PHONICS/READING
    In phonics we are working on short a, e, i, o, and u. The children will be reading "Big Hog's House Hunt" and "Robin's Farm" in small guided groups to practice these sounds.
    We are reading "Julius" in our  anthologies this week.  The children will also be reading leveled readers in guided reading groups. This week we are discussing the strategy of monitor/clarify, fantasy/realism, synonyms, and a comprehension skill review.  High frequency words for this week are: brought   reason   special   surprise
Vocabulary words for this week are: crumbs   imitation   noise   slurped   spread
    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
Wednesday's test, Lesson  4  "Julius"
any   bug   fox   from  fun   hug   job   jump   leg   mop   not   nut   of   went   wet  
*block   *every  
The * words are challenge words.  They are each worth 5 extra points if spelled correctly.  We will have a practice word test on Tuesday, a word test on Wednesday, and a sentence test on Friday. Children who spell all of the words (including the challenge words) correctly on the practice test on Tuesday do not have to take the word test on Wednesday.  All of the children will take Friday's sentence test. The children will create four 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.
MATH
    This week we will begin home links; compare numbers; calculate and compare the values of combination of coins; read, write, and explain the <, >, and + symbols; count by 1s, 10s, and 100s with base-10 blocks; use dominoes to identify equivalent names for numbers; practice addition facts with dominoes; read a thermometer and record the temperature; and complete an unit assessment. Home links are daily assignments that the children will complete at home and return to school the next day.
PRINTING/ENGLISH
    In printing we are working on proper formation, spacing, and neatness. In English we are working on proofreading, parts of sentences, correct beginning and ending punctuation, and the use of "I". Children are required to use proper punctuation in all of their work.
SCIENCE/SOCIAL STUDIES
    In science we are discussing  how rocks can change; erosion of rocks, sand, and soil; and how earthquakes, landslides, and volcanoes change the Earth. Our science vocabulary is evaporate, water vapor, condense, water cycle, precipitation, erosion, earthquake, landslide, and volcano. In social studies we are discussing  the constitution.
CLASSROOM PROJECTS
    We will soon begin working on our monarch butterflies for the Journey North Symbolic Migration of the Monarch Butterfly to Mexico. Our monarchs will "migrate" to Mexico where they will winter until this spring.  In the spring, twenty-six monarch butterflies will "migrate" back to us.
    We will also begin working on our  four postcard exchange projects.  We will exchange postcards with other classes in the United States. Our first set of postcards will be mailed September 24th.  Donations of postcards with pictures of our area or Ohio and postage stamps for postcards would be deeply appreciated for these projects.
COMPUTER PROJECTS
    The children continue to work on Jumpstart Second Grade.  We will also visit http://www.spellingcity.com,
(http://www.spellingcity.com/index.php?option=com_spellcity&Itemid=122&task=viewList&listId=36226) to practice our spelling words.
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.
Friday           -  Music  9:00 - 9:30 p.m.
Sept. 24        -  School Pictures
Oct. 10          -  End of First Six Weeks
Oct. 17          -  NEOEA Day - No School
FROM THE TEACHER'S DESK
    We will be working on baseline Thinklink Tests in reading and math this week.  These assessments are given to determine areas of weakness and guide instruction.  They are not used to determine your child's reading or math grades on his/her report card.
    Lunch/milk money is collected every morning.  Please send your child's lunch/lunch money in an envelope with his/her full name on it.
    We continue to work on our levels of behavior.  We are generally in the "C" or "D" level but we are still having a few problems with talking during work-times and not completing our work in school.  Talking during work-times and not completing work is "B" level behavior, which is not an acceptable level in our classroom.
    Please remember if your child is sick or late you need to send in a written excuse even if you have called the office on the day he/she was ill. 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.
    It is very important that your child learn to stay on task and  complete his/her work every day.  If your child is bringing home several papers a day to finish besides his/her Home Link homework/hometask papers, then he/she is not staying on task in school. If your child stays on task, he/she will have  plenty of time to finish. We will work on work skills all year.
    Please have your child read at least 75 minutes every week. Children are to return their reading logs and folders for checking the first day of each week.
    Your child's reading log and Home link Math homework pages help establish the link between school and the outside world. Establishing this link early in a child's development helps to ensure he/she understands that learning extends well beyond the walls of the classroom. Homework assignments help children review and practice skills, but more importantly, they enhance their learning experiences. These types of assignments also help establish the responsibility in a student to “follow through.” Students need to accept responsibility for bringing work from school to home and then from home to school.
    Please look at the papers your child brings home in his/her task/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