Smith update, 9/20

Greetings Families of Super Second Graders!

Our PTA is just amazing! Please make sure you are signed-up! PTA-sponsored Spanish instruction will be starting in the next couple of weeks via the Rosetta Stone program (and some instruction from me in class;). You will be receiving more complete information about login and pragmatics shortly. I am very excited to help pilot this program. All relevant research points towards second-language acquisition as a positive impact on the brain. Of course, we also understand that through language we find and refine meaning. Our worlds open as we engage beyond our limitations and surely among the most essential limiting or freeing factors are language and communication. 

To this same end we have been working steadily in small-group “book clubs” to present texts of varying genres and challenges specifically chosen for individual students. While some work towards decoding and accuracy mastery, others are working towards understanding how non-fiction texts use features to help the reader organize their response to the topic. One group might be exploring the word play of African Folktales while another is spending time comparing different texts on similar topics. In all of this is an overarching expectation that we as readers are active and engaged thinkers. We take the time to anticipate, predict, connect, refine, question, revisit, infer, and synthesize as we read. Let me encourage you to take a look back through our Back-To-School night reading section and try to commit to exploring books with your child this week. They love you and they love books- love the books together for a few moments this week. 

Speaking of individualization, I have been so encouraged by student excitement surrounding our individualized math challenges that I offered an extra this last week as an extension of our frequent “number talk” word problems. Students came back to school with many differing answers and strategies- which provided a platform for further discussion. For the edification of your children during this week, perhaps try a version of the problem that we undertook, but with your own spin. The bonus challenge this week read as so: “How many pockets can be found on all of the people in our class today? How do you know and how can you prove it? If each pocket contained one penny, one nickel, and one dime, how much money would all of the class have together?” In extension, some of us spoke about how we might divide the total for different numbers of pockets and how the coin combinations in the pockets would change out of necessity. Have fun with it. 

Just so you are aware, I keep most of the students’ “significant” work at school in notebooks and folders so that we can review and revisit our work, noting growth and gaining in self-awareness as learners. You will begin seeing papers coming home later this week. These are of the more rote variety, used to practice skills only- these are not the core of growth instruction. Please consult our weekly highlights to see what we are working on in class and as always, drop me a note if you have any questions. 

Thank you for sending me well-rested and charming students each day!

Best,

 Andrew Smith

Teacher, Del Mar Heights School

This Week’s Highlights

September 21-25

Phonics and word study focus

-onset blends and proper nouns

Reading focus

Comprehension focus: Narrative structure and comparisons between different versions of same stories (The Chocolate touch/ The Midas Touch)

Book club individualized strategy lessons: Lessons created for specific skill outcomes based on individual and group needs

Focus books: Character building and variations on the theme of “The Midas Touch”

Writing focus

Conventions- Spacing, Feeling ending of sentences, Periods and Capitals,

Writing skill- Narrative structure and the writing process

Topical writing- Narrative, “My Version of The Three Pigs” and/or “My Magic Touch”

Math focus

Full Math workshop (mystery number, number decomposition, word problem, independent practice, personal challenge and three math routines)

Math journal problem solving through visual models

Individualized challenges

Computation- Fluency with groupings and arrays

Social Studies focus

Geography and map skills

Science focus

Mrs. Minarik’s Science Lab

Homework

Daily reading and homework packet