PHONICS/READING
    In phonics we are working on hard and soft c  and g, consonant blends, and long vowels with silent e. In reading we will read several stories about monarchs.
    We will also be working on Ohio Diagnostic Math and Writing Screeners. The Ohio Diagnostic Math and Writing Screeners evaluate the state indicators for second grade.  They are  given to determine areas of weakness and guide instruction.  These tests are not used to determine your child's math and writing grades on his/her report card.
    Please have your child read at least 75 minutes a week. Children are to return their reading logs and folders for checking the first day of each week.
    Please continue to work on the Dolch words and phrases.  The Dolch words and phrases are high frequency words that children need to learn to help them read fluently.
SPELLING
Lesson  8  "Reading-Writing Workshop"
am   beautiful   come   does   from   goes   her   his   if   on   their   there   want   where   won   
*really   *caught  
Thursday's test
1.  I really want her beautiful cat to come to his house.
2. On Monday their mom caught the ball from him and won.
3. Where does he go if I am not there?  
Please practice for these tests.  
MATH
    The children will solve a -8 and -9 subtraction facts; use -8 and -9 facts to solve 2-digit by 1-digit subtraction problems; use patterns in subtraction to solve -8 and -9 facts; complete an unit 2 assessment, count by 1s, 10s, and 100s with base-10 blocks; explore place-value concepts with base-10 blocks; read and write 2- and 3- digit numbers; and build numbers with base-10 blocks in preparation for modeling addition strategies.
    We will have a money test (quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies) on Monday, an addition facts test on Tuesday and Thursday, and a clocks test (o'clock, half past, quarter to and quarter past) on Wednesday.  Children will have a Homelink assignment on Monday.
PRINTING/ENGLISH
    In printing we are working on proper formation, spacing, and neatness. In English we are working on identifying sentences, using descriptive words, and writing questions, and statements. We will also be working on writing a descriptive paragraph for our Reading-Writing Workshop. Children are required to use proper punctuation in all of their work.
SCIENCE/SOCIAL STUDIES
    In science we are exploring dinosaur bones, exploring what happens to animals when they cannot meet their needs, understanding extinction as well as the role of humans in a population's extinction, understanding endangered animals and the role that humans can play in protecting a species, and completing an unit review and test. Science vocabulary is: fossil, paleontologist, skeleton, extinct, and endangered.
    In social studies we are discussing the importance of cooperation in a community.
CLASSROOM PROJECTS
    We continue to receive postcards from classes around the United States. We plan to post our postcards in the hall to share with the entire school. You may view these postcards on our classroom web site at -
http://www.genevaschools.org/austinbg/class/gray/class/postcards/
    We will finish our tongue twisters this week and create a class tongue twister. We will send our class "G" tongue twister to 25 other classes this Friday. We plan to post  all of the tongue twisters in the hall and then put them in a binder.    We will also post them at this site, http://www.genevaschools.org/austinbg/class/gray/class/tonguetwister/
COMPUTER PROJECTS
    We will work on Magic School Bus in the Earth. In this program the children explore 6 terrains of the Earth: Canyon, Giant Fault, Land Volcano, Underwater Volcano, Deep Cavern, and Inside a Crystal.
    We will continue to practice reading and math skills  at ThinkLink. Children may also do these probes from their home computers. Children are not required to do these probes at home, but they are excellent practice for second grade skills. The reading home probe code is EC0218 and the math home probe code is EF3811. To do these probes go to
http://www.thinklinkassessments.com/ Then click on "Student Login".  Next click in the "Practice Probes" graphic.  Type in the code for the practice probe. Then have your child type in his/her student number.
    Your child may also wish to visit our collection of numerous kid-friendly educational web sites that we sometimes use during computer time. The url is http://www.portaportal.com   You may login under guest as class7 to view the various websites.  This page will grow as we add more sites throughout the year.
SPECIAL DATES AND EVENTS
Monday       - Applebee Pond
Monday       - Fire Safety Program
Monday       - AESA 7 p.m.
Tuesday       - Market Day Pick-Up, 6:30-7:30
Wednesday  - Austinburg Library 2:15 - 2:45p.m.
Wednesday  - Report Card Day
Thursday      - Gym 1:45 - 2:20 p.m.
Friday           -  Music  9:00 - 9:30 p.m.
Friday           -  NEOEA Day - No School
Oct. 28          - Arts Center Program
Oct. 29-31    - Book Fair
Oct. 31          - Fall Parade/Party 2:00-2:45
FROM THE TEACHER'S DESK
    Report Cards will be sent home on Wednesday.  Please praise your child for working hard and help him/her to improve any weak areas.
    This is the first week for our weekly homework/hometask assignment. Generally these assignments are due on  Friday.  Since we do not have school on Friday, this assignment will be due on Monday, October 20. Please encourage your child to work on this assignment early in the week.  It is best not to wait until the last minute to start working on it. These assignments are very important for practicing essential skills and teaching your child responsibility. Assignments may be turned in before the due date.
    We are still having a few problems with people talking during work-time.  This is "B" behavior and not allowed in our classroom. We are trying to find a plan that will help correct this behavior. Excessive, unnecessary talking often results in work not being completed and other students being bothered.
    Your child should be reading (orally and/or silently) for at least 75 minutes a week. He/she should be able to answer questions about what he/she has read. Your child should record what he/she reads each day on his/her reading log.  This log should be returned the first day of each school week.  
    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 Everyday Math HomeLink 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 remember to look at the papers your child brings home in his/her blue 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