21:43:00.001-05:00

Please be sure to check your child’s folder for the March newsletter. It has a lot of important information. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me if you have any questions or concerns.

Good-Bye to Winter!

2010-02-28T11:33:00.001-05:00

Well, it has been long and cold and snowy and bleak, but it is finally coming to an end. We will soon spring forward and the light of day will last longer. The sun will shine and the doldrums will fade and summer will be on the horizon. Let’s embrace the last bit of winter by enjoying our wool sweaters and snowmen and hot chocolate while looking forward to the hope of spring.

Congratulations!

2010-02-28T11:26:00.001-05:00

Congratulations to the students who made their First Reconciliation on Saturday at St. Joseph Church. I am so proud of each of you!

Air is All Around Us!

2010-02-22T19:00:00.001-05:00

We did a great experiment in science today to prove that air all around us. If your child asks for a plastic cup, a napkin, and a large container of water, humor them! They could even conduct this experiment in the bathtub!

First Reconciliation at St. Stephen Church

2010-02-20T19:18:00.001-05:00

Congratulations to the second graders who made their First Reconciliation at St. Stephen Church today. I am very proud of each of you!

A Normal Week

2010-02-20T09:00:00.001-05:00

All signs are pointing to this being a “normal” week at school---five days, no anticipated bad weather, no special activities interrupting afternoon lessons, … it is going to be a pleasure!

We will be finishing our third reading unit, which means our dinosaur unit (always a favorite!), is just around the corner. At the same time, we will be studying dinosaurs in science, and creating a dinosaur book for publication in late March! Watch for more information in the next two weeks.

Thanks so much!

2010-02-15T19:38:00.001-05:00

Thanks to Mrs. Kalamajka, Mrs. Puleo, and Mr. and Mrs. Finch for running a wonderful Valentine’s Day party! The students had a great time and the treats were delicious. Kudos to you all!

Another quick thank you to Ms. Brehm, Mrs. Barletta, and Mrs. Kalamajka for sending in much needed pencils. I am very appreciative of your donations!

NO SCHOOL

2010-02-08T18:58:00.001-05:00

Students do not have school on Friday or Monday.

Please remember that Tuesday is Mardi Gras. Children may dress in jeans, sneakers, and a shirt in their team color.

February Highlights

2010-02-08T18:55:00.001-05:00

Be sure to read the Bees’ Knees that came home today. It highlights a lot of important February activities.

We will be going to the Barrow-Civic Theatre on Thursday to see THE LITTLE MERMAID. Make sure you have returned your child’s signed permission slip and the $5 fee. If the cost is a hardship, please just let me know.

Pencils

2010-01-24T08:35:00.001-05:00

Although we had plenty at the beginning of the year, our pencil supply is running low. This is due to the poor quality of pencils being sold. Some have a plastic casing instead of wooden. This does not hold the graphite well, so it falls out when sharpened. Some have such poor quality graphite that it is impossible to sharpen them without the graphite breaking. If you are able to send in new pencils, I would greatly appreciate it. Ticonderoga are expensive, but they are the best quality.

REMINDER

2010-01-17T09:08:00.001-05:00

Students have the day off on Monday. Enjoy!

Cursive Handwriting

2010-01-14T18:04:00.001-05:00

Second grade is beginning cursive handwriting. They are so excited! I am sending home a copy of Zaner-Bloser lowercase and uppercase cursive letters. I would prefer students not write particular letters until we have learned them in school. Should you choose to allow them to work on other letters, please be sure they are following the formation instructions on the sheet. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to drop me a note.

Service Project

2010-01-14T17:54:00.001-05:00

Students are required to complete two service projects each year as part of the curriculum. One of these projects was the food drive for St. Elizabeth’s during the Thanksgiving season. The second is the math-a-thon for St. Jude Hospital. I have only received six response forms. All remaining students need to return their permission slips as soon as possible. Next week, students will receive a math booklet or may choose to complete the activities online. They have one week to complete the math problems. All monies collected will be due the following week. The exact date will be sent home soon.

Please stress the importance of participating in this project.

Important Dates for Your Calendar

2010-01-14T17:45:00.001-05:00

January

18     NO SCHOOL

22     Mass at school at 1:45PM

29     Report cards go home

31     CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK BEGINS

          *Watch for information/schedule

          *Please return required slips ASAP :)

February

2-4 CSW activities at school

6 First Penance Retreat (all candidates)

10AM-2PM at St. Stephen Church

8 Early Dismissal/Jeans Day

12 NO SCHOOL for students

15 NO SCHOOL

16 Mardi Gras

17 Mass at school at 1:45PM

20 St. Stephen First Penance 1PM

27 St. Joseph First Penance 11AM

Happy New Year!

2010-01-03T15:40:00.001-05:00

I hope that everyone had a joyous Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Please be reminded that the children will be square dancing on Monday and Tuesday (10:30-11:30AM) and again with the entire school on Wednesday afternoon (beginning at 1PM).

Students are asked to wear jeans or sweatpants, appropriate tops,and gym shoes all three days.

We will not have gym class on Thursday (January 7th) because of the square dancing schedule.

Remember to listen to the radio or check the Erie news stations for morning school delay or cancellation reports as we are now knee-deep in western Pennsylvania winter weather!

December 22 and Square Dancing Dress Code

2009-12-21T06:45:00.001-05:00

We will be square dancing today, January 4,5, and 6th. Children may wear jeans or sweatpants, appropriate shirts, and gym shoes. All are invited to attend the final school-wide program on Wednesday, January 6th at 1PM in the gym.

December 22nd is our last day of school before vacation. Students may wear Christmas colors. It is a full day of school.

Holiday Ideas for Your Children

2009-12-21T06:40:00.001-05:00

Many times, after the initial excitement of Christmas wears off, children begin chanting the age-old refrain, “I’m bored!”

If this happens in your home, get your child involved in some fun, educational activities by logging on to Spelling City (www.spellingcity.com). First click on FIND A LIST. Then you can search by my name (Amy Dittman) and find all of our spelling lists so far, including the words for Cinderella, the story we will do after the holidays.

Spelling City can teach your child words (be sure the speaker is on!). A pleasant voice says the word, spells it, and uses it in a sentence. Then your child can play about a dozen games using the words. When they are ready, they can take a test on the words.

The children have seen the site and are excited to use it.

Give it a try and let me know what you think!

December Reminders

2009-12-13T17:57:00.001-05:00

Monday, December 14th is an early dismissal at 1:30PM.

Friday, December 18th we have Mass at school at 1:45PM.

Next Tuesday, December 22nd is our last day of school before Christmas vacation. It is a full day with the final Advent Service at 2PM in the gym.

If you have not yet sent in a monetary gift to be applied to a group gift for the priests and wish to do so, it is not too late. Please put your donation in an envelope marked PRIESTS GIFT and I will send it to the office.

Book Orders

2009-12-06T16:33:00.001-05:00

Please be sure to send in book orders by Tuesday as I will need to place the orders Tuesday evening in order to get Christmas delivery.

More Classroom Songs

2009-12-01T19:55:00.001-05:00

These are a few more songs from the Open Court reading series that we use at school.

SETTING READING GOALS (The More We Get Together)

The more we browse the story, the story, the story the more we browse the story, the more prepared we’ll be. Do you have any wond’rings, or problems, or clues? Let’s talk about the purpose for reading today.

SUMMARIZING (Comin’ Round the Mountain)

To tell you all I read would take too long. So I have to think and plan how to respond. I can sum up, sum up, sum up the most important facts. It will check my understanding to the max!

These are from the “Stick Out Your Neck” series by Carson-Dellosa Publishing.

ACTION WORDS (Bingo)

Some words tell things that you can do and verbs are what we call them. V-E-R-B-S, V-E-R-B-S, V-E-R-B-S and verbs are what we call them.

Here are some action words for you to act out as we sing them: S-T-A-N-D, S-T-A-N-D, S-T-A-N-D and verbs are what we call them!

(I just add more verbs to act out like: march, jump, skip, bend…)

THE ANTONYM SONG (The Muffin Man)

Oh, do you know the antonyms, the antonyms, the antonyms? Do you know the antonyms? The meanings aren’t the same.

If I say young then you say old. If I say hot, then you say cold. If I say bought then you say sold. The meanings aren’t the same.

If I say up then you say down. If I say smile you say frown. If I say sit then you say stand. The meanings aren’t the same.

Something to Sing About

2009-12-01T07:03:00.001-05:00

The second grade class sings a lot of songs. It seems that I have a song for nearly everything- and if I don’t, I try to create one! The first one is from the Open Court reading series. The next two are from a language resource I purchased last summer. (I will get the name of it tomorrow!) The last song is one of my own creation!

MAKING CONNECTIONS (I’m a Little Teapot)

I can make connections, so can you. It’s really simple. Here’s all you do. When you start to read just let your mind go And make connections to things you know.

THE GRAND JAZZ BAND (Do Your Ears Hang Low?)

Sam can tap his drum ratta-tatta-tatta-tum Jan can play a jazzy sax and so can her cousin Max If you clap your hands together you can join their happy band It’s a grand jazz band.

PIP’S MITTENS (She’ll Be Coming Round the Mountain)

Liz is making mittens for her kitten Pip Every day she’ll knit another little bit Pip thinks kitty mitts are silly but he’ll wear them if it’s chilly in the winter they will keep him nice and warm!

TRANSPARENT, TRANSLUCENT, OPAQUE (Twinkle, Twinkle)

Transparent you see right through,for that a Ziploc bag will do. Translucent is not so clear. Wax paper will do for here. Opaque lets no light get in like paper bags or cans of tin.

October Calendar

2009-10-03T21:26:00.001-04:00

Special Upcoming Events

5- 9 Stanford 10 Tests

9 Mass at school @ 1:45PM

12 Early Dismissal (Jeans Day)

14 Author visit at school

23 Mass at school @ 1:45PM

28 Picture Make-up Day

30 Class Halloween Party

Standardized Testing

2009-10-03T21:17:00.001-04:00

This week second grade will have their first experience with standardized testing. We have completed several practice tests and the students are looking at this as an adventure!

I explained that they cannot study for these tests. They should, however, get plenty of rest and eat a nutritious breakfast each morning.

Homework this week will be minimal due to testing.

What a Wonderful Class!

2009-09-21T19:01:00.001-04:00

Your children are fantastic! It is hard for me to believe that we are into our fourth week of school. The children have quickly caught on to the classroom routines!

Tomorrow we start our first story in our new reader. It is a humorous one called “Ant and the Three Little Figs.” Be sure to ask your child to tell you about it!

The C.A.P.P. program went very well today. The children discussed the difference between laughing with and laughing at someone., They talked about how it feels to laugh at yourself and how it feels to laugh at someone else. The lesson reinforced what we have already learned through the no bullying program.

Tomorrow we will also conduct our first germ experiment. (This is my favorite science unit because we do so much gross, icky stuff!) Be sure to ask your child what we did---they could even demonstrate if you are feeling brave!

Please continue to practice spelling words. Use any reinforcement that works for your child: singing, shouting the letters, writing the words in the air, karate spelling (they know what that is), cheerleader spelling (they know that one too!). Share what works for you!

Math flashcards will be coming home tomorrow. Please help your child practice the math facts. Committing them to memory is the foundation for later math skills. The cards must be returned to school each day as we also practice.

Permission Slips

2009-09-14T16:36:00.001-04:00

If you have not yet returned your child’s YMCA or C.A.P.P. permission slip, please do so as soon as possible. We are going to the YMCA Thursday morning for our running assessment and the C.A.P.P. program will be presented on Monday.

Your Children are Awesome!

2009-09-03T05:55:00.001-04:00

The second graders have been working very hard this week! They are quickly learning the classroom routines and participating in lessons. They are already demonstrating a real interest in their academics and a caring attitude toward their classmates. I am looking forward to a terrific school year!

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

September Dates to Remember

2009-08-28T09:26:00.001-04:00

3 New Family Night 7PM

4 Mass at school 1:45PM

7 Labor Day NO SCHOOL

14 Early Dismissal 1:30PM

16 Picture Day/ Head checks

18 Mass at church (weather permitting)1:30PM

21 C.A.P.P. program 10:10AM

*Be sure to return permission slip that will be sent home.

22 OPEN HOUSE

Visit with your child’s teacher beginning at 6:30PM

Ice Cream Social begins at 7PM

Teacher Form Letter

2009-08-16T19:35:00.001-04:00

Family Fun Magazine is a wonderful resource that I have enjoyed for years! I will forward interesting games, crafts, and organizational ideas that I think you might be able to use.

The latest issue has a teacher form letter that I will include in your first newsletter from me. Should you need another,you can download it at the following link.

Feel free to use this form to contact me! Just check the box and circle the information you want me to have. Be sure to sign the form when you submit it.

Let me know if you find this convenient.

http://a.familyfun.go.com/Resources/global/printables/templates/FF0909MGI-TeacherFormLetter.pdf

New Floor!

2009-08-11T07:22:00.001-04:00

The new floor in my classroom is almost finished! It is absolutely beautiful. It will also be easier to keep clean than carpeting which is important from an allergy and cold/flu perspective. I will try to post a sneak peek soon!

Scholastic Book Level Finder

2009-07-23T15:22:00.001-04:00

If your child is interested in a new book or a new series but you are uncertain if it is within the appropriate reading level, check the title using the Scholastic Book Wizard now located on the bottom right side of the blog.

Materials List

2009-07-17T09:30:00.001-04:00

I thought I would be able to post the materials list before you received the printed one from school…but it seems that I have left my list in my locker at school. Because my floor is being redone, I am unable to get into my classroom. You should receive your list from the school soon.

Make Math Fun!

2009-07-05T10:15:00.001-04:00

Here is another site that makes practicing math (as well as memory games and vocabulary) seem like child’s play: www.playkidsgames.com/games/mathfact/default.htm#

Be an Author!

2009-07-05T09:52:00.001-04:00

If your child is complaining that there is NOTHING to do, get him or her to write a story. Check out the website www.tikatok.com. Children draw pictures which are scanned to the site. (Not tech savvy? Mail it to the site and they will scan it for you!)Then children add the text and can see the completed story online. Others can read their work and they can choose to read stories written by other children. The books are available for sale, but you are under no obligation to purchase one. It is an interesting site. Consider visiting it on a rainy day!

Have a Happy Fourth of July!

2009-07-03T07:18:00.001-04:00

I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer! Be sure that your children are reading…I am finishing about 3 books per week!

Have your child practice their math facts. Don’t forget to visit SpellingCity and APlus Math for fun practice games.

I will post the supply list for next year in about a week. You will also get one in information that comes from the office.

FREE BOOKS

2009-06-15T09:18:00.001-04:00

I can earn ten free books for my classroom next year just by collecting the tabs from Kleenex boxes. If you would save the tabs from your tissue boxes and send them in on the first day of school, I will forward them for the free books. Any tabs after 30, I will pass on to Mrs.Tarr. Check out the program at www.scholastic.com/kleenex.

Soaring with the Spirit!

2009-06-02T19:55:00.001-04:00

Thursday is our school-wide retreat. The students will be in groups made up of every grade. They will participate in crafts, a science activity, dancing, volleyball, and storytelling. A snack is being provided in the morning by room mothers. Lunch will be outside weather permitting. A final prayer service will also be held outside at the end of the day. Each student will be bringing home a gift to remind them to soar with the spirit this summer!

Cleaning Day

2009-06-02T19:48:00.001-04:00

Tomorrow is cleaning day! The students may wear appropriate play clothes. I do not need any cleaning supplies thanks to the generous donations made after my recent request!

Retreat Permission Slips

2009-05-25T16:27:00.001-04:00

Please sign and return the retreat permission slip as soon as possible. The first and second grade retreat will be Friday afternoon at St. Stephen Church. The topic will be “Noah’s Ark.” We will sing songs, read stories, make animals for the ark, and have a snack.

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY

2009-05-25T16:20:00.001-04:00

I hope everyone had a lovely weekend! We are in the downhill slide of the school year. Please help your child to remember that there are still 9 days of school left---we have lots of fun things to learn about right up to the last day!

We’ve Sprouted!

2009-05-20T20:49:00.001-04:00

Some of the students had a delightful surprise today…their beans have sprouted! It was wonderful for them to see up close the growth they had only seen in books. We will wait a few days to see if the rest of the seeds sprout. If not, we will replant on Monday.

Spring Concert and Other Important Dates for Your Calendar

2009-05-12T20:24:00.001-04:00

The spring concert is taking place tomorrow evening at 7PM in the gym. Please have your child at school by 6:40PM. Students are to wear dress clothes. After the concert, you may pick your child up at the classroom.

The Chinese Auction, a fundraiser for 8th grade, will take place Friday afternoon. Tickets are 25 cents each or 5 for $1.00. Tickets will be on sale through Friday morning.

Our next Mass will be on Ascension Thursday, May 21 at 1:45PM at school. The third graders will be the special guests as they will be celebrating having made their First Holy Communion.

Guardian Angel Games Day will be on Friday, May 22nd. Please let me know if you will be sending in a board game for us to use. Be sure it is one that your child knows how to play and can easily explain to others.

NO SCHOOL ON MAY 25th as it is Memorial Day.

Second grade will be attending a retreat at the church with first grade on the afternoon of Friday, May 29th. A permission slip will be coming soon as well as additional information.

Spring has Sprung in Second Grade

2009-05-06T18:55:00.001-04:00

All the second graders planted lima beans today. Students planted the seeds, described the process in their log books, and made posters depicting the parts of plants and their purpose.

We will check the growth of the plants every few days and record the progress in the log books.

The class was VERY excited to see the worms and pill bugs that tagged along in the compost soil I brought from home. Ask your child to describe the food cycle from plant to worm to plant again!

Math Scores

2009-05-03T07:43:00.001-04:00

I am seeing a slide in math fact retention. This is causing mid-term grades in math to be lower than they were previously. If you see any slippage in the immediate recall of math facts, be sure your child practices every day. Flashcards are a fine way to practice and are listed on the homework sheet. I am also including a very good site that has math games which may increase interest and, therefore, the amount of time spent practicing.

http://www.aplusmath.com/

Be sure to check out the GAMES section on the left side of the webpage. There are four games (MATHO, Concentration, Hidden Picture, and Planet Blaster). All of the games are really fun and very educational.

Reminders

2009-05-02T08:55:00.001-04:00

If your child completed the Catapult Reading for April, please return the yellow booklet on Monday. I need to collect them and give them to Mrs. Stevens.

The permission slips for the end-of-the-year field trip to Clarion University for “fit-trition” day are due on Wednesday, May 6th.

Permission slips for the safety program being presented on Friday, May 8th by Mrs. Snow are due. These signed slips are required in order to participate.

Mid-term reports will be coming home on Friday, May 8th.

Our last Mass at the church (weather permitting) will be at 1:30PM on Friday, May 8th.

Mrs. Marvin’s last day before she starts maternity leave will be Friday, May 8th.

*Do you get the feeling Friday, May 8th is a BIG day?! :)

Please check the older posts if you haven’t been here for a while. I still need volunteers to walk with the class to Mass on Friday. Thanks!

A few parents have already let me know that they really like the blog. It is an easy way to stay updated while saving a few trees! Please let me know what YOU think!

Guardian Angels Game Day

2009-04-29T20:53:00.001-04:00

On May 22, the second graders are going to have a games day with their Guardian Angels. If your child has a board game (one that has easy-to-learn rules and can be completed in 30 minutes or less) please consider sending it in to school. We will get together with the angels in the afternoon for about an hour. This has been a terrifically fun afternoon in the past and I am sure this year’s class will have a great time!

Wellness and Nutrition

2009-04-29T19:15:00.001-04:00

On May 8th (in the morning) second and third graders will participate in a wellness/safety program. It will consist of a pre-test, a lesson, and a post-test. This is being presented by Mrs. Snow (mother of one of our second graders) for one of her classes. An information sheet and permission slip came home today. Please read it over and return the permission slip as soon as possible. I think this will be a great opportunity for the children.

The primary students will also be traveling to Clarion University for a “fit-trition” day on May 19th. This will be our end-of-the-year field trip. Students will learn about healthy eating and participate in a number of physical activities. Lunch will be provided. An information sheet will be in the family envelope tomorrow. Please sign it and return it to me NO LATER THAN Wednesday, May 6th. I am really looking forward to this trip. What a fun way to expand upon our wellness/nutrition/YMCA physical activity program!

A Favor on May 8th

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We will have our last school Mass at the church on Friday, May 8th (weather permitting) at 1:30PM. I, however, need to leave school at 1:10PM, after getting the students ready for Mass. Their 7th grade Guardian Angels have volunteered to walk with the students to and from Mass and sit with them during the service. Miss Oliver has been very gracious in taking on this responsibility!

I was wondering if any parent might be available to help the 7th graders. It would mean being at school at 1:00PM, walking to Mass, sitting with the students, and walking them back to school where Miss Lynch will dismiss them. You can earn 1-1/2 hours of Parent Partnership time. Please let me know as soon as possible. (You can also take your child home as soon as you get back to school! No fighting the bus line! No scrambling to find parking! No waiting outside! How’s that for incentive!)

May Crowning

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The primary students will present the May Crowning at 10AM on Monday, May 4th in the school gym. All are welcome to attend!

Our New Science Unit: PLANTS

2009-04-26T08:15:00.001-04:00

We will beginning our last science unit this week. Students will be introduced to the wonders of plants. We will be discussing the different parts of plants and their functions. We will plants seeds and keep a log of their growth. The following video is a nice clip from National Geographic.

http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/kids/green-kids/plants-kids.html

One Big Happy Family :)

2009-04-22T20:08:00.001-04:00

Because Mrs. Marvin will be leaving on May 8th for maternity leave, all the second graders will be together with me all the time beginning May 11th. Yeah! I am looking forward to working with them. It may take a few days to transition, but the students are already used to being together for reading, spelling, and handwriting three days a week and math five times a month, so I am not anticipating any problems.

This will be a wonderful ending to a terrific year!

Happy Earth Day and other Important Tidbits

2009-04-22T19:44:00.001-04:00

Happy Earth Day! We read THE LORAX today in honor of Earth Day. Students had a lot of good ideas about ways to protect the air, water, plants, and animals on our planet. We talked about Reducing-Reusing- Recycling- and Refusing (that’s a new one!). We even discussed composting and worms! Ask your child how they can help take care of God’s creation.

Tomorrow, they will get coloring sheets and a bookmark to reinforce what we learned.

On Tuesday, students learned the steps involved in making a t-shirt, from growing the cotton to packing the shirts and delivering them to stores. They worked in groups to write out these steps and illustrate them. Then they each created their own t-shirt design. These are displayed on a “clothesline” in the hallway. I think they look awesome!

Early Dismissal/No School Reminder

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Monday, April 20th is an early dismissal day. Students will be released from school at 1:30PM.

Friday, April 24th is a professional day for the teachers. Students do not have school.

Mass

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Mass on Friday will be at 1:30PM at St. Stephen Church weather permitting. If it is raining, we will have Mass in the gym at 1:45PM.

Mismatched Day

2009-04-15T18:52:00.001-04:00

Tomorrow is Mismatched Day. This was supposed to take place during Catholic Schools Week, but the weather had other ideas! Students who bring one item to donate to St. Elizabeth’s (paper towels, toilet paper, kleenex, napkins, soap,…).may wear mismatched items of clothing as long as they are school appropriate. I, personally, shall be wearing two different socks, rolled up jeans (to show off the socks, of course), a turtleneck,and a wacky librarian (my other career) t-shirt. This will all be topped off by a side-splitting hair piece! Students will also be providing acts of service around the school---some cleaning and tidying. It should be a fun day!

Classroom Supplies

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If anyone can donate a box of Kleenex, a container of Lysol wipes, or a Mr. Clean magic eraser, I would really appreciate it. Thanks!

Poetry Books

2009-04-14T19:38:00.001-04:00

The students received their poetry books today. They had so much fun looking through them and admiring each other’s poems and illustrations. It is an awesome feeling to be a published author! Your children are to be congratulated!

REMINDERS/REQUEST

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There will be living stations at school tomorrow in the gymnasium at 10:15AM. All are invited.

Tomorrow we have an early dismissal at 12:00 noon for Easter vacation. School will resume on Tuesday, April 14th. I hope you have a lovely holiday with your family and friends.

If you have a box of tissue or a container of Lysol wipes that you could donate, I would really appreciate it. Due to the lengthy spell of cold and flu bugs, we have depleted our supply. Thanks so much!

Finished Fossils

2009-04-08T21:00:00.001-04:00

The students finished brushing loose sand from their dry fossils today. They were very excited to see their final products! I was going to send them home tomorrow, but they were so enthusiastic, I bagged them and sent them today! Be sure to ask your child to explain the process we used to make them.

Blogging

2009-04-06T19:29:00.001-04:00

If you are reading this, you must have received the important notice that went home today. Please let me know what you think of receiving information through this blog as opposed to paper notices.

Fossils

2009-04-06T19:27:00.001-04:00

We peeled away the milk cartons today and revealed the fossils beneath. The plaster was still damp so we only brushed off the first layer of sand. After the plaster dries completely, we will finish removing the loose sand and see the treasures created by the students.

Making Fossils

2009-04-04T17:48:00.001-04:00

Yesterday, the students followed the directions that were in our story MonsterTracks for making fossils. The students did a terrific job sequencing the steps. We started with clean milk cartons. Water was added to sand until it could be shaped into a ball that held its shape. Each student put a ball of sand in the milk carton. They then pressed an item into the sand to make an impression. Equal parts of plaster of Paris and water were mixed in a bucket and poured over the impression. On Monday, we will release our fossils from the cartons. I can’t wait for the children to show you their finished products!

Two Resources for Parents

2009-04-04T17:42:00.001-04:00

I receive print versions of two magazines that have tons of ideas for parents from recipes and crafts to ideas on bedtime and organization. If you have a minute, take a look at www.familyfun.com and www.parentandchild.com.

Dinosaur video clip

2009-04-01T20:25:00.004-04:00

A quick clip about the duck-billed dinosaur found in Montana that your child might find interesting!

Dinos: Getting To Know a Duck-Billed Dinosaur - AOL Video

Let’s give technology a try!

2009-04-01T20:06:00.001-04:00

It is time to give technology a try! I will be posting important information on this site for second graders and their parents. It will include a calendar of events, topics we are covering in school, ideas for extending these topics at home, and websites where your child might find additional practice in various subjects.

CALENDAR:

Thursday, April 9: 12:00 noon dismissal for Easter

Monday, April 13: NO SCHOOL

Thursday, April 16: BOOK ORDERS are due

Friday, April 17: Mass (may be at church- watch for updates)

Monday, April 20: Early dismissal at 1:30PM

Don’t forget about trying http://www.spellingcity.com

It is an excellent way for students to practice their spelling words each week. Let me know what you think of it!

We are nearly finished with our reading/science unit on dinosaurs. Ask your child to tell you about the dinosaur he or she studied. you might also enjoy hearing the two dinosaur songs we learned!