Friday, October 20th

This week we lived amongst the tissue paper!  If you had walked into the classroom, you would have seen an explosion of color all over the floor, across tabletops, and even on skin!  Students wrote Goodbye Summer, Hello Fall poems and created a half summer, half fall scene using a stand alone black tree.  The colors really pop out on the black background.  The goal was to match the order of the poem with the design. Hope you enjoy!

Please be sure to check out the other pages, as there are updates on those as well.  On Monday, October 23rd, I will send home the same reading log for home practice, but now there will be a math practice log on the reverse side.  You will also see a packet titled "Suggestions for Math Practice," along with directions for several games that can be played at home.  Many of these games are ones the children have already played in class and practice addition fact strategies.  Some of the games we will be playing in class next week so they will quickly become familiar and ones that can then be played at home.  Also, please read the update on the Math page on the blog, there is information about a fact fluency app called, "Xtramath."  Directions for how to set your child up with this app at home were sent home today.  It is completely OPTIONAL, but a quick way for second graders to practice fluency also.  

Kids & Community

We will wrap up our 5 week program next week with students receiving the last 5 community member cards and an assembly on Friday afternoon.  Some community members will continue to come in and visit classrooms, read stories, or have lunch, but the bulk of the program will be coming to an end next week.  

Monday, October 9th

Update:  Our Junior Rangers field trip will either be on October 27th or 30th. The director recommended that we attend two classes at a time rather than the whole grade so that students get the most out of the experience.  In order to do this, we needed to push the date out by a couple of weeks, which is good for getting those permission forms signed and returned!  You should expect to see a permission form come home this Friday in your child's folder.

ME Collages:  We have been reading the first book in the Judy Moody series for read aloud this week.  Judy has to make a ME collage for a school project. Basically, Judy creates a large poster with photographs, pictures and words cut from magazines, and other special items that represent who she is.  Then she presents to the class.  This is essentially what each second grader will also do. Each week on Friday, beginning the week of October 27th, one student will have a poster to present to the class.  The poster is completed at home and should be brought into school before, or on the date it is due.  I will send home much more information about this project this Friday.  Have no fear, your child won't be expected to make the poster at the drop of a hat.  Each child will have at least two weeks notice before the poster is due.  You will know when it's your child's turn when you receive a letter in the yellow homework folder stating the due date.

Character Trait of the Month:  COURAGE

This month we are celebrating courage.  Again we will read many books that demonstrate courage and do some writing and art projects.  At the start of each month and new trait, we will do a brainstorm like the one in the picture to the left.  I continue to be amazed at how thoughtful and wise these children are at such a young age.  I enjoy hearing all that they have to say, and celebrating with them when someone demonstrates the things we've talked about.




Hope everyone has had an enjoyable weekend despite the rain!

Sunday, October 1st

First of all, thank you to everyone who came to our Parent Information/Open House night this past Wednesday.  It was great to see many of you there, as well as the children as tour guides.  They really do take pride in their classroom and their accomplishments.  We hope enjoyed your visit.  Please let me know if you have any more specific questions.

We were busy finishing up many projects this week.  Here are some examples:  Our Coat of Arms are now hanging from the ceiling in the classroom.  These highlight unique information about each of the students in the class.  Here are the questions students had to answer in the 
form of drawings.  What is something you do well or are really proud of? What is one of your favorite places?  What is something you've tried but would like to get better at?  What is something you've never tried? 

As we continue to build a community of care and trust in the classroom, it is important to hold each 
other to agreed upon expectations.  Students generated these two wordles.  When asked what makes a great second grader, and also what makes a great teacher, second graders had amazingly thoughtful and important character traits to share. These visuals serve as our promises to each other this year. 




Home Practice (AKA Homework)
I will be making a conscious effort to refer to reading and math work done at home as, "home practice," rather than "homework."  Although the concept of homework can be exciting for many incoming second graders, it can also feel overwhelming and stressful for some.  The work that students do at home should simply be some additional practice with building stamina in reading and fluency in math facts.  Once the children have gotten into the habit of weekly reading and math home practice, I will evaluate with students how the home practice is going.  I will follow up with students and parents before November conferences to ask how the home practice is going.  At that point, if students and parents are interested in additional, OPTIONAL work, we can talk further about putting that into place.

Please look for a reading calendar in your child's YELLOW folder.  Although I'll be using the term, "home practice," the folder says, "Homework," as it was a standard company's folder that was ordered.  I will be talking with the class tomorrow about the reading calendar (expectations, how to fill it out, etc.) Please ask your child to explain how the calendar works.  If you still have questions after, please let me know.  Two things to note about the reading calendar: 
1.  Each day that your child reads, he or she should mark what type of reading (were they read to, read with someone, or read on their own).
2.  At the bottom of the page are some prompts for you to use when reading with your child. When it looks like your child might need help with a word, these should help.

Math Games for home practice will not go home this week, but look for them to start coming home soon.

Kids and Community, Fire Safety & Walk to School Day
Tomorrow we will gather as a whole school for our Fire Safety assembly. Members of the Hanover Fire Department will visit and talk with students. Second graders are looking forward to an upcoming presentation by the Concord, NH 911 dispatcher, Wanda Bowes on October 24th.  

Walk to School Day is Wednesday, October 4th.  Please see the RAYS of SUNSHINE for drop off spots and walking routes. 


Wednesday, October 18th - Field trip to Lebanon Opera House to see the play called, "The Money Tree."  Thanks to everyone for getting permission forms back so soon! 

Tuesday, October 27th or 30th - 2nd graders will be experiencing something for the first time in our grade's history.  We will take part in a Super Junior Rangers program that is related to our Forest habitat studies.  Stay tuned for more!

Outdoor Seating Project - please look for more information on this in the next week or two.  We would like to get going on this project as soon as possible, and in order to do that we need volunteers who are willing and able to assist students in measuring, cutting, hammering, and assembling.   

Sunday, September 23rd

We certainly were busy this past week!  We began with picture day on Tuesday, continued with another guest reader on Wednesday, and rounded out the week with a great visit from author/illustrator Katherine Roy.  She shared with us her research adventure to Africa, where she learned about elephants in order to write her most recent non-fiction book.  The children were enamored with the videos she showed of different elephant families.  One of the things the children learned was how to tell the difference between males and females.  
What a great opportunity for our students!  Thanks to our school librarian, Joanne Sergeant for arranging this for our second and third graders.

Wednesday, September 13th
Our Character Trait of the Month is KINDNESS.  We will celebrate a new trait each month this year.
You will see a graffiti board in the lobby filled with thoughts about what kindness means to members of the Ray School Community.  In our classroom, we have read many books about kindness, talked about how we demonstrate kindness, and how it feels when we are kind to other people and others are kind to us.  We watercolor painted these squares and each student chose a specific time/example of when kindness was demonstrated by his or herself, or someone else.  We used the Adobe Spark App to take pictures of the squares and then recorded student voices reading their sentences.  This slideshow was presented at our K-2 assembly Friday afternoon.  The squares will be arranged in the shape of a quilt in the display case in the front lobby sometime next week.  Take a look!


Please check Ray School page for the following information.  You will find it under Teacher Pages and then my name:

Specials Schedule - this is updated and posted for your reference

Guest Reading Link - when you go to rayschool.org, select:
Teacher pages
Mrs. Stone
Class Information on the right in purple
Guest Reading along the bottom in purple
Scroll to the bottom of the final page and click on Guest Reading again


Parent Information Night/Student Open House

This year we are combining parent information night and student open house.  On Wednesday, September 27th from 5-6pm we invite parents and second graders to come to school.  The first half of the hour, 5:00-5:30 parents will gather in the multi to get an overview of second grade curriculum and expectations.  During this time, students will either be supervised in structured outdoor play or another quiet activity in the building.  At 5:30, students will be brought to their respective classrooms where they will meet their parents and give them a tour around the classroom.  Second graders are your tour guides and will have chosen several things to show and tell you about our classroom, daily routines, or work they've completed.  Unfortunately, we do not have enough supervision for siblings to attend this event.  If this is a problem for your family, please let me know and I can do my best to supply you with the information you might miss if you are unable to attend the first half hour.

Wednesday, September 6th

I am excited for this blog to be up and running!  This is where I will write all of our upcoming news, reminders, and classroom events.  The other pages (Math, Language Arts, etc, ) will be updated with photos and information from our week's work as often as I take pictures.  Each of these pages may not be updated each week, but I will try to highlight at least one each week and share with you any new and exciting learning we've engaged in.  On this HOME page I will notify you when any one of those pages has been updated so you know to go and look there for something new.  Each time I update you will get an email with a link to the blog.  I hope this is useful and enjoyable for you this school year.  If you ever have any questions or feedback regarding the blog, please let me know.  You will see the most up to date version of our schedule at the bottom of this post.

Here are some important things for you to know about our classroom this year.

First, Picture Day for our class will be Tuesday, September 19th @ 12:50

Second, you will have many opportunities to come in and volunteer.  One weekly opportunity is something we call Guest Reader.  I invite each of you to come in on Wednesday afternoon from 1:15-1:50 to read to our class.  If you choose to be a guest reader it is your responsibility to find books to bring to read.  Often parents share books that were favorites when they were little, or favorites of their second grader.  Since the time frame is about 30 minutes, this is usually enough time for 2-4 picture books depending on their lengths.  I would also welcome anyone who wants to start a chapter book to come in on consecutive (or near consecutive Wednesdays) to read.  If you sign up to be a guest reader around any holidays, we welcome holiday themed books as well. Once I know who our room parent(s) will be, I will meet with those individuals and ask them to establish a sign-up, usually in the form of Sign-Up Genius or something similar.  You will be able to see available dates, enter your name on specific dates, and also enter in the books you plan to read or a TBA if necessary.  Since the PTO is trying a new way of recruiting volunteers and room parents this year, I'm not sure when I will know of people's interests.  If you already know you are interested, please send me an email and that way I'll have a heads-up and we could even start to plan for our guest reading slots ahead of the PTO's schedule.  

Thirdly, in case you didn't see my email this past weekend, we are a PEANUT/TREE NUT FREE room this year.  When packing snacks, lunches, and preparing birthday snacks, please keep this in mind.  If you are unable to find granola bars or snacks that have been processed in a factory without this contamination possibility, it is okay to send it in with your child.  We'll be aware that this situation may be possible and we will be extra alert.  Thanks for your flexibility with this.

Lastly, I will be updating the HOMEWORK section of the blog in the next few days.  Please take a look for more details regarding homework (i.e, expectations, goals of homework, and my philosophy.)