We had so much fun at the Character Parade today!  Thank you for sending in items for our Halloween celebration!  The students really enjoyed our Halloween celebration – thank you for contributing items to make this happen.  I hope to see everyone tonight at the Fall Festival!  It is going to be a blast!

Thank you to Mrs. Leth for being our Mystery Reader and for all your hard work in making our booth at Fall festival a success!  We couldn’t do it without all our amazing parent volunteers! 

Thank you for all the donations for our class party!  Everyone had a great time!

What LEARNING and GROWING went on in room 217 this week:

Academics

ELA:  We have officially wrapped up Esio Trot by Roald Dahl.  Roald Dahl uses incredible vocab in his books which makes his novels increasingly interesting to read.  Our reading block also introduced alphabetical order which was fun to practice and focused on reading non-fiction stories.   Lastly, we began our lesson 7 Wordly Wise vocab.

Writing:  We read some incredible fiction stories this week involving animals such as Dogzilla, Brave Charlotte, and Honk!  Prima Swanerina.  Students were challenged to write their own fictional animal story that included descriptive language, temporal words, and dialogue.  We are still in the process of writing these creative stories!

Math:  We have completed Chapter 4 in Math and I was incredibly impressed with how well the students took on addition with regrouping.  We even made it to quadruple adding and students were begging for more numbers to add.  What a group of mathematicians!

Social Studies – Native Americans

Enrichment:  Growth vs. Fixed Mindset – for more information:  https://www.mindsetworks.com/science/

Students of the week:

Brooke and Jaxon

Thank you for showing responsibility and integrity this week!

Important Dates:

10/28:  Report Cards sent home  (initial date of 10/24 pushed back due to hurricane)  PLEASE RETURN ENVELOPES ON MONDAY!

10/31:  Book Fair Preview at library – 9:00 am (First class!  Woo hoo!)

11/1:  Re-schedule date for the firefighter presentation

11/4:  Vocab journals due – I have sent home lesson 1-5 words to help find similarities between words in lessons 1-7.  I hope this helps!

11/7:  Colonial Presentation – In school field trip

11/7:  Turkey in disguise take-home project due (more info to come next week!)

11/11 – No school

Reminders:

• Please return report card envelopes Monday!
• If you are interested in a conference, please mark so on the envelope or contact me at [email protected]
• Please remember “P’s” are A.O.K!  We are just beginning 2nd quarter and a lot of 2nd grade standards are PROGRESSING during 1st quarter.  It is a marathon, not a sprint!  🙂
• One of our goals for our school improvement plan this year is improving absences and tardies.  Please make your best effort to have your child present each day and on time!  Thank you!

 

 

How is it already so close to the end of October?  We had a VERY busy and productive week!

On Monday we had the Jaguars visit for a pep rally.  The cheerleaders and coaches gave great speeches on STAMINA and PERSEVERANCE as well overcoming adversity after Hurricane Matthew.  We also heard from representatives from the Red Cross and City Commissioners.

Tuesday was our field trip to Rype and Readi.  This was a GREAT, kid-friendly environment that helped our students learn more about farming!  We had three rotations: feeding the animals, visiting the market, and touring crops the farm was producing to learn more about agriculture.  The students also got to taste test of some products grown at the farm such as muscadine grapes and sugar cane.  We ended the trip with a picnic outside and each child receiving a mini pumpkin to take home.  Even through the sun-showers and mosquitoes, everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves and learned something new.  You can check out their website here:    http://rypeandreadi.com/

On Friday students who met their goal for this quarters AR incentive enjoyed extra recess and a snow cone!  Congratulations to Caenan McCarthy who was our top point earner for the class AND 2nd grade with over 100 points!  WOW!

What LEARNING and GROWING went on in room 217 this week:

Academics

ELA:  Students began our current class novel Esio Trot by the INCREDIBLE Roald Dahl.  Class novels have helped students build fluency and inflection in their reading.  Our reading block also reviewed base words, reviewed adding and sorting -ed to words, and focused on reading realistic fiction.   Lastly, we took our lesson 6 Wordly Wise vocab.

Writing:  We added descriptive writing to characters of our choice in our journals this week as well introducing Authors Chair.  Belle was our first speaker and did a superb job describing Alexander from Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.

Math:  We continued to practice 2-digit addition with re-grouping.  Students also practiced reading word problems that required 2-digit addition and the importance of lining up our tens and ones vertically.

Science:  Rocks were discussed and we observed different rocks around school.  We read great books such as Rocks: hard, soft, smooth, and rough and If you Find a Rock.

Students of the week:

Ennis and Belle

Thank you for showing GRIT this week!

G– Give it your all R – Re-do if necessary I– Ignore giving up T– Take time to do it right

Important Dates:

10/27:  Last day to donate books to kids affected by Hurricane Matthew

10/28:   Character Parade and Fall Festival 5:30-7:30

Per office:

Students are encouraged to dress up as their favorite storybook character.  It is best if students come to school in their costumes on Friday morning. If they cannot wear their costume over their school clothes, they are to bring a change of clothes with them. We also remind students that face-painting, hair-coloring or weapons (real or play) are not allowed.

10/28:  Report Cards sent home  (initial date of 10/24 pushed back due to hurricane)

10/28:  Class snack celebration items due

10/28:  Last day to donate books to kids affected by Hurricane Matthew

10/31:  Book Fair

11/1:  Re-schedule date for the firefighter presentation

11/4:  Vocab journals due

11/7:  Colonial Presentation – In school field trip

11/11 – No school

Reminders:

• Thank you for sending in delicious baked goods, gift cards, and books for victims of Hurricane Matthew!  I have been overwhelmed by the amount of thoughtfulness from the families in our class.  You guys rock.
• Please sign up for an item to bring in for our class Halloween Celebration on 10/28.   I will purchase any items no one chooses.  The students have worked SO hard first quarter and have been through a lot in October so we deserve to have a good time.  Work hard… play hard.  🙂
• I hope to see you all on 10/28 for the Fall Festival!  It’s going to be a blast!

Talk about Servant Leadership!  One student in our class baked banana bread for the kids in our class affected by the hurricane and another student made sculptures at home to pass out to families at Davis Shores.  My heart is so full!

What LEARNING and GROWING went on in room 217 this week:

Academics

ELA:  Students took time to independently read Flat Stanley and Stanley Flat Again by Jeff Brown.   These were some quick reads before we dive into our next class novel Esio Trot by the INCREDIBLE Roald Dahl.  I believe this is a book the children will really enjoy.  Our reading block also reviewed on sorting, recognizing, and spelling words with -oo, -ew, ow, and -ou, as rules and spelling patterns for adding -ing to words.   Lastly, we took our lesson 5 Wordly Wise Test.

Writing:  We practiced the pre-write skill of creating “webs” to think of details about our pets.   We also worked on telling more about characters in our favorite books.  We are continuing our practice of adding temporal and descriptive words to our writing as well as editing.  This is a fluid process!

Math:  Math was a BLAST this week!  We continued Chapter 4 and began adding two digit numbers that required re-grouping.  Having a strong number sense and understanding of ones, ten, and hundreds has really helped students catch on to this concept quickly.

Social Studies:  Community Service during Hurricane Matthew – not a 2nd grade standard, but none-the-less an important LIFE SKILL and CURRENT EVENT.  🙂

Students of the week:

Honora and Nolan

Thank you for showing perseverance this week!

Important Dates:

10/17:  Re-scheduled Gifted Screening (students already identified will not be tested.)  An opt-out letter was sent home today (September 30th) if you are not interested in having your child tested.

10/14:  1st Quarter ends

10/15:  October Scholastic Book Orders due – Class Code MBCQN – CHECKS OR CREDIT CARD ONLY – NO CASH

10/17:  FORMER Teacher Work Day.  This will be a make-up day for the hurricane on 9/2.  Students are expected to be at school this day.

10/17:  Field Trip forms and $4 due for in-school Colonial Field Trip.  If you have not turned in your form or money, I sent another slip home in your child’s red folder today.

10/18:  Rype and Readi Field Trip – please have students wear RB Hunt shirts, tennis shoes, and pack their lunch in a plastic ziploc bag with their name clearly written on the front.  If you are a chaperone, please sign in at the school first and then you may follow buses in your car or meet us there.  I will need one chaperone to take our cooler in your car.  **Slight time change – buses will leave Hunt at 9:30 and return at 1:00. **

10/20:  PTAO meeting

10/21:  AR incentive – Snow cones and extra recess!  Ask your child how close they are to their goal!

10/28:  (10/21 was incorrect date)  Character Parade and Fall Festival 5:30-7:30

10/28:  Report Cards sent home  (initial date of 10/24 pushed back due to hurricane)

10/31:  Book Fair

11/7:  Colonial Presentation – In school field trip

11/11 – No school

Reminders:

• We had five Hunt teachers and 2 students from our class severely affected by the Hurricane.  If you are interested in donating please contact Waynette Abbatonozzi at 547-7957.  I know gift cards have been very helpful at this time.
• As a class we voted to focus on BOOKS as our donation to kids on Anastasia Island who have been affected by Matthew. If you have any gently used books (all ages!) please send them on or before Thursday, October 27th.
• We would still love to have you as a volunteer for the Fall Festival!  Please contact me if you can give 30 minutes of your time that evening.  🙂
• You can pre-order bands for Fall festival.  They are $8 before the 28th and $10 at the door the day of the festival.  Make checks out to RB Hunt PTAO.  Let me know if you need a new form.
• A message from Mr. King the Principal at Sebastian Middle School:

 

 

Dear S.M.S., R.B. Hunt, Ketterlinus, Crookshank and S.A.H.S. Families:

 Our hearts go out to all those in our community who have been impacted by Hurricane Matthew, but especially to those families and students within our feeder school system. 

For this reason, Sebastian Middle School is opening its doors as a resource center this Saturday, October 15 from 8:00 a.m. – Noon. Our families are invited to pick up any supplies they may need—bottled water, nonperishable food , cleaning supplies, trash bags, paper towels, toilet paper, bed and bathroom linens, shoes, and clothing items (sizes from infant to adult).

Mr. King

Principal

Sebastian Middle School

904-547-3844

 

Families,

  School is officially back in session today following Hurricane Matthew.  If you are unable to send your child in, the district is being VERY lenient with absences.  Please let me know of any special circumstances with your family so I can be of any service.  I will take good care of your most precious treasures today – your children.  I hope all is well.  Please be in touch.

Due to the uncertainty of weather conditions resulting from Hurricane Matthew, all schools and district offices will be closed Thursday, October 6 and Friday, October 7.

All athletic events and extracurricular activities are canceled this evening and through the weekend.

Extended Day will be open and operating this afternoon.

Please visit www.stjohns.k12.fl.us for more information and updates.

Please be safe!

Students worked so hard to earn their laps for the Fund Run!  I bet they slept GREAT that night!

Thanks to Mr. McCarthy for coming in this afternoon and being our first Mystery Reader!

What LEARNING and GROWING went on in room 217 this week:

Academics

ELA:  We finished reading Totally Disgusting by Bill Wallace.  This book was full of adventure and fun.  The students and I quickly fell in love with the main characters Mewkiss the Cat and Barkus the Dog.  We are looking forward to our next big novel adventure on Monday!    Our reading block also focused on sorting, recognizing, and spelling words with -oo, -ew, ow, and -ou, as well as exploring text evidence.   Lastly, we took our lesson 4 Wordly Wise Test.

Writing:  We created FANTASY stories that included sight, sound, and temporal words.  We also paired up and listening to each others stories and responding with the prompt “I learned that…”

Math:  We continued our work in Chapter 3 by using equations to represent words problems.  We also practiced repeated addition.  Students immediately noticed that this skill appeared to tie right into multiplication – SO exciting!  Chapter 3 Math test will be on Monday.

Enrichment:  Students practiced analytical reasoning with an activity called “What’s that Dot?”

Students of the week:

Leta and Caenan

Thank you for being such good listeners!

Important Dates:

10/4:  Picture Day!  These will be individual portraits and not class pictures.

10/10:  Gifted Screening (students already identified will not be tested.)  An opt-out letter was sent home today (September 30th) if you are not interested in having your child tested.

10/14:  1st Quarter ends

10/14:  Fire Safety Demonstration

10/15:  October Scholastic Book Orders due – Class Code MBCQN – CHECKS OR CREDIT CARD ONLY – NO CASH

10/17:  FORMER Teacher Work Day.  This will be a make-up day for the hurricane on 9/2.  Students are expected to be at school this day.

10/18:  Rype and Readi Field Trip – please have students wear RB Hunt shirts, tennis shoes, and pack their lunch in a plastic ziploc bag with their name clearly written on the front.

10/20:  PTAO meeting

10/21:  Character Parade and Fall Festival 5:30-7:30

10/21:  AR incentive – Snow cones and extra recess!  Ask your child how close they are to their goal!

10/28:  Report Cards sent home  (initial date of 10/24 pushed back due to hurricane)

10/31:  Book Fair

Reminders

• Fund Run was a BLAST!  Thanks to all the parents for coming out to cheer us on!  Our class earned over $1900 in donations!  Impressive!  I have contacted PTO with missing prizes from students.  Please let me know if your child didn’t receive an item they earned. Fund Run collection envelopes as well as additional information was sent home today in red communication folders.
• Thank you to Mr. McCarthy for being our first Mystery Reader!  The students really enjoyed your book!
• October is packed with exciting and busy activities.  Please make sure  your child comes to school everyday rested and prepared to learn!
• Fall Festival will be here before we know it!  Lauren Leth has planned a FUN witch hat ring toss game!  Please let me know if you are interested in volunteering for a 30 minute block to help run this!

Gettin’ down at the Fund Run Pep Rally!  Our class has some MOVES!

What LEARNING and GROWING went on in room 217 this week:

Academics

ELA:  We continued reading Totally Disgusting by Bill Wallace.  Our reading block also continued our focus on sorting, recognizing, and spelling r-controlled words as well as exploring text features in books.   Lastly, we began Lesson 4 Wordly Wise vocab.

Writing:  We created SCARY STORIES that included sight and sound words.  We also practiced pairing up and listening to each others stories and responding with the prompt “I liked your story because…”

Math:  We continued our work in Chapter 3 by practicing addition and subtraction facts.  We are seeing relationships and patterns between the two which is helping us become more efficient mathematicians! We also began “Mad Minute” this week with addition problems – one of our most intense times of the day!

Social Studies:  We continued our study on the Presidential Election and learned exactly where the White House is located and the history of White House pets!

Students of the week:

Saylor and Stella

Thank you for being such good listeners!

Important Dates:

9/20 – FUND RUN KICK OFF

9/29 – FUND RUN – 2nd grade time slot:  10:35- 11:25

9/30 FUND RUN RAIN DATE and vocab journals due

10/10:  Gifted Screening (students already identified will not be tested)

10/14:  1st Quarter ends

10/15:  October Scholastic Book Orders due – Class Code MBCQN – CHECKS OR CREDIT CARD ONLY – NO CASH

10/17:  FORMER Teacher Work Day.  This will be a make-up day for the hurricane on 9/2.  Students are expected to be at school this day.

10/18:  Rype and Readi Field Trip

10/20:  PTAO meeting

10/21:  Character Parade and Fall Festival 5:30-7:30

10/28:  Report Cards sent home  (initial date of 10/24 pushed back due to hurricane)

10/31:  Book Fair

Reminders

• Thank you for supporting our Fund Run this week!  This money will go toward purchasing NEW playground equipment!
• On the day of the Fund Run (Thursday, September 29th) please make sure your child comes to school in running shoes, shorts, and applies sun screen BEFORE they arrive to school.  Students are also welcome to bring hats and sunglasses to keep themselves cool.  I would also recommend sending in a cold water bottle (possibly freeze the night before) with your child’s name clearly labeled on the outside.  We will change into our Fund Run shirts the morning of the race.

• We are still in desperate need of volunteers for our Fall Festival.  Please email me with a time slot that will work for your family to make this fun event a success!

We read The best part of Me by Wendy Ewald and wrote about our favorite body parts

Happy 8th birthday to the JUBILANT JAXON!!!

What LEARNING and GROWING went on in room 217 this week:

Academics

ELA:  We began reading Totally Disgusting by Bill Wallace.  Class novel time is quickly becoming everyone’s favorite part of the day – including mine!  We are enjoying hearing from different characters perspectives and practicing using inflection as we read.  Our reading block also focused on sorting, recognizing, and spelling r-controlled words as well as exploring text features in books.   Lastly, we are focusing on Lesson 3 Wordly Wise vocab.  Your child’s vocab journal with their new job should be in their backpack.  Journals are due September 30th.

Writing:  We continued creating lists and writing SILLY STORIES that included sight and sound words.

Math:  We are currently working on basic facts and relationships –  using double facts and practicing addition facts.  We also began math centers this week.  They were a hit!

Science:  Severe Weather was discussed this week as well as precautions we should take during scary weather.

Students of the week:

Gaby and Nicholas

Thank you for being SO hardworking!

Important Dates:

9/20 – FUND RUN KICK OFF

9/29 – FUND RUN – 2nd grade time slot:  10:35- 11:25

9/30 FUND RUN RAIN DATE

10/10:  Gifted Screening (students already identified will not be tested)

10/14:  1st Quarter ends

10/17:  FORMER Teacher Work Day.  This will be a make-up day for the hurricane on 9/2.  Students are expected to be at school this day.

10/18:  Rype and Readi Field Trip

10/21:  Character Parade

Reminders

• I am missing a few interim envelopes.  Please send these in by Monday.
• Thank you to those who attended Open House.  I enjoyed seeing you all!  If you were unable to make it, please contact me to meet for a conference.
• Thank you so much for all the hand sanitizer!  We are set for the year!  😉
• We had exactly 3 students turn in field trip forms the next day with requests to be chaperones.  Based on our “first come, first serve” rule stated on the permission trip they were picked first.  HAVE NO FEAR though!  We have quite a few more field trips coming up this year!
• Thank you to Lauren Leth for taking on the BIG task of being our room parent.  Please sign and return the paperwork she sent home ASAP.

• Fall Festival Virtual Sign up:  Please email me([email protected]) with your name, phone number and email address of a 30 minute time block that will work for your family to volunteer in our booth.  Feel free to recruit high school and/or middle school students who need volunteer hours.   

 

Happy 8th Birthday to Cassidy!

Readers are LEADERS!

What LEARNING and GROWING went on in room 217 this week:

Academics

ELA:  We are just about finished reading Snot Stew by Bill Wallace.  Students are really enjoying reading the story from KiKi the cat’s point of view.  Our reading block also focused on sorting, recognizing, and spelling long i words.  Lastly, we took our Wordly Wise lesson 2 test.  Overall, the students did significantly better on this test than the first.  HOORAY FOR GROWTH!

Writing:  Students made lists of friends and then wrote a story about one of them.  They also had the opportunity to get out their red pen (the best part!) to edit their writing to add more sight and sound words.

Math:  Numbers patterns were a focus this week.  Students were challenged to find 100 more/less or ten more/less with numbers over 100.  This built on our previous knowledge from Chapter 1 – base 10.

Social Studies:  This week we learned about the election, presidential facts, and information on our current presidential candidates.  This led to many colorful conversations and debates!

Students of the week:

Leta and Sam

Thank you for showing the character count traits of trustworthiness.

Important Dates:

9/12 – Interims sent home

9/15 – 2nd Grade Open House 6:00 – 7:30

9/15 – PTAO meeting at 8:30 AM

9/20 – FUND RUN KICK OFF

9/29 – FUND RUN

9/30 FUND RUN RAIN DATE

Reminders

• Thank you for all the box tops this week!  We are LOADED!  Keep ’em coming!

• Students are pumped to show you their classroom and current work they have been producing in class for Open House.  If you attend, you are excused from homework that night.  Just mark “Open House” for that nights assignment.  You are not expected to stay the entire time.

• We are in need of hand sanitizer for our classroom.  Please send some in if you are able!

  Have a great weekend!

Animal loving Leta escorting one of our surprise visitors (a centipede!) back outside to its natural habitat!  🙂

What LEARNING and GROWING went on in room 217 this week:

Academics

ELA:  We finished reading Magic Treehouse’s Hour of the Olympics. We compared what elements in the story made it both a FICTION and NON-FICTION chapter book.  I am looking forward to beginning the HYSTERICAL Snot Stew by Bill Wallace next week.  Our reading block also focused on sorting and recognizing long o words.  Lastly, we began our second set of wordly wise vocabulary words.

Writing:  Students practiced making lists of “It happened to Me” as well as writing narratives about memorable events in their lives.

Math:  Numbers to 1,000 were tackled the week – students were challenged with their number sense through word problems, higher order thinking questions, and independent work revolving around larger numbers.

Science: We discussed Earth Science and Earth’s Structures. Students recognized that the Earth is made of of rocks and that rocks come in many sizes and shapes.  They also described how small pieces of rock and dead plant and animal parts can be the basis of soil and explained the process by which soil is formed.

Students of the week:

Emi and Liam

Thank you for showing the character count traits of responsibility and respect.

Important Dates:

9/9 – Vocabulary Journals due.

9/12 – Interims sent home

9/15 – 2nd Grade Open House 6 – 7:30

9/15 – PTAO meeting at 8:30 AM

9/20 – FUND RUN KICK OFF

9/29 – FUND RUN

9/30 FUND RUN RAIN DATE

Reminders

• We are still collecting box tops!
• If your child needs a new library bag please send in $1 to purchase one from Ms. Gorick.  Otherwise, please send in a bag from home.  The plastic bags are SUPER noisy in the hallways and break easily.

• VOLUNTEER INFORMATION WAS SENT HOME ON THURSDAY
  If you are interested in volunteering with our class, please sign and return.  You must be an approved volunteer to enter our school building.

• Junie B. Jones the Musical is playing at Limelight Theater October 1, 8, 15, and 22nd!  You can purchase tickets here:    http://www.limelight-theatre.org/wp/?page_id=1536

  Have a great week!