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Davis, Randy
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February News
February 29, 2024
During guided reading, we do a lot of rereading – sometimes several times – of books, passages and/or chapters. The objective is for the children to understand stories really, really well. I need them to be able to talk about their reading – identifying characters, settings, main ideas and themes (the theme of a story is the lesson the character learns). This is tough for second graders who are becoming good readers, but often can’t verbalize what is happening in a story. This is also something that applies to nearly everyone in the classroom and is very common for seven and eight year olds. I still need your help to do these things:
1. Continue to read aloud to your second grader, elbow to elbow, knee to knee, at least three times a week (even if it’s just for 5 minutes). Talk about the new, unfamiliar vocabulary when you come to it.
2. Occasionally, read silently with your child (reading from the same book) – again, 5 minutes is fine, so that you can have some conversation about the book.
3. Talk about what you’ve read. This conversation doesn’t have to be long, involved or very deep, but it certainly should include your young reader sharing what the story reminded him/her of or sharing some big event that was included in the reading or anything else of interest. I’ll often ask the children to tell me something – anything – that has happened in a story they have read, only to receive the blank stare as if I were speaking French (I don’t speak French).
When you have a few minutes, there are some quick reviews that will make an enormous difference in how your child performs on our math tests. Sorry for the broken record here…. The most important thing is the mastery of basic addition and subtraction facts (with answers up to 20). Questions like these are also regularly asked on tests: if I have 14, how many more to get to 20; if I have 9, how many to get to 19, etc…. As redundant and dull as it is, basic facts practice is essential to acing math tests for the remainder of the year.
As you know, math homework reviewing the concepts we have already covered is sent home almost every day and should be done, mostly, independently. Some of it is confusing – ignore these parts of the homework. If you can, please check the homework before it is turned in.
We recently finished writing poetry during writing workshop. Our focus was on including these things in our poems:
- White space (creating a rhythm to our poems)
- Repeating words
- Similes and metaphors
- Personification
- Playing with words and phrases
- Adjectives
- Dialogue
We have now transitioned from poetry to writing persuasive stories. It’s a lot of work, but it’s also a lot of fun.
In Social Studies, we will soon be researching the clothing, food, shelter, language, music, dance and sports of different countries around the globe (Mexico, China, Kenya, India, France and Brazil). This will be modeled a lot, then practiced in small groups as the children explore several books on these counties. This unit will wrap up around the time of the 2nd grade international feast on March 7th.
If you did not know this already, learning targets for every subject are posted on the Solon Schools website (choose the Elementary Schools tab on the upper right hand side of the main web page, then choose the Parents tab). The Learning Targets are the objectives that are covered throughout the entire school year. They can also be found here:
http://solon.schoolwires.net/domain/944
This time of year, there are often little things that come up – disagreements, hurt feelings, friends excluding each other, kids giving their folks a tough time with school work at home… Please don’t hesitate to let me know when this is happening, even if it might seem trivial. I can address it privately here and often put an end to something brewing before it becomes a big deal.
Thanks for all of your follow-through with the homework – and with everything else - each week.
Have a great weekend!
January News
January 20, 2024
Basic facts for both addition and subtraction are now expected to be done very quickly in order to complete the more difficult number problems that appear in our math lessons fairly regularly. Basic facts are number sentences with all numbers, including the answers, being 20 or below. Fingers and 200’s charts are still encouraged whenever needed; however, during basic facts assessments (given every eight weeks or so) computation is expected to be done nearly immediately. During these assessments (the next one won’t be until mid- February), points are actually deducted for using fingers and/or counting in any way – so, answering these facts almost immediately is the ultimate goal. There a few online games to practice these facts...
https://www.mathplayground.com/code_sums.html
https://www.mathplayground.com/ASB_MinusMission.html
https://www.mathplayground.com/ASB_AlienAddition.html
The second quarter reading post-test and the math topic 8 test are posted on Edulastic. In reading, the children continue to practice reading and rereading stories and thinking a lot about their reading as they proceed through text. I want your readers to really understand the stories they’re reading, to think about what’s happening throughout the selection and to have the wherewithal to reread when comprehension falters. This is a pretty lofty goal for second graders, to be sure. If you haven’t done so already, reread the stories on the reading test together – just the stories where your young reader made a mistake. Read and reread incorrectly answered questions, returning to the story to look for clues to help you find the correct answer.
The forces and motion science unit will soon be completed, then we’ll be studying geography.
Thanks for following up with the homework every day – and for asking your 2nd grader if he or she received reminder cards for the day. Don’t hesitate to let me know if you have any questions or if something comes up that’s bothering your son or daughter. I want him or her to enjoy school even though it’s sometimes demanding and a lot of work. Also don’t hesitate to check-in with me every now and then to see how your second grader is doing.
November News
November 16, 2023
Language Arts: The children are practicing strategies for what to do when they get stuck on a word. These have been printed at the end of this newsletter in the event you don’t have them already. Many of the children have forgotten these and are relying solely on sounding out the words or asking me to tell them the word. I really need your help with this. When you can, please continue listening to your second grader read while you are following along. A few minutes two or three times a week will do. When he or she gets to a word that is unfamiliar, practice two or three of these strategies. If several words cannot be read (actually, two or three words on a page), then the book is not a good choice for independent reading.
Not every word is going to be read correctly – I don’t expect it; however, when the word effects meaning I need your young reader to recognize that something is wrong. At this point, I need your child to go back and apply one of the reading strategies.
If you would, do these two things during your reading:
- Practice the reading strategies (listed below) for unknown words.
- Recognizing when something read doesn’t sound right, then returning to attempt to correct it.
Near the end of this newsletter, you will also find a read aloud rubric currently used as one reading assessment throughout the school year. Notice the Advance Level column and the attention to punctuation and self-correcting. Many of the children speed through text when reading aloud, often changing or omitting entire words. This is never a good thing and actually prevents them from scoring the Advanced Level on this rubric.
Math: Memorization and quick recall of basic facts (addition and subtraction with answers 20 and below) is key to most of our math instruction. Your practice aloud for a few minutes three or four times a week of these facts is the best activity you can do to improve this skill. Math Playground.com has many on-line math facts games that provide excellent practice; however, there is still no substitute for what you do one-on-one.
When completing math homework, please always do the assessment question even if you’re not sure what to do on the rest of the paper. Check the homework the best you can before it’s returned to school. Spend about 15 to 20 minutes now on math homework. It’s okay if it is not finished, especially when you are not sure what to do. Any important problems on the homework will be reviewed here at school.
Social Studies: We are completing our unit on weather in the next week or so. Our economics unit will begin after this.
Reminders:
- Please forward a note to our school secretary, Mrs. Mallis, for absences, tardies or changes to transportation.
- Math homework is due just about every day.
- Library is every Friday.
- The single best thing you can do to help your 2nd grader academically is to read together every day – even if it’s just for a few minutes.
PLEASE SCROLL TO THE NEXT PAGE.
Read Aloud Rubric
Difficulty Level
Instructional Level
Independent Level
Advanced Level
Accuracy Rate
93% or less
94%
95-98%
99 – 100%
Phrasing
Word by word reading
2 and 3 word phrases or inappropriate pausing
Mostly longer phrases with attention to most punctuation
Longer, Meaningful phrases with attention to punctuation throughout
Reading Rate
Slow reading rate throughout
Inconsistent reading rate (too fast or too slow) at times
Adequate reading rate in most places with some slower bits
Adequate and consistent reading rate throughout
Monitoring/Self-Correcting
No errors that affect meaning are self-corrected
Some errors that affect meaning are self-corrected OR makes only errors that do not affect meaning
All errors that affect meaning are self-corrected
All errors are self-corrected OR reads accurately with no errors
Oral Reading Score
4 5 6
7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14
15 16
Reading Strategies
Stuck on a Word? Try these…
- Sound out the word the best you can.*
- Skip it and come back.
- Say the beginning sounds, read on, then reread.
- Use context clues. What makes sense in the sentence?
- Use picture clues.
- Look for little words you know.
*Please let me know if you need a sound chart to help sound out words.
Happy Thanksgiving!
October News
Language Arts: Our memoir writing unit has concluded. Students are now writing all about, non-fiction stories and will write at least a few stories before one is selected for publishing in the next several weeks.
We are doing a lot of reading throughout the day, both individually and in small groups for guided reading. Reading is the single best thing you can do at home to improve your second grader’s performance at school.
Please listen and watch for accurate reading at home by regularly reading with your child side-by-side. Even proficient readers make mistakes – and many times these uncorrected mistakes lead to not fully understanding what is happening in the story. Listening for meaning in every sentence is a really important, acquired skill. This is a common second grade problem and will be part of our reading instruction throughout the year. It helps a lot, though, if you can also work on this regularly at home.
If your young reader is giving you a tough time about reading homework, don’t hesitate to let me know. Often times, just a few words from me here can alleviate a whole lot of grief on your end. Also, please know that your reading aloud counts towards the 25 minutes of daily reading. Your modeling of fluent reading is really important – this is also a great time to talk about new vocabulary that you might run across in the books you’re reading.
Math: While mastery of the basic addition and subtraction facts remains an important part of math instruction, the primary focus is now on adding and subtracting two-digit numbers. Though the way we add and subtract is almost entirely different than what you likely learned in grade school, we’re still dealing with numbers and basic addition and subtraction.
Science: We are learning about what causes changes in the weather and are (or will soon be) making and using a thermometer, barometer, rain gauge, wind vane and anemometer. Students are also experimenting with air to explore some of its properties (it has weight and contains water) in addition to exploring the water cycle.
This unit will be completed in about two weeks, then social studies will resume with our study of economics.
Conferences: Conferences are scheduled for early November. A reminder of your date and time will be sent in the report cards. Please let me know if you need to meet with me before this time to discuss your child’s progress.
Homework: Math is homework almost every night; however, there will be some exceptions throughout the year. There is usually no homework assigned the day we take a test. The assessment problem on the math homework is the most important problem to complete. If you’re unsure of what to do on the homework, concentrate on completing this problem.
Test scores are always available for viewing on Edulastic.com. The topic 4 and the benchmark topics 1-4 math tests are now posted.
Reminders:
- Thanks for sending in library books every Friday.
- Our Halloween party and parade is tomorrow (Friday, October 27th). The parade begins about 1:15.
- The learning targets on this site list the specific content taught in each subject throughout the year. These learning targets can be found here:
https://www.solonschools.org/domain/944
Have a nice weekend.
September News
September 28, 2023
Language Arts: Reading groups will start next week. It will take several days for the routine to be established of meeting with two or three groups a day. Some of the children will be in more than one group depending on their individual needs. The groups will also change every now and then and your 2nd grader may be in more than one group. Please expect this to happen.
We are writing small moment stories (the time I broke my leg, when I got my new bike, going to Splash Lagoon, …). There is a lot of modeling that proceeds every independent writing time, modeling that shows something I’m looking for in stories that particular day – and every day thereafter. Some of the things modeled so far include how to add details, feelings and dialogue to a story to make it even better. Introductions and conclusions have also been taught, modelled and practiced. We’re building on the skills the kids have learned and practiced in first grade, so expectations are pretty high.
Please ask your young author about his or her writing. If he or she can’t tell you anything of substance, ask him or her to bring a story home to share with you.
Spelling (also called Word Study): We’re reviewing the short and long sounds of all the vowels. Each week, a new phonetic concept is taught and practiced (this week, it’s making a long a sound with the silent e at the end of one syllable words). For now, all of our spelling work will be done in-class.
Math: Memorization and quick recall of basic facts (addition and subtraction) is really important to things we will be doing later in the year. Your practice aloud for a few minutes every time you read is the best activity you can do to improve this skill. Two online games, https://www.mathplayground.com/ and http://www.hoodamath.com/mobile/games/mathtimedtests.html are also great practice when used every now and then. Other online games can be found in our math Google Classroom.
If your second grader has mastered addition and subtraction, do not hesitate to introduce and practice multiplication and division.
Practicing for the test using the reteaching pages sent home right before tests will make a difference in how your mathematician scores on the topic tests. If you’re unsure of what to do, just do the best you can keeping in mind that we will be eventually reviewing all the concepts before the test.
Science: Our study of the atmosphere begins next week. Please reference the Learning Targets on our webpage for details about our specific studies. These can be found here…. https://www.solonschools.org/domain/944
Other News:
- Gently used items for our auctions are always welcome.
- Homework is emailed every Monday. The assessment question at the end of the homework is the most important question to answer if you are ever unsure of how to complete the rest of the paper.
- Library is every Friday.
- Please don’t hesitate to touch base every now and then to see how your second grader is doing.
Conference sign-ups are here… https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tS5Mqi5bBuzFfVbObWvRCz0y0cQTXKqJPyzKQsNbElQ/edit?usp=sharing
October is fire safety month. Please practice fire drills at home – and have a meeting place outside. You’ll probably never need to do this for real, but if you do…
Thanks for everything you are doing to have your second grader ready for school each day. I know it is not often an easy task!
Have a nice weekend,
Mr. Davis
August & early September News
August 25, 2023Dear Parents,
The first full week (well, kind of the first full week) of second grade has gone really well, thanks in good part to your efforts at home preparing your second grader for school. Reading and writing workshop are well under way, as is math and social studies. The primary focus in reading right now is choosing just-right books, applying reading strategies to read unknown words and reading for longer and longer stretches of time.
There are some things I wanted to ask of you:
- If you know behavior can sometimes be an issue with your child, please email or call me to ask how things are going if I haven’t contacted you already.
- Take home folders (this was the student choice folder you bought from the supply list) come home daily. If you would, please empty the contents and have your second grader return the folder to school the next day. The graded math workbook pages that are in this folder are not always finished. Your young mathematician is often not assigned all of the problems. Students are welcome, here and/or at home, to complete these pages for extended practice should they choose to do so.
- Please check the math homework the best you can before it’s returned to school, spending no more than 10 - 15 minutes on this homework every night. It’s okay if it is not finished, especially when you are not sure what to do. The more important problems will be reviewed in-class. If you’re not already doing so, start with the Assessment Practice problem. This is the last problem on the homework.
- Please read for at least 20 minutes every day. If your 2nd grader is bringing home a bag of books, return it when you’re ready so books can be exchanged. Please let me know if you would like one of these bags if you are not getting one already.
- Nearly all of our reading is from books in our classroom library. We are not reading online, except for a rare occasion.
- Library is every Friday. Thanks for reminding your daughter or son to return library books on-time every week once books start coming home. Books can be returned to the library any day of the week (before 8:00) should you forget to return them on Friday.
- Our first auction is in two weeks. If you have gently used things your children no longer play with, please send them in any time.
- The Book Fair will be open from September 5th to September 11th.
- Curriculum Night is September 7th in our classroom (room 163) at 6:00 p.m. The Book Fair will be open from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Thanks for all of your patience and great parenting. Don’t hesitate to call or e-mail if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Mr. Davis
P.S. This is the only time the newsletter will be sent home on paper. Please let me know if did not receive this in your email.
August 16, 2023
Dear Parents,
Welcome to Arthur Avenue! I am pleased to be your child’s teacher and am excited about teaching second grade again this year. This letter will provide you with some information about our classroom. I’ll look forward to telling you much more on our Curriculum Night (August 24th @ 7:00). If you have any questions or concerns after reading the following, please let me know.
Arthur: Arthur is our class mascot. As you may already know, he has his own television show on PBS.
The Home Folder: The student choice folder on the supply list will be the home folder. Please watch for this folder every afternoon, reading the contents of this folder promptly and, when appropriate, discuss them with your child. Please keep the contents and return the folder to school the next day. There will be days when there is nothing in this folder, but it should still come back and forth every day.
Homework: Homework will soon be part of our weekly routine and you will be receiving an e-mail soon explaining what is expected. Reading every evening for 20 minutes is an expectation for all 2nd graders (your reading aloud counts) and is an activity you can start right now.
Birthdays: Birthdays will be celebrated in-class by singing “Happy Birthday.” Sorry, but birthday treats are no longer allowed.
Money: Please seal all money in an envelope with your child’s name and directions as to how you want the money used. Whenever possible, please do not send cash.
Specialists: The children will be attending a specialist every day from 8:10 – 9:00 a.m. The specialist schedule is as follows: Monday – Music; Tuesday – Gym; Wednesday – Art; Thursday – Gym; Friday - Library (headphones are needed every Friday).
Daily Schedule: 9:00 – 11:00 Writing, Reading and Handwriting
11:00 – 12:00 Lunch (followed by recess at 11:30)
12:00 – 1:00 Math
1:00 – 1:20 Word Study
1:20 – 2:00 Science or Social Studies
2:00 – 2:20 No New Instruction
Lunch and Snack: The children will have lunch at 11:00 in the cafeteria, then recess at 11:30. Please include a small, healthy, nut-free snack in your second grader’s lunch. We’ll break for this snack about 9:00 each morning. Snack will only be for 10 minutes and is not required.
Water Bottles: Water bottles are welcome; however, they should be filled at home rather than at school.
Bathroom Breaks: Students may use the bathroom on their own before the 8:00 bell, at recess and lunch, during their specials time and at 2:20 before going home. We will also be taking bathroom breaks often throughout the rest of the day, particularly at the start of the school year.
Desks: Seats will be moved periodically throughout the year so your child will have the opportunity to sit with lots of classmates from our room.
Special Events and Tests: These will be announced every week along with the homework.
Special Needs: Please let me know if there are special circumstances of which I should be aware (parents on vacation, death in the family, illness,…) throughout the year. I can be a-little more attentive when I know your child is going through a tough time.
Masks: These are optional in the school building throughout the day.
Arthur Allowance: During the first week of school, the children will help write our classroom rules. At the beginning of the school year, up to $2 in Arthur Allowance can be earned daily for students following these rules. This allowance can be used to purchase small items from our classroom auctions that are held about every four or five weeks. If your child breaks a rule, there is one warning (in Arthur Avenue, a warning is really a reminder and a Reminder Card is given when this occurs). A second reminder results in your second grader not receiving his or her Arthur Allowance. I will call you in the unlikely event of a third reminder. Arthur Allowance is given (and Reminder Cards are removed) at lunch and at the end of each day.
Auctions: Arthur Avenue’s auctions depend, in part, on your donations of toys or other gently used items that are no longer of interest to your child. Please send these items to school anytime throughout the year.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you are concerned about any area of your child’s school experience. I look forward to serving you and your second grader this year.
Sincerely yours,
Mr. Davis