What a Fantastic Fun Friday

We had a fantastic Fun Friday today! :)

Today was crazy hair day.  Here's a picture of the kiddos with their crazy hair and acting a little "crazy."  :)

Olivia brought in a black snake skin to share with the class.  It was still altogether and you could see where the snake's eyes were & tail.  Super neat! :)

Science
Today we continued our conversation about states of matter.  A few weeks ago we learned that there are 3 states of matter: solid, liquid and gas.  We discussed that the atoms/molecules of a solid are packed together, the atoms/molecules of a liquid are less packed and take the shape of the container, and the atoms/molecules of a gas are the least packed and can only be contained in a sealed container.  We also learned that an item can change states of matter by adding or removing heat.

We did a YUMMY science experiment today about when you have a solid (ice cream) and you add a liquid (ice cream) it makes a gas (bubbles).  After the kiddos, charted their prediction and results, they were able to enjoy their science experiment!

Fables

This week we have worked hard on being able to identify a fable, what a fable typically has in it (chart below), and being able to explain the morals of fables we have read.

Fable Week is November 28-December 2.  On Wednesday, November 30, it will be Fable Character Dress Up Day.  Today we brainstormed a list of characters that the kiddos could dress up as.  We talked about if they have another idea of a character that they could definitely dress up as that character, but it is important that they are able to identify the fable that their character is from.

Here is the list that we came up with: 

Junior Achievement

We had our last Junior Achievement today with Mr. McGowen.  Today we learned about how money moves around a community (from the mint, to the bank, to different stores/people & back to the bank).  We have had 5 Junior Achievements where we have learned about what a community is, what a job is, paying taxes, voting, and money movement.  All the students got a certificate of completion of Junior Achievement.  Below is a picture of all the kiddos with Mr. McGowen and their certificates.  They really had a lot of fun in Junior Achievement & learned a lot! :)

Next Week

• Math: We are continuing to work on +10/+100.
• Reading: We will be working on summarizing and reading fun Thanksgiving books.
• Social Studies: We will comparing and contrasting Colonial and current clothing and work.
• Word Study: We will not have a test next week, but we will be practicing spelling Thanksgiving words.
• Writing: We will pretend to be turkeys and create an advertisement/opinion piece about what food should be eaten on Thanksgiving besides turkey.  

No School/No Homework
We only have 2 days of school next week due to Thanksgiving Break.  There is no Adventure Club next week (so please make sure that your child knows how s/he is getting home on Monday and Tuesday).  If your child will not be at school next week please let me know and the office know.  Due to the short week, we will not have homework next week.

Recess Attire

Oh my goodness was there a significant temperature drop today!  I think fall (and even winter) temperatures are definitely upon us.  Please make sure that your child is dressed appropriately for the weather.  There were a lot of cold kids headed to buses and at parent pick up today.  As a reminder, if it is under 44 degrees, they need a winter coat.  If it is between 45-59, they need a light jacket or sweat shirt.  Even when it was 55 degrees today at their lunch recess, it was chilly with the wind.  The kids have more fun at recess if they aren't cold.  :)

Emily Arrow

Emily Arrow will be here in less than a month!  Our RBE Literacy Night is December 7 at Woodcrest Church at 6 p.m.  RBE students will have an assembly on December 9.  Mrs. McKinzie has created a Padlet with links to all the Emily Arrow videos.  They kids love singing along!  Here is the link.

Food Drive

The Meals on Wheels Food Drive runs through November 29.  Second grade is collecting peanut butter.  The RBE Service Club will be packing Snow Days packs at their next meeting.  These are helpful for Meals on Wheels recipients because they are things they can cook themselves when Meals on Wheels isn't able to make deliveries.  

PJ Drive

Kindergarten is collecting PJ's for Rainbow House.  They are collecting them November 28-December 2.  The slogan for the PJ Drive is "Give a Pair, Wear a Pair," so if you child donates PJ's, they can wear PJ's on December 2.  It is for a great cause.  Thanks in advance for donations!

Lost & Found Abundance

There is an abundance of items that has been placed in Lost and Found since we started school in August.  These items will be packaged up and donated to Salvation Army on December 20 (last day before Winter Break).  Please come & take a look through Lost & Found to see if your son/daughter is missing anything.

Have a wonderful weekend! :)

Mid-Week Reminders :)

Happy Wednesday!

Just a mid-week updates and some reminders :)

Next Week

If you student will not be here next week, please let me know as well as the office.  Also, if your student is going home a different way either day, please make sure to let myself and the office know.  

Recess Attire

It is definitely getting chillier and I think fall is upon us.  Please make sure your student has appropriate attire for recess.  As a reminder if it is between 45-59 degrees, they need at least a sweatshirt or light jacket.  If it is below 44 degrees, they need a winter coat.  We base this on the feels like temperature or windchill at our recess times.  

Crazy Hair Day

Friday is a school wide spirit day.  It is Crazy Hair Day!  I can't wait to see all the crazy hairstyles on Friday.

Food Drive

Our Meals on Wheels food drive runs through November 29.  Second grade is collecting smooth peanut butter (please no crunchy).  If you would like to donate, please send in the peanut butter with your student and they can put it on he table across from the office.

PJ Drive

Kindergarten is sponsoring a PJ Drive. If you would like to donate a pair of new pajamas to Rainbow House, please send them in with your student the week of November 28.  If your student donates a pair of pajamas, they may wear pajamas on December 2.  The flyer is below.

Have a wonderful evening!!

Just a Few Things...

What a great Tuesday! :)

Math Wizard Test

As a reminder, we have our math wizard test tomorrow.  Please continue practicing with your kiddo on his/her facts.  If you need extra math wizard sheets to practice on please let me know!  Several people have commented on all of our kiddos that have become addition math wizards!  We are working hard on making the subtraction math wizard board as full as the addition!! :)

Small Moment Stories

The kiddos are working SO incredibly hard on their second small moment story.  Some students finished up their rough draft today & started working with a partner to add details or answer questions that their partner still had.  We will be starting the editing & revising process with CUPS & ARMS by the end of this week.  We will have another completed published writing coming home at the beginning of December.  You should be SUPER proud of your kiddo!!

PTA Meeting

Just a reminder that tonight is the RBE PTA Meeting in the Media Center at 6:00.

Crazy Hair Day on Friday

Friday we have our November Spirit Day of Crazy Hair.  Get creative - I can't wait to see all the "crazy hair" on Friday!! :)

Wear a Pair - Give a Pair

Some questions have come up about when to wear pajamas.  The Kindergarten Team is sponsoring a pajama drive for children who are living at The Rainbow House.  Your child can bring in a pair pajamas during the week of November 28-December 2.  If your child donates a pair of pajamas during this week - then on December 2, your child can wear pajamas.  Below is the flyer that went home earlier this month.  Please let me know if you have any further questions. :)

Have a wonderful evening!!

Marvelous Monday!!

We had a great start to our first five day week in November!! :)

Math Manipulative Bag

Your child is bringing home a mesh bag of math goodies!  Inside the bag there is money, unifix cubes, and place value blocks.  The CPS Math Department has provided every second grade student with these items.  These are for your child to keep and use to help him/her with math skills.  Enjoy!! :)

Library Checkout

We have library checkout tomorrow.  Due to the Book Fair set up in the Media Center, we did not have library checkout last week.  Please help your child remember his/her library books tomorrow.

Spelling Words

Our spelling words this week are working on long a vowel patterns.  We have CVCe words and CVVC with "ai" words.  We talked today that there is no trick to knowing when a word has an "e" or "ai" and that these words just have to be memorized.  Our spelling words this week are: blame, snake, fame, taste, brain, paint, chain, wait, main & stare (oddball).

Fable Unit

We have started learning about what a fable is and that a fable has a moral.  RBE will have a Fable Week November 28-December 2.  We will have a Fable Character Dress Up Day on November 30 - talk with your child about what fable character he/she would like to dress up like!

PTA Meeting Tomorrow

The RBE PTA Meeting is tomorrow, Tuesday, November 15 at 6:00 in the Media Center.

Have a wonderful evening & enjoy this beautiful fall weather - it's supposed to get a lot colder later this week!

Thursday's Thoughts

I will be super glad to be able to enjoy a full week of school next week!  This week was a short week & was full of schedule changes - so I am (and so are the kids) looking forward to a regular week.

I have enjoyed being able to meet and talk with everyone during conferences this week.  I appreciate that you took the time to come in & speak with me.  As always, please let me know if you have any questions that may come up throughout the school year!

This week, we talked about the voting process in social studies; reviewed what belongs in a small moment story, thought of an idea for our next personal narrative & started writing our second small moment story; and talked about patterns when adding +10 to a number.

Learning for Next Week:

• Math: We will continue to look at adding +10 & +100.
• Reading: We will be starting a Fable Unit.  On December 2, we will have an assembly. Talking Horse production will be coming to RBE and present the "The Tortoise and the Hare."  The week of November 28-December 2 will be Fable Week!!!  I am super excited about this week, but to get the kiddos ready for this week we will building a foundation of what a fable is.  We will be discussing traits of a fable (chart below), morals, and how the problem of the story is related to the moral.
  
• Writing: We will be finishing up our second small moment story next week.  Today, we went over the rubric (below) that we will be using to grade their more independent small moment story.  Our goal is for this piece of writing to be completely finished by the end of next week.
  
• Science: We will be continuing our conversation about states of matter from last week.  We have a super fun (and yummy) science experiment that the kiddos will get to enjoy that includes a solid, liquid and a gas.
• Word Study: Our spelling words next week are focusing on long a vowel patterns of CVCe & ai.  Next weeks words are: blame, snake, fame, taste, brain, paint, chain, wait, main & stare (stare is an oddball word).

No School Tomorrow

We do not have school tomorrow due to Parent/Teacher Conferences.

Meals of Wheels Food Drive

Remember to be sending in peanut butter for the food drive.  The food drive runs through November 29.  The goal this year is to make 125 Snowy Day bags for Meals on Wheels clients when there is inclement weather. Thank you for your support of Meals of Wheels!

Book Fair

If you were unable to make it to the Book Fair this week (Hours Today 7:30 am-6:00 pm:  Hours Tomorrow: 8:00-10:00 am) and would like to purchase books you can order online through November 12.  Click here to order online.

Emily Arrow Literacy Night

The Emily Arrow Literacy Night is December 7th at 6:00 - Woodcrest Chapel (to accommodate more people).  Please let us know if you & your family are planning on attending Emily Arrow Literacy Night by filling out the online RSVP.  At the bottom of the RSVP there is also a spot for you preorder signed CD.

PTA Meeting on Tuesday
The November PTA meeting in on Tuesday, November 15 at 6:00.  These meetings take place in the Media Center.

I hope that you have a wonderful weekend!

Wonderful Wednesday! :)

Veterans Day Assembly

The kiddos looked very patriotic today in their red, white and blue.  They did an AMAZING job performing in the Veterans Day Assembly today!!

A HUGE thank you to Mrs. Sharp for wonderful Veterans Day assembly today!  She worked SO hard with all the different classes to make the assembly a success, and we are truly lucky to have her as our music teacher.

This is the program for today.

Below are a few pictures 2nd grade performing.

Here are links to the YouTube videos of 2nd graders singing their songs. :)

When the Flag Goes By

I Love My Country

This is America (K-5)

Library Field Trip

As a reminder, we have our field trip to Daniel Boone Regional Library (DBRL) on November 30.  If you child does not already have a Library Card, and you would like him/her to have one, then please return the Library Card Application by November 15.  This allows DBRL to process the application & your child to receive his/her library card on the day of the field trip.

Veterans Day Cards

At the end of the day we made Veterans Day cards for HyVee to hand out with their Veterans Appreciation breakfast on Friday.  They turned out so cute & all the kiddos worked so hard on making them.

Spelling Words

Just a reminder that we have our spelling test tomorrow.  Our words this week are: which, lots, spend, club, vote, safe, wipe, space, tall, and rule.

Meals on Wheels Food Drive

The Meals on Wheels Food Drive is up & running!  2nd grade is bringing in peanut butter (smooth only).

Marvelous Monday

We had a marvelous Monday! :)

We checked out the Book Fair this morning & all the kiddos made a Wish List - so make sure to check it out!

As we are winding up our Personal Narrative writing unit, the kiddos were able to share what they knew should be in the beginning and middle of a small moment story.  We incorporated technology today by having the kiddos share their thinking using a website called Padlet.  Here are their thoughts on what the components are of a beginning and of a middle.  They really enjoyed using this website today!

We also talked about the voting process today.  They learned what a candidate is and what an office is.  We also had them register to vote and they got to elect who they thought would be the best president out of three characters from different books we have read (Grace for President, Duck for President, and My Teacher for President).  I am super impressed with their knowledge of the voting process!!

As a reminder, we do not have school tomorrow due to Election Day.

Wednesday is our Veteran's Day Assembly.  Please remember to dress your kiddo in red, white & blue!