The Toucan Squawk, Oct. 21 - Oct. 25

Hello families...I hope everyone has had a great week!  We have been so busy in class- with coming back from Fall Break, our field trip to Apple Annie's, and a special lesson this afternoon...I'm so happy tomorrow is Friday!  The field trip went quite smoothly- we were able to get back around 1:30, earlier than we had expected.  This afternoon, the kiddos decorated their pumpkins.  If you ever want to get those sticker sets yourself, they are at the Target Dollar Spot...I've been getting them for the past couple years and the kids always love using them.  Plus, much easier to use than painting or carving in the classroom!

Report cards are going home tomorrow.  I'm including a copy of your child's STAR reading test report.  I've crossed out the reading range the program puts out and wrote in my own.  I create my own because I've realized giving the kids too much of a range- like the program does- creates havoc.  The kids end up reading books that are WAY too hard and end up getting frustrated, or read books that are WAY too easy and end up not showing progress.  I give them a tighter range, so they are able to read a wide range of book levels- all without staying behind or going too far ahead.  I will also continue to monitor progress and change as necessary through this quarter.

Our special lesson this afternoon was about braille.  We have a student who is visually impaired- she was originally in Mrs. Sullins' classroom but was changed into our room in September.  She has adapted quite smoothly- as has the rest of the class.  The teachers from Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind (ASDB) wanted to introduce the class to a braille and how to help our friend.  With the sudden shift into our class, it didn't happen earlier...but I'm so glad we took the time out to be introduced to braille and learn how to continue to help our friend.

The students...

   

 

  learned the Braille alphabet,

 

 

 

wrote their names in Braille,

 

 



 

  

 

and had their name brailed on the Perkins Braille machine.

 

 

The students also learned how to help with sight guide- walking at a normal pace with our friend holding their upper arm or wrist.  Overall, it was a really nice way to end the day and I'm really happy the teachers were able to take the time out of their busy schedules.

 

The students have started taking Stanford 10 prep test practices on Mondays and Fridays.  Unlike the AIMs test taken by grades 3 - 12, the Stanford 10 test is partially a listening test.  I will read a portion of the reading test and a portion of the math test- the two sections are taken on two different days.  My hopes are that taking these practice tests will prove helpful once the students get to the tests in April.  These reading tests will also be included in their reading grade twice a week- the one they took on Monday will not count because it was only 3 questions.  I will be going over it with the class tomorrow morning to show the students how they did and what can happen when they are not paying attention to something being read to them.  I know that can be a tough situation for some, but listening skills are essential in daily life for all students.

 

 

NewsOct. 21 - Nov. 6           Canned food drive
Oct. 25                         Report cards go home
Oct. 30                         Teacher in-service, 1/2 day early release at 11:30.

BirthdaysOct. 9                           Illiyanna
Oct. 25                         Alex
Oct. 27                         Cristian

 

 

Thank you for all you do!

 

Elizabeth Townsend

PDS
Second Grade

Elizabeth.townsend@svps.k12.az.us