On Wednesday afternoon, our 5th grade reading buddies came over for a little wintry celebration! Every group decorated a paper mug, then drank some real hot chocolate with snowman-shaped marshmallows!

We will get together again in January!
Enjoy your vacations, everyone!!!
:) Mrs. Brosnan

The Dreidel Game!

We played the dreidel game! Depending on what side the dreidel lands on, you do 1 of 4 things:

nothing

take all from the middle "mush pot"

add 1 piece to the "mush pot"

take half of the "mush pot"

It was great fun!

About Those New Report Cards

On December 11th, all students will be taking home a new version of the report card. Along with it will come a "guide" from the state, which explains 2nd grade benchmarks & standards. Our assistant superintendent (Tanis Knight) has written this letter to introduce the new report cards. Here you go!
:) Mrs. Brosnan

Dear Parents:

As we complete our first official reporting period this fall, we are pleased to introduce our newly-revised 2009-2010 elementary report card. We hope you find this new document more streamlined, clear, and easy to read.

First and foremost, the report card reflects the important state-approved revisions to Washington’s K-8 mathematics standards. Another key update is that your child’s progress toward grade level expectations is now indicated using a 4-3-2-1 scale. This scale replaces the symbols used previously. As you read your child’s report card, a helpful guiding principle is that the numbers refer to the state’s learning standards and should not be linked to percentage points or interpreted as letter grades. For clarification, please see the definitions provided on the report card for the 4-3-2-1 scale.

Please know that our continuing goal is to provide you with clear, timely reports regarding your child’s academic and social progress in the Camas School District. We hope this new document meets this goal.

If you have questions or would like additional information about the new report card, please feel free to contact your child’s teacher, your building principal, or my office at 335-3000, extension 78229.

Sincerely,
Tanis Knight
Assistant Superintendent

Reading Buddies

Our class joined up with Mrs. Carlson's 5th graders as "reading buddies". We met together for the first time this afternoon for the maiden voyage.

:)

It went great! Each 2nd grader is matched up with a 5th grader, and they use the time to practice fluency, discuss their reading, and get to know kids outside of the 2nd grade "bubble".

Ask your local 2nd grader about it!

We will get together on most Wednesday afternoons for about 20-25 minutes.

Busy, busy, busy!

Fox Learning Night

Come to Fox Learning Night!
Wednesday, November 18th

5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Curious about our district's new math curriculum? Come and find out what it's all about! Wonder what your kids are up to during music and P.E.? You'll hear a lot! Want to shop at the book fair in the library? You can! Is your child in the LAP reading program? Come find out more about it!

If you have questions, this night is the night for you!

Spooky Spider Day!

Our class had a very fun time at our Spooky Spider Party! There were 4 stations that each child had the chance to go to.... and thanks to our wonderful parent volunteers, everything was a hit! Here is the game, "Pin The Pedipalps On The Spider".... if you don't know what "pedipalps" are, ask your local 2nd grader!

Ethan is giving it a go...

Madisyn is trying to find that perfect spot:

Everyone also got to make a treat in the shape of a spider.... including all of the correct body parts.

Abdomen
Cephalothorax
8 legs
6 or 8 eyes
(of course, all the body parts had to be cemented together with a smidge of frosting...)

Halle is sampling the spicy red-hot eyes... just for good measure.

Kaeli might be trying to decide which part to eat first:

Another fun station was making a spider out of playdough.
Each spider was to have:
an abdomen
a cephalothorax
6 or 8 eyes
8 legs
spinnerets
pedipalps

Kaylee adds some eyeballs:

Cole rolls out some nice legs!

Edward also tries to get those legs down there!

"The Ethans" put their best finishing touches on....


Dylan thinks about his next move:

Christopher is putting a lot of thought into his style!

Zach gets right to work:

The 4th station was to make a spider booklet, then read & discuss it.
Dylan and Ben are getting into it!

Sophia reads aloud:

Kaylee & Halle follow along...

Want To Help?

We will be doing some fun activities having to do with spiders this Friday before lunch.

If you'd like to come and help with an activity, please let me know through this blog (post a comment), or you can e-mail me at school.

The stations will run from 10:50 - 11:45, and if you show up 5 or 10 minutes early, I can walk you through the gig.

It should be fun!

(as usual, please leave cute, cuddly younger siblings at home...thank you!)

S.Q.U.I.R.T.

At the end of most afternoons, our class has "S.Q.U.I.R.T.". It stands for Silent, Quiet, UnInterrupted Reading Time, and it is a hit!

Everyone has a job during S.Q.U.I.R.T. -


Every child has filled up a small cardboard box ("browsing box") with books that they have chosen. These books are a "good fit", because: the child chose the book, they have a purpose in reading the book, they are interested in the topic, they can comprehend it, and they know most of the words on the pages.

The kids have learned that there is more than 1 way to read a story:
They practice these ways during S.Q.U.I.R.T.

Some sit on the carpet with a "reading buddy".

Others stay at their desks.

Some like to lounge on the carpet!

There is even a chance to play the class keyboard during S.Q.U.I.R.T., and although it's not about reading, it's fun and creative, so why not?!?

Most students in Room 14 agree that S.Q.U.I.R.T. is a very fun time of the day!