Update, 2/28

A very humble thanks to all of our class who generously provided a fantastic class-signed picture and a gift card to Snooze! I am grateful to share my days with your remarkable kiddos and feel blessed to get to know your families as well.

Dates

Fri., March 4 Heroes All Musical- MUR 1:00-2:30 (if you can’t make it we will also have a dress rehearsal- contact me)

Week of March 7: Parent Conferences & Minimum Days

Sat., March 12: PTA Spring Gala

Mon. and Tues., March 14-15: Kindergarten and New Student Visitation

Sun., March 20: Second Grade Picnic

Mon., March 21: Science Fair Projects due (optional, but encouraged)

Thurs., March 24: Open House

Week of April 4: Spring Break

Wed., April 13: Field trip to Urban Corps Recycling Center

Matisse, Van Gogh, and Chagall were the three artists we studied as part of our Biography Unit last week. Accompanying artwork was created and writing about the artists will be undertaken this week. This week also marks the moment when students will be able to select their own important figure to study and about whom they will create a presentation. It should be an enjoyable week. 

Please try to attend the performance of Heroes All this Friday at 1. The kids have worked really hard and it is a neat show to watch. If you can’t make it please let me know as we will have a dress rehearsal as well. If your student wants to bring a small item to wear for the show that represents an historical figure please allow it upon my approval.

Please make sure your child has an analog watch or clock and uses it. I will consistently review the steps to telling time with students who need a little reminder but practice is very important. Additionally, now would be a great time to start some kind of earnings system with your child to help them work with the economic ideas we have recently studied and continually practice counting and exchanging money.  Here are some ideas to accompany- some better than others.

Assessments are completed and conferences are around the corner. If you haven’t yet signed-up please do so here. The sign-up sheet will be locked as of Friday afternoon so that I can plan with a set schedule in mind. Make any changes before then. 

This Week’s Highlights

2/29-3/4

Phonics and word study focus

-le, contractions introduction

Reading focus

Comprehension focus: Non-Fiction Texts: biography

Close reading: Teacher Choice Biographies

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

Focus books: Student Selected Biographies

Writing focus

Conventions- Spacing, Feeling ending of sentences, Periods and Capitals, Commas in a series, Indentation

Writing skill- structure of multiple-paragraph essays, transitions and topic sentences in expository writing

Topical writing- multiple paragraph essay, Civil Rights Heroes

Single paragraph expository writing, artist of choice

Math focus

Full Math workshop

Math journal problem solving through visual models

Individualized challenges

Word Problem solving, larger numbers in addition and subtraction

Measurement

Social Studies focus

Biographies

Science focus

Mrs. Minarik’s Science Lab

Homework

Daily reading, homework packet, and optional online work (razkids, rosetta stone, dreambox, typing club)

Update, 2/23

Dates

Fri., March 4 Heroes All Musical in the MUR 1:00-2:30

Week of March 7: Parent Conferences & Minimum Days

Sat., March 12: PTA Spring Gala

Mon. and Tues., March 14-15: Kindergarten and New Student Visitation

Sun., March 20: Second Grade Picnic

Mon., March 21: Science Fair Projects due (optional, but encouraged)

Thurs., March 24: Open House

Week of April 4: Spring Break

Wed., April 13: Field trip to Urban Corps Recycling Center

Hello Fantastic Families,

In our work studying the genre of biography, we have also been learning about important people. Our young writers are currently crafting a multiple paragraph piece about three inspirational figures of the Civil-rights era. They are taking the fledgling confidence they grew while creating their first true essay about economics and applying it with much more confidence. Today we spoke about how as you begin to feel comfortable with something you are able to confront more challenge. Currently in both writers’  conferences and whole group situations I am witnessing the emergence of a new willingness to create expository pieces in more sophisticated ways. Writers are using varying types of topic sentences and more cohesive transitions from detail to explanatory sentences. They are taking the known information from the biographies we have read and organizing them in ways that are both structurally sound and personally chosen. By the end of this week we should have some proud writers on our hands- and certainly a proud teacher. 

During this week we continue to study biography by exploring the lives and works of some seminal artists. We speak about creativity and challenge, effort, reward, and personal vision. There are strangely apt parallels between the dreams and almost obsessive pursuit of goals of great artists and the determined perseverance of the heroes of the civil rights movement. Though we won’t go into much depth about that concept, it is notable that some of the kids have already noticed and wanted to discuss this point. While we read about the artists, we are also creating works inspired by their techniques or subject matter. Today we began work on Van Gogh’s Sunflowers while tomorrow or Thursday we will visit with Henri Matisse. 

Next week our students will select a person that they would like to research through exploration of biography. I have plenty of resources available but please feel free to allow students to bring in their own books or articles if desired. A presentation and poster will be created once research is completed. 

Biography studies have aligned with our practice for the performance of “Heroes All” on March 4th. Some students wondered if they might bring an item or wear a hat or wig to imitate a famous hero for the performance. This is fine. Please allow your student to bring something to dress up for the show. It must be a small item- think hat, wig, or other worn item. Please have these totally optional items in as soon as is reasonable.

If you are looking for some additional ways to get your child excited about reading, you may like to take a field trip to the San Diego Central Library. Recently, I took my family to explore the fascinating architectural work and all the great resources that reside therein. Another option is using audiobooks in the car with the Audible app or checking out audiobooks from the library. Your student also has access at home to Rosetta Stone, Typing Club, Raz Kids, Dreambox, and all of the website links on our second grade website.

Attached is the Science Fair information. If you would like to participate in the Science Fair, you are more than welcome. Simply turn in your child’s proposal to me when you can to receive a poster board, and then bring the completed project to the MUR by 8:00 on March 21^st.

This Week’s Highlights

2/22-26

Phonics and word study focus

-le

Reading focus

Comprehension focus: Non-Fiction Texts: biography

Close reading: Artist biographies

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

Focus books: Artist Biographies

Writing focus

Conventions- Spacing, Feeling ending of sentences, Periods and Capitals, Commas in a series

Writing skill- transitions and topic sentences in expository writing

Topical writing- multiple paragraph essay, Civil Rights Heroes

Math focus

Full Math workshop

Math journal problem solving through visual models

Individualized challenges

Word Problem solving, larger numbers in addition and subtraction

Begin Measurement

Social Studies focus

Biographies

Science focus

Mrs. Minarik’s Science Lab

Homework

Daily reading, homework packet, and optional online work (razkids, rosetta stone, dreambox, typing club)

Update, 2/7

Briefly- 

-Mr. Phillip’s “Toy Day” as a reward for achievements in mileage club is Tuesday. Feel free to send an active, school appropriate toy. See previous email for more information.

-Valentine’s fun on Friday for the kids. Please help them make their Valentine’s cards for all students if interested in participating. We will not be having any treats in class but will be making some neat things and playing some games. 

-Service projects “Nick’s Picks” and “Sports Equipment Exchange” are in effect. Volunteers are needed for The Exchange. See note from Mireille Barnard here:

"Hi Heights Families,

We are organizing a Gently Used Sports Equipment Exchange (Click HERE for more details) and we will be needing a lot of volunteers. Please consider giving an hour of your time for this great event. The link to the sign-up sheet is below. If you would also forward this email to a couple of Heights families that you think might like to know about the event and/or could volunteer, we would really appreciate it.

Thanks so much!

Mireille & Heights Cares Team

p.s. if you have any trouble accessing the sign-up sheet, please let me know. 

-Mireille

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0f44acad2ea7fb6-used”

-Please be sure to sign up for parent conferences via our website.

-save the date: March 4th at 130 we will present “Heroes All!”- the students are sounding fantastic!

-Remember we have RazKids, Rosetta Stone, Dreambox, and Typing Club available for productive learning extensions at home. 

-Finally, be very proud of your young writers and social-scientists. They completed a multi-paragraph essay about their experiences with economics this last week. Stamina, structure, understanding of concepts, and willingness to take on challenges made ALL of the kids quite successful. We will continue our writing work with an essay that emerges out of this week’s biography studies. 

This Week’s Highlights

2/8-12

Phonics and word study focus

Kn,wr

Reading focus

Comprehension focus: Non-Fiction Texts: biography

Close reading: My Brother, Martin

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

Focus books: Ruby Bridges, My Brother Martin

Writing focus

Conventions- Spacing, Feeling ending of sentences, Periods and Capitals, Commas in a series

Writing skill- transitions and topic sentences in expository writing

Topical writing- multiple paragraph essay, character traits of biographical figures

Math focus

Full Math workshop

Math journal problem solving through visual models

Individualized challenges

Word Problem solving, larger numbers in addition and subtraction

Social Studies focus

Biographies

Science focus

Mrs. Minarik’s Science Lab

Homework

Daily reading, homework packet, and optional online work (razkids, rosetta stone, dreambox, typing club)

February is here!

Our last week was ripe with learning as the students planned and executed their businesses. Products and services were designed, business plans presented in order to gain functioning capital, advertising distributed, and a grand shopping fair was held. The M.U.R. Of the school had businesses ranging from gymnastics lessons, to original comic books, to custom purses, to mine craft models all on offer. During the fair, price points were altered to respond to challenges or opportunities in supply and demand. With minutes left in the sale, inventory was pushed out of the door as sale prices were announced. It was both a lot of fun and very productive. Aside from the obvious work in economics, I was very satisfied in the way that groups collaborated with an end goal in mind. Many variables had to be negotiated by the groups and all can be proud of their achievements. 

This week we will reflect on our learning by writing a five-paragraph essay about our work. I will be focusing on three different transitional tools to be used inside of paragraphs to make the pieces more readable and fluid while encouraging more interesting topic sentence use.

This week also signals the beginning of our biography studies units. We will be investigating the lives of important and influential people through reading and media. Over the course of many weeks, studies will involve literacy, art, music, and public speaking. In conjunction with this work, we are preparing for our performance of “Heroes All” on March 4th. 

Please be sure to sign up for parent conferences through our class website. Sharing about learning and setting new goals together is always rewarding.

The Del Mar Heights Dad’s Club put together a great sandbox area just adjacent to the garden. If you have any extra sand or beach toys that you would like to donate please send them in. 

Best,

 Andrew Smith

Teacher, Del Mar Heights School

This Week’s Highlights

2/1-5

Phonics and word study focus

Blend review

Reading focus

Comprehension focus: Non-Fiction Texts: features

Close reading: George’s Marvelous Medicine

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

Focus books: George’s Marvelous Medicine

Writing focus

Conventions- Spacing, Feeling ending of sentences, Periods and Capitals, Commas in a series

Writing skill- transitions in expository writing

Topical writing- multiple paragraph essay, “Economics and our Businesses”

Math focus

Full Math workshop

Math journal problem solving through visual models

Individualized challenges

Word Problem solving, larger numbers in addition and subtraction

Social Studies focus

Biographies

Science focus

Mrs. Minarik’s Science Lab

Homework

Daily reading, homework packet, and optional online work (razkids, rosetta stone, dreambox)

Update, 1/24

I just returned from enjoying a performance of “Seussical the Musical” with a few of our class’ families. It was great to see Tori on stage and to see the kids enjoying a night out with their families. 

Watching the show, it made me think of the impact that great literature can have on our understanding of the world and each other. Dr. Seuss is quite famous for his obvious allegory and morality tales. Recently, we have completed a short author study of Faith Ringgold’s books, which teach about the power of imagination to escape difficult circumstances and about the historic underground railroad. We followed this up with a fictionalized account of the true historical figure of Henry “box” Brown, who escaped from Slavery through the underground railroad. Surrounding studies of Martin Luther King Jr. and our simulation, speaker, and lab work throughUnderstanding Differences program help to further inform the driving idea of this past week or so- that we all are deserving of respect. It’s funny, we can tell our kids this simple fact one hundred times with only glancing impact, but a few good books and some meaningful conversations begin to create real understanding. 

In other exciting news, studies of economics have led us to our STEAM+ challenge. The challenge is for small groups to design, plan, advertise, and “sell” a product or service to a target customer base. Using a business plan, students applied for and received capital investment that they used to purchase or rent supplies needed to create their company. Then advertising and product is created to lead towards a final market day, where commerce will take place. The money is fake, the learning is real.

A few quick reminders:

-By Friday, Please send a white tee shirt with name on the label to be tie-dyed for our performance of “Heroes All” (3/4)

-Please sign up for parent/teacher conferences via our class website

This Week’s Highlights

1/25-29

Phonics and word study focus

r- controlled blends

Reading focus

Comprehension focus: Non-Fiction Texts: features

Close reading: Text-based questioning “Henry’s Freedom Box”

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

Focus books: Roald Dahl Choice book

Writing focus

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

Writing skill- Planning Opinion pieces

Topical writing- Opinion pieces, The best sport or activity

Math focus

Full Math workshop

Math journal problem solving through visual models

Individualized challenges

Word Problem solving, Join change unknown

Social Studies focus

Economics- STEAM+ challenge

Science focus

Mrs. Minarik’s Science Lab and Understanding Differences

Homework

Daily reading and optional online work (razkids, rosetta stone, dreambox)

Update, 1/10

Happy New Year!

Again, thank you so much for the very generous class gift! I am humbled and grateful. 

I would love to get a group of families from our classroom together to go see Tori in her performance of Seussical the Musical. Likely date would be Sunday, January 24th at 4:30 at the JCC in the UTC area. Please let me know by Wednesday, January 13th if you are interested and how many tickets you would require. I will try to get a group rate at that time. 

Our classroom is buzzing with activity..

We just entered into a new author study of the wonderful artist and award-winning children’s book author Faith Ringgold. Last week we explored her most famous book, Tar Beach, as an exercise in asking important readers’ questions and looking for the motive of the author in writing stories. Through close reading of the text, in both conversation and in our reading logs, we were able to explore questions about the importance of setting in the story and the symbolism in the actions of the character as a response to her problems. The book, which is set in New York City, offered an opportunity to speak about the broad swath of the world that lives very differently to us here in Del Mar and to build an empathetic response without establishing a dualist mentality. This week students will synthesize their thoughts about the book as they create a piece of artwork that helps summarize the primary lessons of the book. We will also engage with other of Ringgold’s books, again closely reading the text for important readers’ questions. 

In writing, we are pursuing expository work and opinion pieces as we refine structure for these different genres. At this point virtually all students can formulate and execute expository work of correct and repeatable structure that forms the essential blocks of writing to communicate information for all of the rest of their academic career. The structure is predicated upon the use of topic sentences, which reveal what is to be discussed, detail sentences, which teach new information, explanation sentences, which teach more about the preceding detail, and conclusion sentences, which reiterate the thrust of the piece. It is important to recognize that this structure is not rigid. Rather, once internalized, students are able to write coherently about any topic with confidence and flexibility. Ask your child to share about how an expository paragraph is crafted and try your hand at the craft.

We have begun our study of economics. Your child will be learning about wants versus needs, consumers, producers, and resources. Our class will become a tiny town with students earning incomes, starting their own businesses, and selling their merchandise to each other. It might be the perfect time to have a lemonade stand or start an allowance. Teach your child to understand the value and use of money now to help them in their future.

Del Mar Heights Award-Winning Understanding Differences program is ongoing throughout January. Second-grade students will build knowledge and understanding of issues surrounding hearing and hearing impairment through simulation, science labs, and interactions with speakers. This is a great time to speak to your child about the importance of acceptance, empathy, and flexibility since the world is full of individuals all of whom carry their own unique traits.

In February, our attention will focus on biographies. We will end our study with our all-second grade musical performance called Heroes All on Friday, March 4^th from 1:00-2:30 in the MUR followed by cookies outside our second grade classrooms. In Art, the kids will be making their costumes: tie-dye shirts. Each child will need a plain white t-shirt by Friday, January 29^th. Their names need to be written on the tag. The shirts can be used or new. New shirts need to be pre-washed to help the tie-dye set. Target sells packs of 3, if you would like to partner up with a friend. We need 3-4 parent volunteers for Feb. 3, Feb. 4, or Feb. 5. Volunteers can embrace their inner camp counselor skills and dye the prepped shirts. If you would like to help, but cannot dye shirts, you could donate the tie-dye or rubber bands for our class.

January Focus

Reading: Increase reading stamina and enjoyment, learn strategies for comprehension, accuracy, and fluency

Writing/Grammar:  Opinion & narrative

Math:  Place value, adding and subtracting larger numbers

Science: Sound Energy, Hearing Loss, Understanding Differences

Social Studies: Economics (STEAM project: Student-made businesses)

Spanish:  Rosetta Stone

PE: Cooperative team building games

Music: Reading music, playing kazoos, singing, preparation for our Heroes All performance

Tinkering Lab: Cooperative problem solving, engineering, and old-fashioned tinkering

Understanding Differences: Hearing loss

er, Del Mar Heights School

Smith update, 1/3

Hello Fantastic Families,

I trust you all enjoyed a festive holiday period. Thank you so much for your very generous class gift! I am humbled by your generosity. 

I am itching to get back in the classroom with the kids. I love to hear the stories and thoughts from vacations and to begin to work on the many activities that we have in store. Thank you for keeping your child on a good and restful routine during the week back from vacation. The mornings can be hard for kids (and their parents) but rest assured we will be starting the days comfortably and easing back into the rhythm of the school weeks. 

Also, thank you for keeping your child reading and thinking during vacation. I can see through both Dreambox and Razkids students have been keeping their skills sharp! Well done!

This Week’s Highlights

1/4-8

Phonics and word study focus

suffixes –ful, -ness

Reading focus

Comprehension focus: Fiction texts- The power of Setting,  

Close reading: Text-based questioning

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

Focus books: Author Study- Faith Ringgold

Writing focus

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

Writing skill- Planning Opinion pieces, continued

Topical writing- Opinion pieces, The very finest holiday, The perfect class pet

Math focus

Full Math workshop

Math journal problem solving through visual models

Individualized challenges

Telling time and working with money

Place value and computation (larger numbers)

Social Studies focus

Science focus week

Science focus

Mrs. Minarik’s Science Lab and sound

Homework

Daily reading, Homework packet and optional online work (Razkids, Rosetta Stone, Dreambox)