September 3, 2009

Dear Families,

September is here! We started studying invertebrates this week…

animals without a backbone. Students will “host” mealworms starting on Tuesday…they
don’t know yet…help me keep the “secret,” please! (And lucky you…they stay here at
school!) They will learn about a variety of “bugs” over the next few weeks. They will also
write a short report about a chosen critter as we near the end of this study. Our “big
ideas” for this theme study include (aka: by the end of the study, the learner will be able
to):
*name the parts of an insect
*describe the difference between an insect and a spider
*define “invertebrate”
*state the stages of the insect life cycle
*differentiate between helpful and harmful insects
*share about migration/hibernation of invertebrates
*describe water invertebrates
*explain how invertebrates protect themselves

We welcomed Susan Walker to our class on Thursday! She joins us from

Tavelli Elementary. We are glad she is here!!!

We began our FLUDD time this week…Focused Literacy Using

Differentiated Delivery…in short, small reading groups where students are grouped by
like-skills. These groups are fluid, meaning that students will move groups as individual
skills develop and needs change. Some are “stuck” with me right now (some are reading the
Fox series, some are reading the Little Bill series, and some are reading the Biscuit series)
and some leave to read with either Mrs. Mitchell or Mrs. Weisman, our Title 1 teachers. I
still read with all when they return.

Students wrote their first letters to their Olander penpals on Wednesday!

They are very excited to “meet” this person through writing this year! Letters will be
delivered to Olander after school on Friday!

Spelling…students have been placed on either List A (below grade level), List B
(at grade level), or List C (above grade level) based off of a 100-word spelling test they
took the first week of school. (We did not go over what the level “means”…the previous
guidelines are for your reference only.) Students will move between these lists by
demonstrating spelling proficiency on both weekly tests AND in their writing…with the
greatest “weight” from use in their own writing. While students are provided time to
practice words daily, home support is essential for most children to do well/feel good
about progress in spelling. Engage your child in the activities at www.spellingcity.com each
week! And for further practice, s/he can access the words/activities for all 3 lists, if
desired!

Also starting this week, the homework packets are more

“tailored”…meaning they are geared more toward the learner’s reading and math
levels. We do our best to challenge all with the work included, but a new skill is NEVER
sent home in a homework packet…we have covered all skills/topics in class!

And speaking of homework packets, one assignment in this week’s packet is for
interview someone about her/his job. We will discuss
students to

Labor Day on Friday, and then continue that into the following week, which we have
dubbed “Heroes Week.” Guest speakers from many jobs will be visiting us to share
during this great week of celebration!

This month’s book report is a “graphic organizer”…a “map” of sorts that

features information about the book. Extra book reports are always available (students
just need to ask for one)…and students have a choice of book reports that include a
“craft” and those that are just “paper/pencil.” September book reports are due on or
before Thursday, September 24.

On Tuesday, September 8, at 10:00 a.m., we will be watching President

Obama’s live broadcast to students and schools…the speech is slated to be
about the importance of education, and the President will challenge students to work hard,
set educational goals, and take responsibility for their learning. IF you would prefer your
child NOT watch this public address, please sent me a note or email, or call, before
Tuesday morning (8:30 a.m.). No problem…students not watching will have another activity
to participate in. You, too, are welcome to watch: www.whitehouse.gov I will be looking
the support activities over in the next few days…we may or may not do “more” beyond
watching…

Please ask your second grader to:

*tell you which reading teacher s/he has, and which series s/he is reading
*share the name of her/his Olander penpal with you, and a detail or 2 from
her/his first letter to this person
*point out an example of a rotating pattern to you
*describe the life cycle of a mosquito

Have a fabulous 3-day weekend!