October Announcements
From Mr. Mauntler’s room

Reading

We will begin our Guided Reading program in a week or so. One to three days a week your child will meet in a small group with me to read books at his/her instructional level. In these groups we will be practicing our fluency, word attack skills, phonics, and comprehension. We will continue to read stories as a whole group, focusing on comprehension skills.

Our next unit is called “Be A Nature Detective”. It will consist of non-fiction books that help the reader to learn to look more closely at things around them.

Writing/Spelling

I have been taking words from everyday writing and morning journals to develop a spelling list from their writing. I use a green pen to denote the words your child needs to work on. Your child will then keep track of the words he/she needs to work on in a spelling dictionary. We will be using the words from their spelling dictionary to form their spelling list. I will write “Spelling List” and the date of the test at the top of the paper. This list will have the spelling words and sentences on it. Please help your child keep the list in his/her homework folder when not being studied. Please also be sure to look on the homework assignment sheet for spelling test times and study nights.

Math

We have been working with counting coins and telling time. We will continue working with these two skills pretty much throughout the year. Please take any chances you get to work with counting money or telling time and work with your child. We will be getting into more patterns and learning addition facts in unit 2.

Homework

It is very important that your child complete his/her homework each night. If for some reason the homework does not get finished, please do not sign the sheet. Also, please help to remind your child that the homework sheet must be signed and returned each day. There will be nights where completing homework is just not an option; ski club nights, late soccer games, family visits, etc. On these occasions please try to write a short explanation (soccer game, family night) on the homework sheet and I will be happy to stamp it.

If you ever have any questions or concerns about an assignment I send home please write me a note on the homework sheet or call me here at school.

Halloween Party

I am looking for someone who would like to volunteer to organize this year’s party. Please send a note, call, or stop in if you are willing to do this task. If you would not like your name and phone number on the contact list for helping out, please let me know. This year’s party will be on Friday, October 30 (subject to change).

Terrariums

We will be making terrariums at the end of this month. Here is a heads up list of things to gather:

1.     Jar-preferably a see-through jar such as a large-mouth 1-quart jar.

2.    Rocks-small pebbles will do fine.

3.    Moss-if available

4.    Lid for the jar.

If your child can not bring in a jar, I will provide one for him/her. I will also bring in extra “ingredients” for the terrariums if your child can not find them. Please send these things in a zip-lock bag or other enclosable container. I will send a “reminder” when the time comes.

Spirit of the Woods Club

For our “Be A Nature Detective” unit we will be taking the whole second grade to the Spirit of the Woods Club in Brethren. We will be walking on the trails around the clubhouse, focusing on being more conscious of things around us. The students will be participating in a sort of “I spy”  and scavenger hunt game where they will draw the things we have studied so far in Science and Language Arts as they spot them along the trails. I have a packet to draw in with those items named.

I am hoping to have enough parent chaperones so that there will be no more than 3 students, and ideally 2 students, per group. The trip will last from lunch time to the end of the day. I will send a sign up/informational letter later in this month.