Smith Update, 11/15

Hello Families of Fearless and Formidable Second-Graders,

I had planned a message about interesting research about math learning but it will have to wait as a quote came to mind during this past week, and certainly seems apt this weekend, and it could not be ignored: 

“There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One of these is roots…the other, wings.” (origin unknown)

Learning about our families’ heritages and the lives of our ancestors while also being reminded of the struggle of the Pilgrims to find freedom here in America has informed the scope of our young students’ understandings. They are wide-eyed as we learn about how some of our relatives and ancestors have been world-famous chefs, Military heroes, creators of public-policy, and builders of buildings. Tracing the histories of immigration while in search of opportunity, freedom, or in escape of danger creates new discussions and opportunities to connect ideas from person to person and family to family. Thank you for helping give your children roots. 

Unfortunately, the world  seem to be engaged in the same cycle that has plagued humanity throughout history; fear and hate leading to violence leading to more fear and hate. I am so grateful to have a school such as ours, where award-winning programs like Understanding Differences and The Kindness Counts Book Club helps to teach our children the lessons that we want the world to own. We want to build empathy, compassion, advocacy for needy, and the confidence to act with wisdom and intelligence. We want to give them wings to be the leaders of their generation. Thank you for helping show your children that they can fly. 

As conferences have arrived, I look forward to sharing conversations about your learner. As always, thank you for entrusting me with your child each day. 

This Week’s Highlights

early release days all week for Parent Conferences

Phonics and word study focus

Long vowels- ing, Syllables

Reading focus

Comprehension focus: Approaching Non-Fiction Texts

Close reading: Connecting texts to questions in Non-Fiction

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

Focus books: Molly’s Pilgrim, Thanksgiving narratives, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Writing focus

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

Writing skill- Planning Opinion pieces

Topical writing- Opinion pieces, Favorite of our Chris Van Allsburg author studies, Small group drama scripting “The First Thanksgiving”

Math focus

Full Math workshop

Math journal problem solving through visual models

Individualized challenges

Telling time and working with money

Social Studies focus

Ancestors

Science focus

Mrs. Minarik’s Science Lab

Homework

Daily reading and homework packet

Smith update, 11/8

-No School on Wednesday due to Veteran’s Day

-Please make sure you have signed up for conferences via our website

-Encourage your child to wear and use an analog clock

-Book exchange is on. Donate this week, select “new” books next week

-Wear Blue shirts for our 50th anniversary of DM Heights photograph on Friday

Hello Families of Super Second-Graders,

As fall lowers the curtains earlier and earlier on our sunlit afternoon activities, the darkness invites more time indoors, among family and books. Can I encourage you to embrace a habit of family reading, storytelling, music, creativity, or conversation in lieu of the ubiquitous screens? Time blinks by, let’s capture it with our kids. 

Second grade students are extending as readers towards independence. Many students are selecting a wide range of books in a wide range of genres. They are reading with added fluency and greater ability to deal with unfamiliar vocabulary. The temptation is to sit back and celebrate our young readers’ successes.

 However, it is important that we monitor for the “three C’s” of reading danger that can trip up readers as they extend through this stage. 

First, we must Challenge Comprehension of texts by reading to and with our children in books that are slightly above or outside their comfort level at least some of their reading time. In this way we coach our children by speaking about our thoughts and the reasoning behind our thoughts as they pertain to the book as we are reading along with them. This gives our readers access to more challenging texts while promoting closeness among parents and children. In other words, reading to and talking about books with our kids doesn’t end when they can read “chapter books” for themselves.

Next, we must make sure the Content of the texts are appropriate. This concerns not just the obvious topics of violence or “romance”, but also the issues of ambiguity that children whose chronological age trails their reading ability might encounter. Ideas of complex emotional interplay or moral ambiguity can be difficult for young readers. Death or loss in a story can be crushing. Make sure you are aware of the books that are being read and do not take for granted that every book written for young readers is content-appropriate.

Lastly, we must provide access to the Context of the text. Though a reader might be able to read all about the love of a boy for a dog in rural West Virginia in Shiloh, they likely will not be able to understand the cultural context of the setting and therefore will have trouble engaging with the narrative completely and will certainly be challenged to deal with higher-level comprehension questioning. Shepherd your maturing reader by filling in the key contextual details that might support the reading of their books. 

On the topic of reading:

 Dear Parents,

In class students have begun to access https://www.raz-kids.com as a way to offer access to quality books in several genres at their own level. This is an online program that allows teachers to assign appropriately leveled texts for home reading and monitor reading remotely. Here are a few guidelines for home use of https://www.raz-kids.com.

1.    It is optional, but reading is not. All students should be reading at home daily. Razkids can be a part of that. It is essentially an online library.

2.    Access is simple. To access to your student’s account, navigate to https://www.raz-kids.com. Please click on the big green “Kids’ Login” button. Then type in my teacher code: asmith178. Select your student’s name and begin reading. 

3.    Bookmark the login page for easy future access.

4.    All books must be read twice before they may listen to the story being read to them by the computer.

5.    Building robots and rocket ships with the stars that have been earned is both fun and completely optional.

Have fun with this new tool and happy reading!

This Week’s Highlights

November 9-13

No School on Wednesday- Veteran’s Day

Phonics and word study focus

Long vowels- ing, Syllables

Reading focus

Comprehension focus: Approaching Non-Fiction Texts

Close reading: Connecting texts to questions in Non-Fiction

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

Focus books: National Geographic and Time for Kids, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Writing focus

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

Writing skill- Planning Opinion pieces

Topical writing- Opinion pieces, variety

Math focus

Full Math workshop

Math journal problem solving through visual models

Individualized challenges

Telling time and working with money

Social Studies focus

Ancestors

Science focus

Mrs. Minarik’s Science Lab

Homework

Daily reading and homework packet

Best,

 Andrew Smith

Teacher, Del Mar Heights School

November arrives

It is absolutely unfathomable that November is here. What a great year we have had so far, and what a great day we enjoyed on Friday. Thank you for coming and celebrating the efforts of our brave students, some of whom were performing for an audience for their very first time. Your support of their growth is appreciated. 

I saw many of you out trick-or-treating on Saturday. Everyone seemed to be in frightfully ghoulish spirits and to have plenty of candy to enjoy. If interested there is a phenomenal way to continue the season’s fun. In support of our work with Rosetta Stone in learning Spanish, it might be fun to take a trip down to Old Town for their annual Dia De Los Muertos celebration. The last day is Monday night and there are many interesting cultural activities. We are so lucky to have opportunities to explore the broader world here in San Diego. Make sure you get out there from time to time. 

This week in class we will be working on finishing up our Narratives for the Reflections show, which is happening this Wednesday evening in our school’s Multiple Use Room. We will also be writing and sending our letters to grandparents in order to gain information about how they lived as children and about family history. This is part of our new social studies unit about ancestors. It is always a revelation to children to learn about their families’ pasts. Unlike adults, they often like to hear the stories of the older generations. Enjoy some time talking about your family together. 

As always, thank you for trusting me with your children each day. They are amazing.