Oh dear, it seems I've been neglecting my updating! My apologies about that. We've been super busy on center rotations (which are going fantastic!), finishing writing projects, and learning new math concepts. In the homework packets for this week you may have noticed double digit addition. It has been, admitedly, a scary journey...but the kids are beginning to realize they need to start in the ones column and not the tens. We started today adding 100s as well, and they were pretty excited seeing how they could add those numbers as well. Their introduction to place value and expanded notation in the beginning of August has definietly been useful this week.
The students are finishing their "scarecrow writing" (personal narrative of a small moment). They look great posted on the wall! They have also been working on their "noun pumpkins" (favorite person, place, and thing). Both projects have come out super cute, and I'm sure they'll be excited to bring them home. They'll be going home at the end of November, to make room for displays for holiday projects...Quarter 2 is always such an exciting time of the year!
As a reminder, the AR reports for each AR test the students take each day are not to be taken home...yet. We had some confusion about this today, as well as some students not filling in their AR chart after each test they take. Several students will need to spend part of their recess filling in their charts tomorrow to complete this task. This was something we had discussed in August, and each student is held responsible for filling in this chart every time they take a test. I'll be collecting the folders the Friday before Fall Break to do several things:
1. "Sticker" reports of AR tests passed with an 80% or higher.
2. Separate out failed tests, and determine if each student will be able to move on to a higher reading level, or if they should continue reading the levels they are at.
3. Identify who has acheieved their Quarter 1 AR goal. This will be counted as a grade in their "Reading" in my gradebook.
4. Staple in Quarter 2 AR reading levels and ranges.
Students will receive their folders back after Fall Break, and will then be able to take home all of the AR reports (both passed and failed).
All of the teachers will begin benchmark testing for the end of Quarter 1 data. I will have the students take their STAR reading test and STAR math test (both on the computers) and running record reading test. Running records are a quick assessment tool
used by teachers to evaluate students' reading and comprehension. They are used
to help find students' reading levels, check their fluency, and find weaknesses
in comprehension. The testing will take place starting next Monday and will run through the week before Fall Break.
News
Sept. 26 Teacher in-service, 1/2 day early release at 11:30.
Oct. 5 1/2 day early release at 11:30.
Oct. 8 Columbus Day, no school.
Oct. 8 - 12 Fall Break, no school.
Oct. 19 Report Cards go home.
Oct. 31 Teacher in-service, 1/2 day early release at 11:30
Birthdays
Sept. 28 Hawkins
Oct. 24 Isaiah
Thank you for all you do!
Elizabeth Townsend
PDS
Second Grade
elizabeth.townsend@svps.k12.az.us
9/19/2012
9/05/2012
The Toucan Squawk, Sept. 4 - 7
Hello families! I hope everyone enjoyed their Labor Day weekend. Tomorrow are our conferences. If you are unable to make the scheduled time, please let me know. We can go over our respective schedules and set up a new time. I am also available by phone or by email. Whichever is best for both of us. I will have your child's STAR Reading report and progress report, as well as your ParentVue log-information.
The students have been working through polygons and area of a rectangle in math. For reading, the students have been reading "Round-up at Rio Ranch". They also been super busy with taking AR tests and studying their spelling words.
We started center rotations today. The centers the students worked through were math, word work (spelling word study), reading from the reading series, and completing writing projects. Overall, they went as smooth as a start could be. We did hit a few rough patches with behavior and not following directions. However, we're moving in the right direction so I definitely think things will be looking up next week. With Thursday and Friday being half-days, I won't be able to pull as many centers, of course, as on a full-day. We'll get as much done as we can these two shortened days, and then start full-force and fresh on Monday. The purpose of center rotations is to practice and review what has already been taught, for the kids to become more independent workers, and for me to be able to work with all of the kids at least every day. I'll work with each group of kids every other day in reading and writing. This will give me the chance to check on everyone's progress in all subjects taught, as well as review skills not yet mastered. In the afternoons, we won't have center rotations, but after the math lesson I do have a chance to sit with the kids who have not mastered a specific math skill.
On Monday I sent home your child's AR report. My mistake for not getting these to the kids on Friday, so it will be my job to make sure they go home each Friday. Each report had your child's reading level and range. A few kids had not, at that moment, taken AR tests yet so I indicated how many your child will need to take by Friday to achieve their AR goal for the week. Several students worked SUPER hard today and yesterday and were able to take the amount of tests I had indicated. There are still a couple who need to reach their test goal, so we'll work hard at that tomorrow and Friday. If a student's AR goal is not achieved by Friday, they will need to complete it during their Freetime.
I look forward to meeting with everyone tomorrow afternoon!
News
Sept. 6 and 7 Parent/Teacher Conferences, half-day early release at 11:30.
Sept. 12 Teacher in-service, 1/2 day early release
Sept. 26 Teacher in-service, 1/2 day early release
Birthdays
Sept. 23 Hawkins
Thank you for all you do!
Elizabeth Townsend
PDS
Second Grade
515-2970
elizabeth.townsend@svps.k12.az.us
The students have been working through polygons and area of a rectangle in math. For reading, the students have been reading "Round-up at Rio Ranch". They also been super busy with taking AR tests and studying their spelling words.
We started center rotations today. The centers the students worked through were math, word work (spelling word study), reading from the reading series, and completing writing projects. Overall, they went as smooth as a start could be. We did hit a few rough patches with behavior and not following directions. However, we're moving in the right direction so I definitely think things will be looking up next week. With Thursday and Friday being half-days, I won't be able to pull as many centers, of course, as on a full-day. We'll get as much done as we can these two shortened days, and then start full-force and fresh on Monday. The purpose of center rotations is to practice and review what has already been taught, for the kids to become more independent workers, and for me to be able to work with all of the kids at least every day. I'll work with each group of kids every other day in reading and writing. This will give me the chance to check on everyone's progress in all subjects taught, as well as review skills not yet mastered. In the afternoons, we won't have center rotations, but after the math lesson I do have a chance to sit with the kids who have not mastered a specific math skill.
On Monday I sent home your child's AR report. My mistake for not getting these to the kids on Friday, so it will be my job to make sure they go home each Friday. Each report had your child's reading level and range. A few kids had not, at that moment, taken AR tests yet so I indicated how many your child will need to take by Friday to achieve their AR goal for the week. Several students worked SUPER hard today and yesterday and were able to take the amount of tests I had indicated. There are still a couple who need to reach their test goal, so we'll work hard at that tomorrow and Friday. If a student's AR goal is not achieved by Friday, they will need to complete it during their Freetime.
I look forward to meeting with everyone tomorrow afternoon!
News
Sept. 6 and 7 Parent/Teacher Conferences, half-day early release at 11:30.
Sept. 12 Teacher in-service, 1/2 day early release
Sept. 26 Teacher in-service, 1/2 day early release
Birthdays
Sept. 23 Hawkins
Thank you for all you do!
Elizabeth Townsend
PDS
Second Grade
515-2970
elizabeth.townsend@svps.k12.az.us
8/30/2012
Conference Times
I am emailing everyone the conference time I have set up. If this does not work for you, please let me know as soon as you can.
Mrs. Romo, the principal, has noticed several students not following the dress code. Below is the school dress code, and I will be posting it on the blog under the link list as well.
Elizabeth Townsend
PDS
Second Grade
elizabeth.townsend@svps.k12.az.us
Mrs. Romo, the principal, has noticed several students not following the dress code. Below is the school dress code, and I will be posting it on the blog under the link list as well.
Inappropriate dress
includes but is not limited to:
- Midriff tops, halter tops, loose or muscle tank tops and shorts and skirts which are no shorter than four inches above the knee.
-
Spaghetti
strap tops and tank tops need to be covered by another shirt.
-
Straps
on tops should be at least two inches wide.
-
Baggy
or sagging pants are not acceptable.
-
Shoes
must be worn at all times. Tennis or athletic shoes are recommended. Flip flops
are not acceptable
-
Hats
or any head coverings are not to be worn in any building. Lettering and logos
on hats and caps are to remain in their original state.
-
Bandanas,
hairnets, skullcaps, and wallet chains are not allowed on campus.
-
Products
that are illegal, vulgar or related to alcohol, tobacco, drugs, violence or
anything that disrupts the educational process cannot be displayed on t-shirts,
jewelry, belt buckles etc.
-
Slippers,
pajama bottoms or other sleepwear are not to be worn unless the school
designates a school day as Pajama Day.
Thank you for all you do!
Elizabeth Townsend
PDS
Second Grade
elizabeth.townsend@svps.k12.az.us
8/29/2012
The Toucan Squawk, Aug. 29
Hello families! I hope everyone is enjoying their week. Last night was our Parent Night. A HUGE thank you to those who were able to attend! If you were unable to attend, I sent home the packet of information we went over. I also sent home the Demographics form. If you attended last night, that was the form on your students' desks- I have your forms. Please return those forms as soon as possible. All of the information goes into our Synergy database, where it's stored for the school year. Please be sure to sign and indicate on the back whether or not there were changes made. The office is asking to have those returned the latest by Friday. A big, big, BIG thank you!
We've been going through Even and Odd numbers in math this week, as well as polygons. Polygons is a fancy word for shapes (circle, rectangle, etc.). Sometime in the year we'll go through 3D shapes. The students have been finishing their writing for the bulletin board, and will be moving on to another writing piece this week.
As you have probably seen on the work returned home with your student thus far, I've been putting one of three ways to record the grade of that specific work: percentage, rubric grades (1, 2, 3, 4), and the grade received over the total grade possible. These three are what we as second grade teachers are using to grade everyone's work. When you are able to log into Synergy (I'll be passing out your log-in information at our conferences next week), you will notice which one I used for that work.
As you work through the grades, you'll notice the rubric grades and the percentages they've been assigned to- please, please don't freak out because the percentages are going to be really low. The way this system works is, unfortunately, not comparable to the K - 3 grading system of rubric grades- the 1, 2, 3, 4. The district office has attempted to either do away with the rubric grades but have not reached a consensus on that issue from all of the schools. So, in the meantime, I would suggest printing out the following percentage chart to refer to as you look at your child's grades:
Speaking of conferences, your child will be bringing home your conference time tomorrow. If this time does not work for your schedule, please return it with your child as soon as possible and indicate if you would rather have a phone conference or if you would like me to email you instead. Either way, my Thursday afternoon is completely booked. Unless someone cancels at their time, I will be unable to meet with you at another time that afternoon. I'm more than happy to meet with you at another time on another day, however, so simply indicate on the note if there is another time on another day when you are more available.
There will be a change for the homework packets starting next week. Included in the packet is a spelling list page. The words are on the page, as well as lines to practice writing the words. One set of lines is to write the words with them uncovered, and the other set is to write the words with them covered. This is going to be on the back of the reading log. Also included is math practice for what we have so far covered- expanded notation and place value.
News
Sept. 3 Labor Day, no school
Sept. 6 - 7 Parent/Teacher conferences, 1/2 day early release
Sept. 12 Teacher in-service, 1/2 day early release
Sept. 26 Teacher in-service, 1/2 day early release
Birthdays
Sept. 23 Hawkins
Thank you for all you do!
Elizabeth Townsend
PDS
Second grade
elizabeth.townsend@svps.k12.az.us
515-2970
We've been going through Even and Odd numbers in math this week, as well as polygons. Polygons is a fancy word for shapes (circle, rectangle, etc.). Sometime in the year we'll go through 3D shapes. The students have been finishing their writing for the bulletin board, and will be moving on to another writing piece this week.
As you have probably seen on the work returned home with your student thus far, I've been putting one of three ways to record the grade of that specific work: percentage, rubric grades (1, 2, 3, 4), and the grade received over the total grade possible. These three are what we as second grade teachers are using to grade everyone's work. When you are able to log into Synergy (I'll be passing out your log-in information at our conferences next week), you will notice which one I used for that work.
As you work through the grades, you'll notice the rubric grades and the percentages they've been assigned to- please, please don't freak out because the percentages are going to be really low. The way this system works is, unfortunately, not comparable to the K - 3 grading system of rubric grades- the 1, 2, 3, 4. The district office has attempted to either do away with the rubric grades but have not reached a consensus on that issue from all of the schools. So, in the meantime, I would suggest printing out the following percentage chart to refer to as you look at your child's grades:
- 4- 97%- On grade level
- 3- 85%- On grade level
- 2- 70%- Below grade level
- 1- 50%- Far below grade level
Speaking of conferences, your child will be bringing home your conference time tomorrow. If this time does not work for your schedule, please return it with your child as soon as possible and indicate if you would rather have a phone conference or if you would like me to email you instead. Either way, my Thursday afternoon is completely booked. Unless someone cancels at their time, I will be unable to meet with you at another time that afternoon. I'm more than happy to meet with you at another time on another day, however, so simply indicate on the note if there is another time on another day when you are more available.
There will be a change for the homework packets starting next week. Included in the packet is a spelling list page. The words are on the page, as well as lines to practice writing the words. One set of lines is to write the words with them uncovered, and the other set is to write the words with them covered. This is going to be on the back of the reading log. Also included is math practice for what we have so far covered- expanded notation and place value.
News
Sept. 3 Labor Day, no school
Sept. 6 - 7 Parent/Teacher conferences, 1/2 day early release
Sept. 12 Teacher in-service, 1/2 day early release
Sept. 26 Teacher in-service, 1/2 day early release
Birthdays
Sept. 23 Hawkins
Thank you for all you do!
Elizabeth Townsend
PDS
Second grade
elizabeth.townsend@svps.k12.az.us
515-2970
8/27/2012
Parent Night
We'll have our Parent Night tomorrow 5 - 6 PM, Room 3. For your information, I'll be leaving about 20 minutes early in the afternoon for a doctor's appointment. Mrs. Romo will take over my class for that time. I'll be back with plenty of time to prep for our discussion. Mrs. Romo may have the library computer lab open for an introduction to Parent Vue as well. If I don't tell you tomorrow, thank you for being there!
Thank you for all you do!
Elizabeth Townsend
PDS
Second Grade
elizabeth.townsend@svps.k12.az.us
Thank you for all you do!
Elizabeth Townsend
PDS
Second Grade
elizabeth.townsend@svps.k12.az.us
8/23/2012
The Toucan Squawk, Aug. 23
Hello families! I hope everyone has enjoyed their week. We've been working on even and odd numbers this week, as well as reteach groups on expanded notation. The students started reading their reading series story, "Henry and Mudge" on Monday, as well as studying their spelling words for the week. In the upcoming weeks, we'll start center rotations. So far, I've had the students practice working in various groups and partnerships. Once rotations are held, the students will be grouped together to work on previously introduced concepts in math, Word Work using the current week's spelling words, reading, and Math Facts in a Flash tests on the computers. As the students work through the rotations, I'll be working with groups on reading or writing. I'll be able to read with the students at least every other day, depending on their reading level.
Tuesday night is our Parent Night for second grade! I'm so excited to have this chance to discuss various procedures in our classroom. It will definietly clear the air on any concerns and questions you may have. Each classroom will have their own Parent Night 5:00 - 6:00 PM. I'll have a packet for everyone with an agenda of what I would like to discuss. Afterwards, we'll have time for questions. Our principal, Mrs. Romo, will have the computer club in the library open to discuss Parent Vue on the district's grade system Synergy. Parent Vue will be open in September, and this will be a great opportunity to learn more about this system. Through the school year, other teachers will hold their own Parent Nights, and these can be more opportunities to learn about the system as well.
News
Birthdays
Sept. 28 Hawkins
Thank you for all you do!
Elizabeth Townsend
PDS
Second Grade
elizabeth.townsend@svps.k12.az.us
Tuesday night is our Parent Night for second grade! I'm so excited to have this chance to discuss various procedures in our classroom. It will definietly clear the air on any concerns and questions you may have. Each classroom will have their own Parent Night 5:00 - 6:00 PM. I'll have a packet for everyone with an agenda of what I would like to discuss. Afterwards, we'll have time for questions. Our principal, Mrs. Romo, will have the computer club in the library open to discuss Parent Vue on the district's grade system Synergy. Parent Vue will be open in September, and this will be a great opportunity to learn more about this system. Through the school year, other teachers will hold their own Parent Nights, and these can be more opportunities to learn about the system as well.
News
Aug. 28 Parent Night, Room 3, 5 - 6 PM
Aug. 29 Teacher in-service, 1/2 day early release at 11:25.
Sept. 3 Labor Day, no school.
Sept. 6 - 7 Parent/Teacher conferences.
Sept. 7 Progress reports sent home.
Sept. 12 Teacher in-service, 1/2 day early release at 11:25.
Sept. 26 Teacher in-service, 1/2 day early release at 11:25.
Birthdays
Sept. 28 Hawkins
Thank you for all you do!
Elizabeth Townsend
PDS
Second Grade
elizabeth.townsend@svps.k12.az.us
8/16/2012
The Toucan Squawk, Aug. 16, 2012
Wow, what fantastic first two weeks we've had!
We've done plenty of work to get everyone ready for the rest of the school year, and already have had plenty of opportunities to show growth of knowledge. The other second grade teachers and I started with our curriculum the first week, and we haven't stopped! With the heavy requirements we are being handed by the state and the school district, we have all organized our teaching in a methodical, sometimes fast-paced, structure. We also, of course, have had plenty of opportunities for students to be reintroduced to the concepts. We'll continue this structure through the school year, and I'll plan accordingly based on shortened and 1/2 day weeks.
We have so far covered place value to the 4th digit. Students were super excited when I mentioned we'd be working with numbers up to the thousands place! We've also been working through this week's story, "Ann's First Day". Today, the students read as the story played on my computer. The students also worked with the week's spelling words in their Word Work notebooks. Working with the words with centers and sorting word cards is helping them become more and more familiar with the words through the week. On Fridays, the students sort them in the week's concepts (this week, for example, they were short and long vowel words) and then glue them inside their notebooks. Friday mornings, the students will be taking their spelling test. This will be sent home on Mondays in their Homework folders.
Please help your student remember to bring in their Homework folders and their backpacks everyday. Pretty much every day students will be taking home mail and notes, both from myself and from the school.
We have started using Table Points, in addition to the students' personal nickel banks. Each table will have opportunities to earn extra nickels based on, for example:
- transitioning quickly, quietly, and safely between the carpet to their desks (and vise verse, of course),
- completing center work quietly without my intervention,
- consistently following directions without my intervention (or the intervention of table mates),
- being exemplary models of using the correct voice level.
I look forward to working with everyone this school year- it's sure to be great!
News
- Aug. 23 Picture day!
- Aug. 29 Teacher in-service, 1/2 day early release at 11:25.
- Sept. 3 Labor Day, no school.
- Sept. 6 - 7 Parent/Teacher conferences.
- Sept. 7 Progress reports sent home.
- Sept. 12 Teacher in-service, 1/2 day early release at 11:25.
- Sept. 26 Teacher in-service, 1/2 day early release at 11:25.
Birthdays
- 9/28 Hawkins
Thank you for all you do!
Elizabeth Townsend
PDS
Second Grade
elizabeth.townsend@svps.k12.az.us
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