PHONICS/READING
    In phonics we are discussing the consonant sounds, reviewing base words and endings, and working on the short vowels a, i and u. In our phonics library we will read "Len and Linda's Picnic" and "An Ice Cream Crash".  The phonics library books are stories that practice our phonics skills for the week. We will also do several practice pages of phonics.
    In reading we will begin reading the stories in our readers/anthologies.  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.  This week we are reading, Dragon Gets By.  We will be working on the strategy of summarizing and the comprehension skill of story structure.  We will also work on reading a chart.  High frequency words for this story are:
front   kitchen   roll   until
Vocabulary words for this story are:
balanced   dairy   diet   hungry   shopper   shopping   vegetables
    Please have your child read at least a total of 75 minutes a week. Your child may read silently or orally. Also please ask your child questions about what he/she has read. This helps develop comprehension skills. Your child should be able to tell you the main idea or central idea of the story (Who - did what - when/where), tell you at least four main events in the story in sequential order, and make reasonable predictions while he/she is reading based on what he/she has read. Remind your child to use the cause-effect words (because, so, since) in his/her answers. Your child's reading log is in his/her red hometask folder. Reading logs will will be checked the first day of each school week.
SPELLING
Lesson 2
about   am   bag   dig   has   his   I   if   is   or   ran   sat   snap   was   win  
*scratch   *picnic
The * words are challenge words.  They are each worth 5 extra points if spelled correctly.  Because this is a short week we will have a practice word test on Wednesday, a word test on Thursday, and a sentence test on Friday. On the  word test on Thursday, children will not lose points if they spell the challenge words incorrectly. Children who spell all of the words (including the challenge words) correctly on the practice test on Wednesday do not have to take the word test on Thursday.  All of the children will take Friday's sentence test. This week the children will create three sentences from their spelling words for Friday's spelling test.  They will copy these sentences and bring home a copy for studying on Wednesday.  Every word in a sentence test as well as punctuation is graded.  They will have a test on these sentences on Friday.  Please practice for these tests.
    Next week we will have a practice spelling test on Lesson 3 on Tuesday, a word test on Wednesday, and a sentence test on Friday.  Children who receive a 110% on the Tuesday practice test (including the challenge words) will not have to take the Wednesday word test. All of the children will take the sentence tests on Friday.
PRINTING/ENGLISH
    In printing we are working on proper formation, spacing, and neatness.  Many children are having problems forming their letters correctly. 
    In English we will discuss sentences, capitals, periods, and question marks. We will also discuss homophones and work on adding details to our sentences to make them more interesting.
    Every day the children write at least three sentences on a topic in their journals.  These journal writings are checked for correct punctuation and sentence structure.
MATH
    In math we will practice addition facts; establish partnership principles; compare numbers in Addition Top-It; use Addition Top-It to practice addition facts;  write number sentences;  review grouping by tens;  practice exchanging $1, $10, and $100 bills;count on by 1s, 10s, and 100s; use counting up to calculate the value of bill combinations; examine the book,My Reference Book; introduce the Math Boxes routine; count objects; explore money equivalencies; explore analog and digital time pieces; and make exchanges among bills.
    We will also do some additional practice in number facts and clocks.  This week we will have addition facts quizzes on Tuesday and Thursday.  The children will have 3 minutes to complete 30 addition problems.  Please review and practice the addition and subtraction facts.  Children need to know these facts.  We will also have a clock quiz on Wednesday.  The clock test will have o'clocks (example: 6:00), half past (example: 6:30), and quarter past (example: 6:15) and quarter before (example: 6:45).  Next week we will have a money quiz on Monday (mixed sets of pennies, nickels and dimes), addition facts quiz on Tuesday and Thursday, and a clock quiz (o'clocks, half past, quarter past and quarter to)on Wednesday. Please practice these skills.
 SCIENCE/SOCIAL STUDIES
    In science we will discuss water and our weather.  Science vocabulary for this week is: evaporate, water vapor,   condense, water cycle, erosion, precipitation, volcano, earthquake,   landslide.
    In social studies we will be working on maps, map reading, globes, and directions.  Furthermore, we will continue to review the four  levels of behavior and appropriate behavior in school as well as our classroom goals and procedures.
     We are part of a postcard exchange program.  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 this project.
COMPUTERS
    Your child will have computer work every day.  We have been working on basic second grade skills in Jump Start 2nd Grade.
    We are involved in several Internet Projects.  At this time we are participants in the Journey South Monarch Project, Room with a View, and State Gingerbread Exchange.
    We have a classroom web site at this address: http://www.genevaschools.org/austinbg/class/gray/
At this 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.  Your child's number is the number on his/her red worktask folder.
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
Wednesday- Austinburg Library 2:15 - 2:45 p.m.
Thursday      - Gym 1:45 - 2:20 p.m.
Thursday      - Open House, 6 - 7 p.m.
Friday          -  Music  9:00 - 9:30 p.m.
Sept. 8     -  AESA Meeting, 3:30 p.m., Music Rm
Sept. 24   -  School Pictures
Oct. 10    -  End of First Six Weeks
Oct. 17    -  NEOEA Day - No School
OPEN HOUSE
    Open House is Thursday evening from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.  This a wonderful time for your child to show you his/her classroom and school.  Since this is a very public type of meeting, I do not feel it is the place to discuss your child's academic progress or behavior.  If you would like to discuss your child's progress or behavior, I would be glad to set up a time for a conference after school either in the room or on the phone where we could talk in a more private environment.
FROM THE TEACHER'S DESK
    We have had a wonderful first week of school.  The children are trying very hard to do their best both in their work and their behavior. The children are trying to be at the "Cooperative" or "Deciding to be Responsible" Level at all the times. We have had some problems with  behavior at the  "Bothering" level when people were talking during studying or quiet times. Our goal is to be the best class in our school.
    Please remember to ask your child each day if he/she has any papers to show you or assignments to finish. Any homework or incomplete assignments brought home should be completed and returned the next day.  Generally I do not assign paper homework the first six weeks except for any math HomeLink assignments.  If your child is bringing home extra assignments to finish, these are assignments he/she should have completed in school.  Please encourage him/her to stay on task and finish his/her assignments in school. 
    Please remember if your child is sick or late you need to send in a written excuse. The excuse should include the date of absence or tardiness, reason, parent/guardian signature, and telephone number. Also please put on the top of the excuse Mrs. Gray 2G.  As required by state law,  these excuses are filed in your child's permanent file.
    Please look at the papers your child brings home in his/her blue Weekly Work folder.  Praise your child for good marks and help him/her improve any weak areas. Please keep the graded papers, sign the weekly report sheet in the clear pocket, and return the folder and sheet in the clear pocket to school as soon as possible. Papers marked with an I  or Inc. should be corrected and returned.
    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 ). 
            Roberta Gray