Summer Learning Benefits

I hope you are having a great summer! I just wanted to share with you a fact that I came across:

“All young people experience learning losses when they do not engage in educational activities during the summer. Research spanning 100 years shows that students typically score lower on standardized tests at the end of summer vacation than they do on the same tests at the beginning of the summer (White, 1906; Heyns, 1978; Entwisle & Alexander 1992; Cooper, 1996; Downey et al, 2004).”  http://www.summerlearning.org/?page=know_the_facts

So amongst all your summer fun please remember to have your child engage in educational activities this summer to help prepare them for this upcoming school year. Whether that be reading, math fact practice, writing or all of the above it will benefit them when it comes time for the new school year.

Field Day

Just a reminder that tomorrow is field day. Please send your child to school with their swim suit (I suggested to the students that they wear their swim suit under their clothes) as well as a towel and sunscreen. Second grade will go out in the afternoon so it will be warmer by then, so please don't forget the sunscreen! Thank you!

End of the Year! (already?!)

This note is going home with your child today. In case you miss it here it is again :)

Parents,

With the end of the year already here I wanted to inform you of a few items. Report cards will be sent home in an envelope on Monday. Please look for them. If you have any questions about the report card please contact me no later than the last day of school. The last day of school is Wednesday June 4^th.

Lunch will not be served the last day of school. Monday and Tuesday lunch choices will be “managers choice”. This means there will be a variety of choices and it is not guaranteed that students will get what they want. It is guaranteed that there will be enough food for those that choose to have school lunch.

Our final spelling test is this week and there is no more homework. I have many fun things planned for the last few days of school so please make an effort to have your child here next week. Thank you for a great year! This has been such a fun group to work with and I hope you all have a fabulous summer!

Miss Stanger          

Second Grade Talent Show

As a fun end of year activity we will hold a second grade talent show on Tuesday June 3rd in the morning. Unfortunately, due to time and space limitations, parents will not be invited. Students are not required to participate and can just enjoy watching if they wish.  We have talked to the students in class but if you have any other questions please feel free to email me. Thank you!

Last Spelling Test!

This week’s spelling test will be a review of the previous 5 weeks of spelling. If your student has mastered these spelling patterns, they shouldn’t have any problems at all with the words. Please review these spelling words with your child. The test will be Thursday and can be any 15 words from this list.

Week 1
Inflected Endings -ed, -ing

• 1. tried
• 2. trying
• 3. planned
• 4. planning
• 5. liked
• 6. liking
• 7. skipped
• 8. skipping
• 9. heavier
• 10. heaviest
• 11. lighter
• 12. lightest

Week 2
Abbreviations

• 1. Mr.
• 2. Mrs.
• 3. St.
• 4. Jan.
• 5. Feb.
• 6. Aug.
• 7. Dr.
• 8. Ms.
• 9. Rd.
• 10. Oct.
• 11. Nov.
• 12. Dec.

Week 3
Final Syllables -tion, -ture, -ion

• 1. mixture
• 2. nation
• 3. section
• 4. future
• 5. picture
• 6. action
• 7. caution
• 8. station
• 9. fixture
• 10. motion
• 11. nature
• 12. feature

Week 4
Suffixes -ness, -less

• 1. kindness
• 2. careless
• 3. goodness
• 4. useless
• 5. fearless
• 6. darkness
• 7. sadness
• 8. sickness
• 9. helpless
• 10. thankless
• 11. fitness
• 12. weakness

Week 5
Prefixes mid-, mis-

• 1. midair
• 2. misplace
• 3. mislead
• 4. midway
• 5. misprint
• 6. midday
• 7. midweek
• 8. misbehave
• 9. midyear
• 10. mismatch
• 11. misdeed
• 12. mistake

Spelling Words and Field Trip Reminder

Don't forget we have our 2nd grade field trip to Clark Planetarium on Friday! We will be leaving at 8:30am so please make sure you are on time to school that day! Thank you to the many volunteers who offered to come as chaperones. I have contacted those who will be coming, I'm sorry I couldn't let everyone come. If you have any questions please let me know.

You can support your child’s literacy skills by reviewing, discussing, and practicing the skills and concepts below:

Big Idea/Big Question (This is the theme of our unit in class.)	Question of the Week (This is the theme/question for this week’s instruction in class.)
Traditions:  Are traditions and celebrations important in our lives?	How are different traditions celebrated and shared?
Phonics Skills (These are the letters and sounds we are learning in class.)	Spelling Patterns and associated Words (These patterns connect to our phonics skills we are learning this week.)
Prefixes:  mis- (miscopy), micro- (microscope), mid- (midair), non- (nonfiction)	Prefixes:  mis-, mid- midair   midday   midway   midweek   midyear   misbehave   misdeed   mislead   mismatch   misplace   misprint   mistake
High-Frequency Words (These reading words should be practiced and memorized.)	Story Words (These reading words are words from this week’s main selection.)
clothes   hours   money   neighbor   only   question   taught	assembly   election   microphone   rallies   slogan   speeches
Oral Vocabulary (Try using these words in your conversations at home.)	Handwriting Practice (Students can practice the writing of these letters in manuscript this week.)
ceremony   compliment   culture   evergreen   festival   fidget   multicolored   sash	Letter and Word Spacing

Thank you!

I just wanted to say a big thank you for all the gifts, notes, and flowers I received this week! I felt so spoiled and am reminded of what wonderful students I have and am thankful for their parents support. Have a great weekend!