Kremer Krew Classroom News: December 2013

Saturday, December 7, 2013

Week of December 9-13, 2013

Cougar Reading- In class we will review verbs and focus on using verb tenses appopriately in our writing.

English Language Arts- The students enjoyed reading about the properties of matter last week and conducted some tests to investigate the strength and flexibilty of given objects. This week we will build upon this knowlege by learning about physical and chemical changes and observing these changes through various demonstrations that will be performed in class. We will also read Grandma's Ring and Two Stones, two fictional stories that pair nicely with our theme on matter.

In class we will be writing persuasive letters to Santa convincing him that we have been very good this year and deserving of presents. During this process we will focus on how to write a letter, the appropriate punctuation needed, and how to use commas when listing a series of items.

There will be no small reading groups this week so that I can benchmark students before the end of the quarter. Therefore, there will be no reading homework next weekend.

Math- We will continue working our way through Topic 9 Regrouping with Subtraction and will have a math test on Friday, the 13th.

Sunday, December 1, 2013

Themes and Objectives for December 2-6, 2013

Cougar Reading- We will define and identify collective nouns and possessive nouns.

ELA/ Science- The study of matter and its properties will be taught this week. We will make a Properties poster and test objects by rating them for hardness, strength, and flexibility. We will also identify solids, liquids and gas as states of matter. In stations, we will analyze the shape and sizes of solids, liquids and gases as we conduct experiments. We will conclude the week by defining mixtures, solutions, physical changes and chemical changes and identifying examples of each.

Math- We will begin Topic 9 this week as we learn to subtract with regrouping.

Writing- In class we will write a friendly letter to Santa and begin to learn cursive writing.

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It's a Magical History Tour!

I hope you are looking forward to student-led conferences as much as we are. In class, your child has learned so much about History during the third quarter and they are exploding with enthusiasm to share our projects and history displays with you.

Your second grade tour guide will lead you through a hall of presidents, walk you through a simulation of the Oregon Trail, and dazzle you with facts about famous Black Americans in history.

You will also spend fifteen to twenty minutes talking with me. Your student-led conference should take about 3o minutes total.

Class Reward

This week your children cashed in BIG time. We collected 50 paper pennants. Pennants are collected for good behavior in the halls, at lunch, and during specials. As a reward we had EXTRA recess on Friday. I couldn't help but grab the camera and take a few playground pics.

Also, this week we had an electronics party too! This was a reward for meeting our first quarter 24-game math challenge. The object of the 24 -game is to solve one and two step addition and subtraction problems. Collectively, your students solved 300 math problems. Next quarter, we will solve 500 problems and we will be using a more difficult level of problems!

Third Grade CLassroom Placement

Prairie Ridge Elementary Class Placement Special Consideration Form
2014-2015 School Year
Students at Prairie Ridge Elementary will be placed in classrooms for the 2014-2015 school year after the needs of each individual child, as well as the group composite, are considered. A balance in each class of gender, academic, and social/emotional needs are considerations in placement. Parents who complete the "Class Placement Special Consideration Form" do so to notify administration of their child’s individual learning needs prior to the final class assignments being completed. Very few students should need this form completed on their behalf.
Parents may not request a specific teacher.
The form can be found in the "Parent Documents and Information" link on the school website at:
http://www.usd232.org/education/components/docmgr/default.php?sectiondetailid=34591& .
Please return this form to the school office on or before April 24, 2014.
Forms returned after this date will not be considered.
Thank you!

Illness Alert

Johnson County Christmas Bureau

The Johnson County Christmas Bureau provides holiday assistance to low-income residents of Johnson County, Kansas. At the annual Holiday Shop, pre-qualified clients select groceries, personal care and household supplies, children's clothing, hats, gloves, scarves, coats, toys, gifts, and books. All items are new with the exception of books and coats.

Prairie Ridge Elementary will be assisting in sharing the holiday spirit as we collect new and used books throughout the week of November 4-8. Please plan some time as a family to go through your books at home and find some that you could have your child bring to PRE to give to children who will welcome the opportunity to have some books of their own to read at home. There is a collection box by the cafeteria. Thank you in advance giving the gift of reading!!!!

Healthy Eating

In class, we have learned about healthy eating with the program Little D's Nutrition Expedition. Through these lessons a dragon is taught about the five food groups with the help of characters such as Queen Anna Banana, Princess Peapod, Prince Waffle and King Henry the Egg. The students have loved these lessons and taken them to heart. I've been thrilled to see carrots and apples coming to class for snack! Below is a link your child can use to learn more with Little D by playing games at: http://www.nutritionexplorations.org/kids.php

On Friday we concluded an exciting unit on Inventors, Inventions and Innovations in Social Studies. Ask your child what they learned about steamboats, trains, and airplanes. Ask them if they can tell you anything about the innovations throughout history in communications beginning with cave painting and ending with cell phones. Finally, test their knowledge on the Pony Express and ask them what they know about assembly lines. You are sure to be astounded by all the amazing facts your child shares with you!

Getting Aquainted Activities

Weather Accross the Curriculum

Last week the second graders partipated in a cross curricular unit on weather, clouds and the water cycle. In Reading our vocabulary words and stories covered material related to the water cycle and in writing we dramatized the water cycle through a cartooning exercise as well as writing a first person narative titled My Life As A Drip, in which a droplet goes through the water cycle.

In Science we created a model of different types of clouds and conducted a hands on experiment with cotton balls and water droppers to simulate precipitation. It was a blast....and we learned a thing or two along the way!

On Friday, March 23rd the second grade toured the Museum of History in Topeka, Kansas. The students learned about local Native American tribes, viewed a tipi, grass hut, and a stuffed bison. The students also had an hour in which to view other museum displays such as an old fashioned train, old fashioned diner and many other interesting sights. Special thanks to the parents who accompanied us on this adventure. A good time was had by all and I think the students had many wonderful learning experiences.

Literary and Geography Experience Combined

The Adventures of Flat Stanley are about to begin. This week we will be reading the book Flat Stanley byJeff Brown and participating in various literature and geography lessons. In class we will create our own Flat Stanley. Your child will be asked to mail Flat Stanley to a friend or relative who lives in a different state or country who is willing to take some pictures with Stanley and then send him back. Sharing the pictures in class and mapping Stanley's adventures is sure to be a valuable and exciting learning experience.

We are asking for a little help from the parents this weekend. Please check your child's folder and fill out the information as well as sending in two stamps for postage. Thanks for help in advance.

Exciting Culminating Activity!!

On Wednesday, March 13th the second grade will be taking a field trip to the Kansas Museum of History in Topeka, Kansas. We will be viewing the Native American exhibit showcasing arrowheads, a grass lodge and a full size tipi. We will also view the Fort and Trails area where they have a full size covered wagon packed will all the necessities needed for the trip on the Oregon Trail. This field trip will be the culmination of our units on Pioneers and Native Americans. We are excited to conclude these units with this exciting field trip!!

Exciting Adjective Lesson This Week

This week in writing we focused on word choices in writing. We discussed how words such as: "good", "nice", "sad",
"funny", and "bad" are overused in stories and reports. We used a thesaurus to come up with exciting alternative adjectives such as "pleasing", "kind", "gloomy", "unusual" and "wicked". We practiced using our new words in our writing all week and then on Friday, January 12th we had a retirement party for the old words. Juice box toasts were given and delicious crackers consumed. Be sure to check out our new words poster being displayed in the hall.

Halloween Parade and Party Friday, October 28th

It's almost Halloween. The students are excited and the party supplies have started to trickle in. I am very excited for our first class party this school year. Special thanks to Ashley Greeno and Lisa Sagi for organizing and running the party!

On the day of the party please send your child to school with their costume in a bag. Make sure to label EVERY part of their costume. Alicia Backlund has graciously agreed to come to early and help the students dress for the parade and party. Thanks Alicia!!!

Second Graders Learn About the Scientific Method

Now that we have learned about the Scientific Method we will putting the method into practice this week as we conduct exciting experiments testing the buoyancy of an egg in salt water, a demonstration of water tension, observing how soap reacts with food coloring, and a lesson on static electricity.

We will conclude this exciting unit on Friday, April 29th with our ETC day. Special thanks to Kim Wagner for supplying us with the lemon- themed experiments. It's sure to be a day of great learning and fun!

A Note From Mrs. Hite Regarding Classroom Placement for 2011-2012

Later this year, we will begin working closely to make initial drafts of classroom placements for the '11-'12 school year. Please know we take a great deal of time and considerations when doing so. Peer-to-peer compatibility, student learning styles, and social compatabilities are utilized to ensure a positive learning environment is created for each and every student. Parent requests for specific teachers are not a part of our placement criteria. However, if you want to share specific information or concerns about your child's academic or social needs when considering placement, please contact Mrs. Hite instead of teachers. Thank you so much for us allowing us the opportunity to share in the life and education of your children!

Exciting Literature and Geography Experience

The Adventures of Flat Stanley are about to begin. This week we will be reading the book Flat Stanly byJeff Brown and participating in various literature and geography lessons. In class we will create our own Flat Stanley. Your child will be asked to mail Flat Stanley to a friend or relative who lives in a different state or country who is willing to take some pictures with Stanley and then send him back. Sharing the pictures in class and mapping Stanley's adventures is sure to be a valuable and exciting learning experience.

Look for more Flat Stanley information to come home in Monday folder's this week. We will need your help in filling out some paperwork and sending in two stamps for mailing costs.

Second Grade Book Drive

The Second Grade has organized a Book Drive for the week of February 28-March 4th. We are collecting new or gently used books to donate to the students of the Derrick Thomas Academy in Kansas City, Mo.

In preperation for the fund raiser your children made posters and spoke to different classes in the school. Our classroom was responsible for talking to the fifth grade. Hayden Last, Emma Nentwig, Rose Miller and Henry Roth did an outstanding job with the fifth graders.

Next week, Jenna Haase and Ian Mulkey will report on how the book drive is progressing on Wednesday's announcements.

Spirit Week Fun

Next week is PRE spirit week so get ready to let your inner cougar shine!

On Monday we will create a class poster advertising the PRE Teacher/ Student Basketball Games to take place on Friday night beginning at 6pm. Lucy Guess and Morgan Speciale will be representing our classroom!!

Tuesday is Cray Hair Day! Hair chalk? Hair Spray? Crazy ponytails? Bring it on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wednesday is wacky dress day. Let's see just how mismatched your second grader can get.

Thursday - Spirit Assembly at 2:45 in Gym

Friday- Wear your orange shirt and engage in much "trash talking" as we prepare the students for the Teacher/ Student Basketball games!! Go LUCY and MORGAN!!!

Party details

I am looking forward to celebrating Halloween with your child this week. On Friday, we will have a parade and party. Beginning at 2:20 the second graders will begin getting dressed in their costumes. Please label ALL pieces of your child's costume. Also, let's leave accessories such as weapons and life sabres at home. Face make-up and scary masks will need to be saved for Trick-or Treating at home.

At 2:45 pm the students will begin parading throughout the school and class parties begin at 3pm. Special thanks to Renee Cahoy for planning our Halloween party.

A Busy Week

Last week students participated in various hands-on activities. We learned about the text features of diagrams and legends by building a model of the human mouth with marshmallows and a paper plate. We practiced geometry concepts by creating geometric figures with toothpicks and marshmallows, and identified plane shapes with 8, 9 and 10 sides using geo-boards and rubber bands. We also created a miniature Native American tipi.

The students also enjoyed the opportunity to work on laptops and write an informative paragraph about the jobs and customs of Native American women, men and children.

Field Trip

The second graders will traveling to Topeka, Kansas on Wednesday, March 12th for our annuat field trip to the Kansas Museum of History. We will be touring the museum exhibits featuring a real life covered wagon and a tipi. Students will also spend time with a tour guide in a classroom learning about the culture and peoples in Plains Indians tribes. Permission slips will come home in Monday folders this week.

Families are welcome to attend the musuem but we ask that you pay ahead of time and drive seperately to the museum. Also, let me know if you are able or willing to chaperone.

Second Grade Book Club

PTO Bingo Charity Event

On Friday, November 8th the PTO and PRE 5th grade families are sponsoring a Bingo Event to support the Johnson County Christmas Bureau.

The event will run from 6pm-8pm. Please bring a food item to donate or contribute $1.00 per bingo card. Raffle ticket will be given out to WIN prizes. Prizes will be given out at the end of the event and you must be present to win!

Volunteers are needed. If you are available to help please sign
up online at bit.ly/17EYtk6 or call Kim Wagner at 634-9256.

I hope to see you there!

Halloween Party

On Thursday, October 31st we will have a Halloween parade and party at school. Students need to bring their costumes in a bag. Be sure to label all parts of the costume with your child's name. We will change in the classroom starting around 2:15. Scary masks and make-up should be saved for trick- or-treating in the evening. Please be sure that your child's costume is school appropriate. The Parade will begin promptly at 2:45 and will be followed by the classroom party from 3:00-3:40. It's going to be spook-tacular!!

Second Grade Rewards

In class each student has a bucket of bubbles taped to their desk. The bubbles are colored in at the end of each day for good behavior. When the bucket is full, the students get to pick from a variety of prizes such as getting something from the treasure box, bringing a stuffed animal to school, having lunch with the teacher or sitting in a teacher chair for the day. You can also teach the class how to do something. So far, Jenna Kingsbury has given us a demonstration on how to do a back bend and Allie Schaefer taught us how to spar. Check out the slideshow to below to see some rewards in action!

A Note From Mrs. Hite Regarding Classroom Placements For 2013-14 School Year

Students at Prairie Ridge Elementary will be placed
in classrooms for the 2013-2014 school year after the needs of each individual child, as well as the group composite, are considered. A balance in each classof gender, academic, and social/emotional needs are considerations in
placement. Parents who complete the “Prairie Ridge Elementary Class PlacementSpecial Consideration Form” do so to notify administration of their child’sindividual learning needs prior to the final class assignments being
completed. Very few students should need this form completed on their behalf.

Parents may not request a specific teacher.
The form can be found in the “Parent Documents and
Information” link on the school website at www.usd232.org/education/components/docmgr/default.php?sectiondetailid=34591&
Please return this form to Mrs. Hite in the school office on or beforeMay 10, 2013.
Forms returned after this date will not be considered.

The theme for our classroom basket is American Girl Doll.
The classroom basket deadline is fast approaching (April
16th). The basket raffle is a very
important fundraiser for the upcoming school year. If you would like to contribute but time is
a factor the PTA is offering up a solution.
You can make a monetary donation and let them do the shopping for
you. Please put your donation in an
envelope marked Basket Raffle Donation and the teacher's name on it and place
it in your student's folder. The PTA
will collect all the envelopes and make purchases according to classroom
themes. The Basket Raffle is strictly
voluntary but we cannot do it without the help of our wonderful PRE Families

Thank you in advance!

Common Core

Join us on Wednesday, September 19th in the second grade pod to learn about the state standard initiative known as common core. We will explain how it is being used at the second grade level to provide your students with a curriculum that is rigorous and promotes learning and achievement. You will also have the opportunity to experience a second grade level lesson in action. If you plan on attending, yet have not let me know, please contact me via e-mail or return your rsvp (given out at Back To School Night) as soon as possible.

Camp Learned A Lot Coming Soon!

On Monday, May 14th our classroom will be transformed into a campground. Camp-Learned-A-Lot will begin! Be on the look out for two notes coming home in Monday folders. We are requesting that you write your camper a letter to be read around our classroom "campfire". Also, we are collecting donations for our camp store.

During camp we will be learning camp songs and preparing for a camp concert which we will perform on Tuesday, May 22nd, at 11:00 a.m. and then afterwards we will picnic with our families before being dismissed for the school year!! Please mark your calendars and plan on speding that last day of school at PRE with your second grader.

Xtra Math

As part of our math curriculum we are encouraging students to register and participate in an on-line website to practice addition and subtraction facts. This website is easy to use and navigate. Simply enroll your child on xtra math and have them take the placement test. This test will determine what facts they need to practice to obtain speed and mastery. On Monday your child's registration code will be sent home so that you can register them into my on-line classroom. This will enable me to monitor their progress and allow them to use xtra math at school.

Can you find arrays in the real world?

Your child has been challenged to look for arrays in their everday life. Look at your kitchen and bathroom tiles! Examine that egg carton in fridge! Arrays are all around. Your child needs to find five arrays and display them through drawings or photos in a creative way to be shared with the class. Make a poster, create a booklet, or come up with a different idea, creativity is encouraged! Be sure to include how many rows are in each array and how many objects are in each row. Also the repeated addition fact and/or multiplication fact must also be displayed. Projects are due Wednesday, October 12th.

Classroom Rewards

The second graders have been filling their bubble charts with regularity and cashing in for some classroom coupons. This week Kylee Dunn and Sarah Turner chose the "Teach the class something coupon". Kylee taught us how to make an origami frog and Sarah taught us karate kicks!! Landon chose the "Teacher Chair" coupon and as you can see he is learning in style and comfort. However, the most popular coupon in our second grade classroom is without a doubt the "Take Your Shoes Off for the Day"coupon!

Royal Banquet A HUGE Success

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Our royal banquet was a huge success, thanks to the generous amounts of food brought in by our second graders. The students had the opportunity to build a healthy plate of snacks from each of the five food groups and some of our students had seconds or thirds of our healthy foods. I was proud of our students for trying new foods and using their best manners throughout the feast. A good time was had by all!! Special thanks to Alicia Backlund and Angela Handy for their help on Friday.

Camp Learned A Lot Coming Soon!

We'll be transforming out classroom to camp grounds for camp to start Monday the 16th!! If you have a tent we could borrow, please email me. If possible, please drop off by this Thursday. In Monday folders you'll be receiving 2 camp notes. One is an assignment for you to complete (your camper would love a letter from home)!! Also, well be having a camp program/cookout (Tues. 24th at 11). Parents are welcome to attend. Please email me by Wed. if you are free join us. I'll be asking for donations after I have a head count.