The First Fifteen Days

Well we made it through the first fifteen days of school. The children are getting very comfortable with each other and the routines of Room 14. They are a terrific class with lots of energy and enthusiasm to help others. I look forward to fabulous things this year.

Killam had a very successful Walk for Character. Here are a few photos from the day. I'm sure you heard all about the walk, obstacle course, relays, playground safety and freeze dancing that parents planned for the day. We had an awesome time. It was so well organized and the children had lots of fun. A special thanks to all families who were responsible for this great day that began with a ribbon cutting of the new playground structure. Way To Go Killam PTO!










This week Room 14 continued with the routines of the Daily5 with READ TO SOMEONE. The children are building stamina while they are checking for understanding as they read with a buddy. Ask your child about EEKK! and the other behaviors of READ TO SOMEONE. Again, to build strong strategic readers the children need to read, read, read. Here are a few students involved in the daily routine:




Homelinks will begin this week as part of Everyday Math homework. Students will be responsible for carefully tearing out the pages and bringing them home. The first assignment will be on Tuesday night so be on the lookout.

Finally, mark your calendars for Tuesday, October 19. This will be the Second Grade field trip to downtown Reading. The fire station, police department, post office and town hall will graciously opened their doors for our classes on that day. A notice will go home soon so stay tuned. All chaperons who have a CORE check will be invited to join us. It will be an exciting day for all.

So, everyone have a fabulous week. Please have your child continue reading each night and remind them that Tuesdays and Fridays are PE days. Also, a gentile reminder that library books are due on Friday as well.

Happy Fall!

Open House and Weekly Update

Well it was another successful open house at the JW Killam Elementary School. I was so happy to see so many old and new faces. Again, let me say I am so thrilled to be working with you and your children. They are all working so hard at learning and bucket filling each day.

To those who missed the evening, have no fear! A folder of goodies is on its way home to you. Take your time filling things out and selecting a conference date. You can check out the power point presentation on EDLINE if you choose and you can find all of the Fundation's unit newsletters there as well.

This week our focus will be on the beginning of our social studies unit on communities. We kicked it off today with a brainstorming word splash about What Words Do I Think Of When I Think About Communities?Ask your child what words we discussed. It was a very bountiful discussion. This unit will conclude with a field trip to down town Reading in October. Arrangements are being made to visit the police and fire stations as well the town hall. Stay tuned for more information on the date of this event.

In math, your students have been reviewing skills taught in grade one of the Everyday Math Program. Most skills are practiced through hands on activities and games. Here are some pictures of some of your children playing math games with their partners.









Finally, this Wednesday is Walk For Character Day. Please have your child wear Yellow that day to represent second grade. We all look forward to a fun filled morning.

Well that's a wrap till next week. Remember to email me if you have any questions. Merel Abruzzese has offered to do our book orders. A very special thank you goes out to her. The orders should go out Tuesday or Wednesday. There was lots of interest so I suspect there will be lots of points for class books...thank you, thank you!

Welcome To Second Grade

Welcome family and friends to Room 14! I am looking forward to another fabulous year of wonderful new experiences and lots of learning. Please visit this class blog weekly for school updates on special events, projects and maybe a few surprises. I will try to post on Sunday night or Monday as time allows. Your children are off to a great start and I am so pleased with my move to grade two after twenty-two years in grade one.

This week our class will review and practice the routines of the Daily 5. Our focus will be on Read To Self. The children will model to each other what Read To Self looks like and find a comfortable spot to read. Then they need to work on building their stamina for reading. At first they will read for 5-10 minutes but I hope by the end of the week it will be as much as 25-30 minutes. Reading research reports that in order to build stronger strategic readers our children need to read, read, read! So, beginning this week, students need to be reading at least 20 minutes every night. You will find a recording sheet that should be left in your child's homework folder. Each night have them record the book and amount of time they read. I will check this weekly.

I will talk more about curriculum at open house. I look forward to seeing you all on Wednesday night. Have a great week!

Final Thoughts

As we all look forward to summer vacation, let me take this time to thank my parents for their continued support and encouragement throughout this school year. Thank you too, for the opportunity to teach your children. It was a year filled with wonderful growth and development with the children blossoming in all areas of the curriculum. Parents, you need to continue to give them care over the summer so they will thrive! Our little readers, writers and mathematicians will then move on to new gardeners who will continue to cultivate these little blooms.

To my colleagues, thank you for the inspiration and enthusiasm as we continue our journey. You are all fabulous and I love working with you each and everyday. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and ideas with me. You make me a better educator for having worked and collaborated with you. May you all learn something new while recharging your mind and body this summer. Take time for yourself. You all deserve it!

Lastly, to the administrators who have guided our schools and learning community, thank you for your guidance and enthusiasm. You too, inspire and make me proud to work in the Reading Public Schools. Your energy and desire for the best for our schools is truly amazing. Thank you for letting me a part of the plan. May you all take time to rest, relax and enjoy your rewards!

Finally to all; please live well, laugh often and love much! I will miss you!

Reading Stamina Analogy

When we talk about our students reading "good fit" books, we want them to read for a sustained period of time. This can and will happen when the books and stories they are reading are at their independent reading level. As parents, you should not be concerned that your child will remain in "easy books" for ever. If the child continually reads something more challenging where they have to stop and figure out many words, their stamina and interest will waiver. Research shows that as students build their stamina and successes through the reading of a good fit book, they will continue to grow and develop into lovers of literature.

Think of it as a walk on a treadmill. If you start on a speed level of 4 plus and an incline 5, you will be exhausted, frustrated and unmotivated to continue your workout. Should you begin at a more "good fit" level of 3.0 for a couple of weeks, you may find in time, you will increase that level before you know it. Your stamina and skill level will increase and you will be ready to move up a level. This is an analogy of our young readers. Readers will be inspired to move on when the time is right!

Summer Reading Fun

Preparing for summer vacation always includes a list of summer readings. Don't forget to plan for your child as well. Your first grader has come so far this year so you won't want to let them forget all the skills and strategies they learned. Students should continue to read and practice strategies all summer. Here is a cute site from Scholastic that encourages reading and writing with our friend Clifford.
I will continue to share great sites through the end of the year and over the summer as I find them. Happy reading and be proud of your child's successes!

The Count Down Begins

I believe the number is 36 days left of this school year. Where did the time go? Your children have worked hard becoming strategic readers, thoughtul writers, problem solving mathematicians, insightful historians and observers of science in our world. First graders grow and change quickly right before our eyes. It is a metamorphosis of growth and change in learning. One of the many rewards of teaching first grade is watching this growth and being part of the changes taking place.

As you look towards summer, take a look at this literacy website called "Reading Rockets". It will provide you with suggested literacy activities to do with your child to keep their skills polished over the summer. The last thing you want is for their skills to become "rusty" from lack of use.

Please stay tuned for up-coming end of the year plans and events. There will be mixed emotions of happiness (end of the year), saddness (missing teachers and friends) and anxiety (over what the next year will bring). The Killam School community will make the transition very easy. Happy Endings!