Newsletter 5/20-5/28

This will be the last blog of the year.
Here is a summary of events in order for the remaining days:

5/20 Monday: Practice for the performance, review math and spelling concepts throughout the year. Continue Mississippi Unit. Mississippi County Projects DUE!!!

5/21 Tuesday: Practice for the performance: Lake Party at the Antinnes' from 10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.

         WE WILL MEET AT SCHOOL BEFORE GOING TO THE LAKE. WE WILL RETURN TO THE SCHOOL FOR NORMAL DISMISSAL. 

5/23 Wednesday: Practice for the performance, review math and spelling concepts throughout the year. Continue Mississippi Unit. Used uniform sale and incoming Kindergarteners visit 

5/24 Thursday: Practice for the performance, review math and spelling concepts throughout the year. Continue Mississippi Unit. Final performance is at 6:30 The girls will wear nice “church” clothes to the final performance.  A skirt or dress is recommended.  The boys will wear a button up shirt and khaki pants.  Please make sure they can dance in their shoes!  Shoes with a heel would be a problem for the performance. Mugshots cookout to follow. 

5/25 Friday: Field Day at Bellegrass

5/27 Memorial Day- No School

5/28 Halfday NOON dismissal

Dress Code for the Week:

Monday- Free Athletic Dress

Tuesday- Free Dress (don't forget to check previous posts/emails for what your child needs for the lake) 

Wednesday- BDS T-SHIRT and shorts (like all PE days)

Thursday- Free Athletic Dress

Friday- DRESS FOR FIELD DAY- sunscreen, swimsuit, shorts, t-shirt, tennis shoes

Lake Party: Siblings

Dear Parents,

   I'm so happy to hear how excited everyone is about the lake party next week! I think it's going to be really great. I didn't mention in my earlier email about siblings. Normally, siblings are invited to BDS events, however, since this is just a 2nd grade event and water is involved, I'm asking parents not bring younger siblings. There will be a lot going on- tubing, boating, swimming, kayaking and much more. It will be easier to make sure all of the 2nd graders are receiving our full attention if no siblings are around. Thank you for understanding the need to keep safety a priority. 

                            - Mary Katherine

                                                               

2nd Grade Lake Party!!!

Dear Parents,
    Jennie Antinnes, Tara Davis and Allison Foxworth are going to host a
lake party at the Antinnes' lake house on Tuesday, May 21st. We will all
meet at BDS at the normal time for prayer and rehearsal for the final
performance. After we are finished with rehearsal and snack, Jennie, Tara,
Allison, Christy and myself will drive everyone over to the Antinnes' from
around 10-2p.m. Then, we will bring them back to the school for dismissal.
If you would like to pick your child up from the Antinnes', please let me
know so that we have a headcount when we return.

*Items to bring:*

   1. Snack: At school before we head over to the Antinnes'
   2. Swimsuit: we will be tubing and swimming, please make sure the

   swimsuit can hold up during water sports please.

   3. Life vests: If your child has a life jacket that they are accustom to

   wearing, please send it with your child with your name on it. If you do not
   have one, we will have extras provided for your child's safety.

   4. Towel: Please bring a towel
   5. Change of clothes for after swimming
   6. Any needed gear for assisting in swimming. (Please, no toys of

   floats. There will be plenty at the lake already.)

   7. Lunch will be provided by Tara Davis!!!!

Newsletter 5/13-5/17

Dear Parents,
     We had a great week. Your kids worked very hard taking their tests. Thank you for getting them here every day on time, fed, and rested. It sounds like there were some really fun breakfasts made!


Math: Continue Fractions: Fractions Quiz on Wednesday over simplifying and comparing fractions

Language Arts: Reading books on Mississippi in class and doing fun activities. If you would like to help make Mississippi Mud Pie or bring any materials, please let me know!

Science: Reactions!

Newsletter Week 35 5/6-5/10

State Testing: Wednesday-Friday. These tests cannot be made up, so please try your best to be here on time.

Monday and Tuesday:
     Review MCT2 practice tests, continue fractions in math, finish reading "Lunch Money." Take a test over "Lunch Money" on Tuesday. Reactions in science.  

Newsletter Week 34 4/29-5/3

Field Day at Bellegrass on Friday, 5/3/13. 

Math: Fractions

Reading: Continue "Lunch Money" - Test over the book on Tuesday, 5/ 7/13. No quiz this week. 

Language Arts: Practice MCT2 Language Arts Test 

Spelling: NO sentences or vocabulary

1. your

2. you're

3. their

4. there

5. they're 

6. isn't

7. wouldn't

8. couldn't 

9. she'll

10. they've 

11. shouldn't

12. he's 

13. we're 

14. were

15. where 

Science: Measurement (time, length, volume, temperature)  

       There will be a quiz over this on Thursday, 5/2/13

Newsletter Week 33 4/22-4/26

Math: Finish Symmetry, Congruent, Tangrams. Test on Tuesday, 4/23
        - Review over measurement on Friday 
Language Arts: List making

Reading: Continue "Lunch Money"

Spelling/Vocabulary

Spelling: CVCe words

1. compose

2. enforce

3. expire

4. recline

5. confide

6. refine

7. explore

8. confine 

9. require

10. polite

1. We will compose a song for mom's birthday. 

2. I hope this milk doesn't expire soon!   

Vocabulary:

1. healthy- being free of illness or disease 

2. sequence- the order in which things happen

3. magnet- a material that attracts iron

4. museum- a building where objects of interest are displayed 

5. across- from one side of something to the other side

6. agree- to think the same way about something

7. undo- to untie or unfasten something

8. quack- the sound made by a duck

9. gentle- peaceful, careful

10. grip- to hold firmly, (noun) to have a strong hold on something. 

Social Studies:

 Continue maps 

Conceptual: Finish Business Plans- DUE WEDNESDAY 

Newsletter Week 32 4/15-4/19

Dear Parents,

     I am so excited for the lovely weather! I'm sure the kids are too. However, let's not forget that we still have 8 more weeks of school remaining. I am trying to incorporate fun activities and outdoor learning to help keep the kids active. Thank you for all you do to help make their learning experience the best it can be. 

This Week:

Math: Congruence and Symmetry 

Reading: Continue "Lunch Money"

Language Arts: Understand, interpret, and analyze narrative and informational text at grade level text 

Spelling and Vocabulary: 

Spelling: -ur words

proof	furl	hurl	turn	churn
hurt	curl	deck	neck	next
text

Vocabulary:

steep- a near-vertical slope or incline

sleek- having an even, smooth surface; (adverb) with ease 

fleet- swift in motion, quickly moving from one place or another. (noun) a group of ships or vehicles

spite- to treat badly, to try to injure

quite- completely; entirely; totally; perfectly

whine- a long-drawn high-piched complaining voice or sound

spine- a person's or things backbone

drive- self-motivation; ability and interest to do something

tribe- a socially, ethnically group of people (a group of Native American Indians)

brine- salt water, the sea or ocean. (Verb) to preserve food in a salt solution

Social Studies:

Maps

Newsletter Week 31 4/8-4/12

Math: Test on Thursday over Geometry Unit 10. Test over the 11's facts on Friday. Study Math facts. Study geometry flashcards.
Langauge Arts: Story Telling
Reading: Please download Lunch Money by Andrew Clement
Social Studies: Continue Community Buildings.
Spelling/Vocabulary

Spelling:
1. delicious
2. bread
3. island
4. promise
5. desert
6. dessert
7. honesty
8. pillow
9. chair
10. cabinet

1.Those cookies were delicious!
2. The islander is surrounded by water.

Vocabulary:
1. waiter: a man who serves food in a restaurant.
2. wheel: a round and rotating part of a vehicle
3. narrow: not wide, skinny, a small passage
4. nectar: a liquid produced by flowers and collected by bees
5. nervous: worried or frightened about something or unable to relax
6. harmful: causing harm or danger
7. haze: dust, smoke or mist in the air that makes it hard to see
8. kettle: a special metal pot used for boiling and pouring water
9. improve: to make better
10. erupt: to break out violently

Newsletter Week 30 4/2-4/5

Materials Needed for This Week!
- A square/cube tissue box. Rectangular Prism boxes are too flat for what we are using them for. Tissues do not have to be in the boxes.
- A large shoebox for our communities.


THANK YOU!!!!
    Thank you all who helped with teacher appreciation week. I felt very loved. I enjoyed all the letters and notes and can't wait to use my gift card!! Thank you also for doing the Easter Egg hunt! The kids loved it. Y'all are wonderful!

This week:

Math: Geometry; Math Facts test over the 10's

Language Art: Fact or Opinion based written responses

Reading: Finish "Judy Mood Saves the World." Test on Friday over the entire book.

Spelling and Vocabulary:

Spelling: Words with ch/tch blends. 

1. next

2. example

3. chance

4. watch

5. speech

6. chew

7. begin

8. source

9. open

10. model

1. Watch the next example on the board.

2. Don't chew gum when you give a speech. 

Vocabulary:

1. antler: the horn-like bone that grows on the head of an animal

2. arrange- to organize, to put in order and make it look neat

3. aid- help that is given or received 

4. glaze- to cover with a thin, shiny coating. Or a shiny thin cover 

5. govern: to rule a group of people

6. rare- not common; unusual: Also, food that is not cooked completely 

7. retire- to stop working, usually because of old age

8. fade- to lose its original color 

9. fame- the state of being known by a lot of people because of your achievements 

10. fancy- fashionable, nice looking: (Verb) To like, admire 

Social Studies: Communities 

Newsletter Week 29 3/25-3/28

This Week:
  - Short week with Easter Break. No school Friday or the following Monday.
  - Photo contest:
              BDS Photography Contest

To honor Ansel Adams, innovator in the art of photography, BDS will host a contest for our students!

Rules and Guidelines

• Picture must be in black and white
• The subject matter should be landscape or documentation of a social or environmental issue.  
• The student should be the one taking the picture.
• Student is responsible for printing the picture and submitting it.
• If possible, picture should be printed on film paper for better quality.    
• The students MUST DO THEIR OWN WORK!!!
• The pictures are due on Thursday, March 28, 2013.  
• Here is an app if anyone is interested in downloading it:  Dramatic Black and White APP ($1.99).  

- Character Flipbook 

Character Flipbook Contest

We have studied the great innovator, Walt Disney.  Like Walt Disney, the students are to choose an animal to create a character.  I have provided the flipbook materials. The competition will be divided into the following two groups:  K-2^nd and 3^rd-7^th grade.  The first place winner for the K-2^nd group will win a gift card to 32 degrees yogurt.  The first place winner for the 3^rd – 7^th grade will win an iTunes gift card.  Everyone has to complete a flipbook, even if they decide not to enter the contest.  Listed below are requirements the students must follow.

Requirements:
-  title page:  must include character name and illustrator name
-  must include five original drawings of their character doing different motions
-  character must be colored
-  flipbooks are due Wednesday, March 27^th by 3:00


This week:

Math: Geometry

Langauge Arts: Antonyms and Synonyms

Reading: Chapters 8-10 of "Judy Moody Saves the World"

Spelling and Vocabulary:

Spelling: Words with st/str blends.

1. story
2. burst
3. strip
4. street
5. evaporate
6. crust
7. stir
8. stripe
9. least
10. distance

1. He read the story under the covers using his flashlight.
2. Water can evaporate, and ice can melt.

Vocabulary:

1. clasp- a small hook that holds fabric together
2. confused- to be uncertain or unclear about something
3. cornered- to get a person or an animal into a situation or position that is a trap
4. typical- normal or usual for a kind of thing
5. imitated- copied something or someone
6. rhythm- a regular beat in music, poetry, or dance
7. startled- surprised someone and made the person jump

Social Studies:

    We are going to focus this week on doing some Easter Activities. 

On Thursday afternoon, we will be having an Easter egg hunt! 

Newsletter Week 28 3/18-3/22

Math: Continue with patterns. Test on Friday, 3/22/13. Study the 8's multiplication facts. Test over the 8's on Thursday, 3/21/13.

Reading: Continue "Judy Moody Saves the World" Quiz chapters 4-7 on Friday, 3/22/13.

Spelling: Long a/e words.

1. keep
2. reach
3. raise
4. theme
5. scream
6. easy
7. batteries
8. fuel
9. student
10. second

1. His father wants him to raise his grades.
2. Batteries can be used to fuel machines.

Vocabulary:

1.banquet- a large meal to celebrate a special event
2. cunning- tricky, sneaking attitude
3. boast- to brag about oneself
4. enormous- very large, really big
5. consult- to ask for advice
6. glance- a quick look
7. delighted- to be very happy and pleased about something
8. burden- a heavy weight- it can be a heavy feeling of guilt or sadness, or it can be an actual item that is heavy and someone has to carry around.
9. ponder- to think deeply about something
10. diverse- different types of people from cultures and races 

Langauge Arts: Independent Writing skills and quotations- please review worksheets done in class at home. Students will retake the test on Friday, 3/22/13.

Social Studies:
       Current Events

Newsletter Week 27 3/4/13-3/8/13

Reminders:
    - Spring Break is NEXT week!
    - Please bring any fun "dress-up" clothes for our conceptual class on Friday afternoon. We will return them that day!

Math: patterns and number sequencing. Multiplication Test on 7's facts on Thursday
Language Arts: Continue with dialogue: Use worksheets done in class to study for Test on Friday
Reading: Please download "Judy Moody Saves the World" by Megan McDonald Quiz Chap. 1-3
Social Studies: Being Responsible

Spelling and Vocabulary:
Words ending in -ness

1. happiness
2. thankfulness
3. usefulness
4. thoughtfulness
5. cheerfulness
6. brightness
7. craziness
8. speak
9. write
10. apply

1. If you listen more than you speak, you will be wise.
2. Write a story about a time you felt grateful.

Vocabulary:

1. audience- a group of people that listens or watches
2. authority- a person in charge
3. citizen- a person who has rights and privileges because they belong to a community/country
4. habitat- a place where animals or plants live and grow
5. details- the most important ideas
6. shelter- something that protects or covers us
7. transportation- a way of moving from one place to another
8. discover- to find out, to learn for the first time
9. forecast: to predict, have an educated guess about the weather
10. source: a place from which something comes

Newsletter Week 26 2/25-3/1

Reminders:

      End of the Unit Performance is Friday, 3/1/13 at 1:45 in the gym. 

Materials needed: Please send $5 with your child Monday for our conceptual project for the performance.  

Special thanks to Tara Davis for the Clorox wipes!

Math: Continue with fact families and division. Unit 6 test on Thursday, 2/28/13

Reading: Finish "Computer Clues" Test on Friday

Language Arts: Punctuation in Dialogue (commas and quotation marks) No test this week on this material. 

Social Studies: Conceptual project for our class

Spelling and Vocabulary:

Spelling: Words ending in -est

1. fastest
2. slowest
3. biggest 
4. silliest
5. brightest
6. funniest
7. bravest
8. revise
9. select
10. valid 

1. It was the biggest, fastest, loudest truck I had ever seen.
2. The smartest students check their results and revise their work. 

Vocabulary:

1. accident- something that happens that does not mean to happen
2. frighten- to be scared 
3. fuel- gas, oil; a type of liquid that is used to help a an engine work
4. greedy- to want more than what you need 
5. reflect- for an object to show and image or vision back 
6. soil- dirt that is used for planting plants in
7. rumor- a story that is passed from person to person without it being proven to be true
8. scholar- a person who studies a lot to learn information 
9. luxury- something that is for fun or pleasure, not anything that is actually needed. Something you want, not something that you need.
10. village- a small town of people 

Newsletter Week 25 1/18-1/22

Requests:
   We are out of Clorox Wipes at school. If you would like to donate some, we would really appreciate it! Thank you!

Reminders:
   -Return signed papers and office forms
   - Lunch forms for March are due
   - Continue practicing math facts

Math: Multiplication Facts 6's, Continue division: Fact families- The relationship between multiplication and division.  This is a website which will give you extra insight into what we are learning: http://www.nutshellmath.com/textbooks_glossary_demos/demos_content/elem_relating_multiplication_and_division.html

Language Arts: Alphabetizing and sequencing

Reading: Please download "Pee Wee Scouts: Computer Clues" by Judy Delton

Social Studies: Continue with significant figures from the African-American community.

Spelling and Vocabulary:
Suffix- ly

1.  badly
2. madly
3. quickly
4. weekly
5. daily
6. gladly
7. proudly
8. loudly
9. softly
10. determine

1. Can you describe a simple pattern?

2. She stood up proudly, and she sang loudly. 

Vocabulary: 

1. basement- a room underneath a house; normally a room that is below ground, underneath the first floor of a house/building.
2. computer lab- a room where people work on computer projects
3. electronic mail- the long term for "email"
4. encyclopedia- a group of books that explain and describe different things, places and people all around the world. Each encyclopedia has information on things/people/places that start with one letter.  (encyclopedia "S" would have information of things that start with the letter "S")
5. taxicabs- also known as taxi; these are cars that are used for driving people to different places. The passenger pays the driver money- the shorter the ride, the cheaper the ride.
6. badge- a symbol that is put on clothes to show something has been accomplished
7. information superhighway- a quick way of sending and receiving many types of information by using the internet
8. impatient- to not have patience, to want to do something right away without having to wait.
9. hard drive- the part of the computer that keeps information that you have found or needed to make the computer run correctly.
10. delete- to erase, to get rid of

Newsletter Week 24 2/13-2/15

Reminders:
    - Valentine card swap at 2:15 on Thursday
    - Empty out folders and return important papers
    - continue working on math facts; subtraction, addition and multiplication

Math- Review 2nd grade skills
Spelling- Sight Words

Complete Dolch Word List Divided by Level

Pre-primer	Primer	Grade One	Grade Two	Grade Three
a and away big blue can come down find for funny go help here I in is it jump little look make me my not one play red run said see the three to two up  we where yellow you	all am  are  at  ate be black brown but came did do eat four get good have he into like must new no now on our out please pretty ran ride saw say she so soon that there they this too	under want was well went what white who will with  yes	after again an any ask as by could every fly from give going had has her him his how just know let live may of old once open over put round some stop take thank them then think walk were when	always around because been before best both buy call cold does don’t fast first five found gave goes green its made many off or pull read right sing sit sleep tell their these those upon us use very wash which	why wish work would write your	about better bring carry clean cut done draw drink eight fall far full got grow hold hot hurt if keep kind laugh light long much myself never only own pick seven shall* show six small start ten today together try warm

* ‘shall’ has dropped out of use

Language Arts- Review and practice letter writing; activities related to Valentines. Also, L.A. will be incorporated with our Social Studies lesson this week. 

Reading- Valentine books, independent reading practice, reading fluency tests

Social Studies- Important figures in  African-American History 

Newsletter Week 23 2/4-2/8

Reminders:

• Please return contract forms ASAP
• Continue working on basic math facts of addition, subtraction and multiplication 

Math- Review of Multiplication and Division (review test on Friday) 5's multiplication test on Thursday 

Language Arts- Homonyms 

Reading- Please download "Eat My Dust! Henry Ford's First Race" 

Spelling: Begin looking over 2nd grade sight words. There will be a random, 30 word spelling test given on Friday, 1/15/13.

        Complete Dolch Word List Divided by Level

Pre-primer	Primer	Grade One	Grade Two	Grade Two                  Grade Three
a and away big blue can come down find for funny go help here I in is it jump little look make me my not one play red run said see the three to two up  we where yellow you	all am  are  at  ate be black brown but came did do eat four get good have he into like must new no now on our out please pretty ran ride saw say she so soon that there they this too	under want was well went what white who will with  yes	after again an any ask as by could every fly from give going had has her him his how just know let live may of old once open over put round some stop take thank them then think walk were when	always around because been before best both buy call cold does don’t fast first five found gave goes green its made many off or pull read right sing sit sleep tell their these those upon us use very wash which	why wish work would write your	about better bring carry clean cut done draw drink eight fall far full got grow hold hot hurt if keep kind laugh light long much myself never only own pick seven shall* show six small start ten today together try warm

* ‘shall’ has dropped out of use

 

Spelling and Vocabulary:

Focus on wh- pattern

1. whale
2. when
3. where
4. what
5. why
6. which
7. whistle
8. whip
9. while
10. whirl

Spelling Dictation: 

1. If you whistle while you work, the job is fun. 

2. Show me where the whale went while I was gone.

Vocabulary:

1. 1.    buggy- small wagon that is pulled by a horse
2.    2. leap- to jump high and far
3.    3. reared- for a horse to go up on its back two legs
4.    4. repairs- parts of a machine that need to be fixed
5.    5. hire- to pay for someone to do something for you
6.    6. afford- being able to buy something 
7.    7. victory- to win first place 
8.    8. mechanic- someone who fixes machines and cars
9.    9. horsepower- the amount of power an engine has (compared to the strength of a horse)
10.   10. "seconds flat"- without going over the amount of time

Newsletter Week 22 1/28-2/1

Reminders:
   - Letters to the Troops are due 1/31/13; This is for a 50 point grade in Language Arts.
   - The End of the Unit Performance is Friday, 2/1/13
   - Continue Working on Multiplication Facts. Friday, 2/1/13 will be a test over the 4's.
   - Homework: I know that there are days when homework doesn't fit in, however it is not something that should become a habit. Homework is taken for a grade and can greatly weigh your child's average in the class. I always make an effort of rewarding hard work, whether it is in class, a school activity or homework. If you are unable to complete the homework for sickness or an excusable reason, please let me know.

This week:

Math: Continue Division: Math Test over unit 7 on Thursday, 1/31/13
Language Arts: Summarization and inferring information from a text
Reading: Finish "Who Was Amelia Earhart" and take a test over the book on Friday, 2/1/13 

Spelling and Vocabulary: Focus on Final -gh/-ph pattern

1. graph
2. laugh
3. photograph
4. tough
5. telegraph
6. phonograph
7. glyph
8. analyze
9. verify
10. cough 

Spelling Dictation: 

1. My mom had to laugh when she saw the photograph of the cat. 

2. He was rough and tough, but he still had a cough.

Vocabulary:

1. 1. manager- someone who helps people to do the right thing and get good jobs. 
2.    2. interviews- a meeting with another person where they ask you questions and you answer 
3.    3. publicity- getting known by the public
4.    4. purchase- to buy
5.    5. cross-country- from one side of the country to the other side of the country 
6.    6. committee- a group of people who work together to make rules about events 
7.    7. landing fields- fields which were made smooth enough to land and take-off from in an airplane   

Science: Investigation of weight and mass