Student of the Week: Sabrina Love

My week as Student of the Week

My week as Student of the Week was fun! I did not have to do my homework! Instead I got a packet to color. I got to be the student of the week for one whole week. Mrs. Mueller is the best teacher ever. From,
Sabrina Love

Social Studies: Using Maps & hands-on diagrams

Social Studies
The second grade Social Studies curriculum has changed in the last few years. We now center around the idea of communities. We will explore, investigate, compare, contrast, debate, and learn all about our local, regional, and state-wide communities.

To start, we looked to our families. We recognized role models of good citizenship within our communities. We then created posters and wrote about what makes them good citizens.

Next, we used a map of Michigan to locate and learn about Ypsilanti, Lansing, Detroit, the compass rose, the key, the upper and lower peninsula, and much more. The kids loved this!

At the end of the unit, we created a "living" T-Chart to look at things made by nature in our community and things made by humans. We also compared and contrasted three types of communities: urban, suburban, and rural using hula hoops to create our triple Venn diagram.

Arrr, Talk Like a Pirate Day & NWEA

Talk Like a Pirate Day
Friday was a lot of fun. After our spelling tests, we spent some time creating maps of the school. We used these "treasure maps" later in the day to find our treasure. Ask your child where it was and if their prediction was right.

NWEA - MAP Test
Second Grade starts fall NWEA testing on Monday, September 29.

• Monday, September 29th, Reading
• Tuesday, September 30th, Mathematics
• Wednesday, October 1st, Language Usage

The NWEA MAP test is given to 2nd-8th graders. It is a very different testing platform than the NWEA MPG that your student took in first grade. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• NWEA MPG (given to Y5-1st grade) has sound and is read to the students, NWEA MAP does not have sound. Proctors (Mrs. Mueller & Mrs. Allender) are not allowed to read to students other than providing specific directions/words.
• The RIT score you were given in the spring at the end of 1st grade is not 1:1 comparable to the RIT or percentile score for the MAP in 2nd grade.
• 2nd Grade Teachers use Fall 2014 data to help guide instruction and progress toward Spring 2015 goals.
• NWEA testing is just one of many forms of information we use as teachers to best guide students to meet their academic goals.
• Please do not be concerned if your child's RIT goes down. This happens from 1st to 2nd grade in most instances. Trust that we will always do what is best for students together. 
• Ask your students to do their best, and then let them show what they know. The less stress they feel, the better!

Please let me know if you have questions or concerns. 

Health Unit, Grades & Gradebook App, & Spelling

We had a great 2nd week of school! It has taken us a little bit to get back into school routines and procedures; but we're doing great. Thank you very much for your support and encouragement.

Health Unit
We finished up our Science / Health Unit on Friday by writing and drawing about four ways to stay safe. That booklet was graded and is now in the gradebook. During the week, we took part in the small group project. Each table team had a classroom buddy to create 'gear' for. This was a fun way to share ideas and to show what we learned. Ask your child which classroom buddy they helped to 'outfit' and what they contributed.

Gradebook

Your child's grades will be updated on a weekly basis. Most assessments will be sent home the following week in their Monday Mailer. You can also check your child's scores by logging onto the website at https://www.nhaschools.com/schools/southpointe/ 

You can also download the NHA APP.  If you haven't downloaded the app yet, visit the app store on your phone/electronic device and search for National Heritage Academies. You will see the NHA Schools logo (photo below). It's free and very helpful. Here's what I noticed:

• it's quick!  It updates as soon as grades are entered.
• choosing the 'homework' button brings you to the page where you can see how many assignments are entered/missing (keep in mind, homework is not graded, it is recorded as complete, incomplete or missing)
• effort scores are only published on report cards (You can contact me if you have any concerns about your child's effort.)
• It keeps up-to-date records of your meal account and shows the school calendar

Spelling

I have updated spellingcity.com with our words for the week. To access the words online, simply visit: http://www.spellingcity.com/dottiemueller/. Choose the list that your child will be practicing for the week and have them: play a game or take a practice test.

We did not have a chance on Friday to take a pre-test, so we will do that on Monday instead. If students get 100% on the pre-test, they will be encouraged to complete the challenge words. Dictation sentences will be given as well.

Week One & Planners, Homework, Workshop

Week One & Planners
Our first week was a huge success. I am enjoying getting to know your child. Thank you for having your students so well prepared to return to school. I can tell they have been reading and problem solving.

We will begin filling out our planners this Monday. They will go home every evening and need to be returned every day. Although we will fill out our planners on Monday for the week, things change from time to time and we add it in.

Please check your child's planner every night for any behavior notes. I truly want and believe your child will be on 'green' every day. There are times, however, that we need more than one reminder or situations arise that we should handle differently. Yellows happen and that's okay. If they are on 'yellow' or 'blue' it will be noted in their planner. It is their responsibility to have you sign that you saw the note.

When you receive the planner, check out the inside front cover of their planner. There you will find their passwords for ixl.com and studyisland.com.

Homework

A homework folder with your child's homework went home on Friday. Packets will go home on Friday and are due the following Friday.  

We took a pre-test in spelling on Friday as well. You will learn on Monday what list they should study from. If they correctly spelled all 12 words on the pre-test, they should study the challenge words. All students are eligible for above grade level scores on the final test when they spell all of their words correctly (regardless of the list) and correctly complete the dictation sentences. Some of the words in the dictation sentences follow the spelling pattern we have been practicing, but are not words they've been asked to study.  

Workshop

This week we "played" with some of our new materials in workshop. Workshop in 2nd grade is small group or independent work that supports their learning goals. I snapped a few pictures. We are already pretty awesome at this!