Thankful Thoughts...

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I thought I'd deliver our classroom news as things that I am thankful for:

Thankful for Hat Days

We have two more Hat Days scheduled for December.  On December 6 and December 13, your child may wear a hat to school.  The cost to participate is 50 cents.  The money raised by December's Hat Days will benefit a service activity yet to be named by the school.  I am so thankful for the many opportunities the children of Center Drive School have to learn about ways to be good citizens and help their community.

Thankful for Book Responses

I am thankful for the positive feedback on Book Responses!  What a creative bunch of students we have!  Sharing with others about the books we have read really gets us thinking about what makes a book interesting to read.  It also opens up new reading ideas as we see what our friends are reading.  November's Book Response choices were to make a Time Line or make a Movie Poster.  Below are some photos of students sharing their Book Responses.  These will be on display in the classroom.

Thankful for Personal Time Lines

As we explore different events in history, we have been able to place them on a time line.  To help put time over years into perspective, students have created their own personal time lines.  This was a big project, but one very much worth doing!  Each student also has the opportunity to practice public speaking, as they share their time line with the class.  It is so interesting learning more about our friends!  I am thankful for the thoughtful work that each student has put into making their time line.  Time Lines are on display in the hallway.

Thankful for Math

That's right.  I said it.  I am thankful for math!  Through whole class discussions and small guided group work, I am able to see growth in our students every day.  Each new lesson builds upon previous lessons; and it is fabulous to see those light bulbs flash above their heads when students "figure it out".  We have been using what we know about math facts to help us solve "number strings" - addition equations with many addends; as well as revisiting story problems about addition and subtraction using two digit numbers.  Being able to break a number into tens and ones, and looking for patterns or things we already know, is helping us to solve problems with larger numbers.  

Here are some strategies that we have been using to add and subtract:

An example of a number string:

5 + 3 + 7 + 4 =

7 + 3 = 10 (combination of 10; knew it right away)

5 + 4 = 9 (a near double; think "5+5= 10, -1 = 9 ...or 4+4=8, +1 = 9)

10 + 9 = 19

There are so many things to be thankful for!  Don't forget that there is no school Wednesday, November 27 - Friday, November 29.  I hope all families have a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

Rainy Reminder!

Just a reminder that tomorrow we will be loading and unloading all of the Food Drive donations.  It will be rainy and windy out!!  Please be sure that your child dresses appropriately for the weather, as we will be outside for a bit.

Monday, November 18

HAT DAY

There will be one last Hat Day on Monday, November 18.  Once again, it will cost 50 cents to participate.  All donations will be collected by the radio station 107.3; and will be used toward their Turkey Drive.

FOOD DRIVE FIELD TRIP

Also on Monday, Mrs. Pelkey, Mrs. Lent, and Mrs. Wright's classes will load up all of our Food Drive donations and take them to the Bread of Life Food Shelf, here in Orrington.  I am so proud of all the support from students and families during our Food Drive!

So Much Going On!

We are incredibly busy here in second grade; and there is a lot of information that you will find helpful.

Book Orders

Book Orders came home today.  They are due Wednesday, November 13.  This is the last Book Order going home until after Christmas vacation!  The next Book Order will be in January.  If you are ordering, please remember to send in a check (no cash), or order online by November 13.  There are 3 different order forms for you to browse.

Book Fair

This is different than the Book Order, but also supported by Scholastic.  Our school library will be transformed into a Book Fair beginning next week!  A letter that tells you all about the Book Fair is coming home, as well as a flyer.  This flyer looks like the Book Order fliers, but it is larger and says "BOOK FAIR" right across the top.  Please do not get the Book Fair and Book Orders mixed up!

This seems like a lot, but it is simply another way to offer a selection of books for your children at great prices.  Also, each book ordered, either through the Book Order or Book Fair, benefits your child's school through bonus books and bonus points that can be used toward books.

Report Cards

Report Cards are going home today.  This is the first time that we have used computer based report cards, instead of the handwritten ones.  You do not need to send the report card back to school, but please fill out and sign the bottom of the letter that is enclosed with the Report Card, and send that back to school in the envelope.  We will reuse the Report Card envelopes each quarter.

Food Drive

Our Food drive has come to an end - and it was VERY successful!  PreK - grade 4 collected at least 513 food items!!!  This total does not even count any middle school donations or donations that may have been left on the collection table in the lobby.  Our class set a goal of 500 and clearly we beat it!  I have heard that this comes at a great time, as the Bread of Life Food Shelf in Orrington is running low.  Thank you to all those who donated, and to all of your children who helped with the work that goes into running a Food Drive!

Food Drive Field Trip

On Monday, November 18 Mrs. Pelkey, Mrs. Lent, and Mrs. Wright's classes will load up a bus with all of our Food Drive donations and personally deliver them to the Bread of Life Food Shelf in Orrington.  Once there, we will unload the donations and learn a little about the services the a Food Shelf provides.  This is such a wonderful opportunity for young children to realize how they can play an important role in their community.

Hat Day and Food Drive

Friday is Hat Day again.  Students may wear a hat with a fifty cent donation.  All donations benefit a turkey fundraiser run by the radio station 107.5.

Don't forget the Food Drive is still on!  One more day for collection!  If you forget, donations will still be accepted throughout Parent/Teacher conference week.  Donations will not be delivered until Monday, November 18.