Ms. Walston's Class: 2011

October 24, 2011

Red Ribbon Week Schedule

October 24 – 28

Monday, October 24 – “PUT A CAP ON DRUGS” Students will be allowed to wear their favorite cap to school all day to show support for stopping drug abuse. Everyone will receive a RED RIBBON to wear all week and watch a video about why we celebrate Red Ribbon Week each October.

Tuesday, October 25 – “BLACK OUT DRUGS” Students can wear black clothing to show support for the theme of the day.

Wednesday, October 26 – “I’M A ‘JEAN-IUS’—I’M DRUG FREE” Everyone is encouraged to wear jeans to school on Wednesday.

Thursday, October 27 – “Join the Fight Against Drugs – BE DRUG FREE!” Everyone is encouraged to wear camouflage on Thursday.

Friday, October 28 - This will be “WEAR RED DAY.” Everyone is encouraged to wear RED to show unity for the fight against drugs. Any red clothing items acceptable in our dress code policy may be worn. No hair coloring or face painting, please.

 Yearbooks are on sale until November 30th. They are $20.

 Every month we will work on a character word. This month’s word is SELF-CONTROL. We are going to work on showing self-control at school and at home! Our self-control pep rally will be on Friday, October 28th. I will be watching for kids with character, especially those who show self-control, and every week, one kid will be chosen as the “Leader of the Pack.”

Lilly is the LEADER OF THE PACK!!!

This wee we are studying...
Literacy – Sentence Formation (nouns, verbs, details), comprehension, accuracy, questions

Math – Math Facts, subtraction using mental strategies within 20

Social Studies – Time lines

Spelling Unit 5 - Long o Digraphs

1. boat

2. float

3. roast

4. doe

5. toe

6. grow

7. below

8. yellow

9. went

10. saw

Bonus Words

1. toenail

2. grown
Dictation Sentence

The big yellow boat was on the lake.

October 17, 2011

Parent Teacher Conferences – October 18th & 20th

No School on October 21st

Red Ribbon Week – October 24th – 28th

Yearbooks are on sale until November 30th. They are $20.

Every month we will work on a character word. This month’s word is SELF-CONTROL. We are going to work on showing self-control at school and at home! Our self-control pep rally will be on Friday, October 28th. I will be watching for kids with character, especially those who show self-control, and every week, one kid will be chosen as the “Leader of the Pack.”

Please go over your child’s papers with them. This is good for them to see how they can improve their grades as well as let you see how they are developing!

Ally is the LEADER OF THE PACK!!!

Literacy – Sentence Formation (nouns, verbs, details), comprehension, accuracy

Math – Math Facts, read & write #s to 1,000, using base 10 & number names & expanded form, time, money, CGI problem solving

Science – Skeletal System

Spelling Unit 4 - Long A digraphs

List Words

1. train

2. stay

3. eight

4. sprain

5. tray

6. freight

7. complain

8. obey

9. raisin

10. braid

Bonus Words

1. both

2. walk

Dictation Sentence

The train was muddy and wet.

October 10, 2011

Important dates…

more information coming soon…

Parent Teacher Conferences – October 18th & 20th

No School on October 21st

Red Ribbon Week – October 24th – 28th

Our P.E. days are Wednesday and Thursday. Please make sure your child wears tennis shoes on these days.

Every month we will work on a character word. This month’s word is SELF-CONTROL. We are going to work on showing self-control at school and at home! Our self-control pep rally will be on Friday, October 28th. I will be watching for kids with character, especially those who show self-control, and every week, one kid will be chosen as the “Leader of the Pack.”

Please go over your child’s papers with them. This is good for them to see how they can improve their grades as well as let you see how they are developing!

Allie is the LEADER OF THE PACK!!!

This week we are studying...

Math ~ CGI word problems, Reviewing skills learned, math facts- 8's

Literacy ~ Recognizing complete sentences, Nouns, Capitalization, Punctuation: Statements & Commands

Social Studies ~ Columbus

Phonics/Spelling ~ Unit 3 – Open Syllable Patterns

1. cry

2. go

3. she

4. fly

5. we

6. so

7. baby

8. robot

9. tidy

10. happy

Bonus Words

1. because

2. once

Dictation Sentence

You cannot make a kite fly.

October 3, 2011

Important dates… more information coming soon…

Parent Teacher Conferences – October 18th & 20th

No School on October 21st

Red Ribbon Week – October 24th – 28th

Our P.E. days are Wednesday and Thursday. Please make sure your child wears tennis shoes on these days.

Please go over your child’s papers with them. This is good for them to see how they can improve their grades as well as let you see how they are developing!

Jacob is the LEADER OF THE PACK!!!

This week we are studying...

Math ~ CGI word problems, Telling time to the nearest 5 minutes, math facts- 7's

Literacy ~ Recognizing complete sentences, Nouns, Capitalization

Science ~ Mammals, Birds, & Fish

Phonics/Spelling ~ Unit 2 – CVCe Syllable Patterns

1. crate

2. stroke

3. glide

4. woke

5. plate

6. pride

7. reptile

8. naptime

9. mistake

10. game

Bonus Words

1. saw

2. another

Dictation Sentence

Jane likes the reptile that her classmate saw.

September 26, 2011

This week is celebrate freedom week. If you or your child has been to a monument, somewhere that celebrates our country or has a family member serving in the military, please feel free to send pictures for your child to share with the class this week.

Book orders are due by Friday. Please send checks only.

Our P.E. days are Wednesday and Thursday. Please make sure your child wears tennis shoes on these days.

Every month we will work on a character word. This month’s word is RESPONSIBILITY. We are going to work on being responsible at school and at home! Our responsibility pep rally will be on Friday, September 30th. I will be watching for kids with character, especially those who are responsible, and every week, one kid will be chosen as the “Leader of the Pack.”

Please go over your child’s papers with them. This is good for them to see how they can improve their grades as well as let you see how they are developing!

Ginny is the LEADER OF THE PACK!!!

This week we are studying...

Math ~ CGI word problems, Skip counting, math facts- 6's

Literacy ~ Recognizing complete sentences, Nouns, Capitalization

Social Studies ~ Celebrate Freedom Week

Phonics/Spelling ~ Unit 6 – Closed Syllable Patterns

1. shock

2. fish

3. chunk

4. rock

5. trunk

6. dish

7. napkin

8. magnet

9. basket

10. swim

Bonus Words

1. high

2. together

Dictation Sentence

The cat can get the fish from the basket.

September 19, 2011

Here are some pictures from

Little Steppinwolves!

Friday is Homecoming. We will be cheering on the wolves at the homecoming parade Friday afternoon. Please wear maroon and gold on Friday for the parade!

Book orders are stapled onto the newsletter. If you would like to order books, please send CHECKS ONLY by September 30th.

Our P.E. days are Wednesday and Thursday. Please make sure your child wears tennis shoes on these days.

Please go over your child’s papers with them. This is good for them to see how they can improve their grades as well as let you see how they are developing!

Dawson is the LEADER OF THE PACK!!!

This week we are studying...

Math ~ CGI word problems, counting to 1,000, math facts- 5's

Literacy ~ Recognizing complete sentences, Nouns, Capitalization

Science ~ Matter

Phonics/Spelling ~ Review Unit 5 – Initial 3-letter blends

1. scram

2. splash

3. sprint

4. squat

5. strong

6. string

7. struck

8. spring

9. squish

10. scrub

Bonus Words

1. next

2. from

Dictation Sentence

The strong string made a splash in the lake.

September 12, 2011

Our P.E. days are Wednesday and Thursday. Please make sure your child wears tennis shoes on these days.

Every month we will work on a character word. This month’s word is RESPONSIBILITY. We are going to work on being responsible at school and at home! Our responsibility pep rally will be on Friday, September 30th. I will be watching for kids with character, especially those who are responsible, and every week, one kid will be chosen as the “Leader of the Pack.”

Please go over your child’s papers with them. This is good for them to see how they can improve their grades as well as let you see how they are developing!

Halle is the LEADER OF THE PACK!!!

This week we are studying...

Math ~ CGI word problems, place value, math facts- 4's

Literacy ~ Recognizing complete sentences, Nouns, DIBELS testing

Social Studies ~ Constitution Day

Phonics/Spelling ~ Review Unit 4
Consonant digraphs th, ck, ng, wh

1. snack

2. click

3. froth

4. thump

5. thin

6. path

7. which

8. hung

9. cling

10. where

Bonus Words

1. crunch

2. think

Dictation Sentence

Beth and the thin duck sang and ran.

September 6, 2011

Our P.E. days are Wednesday and Thursday. Please make sure your child wears tennis shoes on these days.

This week we are studying...

Math ~ CGI word problems, odd/even numbers, doubles, math facts- 3's

Literacy ~ Recognizing complete sentences, Nouns

Phonics/Spelling ~ Review Unit 3 - Consonant digraphs ch, sh

1. smash

2. plush

3. shell

4. shop

5. much

6. which

7. chest

8. champ

9. flash

10. punch

Bonus Words

1. now

2. from

Dictation Sentence

Mitch had lunch and then put it in the trash.

August 29, 2011

If you have not joined PTO, please do, so our class can win a party!!

Our P.E. days are Wednesday and Thursday. Please make sure your child wears tennis shoes on these days.

Book Orders are due on September 2nd. Please send checks only.

Class Wish List

If you can send any of these items, it would be greatly appreciated!!!!

Stickers, Lysol spray, Magic Erasers, Blue shop paper towels, Playground balls

This week we are studying...

Math ~ CGI word problems, odd/even numbers, math facts- 2's

Literacy ~ Recognizing complete sentences

Phonics/Spelling ~ Final Blends

1. spent

2. sunk

3. grand

4. lamp

5. rift

6. blend

7. west

8. help

9. fund

10. left

Bonus Words

1. went

2. much

Dictation Sentence

The pink mink left the camp in a vest.

August 22, 2011

I am so excited about our school year! The first week was fabulous! I will send home a newsletter weekly to inform you of upcoming events and reminders.

I hope you have all had a chance to read through the book I gave you about our class at open house. It contains important information about the elementary and our classroom, including spelling words and reading strategies.

This week I will start taking grades and testing your child’s reading to determine their DRA level. There is more information in the class book about this. Our spelling test will be on Thursday. Homework was sent home today and I will not collect it until Friday.

Our P.E. days are Wednesday and Thursday. Please make sure your child wears tennis shoes on these days. Yearbook pictures are Friday the 26th. More information and order forms will go home next week.

If you would like to order books, please fill out your order with your child’s name on it. Please send a check only to purchase books. Orders are due on September 2nd.

Once again I am delighted to be your child’s teacher! I would like to thank you in advance for playing a vital role in your child’s education!

-Ms. Walston

Class Wish List

If you can send any of these items, it would be greatly appreciated!!!!

Stickers, Lysol spray, Magic Erasers, Blue shop paper towels & Playground balls

This week, we are studying...

Math ~ addition, CGI problem solving

Literacy ~ Daily 5, Sentence/Not a Sentence, Capitalization, DRA testing

Phonics/Spelling ~ Review Unit 1 ~ Initial Blends

1. grab

2. club

3. spun

4. flap

5. trip

6. skin

7. clap

8. stiff

9. slap

10. stop

Bonus Words

1. makes
2. of

Dictation Sentence

The slim frog sat on the grass.

April 25, 2011

These students have already met their AR goal for the 4th 9 weeks:

Kaley, Kylee, Mikey, Luke, Storm, Seth, Finn, Jet, Milly, Dylan, Cooper, Shelbi, Mason, Joseph, Daley, Kaden, Tanner & Colleen!!

Good Job!

Upcoming Events:

(more info. coming soon!)

May 2 - Character people due
May 13th - Last day to meet your AR goal & MAY DAY
May 23-27 - Mexico Week
May 31-June 3 – Learning Camp

2nd Grade May Day

Friday, May 7

On Friday, May 7, all second grade students will participate in an outdoor FUN DAY! This day will include many fun activities including a picnic. There will be 12 activity stations set up on the playground. Each classroom will rotate to each station. Each classroom teacher will rotate with her classroom. We will need volunteers to help man each of the stations. Volunteers will be assigned to a particular station and will be in charge of the activities in that station. Volunteers will remain at that station throughout the rotations (you will NOT rotate stations with your child). If you would like to volunteer to help man a station, please let me know.
We will be having a picnic on the playground from 10:45-11:15 (normal lunch time). You can either send a sack lunch or the cafeteria will provide one for you. Please indicate below if you will be sending a sack lunch or if the cafeteria will be providing one for your child and charging it to your child’s lunch account. If your child receives free lunches, he/she will receive a free sack lunch. Adults may bring a sack lunch with them from home. Adults WILL NOT be allowed to purchase a meal from the cafeteria on this day.

WATER BOTTLES: Please send 1 water bottle with your child’s name clearly written on it. Please make sure your child comes to school with sunscreen covering their body. You may send a hat, sunglasses and/or a sun visor. You may also send a beach towel for your child to sit on for the picnic.

This will be a fun and exciting day for all second graders!
Thank you! Second Grade Teachers

This week we are studying...

Math ~
REVIEW - addition, subtraction, graphing, perimeter, area, fractions, time, estimation, multiplication, division

Social Studies ~ economics

Literacy ~ comprehension, poetry, adjectives

Phonics/Spelling ~ Regular plurals

spices
acorns
apples
dishes
classes
indexes
watches
ponies
cities
ladies
brushes
tubs
cents
cloths
girls

Dictation Sentences

We made pies from the berries in the boxes.
The children picked the apples.

Bonus Words

should
children

April 11, 2011

Thank you for all of your help in preparing your child for the IOWA test! I could not do it without you! We are all glad the test is over!!!

Upcoming Events:

(more info. coming soon!)

May 2 - Character people due

May 13th - Last day to meet your AR goal

- MAY DAY

May 23-27 - Mexico Week

May 31-June 3 – Learning Camp

This week we are studying...

Math~ comparing money, data analysis, subtraction with borrowing, multiplication, division, arrays, problem solving

Social Studies/Science~ Recycling

Literacy~ guided reading, adjectives

Phonics/Spelling~ Compound Words

softball
someone
nighttime
football
handmade
fireworks
cherry pie
fire drill
high school
air bag
sand dollar
good-bye
part-time
ice-skater
well-done

Dctation Sentences

Tim plays football for the high school.
Did you watch the ice-skater?

Bonus Words

large
next

March 15, 2011

As you know, second grade students will be taking the ITBS (Iowa test of basic skills) the week of April 4. Our test, as of right now, is actually scheduled for Wednesday, April 6 and Thursday, April 7. Therefore, in order to better prepare our students for the test, we will focus on reviewing skills for the next three weeks (the next two weeks in March and the week after Spring Break). We will not have new spelling words the week of March 14th or the week March 28th.

Also, we will still be having homework. Skill practice pages will be coming home. Please work with your child on the skill pages each night and send them back to school to be checked on Friday. Also, during the actual week of testing we will not have homework. Your child’s homework for that week is to get a good night’s sleep, eat a good breakfast and come to school with a “can do” attitude. Thanks so very much for always working to help your child. I continue to appreciate all that you do.

Please note the changes to the calendar due to snow days: School will be in session on March 18, April 4 and May 31 through June 6. These are now regular student attendance days.

Have a wonderful spring break next week!

March 7, 2010

As you know, second grade students will be taking the ITBS (Iowa test of basic skills) the week of April 4. Our test, as of right now, is actually scheduled for Wednesday, April 6 and Thursday, April 7. Therefore, in order to better prepare our students for the test, we will focus on reviewing skills for the next three weeks (the next two weeks in March and the week after Spring Break). We will still have a new phonics lesson and spelling test this week. We will not have new spelling words the week of March 14th or the week March 28th.

Please note the changes to the calendar due to snow days: School will be in session on March 18, April 4 and May 31 through June 6. These are now regular student attendance days.

Parent-Teacher Conference Day is March 14th.