Happy Holidays

I wish you and your family a very safe and happy holiday season. Merry Christmas and I will see everyone when we return in 2019!

Warm Clothes

• With the colder temps, please send your child to school in a warm jacket with a hat, mittens, and snowpants daily. Please talk to your child about wearing these items when going out for recess every day. A lot of students feel they will be OK without jackets and snowpants.
• We did a locker clean out this week. Please unload backpacks for the start of the New Year!

Math

In math students have been working with pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, and half-dollars. Throughout the week students were given a collection of coins to count and using various coins students demonstrated ways to show the same amount of money. Time was also spent counting money using $1.00 bills.

Upcoming Dates

Dec. 24- Jan. 1- Christmas Break
Wednesday, Jan. 2nd- Classes Resume

Spelling Words

Jan. 7-11

1. brew
2. soup
3. blue
4. clue
5. blew
6. group
7. cashew
8. cartoon
9. pursue

Bookbags

Your child has a book or several books within his/her guided reading bookbag to read over the holiday break. Please spend some time each night listening to your child read some of his/her favorite books that he/she has selected to read.

Guided Reading

This week in Guided Reading your child has been working on the reading skill of sequencing. Using signal words such as: first, then, next, and after, your child has been listing series of events. Our class will continue to work on this reading skill after the holiday break as well. Please remember to sign your child's yellow reading sheet each night and over Christmas break as well.

Science

In science students continued to learn about solids, liquids, and gases.

Warm Clothes

Please remember to send warm clothes with your child to wear outside during recess time including boots, gloves, a hat, and snowpants!

Read-a-Thon

On Friday, December 21st our classroom will be having a read-a-thon in the morning. The read-a-thon will last for one hour and your child may bring in books from home to read, your child may choose books from within our classroom to read, or your child may choose to read books that he/she has checked out from the library. Everyone within our classroom will be reading the entire time including myself. Every fifteen minutes the entire class will stop with what they are reading and two students will have the opportunity to give a book talk on the book they are reading. With Christmas right around the corner the excitement level is rising within our classroom. Your child has worked extremely hard already this year in his/her guided reading group. This read– a-thon will be a nice, relaxing way for your child to relax and enjoy reading some of his/her favorite books before going into Christmas vacation. If your child chooses he/she may bring in a healthy snack and/or a beverage to enjoy during the read-a-thon. 

Upcoming Dates

Wednesday, Dec. 19th- Club's Choice Pickup, High School Cafeteria (3-6)

Spelling Words

Dec. 17-21

One-Syllable Words

1. down

2. shout

3. mouth

4. town

5. sprout

6. south

Two-Syllable Words

7. surround

8. powder

9. outside

Word of the Month

Teamwork-the act of working together, cooperation

Scissors

 ¨ Many students have lost or no longer have a pair of scissors. Could you ask your child if he/she has a pair of scissors or if they need a new pair bought. 

Math Problems of the Week

Math Problems of the Week

¨ I am a number between 70 and 90.

¨ I am an even number between 50 and 60.

¨ I am a number that is 12 more than 46.

Upcoming Dates

Monday, Dec. 10th- Book Orders Due
Tuesday, Dec. 11th- 2 Hour Late Start (Wear an Irish Shirt)

Spelling Words

Dec. 10-14

One-Syllable Words

1. point

2. broil

3. boy

4. joint

5. spoil

6. toy

Two-Syllable Words

7. enjoy

8. poison

9. oyster

Writing

In writing students are beginning to learn about Realistic Fiction.

Science

In science students are working with and learning about the various states of matter of solids and liquids.

Math

Please spend time practicing with your child as often as you can basic addition and subtraction facts such as: 7+7, 6+4, 3+7, 12-4, etc. Being able to solve basic addition and subtraction math facts quickly is an important part of second grade math. Using flashcards or shaking a pair of dice are great ways to reinforce these basic facts. Also counting money and telling time are additional areas  you can work on at home with your child.

Box Tops

Keep collecting box tops! Our school makes a substantial amount of money just by collecting box tops! Some of the money that our school makes from collecting box tops is used to purchase additional items for individual classrooms. Ask friends and relatives to collect Box Tops for our school as well.  

Guided Reading

Guided Reading is going very well within our classroom.  Please make sure your child is spending time every night reading one of their guided reading books that are sent home in their bookbag. The most important thing to remember about guided reading is that your child is reading books at his/her own level!

Math

In math students are learning a variety of subtraction strategies such as:

• Subtraction Count Backs
• Subtraction Doubles
• Take Away 10
• Runaway Ones, etc.

Maple Lake Messenger

Be watching in the Maple Lake Messenger for our class to share some Christmas Madlibs that we have been working hard on this week such as:

• Santa's Reindeer
• North Pole
• The Grinch
• Santa Claus is Coming to Town
• Sleigh Ride

Upcoming Dates

Friday, Nov. 30th- End of 1st Trimester
Thursday, Dec. 6th- Elementary Music Program (Arrive at 6:10)

Spelling Words

Week Of:

Dec. 3-7

One-Syllable Words

1. blare

2. hair

3. bear

4. flare

5. pair

6. wear

Two-Syllable Words

7. repair

8. cherry

9. barely

Guided Reading

Please spend time reading with your child every night the book that I send home in your child's bookbag. As you read with your child be sure to sign the yellow reading log sheet that is located in your child’s bookbag. Your child's bookbag should be brought home and brought back to school every day signed so your child doesn't lose recess minutes! Thanks for helping to promote additional reading and math at home!

Santa's Secret Shop

Students will preview Santa's Secret Shop on Friday, November 30th and buy at Santa's Secret Shop on Monday, December 3rd. Shopping at Santa's Secret Shop is optional for each child and other activities will be provided during this time for those students who choose not to shop.

Christmas Wrapping Paper

Our class could use any Christmas wrapping paper that you may be able to donate to our classroom by Monday. Thanks in advance!

Spelling Words

Week of:

Nov. 26-30

1. learn
2. girl
3. turn
4. heard
5. twirl
6. churn
7. person
8. dirty
9. turnip

Math

Keep practicing addition and subtraction math facts at home. Play a game, shake dice, or use a deck of cards to help reinforce these facts.

Upcoming Dates

Thursday, Nov. 22nd- No School
Friday, Nov. 23rd- No School

Spelling Words

Spelling Words

Week Of:

Nov. 19-21

One-Syllable Words

1. score

2. fort

3. horn

4. shore

5. short

6. thorn

Two-Syllable Words

7. before

8. forest

9. hornet

Spelling

Next weeks spelling focus is working with words that have the or pattern within them as in score and fort. As your child practices his/her spelling words next week, encourage him/her to write some sentences using some of their spelling words. 

Next weeks spelling test will be on Wednesday!

Battle of the Books

Keep reading your Battle of the Books. Many groups are working hard to get through all of the books...great teamwork! When groups finish reading all of the books encourage your child to go back and do some review to keep the stories fresh in their mind.

Milk Cartons

We are about halfway there with our milk carton collection. Thanks to everyone who keeps bringing in a milk carton here or there!

Technology

In Technology students have been playing ABCYa.com. Under the math section students have been solving number patterns.

Toy Day on Friday

Your child is allowed to bring a toy for Fun Friday tomorrow for our October monthly reward. No electronics please!

Science

All this week in science students have been thinking about the words vibration and sound-waves. Students also created musical instruments. Next week, students will begin a STEM experiment dealing with flight and paper airplanes.

Writing

In writing students are revising and editing their misadventure stories. Students are also learning about proper nouns, adverbs ending in -ly, using commas, and onomatopoeia's which are words that describe sounds.

Upcoming Dates

Tuesday, Nov. 13th- 2 Hour Late Start (Wear an Irish Shirt)
Wednesday, Nov. 14th- Club's Choice Fundraiser Kickoff
Thursday, Nov. 15th- Bingo Fun Night (6:30-7:30)

Spelling Words

Nov. 12-16

1. smart
2. scar
3. shark
4. start
5. star
6. spark
7. market
8. garlic
9. party

Math

In math students are working on addition strategies such as:

• Count Ons
• Doubles
• Doubles +1 or Near Doubles
• Fast 10's
• Fast 9's 

Winter Gear

The chilliness has arrived in the air. Please make sure to send warm clothes to school with your child to wear outside during recess time!

November Word of the Month

Acceptance

Upcoming Dates

Monday, Nov. 5th- No School, Teacher Workshop Day
Thursday, Nov. 8th- Book Orders Due

Spelling Words

Week Of:

Nov. 5-9

One-Syllable Words

1. bright

2. pie

3. sigh

4. high

5. flight

6. lie

Two-Syllable Words

7. brightly

8. lightning

9. tighten

Milk Cartons Needed

We are still in need of many more milk cartons that are rinsed out for an upcoming project. Thanks for your help in advance!

Guided Reading

This week during whole group reading instruction and during small group reading instruction our class worked on identifying the main idea and supporting details to go along with the main idea. Please remember to sign your child's yellow guided reading sheet for reading and for math every night. Thanks for continuing to promote a love of reading with your child at home!

Science

In science students are currently thinking about vibrations and creating musical instruments using boxes and rubber bands.

Morning Movers

Since 2010, Maple Lake Elementary has been out walking around the playground from 7:45-8:00 every morning. Morning Movers is a program designed to provide more movement opportunities for students throughout the school day. Morning Movers is simple, yet an effective initiative.
The rules are:

1. Walk or Jog
2. Stay on the Path
3. No Touching Others

The benefits of Morning Movers are numerous...

1. It gets the brain going.
2. It is a great way for older students to connect with younger students and it creates a sense of pride and belonging.
3. Students who are active tend to have more focus following the activity.
4. And the list could go on...

Upcoming Dates

Monday, November 5th- No School, Teacher Workshop Day

Spelling Words

Week Of:

Oct. 29-Nov.2

One-Syllable Words

1. dream

2. feel

3. yield

4. cream

5. wheel

6. field

Two-Syllable Words

7. greedy

8. increase

9. relief

The Change in Seasons

The chilliness has arrived in the air. Please start sending to school with your child a hat, mittens/gloves, and a warm coat!

Guided Reading Bookbags

Please make sure your child reads the assigned book in his/her bookbag each night. Please note that most of the time students will meet with me about every other day for reading groups. If your child has the same book in his/her bookbag for more than two nights, then just have your child select a book from home to read for enjoyment until your child gets a new book from school. Every night that your child reads at home please initial the yellow reading sheet in your child's bookbag. Students can also read Battle of the Books books at home also.

Fall Festival Celebration

On Wednesday, October 31st, some academics for the day will focus around Halloween/Fall. Throughout the day our class will go to Mr. Hammerschmidt’s classroom, Mrs. Skay’s classroom, and our classroom to do several Halloween/Fall related academic activities. If your child chooses, he/she may bring in their Halloween costume to wear for part of the day. Please note that having your child wear a costume is entirely up to you. Just a reminder that all candy brought to school must be store bought! There are 18 students in our classroom.

Phonics

In phonics your child worked with words that had the long o sound within them as in boat, show, and toe. We spent a lot of time focusing on the letter patterns oa, oe, and ow within words.

Guided Reading

During whole group instruction time, your child has been working on several reading skills such as identifying various story elements within a story such as the characters, problem and solution, climax, etc. Your child has also been working on identifying the main idea and details within various stories.

USAgain

The Maple Lake School District is partnering with USAgain and is excited to introduce a “Schools Go Green” program. This is an easy way for your family to dispose of your unwanted textiles. Clothes, shoes, hats, bags, and bedding are welcome, even if they are slightly imperfect.

A green and white USAgain bin is located in the north parking lot by the maintenance building for your convenience. The clothing will be collected once a week and sent to the neediest parts of the world. Your trash will be someone else’s treasure. For every full bin collected a tree will be planted in a deforested area.

We are striving to teach the importance of reusing, recycling and repurposing textiles instead of simply throwing them in the garbage. You can learn more at www.usagain.com.

This program will also help raise additional funds for Maple Lake Schools. Let’s Go Green!

Upcoming Dates

Monday, Oct. 15th- Evening Conferences
Tuesday, Oct. 16th- Evening Conferences
Wednesday, Oct. 17th- All Day Conferences (No school for elementary students, high school students have school.)
Thursday & Friday, Oct. 18th & 19th- Fall Break, No School

Newsletter

I will not be sending home a newsletter next week due to a short 2 day week!

Spelling

No spelling words next week due to a short 2 day week!

Spelling Words

Week Of:

Oct. 22-26

One-Syllable Words

1. float

2. doe

3. grown

4. boat

5. shown

6. toe

Two-Syllable Words

7. below

8. yellow

9. toenail