Mrs. Kinnaman's Second Grade Class - room9

Dear Parents:

We will be taking the California Standards Test (STAR) beginning next week.  You can help your student by doing the following:

 Please have your students get enough rest and eat a good breakfast.

 Get to school ON TIME!  Our testing window begins at 8:45 a.m. each day.

   Create a low stress environment surrounding the test.  Reassure students that they are prepared and will do just fine on the test.

    Remind your students that the MOST important thing for the test is FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS!

Our testing schedule is as follows:

Monday, 5/3:  Practice Test in-class

Tuesday, 5/4:  8:45-10 a.m.  English-Language Arts PART I

Wednesday, 5/5:  8:45-10 a.m.  English-Language Arts PART II

Thursday, 5/6:  8:45-10 a.m.  English-Language Arts PART III

Friday, 5/7:  Make-up test session for any students who were absent

Tuesday, 5/10:  8:45-10 a.m.  Mathematics PART I

Wednesday, 5/11:  8:45-10 a.m.  Mathematics PART II

Thursday, 5/4:  8:45-10 a.m.  Mathematics PART III

Friday, 5/7:  Make-up test session for any students who were absent

Please let me know if you have any questions concerning this test.  We have been preparing in class and the students will be bringing home their practice booklets.  We no longer need them in class.  If your student was absent, or pulled out for resource or speech services, there may be unfinished parts of the booklet.

Thank you for all your help in completing the heritage worksheets with your student.  We will be beginning our work with the information next week.  When we are closer to finishing our reports I will let you know when you can send in food items and larger artifacts, if you would like.

Important Dates:

5/1:  May Fete parade (consider marching with El Carmelo!  Meet at High and Lytton Ave. at 9:30 a.m.  El Carmelo is “float” #53.   Look for me in the crowd – I’ll be watching my high school daughter play with the PALY band.  J)

5/18:  Second Grade Open House (6:30-7:30)

5/28:  Field Trip to Filoli (more information to come)

Dear Parents:

You should be receiving this newsletter along with your child’s report card.  Spring conferences are optional.  Please contact me if you would like to set up a meeting to discuss your child’s progress.  I will also contact you if I feel we need to meet.  We may not need to schedule a formal conference if we have already met to discuss your child’s progress in a recent IEP, SST, or informal meeting; or if you are comfortable with the progress your child has made and my comments included with the progress report.

We have begun our formalized preparations for the STAR test (held the first two weeks of May).  I will get more information to you about the test schedule as we get closer.  Our test prep practice works with actual previous test questions.  We try to do 15-minutes of practice each day, alternating math and English language-arts.  I have spoken extensively with the students about how the test is nothing to be stressed out about or anything they can study for.  Our preparations are more about following directions and being able to conform to the testing environment and constraints.  Please help me create a low-stress environment for the students surrounding this test.

Literacy: We are transitioning from oral retelling to written summaries of our reading.  This is a big leap for some students.  One of the most difficult skills for second graders is to determine what is important to include in the summary.  The second grade end-of-year benchmark reading assessment requires the students to do a written summary, rather than an oral retelling.  In spelling we are focusing on word endings such as –le and –tion/-sion.  Next we will transition to contractions and then onto prefixes and suffixes.  A few perceptive students have noticed that there are more weeks left in school than there are lessons in the spelling book!  Yes, spelling will end prior to the end of the year.  In grammar we have covered all of our units (recently we worked with adjectives and compound words).  We will be reviewing/reinforcing many of the concepts from earlier in the year.

Math: We finished our fraction unit and are in the middle of another study of measurement.  We are working a lot with linear and capacity measurements.  A big concept is equivalencies and conversions.  The students are also continuing with frequent basic fact practice.  After spring break, students who have mastered their addition and subtraction facts will move onto their multiplication facts.

Writing: We have worked on a new writing procedure – Quick Writes.  The point of this exercise is to get lots of experience writing about a lot of different topics.  It can spur ideas for future writing pieces and allows us to go through some editing work each writing period.  The students are also working to publish a “free-choice” piece of writing.

Social Studies: Many thanks to all the parent volunteers that made our trip to the Los Altos History House possible.  This was a great starting point for our heritage unit.  We’ll learn about the differences between life long ago and today, and students will do a report about a country that represents their family heritage.  Look for information about this project just prior to Spring Break. 

Finally, thank you to all of the parents and students who made me feel VERY APPRECIATED during Teacher Appreciation Week.  I feel so lucky to have such a wonderful group of supportive parents this year! J

4/2 & 4/7:        “Meet the Masters” art program (in class)

4/8:             Pedestrian Safety Assembly

4/12 – 4/16:        Spring Break (enjoy!)

4/20 –       Mrs. Kinnaman out at a Math Lead Meeting

4/22 –       Mrs. Kinnaman out (presenting technology at the Santa Clara County Office of Education “21^st Century Schools” symposium)

Dear Parents:

It is hard to believe it will soon be March 1^st.  January and February always seem to go so quickly will all the holidays and days out of school.  With March, comes our second progress report period.  Look for your child’s progress report to arrive at home by mail sometime toward the end of the month.  Conferences in the spring are optional – you are free to schedule one if you feel you have specific questions or concerns, and I will also be asking to meet with certain families in order to share particular information.  Some of you meet with me during other times – SSTs, IEPs, etc. and may not feel the need to schedule a “regular” conference.   Look for a conference sign-up and more information in a few weeks.  I find frequent, regular communication to be much more effective than sitting down once or twice a year.  So, as always, please contact me with any questions or concerns you may have.

Literacy: We worked on determining an author’s purpose as a means to being more attentive, focused readers.  Now we have begun our work with non-fiction text features.  The students are reading variety of non-fiction books and completing a scavenger hunt – looking for things such as charts, graphs, maps, the index, table of contents, glossary, etc.  The emphasis is on not only identifying these features, but also understanding how they contribute to a greater understanding of the text.  Grammar and spelling have both been focused on regular and irregular plurals.

Math: Our current unit has focused on patterns and measurement.  The students have made INCREDIBLE progress in terms of their ability to approach complex problems and explain their reasoning for how they came about a solution.  The process is truly as important as the product at this point in their development of conceptual reasoning.  It is so exciting for me to see students nearly fighting to get their explanation heard and cheering (yes, cheering) when I ask if they want a “super-challenge” level problem.  Of course, I am easily excitable when it comes to math!  J

Writing: All students recently finished up an “All About Me” PowerPoint.  I love this assignment because it really shows me what the students feel is important in their life.  These are then printed out and illustrated.  As soon as they have finished illustrating their “books” we’ll make them available for all students to read.

Social Studies: We have continued working on maps, directionality and following a route.  The students worked on a collaborative project to develop a list of countries NORTH of the equator and SOUTH of the equator.  It was quite a list!  Recently we discussed why people move from one area to another (be it locally, nationally, or internationally).  And, the students pretended that they were an immigrant to the US from another country and wrote a letter to someone “back home.” 

Special Events: We recently had a visit from Heather at the Junior Museum during which the students explored how different insects have different mouth structures in order to eat certain types of food.  Believe me – I learned A LOT during this! 

Finally, thank you to all the parents who participated in providing the teacher lunch today.  I really look forward to the days I don’t have to pack my OWN lunch in the morning (after packing for three kids!), so it is much appreciated and very yummy! J

3/1:  Mrs. Kinnaman out of the classroom (Christine will be the sub) – 2^nd grade district math training

3/3: Reading Across America Day (Dr. Seuss’s birthday) – see attached flyer.

3/19:  Los Altos History House field trip – look for an email requesting driver’s

3/23:  Mrs. Kinnaman out of the classroom (Christine will sub) – I am giving a district-wide SMARTBoard training

3/26:  Progress Reports mailed by this date

Dear Parents:

Thank you to all the parents and students who helped make my 40^th birthday a memorable one!  Spending all day with 7- and 8-year olds is the best way to stay feeling young. 

I wanted to let you know that I will be out of the classroom four days next week.  While it is never ideal to be out so many consecutive days, unfortunately that is how the meetings were scheduled.  I will be out Monday, 2/1 on personal business; Tuesday, 2/2 is a district-wide Math Lead Teachers meeting; and Wednesday/Thursday 2/3-4 is a required two-day training for all second year teachers in the district.  Fortunately the students will be in the capable hands of my classroom aide, Christine, while I am gone and it will be a normal schedule all week.  Please expect the same homework assignments and daily routines.

Literacy: I am completing mid-year reading assessments; we have worked with biographies/timelines; our word work has included synonyms/antonyms; and our grammar lessons have been focused on verbs and verb tenses.

Math: we are working toward multiple strategies for solving two-digit subtraction problems; laying the foundation for algebra by setting up addition and subtraction number stories using a variety of diagrams to establish known and unknown variables (of course that is not the exact language I have used with the students!); and much to the students’ excitement we have uncovered the beginnings of multiplication.  In second grade we lay important conceptual foundations for multiplication/division.  While we do not expect multiplication/division fact mastery at this time, after Spring Break I will let students who have mastered their addition/subtraction facts to begin working on their multiplication tables. 

Writing: we have been doing A LOT of writing lately in Room 9.  The students have all recently completed a piece of writing on a topic of their choice (following the full-writing process of pre-writing, writing, editing and publishing).  And, we just completed the second grade mid-year writing assessment, which entailed reading a biography and providing a written summary about the person’s life and accomplishments.

Social Studies: we continue to work on map skills and have studied the differences between urban, suburban, and rural areas.  In addition, we discussed what some of the different uses are for rural areas in California (lumber production, farming, livestock grazing) and how we need all types of living environments.

Computers: we continue to work on a regular basis with the keyboarding program, Type to Learn.  And, I have done the first in a series of lessons about how to use the PowerPoint application.  The students are currently working on a PowerPoint “All About Me” book.  PowerPoint is a great application for early student writing on the computer because it allows me to design templates for them to use to structure their written work.  We will complete a non-fiction PowerPoint document and a “Second Grade Memories” PowerPoint presentation later in the year.

Special Events: the response to our classroom food drive has been incredible – thanks so much for your support.  Each day we graph our food contributions and make up math word problems to solve using the information contained in the graph.  We are also enjoying monthly Junior Museum visits.  And, next week the students will hear a dental health presentation from Dr. Wu in conjunction with the “Give Kids a Smile” campaign 2010.

Chinese New Year: if you are interested in planning a presentation and/or activity for the class to support our study of Chinese New Year, please contact me ASAP.  Since the holiday falls during a school break time, we could schedule a time for you to talk to the students either just prior to the break or immediately afterward.  Thank you in advance for being willing to share your family heritage with the students.

Valentine’s Day:  Again, this holiday will fall during a school break.  However, on our last day of school (Wednesday, February 10^th) before the long Presidents’ Weekend we will have a very small party and Valentine exchange.  If your child would like to participate, please be sure they bring a Valentine for each class member.  I’ll send home a class list and reminder next week.

2/1-2/4:  Mrs. Kinnaman out of the classroom (Christine will be the sub)

2/4:  “Give Kids a Smile” dental health visit

2/10:  Valentine exchange and small class party

Dear Parents:

Happy New Year!  I hope you all had a wonderful, relaxing, restorative winter break.  I enjoyed my time off with my family.  We were able to travel to El Paso, TX for a few days to visit with my brother, sister-in-law, and my parents.  The students definitely seem refreshed and ready to be back at school.

Thank you so much for all the generous gifts, cards and treats at the holidays!  It was overwhelming.  The Target gift card allowed me to splurge on a Wii game system for the whole family and we have had a great time playing together.  The students have been giving me their recommendations for other fun games – right now my daughters and I basically play Wii Fit and Wii Resort.  I can’t believe the technology in that game compared to the games we had when I was a kid (anyone remember the original Pac-Man or Asteroids??). 

I will be out of the classroom several full-days and half-days over the next two months.  As a tech trainer for the district I will be providing some technology training for the staff at the PAUSD school located at the Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital on the Stanford campus.  Additionally, as a second-year teacher in the district I have several days of required training in February.  Fortunately, our classroom aide, Christine Smith, will be able to sub all of the dates and times I will be out.

Some highlights of what we are working on right now:

Math:  lots of geometry – parallel lines, 2D and 3D shapes

Reading:  word work with synonyms, drawing conclusions from information in a story, retelling and determining importance

Writing: making powerful word choices, revising and editing

Grammar: verbs, past/present/future tense

Social Studies: we have begun our more formal social studies work and the students are really excited about working with maps and learning about different cultures and countries.  We also focus on the differences between long ago and today, as well as studying the basics of US government and the marketplace economy in our country.  Please be sure to see the attached flyer about the Second Grade Community Service Project/Food Drive.

Important Upcoming dates:

Monday, January 11^th:  I will out in the afternoon – Christine Smith will sub

Thursday, January 14^th:  Junior Museum in-class “field trip” related to our Balance & Motion science unit

Monday, January 18^th:  NO SCHOOL – MLK day

Friday, January 22^nd:  NO SCHOOL – End of the Semester

Monday, January 25^th:  I will be out in the afternoon – Christine Smith will sub

Friday, January 29^th:  Field Trip to the Mountain View Community Services Agency (see attached flyer about our food drive).  Look for an email requesting drivers/chaperones.

Dear Room 9 families,

Thank you so much for the lovely card and generous gift. I am looking forward to going on a shopping trip to Target very soon! I have enjoyed getting to know your children this year, and I am excited about working with them again this semester, especially in Readers' Theater.

I hope you all have a happy and peaceful New Year.

Best wishes,

Christine

Dear Parents:

As the recent cold weather reminds us – we are almost at the Winter Break for the year.  I really want to make sure that I tell each one of you that ALL of the kids have made such tremendous progress this year already.  They have really transformed from 1^st graders into 2^nd graders right before my eyes!  I am so pleased with their ability to work in the classroom – independently, in pairs, small groups and as a whole group.  Each student has made huge progress toward being a more independent, responsible learner. 

Some of our academic highlights:

Math:  we have looked into multiple ways to add two-digit numbers (and larger) – counting on the number grid (including using short-cuts), partial sums, base-10 block models and this week we discussed the “traditional” US Algorithm for multiple digit addition (what many of us learned using the terms “borrowing” and “carrying”).  Going forward, I will generally allow the students to choose whatever strategy they are most comfortable with and whatever is most applicable to a given problem. 

Reading:  we are working on reading strategies, such as asking questions to guide reading, making predictions and using prior knowledge to better understand a given text.  When talking about reading strategies we always work as a whole group with pair-share practice, and then the students have an opportunity through guided practice (small group) and independent work to try out using each strategy.  The students are also continuing to write letters to me each week about their independent reading and I REALLY look forward to reading these letters and writing back to them.

Literacy:  Students are making great progress in understanding and applying spelling patterns to help spell and solve unknown words.  After winter break, the spelling book pages will be sent home each week to be completed as homework in addition to the daily math page.  Look for more information in the homework journal starting in January.

Science:  The students will finish up next week with Mrs. Ashton (Room 10) in their study of Plants & Insects.  I am looking forward to our Junior Museum visits in the new year to support all of the learning we did this fall in our three science units.

Social Studies:  Our Holiday Express unit is the beginning of our work in social studies and has introduced students to some general global geography.  We have had a great time learning about December holiday celebrations around the globe. 

Upcoming Calendar:

12/18      Minimum Day (1:30 p.m. dismissal) – we will have a small holiday celebration from 12:45-1:30 p.m.  Look for more information from the room parents about what the needs for help may be.

12/19 – 1/3      NO SCHOOL:  Winter Break

1/4            School Resumes

Enjoy your holiday break!  See you in January.

It’s hard to believe it is already November!  I truly enjoyed meeting with each of you last week for parent-teacher conferences.  Setting goals early in the year and making sure we are all on the same page in terms of expectations is so important – thank you for your time.  Almost every conference included a discussion about social issues as it related to your particular student.  All parents want their kids to have friends and be able to negotiate the social landscape at school and beyond.  Second grade is a great time for students to branch out and meet new friends.  Please know that helping students develop good social skills is an important part of what we do in class.  However, experience has also shown me that what can be a friend “crisis” one day, is often quickly forgotten the next – in fact, many times a social issue at morning recess has already disappeared by lunch recess!  Don’t hesitate to contact me if there are persistent issues or problems I should be aware of.

Looking ahead, there will be some slight changes in homework as we move forward in the year.  In the next few weeks look for a weekly math page that will provide extra practice in the area of open-response and explaining mathematical reasoning.  These are important skills that many of us discussed at conferences.  Also, I will provide an optional literacy based project each week, as well, as part of the homework.  Look for more information to come.

On Wednesday, November 18^th we will be having a student-only writing celebration.  We will be celebrating the completion of our “How to Make . . .” books.  Many students have expressed an interest in bringing in samples of what their book describes how to make.  This is completely optional, but my only request is that if it is a food sample enough should be brought to share with all students in the class.  Talk to your student about what they are writing and see me if there are specific concerns, questions or issues.  Thanks for supporting the students’ enthusiasm for this project!  Be sure to ask them about the PB & J sandwich I made when I introduced this writing unit.

Finally, thanks to all my regular volunteers and field trip drivers – you REALLY make my job much easier and allow me to concentrate on important instructional objectives.  Additionally, we were so lucky to have Aruna Bhamidipati, Asmite Runge and Shailee Kulkarni come into the classroom in October for a wonderful presentation about the celebration of Diwali.  I learned A LOT!  And, we made beautiful Rangoli designs (on display high above the SMART Board if you would like to check them out).  We even used the concept of the Rangoli designs the next day in Interactive Math by working with pattern blocks to create symmetrical designs.  It is absolutely wonderful for both the students and me when parents and families can come into the classroom to share special traditions and cultural events.  Please let me know if you have a special talent or tradition you would like to share.

Upcoming Calendar:

11/11            No School (Veterans’ Day)

11/13            Field Trip to Lively Arts Puppet Show at Stanford University

Dear Parents:

The students are all working very hard so far in second grade.  We are really looking forward to our writing celebration this Wednesday, October 14^th at 8:25 a.m.  You will get a chance to see some of your student’s writing so far this year, as well as learn a little bit about the Writer’s Workshop format.  Hope to see you there!  Also, you may have heard about a new helper we have in our room – Jeff.  Jeff is with us as a full-time classroom aide until the end of October.  He is WONDERFUL with the students and his help has been invaluable to me.  I am already sad that he won’t be with us for longer!  Please take a moment to introduce yourself to him if you are in the classroom.  I do have one additional training day out of the classroom this month, as well as a day set aside for parent conferences.  Attached to this newsletter there is a conference sign-up sheet.  Please return it ASAP, but no later than Friday, October 16^th.  As for training days out of the classroom, I do try to minimize them as much as possible.  However, I am the primary math lead teacher for El Carmelo and a reading intervention teacher in the Reading Academy program, both of which necessitate that I be out periodically.  I do not consider my days out the classroom to be days of “busy work” for the students.  My substitute teachers are chosen carefully and always continue with my regular classroom program as much as possible.

Check out some of the classroom highlights from the past few weeks:

**   In math we are working on strategies for solving basic addition and subtraction facts, as well as using those facts for working with “Number Story” problems (what used to be called “word problems”).  And, concepts of time, money and patterning run throughout our curriculum and are continually being reinforced.  In addition, we have begun “Interactive Math Fridays” – much like Math Lab in the past – which features time for more game playing and projects associated with our math program.  And, the center-based nature of this Friday math time also allows me to work to re-teach, assess and extend math concepts from the week with small groups of students.  Thank you so much to our parent volunteers who are helping with this program!

**   In Literacy we have focused on choosing “Just Right Books.”  That is to say, books at the correct INDEPENDENT reading level for each student.  There is nothing more frustrating for readers at this stage (and teachers!) than when students try to read books that are too hard for them.  A Just Right Book has the following characteristics (and your student should be able to tell you these). (1) It is something the student is interested in reading, (2) It is a book in which the student can read (de-code) MOST of the words. (3) Most importantly, the student needs to be able to understand and talk about what is happening in the text.  Reading the words on a page is DE-CODING, understanding the words on a page is READING!  At this point almost all students have had an individual conference with me to discuss their selection of Just Right Books.  We are now moving into using reading strategies to better improve comprehension, help with word-solving and increase students ability to talk about texts in a meaningful way.

**  We finished our first science unit, Balance and Motion, and the students will now be moving to Mrs. Dosskey’s room for the 5-week science unit, Rocks and Pebbles, while I teach Balance and Motion to Mrs. Lemoine’s class.  The final rotation will be to Mrs. Lemoine’s class for Insects and Plants.  But don’t worry science doesn’t end at the Winter Break.  Beginning in January we have classroom visits from the Junior Museum to reinforce the concepts from our studies this Fall, and the Spring is full of science-related activities like Earth Day and butterflies.

Of course, I could go on and on about everything else we are busy working on, but your best bet is to ask your student or stop by sometime and check things out for yourself!  As a reminder, beginning this week I will be teaching the Reading Academy program after school on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, so those days will be difficult for me to have an impromptu chat.  Please always feel free to make an appointment if there is something you would like to discuss.  It is possible to meet later after school, or during the school day at lunch, or during the times when the students are at PE/Music and library.

Thanks for all your support of what is happening in the classroom.

Upcoming Calendar:

10/14            Writing Celebration @ 8:25 a.m.

10/16            Field Trip to Cantor Art Museum at Stanford University

10/20            Mrs. Kinnaman out at 2^nd grade math training

10/29-30                   Parent Conferences (10/29 full-day, 10/30 after school)

10/30            Halloween celebration at school (more information to come!)

Dear Parents:

It has been a very busy three weeks already in Room 9!  These first few weeks lay an important foundation for the rest of the year as the students learn important classroom routines and procedures, understand my expectation level in terms of their work and focus, and get to know their fellow classmates.  Some of the activities so far:

o   Learning all about our morning work and morning meeting routine – including the job of the “Super Students,” the Pledge of Allegiance, morning exercise, and morning journal writing.

o   Practicing our basic math lesson format – warm-up, math message, lesson instruction, on-going practice and learning, and wrap-up and self-assessment of progress.

o   Beginning writer’s workshop with a lesson about “tiny moments”

o   Using the listening center as a group

o   Introduction to the laptops – the students now know how to get a machine off the cart and safely to their desk, turn it on, sign-in to second grade, where our class folder is located, how to get on the internet and find my class page, and login to everydaymathonline.com to play math games.

o   Science lessons about balance and motion, including balancing a trick crayfish and other shapes using counterweight and investigating spinning tops and “zoomers.”

In addition, I have completed almost all of my required beginning-of-the-year assessments and I have transitioned into utilizing that information to set specific goals for each students, as well as whole class goals.  Next week we will continue to move toward a more “normal” schedule.

If you have not yet done so, please get me your student information form and field trip permission slips as soon as possible.  I was also able to schedule an additional field trip to a Lively Arts puppet show performance at Stanford University in November.  I will send home more information and a field trip permission slip for that event in the near future.

Upcoming Events:

o   Monday, September 14:  Homework “officially” starts for Room 9.  Look for your child’s homework folder to come home each day (Monday-Thursday).  You need to initial the homework journal each evening to be sure that you saw the assignments for that day.  The homework is checked in EACH day – help your child build the skills to get it back and forth on their OWN!

o   Tuesday, September 15:  2^nd Grade picnic at El Carmelo (5 p.m.)

o   Tuesday and Wednesday, September 15-16:  I will be attending a reading intervention training at the district office, Mrs. Ersted will be the sub for that day

o   Thursday, September 17:  Photo Day – you should receive a flyer in the Friday folder with more information

o   Thursday, September 24:  Soule Shoppe Assembly for all grades at El Carmelo

o   Friday, September 25:  NO SCHOOL (Professional Development)

o   Monday, September 28:  NO SCHOOL (Local Holiday)