Summer Ideas

Hello Families. I wanted to add one last post as a resource for the summer.

First, the kids will be bringing home most of their school supplies and resources on Wednesday. It should fit in their backpacks without needing an extra bag. If it gets too heavy, we'll send some home on Thursday. Here is what you can expect to come home:
Art Box with supplies (if your child is not going to use markers, crayons, colored pencils or even scissors for the summer or next year, I would love to add them to our classroom supplies)
School 8 Pocket Folder
Notebooks- 1 will be blank (see below for summer ideas)
Art Smock
Math Journal

Each student will receive a book from me as an end of the year present on the last day of school-shhhh, don't tell! The kids will be making a bookmark with a list of books and series they would like to read in the summer. Use this list as a starting point for summer reading. In addition to the book, I will be giving everyone a memory book filled with scrapbook pages, some photos and school work from the year.

Summer Resources:
Reading:
Your child can kick off summer reading with the book I give as a gift. Then, use your public library- there are SO many great activities and contests going on to keep your child reading all summer.
Family Novel- I strongly encourage you to try, if you have not already, reading aloud with your family. You do all the reading and then engage your child/children in conversation through questions about the story. It's best to read aloud a book above their reading level. Some ideas are James and the Giant Peach, Beezus and Ramona, The Tale of Despereaux, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory...these all happen to have a movie you could watch after reading the book.
The Ultimate Guide to Summer Reading- this a a blog with lots of great summer reading ideas:
http://www.whatdowedoallday.com/2014/05/summer-reading-list.html
Writing:
The empty journal I mentioned above would be a great summer journal.  Keep your kids writing all summer with fun ideas
*Write Bingo- I will send home a sheet like this with writing ideas
*Pen Pal letters (team up with a classmate)- write back and forth all summer- could even make a flat self like Flat Stanley we did in class.
*Summer Snapshots- have your child weekly draw something he/she did and write a detailed caption
*Create something and write about it- build a LEGO invention, design something, make a play-doh sculpture...
*How To Story: do a science experiment ie make a bubble solution, then have your child write a how to
*Journal Jar- write a bunch of ideas/prompts on paper, fold up individual ideas and place in a jar- your child can pick one out and write about it
*Book Of Why- Read one of these books and then have your child create their own Book of Why. This idea is inspired by my son who came up with this idea. Here is one of his why pages: "Why do I sneeze?". Then research the answers to write after the questions.

Math: 
*The math journal math boxes and other pages that the kids did not complete for various reasons. Those pages would be great summer practice.
*Math fact practice- use flash cards, websites, games...to help your child build fact fluency- encourage them to use strategies for quick recall- doubles plus one (7+6 think 6+6=12, plus 1 more is 13). Using fingers to count up works, but is not efficient.
*Write number stories in the writing journal- addition, subtraction, multiplication and division stories i.e. My family of 4 went on a picnic. There were 20 slices of watermelon to share equally. How many slices did each person eat? 20 divided by 4= 5 slices

In addition to the activities listed above, use the websites in the right sidebar as a resource as well.

Lastly, when report cards are sent home, they will include your child's fact fluency data and a letter with your child's current reading level.

It has been a wonderful year in second grade! Thank you for being a great support for your child!

Hello families! As noted last week, this will be the last blog posting for the year. I am honestly getting sentimental as the year is quickly coming to a close. While your children have been away from your care at school, I have done my absolute best to take care of them on their educational journey, emotionally and academically. I truly care about each child's success both in school and in life! While they may not be my second grade students next year, they will always be my students and I will always be their supporter! Thank you for a wonderful year- a year that will always have a special place in my heart!

Flying Kites

Last Field Trip- June 3rd second grade will be walking to Village Hall to visit Fire, Police and see how decisions are made in Elm Grove. We will be back by lunchtime.
Fine Arts Faire- our second graders have the privilege of performing on Wednesday night at 6:05pm. I will be there with my two little ones. Looking forward to a great performance!
Class Auction- I host a class auction the last week of school so the kids can spend their Dahms money. I am in need of little prizes to use for the auction. If you are willing to donate any items (little toys, stuffed animals...) from around the house for our auction, it would be very much appreciated!
Some of the rewards kids have earned this year for saving their pennies for a Dahms Dollar:
1. Lunch with Mrs. Dahms
2. Magazine
3. My comfy chair for the day
4. Book from the Scholastic book order- $3 or less
5. Lunch in the classroom again- bring 2 friends
Human growth and Development Reminder-Second grade teachers will present the district's Human Growth and Development curriculum on May 30 (This is a date change from May 23 on your May calendar). This lesson includes vocabulary instruction related to male and female body parts. Boys and girls will be separated during this teaching. Curriculum materials are available to review at our school library, the public library and at the Central Administrative offices. If you have any further questions about the content or the opt-out process, please contact me.
Poetry CAFE- it was a great success! Thank you to families who donated juice and/or treats. The kids worked so hard to write their own parts as hosts of the CAFE. It was a wonderful celebration!

May 9-May 23

Hello Families! There will only be one more blog post after this one! The end of the year is fast approaching. There is so much to do with so little time! The kids continue to work hard everyday and give their best!
Thank you SO much for the wonderful flowers, cards, treats and gifts this week. I appreciate all of you and your support!

Poetry CAFE: Friday, May 16 at 2:45- We are so excited to host our Poetry Cafe on Friday, May 16. We are still in need of 2 dozen small baked goods and 3 dozen juice boxes. Please let me know if you can donate either of these items.
First Stage Field Trip: We head to First Stage on Monday, May 12th to see the play Nancy Drew. We will return to school by lunch time.
MAP Testing Continues: We will finish up our testing this coming week
Wed.- Reading 9am
Thurs.- Language Arts 11am
Human Growth and Development: 

Second grade teachers will present the district's Human Growth and Development curriculum on May 30 (This is a date change from May 23 on your May calendar). This lesson includes vocabulary instruction related to male and female body parts. Boys and girls will be separated during this teaching. Curriculum materials are available to review at our school library, the public library and at the Central Administrative offices. If you have any further questions about the content or the opt-out process, please contact me.

Ask Your Child:
What was the class reward for filling buckets? Tell me more about bucket filling.
What is the new class incentive? (What have you done today to make you feel proud?)
What have you learned from your book club?
What topic do you hope to study in the next book club?
What do you like most about writing poetry?
What has been your favorite poem to write?
Mark Your Calendars: Fine Arts Faire Wed. May 28 6-8pm. The second graders will be preforming a special program in the music room at 6:15- please return the form, checking that your child will participate or not, by Friday May 16.

April 25-May 9

Happy Spring to everyone! It was a nice week back after break. A parent asked how the class adjusted being back to school and I was delighted to say that it was very smooth. Another example of what a great class it is! Your final class calendars were sent home today- I included both the May and June calendar together.

Our Class Incentive: Based on the book "How Full is Your Bucket?"

Kid Chat: Poem in My Pocket Day-Today was Poem in my Pocket day for all of second grade. Each second grader picked their favorite poem and shared it with students and teachers. Teachers were wearing a Poetry Police badge and pulled over any student wearing a sticker that said "Ask me to tell you the poem in my pocket." It was so exciting to read the poems we practiced to teachers and students.
Poetry Cafe- Our Poetry Cafe will be on Friday, May 16 at 2:45pm in our classroom. Families are all invited to join in our celebration. A invitation has sent home this week- it was a purple half sheet of paper.
Cafe Treats- If anyone is interested in provided small bakery treats or juice, please let me know. We will need 4 dozen bakery treats and 36 juice boxes.
Photo for Poetry- As noted on the Poetry Cafe invite sent home this week, I am asking families to send in a 4x6 photo that will inspire your child to write a poem. The photos will be attached the poetry. Please send to school by Fri. May 2.
Field Trip- Monday, May 12 our class will go on a field trip to First Stage downtown to see the play Nancy Drew. We will leave from school at 9:10 and return around 11:30. We will eat lunch at school per usual.
End of the Year Report Card-If you would like your child's report card to be mailed home at the end of the year, after school is out, please send in a self-addressed, stamped envelope to school before the end of the year. Otherwise, you are welcome to pick up the report card in the office at school during summer hours.
Final MAP testing of the year-Our final MAP testing will take place May 8, 14 and 15- see the MAY calendar sent home today for more details.
Ask Your Child-
What is the new class read aloud? What do you think of the main character. Tell me more about the book.
What was your Art For Youth project this week?
When writing 10 cents and 1 cent in dollar and cent notation- all the numbers are the same- what is the difference?
The class will begin Nonfiction Book Clubs next week- which topic will you study?
What is your favorite poem that you have written in class so far? Why?

April 4-April 25

Hello Families! Happy April! Third quarter has officially ended and fourth has begun! Third quarter has historically shown exceptional growth in students and this year is no different. Confidence and pride in work continues to grow- as a result, readers are taking off, responses are more thoughtful and complete, writers are sharing their voice in unique ways, mathematicians are thinking in multiple ways, growing stamina as problem solvers...more risks are being taken as learners in general. I'm so proud of all the hard work these second graders have done!
Poetry Cafe- we have started writing poetry- so much creativity, feeling and humor is present in our writer's workshop. It is so fun to see kid's personality and voice shine. We will celebrate the end of the poetry unit with a Poetry Cafe. All families will be invited. I am thinking it will be the second Friday in May (May 9th). I will solidify the date after spring break.
Photos- After spring break, I will be asking for families to help your child find a photo or two that inspires them to write a poem. It could be a favorite memory, a picture from dance, maybe just a flower, a tree house, an art project...The kids will be attaching the inspiring photo to a poem the write. You are welcome to send the photo(s) to school anytime.
Report Cards- these will be sent home on Tuesday, April 8. You will find the updated math facts sheet, as well as, a reading level guide to help support reading at home.
Ask Your Child-
Who is JJ? Tell me about him. (The main character in our new read aloud- The Trouble With Chickens)
What types of poems have you written?
What has inspired you to write about?
What are you working on as a school? (Walking silently in the hallway)
How do you know air takes up space? Prove it

March 21-April 4

Hello Families! Spring is officially here! We are nearing the end of Quarter 3- the official last day of the quarter is April 1st. Note: April 1st is a half day-the PM is for teacher workday. Here are some of the latest happenings and news:
Classroom Books: Thanks to your book orders we added another 60 books to our classroom library (this is only part of the order). Whenever families order books through Scholastic, our class earns bonus points to use for FREE books.
Nonfiction Author's Celebration: If you were not able to attend, here are some photos from our celebration below. The kids hosted the celebration and were responsible for a part of the presentation. In addition, each child read one heading from their animal report. I was so proud of the work they all did!
Extra thank you for the treats provided for the celebration!

 Jaimye

 Patrick

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane: We finally finished my personal favorite read aloud! Here are some photos to show some of the thinking we did. All students worked in small groups throughout the book to jot down their Big Ideas, thoughts and questions about the story. At the end of the book, each small group rotated to 5 stations and write down their thoughts about the listed topic- Lessons, Questions, Character Traits, Character Feelings and Personal Thoughts . The examples below show the "Lessons" and "Questions" posters with student thinking.

Ask Your Child:

Who is Douglas Florian? (The visiting Author coming on 3/26- he's a poet) 

Who is Mercy Watson? Tell me about her...

What is your NEW Book Series Club?

What is your next writing unit? (Poetry- there will be another Author's Celebration in May that families will be invited to attend)

Is a fraction more or less 1?

Which part of a fraction is the denominator- what does it represent?

Hello Families! We have had a fun week celebrating Dr. Seuss with the themed days- red/blue day, hat day. crazy sock day and green day. Here's a picture Mrs. Schwarz took of our class on Red/Blue day. 

Animal Research Reports: A half sheet of white paper was sent home today requesting help from home to find pictures of your child's animal for their animal report. If you cannot find photos or are unable to print from a computer, I can help your child find some at school. Please send in the pictures by Friday March 14. Thank you for your help.

Nonfiction Celebration: Families are welcome to join us in the classroom for our Nonfiction Writing Celebration on Friday, March 21 at 2:30pm. The kids will be sharing their animal reports, True/False books, Question and Answer books, Community Worker slideshows and a "Bet Your Didn't Know" magazine article. 

Author Visit: On March 26, author (poet) Douglas Florian will visit our school. You will receive information about a pre-sale of his books. Any purchased books will be signed by the author.

Math Rotations: Our next unit is Fractions. As a second grade, we are going to share kids among the three teachers. So your child may go to Mrs. Petersen's or Mrs. Shinners' classroom for this unit. We are excited to use a new strategy to personalize learning. 

Ask Your Child:

Why is the book called The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane?

Did Edward change in the story? Why or why not?

How do you know whether it is AM or PM?

What is the name of your Book Series Club?

February 21- March 7

Hello Families! Here are some classroom happenings. Scroll down past this post to see pictures from the Nature Center.

Kid Chat: Valentine's Day was exciting! At our classroom Valentine's party, we had lots of fun seeing all the wonderful gifts we got from our friends. There was a bunch of yummy, yummy food to eat, like strawberries, cupcakes with frosting and sprinkles, string cheese and cookies with candy hearts. At the end, we played Minute to Win It. We had to stack as many candy hearts as we could in one minute. Whoever had the most at the end won. We were very grateful to our friends and families for a great party!
Field Trip- On Tuesday, February 25th, we are headed to Boerner Botanical Gardens for a great presentation on Plants We Eat. This field trip ties in beautifully to our science investigations of Plants. We will only be gone for the morning-we'll return to school for lunch.
Conferences- If a conference was requested by me or you are interested in coming in for a conference, please remember to sign up via the Tonawanda website. Conferences are next week Tuesday and Thursday.
100 Clouds Project- As of Thursday, we have 55 clouds written with a random act of kindness noticed by classmates. While we did not reach our goal of 100 clouds by the 100th day of school, we have extended the challenge through the end of February.
Flat Stanley Project-9 Flat classmates have returned from their trips so far. Here is a photo of our Map to chart where we have traveled.

Ask Your Child:
Is a tomato a fruit? Why or why not?
Has the character Edward Tulane changed in the story The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane?
When reading a nonfiction book, ask "What is the author trying to teach me about the world?"
What are you working on in writing? What are the three rotations?

The Nature Center

February 14-28

Hello Families! Here are some important happenings in our classroom:

 Brassica Plant growth 

 Engaged in independent reading

100th Day of School challenge- As a class, we have been on the "lookout for 100 Random Acts of Kindness". Our goal is to reach 100 bay day 100 of school, which is Thursday, Feb. 13th. We are a little less than halfway to our goal. We'll see if we make it!
Field Trip Tuesday: We will be heading to the Nature Center on Tuesday, February 11, 9-11am. We will be spending app. 20 minutes outside if the weather allows. Please have your kids dress in cold weather gear- snowpants, boots, hats, gloves...
Valentines: Our Valentine Party will be on Valentine's day- Fri. Feb. 14th. We will be making bags for our Valentine's in class.
Subtraction- We have JUST begun working on double digit subtraction  we have used the number grid, base ten blocks and coins to represent tens and ones. We have also started to learn the Trade First Method (very similar to how we all learned as kids) Here is a link to a demonstration of how the Trade First method works:https://www.everydaymathonline.com/free_resources_main.html?frnologin=1&PHPSESSID=53427160ab94cc17f9ede28ee372dc7c
Go to Algorithms in Everyday Math- Grade 2- Subtraction

Ask Your Child:
What is the new class read aloud? (The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane)
Why did you have to replant your grass in science?
What part of the plant makes the food? Bonus: what is that process called? (photosynthesis)
What is PebbleGo?
What are you writing about? What are the three writing projects your class is working on? (Community Helper Slideshows, Bet You Didn't Know Articles and True or False Books)

January 24- February 7

Hello Families! I hope everyone is staying warm! It has been a tough winter at school- lots of indoor recesses, not a lot of fresh air and time to run. Despite the cold weather, the kids are holding together very well at school. The picture below shows one of the new indoor recess activities-Adventure to Fitness

Kid Chat-Adventure to Fitness-JUMP, LEAP, CRAWL...Adventure to Fitness is an active exercise video we have been doing at recess time. Mr. Mark leads us on adventures around the world. He transports us to different countries to complete a mission. We're curious to see what our next mission around the world will be!
MAP Testing Complete- So proud of this group of second graders! Everyone did a great job of slowing down and trying their best. Some kids will finish up their testing next week.
Report Cards Home Tues. Feb. 4- Along with the report card, you will find a yellow conference request form and directions for scheduling and your child's Quarter 2 facts test with Proficiency targets.
Math Fact Practice-As mentioned above, you will get your child's Q2 scores and 2nd grade's Proficiency targets. The addition target for Quarter 2 was 85% of problems correct in 1 minute (There are 20 facts)- This requires students to be able to recall facts within 3 sec. We still need a lot of work in fact fluency. We will continue to practice at school with our fact triangles and through a variety of math games/activities. Please take some time at home twice a week for just 5 minutes to build fact power. Your child can practice with fact triangles, flash cards, online games listed on the right sidebar or simply writing addition/subtraction facts on paper and solving them. Thank you for your support at home!
Scholastic Book Orders- I am extending the book order deadline to Tues. Jan. 28- you can still place orders online or send in a check to school. You can click the link on the Right sidebar.
Ask Your Child:
What was the Author's message in The Quiltmaker's Gift?
How was the play similar and different from the book?
How can a new plant get started? (Plant a seed, seeds can travel by air, water or animal)
What did Mrs. Olson teach you that a constructed response should include?
What does content vocabulary mean?
Why is your class hanging clouds on the wall?

January 10-January 24

Hello Families! It is great to be back, especially having missed 4 days before winter break. I got hit really hard with the flu- in bed for 5+ days. Sorry about confusion with homework, spelling, assignment notebook... I'm glad to back!
Kid Chat: Here is the friendly letter we wrote as a class:
Dear Families,
Our class is doing a project about kindness. It was inspired by the book The Quiltmaker's Gift. Just like the King learned that kindness made him happy, we are going to be on the When we see someone being kind, we will  write a kindness cloud. We made an extraordinary goal of writing 100 clouds by the 100th day of school. We feel confident that we can do it! We're excited!
                                                                                                                Sincerely.
                                                                                                                Mrs. Dahms' Spectacular Class

2 Rescheduled Field Trips: Due to the  freezing cold day on Tues. Jan. 7th, we had to reschedule our all school field trip for Mon. Jan. 20th, which is the day our class was scheduled to go to the Nature Center. I will have our room parents send out an email about chaperones for both trips
Nature Center: Tuesday, February 11th
HELP-Materials Needed: Our class in need of dry erase markers and pencils- almost out! If you are willing to donate materials, we would REALLY appreciate it!
MAP Testing: Our Winter testing sessions start next week and continue the following.
1/14 Reading 11:00am
1/22 Math 11:00am
1/23 Language Arts 11:00am
*Please help your child to get enough rest, eat a healthy breakfast and try their best!
Flat Stanley Project: A purple sheet was sent home on Wednesday explaining this project and asking for your family to select a person your child can send a letter, then return to school with an address and a stamp (no envelope needed) 
Ask Your Child:
What is the class goal for MAP Reading Test? (Take at least 45min to complete the test)
What is a line segment? What tools are needed to draw one?
Retell the story Flat Stanley using characters, setting, and events in order (be sure to include the problem)
What is our next science unit?

December 15- January 10

Hello Families! I hope everyone is staying warm- Brrrrr! While we have been indoors for more recesses than outdoors this month, this group of second graders has remained pretty focused (even though their bodies are a little squirrly!) Here are some important classroom notes:

The Quiltmaker's Gift: Our all school field trip to see The Quiltmaker's Gift will be the Tuesday we return from winter break. There is no fee for students, but I do need the permission slip signed a returned. I can take two chaperones with the class. The chaperone fee is $4.50. The first two interested parents to email me can join us!
*If you have not read the book, I HIGHLY recommend it! It is one of my very favorite children's books. It has a great message and beautiful illustrations!
Word Study: You will have noticed that this week's spelling list came home stapled to a word sort page. This is the word study sort your child will be working on in school that week. I told the kids that it is their choice how they use the page. They could cut and sort the words in many ways and play games like we do in school. Or they can just talk about the sort with someone at home- What do you notice? What patterns do you see? Nothing has to be returned to school.
TGIF Journals: Today in your child's BEE folder, you will see a packet of letter writing paper with a special letter from your child. Please write back to your child sometime this weekend (Refer to the inside cover for the Friendly Letter format the kids have learned). The kids will read their letters from you Monday morning privately. The TGIF letter writing project lasts about 4-5 weeks. Thank you for your support in this unit. Enjoy the letters from your kids!
Typing Camp: We have just finished our 2nd week of keyboarding! I am so impressed with the dedication and hard work the kids have shown! It is a very difficult task to use the correct finger to tap a key, especially when pecking with your index finger is so much faster for them right now! The kids are enjoying reading in the classroom tent that was set up to add to the camping atmosphere.
PJ Day: We are keeping our fingers crossed that our school earns a pajama day next Wednesday, December 18. If our school earns a total of 1,350 PAW slips, we earn the reward. In addition, the top two grade levels earn a hot cocoa party. Last Friday, Second grade was in the lead. I will keep you posted!
Ask Your Child:
What is the difference between fiction and nonfiction?
Can you name 3 Nonfiction features?
What do you put on the class Parking Lot?
Why is there a tent in your classroom?
What does persuade mean? "You wrote a letter to the character Mrs. LaRue to persuade her to either bring Ike home or leave him in Obedience school."
Can you name all the digits? (0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9)

November 22- December 13

Hello Families! It was wonderful to see you all at conferences. I truly enjoy spending time with families and sharing all the great things your kids are doing in school. It is remarkable how much they have grown just since September. I look forward to continuing this journey with them through June! Is it too early to be sentimental about letting them go in Spring? I will enjoy every day I have the privilege of being a part of their educational journey!
Feature Section: Kid Chat: We were helping kids in Burundi, Africa by collecting money at school. Whichever grade level brought in the most money, won a secret prize. Second grade raised enough money to earn third place. We were disappointed at first, but then we realized that we raised a lot of money for Burundi, Africa.We felt joyful that the people in Burundi would be happy to get money to go to school and make their life better.
Spelling Bee: We hosted our first second grade spelling Bee on Monday. I was so impressed with the class participation and the good sportsmanship from both the competitors as well as the audience. Congratulations to Lucy, our class champion and Alex our class Runner Up!
Dahms Dollar: Your child has been earning money for being responsible in second grade ie. completed homework, returning their book everyday, filling in their reading log and sometimes for doing extra jobs around the classroom.The kids can spend their money at the Mrs. Dahms store, which opens at the end of every month. However, I do offer an incentive for kids who choose to save their money. Whenever a student saves 100 cents, he/she earns a Dahms Dollar. For the first Dahms Dollar earned, the student can pick a friend and eat their lunch with Mrs. Dahms in the classroom. This dollar can also be spent at the Mrs. Dahms store. So essentially, the kids are receiving a bonus reward for saving up their money. The first Dahms Dollar earners were Sal, Ryan, Carson, Nick B, Lucy, Noah and Maya.
No New Spelling Words Thanksgiving Week- Enjoy time with family!
Ask Your Child:
What  is a Feelings Timeline?
Can you give me a summary of the story Thank You, Mr. Falker
What is an axel?
How do you get a paper cup to roll straight down a ramp?
Which book do you choose for your published book review?
Can you assign a character trait to each of the main characters in Gooseberry Park, the class read aloud? Characters: Stumpy, Kona, Murray and Gwendolyn

Feature Section: Kid Chat: (written by the class) Quarter 1 just ended...we were all wondering whose class would win the Tonawanda Tiger. The winning class is selected by pulling a class PAW slip out of a whole school bucket. The morning announcements came on; we were hoping that we would win. Suddenly...Dr. Kasmarick announced "The winning class is...Mrs. Dahms!" Yayyyyyyyy! We were jumping up and down and screaming so loud that the whole Pod could hear us. When Jack and Patrick walked in with the humongous champion tiger, we were proud and delighted. Everyone in the class was overjoyed!                

Awesome Sub Notes- It was such a wonderful feeling to walk in the classroom the day after being out for meetings to read a substitute note the began with "The kids were wonderful today!" The note later mentioned that the kids "were really awesome, hard workers and very helpful and polite to me." I was so proud of them! Yay for Mrs. Dahms' All Stars!
Mrs. Dahms Store Coupons: You may have seen your child bring home a coupon that looks like one in the picture below. These are purchased from Mrs. Dahms' Store. If you see a coupon, you can know that I have given the okay. Your child can choose to use the coupon anyday.

 

 

 

Growing Classroom Library: This is the big pile of books I was able to order for our classroom library for FREE with my bonus points thanks to your orders!

Personal Narratives: Your child brought home a bag of all the personal narratives he/she write during our unit. Included is the published piece and a graded checklist from me. I would have the published stories returned to school to put in our classroom library. I will make sure that the story gets returned home. Enjoy reading your child's writing!
Ask your Child:
What is a pictograph?
How did Charlotte's Web end?
What character trait could you use to describe one the character's you are reading about and why?
How did an axel help you roll discs down a ramp?
How should you sneeze to prevent spreading germs?

Reminders:
Sign up via the Tonawanda website for a conference slot.
Book Fair is open the week of conferences
Spelling Bee (Optional) Monday Nov. 18

October 25-November 8

Happy Fall to all! Here is our classroom news:
Word Work: We are rolling out Word Study next week. The first week will be routine focused. The second week will begin with differentiated, just right sorts your child complete based their individual assessment. In addition to weekly word study patterns, your child will get 6 high frequency words to study- these are individualized based on assessments. Any words your child missed will
Conferences: Parent Teacher Conferences are right around the corner as Quarter 1 comes to a close. You can sign up for your conference date and time on the Tonawanda website.
Sunset Playhouse Field Trip: We will go on our first field trip on Thursday October 31 to Sunset Playhouse. We will be walking so please send your child to school with a warm coat and possibly hats and gloves depending on the weather.
Fall Party: Our Fall Party was a huge success! Thank you to ALL parent volunteers who sent in items for the party, planned, prepared and/our chaperoned the party. The kids had a GREAT time. We did not get a chance as a class to say a BIG THANK YOU!

Ask Your Child:
Who are you getting to know in reading? (Which character?) What do you know about him/her? Why do you think that?
Retell your story using SWBS...Somebody, Wanted, But, So
How does an object get set in motion? (a force)
Name the similarities and differences in Twirlers and Zoomers. (Both spin...Zoomers are set in motion by hands spinning the zoomer in circles, twirlers are set in motion by gravity and air resistance)
What is happening in Charlotte's Web?
What is a 3 Star post It? How is it different than a 1 star Post It?
Reminders:
Please return the assessment envelope that your child's MAP scores were delivered in on Monday Oct/ 21st (I apologize for the delay in sending them home!)

October 11-25

Hello Families! We have had a great couple of weeks in second grade. Busy, but great. Here are some happenings and information for you:

NEW FEATURE
Kid Chat: "Catching Complements"- We challenged ourselves to compliment our classmates. At the end of the day, we shared the compliments we received. Mrs. Dahms placed a baseball on the mitt everyday. Finally, when we reached 20, we earned an extra recess. (written, edited and revised by Mrs. Dahms' second graders)

Spelling Bee Date mix up!: On your October calendar, I put the spelling bee on October 18th. It is really scheduled for November 18th. This is an optional event. Your child can decide whether to participate or not. Here is the link to the spelling lists on the school website:
http://www.elmbrookschools.org/tonawanda-elementary/item/index.aspx?linkid=561&moduleid=34
Field Trip Permission slip: In your child's BEE folder, you will find a new field trip form. The School district is sending one main field trip permission form home with all of our field trips for the year. Please fill out and return the form along with the one fee for all the field trips listed. Thank you!
Scholastic Book Orders: I apologize to all the families that placed a September order. I realized after I entered all the orders, I must never have clicked Submit. I realized a week later after the books hadn't arrived. So sorry for the wait.
I will send home the Oct./Nov catalog next week.
Mrs Dahms Store- It finally opened last week. The kids earn pennies throughout the week for complete homework, reading logs and bringing their books back to school. In addition, I will give out pennies when someone does a job for me or helps someone else with their job. The kids then exchange their pennies for nickels, dimes,  or quarters to shop at Mrs. Dahms store. Along with little things like pencils, sticker sheets, fun erasers, I sell coupons for things like "Show and Tell, "Bring a Stuffed Animal to School". If you see a coupon like this come home, then you know that your child bought it from the store and fulfill the coupon any day he/she chooses.
Reminders:
Our Fall Party will be on Oct. 24 11-11:45. This is a half day of school.
Oct. 25- No School
Oct. 31- Sunset Playhouse Field Trip AM
Ask Your Child:
What patterns do you see in your book character's behavior?
How much time has passed in this story?
What does your character want?
As a writer, can you give me an example of a story ending that is not exciting? Can you give
Tell me about one of the small moments you have written in class.
What is happening in Charlotte's Web?
What is a turn around fact?
Explain how you would solve this problem...Team A has 14 kids, Team B has 11. How many more kids are on Team A?

September 20- October 4

Hello Families! We have almost survived our first month of second grade together. I know I have told some parents, but it's worth saying again...This is a great group of second graders! It has been a wonderful start to a great year! Here are some classroom updates and news:

Book Bags and Logs- Your child should bring home their book bag and reading log EVERY day. The goal is for your child to bring home a Just Right Book (a book that he/she can read smoothly (with a talking voice), while also having to problem solve a couple words along the way-it may seem "easy" to you as you listen. You can support your child by talking about the book The book should be an independent level- your child should be successful reading it on their own. Books that are at their instructional level are read in class under my instruction and direction. Right now, the kids have been selecting their own Just Right Books. I am very aware that some kids are bringing home books that are too challenging. That will be an October goal for those kids. I am just beginning the daunting task of leveling my entire classroom library. This will help ensure kids are taking home the correct level to become better readers.
Surprise Reader- Thank you to our first 3 surprise readers- they kicked it off with great success. The kids were all surprised and super excited! Check the email I sent "Blog is Updated" for all the available dates.
Math Family Letter: You may remember that every math unit has an introductory Family Letter that is sent home before the unit begins. This letter is a wonderful reference tool for you to support your child at home. Please refer to this letter throughout the unit to check homelinks, extend learning and practice skills. You may want to keep this letter in the BEE folder (maybe in a sheet protector)
Writer's Tiny Notepads- you may have seen your child bring home a tiny memo pad. This memo pad is meant for them to collect ideas for writing. We are learning from authors that they get their ideas from their life and then jot them down to remember. So as writer's, I am encouraging the kids to bring their memo pads home to jot anything that inspires them to write a story. If they choose to bring it home, I ask that it be kept in their reading bag for safety:)
Water Bottles- Since we do not have a drinking fountain in our classroom, I encourage you to send a water bottle with a tight lid to school for your child to have in the classroom. I do ask that only clear WATER be brought into the classroom. Spills happen...water is an easy, non sticky clean up. Thank you!
Snacks- When helping your child pack a snack, please be aware that we are a Nut and Egg free classroom. Those items can be in the lunchroom, just not in our classroom. Thank you!
Flexible- It has been a great year of change in our school district from big changes like curriculum to small changes like homework routines. As I am trying new routines, I am realizing some things work and others do not. As I do make changes, I will keep you informed of those that directly affect homework routines and expectations. Thank you in advance for your understanding!
Ask Your Child
Who is your reading partner and what do you do during partner time?
What is a Small Moment?
Which reading strategy do use often? Which strategy are you trying to use more?
How many sounds can "ed" make at the end of a word? (3: "t", "d", "ed")
What is happening right now in Charlotte's Web? What is the main theme in the book? (Friendship)

Science: Balance the Pencil Trick

1st Post of the Year!

Hello Families! 

Welcome to our second grade blog. Please bookmark this site so you can refer to it weekly throughout the entire school year. 

Reading Bag: Your child will bring home a Just Right book and a red folder with their reading log in a special reading bag every night. The kids are currently choosing their Just Right Books without a lot of guidance from me. I help guide the kids a lot more in the next month. The goal is for them to chose a book independently without a lot of guidance from me.  After reading for 20 minutes, please help your child fill in the reading log with the book title and place the completed book bag in his/her backpack. It is vital to our reading program that your child brings the book back to school every day. Thank you for your help. *If your child is reading a Just Right book from home, it is ok for them not to read in the bag (unless otherwise noted i.e. a book club assignment)

Assignment Notebook: Please sign your child's assignment notebook every night. If your child forgets it at school, check the blog to see what the assignments for the day are (see right sidebar)
Homework: math homework will officially begin next week. You can expect your child to have math homework every night, Monday-Thursday, and 20 minutes of reading every night. As I mentioned at PIN, spelling and word study will begin in October. I will keep you informed on the new program, especially if there are homework expectations. 
MAP Tests: Your child will take the MAP test again in 2nd grade (a standardized test taken on the computer). We will take a Reading, Math and Language test. While it is only one tool, it gives me great information to meet each child's academic needs and help them flourish in second grade. You will receive results later this fall. 
Surprise Reader- Every Friday at 11:45, a parent surprise reader comes in to read one of their child's favorite picture books from home. It is my goal to have every family represented- it could be mom, dad, cousin, grandparent... I am flexible if the time/day does not work for your schedule. Please let me know and we can make special arrangements. I included all the open Fridays in the email I sent "The Blog Is Updated".
Healthy Snack- please have your child help you choose a healthy snack to bring to school each day. School is hard work and we move at a fast pace. It is important for your child to be fueled with foods that will give them energy and mind power to do their best. Foods high in sugar will cause their energy to spike and then plummet. Thank you for your support.
Ask Your Child:
Which read aloud did the class just finish? (Gooney Bird Greene)
How long is our class reading stamina? (22 minutes)
How do you know when an object is balanced? (it is stable, meaning it will wobble, but not tip over)
What does it mean to cooperate?

Cooperation: We have been talking and practicing what cooperation looks like and sounds like. Here are two of the activities we did in class:

#1 Puzzle Challenge

#2 Save Freddy

(ask your child what their goal was and why we did this activity)

Ask your child: