Phonics/Reading
    In phonics we are reviewing consonant sounds, clusters, and digraphs.  We will use riddles, games, songs, and practice sheets to review these skills.
    In reading we will review the six reading strategies: predict/infer, phonics/decoding, monitor/clarify, question, evaluate, and summarize. We will be reading books and discussing how to use these strategies before, during, and after reading.  These strategies will help the children to become successful readers. Next week we will continue to review and practice our strategies.  We will begin reading the stories in our readers/anthologies next week.  Our first theme is "Silly Stories". All of the children will work on the same story at the same time in the reader/anthology. The children will also work in small groups on stories of the same theme on various levels to further develop vocabulary, comprehension, fluency and independent reading skills. 
    Please encourage your child to read at least 75 minutes every week.  He/she may read silently or aloud.  If possible ask him/her questions about what he/she has read.
    In your child's folder you will find the Dolch Words, Dolch Story, and Dolch Phrases. The Dolch words are words that children need to learn to help them read fluently. Mastery of these words is very important. Please practice these words.
Spelling
    Our spelling words are basic second grade reading and writing words.  We will have a word test this Friday, August 29.  The basic words for our Lesson 1 test are:
bad   box   cap   come   fan   fox   hen   hot   jet   map   met   nap   red   sad   set
    Next week the children will have a word test on Thursday. The children will create four sentences from their spelling words.  They will copy these sentences and bring home a copy for studying on Wednesday.  They will have a test on these sentences on Friday, September 5.  Please practice for these tests.
    Generally we will have a practice spelling word test every Tuesday, a word test on Wednesday, and a sentence test on Friday.  Children who receive a 100% on the Tuesday practice word test will not have to take the Wednesday word test. Everyone takes the sentence test on Friday. Each week (usually on Wednesday) the children create, copy, and bring home the sentences for Friday's spelling test. I am sending home a complete list of this year's spelling words. Please save this list. This list is also available on our web site at
http://www.genevaschools.org//austinbg/class/gray/spelling.htm
Math
    We have a new math series this year,  Everyday Math. We will be working on the first three lessons this week. We will count on by ones; read and write numbers to 10s, 100s, and 1,000s; compare and order numbers on a number line; count by 1s, 5s, and 10s by using coins; use a counting-up strategy to calculate the total value of coin combinations; calculate the values of coin combinations; review months, weeks, and days; review telling time to hour, half hour and quarter hour; use probability terms to describe events; name days in a week; tell and show time to the nearest half-hour; and describe calendar patterns and use them to solve problems. We will also review and practice the addition and subtraction facts, money, and telling time. At the beginning of each unit you will receive a Family Letter.  Please keep this letter in the plastic pocket in the middle of your child's red work folder for reference during this first unit.  This Family Letter has information on it that you will find helpful for helping your child with math and his/her homework for the entire unit.
English
    In English we will discuss sentences, capitals, periods, and question marks.  We will work on writing telling and asking sentences.  We will also start working on our journals. This six weeks in our journals we will work on writing a sentence with a naming part (subject) and doing part (predicate).  We will also make sure all sentences begin with a capital letter and end with the correct ending mark (period, question mark, or exclamation markPrinting
    In penmanship we will work on legibility, letter formation, letter size, and spacing between letters and words.   We will be working on practice printing pages to review and develop these skills.
Science/Social Studies
    In science we will discuss the gerbils in our room. We will also discuss the proper care of our classroom pets. In our science books we will read how a scientist uses the scientific method and review safety rules when exploring things.
    In social studies we will be working on maps and map reading.  We will also discuss caring and sharing rules for the classroom.
    We are also part of four regular postcard exchange programs.  We will exchange postcards with other classes in the United States.  Donations of postcards with pictures of our area or Ohio and postage stamps for postcards would be deeply appreciated for these projects.
School Supplies
    Please make sure your child has his/her school supplies as soon as possible.  Your child needs:
1. Three (3) or more number 2 pencils with erasers at all times
2. Crayons - 24 colors or more
3. Pointed scissors
4. White glue of any kind (not paste) and a glue stick
5. A box to hold pencils, crayons, scissors and glue
6. Two (2) boxes of facial tissues to share with the class
7. Folder in which to carry papers home - no trappers
8. Ruler showing centimeters and inches
9. No pencil sharpeners
10. No ballpoint pens
11. Three (3) spiral notebooks
12. A box of Ziploc gallon size bags
13. 3" x 3" Post-It Notes
Also please have the following extra supplies at home for homework:
* Crayons
* Pencils and erasers
* Ruler
Please do not let your child bring toys to school.  Also, please make sure your child's name is on all school supplies, coats, and lunch boxes.
Special Dates and Events
Student Day- 8:45 a.m. - 3:10 p.m.
Recess          - 11:30 - 11:45 a.m.
Lunch           - 11:50 - 12:10
Tuesday       -  Art 1:25 - 2:10 p.m. (every other week - 1st art class is this week)
Wednesday- Austinburg Library 2:15 - 2:45 p.m. (every week)  
Thursday     - Gym 1:45 - 2:20 p.m. (every week)
Friday          -  Music  9:00 - 9:30 p.m.   (every  week) 
Sept. 1     -  Labor Day - No School
Sept. 4     -  Open House, 6 - 7 p.m.
Sept. 8     -  AESA Meeting, 3:30 p.m., Music Room
Sept. 24   -  School Pictures
Oct. 10    -  End of First Six Weeks
Oct. 17    -  NEOEA Day - No School
Lunch
    Our lunch time is 11:45a.m. - 12:10 p.m.  This year lunch is $2.50 and milk is 50¢.  Reduced lunch is 40¢.   Recess is from 11:30 - 11:45 a.m.
    The children who get hot lunch will be given three or four choices for lunch each day.  Please look at the menu each morning to help your child decide what he/she will order.  They must tell me each morning what they are ordering for lunch.  This will allow the cafeteria to prepare enough food for everyone. Lunch menus are sent home each month and are posted on the Internet at this address - http://www.genevaschools.org/elmenus/
From the Teacher
    This will be a very busy and exciting week.  We will be reviewing in all subjects, meeting new friends, learning new rules and procedures, and working hard to master new skills.   
    Your child will bring home papers each day that we do together for practice. Papers that he/she has completed independently will be checked and sent home the first day of each week in a blue work-folder.  I will include a note about your child's progress and any areas he/she should practice.
    Also your child will bring home a red (Ready Every Day) Hometask Folder every night.  In this folder any papers in the left pocket may stay home.  Any papers in the right pocket are to be returned to school the next day.  Also this folder will have a plastic pocket for your child's reading record.  Children are to read at least 75 minutes every week.  There will be another plastic pocket for the Family Math Letter that will be sent home at the beginning of each new unit. Please keep this Family Letter in the pocket for reference as it contains information that you will find helpful when helping your child with math and his/her homework for the entire unit.
    Please do not send in party invitations for your child to pass out in school unless you are inviting all the girls in the class, all the boys in the class, or the entire class.  Passing out invitations to only a few children causes hurt feelings and often tears.  If you wish to only invite a few children, please mail the invitations or phone their homes.
    One of my favorite activities is working on the computer. I feel that our children will need basic computer skills to help prepare them for their  future roles. We will be using our five classroom computers every day to practice skills; write stories, poems, and letters; create class Power Point/Local Web Site presentations; and work on research.   We will also work on several Internet projects with other classes around the world. At this time we are registered to participate in the Room With a View Project, Journey South Monarch Project, and State Gingerbread Exchange. We have a classroom web site at this address:
http://www.genevaschools.org/austinbg/class/gray
At our classroom web site the children will post written and art work.  We will also have information about classroom projects, Internet Projects, current information, and games.  I am not allowed to post names or photos of students. Each child will be assigned a number and that number will be placed under their work.   There is also a web site for Austinburg School. The web site address for Austinburg school is: http://www.genevaschools.org/austinburg/
    Please remember if you ever have any questions, ideas, concerns, etc., please write a note , call (school -466-4831 ext.169) or e-mail (school- roberta.gray@neomin.org ).
.                                         Roberta Gray