PHONICS/READING
    In phonics we are reviewing prefixes, suffixes, contractions, and compound words. This week we will be working on our Theme 6 Tests. The results of these tests are part of the reading grade your child earns for this grading period. 
    We will also complete our last Short Cycle Assessment tests in reading and math this week and our final reading running record. These tests do not affect your child's grade.  They are based on the second grade standards, benchmarks, and indicators for the state of Ohio.  The results are used to show growth over the school year and to indicate areas where the children need extra help.
    Please have your child read at least 20 minutes every day or a total of 100 minutes a week.
    Please continue to work on the Dolch words.  The Dolch words are high frequency words that children need to learn to help them read fluently.
SPELLING
Lesson 34 "Theme 6 Review"
Wednesday's test
chased   find   fly   good   high   hook   hoping   light   liked   making   mind   moon   named   night   riding   room   sky   took   using   zoo  
*decided   *flight   *reply   *school   *teasing
Friday's test
1. That night I decided to find a good flight school by riding in my car and making a phone call.
2. She chased the fly I named high into the sky by the street light.
3. I'm hoping he liked my reply about the zoo on the moon.
4. Please mind and stop teasing her about using a hook to open the door  her room.
Please practice for these tests. 
MATH
    In math we are working on measuring weight using metric units; doubling a number;  dividing a set of objects into equal groups; recording information on a graph; creating and reading a Venn diagram;  and completing subtraction and written assessments. We will finish our math series this week, but continue to review various skills until the end of the year. to memorize their addition and subtraction facts. We will have a money test  on Monday, a money test on Tuesday, a renaming test in addition on Wednesday, a renaming test in subtraction on Thursday and a multiplication test on Friday.
PRINTING/ENGLISH
    In printing we are working on proper formation, spacing, and neatness. In English we are reviewing adjectives, multiple meaning words, and combining sentences. Children are required to use proper punctuation in all of their work.
SCIENCE/SOCIAL STUDIES
    In science we will explore and classify living and nonliving things; identify the needs of living things; identify how plants are alike and different; explore and predict how plants get light; identify the parts of plants as leaves, stem. roots, flowers, fruits, and seeds; and an unit review and test. Vocabulary for this unit: minerals, flower, fruit, seeds, pollen, life cycle, and oxygen.
    All of our butterflies have emerged and are now laying eggs.  We may have baby Painted Lady caterpillars in a week or two. We had one polyphemus moth and one luna moth emerge this week. We have lots of moth eggs. We are hoping for baby moth caterpillars.
    In social studies we are discussing national monuments.
CLASSROOM PROJECTS
    This week we will do planting gloves.  We will plant various seeds in the fingers  of a plastic glove and observe their growth.  The web site for this project will be
 http://www.genevaschools.org/austinbg/class/gray/class/plantinggloves/index.htm
    Our ants have been very busy building numerous tunnels. You can view photos of our ant farm at
http://www.genevaschooos.org/austinbg/class/gray/class/ants/    
    The week of May 26 we will do a special unit on birds of prey and owls.  As  part of our owl unit we will be dissecting owl pellets on Friday, May 30th. This will be the eighth year I have done this activity with second graders. You may view photos of last year's class dissecting owl pellets at this page on our classroom website:
http://www.genevaschools.org/austinbg/class/gray/previous/owls/index.htm
The children are always amazed at the different items they find in the pellets.  We will soon be using several internet resources to prepare us for exam ining the owl pellets. These include the KidWings site,
http://www.kidwings.com/owlpellets/index.htm , where children may do virtual owl pellet dissections.  We will also visit  Owl  Brand Discovery Kits by Chris Anderson, http://www.owlbrandkits.com , and watch the online movie on owls.  The  children will do various activities on owls at the VT College of Natural Resources site,
http://www.cnr.vt.edu/forsite/owlpellet/josh/josh1.HTM . I have included a special letter about this event with this newsletter.
    We are still observing our praying mantises, crickets, and hissing cockroaches.   
COMPUTER PROJECTS
    We are now working with "Magic School Bus Bugs".  The last two weeks of school  we will begin "Magic School Bus Dinosaurs". 
SPECIAL DATES AND EVENTS
We will no longer have Austinburg Library time or regular gym classes for the rest of the school year.
Monday        - Art
Tuesday        - Market Day Pick Up, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
                         AESA Meeting, 7:00, Music
Thursday       -Music 
May 26         - Memorial Day, No School
May 29         - Bookmobile- Returns only
May 30         - Owl Pellet Project
May 30         - Lake County Captains Reading Program Game, 7:00 p.m.                                
June 3          - Field Day
June 5          - Last Day of Classes
June 5          - Report Card Day
FROM THE TEACHER'S DESK
    Even though it was a little wet in the afternoon, we had a wonderful field trip last week.   A special thank you to our parent helper,  Mrs. Roney. I also would like to thank everyone who offered to help on the trip.
    This is the last hometask for the year.  It is due May 30th. 
    Please remember that our Field Day is Tuesday, June 3rd. The children will spend most of the afternoon participating in sports activities. Children need to wear tennis shoes for field day events.
    Any child who has a summer birthday may celebrate it before the end of the school year.  The child may select the day he/she would like us to celebrate his/her birthday.
    Please encourage your child to read this summer. Research continues to emphasize the benefits of summer reading. When students do not read during the summer, they lose some of the academic gains made during the school year. A recent U.S. Department of Education publication indicates that summer reading can prevent  these losses, especially over the first few summers.
    If you have any ideas, concerns, questions, etc. please write me a note, call (school -466-4831, ext. 169), or e-mail (school - roberta.gray@neomin.org).