March 22-April 12

Hello Families! Happy Spring...? Despite the cold weather I hope the sunshine is brightening your days! Please read what we are learning in 2nd Grade the right sidebar. Here are some other important happenings in our room:

New Assignment Notebook in the Sidebar: I have added an extra week to the assignment notebook so that all assignments between blog posts will be listed. If your child ever forgets his/her assignment notebook, please check the blog for homework.
Nonfiction Celebration: Thank you to all families who were able to join us for our celebration last week Friday. The kids were super excited to be able to share all their hard work with an audience. Thank you again for the treats!
CLAW slips: I hope everyone was able to read the yellow information sheet on CLAW slips that came home on Wednesday. Our class is piloting the use of CLAW slips for every minor behavior that does not follow our 5 school rules. CLAW slips will be stapled in assignment notebooks- a parent should sign and then I will collect the slip the following morning for documentation. Every 4 CLAW slips results in an office referral and a call home.
What I am is...A Good Sport: Our school focus is being a good sport. I am so happy to say our group of second graders really exemplifies good sportsmanship. While other grade levels have to focus on what a good sport is, our second graders play fairly, take turns, accept each other's differences and use positive words. Yay second grade!
Classroom Community Incentive: We are working on walking silently in the halls- in a line.  The line part seems to be very difficult for this group. We are also working on eliminating disruptions in the classroom- noises, shouting out, talking when should be listening... So we are adding flower petals everyday that we successfully walk silently or have no disruptions. When the flower petals are all on, we will have a class reward.

Mrs. Dahms' Store: The kids earn pennies daily for returning homework, having a positive day and being helpful in the classroom. I encourage the kids to save up their pennies to earn a dollar. For every dollar earned, the kids get a Dahms Dollar to spend at my store, plus a bonus prize for earning the dollar:
1st Dahms Dollar: Lunch in the classroom with me and a friend
2nd Dahms Dollar: Free Magazine
3rd Dahms Dollar: My Computer Chair for the day
4th Dahms Dollar: Free Book $3 or less from the Scholastic Book Order
5th Dahms Dollar:

Hello Families!
Please see the right side margin for details of what we are learning in 2nd grade. Here are some other classroom happenings:
Animal Reports: The kids are finishing up their research and starting to revise, edit and then publish their research in their own magazine. We will share ALL of our published nonfiction pieces with families at our Nonfiction Author's Celebration on Friday March 15th at 2:45pm in our classroom. You are welcome to take your child home right after to avoid the parent pick up/buses at the end of the day. I am looking for a couple families willing to bring juice, treats or plates/napkins.
2 Post It's every night: I am asking the kids to write 2 thoughts from their reading every night (except weekends). This is a way for the kids to formally document their thinking as readers. I do check the kids in every morning and document if homework is incomplete, including post it notes.
MAP Scores and Other work: If you did not have a conference, I sent home your child's winter MAP scores along with some other work on Thursday in a big ziploc bag. Be sure look through all the fabulous work we have been doing!
Just Kidding: Our school Social Worker, Ms. Grube, came into our classroom to read a great story called Just Kidding. It is a great story about how hurtful words can be even we you say "Just Kidding". She gave us a good rule of thumb: Never tease about anyone's body. Also, we learned to read other's reactions and know when someone is not in the mood for kidding. In addition, we talked about using our words to let someone know that what they are saying is hurtful (otherwise, sometimes friends do not know they are being hurtful)
Botanical Gardens: Third time is a charm: we were finally able to make it to the Botanical Gardens on Thursday for Stir Fry Plants- our third scheduled date due to snowstorms! The kids seemed to enjoy the presentation on plants we eat. I was very proud of everyone for trying new foods- broccoli, bok choy, carrots, zucchini and pea pods. Look at our photos below.

Food Chain

Trying new veggies (plants)

Line for Seconds!

Ask Your Child:
What does our school focus for March mean? (What I am is a Good Sport)
Which fractions are equivalent to 1/2?
Which number is the numerator and which is the denominator?
Is your animal an herbivore, a carnivore or an omnivore?
Which class does your animal belong? (Mammal, reptile, bird, fish, amphibian)

100 Random of Acts of Kindness Bulletin Board