210 Happenings

  Over the past month the students have been settling in to our classroom routines. They are comfortable with their surroundings and have adjusted to our new schedules. We have been really busy learning lots of new things. In science we have been studying trees. The students have learned about the parts of the tree and their functions. We've integrated science and technology with Mr. Callahan using the i-Pads to take pictures of deciduous and coniferous trees. What a blast! They also learned about the different tree layers and made their very own tree necklaces, illustrated tree books, made leaf and bark rubbings, re-created the rings of a tree, and did an experiment with a pine cone. Check out some of the pictures below! We are finishing up our unit on trees in the next week or so and will be moving on to studying weather.

     In math we have been reviewing concepts that were covered in first grade and have learned some new second grade math games that are great to reinforce math fact knowledge.  Ask your child to explain some of the games to you.  We played Tens Go Fish (similar to Go Fish), Collect 25 Cents, Make 10 (similar to Memory), and Plus 1 or 2 Bingo.  This week we are working on addition and subtraction story problems.  The children are learning to read and interpret story problems, write an equation to match the story, solve the problem while showing their mathematical thinking with words, numbers, and/or pictures, and labeling their answer.  Below you will find some pictures of the kids playing the various math games.

         Last but not least, we began our writing program called Being a Writer this month.  The children seem to really enjoy it.  Many of the lessons use trade books to motivate the students to create their own writing pieces.  They are enthusiastic about writing and sharing their writing.  Many students have asked if they can write "a lot of pages"  I can't wait to hear their stories while they share their writing with their classmates.

Welcome to Room 210!

Welcome back to another exciting school year! As your child transitions to a new grade, new teacher, new schedule, and different routines, don’t be alarmed if irritability and anxieties surface. Please be patient as your child adjusts to his or her new environment.


Over the next few weeks we will be establishing classroom routines, rules, and hopes & dreams. We will continue to reconnect to things learned last year and expand upon them in the upcoming months. The following will explain some of our routines, schedules and things to know about Room 210:

o Open House is scheduled for Thursday, September 22nd.

o Our Lunch/Recess break is at 11:25 – 12:15 as follows:
11:25 – 11:50 – Lunch
11:50 – 12:15 - Recess

o We will be having one snack break in the morning. Please be mindful that your child eat a complete and healthy breakfast each morning, and pack a HEALTHY snack and drink each day (i.e., fruits, veggies, crackers, cheese, water and/or real fruit juice,etc). Snacks containing high sugar content, while yummy, will give your child a sugar high and then they will crash and burn. Empty tummies will not enable your child to reach his or her learning potential. We would like all children ready for the challenges of learning each and every day. Healthy snacks are the way to go!
o Feel free to send in bottled water (clearly labeled) for you child as well.

o I have supplied the students with pencils, crayons, colored pencils, markers, glue sticks, erasers, pencil sharpeners, pencil boxes, and folders that should accommodate our needs for most of the school year. Additional school supplies that your child brought to school today can be used during his or her Homework time at home.

o A homework folder will go home with your child every night to facilitate communication between home and school. On the inside-left is a section for parent notices and/or corrected papers and the inside-right is for homework. This folder MUST be checked and returned to school each day. Please place any communication to me in the parent side of the folder.
o At this point, Homework will consist of reading for 20 minutes each day. More structured homework expectations will begin soon. While homework assignments may vary, I will try to keep the routine as consistent as possible. In addition, your child may have mini projects to complete over time.

o Our “Specials Block” is each morning from 10:40-11:25 at which time your child will be engaged in Art, P.E., and Music as follows:
Monday – Music
Tuesday – P.E. (Sneakers required)
Wednesday – Music
Thursday – Art (Art Smock recommended)
Friday – P.E. (Sneakers required)

o Computers and/or Library have yet to be scheduled.
o For Art class you may send in an old shirt for your child to wear. He or she will be able to keep it in their cubby for the year. Please remember to put a name and room number on the shirt.
o Sneakers should be worn on Tuesday and Friday for P.E.

Thank you very much to those who have already donated baby/cleaning wipes and tissues to the classroom. It is greatly appreciated.

Pine Glen School uses a reading incentive program we call Reading Corps. Information about Reading Corps will be sent home along with some Reading Corps slips later this week. For each 15 minutes your child reads, he or she is able to fill in 1 box on a Reading Corps slip. Once he or she completes 14 slips, the school celebrates your child’s accomplishment by announcing his/her name over the school PA system, and they will receive a prize.

To help facilitate a successful and safe dismissal, it is extremely important that we know where your child is going at the beginning of each school day. While emergencies do arise, we suggest that you send a note to school with your child each time he or she will be going home a different way, being picked up, or leaving early for an appointment. The office needs this information by 10:00AM. If there is a discrepancy as to where your child is going (i.e., your child says he or she is going home a different way, but there is no note to back it up), your child will be sent to the office at the end of the school day. You will be called and will be responsible for picking up your child if necessary.

I hope this letter answers some of your beginning of the year questions. If you have additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me. My telephone number is 781-221-7773 and email address is anderson@bpsk12.org I am in the process of putting together a new classroom blog where you will find information pertaining to our school and classroom. Bear with me as I update the information. You can access our classroom blog by going to the following URL http://www.pineglenanderson.blogspot.com/

I look forward to meeting you at Open House on September 22nd!