Listen!: Our learning community is currently focused on how to be good listeners. Truly focused listening can be a difficult skill to master, and we often underestimate this (at least, I do!). I have read two books in the past two weeks on how to listen well: Listen, Buddy! by Helen Lester, and The Conversation Club by Diane Stanley. These stories tell the importance of paying attention, speaking one at a time, and not interrupting others while they are speaking. If you can, remind your child of good listening behavior:
1) eyes focused on the speaker 2) mouth closed 3) hands empty 4) brain thinking about what is being said 5) heart listening, too--what the speaker is saying matters to them! Reading: We are deep in our reading theme of Friends and Family, which is Unit 1 in the Treasures program. This week we finished reading a sweet story, Mr. Putter and Tabby Pour Tea by Cynthia Rylant. The story is tied to the Big Question of the week (a question used as a springboard for discussion before plunging into the literature selection), Why do pets make good friends? Math: Updated link, Math Instruction Guide, a.k.a., the MIG. LAUSD's write-up of the math standards and lesson pacing for 2nd grade has been added to Learning Links. We have been concentrating on addition and subtraction concepts. The Topic 1 test was given today. Book Orders: Please refer to the updated "Policies and Little Reminders" page regarding Scholastic Book Orders. An order form for Scholastic was sent home this afternoon. If students and families would like to order books, the due date has been set for Friday, September 7. PE in the Morning: While I appreciate communication with parents, I am requesting that we refrain from parent-teacher talk during the morning PE program on the playground. The ten minutes of PE are considered genuine instructional time, even if it is not within the classroom, and I would like to focus on watching and encouraging the students. Drop me a note in the office or send an e-mail. I will do my best to respond ASAP. Homework: Many students forget to take out their homework and place it on their desks in the morning. They also must make sure that their first and last names and date are written on the coversheet. Homework packets will be looked over for neatness, overall completedness, and the amount of care taken in doing the assignments. They will be returned home the following week (my apologies for being a week behind). Have a wonderful, safe, and enjoyable weekend.
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I asked students today to take home their Treasures textbooks so that parents may help get them covered, per my request made on Back-to-School Morning. Just a simple brown bag cut to the size of the book will do. Students should come back to school with the book covered tomorrow, or as soon as possible. I will also be printing out Avery labels with the students' names and a number so that we can keep track of all textbooks.
I would like to ask everyone not to leave their textbooks at home as it is needed for instruction everyday. Thank you! Thank you to all the parents who were able to attend Back-to-School Morning. It was a pleasure to meet some of you for the first time and to reconnect with those I've already been seeing on a daily basis on the playground or after school. Your interest in your child's education is encouraging to me and much appreciated. The questions you posed and the input you gave after my presentation are also valuable to me. Hopefully, I shall be updating this website at least once a week. My intention, in a perfect world, is to have the weekly homework coversheet available online by Sunday evening. Students and Families, Welcome to a new school year at Fairburn Avenue Elementary! My name is Ms. Long, and I am happy and excited to have your child in my class. Being new to Fairburn myself, I would like to thank all of you for the warm welcome you gave me on the first day of school. I want your child to be successful in school, so please let me know what I can do to help. This month as we begin our year of learning and working together, I emphasize the importance of routines and procedures, kindness, and respect. In our class, we have regular morning meetings, also known as Community Circle, in which children discuss issues that are important to them, such as appreciation of classmates and resolving social conflicts. This, as well as many other activities we will be doing in the next few weeks, will help create a positive, comfortable, and engaging learning environment in which all students can and will succeed. |
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