The Toucan Squawk, April 23 - April 27

Hello families!  I hope everyone has had a great week so far.  The students have been super busy working through plane shapes this week.  It's a quick unit, since the students have shown knowledge about their shapes- square, rectangle, diamond, triangle, circle, parallelogram, and trapezoid.  This unit is leading them up to 3D shapes- rectangular prism, sphere, cone, cyclinder, cube, and pyramid.  The students have already expressed excitement over the next unit so it should be a fairly neat one to cover.  Next unit scheduled will finally be time We will be finishing working with fractions next week- I'd like to introduce adding and subtracting fractions this week and next. We'll then move on to time to the half hour, and last but definietly not least- multiplication.  We are currently on our last story in the reading series, "The World's Plants are in Danger".

Our theme for tomorrow for We Love Reading! week is "Tied to a Good Book".  The students are welcome to wear a tie.  We also have the parent involvement activity in the library, where parents are welcome to come and read with their student(s), make a bookmark, and participate in other activities.  The office will call in the classrooms to meet you in the library.  Tomorrow is also a 1/2 day, so the activities will be until 11:00.  The rest of the class will be participating in some activities in the classroom, so no one will not miss any lessons. 

Thursday's theme is "Knock your socks off", so students are welcome to wear fun socks.  Our guest author will be present to read to the students and answer any "author" questions from the students.

And last but not least, Friday's theme is "Dress up like your favorite book character".  The students will be participating in a parade around the campus starting at 1:30.  If students are unable to dress up, they are welcome to carry a copy of their favorite book.  You are welcome to come watch the parade- and the creation of Mrs. Frizzle ("The Magic School Bus" book series) on the field.  Mr. Sprigg will be dressed up as this crazy book character for the students meeting a goal of 100 reading minutes for the whole week.  It's sure to be a great way to end such a fun week!


News
April 23 - 27 We Love Reading! Week
April 27 Spring Carnival, 4:30 - 6:00 PM
April 30 General Dental visit


Birthdays
April 4 Lainey
April 7 Brooke
April 14 Gabe
April 27 Mason

Have a great week!

Elizabeth Townsendelizabeth.townsend@svps.k12.az.us
PDS
Second Grade
 

The challenge is on!

Which PdS classroom can bring in the most children’s used books for 1 point, video tapes and DVD’s for 2 points for next Friday’s Annual Spring Carnival?  These must be suitable for children. 

So clean out your closets and start counting today!  Books, videos, and DVD’s, need to be turned in by next Thursday. 

Title I will have a popsicle treat for the K-2 and 3-6 classroom winner.

The Toucan Squawk, Apr. 16 - 20

Testing is done!  I'm so proud of the kids and their hard work.  They really put their all into their testing yesterday and today.  And, to make this even more special, we don't have any make-ups scheduled for the rest of the week because everyone was present for both days! 

Today was especially tough because it was the scripted day, where I read to the students for the math and language arts tests.  I know they would rather had move through the tests on their own, but these two tests have been set up this way by the mandates put forth by the state.  The kids were pretty tired of the tests by the end of them, so everyone was especially happy when they realized today was the second and last day.

We Love Reading! week is next week!  This is a special week we have set up to celebrate our guest author, Juanita Havill.  She will be here on Thursday, and will read some of her books to the students.  Below is the schedule of events:

• Monday-  "Hats off to Reading".  Wear a fun hat.
• Tuesday-  "Read like a rock star".  Dress like a rock star.
• Wednesday-  "I'm tied to a good book"  Wear a fun tie.  Parents are invited to participate in fun activities with their child in the library.
• Thursday-  Juanita Havill, guest author.  "Reading knocks your socks off".  Wear fun socks.
• Friday-  Book character parade.  Dress up as a favorite book character.

It's definietly going to be a fun week!

We will be finishing working with fractions next week- I'd like to introduce adding and subtracting fractions this week and next.  We'll then move on to time to the half hour, and last but definietly not least- a math unit the students always look forward to- multiplication!

We will also be finishing reading the text book series next week, with a non-fiction story called, "The World's Plants are in Danger".  This will also culminate our spelling word lists, so I will then be introducing more book reports in different formats for both fiction and non-fiction, as well as third grade word lists.


News

April 23                  Progress Reports sent home
April 23 - 27           We Love Reading! Week  
April 27                  Spring Carnival, 4:30 - 6:00 PM
April 30                  General Dental visit


Birthdays

April 4                    Lainey
April 7                    Brooke
April 14                  Gabe
April 27                  Mason

Have a great week!

Elizabeth Townsend
elizabeth.townsend@svps.k12.az.us
PDS
Second Grade

Thank you for continuing to make your child's education a priority!

The Toucan Squawk, Apr. 9 - Apr. 13

Oh boy I don't like being sick!  But, thankfully, it was something very simple.  Unfortunately, I still had to be out the whole week to get through it.  I had an allergic reaction to a medicine my doctor gave me, and as luck would have it- being sick was the only way I could find out I was allergic to it.  Fortunately enough, I'm feeling super and happy to be back in the classroom with the kiddos!

We have moved from graphing and tally charts, and are working our way through fractions.  The students will be ready for assessment by this Friday.  The story for this week has been changed.  Instead of the assigned reading series story, the students are working on a book report based on a book of their choice.  Several students are working through a library book, while others have chosen a book from the classroom selections.  Either way, the students will be completing their assignments this week.  My plan is for them to present their report to the class early next week.

And speaking of next week...the students are taking their Stanford 10 test Monday and Tuesday!  The students have prepared for this test the whole school year, and I know they are ready for it.  I'll send a reminder later on in the week, but please remember the following:

1. Schedule all doctor's appointments after testing has been completed.  Once a test date has been started, the students cannot go back to that test they missed.  This is a state mandate, not by the school or the district.
2. If you think your student is sick, keep them home.  This is obviously not something we teachers like to mention, but again- if a student starts on a test, and then ends up leaving during the day, they cannot continue that test.
3. Make sure your student gets plenty of sleep the night before testing date.  A tired mind cannot function while trying to pay attention to something as important as this test.
4. The same goes for a full tummy.  Please make sure your student has a healthy and full breakfast the morning of the test.  I'll have the chance to give the students a break to have a snack, but the morning should get off to a good start by having a great breakfast.

The picture preview packet will be sent home in the coming weeks.  As a reminder, please review the pictures, as well as the available packages, and return both the preview packet and your payment as soon as possible back with your student. If you do not wish to purchase the pictures, please return the entire preview packet back with your student. According to the photography company policy, any parts of the preview packet not returned will be considered as the packet is being purchased, and you may be charged.

It's unbelievable, but Move Up Day will be here before we know it!  As a reminder, Move Up Day is a chance for the students to meet their teacher for the 2012 - 2013 school year.  It's an exciting time for the students, and for the teachers!  The event usually only lasts about 15 minutes, enough time for the teachers to introduce the grade and classroom to the students.  Last year, I read a second grade picture book to the students, and then they drew and colored pictures of something they learned in first grade.  The students usually go home with an introduction to the classroom polices, as well as an activity they can complete over the summer vacation.  It's definietly something to look forward to!  The teachers will be meeting in the coming weeks to go over the registered students for each grade, and we'll divide the students amongst their new teachers based on several factors.  The students won't know who they will be going to until that morning- the teachers don't even know until that morning either!  News of that day will be coming soon.


News
April 23rd               Progress Reports sent home
April 25th               Teacher in-service, 1/2 day early release at 11:45
April 27th               Spring Carnival, 4:30 - 6:00

Birthdays
April 14th               Gabriel
April 27th               Mason



I hope you have a fantastic week!

Elizabeth Townsend
PDS
Second Grade
elizabeth.townsend@svps.k12.az.us