Class News 2024-2025

• Can't believe this is my last update for our year! 
• Our U-Sell Day was definitely a highlight for the students! The interactions between the children were great to see as well.
• We enjoyed our own little ice cream party today.  Students selected their own toppings for their delicious sundaes.
• If you still haven't brought your donation for our picnic, please bring it on Tuesday.
• Students received a copy of their STAR math and reading test.  Their scores from August and May are highlighted. What amazing growth from the students!  Your child also received a district report in math. Many problems were reviewed and students realized a lot of missed problems were actually careless mistakes.
• Secret Word: What will you miss most from 2nd grade?

• We had yet another fun filled week with various activities.  Students participated with drumming in class, learned about the Olympics with their animal athletes, as well as challenged themselves with quizzes today!  We even had all the second graders participate in musical chairs! 
• In science we are learning about the states of matter and its properties.   
• Your child received a flyer today about our annual 2nd grade garage sale! Time to clean out the closets and collect items you'd like to sell.  Please provide $5.00 in coins as we buy and sell items on Thursday, May 22nd.
• We will have a little party of our own this Friday, May 23rd as we celebrate all the amazing work the children have done this year!
• Please send a donation of $10 for our 2nd grade end of year party.  The money will cover the cost of a Chik-fil-a sandwich, drinks, and dessert.
• Secret word-What has been your favorite activity this week?

• Students enjoyed the various ABC countdown activities this week. Ask your child what was their favorite one this week!
• They demonstrated what they learned about the changes of the Earth by working together to create a poster.
• In Social Studies students have learned some new vocabulary-conflicts, compromise, latitude, longitude, equator...
• Share your weekend activity:_______________

• Students had an engaging and educational experience at our field trip to the Discovery Cube.  Thank you to all the parents who helped chaperone.  If any parents have pictures from the field trip, please share them in Class Dojo. Thank you.
• In science we are learning about landforms, weathering, erosion and deposition.  As you drive around, you can ask your child if they see any evidence of weathering and erosion.  
• Students just took their Unit 6 math test.  We  are winding down to our last unit in math. Continue to encourage your child to review fact fluency.
• Students will be working on their genius project this coming week.  We are excited to see how students will present what they've learned!
• Even though we are nearing the end of second grade, we still want the students to continue with the habits of being accountable by completing homework and reading log daily.
• Secret word-Which activity on ABCs countdown are you most looking forward to?

• Welcome back from Spring Break!  Can you believe we only have 24 more wake-ups?  Students had a blast today with our Fun Run, Art Day and Bubble Day! Just a reminder that Thursday, May 1st is Favorite Snack Day.  Bring your favorite snack to school. You may bring extras to share if you'd like.
• Our field trip to the Discovery Cube is coming up this Wednesday, April 30th.  If your child ordered a lunch, a sack lunch will be provided.  If not, please bring a sack lunch for your child. Have your child wear an Evergreen shirt that day if possible. 
• We will be doing a science experiment that needs a shoebox.  If you have an empty shoebox, please have your child bring it to school by May 2nd. 
• Secret word-What's the name of the artist we learned about today?

• Students enjoyed all the Autism Awareness activities throughout the week.  We kicked off the week with Sensory Day on Monday.  Students had the opportunity to experience different stations that focused on one of our senses.  Ask your child what his/her favorite station.
• We are starting a new WIG this week.  Your child's reading WIG is to improve by .1 in their grade equivalent for STAR reading.  Our lead measures are to record in SeeSaw daily for 5 minutes and to read in EPIC.  Students are also encouraged to read more non-fiction and chapter books.  
• What fun we had with our Easter egg hunt!  Students loved hiding the eggs as well as finding them! 
• Book orders are due today, April 11th.  
• Have a wonderful Spring Break and I'll see you all on Tuesday, April 22nd.

• It was such a special night at Open House! Students were all so proud to share all their hard work. If you were unable to attend, your child will be bringing home all their work by the end of the school year.
• On Thursday, we walked through all the classrooms. Students were excited to see all the exciting projects coming up as well as reminisce about what they did in first and kindergarten.
• Our field trip will be on April 30th. Please submit the permission slip and a $5.00 donation towards the purchase of the admission ticket.
• Next week is our last week before Spring Break.  As a fun activity, we will have an egg hunt on Friday, April 11th.  If you would like your child to participate, please bring 1-2 dozen plastic eggs filled with small treats like candy, stickers, or toys.  If we get enough donations, we will have an egg hunt on April 11th.  Thank you for you support!
• Spring Sales starts next week. Bring your money!
• Secret word-What was your favorite activity we did for Open House?

• What fun we had today with our stuffed animals and snacks! Students synergized to earn marbles for being on-task in class.
• Students have been working hard in class getting ready for Open House on Wednesday, April 2nd.  Gates open at 5:00 p.m.  Student presenters will be introducing our staff at 5:30 p.m.  Classroom doors will be open from 6:00-7:00 p.m. 
• In science we are starting our unit on living things.  Each student planted 2 seeds!  They're excited to see its growth.
• Please look over the papers returned to your child today.  
• Secret word-Name a book you read in EPIC this week.

• Save the date for April 2nd-Open House Night! More details on the exact time to come.
• Please remind your child to complete his/homework daily, including their reading log on the back.  It is important to practice these habits and to come to school with their homework folder and homework.  Having your child become familiar with these routines will teach them to be accountable.
• We have been practicing with opinion writing.  After reading the story, ""Hey, Little Ant," students were asked the question- Should the boy squish or not squish the ant?  Students had to state an opinion and support it with evidence.
• Watch this video.  Secret word-What does sportsmanship mean to you?

• What a memorable week we've had! I hope our Leadership Day has left lasting memories for your child. I am so proud of all the students for demonstrating such great leadership and sharing all their knowledge about the 8 habits with educators and district leaders from all over the country.
• We just took our math fluency on Friday.  Students have been working hard on their lead measures daily.  
• As we are reading about technology in our Benchmark, students will be learning about coding for our robots called Dash.  Students are so excited to get started with coding!  
• Just a reminder-ask your child to wear green on Monday for St. Patrick's Day!
• Secret word-Share your favorite green colored food!

• Students have been learning about how to read data.  They learned how to collect data by using Google Forms. Then they took this data and converted it into a bar graph! Ask your child to share what they created.
• As we continue to learn about historic figures by using the Inquiry process, students also created billboards on their special person.  Who did your child select?
• Students have been given speaking parts for our visitors coming on Thursday, March 13th.  Please help your child practice their parts at home as well. Thank you for your support!
• Secret word-Share a wish you have.

• Solving Problems through Technology is our new Benchmark Advance booklet.  Students came up with inventions to solve problems they may experience.  We are working on narrative writing for their inventions.
• As we talk about problems, students are also reading in Studies Weekly about Inquiry and finding evidence about historic figures who have solved problems.
• In math we are starting unit 5-telling time and reading graphs.  We also took our fluency test and wow!  Students have again shown such amazing improvements!
• Continue to share any habits pictures you see at home!  Students love seeing how habits are incorporated at home!
• Secret word-Look at some of the Values.com billboards by clicking here and write down one of the words in the red box.

• Monday, 24th is Spring Pictures Day.
• If your child volunteered to bring an ingredient for our Friendship Soup, please bring it by Tuesday, February 25th.
• Thank you for sending me the picture showcasing your child's genius!  We are talking about the Paradigm of Potential-Everyone has a genius. 
• Students used ChatGpt to find a plan to reach their future career goal.  That's Habit 2-Begin with the End in Mind-Have a plan.  What does your child want to be when they grow up?
• Students took our Unit 4 math test today.  We will continue on to Unit 5 where we will be learning about telling time and collecting data.
• We worked on Google Drawing where students practiced inserting images about their genius. Students will have an opportunity to share their geniuses.
• Please remind your child to complete their reading log daily.  There's the extra 8 habit section to complete as well.
• Secret Word: Watch this video.  Write down an act of kindness you saw.

• Happy Valentine's Day!  Students enjoyed our Valentine's Day activities and delicious treats!
• Students took their math subtraction fluency test today and WOW!  Students showed so much growth after we have been practicing our lead measures consistently in class. The hope is for students to see the connection between putting effort towards something and seeing an improvement with it.
• Please remind your child to complete their reading log daily.
• It is important for students to practice putting first things first and completing their homework on a consistent basis. Developing these habits will help your child in the future as well.
• We have started our own March Madness already with books.  Students heard 2 books so far and voted on their favorite.  (Habit 8-Find your voice.)
• We do not have school this Monday, February 17th.
• Secret Word-What is the name of the president on the penny?

• Many students have been under the weather these past few weeks. I finally got it as well. I hope to return on Monday.
• In Studies Weekly we have been learning about timelines.  Students are reading more non-fiction books.  Ask your child what they are reading about.
• On Tuesday students participated in Jump Rope for Heart.  Please turn in any envelopes for that event.
• Thank you to all the parents who donated to our Fun Run.  
• Students learned about Romero Britto this week and created an artwork influenced by him.  Ask your child to share any facts and/or habits demonstrated by Romero Britto.
• Secret Word: Share 2 acts of kindness from this video.

• Can you believe it today is the 100th day of school?  Students had a great time participating in various 100th day activities. Ask your child to share some of their favorites!
• Please remind your child to practice their poem for our Poetry Festival.  Students will be reciting their poems on Tuesday, January 28th.
• We have been consistently working on our lead measures for reaching out math fluency goal.  Students may practice online at home as well.
• What's a personal narrative? Students know it's a true story about themselves.  We are working on improving our sentences by writing more complex sentences.  
• Next week is Kindness Week!  Please check Class Dojo for the flyer!
• Please watch this Values.com video with your child. Secret Word: What habit is demonstrated?

•  
• Who's Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.?  Students in room 12 know the answer to this question. Ask your child to share some facts we wrote down in our circle map.  We even practiced a right brain activity where we drew Dr. King's portrait upside down!  This activity require students to practice Habit 3 (Begin with the End in Mind) and Habit 4 (Think Win-Win).
• As we are working on our WIGS, students have been diligent about completing their 2 lead measures.  Please ask your child what his/her WIG is and their lead measures. Ask them about their progress.  Students also have an accountability partner to help with WIGS.
• Each child should have taken home a poem now to practice memorizing. Please help your child with the hand motions as well.  Each child will need to recite their poem by Tuesday, January 28th. 
• Just a reminder: No school on Monday, January 20th.
• Please remind your child to complete his/her reading log daily and please sign your child's homework tracker daily.

• Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a great winter break.  We have been starting our mornings with daily Leader in Me lessons.  You may hear your child share the word paradigms as students will be learning about the 5 paradigms for Leader in Me.  We focused on the Paradigm of Change-Change Starts with Me, Paradigm of Leadership-Everyone Can Be a Leader.  
• As we are starting our new year, students will not just be creating resolutions. Instead they will be learning about WIGS (Wildly Important Goals) and LEADS (steps to reach their goal). We are starting with the same WIG (goal) which is improving fluency in subtraction.  In order to improve, we will have 2 LEADS to do each day: one is to practice math flashcards for 5 minutes and the other things is to practice online facts.
• We started our week with listening to the story, Sneezy the Snowman.  Students wrote a part 2 to the story and read it on SeeSaw. Students have been showing great growth with their reading as I hear them read with such prosody and expression.
• Students will be receiving a packet of poems for our upcoming Poetry Festival next week.  Please help your child select a poem from the packet and return it to school.
• Our Habits at Home activity this week was the paper passed back called-Habit 3-Begin with the End in Mind.  Help your child write down the "big rocks" they should complete. 
• Secret Word:  What's one of the big rocks you wrote down and did you complete it yet? 

• 'Tis the season! Students came to school in festive wear today as we enjoyed our monthly spirit assembly.
• Students were transformed into Emperor Penguins after reading in our benchmark about penguins.  They wrote a personal narrative as a penguin! Students even included ways penguins demonstrated the 8 habits.  Ask your child what they learned about penguins.
• We started learning some basics of Google Docs this week. Your child has access to www.typing.com to practice keyboarding skills.
• We are finishing up our math unit on measurement and will take the unit test next week.
• Thank you for participating in the Habits at Home-Week 1 activity.  Your child received a new paper for Week 2, which is due on Thursday, December 19th.

• Stocking treats due on Monday, December 16th.
• Secret Sock Exchange-Wednesday, December 18th
• Holiday Party-Wednesday, December 18th (1:35-2:35)
• Minimum Day-Thursday, December 19th (dismissal is at 11:45 a.m.)

• Students enjoyed our walking field trip up to Diamond Bar High School to watch an amazing musical production presented by DBHS students. 
• We are reading non-fiction text about Emperor Penguins.  Next week, students will be writing a personal narrative as a penguin. 
• Students brainstormed ways to be a good elf for Santa by practicing the 8 habits. Ask your child what they wrote.
• Please have your child check if there are any unfinished SeeSaw assignments or Think Central assignments.  Just a reminder, your child has unlimited access to EPIC on Thursdays until 3 p.m.
• Secret word:  Did you share the Habits at Home packet with your family? _____

• -What creatively disguised turkeys we have in room 12! Ask your child what your child wrote about for their disguised turkey.
• -I received such an overwhelmingly positive response for a copy of the Leader in Me parent guide.  If you responded yes, your child will receive the 7 page copy. There are wonderful activities to practice together as a family.  This week we discussed Habit 3-Put First Things First as we identified what the "big rocks" are in our life.  We also reviewed how to have a growth mindset. Ask your child what things they're good at and things they're not good at yet.
• -Today after 5 p.m. you will have access to your child's first trimester grades. I am so proud of all students for their individual growth!  Your child also received copies of their STAR reading and math scores.  Please praise your child as well as share areas for improvement for the next trimester.
• -As mentioned earlier this month, I will be attending a teaching conference for 3 more Wednesdays.  In addition, next week I will not be at school on Thursday and Friday. I'd like to wish everyone a fantastic Thanksgiving break. I am so thankful for such a great class of students and such supportive parents!  
•  

• Students all participated in Election Day by voting for their favorite yearbook cover.  Ask your child what new facts were learned regarding the voting process.
• After taking notes about Veterans Day, students wrote an information paragraph about Veterans Day.  We also synergized by putting a puzzle together for Veterans Day.  
• Just a reminder there won't be school on Monday, November 11 in observance of Veterans Day.
• Students were asked to take home a math quiz to look over. There will be another math quiz next week.
• After hearing the story Turkey Trouble, each child received a turkey to disguise. Your child's disguised turkey is due on Wednesday, November 13th.
• Secret Word-Share something you learned about Veterans Day.

• In math we will be learning about counting money. It would be helpful to have your child practice with real coins at home.
• Please check your child's homework tracker daily and please sign each day.  Reading for 20 minutes daily is also part of your child's daily homework.
• What fun we had on Halloween with our parade and party! Students also synergized while constructing a catapult for a candy pumpkin.  
• For the next 5 Wednesdays starting next week, I will be attending a professional development course and there will be a substitute in my place. Please feel free to message me if you have any concerns.
• Secret Word:  How did you sharpen your saw this weekend?

• It was great seeing so many of you at our 2nd grade performance today.  If you happen to have the performance recorded, please let me know.  I would love to share it with the class.  The students were very excited to perform for all of you!
• We celebrated this week with various activities for Red Ribbon Week. Students even had an opportunity to see the insides of a police car today!  
• We are learning the different parts of speech this week-noun, verb, adjective, and adverbs. Students worked on a few SeeSaw assignments to practice.
• In math we have learned the four different strategies for adding.  We will continue to practice with the strategies.
• Secret word-share your favorite part of our performance.

• Family Fun Night is this Friday, October 18th with doors opening at 5:30 p.m.  Have a great night!
• Students have been busy practicing for our performance!  They are excited to perform for you all next Friday, October 25th. The performance will start promptly at 9:00 a.m. 
• We are kicking off Red Ribbon Week with wearing red on Monday, October 21st.  
• What are adjectives?  Students created imaginative monsters and will be using adjectives to describe their creation.
• All students participated in the Great Shake Out.  Discuss with your child how they can be safe in case of an earthquake at home.
• New online readers have been shared on Benchmark Advance for your child. 
• Your child received an October book order. Please submit orders by October 25th.
• Secret word: What does Habit 2-Begin with the End in Mind mean?

• What a fun week we had with special activities each day.  Ask your child to share ways everyone can be accountable and respectful at school and at home.
• Students learned about writing dialogue this week as well as how to write an opinion paragraph.  We wrote about how we think Tom was brave when he delivered the message to General Washington by citing reasons and evidence. Ask your child to share what we wrote about.
• There are some assignments on Think Central that your child can work on.  Does your child have any unfinished SeeSaw assignments?
• Just a reminder to look at the note sent home about what to wear for our dance performance.  Save the date for Friday, October 25th at 9:00 a.m. in the MPR.
• Secret word: Share how you can be accountable at home.

• It was great meeting with all of you during Parent Conference Week! I really appreciated the opportunity to connect and discuss your child's progress.

• Great News!  Our school received the Platinum Award for PBIS. As a reward, we will be celebrating next week with various SOAR activities. 

• • • Monday-Safe  (Superhero Dress-Up Day)
    • Tuesday-On-Task  (Outside Extra Recess in the morning)
    • Wednesday-Accountable (Accountable Art Day)
    • Thursday-Respectful (Respectful Relaxing Reading-bring a blanket and your favorite book)
• What are proper nouns?  Students in room 12 know!  Ask your child to share some and ask them what each proper noun starts with.
• We just finished unit 1 in math.  We will be practicing with number sense as we start unit 2.
• Continue review with math fluency in addition and subtraction.
  • Addition flash cards
  • Subtraction flash cards
• Reminder:  No school on Friday, October 11th
• Secret Word:  If you can have any superpower,  what would it be?

• September 23-27

• Just a reminder we have parent conferences this coming week in Room 12 or via Zoom. There will be minimum days every day except for Tuesday.  Dismissal will be at 11:45 for minimum days.  Please click here for your parent conference date and time.  If you are unable to attend, please let me know in advance.  I look forward to meeting you all!
• As we continue to practice reading with prosody and recording on SeeSaw, I can already hear such great improvement in everyone's fluency!
• Our class just received a brand new touchscreen tv.  That's thanks to all the contributions to our Community Club!  
• We are completing our unit 1 in math and will have our first unit test next week.  Your child will be having practice problems on Think Central to practice for the test.
• Students wrote a paragraph on how they can be proactive at home and at school. Please encourage your child to practice being proactive at home. 
• Secret word: How are you proactive at home?

• September 16-20

• Students are learning about our government and how laws keep us safe.  Ask your child to share an interesting fact.
• Please mark your calendar for Friday, October 25th at 9:00 a.m.  Students will be performing the Danse Macabre for you in the multi-purpose room.  
• Your child has access to Benchmark Advance via portal to practice reading and phonics.  
• In math students are learning various strategies on solving word problems.  They are also practicing with the make a ten when adding strategy. For example: 8+4=10+2=12.  They brought home green math flashcards to practice at home.
• Parent Conferences are coming up in a couple weeks! Please check your parent conference day and time.
• We discussed having a growth mindset instead of a fixed mindset. 
• Secret word: Share a sentence someone with a growth mindset would say.

• Thank you so much for all the donations already turned in for the Evergreen Community Club Education Support Drive!  We have one week left to turn in the envelopes!
• Did your child tell you the class got transformed into smoke jumpers and wrote a personal narrative about their experience? Ask your child to share what he/she wrote!
• We have started our dance performance called Danse Macabre.  More information will follow as to the date and time of the performance. They are all so excited!
• Just a reminder students will visit our school library on Fridays to check-out books. Please remind your child to bring all school library books back to school by Friday.
• We honored first responders on 9/11 as we made cards and practiced with our grammar skill this week: greetings and closings. 
• Each student also got a new pen pal this week as everyone wrote letters to my daughter's students.  We will be exchanging letters throughout the year.  How fun and exciting!
• Secret word: How do you sharpen your saw?

• Our Evergreen Community Club Education Support Drive has started! Thank you for your support!  The class with the most donations will win a class pizza party!  Let's synergize and help our school!
• We are continuing with learning math strategies for addition. There are some assignments for enrichment in Think Central if you would like your child to work on them.  
• We went to the school library today. Your child checked out one library week. Please remind your child to return the book by next Friday.  
• See Saw is the program your child will use the most at home.  Please remind your child to complete his/her SeeSaw assignments. Thank you for your support at home.
• We had indoor recess this entire week due to the heat.  Please continue to make sure your child brings a water bottle to school daily. It helps if their name is on there too.
• Secret word: What makes you smile?

• Students are getting more familiar with See Saw. We had our first See Saw reading homework yesterday. Please let me know if your child is having difficulty logging on at home. 
• In math we are working on adding strategies such as make a ten.  We talked about even and odd numbers.  Encourage your child to practice math fluency at home.  We started Prodigy in class today and students have access to it as well at home.  
• Please send a clean sock to school for your child to use for wiping down the whiteboards. 
• We had our first spirit assembly today.  What fun we had cheering on the teachers! Ask your child to share what happened!
• We talked about Habit 1-Be Proactive (You're in charge!) and taking the initiative.  Ask your child what it means to them and how they can be proactive at home.  
• Secret word: Write down a way you can be proactive at home.
• Have a great weekend everyone and see you all on Tuesday, September 3rd!
•  

• What a busy week we had! Students are getting accustomed to our daily routines and expectations.  Your child will be receiving homework daily. Please sign by parent signature after your child has completed the daily homework and reading log for the day.
• In class students have started getting into Google Classroom, SeeSaw and Epic.  If you have not tried yet, please help your child log into portal and check-out Google Classroom and SeeSaw. Please let me know if you are still having difficulties. I hope to start assigning some SeeSaw homework starting next week. Thank you for your support at home!
• Click here to log-into portal.
• Click here for myportal directions.
• Click here for myportal trouble shooting video.
• Click here for Google Classroom directions.
• Your child took a reading and math assessment this week.  We will take several assessments throughout the year.  The results of your child's assessment are in the homework folder.
• Secret word: Write down a name of a friend.  Write this answer next to Secret Word on your homework tracker.
• Reminders:
  • Monday, August 26th is Picture Day!
  • Monday, August 26th Book Orders are due.  Click here to order.

• We had a great first week of school as we continue learning about one another.  
• We had our Back to School Night on Wednesday.  If you were unable to attend, please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.  We still have available spots for Room Parents. Please let me know if you're interested in assisting with class parties.
• On Thursday, students learned about appropriate behaviors outside the classroom. Ask your child to share what was learned.
• Book orders will be due next Friday, August 23rd.
• Many students stated how tired they were.  It would be helpful if your child has a regular routine starting around 8 p.m.  That may help them feel more energy for school.  
• Please check your child's Homework Folder daily.  Students will be receiving a homework tracker starting on Monday.  Please make sure your child brings it back to school with a signature.  
• Secret word: No secret word this week.