Essential Week-Before-Vacation Schedule

Hello Families,

In this busy holiday season I give thanks for your children and your support. Great things are happening! In the interest of efficiency, see below.

Reminders for our last week before vacation:

*Homework: read and be flexible to the plans of your family

*Monday: Kid-made Instruments due for our musical march around the school

*Tuesday: Wheels day! Reward for winning mileage club. Students may bring wheels and a helmet.

*By Thursday: Bring your gift wrapped book(s), gender neutral, for book exchange ($10.00 value)

*Thursday: Winterfest 1:00-2:00ish

wear white shirt and a winter hat (beanie, Ski hat, Santa hat, other winter hat (not a baseball cap)

*Friday Read-In: Pack a bag with books and a blanket To build blanket forts.   

*Monday, Jan. 4: School Resumes

Hello Fantastic and Frozen Families,

Quickly- 

Dec. 14 = STEAM+ project due. Kid made musical instruments for the Second Grade Marching Band (information to come)

Dec. 17= Book exchange, $10 book to exchange 

Dec. 17= Winterfest 1:00-2:30

Dec. 18= Blanket fort challenge and read in.

December calls for celebration. We have had a wonderful first third to the school year, capped off by conference week. Thank you for spending the time sharing perspectives and collaborating on making sure our students grow in both mind and spirit. 

We ended the last week with an enjoyable school-wide Art Day. In class we worked on three different creative projects- a guided drawing, a process abstraction using prints of freshly fallen fall leaves, and a small-group collaborative play written, staged, and performed by the students. These kinds of experiences are critical to helping balance the more direct(ed) academic work that makes up the norm of education. As a matter of fact, including creativity and choice into all academic areas is important to helping students generalize and synthesize knowledge for application. In class, I use many flexible models and choice times to empower students to create using the things they know and are learning. As a quick example, just yesterday while we remain in our secondary classroom (return to our classroom is now imminent) I could look around during our literacy practice time and see a group of students drafting a new book for the Goosebumps series, individuals working on creating the illustrations for their completed narratives, students working in a group to create the model for a store (money work), and readers going through comparing all of the books of our now-completed author study of Chris Van Allsburg’s books. These were not assignments, these were chosen activities that engender and require collaboration and critical thinking. Beyond this, these kinds of activities run parallel to what we as adults do on an ongoing basis: learn, plan, use, reflect, refine, use again.

Yesterday we hosted a therapy dog for a moment in class. This happy pup’s name was Annie and she came with her handler to share a bit about how the companionship of a friend can mean so much. This visit was another in a series of many, many experiences to help students gain a foundation of empathy and compassion towards others in the world around them. With this in mind, our award-winning Understanding Differences program is approaching and we could use some volunteers. Please keep an eye out for information in the next couple of days. 

In science this week we are beginning to understand the properties of sound. This includes experiences based around vibration, sound waves, pitch, volume, and the movement of sound through different mediums. Today we spent time playing xylophones, metalophones, and drums to experience some of these concepts. Future experiments and experiences will only serve to expand our understanding. 

The last day before Winter Break, all of the second grades will have a book exchange. Books need to be appropriate for boys and girls, gender neutral. They can be used or new, and around $10 in value. If you give used books, they need to be in good condition and of good quality. If you would like to use Scholastic, our class will receive free books. Scholastic.com/bookclubs  Activation Code: FQGJJ. Books are due by Thursday the 17th. On the following day, the kids will be building blanket and pillow forts for their read in. They will need to bring in one blanket, one pillow, and as many books as they would like for the challenge, lucky kids. 

The grandparent letters have mostly been read and as a class we have had the privilege of learning about your ancestors as well as hearing their grandparents’ life advice. Almost every letter ended with the same theme, be grateful, be yourself, have fun, try your best, be brave, try new things, be curious, and love everyone. We have also been graced with the sharing of some amazing family heirlooms. To have real interactions surrounding our families’ lives is eye-opening to our young learners. 

Best,

 Andrew Smith

Teacher, Del Mar Heights School

This Week’s Highlights

11/30-12/4

Phonics and word study focus

Long vowels, doubling consonants in –vc words when using suffixes, 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: Articles about vision, sharks, and Native peoples, 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, The perfect class pet

Math focus

Full Math workshop

Math journal problem solving through visual models

Individualized challenges

Telling time and working with money

Geometry

Social Studies focus

Science focus week

Science focus

Mrs. Minarik’s Science Lab and sound

Homework

Daily reading and homework packet

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. 

Smith update 10/25

As part of our STEAM+ work we have been collaborating with our science teacher, Mrs. Minarik in working on ideas of engineering and structural integrity versus different forces. Torsion, tension, and compression were discussed as students planned, designed, built, tested, evaluated, and redesigned bridges intended to hold enormous loads of weight (pennies). To follow this work in the science lab, we will be working on math and art extensions that help solidify and extend understanding. 

Every author in our class is completing work on a narrative entry to the PTA Reflections Program. This year’s theme, “Let your imagination fly!” was a welcome invitation to continue the work we have done in developing the full process of narrative writing. We plan, draft, revise, and publish with a growing understanding of the text structures that support narrative storytelling. In this project we used Chris Van Allsburg’s fantastic book, “The Mystery of Harris Burdick” to inspire tales of great imagination. In the book, there are strange illustrations with only a title left to accompany them. These images beg for stories to tell their tales and our students have been happy to oblige. As we finish this week I will be typing the stories to ready them for the Reflections show. Keep your eyes open for an invitation in the next few weeks. 

Speaking of invitations, Please remember that our performance of “The Ugly Pumpkin” will be staged just following the annual Halloween parade. Plan for a bit of fun and some pumpkin treats between  8 and 9 in the morning. 

If you have not done so, please sign up for a parent/teacher conference using our class website. 

As always, thank you for your ongoing support and for sending your students to school each day ready to learn. 

update, 10/18

Hello Parents of Second Grade Superstars,

We hope you can join the class in a presentation of “The Ugly Pumpkin” following our annual Del Mar Heights Halloween Parade on Friday the 30th. The performance should run from about 840-9 and we will follow up with a bit of socializing and some pumpkin treats. If you’d care to bring a pumpkin snack please sign up through our class website. 

During our Daily Five Reading Jobs time, our young readers extend at their various paces and according to their needs through literature and non-fiction. As part of this time, students are frequently required to use a reading log to respond to “close reading” questioning in order to activate and practice higher-level comprehension work. The questioning is derived from high-quality literature chosen for specific purposes. Currently, Chris Val Allsburg’s fantastic works are our base for learning. His works tend to leave room for inferential thinking and invite the reader to wrestle with issues of character perspective and authorial choices. This can all be a bit overwhelming to a young reader. Sensibly and necessarily, the highest level questioning is supported by series of questions that move from the rote and easily discoverable to the more abstract text-dependent questions. We work in whole group settings, small group settings, and individually towards that end. A sampling of questions from the last couple of weeks includes, “How was the Sherrif’s perspective different than that of the child who was coloring in the coloring book?”, “What did Maggie learn in the story and how do you know that she learned it?”, and “Who was the boy in The Wreck of the Zephyr? How do you know?” The students are showing great progress with justifying their reasoning and refining their thinking. 

As always, thank you for sending well-prepared students to school each day!

This Week’s Highlights

October 19-23

Phonics and word study focus

Long vowels- oa, ow, Nouns and verbs working together

Reading focus

Comprehension focus: Author Study, Chris Van Allsburg,

Close reading: connections and readers’ questions

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

Focus books: Van Allsburg, Halloween, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Writing focus

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

Writing skill- Showing/Telling, Narrative structure and the writing process

Topical writing- expository, Government

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- Doubles arrays

Social Studies focus

Government

Science focus

Bridges and Engineering inMrs. Minarik’s Science Lab

Homework

Daily reading and homework packet