Mrs. Shelly's News December 14

We have had a fun-filled week of review games, singing, sharing holiday traditions and making some sweet presents.  We met with our Rocket Buddies and  enjoyed getting a little crafty making ornaments,  playing with "Tuffy" the bunny, reading holiday and snow books, and ended with a yummy holiday doughnut. We had so much fun  today singing songs with our classmates and watching the teachers do funny Christmas skits.  Ask your student about their favorite part of the silly teachers performing during the "12 Days of Christmas"song!

The class party was awesome! Thank you all for all the wonderful support to make it such a fun time for the students.


We hope you enjoy your time together with your families over the winter break.  Happy Holidays!

Reminders and Announcements:

• December 17- January 2- Winter break (no school)
• January 3 - Students return to school
• January 7 - Volunteer training (last for the year!) 8:00
• January 10 - PTO meeting 10:00
• January 14 - iMom breakfast
• January 21 - MLK Jr. Day  (no school)
• February 8 - Father/Daughter dance 5:30- 7:30
• February 11 - iMom breakfast

Ms. Shelly's News December 10

We got so much accomplished this week! The students worked hard to "show what you know" on each of the assessments. This week we will complete some holiday activities:

• Our class party will be Friday Dec. 14 from 1:20-2:15
• You may attend the party if you are not volunteer trained, but you must interact with your own child.
• Please do not take pictures of any students without a parent being present to ask for permission. Some parents do not wish for their child to be photographed.

• Continue to practice sight words every night for 5-10 minutes.
• Practice counting to 100 by 1's and 10's.
• Read a bedtime story together and talk about the parts of a book (front/back cover, title page, author/illustrator) and the parts of a story (characters, setting, problem, solution).

Week in Review:

Reading: We are reviewing all sight words from quarter 2 and assessing students on their current sight word list. We read and compared different versions of the Gingerbread Man stories. Be sure to ask your student which one was their favorite.

Math: We have been continuing to practice place value for the ones and tens place by composing and decomposing teen numbers and beyond.  We have been working on taking away numbers with CGI.

Science: We experimented with sink and float this week.  The students and I tried out different objects and made predictions on if it would sink or float.  We recorded our observations.  We completed a STEM challenge to help the Gingerbread Man cross the river.  We used our background knowledge to choose materials to build a boat and keep the Gingerbread Man dry and sail him away from the others chasing him!

Peek at the Week: 

We will be assessing standards for report cards and working on some fun holiday activities.

We will meet up with our Rocket Buddies later this week for a fun activity.  Shhh! It's a surprise!

Star Student: No Star student this week

Reminders and Announcements:

• December 14 - Holiday Party @ 1:20
• December 17- January 2- Winter break (no school)
• January 3 - Students return to school
• January 14 - iMom breakfast
• January 21 - MLK Jr. Day  (no school)
• February 8 - Father/Daughter dance 5:30- 7:30
• February 11 - iMom breakfast

Ms. Shelly's News December 3

                                           

These sweet students of mine amaze me everyday! They are working so hard and growing so much.  The end of quarter 2 is coming up. Be sure to give them extra hugs for all the hard work they are putting forth to "show me what you know"!

We are taking the MAP test this week.  Make sure everyone gets plenty of rest.

It's Gingerbread week!! One of my favorites  for the year.  We will be reading many different versions of the Gingerbread Man stories and comparing how they are the same and different, characters, setting, and problem/solution.  We will be completing a gingerbread graph and counting games.

• Continue to practice sight words every night for 5-10 minutes. We can really see improvement in all of their reading!
• Keep practicing your address at home.  Student should know the house number, street, city, and state. The county and zip code are not part of our standards, but it is fine if you want to add that in as well. We will continue to practice at school as well. Once they are able to tell me their address, they will bring home their little house!
• Shoe Tying practice...There are some super interested kids wanting to tie their shoes all on their own.  Be sure to practice this skill at home.

Week in Review:  

• Place value (ones/tens place)
• Letter Y, y  (Yellow Yo-yo Man) sounds and letter formation
• Continue informational writing practice
• Motion and Gravity

Activity Snapshot: 

• Roller Coaster experiment
• Gravity race
• Guest Speaker: Curbside Recycling
• Informational writing: Caribou
• Reindeer Direct Drawing

Sneak peek at the week:

• Review all letters and sounds
• Prepositions
• Gingerbread Man Stories: Parts of a story
• CGI (take away)
• Sink/Float
• Gingerbread STEM challenge

Star Student: Jake Cushenberry


Announcements and Reminders:

• Dec. 14- Holiday Party @ 1:20
• Dec. 17- Jan. 2-  Holiday break

Ms. Shelly's News November 26

                             

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving break!  We had s very fun week learning about the Pilgrims, Native Americans, and the first Thanksgiving before the break.  We shared things we noticed of how some things are very different now than they were 400 years ago, but also noticed some similarities. Be sure to talk with your students about the games and chores of children long ago.  We will continue to discuss long ago and today next week.

Please make sure to send in a warm jacket, gloves, and hat/earmuffs for you child each day!  We will be going outside for at least a little bit as long as the wind chill is above 35. 

I am ordering Scholastic book orders this week.  These books make great gifts.  When you order using my classroom code, it helps earn points for our room to purchase more books and games.  

• Keep practicing your address at home.  Student should know the house number, street, city, and state. The county and zip code are not part of our standards, but it is fine if you want to add that in as well. We will continue to practice at school as well. Once they are able to tell me their address, they will bring home their little house!

• Continue to practice sight words every night for 5-10 minutes. We can really see improvement in all of their reading!

Week in Review:  

• Place value (ones/tens place)
• Teen numbers
• Letter X, x  (Fix it Max) and W, w  (Walter Walrus)sounds and letter formation
• Thanksgiving, Pilgrims, Wampanoag
• Continue informational writing practice

Activity Snapshot: 

• Using a t-chart with tens and ones practice (pretzels and marshmallows)
• Fun Friday Game Day (practicing our math skills of counting and subitizing)
• Thanksgiving snack- sharing a snack together and watching Charlie Brown The First Thanksgiving.

Sneak peek at the week:

• Y, y (Yellow Yo-yo Man) sounds and letter formation
• Adjectives
• Parts of a story
• Review Place value (tens and ones)
• Motion and Gravity
• CGI (take away)

Star Student: Alina Patel

Reminders and Announcements:

• Dec. 17- Jan. 2 Winter holiday break

Ms. Shelly's News November 12

                                                 

The students had set a class goal of 36 cans (2 cans per student) to contribute to the food bank for the Can-a-thon this year.  We surpassed our goal with 56 cans!  We used this to help us review tally marks and begin skip counting by 5's.  We appreciate the contribution you made to the food bank and our learning!

We are collecting pop tabs all year long for 2nd grade project based learning initiative!  Keep us in mind when you are preparing your meals and put the tabs aside to bring to school when we return!

• Keep practicing your address at home.  Students need to know the house number, street, city, and state, county and zip code are not part of our standards, but it is fine if you want to add that in as well.

• Continue to practice sight words every night for 5-10 minutes. *50 sight words or more is meeting on the quarter 2 report card.  That is list 1 and 2. Let's keep growing our reading vocabularies

Yearbook Orders

You can now order your child’s yearbook online!!

Go to www.balfour.com

• Click the Shop Now button on the home page
• Type in Rocky Branch Elementary School in the search bar, our school should pop up.
• Just follow the prompts from the website to fill out the information requested, please make sure it is all correct before you submit. The information provided is what we will use to get the yearbook in your child’s hands at the end of the school year.

If you have any questions, issues, or concerns please contact Balfour customer service. Yearbooks are $27. All orders must be placed by January 31, 2019.No late orders will be accepted. If there are any additional/extra yearbooks they will be for sale in the front office for $30. Please do NOT count on additional yearbooks being available. Order your child’s today!

Week in Review:  

• Place value (ones/tens place)
• Letter R, r and L, l sounds and letter formation
• Day and Night
• CGI math (Cognitively Guided Instruction)- taking away

Activity Snapshot: 

• Veterans Day Assembly
• Thanksgiving decorations

Sneak peek at the week:

• We will go to the library on Mondays for the next few weeks
• Letter X, x (Fix-it Max) and  W, w (Walter Walrus) sounds and letter formation
• Comparing numbers, Tens and ones cont. 
• Then and Now, Thanksgiving
• Verbs
• CGI (taking away problems)

Star Student:  No star student 

Reminders and Announcements:

• Nov. 15- Thanksgiving Feast
• Nov. 19-23 Thanksgiving holidays
• Dec. 17- Jan. 2 Winter holiday break

Ms. Shelly's News November 5

What a FUN FILLED week!  We had so much fun dressing up as a book character from our favorite story and participating in the school parade!  We also had our DASH celebration for everyone's hard work in meeting their class goals.  We were able to watch the movie "CoCo" with our Rocket buddies in the gym on the new screen that everyone's contribution help to purchase!

The School Thanksgiving Feast is coming up.  We would love to have you join us!

• Keep practicing your address at home.  Students need to know the house number, street, city, and state, county and zip code are not part of our standards, but it is fine if you want to add that in as well.

• Continue to practice sight words every night for 5-10 minutes.

Veteran’s Assembly

We are looking for Veterans to be recognized during our Veterans Day Assembly on Nov. 9th @ 1:50.  You may contact Tiffany Hancock at thancock@oconeeschools.org. if you or someone you know would be interested in participating.

Yearbook Orders

You can now order your child’s yearbook online!!

Go to www.balfour.com

• Click the Shop Now button on the home page
• Type in Rocky Branch Elementary School in the search bar, our school should pop up.
• Just follow the prompts from the website to fill out the information requested, please make sure it is all correct before you submit. The information provided is what we will use to get the yearbook in your child’s hands at the end of the school year.

If you have any questions, issues, or concerns please contact Balfour customer service. Yearbooks are $27. All orders must be placed by January 31, 2019.No late orders will be accepted. If there are any additional/extra yearbooks they will be for sale in the front office for $30. Please do NOT count on additional yearbooks being available. Order your child’s today!

Week in Review:  

• Place value (ones/tens place)
• Letter Q,q and U, u sounds and letter formation
• Maps and address
• CGI math (Cognitively Guided Instruction)- taking away

Activity Snapshot: 

• DA$H Fun Run celebration- Watching  "CoCo"
• Book Character Parade

Sneak peek at the week:

• We will go to the library on Mondays for the next few weeks
• Letter R, r (Red Robot) and L, l (Lucy Lamplight) sounds and letter formation
• Comparing numbers
• Day and Night
• Verbs
• CGI (taking away problems)

Star Student:  Gheena AlWeshah

Reminders and Announcements:

• Nov. 5- iMom breakfast 7:20
• Nov. 15- Thanksgiving Feast
• Nov. 19-23 Thanksgiving holidays
• Dec. 17- Jan. 2 Winter holiday break

Ms. Shelly's News October 19

WOW! We had a busy week with the homecoming parade, 3rd grade play, DASH, and all of the hard work they put in learning and challenging themselves.  We also made the Rocket report news today for showing kindness.  We wrote thank you letters to sailors away at officer school to say "Thank you" for their contribution to our country.

We used the pumpkins from the field trip to do some math and science investigations. Then, we completed our 2nd STEM challenge, Pumpkin Towers.  The students used their senses to evaluate different building materials (jelly pumpkins, candy corn pumpkins, and marshmallow pumpkins) to decide which would be the best to make a model tower.  We also reviewed 3-D shapes and having a solid base to support our structure.  The students have learned the Engineering Design Process and motions to help them remember the steps.  Some structures were a success and some structures were not, but that is all part of the discovery process. Ask them to tell you more about our challenge!

Please help the 2nd grade students make a difference by contributing pop tabs for the Ronald McDonald House.   It costs between $50 and $100 to operate a room at one of their facilities. The RMH receives market value, usually between $0.35 and $0.50 per pound, for the recycled metal in order to assist families in need.  Last year our school collected just over 100 pounds of aluminum through our collection efforts. This would almost pay for one night’s stay at one of the Ronald McDonald facilities. In order to help more families, we would love to increase our goal to 150 pounds of aluminum this school year.

In order to contribute, remove the pop tabs from every aluminum can and send them in to your child's homeroom teacher each month. The 2nd graders will collect each teacher’s tabs month, weigh and graph the data, and take the pop tabs to an individual who will deliver them to the Ronald McDonald House of Atlanta.   Thank you so much for your contributions!

Parenting and Technology Night

Plugged-In Parents:  Keeping kids safe, happy, and healthy in the digital age.  

Tuesday, October 23

6:00 - 7:00

RBES Media Center

Join us as we address your main concerns regarding children and media use.  

• Determining the right amount of screen time for your aged child
• How to establish limits with screen time without major battles  
• When to get your child a cell phone 
• Developing a family media agreement
• Media and friendships together - the benefits and challenges

As we prepare for the presentation, we would love your input.  So, if you haven't completed the parent technology survey, here's the link!

• Continue to practice sight words every night for 5-10 minutes.
• Practice counting to 100.

Week in Review:  

• Place value (ones/tens place)
• Teen numbers
• Letter K, k and G, g sounds and letter formation
• CVC words (consonant/vowel/consonant)
• Sight word games
• CGI math (Cognitively Guided Instruction)

Activity Snapshot: 

• STEM challenge
• DA$H Fun Run
• 3rd grade play "Squirm"

Sneak peek at the week:

• Continue teen numbers
• Letter J, j (Jumping Jim); W, w (Walter Walrus)
• Continue Informational writing- Fall
• CGI (taking away problems)

Star Student: Hollis Ade

Reminders and Announcements:

• Oct. 31- Book Character Parade
• Nov. 5- iMom breakfast 7:20
• Nov. 15- Thanksgiving Feast
• Nov. 19-23 Thanksgiving holidays
• Dec. 17- Jan. 2 Winter holiday break

Ms. Shelly's News October 12

We had a wonderful day at Washington Farms for our fall field trip!  The weather was certainly in our favor. Thank you to the parents who were able to come and help out with the students.  There is some information coming home in the Friday folder from the farm as well as a free day pass.

I can't believe we are already at the end of Quarter 1! Report Cards are coming home today. You keep the insert.  Please sign and return the envelope to me on Monday.  

DA$H is coming up next Friday!  There will be a parent observation area where parents may stand to cheer on the students.  This is a pretty quick activity so make sure you don't miss us! Our time to run outside will be 10:10-10:25.  

Our class has set a goal that we will have 12 sponsors, minimum.  You only ask for sponsors at the moment and turn in the pledge card.  Once the students run the laps, we will send home their number and you will collect pledge money at that time to send to school.  There is also the online option this year. Thanks for being such amazing parents!!!

We are looking for Veterans to be recognized during our Veterans Day Assembly on Friday, November 9th at 1:50 pm.  If you are a Veteran or know of one who would like to participate please contact Tiffany Hancock at thancock@oconeeschools.org.

• Continue to practice sight words every night for 5-10 minutes.
• Practice counting to 100.

Week in Review:  

• More/less/equal
• Place value (tens place)
• Letter E, e sounds and letter formation
• Sentence formation
• Sight word games
• CGI math (Cognitively Guided Instruction)

Activity Snapshot: 

• Pumpkin life cycle
• Race to Trace (teen numbers)
• Working on our first book!
• Made Christopher Columbus pictures

Sneak peek at the week:

• Continue teen numbers
• STEM challenge/pumpkin math
• Letter K, k (Kicking King) G, g (Golden Girl)
• Informational writing
• CGI (taking away problems)

Star Student: Olivia Branch

Reminders and Announcements:

• Oct. 15- iMom breakfast 7:20
• Oct. 19- DA$H for Excellence Fun Run
• Oct. 31- Book Character Parade
• Nov. 5- iMom breakfast 7:20
• Nov. 15- Thanksgiving Feast
• Nov. 19-23 Thanksgiving holidays
• Dec. 17- Jan. 2 Winter holiday break

Ms. Shelly's News October 4

We had a busy week!  Today, we started with the Monarch assembly and a DASH pep rally this afternoon. We walked the monarch garden and made observations about the monarchs and other butterflies. 

I bet they are tired. Thank you to everyone who sent in an apple this week.  We had so much fun peeling and spiraling them to cook. Conference reminders went home in folders today.  I hope everyone has a wonderful long weekend!

• Continue to practice sight words every night for 5-10 minutes.
• Practice counting to 100.  Transitions between decades are tricky sometimes!

• Week in Review:  

• patterns with apples
• Math review
• Letter M, m and N, n sounds and letter formation
• Sentence formation
• Sight word games
• CGI math (Cognitively Guided Instruction)

Activity Snapshot: 

• Apple pattern hats
• Created patterns with Apple Jacks cereal
• Apple taste test and class graph
• Learned an apple poem and created a sequences with pictures
• Made applesauce, which turned out to be baked apple, to eat together with contributed apples.

Sneak peek at the week:

• Begin teen numbers
• Letter E, e (Eddy Elephant)
• Intro. informational writing
• Life Cycle of a pumpkin
• Columbus Day

Reminders and Announcements:

Oct. 5 Teacher work day- no school 

Oct. 8 Fall Break- no school 

Oct. 12 Field trip- Washington Farms 

Oct. 15 iMom breakfast 7:20am 

Oct. 19 DA$H for Excellence Fun Run 

Oct. 31 Book Character Parade 

Ms. Shelly's News October 1

We adhere to the Oconee County Wellness policy and encourage healthy, low sugar, snacks at school (fruit, yogurt, crackers, etc.) and water only in water bottles.  This helps to keep us focused and our classroom neat. Make sure you send in a snack daily for your child. We appreciate your help with this!

Conference sign-ups were completed online.  If you missed the email or if you need a time that was not listed, Please email me.

Be thinking of a character to dress up as from your favorite book!  Book character parade is coming up on October 31 (student only event).

If you have not sent in payment for the field trip yet, please do so as soon as possible. If you need assistance, send me an email.

I hope everyone has a wonderful week!

• Everyone was checked today. New lists are coming home if needed. Continue to practice sight words every night for 5-10 minutes.

Week in Review:  

• One more
• Letter B,b and P,p sounds and letter formation
• Sentence formation
• Chunking words to help us read
• STEM Engineering Design Process
• CGI math (Cognitively Guided Instruction)

Activity Snapshot: 

• STEM sort and build challenge - The Three Pigs
• Writing our "I like" book

Sneak peek at the week:

• Practicing number writing and review 
• Letters M,m  (Munching Mike) and  N,n (Noisy Nick)
• Continue learning about Writer's Workshop
• Fall, Apples and Pumpkins

Reminders and Announcements:

Oct. 2 LAST Volunteer training 12:30-1:30 

Oct. 5 Teacher work day- no school 

Oct. 8 Fall Break- no school 

Oct. 12 Field trip- Washington Farms 

Oct. 15 iMom breakfast 7:20am 

Oct. 19 DA$H for Excellence Fun Run 

Oct. 31 Book Character Parade