Newsletter 10-27-17

We read about Abraham Lincoln this week.  We also practiced contractions, proper nouns, and author's purpose.  

We had our pumpkins tell about themselves using many proper nouns.

We are finishing topic 4 in math, two-digit addition, and will have a test on Wednesday.  One and two-step story problems are the toughest part of this unit.  Your child is bringing home a practice page today to help them study for the test on Wednesday.  It is not required homework, but it would be very helpful for them to practice the problems on this page.  If they return it on Tuesday or Wednesday with your signature to show that you've reviewed it together, they will get a something to celebrate ticket.     

In social studies, we have been learning about how to use a map key and compass rose.

I'm excited to see the progress that we have made in Reflex Math!  I can see that our students have been spending more time on it lately.  Our goal is to be 100% fluent by Tuesday.  You can check your child's progress by setting up a parent account.  (The instructions are on an earlier blog.)  You can also email me, and I can give you their average usage, green-light frequency, and fluency percentage.  In class, I have had students check in with me to get their percentages and write them in their planners.

Our second-grade goal is to be on Reflex Math at least five days a week, getting a green light at least 80% of the time.  If your child has not made this goal in the last two weeks, I will send you a separate email.  Please take time in the next few days to log in to Reflex with your child.  You can view their progress and help them practice facts they are having difficulty learning.  If they keep skipping these problems or getting them wrong, they will have a hard time making progress.      

I am able to see the benefits of Reflex Math in our class every day.  Multiple studies have shown that students who can automatically recall math facts are more capable problem solvers, learn new math skills more quickly, and are more likely to succeed in their future mathematics courses. The NCTM, National Math Advisory Panel, and other major educational organizations highlight math fact fluency as a central pillar of every student’s mathematics education.

We're excited for the Halloween parade and party on Tuesday!  Thank you to all of our room moms who are helping.  Remember that there are no masks or weapons allowed.

We've had a terrific Red Ribbon week.  Here is a picture of us on sports day.

Thomas earned our citizenship for responsibility.  Fantastic!

Please contact me with any questions or concerns.  Have a great three-day weekend!

Newsletter 10-16-17

Reflex Math

Keiper was our second student to earn 100% fluency in math.  Fantastic!  




Our class has been improving in their Reflex Math fluency.  Thank you for helping them remember to practice every day at least until they get to the green light.  The extra time they spend this month will pay off the rest of the year. 









Homework
There is no homework packet because of the short week.  Please have your child use the extra time to work on Reflex Math and to read for the 20-Book Challenge.  

Please remember to send a snack with your child each day.  A water bottle is also helpful, because students can have longer and more frequent drinks.

We won't have school Thursday or Friday.  Enjoy the fall break!

Newsletter 10-11-17

We started a new language arts unit this week. The big idea is working together, so all of our stories will have this theme. We are practicing nouns, cause and effect, and r-controlled vowels. This week we learned about two dogs, Tara and Tiree, who worked together to save their owner, who was in a dangerous situation. Ask your child about it.

We are completing our unit on two-digit addition in math, and we will take the test on Friday. The main strategies we used to solve problems were using a hundreds chart, making an open number line, and breaking apart numbers. We are working on solving one and two-step problems. I'm adding a link with activities to help you work with your child. It has videos of the lesson, a reteaching page you can print, a challenge activity, digital math tool activities and more. I hope you'll take a look:

https://centers.pearsonrealize.com/community/studentcenters/93b21bd7271e4ee1b4fc96191588fb96/?themeName=forest


Reflex Math



Our class has hit the 50% mark on Reflex Math, and I can see that most of our students are getting on regularly.  Our goal of 100% fluency is only three weeks away.  Please encourage your child to do Reflex Math every day.  

We are working on maps and geography in social studies.

There will be no homework next week due to fall break.  Please use the extra time to have your child do Reflex Math, read for the 20-Book Challenge, and do Raz-Kids.

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.  Have a great week!


  

Newsletter 10-4-17

It was wonderful meeting with all of you last week.  Your children have made so much progress this year, and it was nice to be able to share that with you.  We have a great class!

Since there is no homework packet this week, please have your child use the extra time to do Reflex Math, read, and go on Raz-Kids.  If you haven’t started the 20-Book Challenge, this would be a good week to begin.  It is in the front of your child’s planner.

Jaya is our first student to be 100% fluent in Reflex Math.  Congratulations!

Our class has made some progress in Reflex Math.  We are now at 42% fluency.  Our students who had 30 or more new facts in the last two weeks are Armoni, Eli, Santi, Thomas, Driggs, Tommy, Izzy, Keiper, and Connell.  Terrific!  

Here is a reminder of how to have your child do Raz-Kids.

Kids A-Z Login Instructions 

Step 1: Go to https://www.kidsa-z.com/main/Login 


Step 2: Enter or choose the teacher's username, kadams125 

Step 3: Your child finds his or her username on the class chart 

Step 4: Your child enters his or her password.

1.  Many of you expressed interest in knowing how to monitor your child’s progress in Reflex math.  Here are the instructions for how to create a parent account.  If you are missing some of the login information check with your child first and then email me if that doesn’t work.

Creating a parent account

Parents can easily monitor their child’s math fluency progress on Reflex with a Reflex Parent Reporting Account.

To set up an account, you will need your child’s Reflex sign in information (their teacher’s Reflex Username, the name of the Reflex Class, 

and your child’s Reflex Password). Your child should have this information if they’re logging on to Reflex regularly.

1. Go to https://www.reflexmath.com 
2. Near the bottom of the screen, click Sign up for a free Reflex Parent Account today!
3. Enter a valid email address as your Username and click Sign Me Up.
4. Click the Activation Link in the email you receive, and create a Password when prompted. 
5. Click Register when done.

Once registered, launch Reflex at https://www.reflexmath.com Log into your new account. Enter your Username (your email address) and Password

and click Submit.

If you do not receive the activation email, please check your junk or spam folder.

 Adding students to a parent account:

If you have other children that are using Reflex, you can add them to your Parent Reporting account to follow their progress.

1. On a PC or Mac, go to https://www.reflexmath.com and log in to Reflex. Enter the Username and Password you created. 
2. Choose Add Student in the lower left corner. After you’ve read the information on the screen, click Continue.
3. Enter your child’s Teacher Username and click Submit.  My teacher Username is 2kadamscsd
4. Select your child’s class from the list.
5. Select your child’s name from the list.
6. Enter your child’s password for Student Password and click Submit.  This is their student ID 

Now when you select your child’s name on the screen, you can look at the reports on your child’s progress in Reflex.

Thank you to all of our classroom volunteers.  I appreciate your help, and our kids love having you at school.  Here is a reminder of our volunteer schedule.  Please let me know if you are not able to make it at your scheduled time.  

Every Monday 9:30-10:30 
Michelle Fawson

 Tuesday 9:30-10:30

         1^st week: Estephany Wolfe

         2^nd week: Megan Hansen

         3^rd week: Alma Mesic

         4^th week: Ali Gleason

Every Wednesday 9:30-10:30

         Monet Palmer

Every Thursday 9:30-10:30

         Michaela Tosh

Every Friday 9:30-10:30

         Staci Caldwell

         Benee Larsen

Work from home

         Deidre Pickering

         Alma Mesic

         Staci Caldwell

Reflections entries are due this Friday.  Children should bring their artwork and paperwork to school that morning. 

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.  Enjoy the rest of your week!