Belated Squawk

It seems I've neglected the class blog- my apologies about that. 

I'm sure the students have either spoken about it, or you have read the letter I sent home today.  Either way, things are falling in place in getting the classroom- and students- set up for their guest teacher next month.  I have to admit I got a bit emotional this afternoon when I spoke to the students about what's going on, and that wasn't my intent.  I wanted to have an honest discussion with the students, holding back what was necessary as I don't believe they need to know too much about what I'm having to go through. 

What they do know is Mrs. Posey will be their teacher for 6 weeks after Fall Break, and she's really looking forward to spending the time with them.  I'm looking forward to getting back in December for, as I put it to the students today, "healthy and ready for the fun stuff".  I'm sure they will test the boundaries at first, as all students do, but I'm confident they will continue to be wonderful friends for each other and amazing students for Mrs. Posey.

Starting next week, you'll notice the homework packet is fairly lighter than previous.  I've condensed to using the 3 of the reading series spelling pages, and 2 of the math series pages (one will be printed, and one will come from the series workbook).  The students will still have Monday - Friday to complete their packets, but the work has been slimmed down a bit.  I am having the packets done this way so as to not overload the guest teacher with so much printing each week (I print the packets through the week for the coming week.  Due to the shortened work schedules of guest teachers, that would be too much of me to ask).  I also don't believe she shouldn't have to worry about putting them together each week, hence the math series pages coming directly from the workbook themselves.  Along with the packets, the students will also be going home with a plastic baggie of multiplication facts 1 - 10.  We won't be covering this unit until the second semester, but now's a great time to get the students started on learning and practicing.

Students will be taking their STAR Reading and Math tests this coming week, as well as their Quarter 1 Math benchmark test.  Once I have all the students tested on the STAR program, I will be sending home a copy of their Reading and Math test results.  Their reading level will be indicated on the report, which will also be stapled in their AR folders.  Students will be going home with their report cards on October 24th.  I will, of course, be out at this time, but they will be prepared and ready to be sent home on this date.

It's unbelieveable to me we are saying goodbye to the first Quarter, and hello to Fall Break.  I've seen SO much progress- both with behavior and with academics- from all of the students, so I'm so excited to see the differences in December.


Birthdays
Helena       October 10th
Todd          October 11th
Micaela     October 21st


Thank you for all you do!

Elizabeth Townsend
PDS
Second Grade
SVPS