Hello families...I hope everyone has had a great week! The students have finished working on Contractions and Fractions. We started working on graphs (pictographs, tally charts, and bar graphs) on Monday. So far so good. We have also started on a new writing project- creating a money word problem. The students have written their problem, and next they will begin creating their piggy banks. They will be taking home their penguin writing this week. Attached is their writing rubric based on what they produced. Before each final is created, I go through their sloppy copy and circle and misspellings and other mistakes. At this point, it's the students' responsibility to put in their corrections.
We have started using the Renaissance Place program called Accelerated Math. How it works is I put in the objectives I want the students to work on. Let's say, fractions. The computer program puts together the chosen objectives into a test format, and the students fill out a scan card to answer. Once finished, I scan the card on a little machine, and then it prints the students' reports of their mastery. If the student receives a score of 80% or higher, this is considered mastery in the topic. If not, I print out a practice based one what they need to master. We've moved on to graphing, so the students will be getting a graphing test tomorrow. I am controlling how we are pacing through the program- so if students have not mastered a topic, they'll meet with me for intervention. However, if a student masters the topic at anytime during the week they received the test then they don't have to complete any Accelerated Math sheets for the rest of the week. I scan the cards everyday, so this helps me be flexible with my intervention groups.
Conferences are coming up next week. I will be sending home a letter on Friday to set up a conference based on need- both academic and behavior. If I don't send home a letter, and you would like to meet- please contact me so we can set up to meet in person or have a phone conference.
Also in the coming weeks is our Title I-sponsored Glitteracy event- a fun morning where the students will create Valentine's Day-themed activities. As with the 100th Day celebration, we will be switching with the other 2nd grade classes. A letter will be going home in the coming week or so, but if you would like to help please let me know. You would be moving with your students and assist with the class in the other rooms.
The students have been working on the digestive system- I'm sure they showed you their "small intestine". Next up is the respiratory system. Both units will be graded seperately, but on the same areas: neat, correct, and complete journal, and class participation.
As a reminder, if your student has a birthday coming up, please feel free to send in a snack with him/her to share. We can distribute the snacks sometime during the day. Also, please send your student in with cold weather clothing. The weather is, as always, fluctuating. Students have said they're not cold, but my motto is always "It's better to have it, and not need it, than need it and not have it" when it comes to jackets and sweaters. If you are having trouble with jackets and other cold weather clothing, please contact me. I can send your student to the nurse's office and she can find a jacket which fits.
News
Feb. 8 Parent/Teacher conferences, 1/2 day early release at 11:30.
Feb. 8 Progress reports.
Feb. 13 Teacher in-service, 1/2 day early release at 11:30.
Feb. 18 President's Day, no school.
Feb. 27 Teacher in-service, 1/2 day early release at 11:30.
Birthdays
Jan. 2 Corey
Jan. 26
David
Jan. 27 Sage
Feb. 1 Jacob
Feb. 12 Kevin
Feb. 24 Logan
Thank you for all you do!
Elizabeth Townsend
PDS
Second Grade
elizabeth.townsend@svps.k12.az.us
1/30/2013
1/16/2013
The Toucan Squawk, Jan. 14 - 18
Hello families...I hope everyone has had a great week! We have started our
unit on fractions. We've worked on indentifying and labeling fractions, as well
as drawing and coloring in sections of various fraction shapes. We also covered
sets of a fraction, by seperating tokens of several colors and sizes. Tomorrow,
the students will take a test based on the information they have been taught so
far in the unit. The students have also finished their holiday vacation
writing, as well as a snowman glyph about various facts about themselves. Since
Friday is the 100th day, they have worked on their writing piece about if they
were 100 years old. So far, they are really cute pieces of writing. During
their center rotations, the students will draw and color a picture of
themselves if they were 100 years old to with the writing.
Annnnnnnd speaking of the 100th day! Mrs. Blackburn, Mrs. Holston, Mrs. Sullins and I have plans to rotate the 4 classes through to complete activities on Friday morning. Each teacher will read a 100th-day themed story, and then have the students complete a 100th day-themed activity. We'll also vote for the wackiest tackiest outfit for the class, and class winners will get to participate in a school-wide wacky tacky competition. School winner, as well as K - 2 and 3 - 6 winers will each recieve a prize. It's definietly going to be an awesome day! Students are invited to wear a wacky tacky outfit, but it's only a suggestion. Students are also asked to bring in a collection of 100 things. I've received a few items, and they are really cool! Collections can be included in the students' outfits if they wish (for example, 100 ribbons).
News
Jan. 18 100th day of school!
Jan. 21 Martin Luther King Jr. day, no school.
Jan. 22 School governing board meeting, 6 PM, school district board room.
Jan. 30 Teacher in-service, half-day early release at 11:25.
Birthdays
Jan. 2 Corey
Jan. 26 David
Jan. 27 Sage
Thank you for all you do!
Elizabeth Townsend
PDS
Second Grade
515-2970
elizabeth.townsend@svps.k12.az.us
Annnnnnnd speaking of the 100th day! Mrs. Blackburn, Mrs. Holston, Mrs. Sullins and I have plans to rotate the 4 classes through to complete activities on Friday morning. Each teacher will read a 100th-day themed story, and then have the students complete a 100th day-themed activity. We'll also vote for the wackiest tackiest outfit for the class, and class winners will get to participate in a school-wide wacky tacky competition. School winner, as well as K - 2 and 3 - 6 winers will each recieve a prize. It's definietly going to be an awesome day! Students are invited to wear a wacky tacky outfit, but it's only a suggestion. Students are also asked to bring in a collection of 100 things. I've received a few items, and they are really cool! Collections can be included in the students' outfits if they wish (for example, 100 ribbons).
News
Jan. 18 100th day of school!
Jan. 21 Martin Luther King Jr. day, no school.
Jan. 22 School governing board meeting, 6 PM, school district board room.
Jan. 30 Teacher in-service, half-day early release at 11:25.
Birthdays
Jan. 2 Corey
Jan. 26 David
Jan. 27 Sage
Thank you for all you do!
Elizabeth Townsend
PDS
Second Grade
515-2970
elizabeth.townsend@svps.k12.az.us
1/10/2013
Hello families...I hope everyone has had a great week! The students are in the process of finishing their final copies for their holiday vacation writing. I will be sure to post pictures of the final product- penguins holding their writing...so very cute! We have also been working through several writing strategies- using sound words, using all cap letters, quotation marks, and ellipsis (or the three dot strategy). The students wrote about having a fire drill at school using the strategies, all of which can really help their writing sound more interesting to readers.
In math, we have been covering time to the hour and half-hour. This is a mini-introduction, because in a few weeks we will go back to it and dive right in starting off with elapsed time. According to our curriculum calendar, this was to be the initial introduction to telling time- and Mrs. Blackburn, Mrs. Holston, Mrs. Sullins, and I felt it necessary to ease the kids right into it instead. With the fast-paced structure of this calendar, we knew several students would have a tough time with "running instead of walking" with this concept. Next week, we will be covering fractions- a unit which can be struggling, but eventually fun for the kids because of the manipulatives and pictures.
In reading, the students finished working on "A Change for the Quarter". This was a non-fiction selection about the state quarters. The students also worked on their study skills and reading multiple choice questions and answers which went along with the story.
We have also started our science unit for the quarter- beginning with the digestive system. We will eventually work our way to the respiratory system. Both units have booklets for the kids to complete. These booklets will be scored based on neat, complete, and correct work. Each unit will also be finished off with a test, and a really fun model- I'm excited about the kids working their way through both units, eventually getting to the model they will make.
I'm sure some students have come home saying something about me and a little machine, so I wanted to clarify any wonderings you may have. I had heart surgery last October and after a year, I've completely healed. However, I have continued to have some issues. I had my regular check-up with my cardiologist, and he wanted me to wear a heart monitor for the next 30 days. It doesn't limit me from any of my regular duties, but I do have to make regular phone calls when I have a recording to make and send. It's a bit frustrating for me right now, because I had hoped this year would be heart-issue free. I'm keeping my fingers crossed the issues don't keep coming back!
The 100th day is coming up next Friday! We will be rotating classes with the other second graders for different activities in each class- this is definietly going to be a fun day for the kids! I'm sending home a letter requesting snack items to be added to the 100th day snack mix. Please send the item by next Wednesday the 16th. The 100th day is always a fun day for the kids, but the key point of this day is for the students to be in school and on time that day. The other teachers and I have decided to reward our own classes in a special way if all of our students are in school and on time on the 18th.
News
Jan. 16 Teacher in-service, half-day early release at 11:25.
Jan. 18 100th day of school!
Jan. 21 Martin Luther King Jr. day, no school.
Jan. 22 School governing board meeting, 6 PM, school district board room.
Jan. 30 Teacher in-service, half-day early release at 11:25.
Birthdays
Jan. 2 Corey
Jan. 26 David
Jan. 27 Sage
Thank you for all you do!
Elizabeth Townsend
PDS
Second Grade
515-2970
elizabeth.townsend@svps.k12.az.us
In math, we have been covering time to the hour and half-hour. This is a mini-introduction, because in a few weeks we will go back to it and dive right in starting off with elapsed time. According to our curriculum calendar, this was to be the initial introduction to telling time- and Mrs. Blackburn, Mrs. Holston, Mrs. Sullins, and I felt it necessary to ease the kids right into it instead. With the fast-paced structure of this calendar, we knew several students would have a tough time with "running instead of walking" with this concept. Next week, we will be covering fractions- a unit which can be struggling, but eventually fun for the kids because of the manipulatives and pictures.
In reading, the students finished working on "A Change for the Quarter". This was a non-fiction selection about the state quarters. The students also worked on their study skills and reading multiple choice questions and answers which went along with the story.
We have also started our science unit for the quarter- beginning with the digestive system. We will eventually work our way to the respiratory system. Both units have booklets for the kids to complete. These booklets will be scored based on neat, complete, and correct work. Each unit will also be finished off with a test, and a really fun model- I'm excited about the kids working their way through both units, eventually getting to the model they will make.
I'm sure some students have come home saying something about me and a little machine, so I wanted to clarify any wonderings you may have. I had heart surgery last October and after a year, I've completely healed. However, I have continued to have some issues. I had my regular check-up with my cardiologist, and he wanted me to wear a heart monitor for the next 30 days. It doesn't limit me from any of my regular duties, but I do have to make regular phone calls when I have a recording to make and send. It's a bit frustrating for me right now, because I had hoped this year would be heart-issue free. I'm keeping my fingers crossed the issues don't keep coming back!
The 100th day is coming up next Friday! We will be rotating classes with the other second graders for different activities in each class- this is definietly going to be a fun day for the kids! I'm sending home a letter requesting snack items to be added to the 100th day snack mix. Please send the item by next Wednesday the 16th. The 100th day is always a fun day for the kids, but the key point of this day is for the students to be in school and on time that day. The other teachers and I have decided to reward our own classes in a special way if all of our students are in school and on time on the 18th.
News
Jan. 16 Teacher in-service, half-day early release at 11:25.
Jan. 18 100th day of school!
Jan. 21 Martin Luther King Jr. day, no school.
Jan. 22 School governing board meeting, 6 PM, school district board room.
Jan. 30 Teacher in-service, half-day early release at 11:25.
Birthdays
Jan. 2 Corey
Jan. 26 David
Jan. 27 Sage
Thank you for all you do!
Elizabeth Townsend
PDS
Second Grade
515-2970
elizabeth.townsend@svps.k12.az.us
1/02/2013
Grade reports
Hello families! I hope everyone has had a wonderful holiday break and a Happy New Year! I just wanted to be sure I mentioned grade reports will be going home on the 11th. They'll be in a white envelope in your child's homework folder. Enjoy the rest of your week, and I can't wait to see all of the kiddos on Monday the 7th!
Thank you for all you do!
Elizabeth Townsend
PDS
Second Grade
515-2970
elizabeth.townsend@svps.k12.az.us
Thank you for all you do!
Elizabeth Townsend
PDS
Second Grade
515-2970
elizabeth.townsend@svps.k12.az.us
12/14/2012
There really are no words...
PdS will be doing a review of our school lock-down procedures this coming week. With events such as this being periodically televised, it's a tough subject to discuss with kids- of any age. I am not planning on discussing the events with the students- as I feel it is best left up to families to discuss such events. However, please don't hesitate to contact the school counselor Mrs. Mazanek if you feel the need for your child. She's an amazing counselor, and the kiddos may feel a sense of comfort talking with her.
Thank you for sharing your children with me.
Elizabeth Townsend
PDS
Second Grade
515-2970
elizabeth.townsend@svps.k12.az.us
12/13/2012
Friday, Dec. 14th
Parents,
PDS
Second Grade
515-2970
It’s heartbreaking for me to have to say this, but there
will not be any PJs, movie, and hot coco tomorrow afternoon. We’ve had several issues with behavior, with
several students, and unfortunately it has brought the rest of the class down. To be clear, we may have the chance to watch
the movie next week- but now it’s been shifted to something they are
earning. My apologies for the late
notice.
Elizabeth Townsend
www.townsendtropicaltoucans.blogspot.comPDS
Second Grade
515-2970
12/12/2012
The Toucan Squawk, Dec. 10 - 14
Hello families...I hope everyone has been enjoying their December so far. We have been continuing our work in word problems and abbreviations this week. The key words have helped a lot, but I've noticed some back peddling with showing regrouping and borrowing numbers. Ironically enough, we are working on addition with regrouping in our Daily Math Skills (the daily timed tests the kids have probably mentioned), and subtraction is coming up next. I'll be returning some work tomorrow some of the kids will need to correct to show their work on, so hopefully this will help them remember they need those regrouping and borrowing numbers.
My plan is for the kids to watch "The Polar Express" this coming Friday afternoon. The students are also invited to wear their PJs on Friday, as this goes along with the story. It's only a suggestion for the students to wear their PJs- it's definitely not a requirement. As a reminder, please still send in your student with their jacket or coat and sneakers. They also invited to bring a stuffed animal. We'll have hot coco with marshmallows and cookies. We will also have holiday-themed center rotations next week. I sent home a letter last week asking for donations for Friday and next week (it was a bright pink paper). If you haven't done so yet, please send in your requested item. A BIG thank you in advance!
I will be leaving early for my Winter Break (the 20th), so I bumped up the holiday-themed activities by a week. I already have a substitute teacher set up (she's amazing, and looking forward to spending the last day and a half with the class). She'll have plans ready for the kids to complete center rotations on Thursday the 20th and a movie on Friday the 21st. Friday is also the holiday program. The students will go to that at 8:15, and then have recess directly afterwards. It should be a fairly quick day.
As you have most likely noticed the weather is continuing to get chillier every day. Of course, this is still Arizona so next week may just jump back up to the 80s. Despite the "in between" weather we're having, please still send your student in with a jacket or coat. I've had several students say they aren't cold, so they don't bring one. Or, they don't want to take it with them at their recesses. I always tell the students "It's better to have it, and not need it- than need it, and not have it." Whether they wear it or not, it's their option (although, I've noticed pretty much everybody wear their jacket or coat when we go outside- even the kiddos who say they aren't cold). With the stomach bug and flu several other classes have had to deal with, it's imperative every student has something warm to wear. If there is a financial issue of your student not having a coat or jacket, please let me know. I can send your student to the nurse, and she can give them something warm.
The students have been taking their STAR Reading and Math tests- I've seen some excellent progress! They have been taking their Running Record tests. All of these tests are given to each student at the end of each quarter. I have not given the students their 3rd Quarter reading level yet- as this I will give them in January (next month- unbelievable!). I have a few students I am having retake their STAR Reading test, however, as they actually jumped down levels instead of going up. I'm hoping for some improvement.
The students have most likely mentioned- we've had an intruder in our room! This is Timmy, our classroom elf.
As you can see, he's been pretty messy. This is only a little bit of what he's done...so far!
He even made a snow angel this week!
My plan is for the kids to watch "The Polar Express" this coming Friday afternoon. The students are also invited to wear their PJs on Friday, as this goes along with the story. It's only a suggestion for the students to wear their PJs- it's definitely not a requirement. As a reminder, please still send in your student with their jacket or coat and sneakers. They also invited to bring a stuffed animal. We'll have hot coco with marshmallows and cookies. We will also have holiday-themed center rotations next week. I sent home a letter last week asking for donations for Friday and next week (it was a bright pink paper). If you haven't done so yet, please send in your requested item. A BIG thank you in advance!
I will be leaving early for my Winter Break (the 20th), so I bumped up the holiday-themed activities by a week. I already have a substitute teacher set up (she's amazing, and looking forward to spending the last day and a half with the class). She'll have plans ready for the kids to complete center rotations on Thursday the 20th and a movie on Friday the 21st. Friday is also the holiday program. The students will go to that at 8:15, and then have recess directly afterwards. It should be a fairly quick day.
As you have most likely noticed the weather is continuing to get chillier every day. Of course, this is still Arizona so next week may just jump back up to the 80s. Despite the "in between" weather we're having, please still send your student in with a jacket or coat. I've had several students say they aren't cold, so they don't bring one. Or, they don't want to take it with them at their recesses. I always tell the students "It's better to have it, and not need it- than need it, and not have it." Whether they wear it or not, it's their option (although, I've noticed pretty much everybody wear their jacket or coat when we go outside- even the kiddos who say they aren't cold). With the stomach bug and flu several other classes have had to deal with, it's imperative every student has something warm to wear. If there is a financial issue of your student not having a coat or jacket, please let me know. I can send your student to the nurse, and she can give them something warm.
The students have been taking their STAR Reading and Math tests- I've seen some excellent progress! They have been taking their Running Record tests. All of these tests are given to each student at the end of each quarter. I have not given the students their 3rd Quarter reading level yet- as this I will give them in January (next month- unbelievable!). I have a few students I am having retake their STAR Reading test, however, as they actually jumped down levels instead of going up. I'm hoping for some improvement.
The students have most likely mentioned- we've had an intruder in our room! This is Timmy, our classroom elf.
As you can see, he's been pretty messy. This is only a little bit of what he's done...so far!
He even made a snow angel this week!
And took a bath...crazy elf!
But he brought something really special...Bucket of Good Cheer. The students have been able to leave a "good cheer ticket" for classmates. These are chosen at the end of the day, and read to the class. The receiver gets a prize for being such a special friend.
We'll see if he does anything else tomorrow. And since he doesn't work Fridays, we'll have to wait until Monday to see what mess he'll leave for us our last week of school this semester.
News
Dec. 21 Teacher in-service, 1/2 day early release at 11:30.
Dec. 24 - Jan. 4 Winter Break, no school.
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