Fluency, Comprehension and Guided Reading: Making It Work in the Classroom

Fluency, Comprehension and Guided Reading: Making It Work in the Classroom

Fluency, Comprehension and Guided Reading: Making It Work in the Classroom

Support Your Child's Reading

Helping Your Child With Spelling

Summer Reading Challenge Using Student Lexile Information

As the end of the school year approaches, we begin encouraging our children to stay involved in reading over the summer.  We are all aware of the “summer slide” that occurs when students do not read on a regular basis and begin to fall behind in reading achievement.  To prevent this, we would like to share with you a national, state-led summer reading initiative that supports students in finding great books to read over the summer.

Georgia is launching the 2013 Summer Reading Challenge to combat this summer loss in student reading ability.   The Lexile “Find a Book” website can help identify books that students are interested in and are able to read.  This tool can be found at www.Lexile.com/fab/GA.    Information about the Georgia Department of Education’s Summer Reading Challenge initiative can be found at:  http://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Curriculum-and-Instruction/Pages/Georgia-Summer-Reading-Challenge.aspx

You may also find this information posted on www.georgiastandards.org.  Additionally, information about Lexiles on student test reports and how to use this information can be found at www.gadoe.org/lexile.aspx.

We appreciate you joining our Summer Reading Challenge efforts to help students “Find-a-Book” and increase their reading skills.

Thank you for helping make education work for all Georgia students.

Martha

__________________________________________
Martha Ross Reichrath, Ph.D.
Deputy State Superintendent
Georgia Department of Education
Office of Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment, and Accountability
205 Jesse Hill Jr., Drive
1770 Twin Towers East
Atlanta, GA 30334
(404) 656-2804 - phone
(770) 344-4382 - fax
mreichrath@doe.k12.ga.us
http://gadoe.org
Follow us on Twitter: @gadoenews and @drjohnbarge
Like us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/gadoe

"Making Education Work for All Georgians" 

Best Day of the Year

Long Jump

   One of my students dad made us field day shirts. 

                                     

Face Painting

Face Painting

We Can! Screen Time Chart

Fill out the We Can! Screen Time Chart to see how much time your family spends in front of a screen.

Keep one chart for each person. Be sure to include time spent with cell phones and other hand-held video or gaming devices. Post the chart where it’s easy for everyone to see and use. Good places are near the family TV, by the computer, or on the refrigerator. If screen time for each person is less than 2 hours a day,
you’re doing great! If it’s 2 hours or more, then it’s time to move more. Find ideas to get your family moving in the We Can! Family Guide. Take a look at:

• We Can! Parent Tips: Help Your Kids Reduce Screen Time and Move More
• We Can! Parent Tips: Be Active and Have Fun

You can print more screen time charts from the We Can! Web site at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/wecan/downloads/screen-time-log.pdf.

How to fill in the We Can! Screen Time Chart
To fill in your family’s screen time chart— For each day, write the hours spent for each type of screen. Then add the hours for each day. Write the total in the “Daily Total” column.






http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/wecan/downloads/screen-time-log.pdf

Make A Difference In A Child's Life

Do you remember the first time you were asked to comprehend matter, the solar system, or life long ago? Science and social studies standards are challenging for second graders because they mainly understand concert concepts . They need opportunities to read on grade level and have hands on centers to learn about abstract concepts.  Please visit the site below to make a donation to help fund materials needed for my second grade classroom.  No donation is to small.  Any amount will be greatly appreciated.

http://www.donorschoose.org/project/reading-science-and-social-studieso/996161/?verify=-1669077678

Helpful Information for Families Looking Summer Opportunities

WEBSITES FOR SUMMER CAMPS

ACC Leisure Services:

http://athensclarkecounty.com/index.aspx?NID=1604

http://issuu.com/accleisureservices/docs/summer_2013_program_guide_final_booklet_pdf?mode=window

Georgia Bulldogs Camps & Clinics:

http://www.georgiadogs.com/camps/geo‐camps.html

Summer Marine Science Camps:

http://www.marex.uga.edu/aquarium/summerCamps.html

Athens YMCA Camps:

http://www.athensymca.org/day‐camp

Athens Parent.Com (Good Overview of Choices):

http://www.athensparent.com/campus

Food is in when school is out!

This summer, children between the ages of 1 and 18 can come eat lunch at no

cost. No registration required.

WHERE: Fowler Drive Elementary School, Oglethorpe Elementary School, Gaines Elementary School

WHEN: Tuesday, May 28th—Friday, July 19th

TIME: 11:00am—1:00pm

Adults are welcome, too. Cost of an adult meal is $3.00. Meals must be eaten on site.

Free summer meals (breakfast, lunch, or snacks) will be served to children in low-income areas at sites such as neighborhood parks, libraries, schools, places of worship, mobile buses, and recreation centers.

To find free summer meals near you, call the toll-free National Hunger Hotline at 1-866-3-HUNGRY or visitwww.whyhunger.org/findfood. 

If you work for an organization that serves low-income children, you can learn more about addressing childhood hunger when school is out by watching the Summer Food training videos.

Learn more about the summer meals program. You can also get childhood nutrition e-mail updates from the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service.

Surfing For A Cure

Winterville Elementary is Surfing for a Cure for cancer.  In support of our theme, students and teachers dressed up in Hawaiian style clothes.  Also the school sold glow sticks to help raise money for our relay team.

Brushing, Flossing, and Learning......OH MY!

Our Focus Student, Ms. Elizabeth, is going to school to be a dentist.  Part of her program is educating students about dental health.  The students were given models of teeth to practice brushing correctly, lego toys with play dough to practice flossing, and goods to sort into healthy and unhelathy for teeth. 

To help your children protect their teeth and gums and greatly reduce their risk of getting cavities, teach them to follow these simple steps:

• Brush twice a day with an ADA — accepted fluoride toothpaste to remove plaque-the sticky film on teeth that's the main cause of tooth decay.
• Floss daily to remove plaque from between your teeth and under the gumline, before it can harden into tartar. Once tartar has formed, it can only be removed by a professional cleaning.
• Eat a well-balanced diet that limits starchy or sugary foods, which produce plaque acids that cause tooth decay. When you do eat these foods, try to eat them with your meal instead of as a snack-the extra saliva produced during a meal helps rinse food from the mouth.
• Use dental products that contain fluoride, including toothpaste.
• Make sure that your children's drinking water is fluoridated. If your water supply; municipal, well or bottled does not contain fluoride, your dentist or pediatrician may prescribe daily fluoride supplements.
• Take your child to the dentist for regular checkups.

What Brushing Techniques Can I Show My Child?
You may want to supervise your children until they get the hang of these simple steps:

• Use a pea-sized dab of an ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste. Take care that your child does not swallow the toothpaste.
• Using a soft-bristled toothbrush, brush the inside surface of each tooth first, where plaque may accumulate most. Brush gently back and forth.
• Clean the outer surfaces of each tooth. Angle the brush along the outer gumline. Gently brush back and forth.
• Brush the chewing surface of each tooth. Gently brush back and forth.
• Use the tip of the brush to clean behind each front tooth, both top and bottom.
• It's always fun to brush the tongue!

When Should My Child Begin Flossing?
Because flossing removes food particles and plaque between teeth that brushing misses, you should floss for your children beginning at age 4. By the time they reach age 8, most kids can begin flossing for themselves.

Visit  ADA for kids for fun dental activites.

Books to Read to Your Child

Here is a list of 100 books to read to your second grader.

Classics

¨     Henry and Mudge by Cynthia Rylant

¨     Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg

¨     Ira Says Goodbye by Bernard Waber

¨     The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams Bianco

¨     Mrs. Piggle Wiggle by Betty MacDonald

¨     Junie B. Jones by Barbara Park

¨     Millions of Cats by Wanda Gag

¨     Tom by Tomie dePaola

¨     McElligot’s Pool by Dr. Seuss

Anchor Texts for Reading and Writing Lessons

¨      Everybody Needs a Rock by Byrd Baylor

¨     Guess Who My Favorite Person Is by Byrd Baylor

¨     What Do Authors Do? by Eileen Christelow

¨     Chester by Melanie Watt

¨     Nana Upstairs/Nana Downstairs by Tomie dePaola

¨     How Many Days to America by Tomie dePaola

¨     Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse by Leo Lionni

¨     The Day Jimmy’s Boa Ate the Wash by Steven Kellogg

¨     Flossie and the Fox by Patricia McKissack

¨     Johnny on the Spot by Edward Sorel

Folk and Fairy Tales

¨     Hattie and the Fox by Mem Fox

¨     Mr. Peabody’s Apples by Madonna and Loren Long

¨     Hansel and Gretel by Rika Lesser

¨     Tales Our Abuelitas Told by F. Campoy & Alma Ada

¨     Lon Po Po by Ed Young

¨     The Three Pigs by David Wiesner

¨     The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig by Eugene Travizas

¨     The Hole in the Dike by Norma Green

¨     Wolf! Wolf! By Elizabeth and Gerald Rose

¨     Rumpelstiltskin’s Daughter by Diane Stanley

Words, Numbers, and Poetry Books

¨          Anno’s Mysterious Multiplying Jar by Mitsumasa Anno

¨          A Cache of Jewels by Ruth Heller

¨          Dogku by Andrew Clements

¨          Mom and Dad Are Palindromes by Mark Shulman

¨          It’s Raining Pigs and Noodles by Jack Prelutsky

¨          Science Verse by Jon Scieszka

¨          Big Words for Little People by Jamie Lee Curtis

¨          The Greedy Triangle by Marilyn Burns

¨          Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday by J. Viorst

¨          Casey at Bat by Ernest Thayer  

¨          Thesaurus Rex by Laya Steinberg

Award Winners and Honor Books

¨     Black and White by David Macaulay

¨     Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney

¨     Song and Dance Man by Karen Ackerman

¨     Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel

¨     Mr. George Baker by Amy Hest

¨     Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin

¨     Kitten’s First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes

¨     Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans

¨     The Red Book by Barbara Lehman

¨     What Do You Do With a Tail Like This by Steve Jenkins

¨     Mirette on the High Wire by Emily Arnold McCully

Friends, Families and Multicultural Tales

¨     Amelia’s Road by Linda Jacobs

¨     Dandelions by Eve Bunting

¨     Fly Away Home by Eve Bunting

¨     My Great Aunt Arizona by Gloria Houston

¨     Painted Dreams by Karen Lynn Williams

¨     Julian, Secret Agent by Ann Cameron

¨     The Pain and the Great One by Judy Blume

¨     Crow Boy by Taro Yashima

¨     A Day’s Work by Eve Bunting

¨     An Orange for Frankie by Patricia Polacco

¨     Black is Brown is Tan by A. Adoff

Fantasy/Daydreams/Fiction books with Lessons

¨     Skippyjon Jones by Judith Byron Schachner

¨     Henry Hikes to Fitchburg by P.D. Johnson

¨     Tuesday by David Wiesner

¨     Nim’s Island by Wendy Orr

¨     Comet’s Nine Lives by Jan Brett

¨     Fox and His Friends by Edward Marshall

¨     The Empty Pot by Demi

¨     Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett

¨     Miss Nelson is Missing by Harry Allard

Informational Text

¨     Ape  by Martin Jenkins

¨     The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry

¨     Oceans by Seymour Simon

¨     A River Ran Wild by Lynne Cherry

¨     Wolves by R.D. Lawrence

¨     Look What Tails Can Do by Dorothy Souza

¨     Frida by Jonah Winter

¨     Thanksgiving Day by Gail Gibbons

¨     The Seasons of Arnold’s Apple Tree by Gail Gibbons

Silly Stories and “Feel Good” Stories

¨     Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish

¨     Goodnight Opus by Berkeley Breathed

¨     The Adventures of Taxi Dog by Debra & Sal Barracca

¨     Sneakers the Seaside Cat by Margaret Wise Brown

¨     Get Ready for Second Grade, Amber Brown by PaulaDanziger

¨     Duck for President by Doreen Cronin

¨     Gooney Bird Greene by Lois Lowry

¨     Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathman

¨     The Whingdingdily by Bill Peet

¨     Dancing in the Wings by D. Allen

All About Me

¨     Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes

¨      The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant

¨     When I Was Young in the Mountains by Cynthia Rylant

¨     We Are Best Friends by Aliki

¨     How to Be a Baby, by Me the Big Sister Sally Lloyd-Jones

¨     My Rotten Red-Headed Older Brother by Patricia Polacco

¨     Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst

¨     A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. Williams

¨     Allie’s Basketball Dream by B. E. Barbara
¨     Smoky Night by Eve Bunting 

Math At Home

Sandy Creek Outreach Visit

Today Second Grade was visited by Ms. Mowbray from Sandy Creek Nature Center.  She provided interactive and hands-on activities to meet Georgia Performance Standards and Common Core Standards.  The students learned about life cycles from birth to death of animals and plants.  We learned how living things grow, change, reproduce and die. Ms. Mowbray brought in live animals (hissing cockroach and blue tounge skink) as well as preserved examples of stages of life cycles from insects.  The students were divided into three groups to participate in the hands on activities such as ordering life cycles of living things, sorting living and nonliving things, and baby and adult animal sort. 

And The Prize Goes To......

                                                 MIRIAM

She was part of the science fair bridge building contest.  She and her team built a bridge using sticks and books.  The construction and testing of model bridges promotes the study and application of fundamental principles physics and also helps high school students develop "hands on" skills through bridge construction. By participating in the Bridge Building Competition students get a flavor of what it is to be an Engineer, designing structures to a set of specifications and then seeing them perform their function. They are also provided with an academically-oriented extracurricular activity which is recognized school-wide.  She and her team will now compete on the district level.  Please join my class in wishing our very own Miriam good luck!

Student Teachers, Focus Students, and Leaders As Readers....OH MY!

I know many of you have heard about special guests at our school.  I want to help you understand the roles and benefits of having special guests. Our school is very lucky to have strong connections to UGA and the community.  Due these connections, student teachers, focus students, and community volunteers work with our school and students to enrich educational experiences.  Student teachers are men and women that are majoring in education.  They are placed in classrooms during their time at UGA to observe, learn, and practice being an effective teacher.  Depending on how far along they are in the program determines how involved the student teachers are in the classroom.  Student teachers share their fresh outlook on how to teach the standards. Focus students are part of a science project at UGA.  FOCUS stands for Fostering Our Community's Understanding of Science. The project is a partnership between UGA and our school district to improve science instruction. Focus Students visit classrooms twice a week to provide hands on science activities.  Leaders as Readers is a program that allows for leaders and role models in our community to visit our students to read to the students and be a symbol of how learning can help you reach your goals.

100th Day of School

Today, January 23, is the 100th day of school.  The students used the number 100 to display their productive thinking talent by making the 100 become other things besides a number.  

Curriculum Night: What is it? Is it important?

                                                                         Curriculum Night

                                                                    Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Q:  What is curriculum night?

A: Curriculum Nights are held throughout the school year to enable teachers to inform parents about the standards and skills students are learning.  Second Grade chooses a theme for each curriculum night.  For example, the focus of the up coming curriculum night is writing.  We will explain what is expected for your child to learn and be able to do to master second grade writing standards.  We also will discuss any additional new or important information that may impact you or your child.

Q:  Is parent involvement important?

A: Yes!  Research shows that students with involved parents do better in school.
Parent Involvement and Student Success



Q: What is the agenda for the curriculum night on January 15, 2013?

A:  Here is a list of topics for discussion.

•  Writing Standards-What does my child needs to know and how I can help my child to meet writing standards?
• New Teacher Blog:Another Way To Stay In Touch
• Parental Involvement-How can we improve it?

Welcome to Ms. Phillips' 2nd Grade Blog for Parents

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