Such a busy week and this post contains a LOT of information….. please let me know if you have any questions after it! We are officially half way through the school year which means we are switching gears to get prepared for third grade. Everyone says their is a big jump between first and second grade… well.. their is another big jump between second and third grade. So I am adding some things in to better prepare them.
Occasionally things that we do not finish in group or during the day will be sent home as homework and I have told the students I expect them to finish it and bring it back in completed. Some have done great this week and others have not done it and had excuses. Usually this task would take less than 10 minutes and can be independently done by them. We had conversations about third grade and the responsibility falling on them. We are also going to be putting these things in planners to help them remember. Most of it will be reading things but occasionally it could be finishing up math papers. On nights they do not have anything like this they should be reading a book from their book bag. Homework should be done nightly!
In the upper elementary grades they have behavior consequences with think sheets and the responsibility room. These things are used when not so great choices are made and the student needs to reflect on the choice made. We really have had no instances yet that would warrant it, but being the second semester it is being introduced. We talked about it as a class and what would earn them a think sheet or responsibility room visit. An action could include swearing in the classroom, throwing materials or toys on purpose, screaming at others or an adult in the school, and destroying school supplies or school property were the main ones we discussed. These have not happened nor do I imagine they would but we have talked about why we do not want them to happen also. We are using the month of January to have warnings if we see something but I wanted to make parents aware of this procedure change.
Report cards come home TODAY! Please sign the envelope and return on Monday.
(*** Just an added note about report cards- the standards I grade each marking period can be different so it is possible to go up or down grade wise in an area based on what I assessed. For example- Marking Period 1– “Numbers and Operations/Base 10” was graded on number lines and place value adding and subtracting where Marking Period 2 — was using the eureka math strategies we used like making a ten, compensation, and adding like units. Your child could have earned a 2 in marking period 1 but dropped to a 3 in marking period 2 because different standards were assessed. This goes for the ELA standards as well. I choose different standards during the marking periods based on what Benchmark is focusing on in those units.)
Our handwriting books have now arrived!!!! We are starting with printing review but move on to beginning cursive strokes in a few weeks! The students are VERY exciting to start learning… as am I!
Reminder to keep all snow gear here in lockers and make sure it is labeled! Although this week it did not get above feels like 20 we will start going outside for recess once it does! If they have everything in lockers it makes it WAY easier and then they don’t freeze!
Last, we have had A LOT of tardies the last few weeks (this week and all of December). I have almost 1/4 of the class coming in more then 15 minutes late DAILY! This is SO HARD! We have morning work and get going as soon as we can each morning. It is hard enough to fit everything in during the day but having so many come in late adds an added distraction. Please try your best to be on time. I understand it happens occasionally but we need to be consistently starting our day at 8:25 am each day to not lose any more instructional minutes.
Heads up– An all school field trip will be happening on Friday, April 4th. Please plan ahead to chaperone. More information and paperwork will be coming home the beginning of February.. we just wanted you to be able to save the date. π
Have a great weekend! <3