Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

    Thank you for being patient while I have been getting my blog going again for you! My laptop crashed and with it all of my passwords and pictures for my blog.
    I just want to wish you and your family members a wonderful holiday.  I hope you have a well deserved vacation time. I hope you hug your children just a little bit tighter this Christmas and treasure the gifts that they are to us. We will all be remembering our blessings and thinking of those who struggle at this time.
    It is truly an honor to look after your "babies" every day. They are important to me. Everytime I see your child, I see mine.
    Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
     See you in 2013.

    Mrs. Nye
  

   Thanksgiving is upon us! We have been learning about the Pilgrims and their adventure to the new world.  We will be having a Thanksgiving Feast on Tuesday of next week.  I will let you know if we will be asking for donations of food for that event.
    This week we will be working on place value and more money counting! For reading we will be spending a lot of time learning to recognize how to sequence events in literature. Writing will have us continuing to understand details and the importance they play in sentences and stories alike.
    I hope you had a great break. We only have a few days of learning before we are back on vacation! We will be working hard this week so we don't get behind!
    Have a great week!
          Mrs. Nye
 

Happy Halloween!

What a spook-tacular week we will be having!
Tuesday is our field trip to the Children's Museum. Please dress your child in a red-collared LaPaloma shirt if you have one, if not, blue is fine. They can wear jeans. Also, remember a lunch. Don't bring any money for the gift shop. We are not going in it. It is not too late to volunteer. Just let me know.
 Wednesday is a short day and we will be doing some Halloween math and watching "It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown." for fun.
 Thursday and Friday will be business as usual. Back to learning!
 Have a great Halloween!
   Mrs. Nye

P.S. Please make your Art Orders this week. They are due by the 1st of November.

Thanks for all of the candy!!! Harvest Fest was awesome!!

Skeletons

   We have been learning about the skeletal system this week. We read this very sweet book as an introduction. I didn't want any of the kids to be scared of the skeleton pictures we would be using in class. They loved the book, have them tell you about it.
   This week is Spirit Week. I had the kids write down the "dress" of the day for each. You should have it in their backpacks.
    Don't forget Harvest Fest is Friday night from 6:30-9:00pm. We need some volunteers to help with our duck pond if you are interested. Come by to help! Please keep sending in candy. Thanks so much to all of those that have already.
     We still need permission slips and money for field trip on the 30th. If you need help with payment please let me know. We have some class funds we could use. I don't want anyone left behind!
     Have a super week!
                                                                                                             Mrs. Nye

Candy is Dandy!

    Every once in a while, a little candy is dandy! That time is upon us.  Harvest Fest is coming soon and we need a lot of donations of candy for the prizes we will give away at our booth! Please bring in anything you can.
    This week we will begin our study of verbs, more apple fraction work and skeletons! Our class has been working hard on our Daily 5 activities. We read to self, someone, do word work, writing and listening in centers. It is going very well and so well in fact, that I find myself having to challenge the students even more! That's a good thing!
   Our field trip is on the 30th. Please send in permission slips and $4.50. I have 2 volunteers so far and could use some more!
   Have a super cool week!
    Mrs. Nye

Apples, Apples, Apples.....

    If you've been to the produce section in the grocery store, you must have noticed all of the apples! There are so many varieties this time of year. That's one of the million reasons that I love October! We will be using apples to learn about fractions and information graphs. We will learn about Johnny Appleseed and we will figure out what kind of apples we like the most! Should be an exciting week as we get started on our apple units! We will be as busy as ants. Have a great week!
      Mrs. Nye

  Welcome to Autumn!  We've been writing about Autumn and how the weather changes during this season. We all agree that we are looking forward to cooler weather and Halloween!
   This week we will be working as usual. Friday you will receive your child's report card. If you are leaving early for a vacation, your child's report card will be available in the front office.
   Have a super break!
 Mrs. Nye

Argh Matey! It be talk like a Pirate Day!!

 The fun thing about being a second grade teacher is that I can incorporate any crazy holiday into a lesson just for fun!! Wednesday is one of my favorites. Talk like a Pirate Day has become a fun event. Even Facebook will let you transfer your posts into Pirate talk!  We will talk about treasure maps and read a bunch of Pirate themed books. Maybe we will find some gold.
  Please remember that picture day is Tuesday. It is uniform dress code. In the Spring, you will be able to choose what your child wears. Bring in your envelopes with money for orders. If you've lost yours, check with the office!
   And remember, it's the pirate's life for me!!
                   Mrs. Nye

National Symbols

In Social Studies, 2nd grade standards require us to teach about our National symbols.  This week we have spent a lot of time on the American flag.  Everyday we say the pledge and the students know how to respect and care for the flag. We have learned about the sacrifices made to protect our freedoms represented by the flag. We know what the stars and stripes represent. We know why we hold our hand over our heart as we say the pledge. We are even singing the Star Bangled Banner as we learn the history of this great anthem, another national symbol.
I couldn't think of a better picture of a flag to display this week than this one of the brave firemen of 9-11 posting the colors on one of the most tragic days in American history.
I will discuss 9-11 this week with the students without a great amount of detail. We will be writing some letters to a firehouse in New York City that was a first responder. I will let them know the importance of a nation pulling together to get through tough times. Please spend some time with your child letting them know your feelings on this subject. It is still fresh in many of our hearts and minds.

Yay!! It's September!

  September has brought Mrs. Nye and her family a new grand baby. We welcomed Charlotte to our family on Saturday afternoon. She weighed 7lbs, 3ounces and was 19 inches long. What a cutie! Mrs. Nye is especially happy because Charlotte's Web is a favorite book of hers! She's not a spider though, she's a cute baby girl.
   Hope you had an awesome vacation weekend. We are only 4 short weeks from another nice, long vacation. Let's enjoy our time together until then!
        Have a great week!
              Mrs. Nye

It's Open House!!!

 Wednesday is Open House! It is from 6p.m-8p.m. Please join us for some great things.
   The Scholastic Book Fair is open and we will have a lot of  fun sharing our room with you.
It will also be a great time to sign up for Conferences.
Don't forget to look for your child's progress report on Friday!  Have a great week!
      Mrs. Nye

Seasons, weather and such....

 We have been studying weather this week in our class. I was reminded of the basic seasons as I went through a lesson I wanted to teach. Then I remembered a fabulous book I had when I was little. I don't know how I got a hold of it. I had it even when my kids were young. Recently, I picked up a copy from Scholastic. Turns out the book is more then 60 years old. It was written by Virginia Lee Burton in 1942. Anyway, it tells all about the little house, the seasons it sees through the years and the changes that go on around it over a number of years. We really enjoyed it. I was happy to see that the book spans the generations with approval and high regard. Here is a Disney video of it. Maybe your child would like it.
http://youtu.be/Y881yjtFluQ

 We are collecting Box Tops!!! I just found out that we get ten cents per Box Top for our class. Seems small, but it adds up! Let's bust out those Box Tops so we can buy something for our classroom!! Bring them in!

  We also passed out the Entertainment Books for this year. We make a lot of money for the school on this one. One book is $30 but saves you way more than that. There is also an App you can use when you buy the book that adds even more savings and discounts to your pocketbook. If you do not want to sell or buy a book please make sure it is returned to school by the end of this week. If you purchase or sell some, send in the money with your child in the same time frame.

   This week we will be taking our first reading and math assessments for the year. Please make sure your child is getting to bed early and bringing a snack to school everyday. Have a super week.
                           Mrs. Nye

Zen Classroom Moments....

   This week we read "Zen Shorts" by Jon Muth. We enjoyed this book so much. Many of the students were disappointed when I had to return it to the public library on Friday.  This book showed us how to calm down and think about our disagreements with others. Stillwater teaches 3 friends how to stop and think about things by sharing short stories with similar scenarios. We loved this book. I'm going to have to get it for our library. In the meantime, I have found this awesome video that you can watch with your children so they can share the book with you.    http://youtu.be/K3GQ67Kt2Xc
    Hope it works for you.
    This new week will bring more structure and routine for your child. We have introduced jobs in our class and testing routines. We had a very successful spelling test this week and the coming week should be great too. But keep studying those words. You will see our weekly spelling stars on our window. If your child is on the window this means that they have made a fabulous effort and generally have improved or have not missed more than one or two words. If they do not appear, it is time for some help at home.
    FUN FRIDAY- we introduced Fun Friday this week. When students have finished both their reading log and homework, they are allowed to participate in games and activities at the end of the day.  If their work is not completed, including reading log being filled out, they spend time in an alternate 2nd grad room completing their work.  Please make sure you are checking their reading logs nightly. You can read to them or they can read to you. They can even read to a stuffed animal or sibling!
    Friday dress- Remember that Fridays your child may wear jeans and a uniform shirt. The first Friday of each month is dress down day for $1 towards classroom funds.
     We will be going to our library to check out books on Wednesday. Please turn in your childs's library permission slip.  If you can't find it, have your child tell me and I will make some copies.

Our first field trip will be on  October 23rd to the Children's Museum. More info to come. We love volunteers and want you to come. Our bus seating is limited so please be prepared to follow us in your car if necessary. Except permission slips at the beginning of October.
   Have a very "Zen" week!!
         Mrs. Nye

How I Spent My Summer Vacation!

  We had so much fun last week! We got to know each other. I learned what everyone likes that begins with the same letter as their first name! I learned birthday  months and most importantly, what a fabulous group of kids we have. We talked about reading a lot. Our entire year will be focused around reading and building our stamina in that area. We began math and I was very impressed with the eagerness in the room to jump right in!
    Friday we read "How I Spent My Summer Vacation" by Mark Teague.  We learned that he is a writer as well as an illustrator. We thought that was cool. So we might try our hand at that sometime. We wrote about our summer vacations, too. 
    This week we will be moving on in Math and Phonics, increasing our ability to read for longer amounts of time and we will also spend a great deal of time on classroom procedures and citizenship within our community. Don't forget to check homework folders on Monday for any finished work, homework and newsletters. Have a great week!
             Mrs. Nye

First Day Success!!

  We had an awesome first day in 2nd grade! Such wonderful new students. It's going to be a great year.
I have sent home an information packet with your child. Please fill it out and send it back as soon as possible. Also, you will find a brown paper bag in your child's backpack.  This is for them to fill up with things that help describe them. We will be sharing them over the next several days. Please send them in as you can.
   I just found out today that Open House will be on August 29th. Mark it on your calendar.
   Please send an afternoon snack with your child each day and a bottle of water. These are necessities that help keep them in the classroom and focusing on their work. We eat lunch very early so their tummies are growling by snack time at 2p.m.
    Look for a newsletter and homework on Monday in homework folders! Friday should be awesome! Have a great weekend.
     Mrs. Nye

Welcome to 2nd Grade!!

    Welcome to our wonderful new school year!  I am so excited to meet all of my new students and their families. On the first day of school and for several days to follow, I will be sending home information on all of our classroom procedures, homework, rules and curriculum we will be learning this year. Please return everything as soon as possible so I can complete your child's information folder.
     I communicate by this blog, our classroom facebook page, email and text. Immediate matters will come to my attention best by calling the front desk @ 733-7373. It is very important that you provide your best contact information in the days to come.
     We will be having an Open House soon and I look forward to meeting you all!
     Have a Happy First Day of School!

               Mrs. Nye 

Congratulations!! We have done it! A job well done by all of us! I have had a wonderful time this year teaching these beautiful children! Thanks to such awesome families for trusting me to take care of your children on a daily basis. I hope they have enjoyed our class time as much as I have. Here's to a relaxing, fun summer. Please keep reading with your children, visit the library regularly and be creative!
Come visit me next year!

March 21   9a.m    Honors Assembly
March 22   2p.m.   Pizza party
March 23   Last Day. 1/2 day./Report Cards

Mrs. Nye’s Newsletter

Hi Everyone!

      13 days of school left! But who’s counting? We are!  We’ve been counting down since January.

      This week we will be studying Fairy Tales and Bugs! We will be working on our multiplication chart and reviewing past grammar usage lessons. We are also hoping to finish up Charlotte’s Web so we can finish watching the movie next week.

      Friday, we will be celebrating summer birthdays in the afternoon. If your child would like to share a treat please bring it in by 2p.m.

      Have a super week!

Spelling Words for this week:

watch   tomorrow  favorite   said  people  turn   awesome   talk  

flower   money  sorry  salutations   gullible   sedentary

(yes, some tough words. Just for fun!)

 Hi Everyone!
   Hope you had a great weekend.  We are starting off our new week on a very fun note.
   Don't forget the field trip is Monday, April 30th. We will be leving by 9:30 a.m. for the Flandrau Planetarium.  Please send your child in a red La Paloma shirt if you have one.  They may also wear jeans.  Don't forget a sack lunch and a water bottle.
   The rest of our week will be spent on learning our 4 multiplication facts, more solar system studies, Reader's Theatre and Flat Stanley writing.
   Your child will be bringing home a Flat Stanley letter to send to some one he or she would like to send Stanley to.  Please help them find the address they need and mail it to that person if you approve.  We are hoping that the students will get some pictures back from their Flat Stanley in some really cool places.
  Have a great week!
          Mrs. Nye

Solar System, here we come!

Hi Everyone!

  I hope you kept cool this weekend! It was a warm one. Summer is on its way. Please keep your child hydrated by sending them with a bottle of water everyday. A morning application of sunscreen isn’t a bad idea, either.

  This week we will be getting back into our regular routines. Testing week is always a little bit crazy for the kids but they all did an awesome job!

   We will be working on continued multiplying using arrays this week. Language Arts will have us writing and reading about planets and Curious George! In Science we will do a quick unit on the Solar System to get us ready for our field trip on Monday, the 30^th, to the Planetarium.

    If you have not turned in your child’s permission slip or money yet, please do so ASAP. We have to pay for half of our group by Tuesday. Remember, your child will need a sack lunch, a red LaPaloma shirt, good walking shoes and a hat. Also, a water bottle and an optional hat. We will be having lunch on the U of A Mall. We will be leaving the school at 9a.m.

    Spelling words this week will be located on your homework packet. I will try to get them posted to the blog.

    Have a Super Week!

            Mrs. Nye

   

Celebrate the Earth!

   

Dear Parents,

    This week is testing week. 2^nd grade students take the Stanford 10 test. We will be testing on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday for just less than an hour or so each day. This means our schedule will be a little bit off, but we will basically be working on the same things as usual.

    This week we will especially be focused on Earth Day. We will read the Lorax and discuss how we can personally help the earth.

     We will have homework this week and a spelling test.

     Please turn in your field trip permission slip with money this week. We need to make a down payment for the trip

    Please be sure that your child gets enough rest each night and that you encourage them to eat a healthy breakfast at home if they do not eat at school.

     Have a super week!

Count Down!

Hi Everyone!

   I’m hoping that everyone had a marvelous break. It was our last break of the year. Unbelievable!! We are down to our final 6 ½ weeks of school.

   This week we will continue preparing for our standardized testing that will take place next week. We will also continue working on our poetry unit. In writing,  we will try our hand at Haiku poetry. In math, we will be working on 3 digit adding and subtraction as well as memorizing our 3 facts. We will finish up our ‘body systems” unit.

    We have an upcoming field trip. Please return the permission slip with money as soon as possible. We need to make a 50% down payment to the Flandrau Planetarium next week. We are super excited to go to this wonderful place and to introduce the children to the University of Arizona.

     Cookie dough orders are due on Friday. 

Have a geat week!

   Mrs. Nye

Happy April!!

   I hope you had a wonderful, restful weekend. It was a beautiful one. Our weather is warming up, the butterflies and birds are out! It’s a great time to just take a nature walk with your child and talk about everything around you.

   This week will be a short one. Don’t forget that there is no school on Friday or Monday in celebration of Easter. Enjoy the time off. It is our last break until summer.

   In class this week we will be reviewing everything we have learned this year. We start our day with a practice standardized worksheet. We are getting ready for our Stanford 10 test coming up soon. In Math we are learning about measuring the area of a shape. For reading we will continue doing fluency tests and sight word games as well as writing our own poem.  We are continuing our study of the body systems in Science

    Below is the list of words that we are working on. We will have the test on Thursday so please study.  We do have homework this week..

    Have an awesome 4 day week!