Tuesday

Oh my!  Between early dismissals, late starts, the hurricane and Halloween, let's just say it's been an interesting 2 days!  Yesterday, we went to the computer lab to learn about Xtra Math, a program the is web-based where students can practice their daily math facts.  I'm assigning a new piece of homework that involves keeping a math log.  I would like for children to practice their addition and subtraction facts up to 20 a few minutes each night.  They can use flashcards, do so orally, get on Xtra math (see the handout that came home yesterday) or do some worksheets.  It is so important for children to have their addition and subtraction facts mastered in order for them to experience success with the higher level math required with Math in Focus.  Thanks for your help with this. Let me know if you have questions.

In word work, yesterday, Ms. Adams introduced the 5 new words of the week: good, school, would, should and these.  Thanks for your help practicing these at home.

Today, we started with an introduction to the MAP test that we will take on Monday morning.  Mrs. Pond showed us what the test will look like in the computer lab today.  We will take the reading test on Monday and the math test will follow sometime the following week. 

In reading, today, we began working with our Guided Reading Work Board.  This consists of the independent work that students are doing while I'm meeting in reading groups.  Such activities are: read to self, read to someone, write about reading, listen to reading, and reading group work.  Students keep track of what they've done at the end of each reading class.  They will pass this sheet into me at the end of the week.  It went really well today.

This afternoon, we took a math test on addition up to 1,000.  We're moving on to subtraction to 1,000 next!  I will lay some groundwork with basic subtraction before launching into regrouping.  This is always a difficult concept for second graders.

Please remember that our Scarecrow day will be Friday afternoon.  Also, I sent home a pre-conference sheet for you to fill out before parent conference day.  If you could do that as soon as possible, that would be fabulous!  Thank you!