Why are numbers even & odd?

We started off the week with the question "What makes an odd number odd and an even number even?" Most of us know that odd numbers are odd if the ones place contains 1,3,5,7,9 and even when there is a 0,2,4,6,8... But what makes them odd/even? We learned two strategies to use when proving that a number is odd or even... the "pair up" strategy and the "divide into groups" strategy. Today we focused on the dividing strategy. Using even and odd numbers of cubes, we tried separating them into two groups to figure out what we noticed about even and odd numbers. We found that even numbers always had an equal number in each group, but odd numbers always had one more in one group. We made a chart with addition sentences to represent our findings. 

Talltales, Fables and Fairytales

You have probably been reading fantasy books to your child since before they can remember. They inspire imagination and big dreams, both of which are so important for creating healthy, happy children. Fantasy genres like folktales, talltales, fairytales and fables play a huge role in our new standards. They are the best for teaching story elements like plot, setting, characters and problem & solution. Over the next few weeks, we will do an intricate study of some of these genres, specifically talltales & fables. We will learn what makes stories a talltale and what makes them a fable. We will also be looking at different Cinderella stories across various cultures to explore the way that culture influences story telling and literature. You can begin to help your child over the next month by taking frequent trips to the library and checking out fables, talltales, fairytales, etc. Learn the characteristics of these and talk about them, write about them.. even play and act them out together (or film your child doing this.) Have your child READ OUT LOUD to you daily.. This supports building fluency and will enable them to become a strong, successful reader. 

This week we are reading Smoky Mountain Rose, an Appalachian Cinderella story. We are using this to introduce story elements and to see how the author creates emotions and feelings for the reader. We will revisit this story in several weeks as we learn about cultures and fairytales. 

Daisy again

She's a sweetie!

Daisy!

We have a name for our bunny.. Daisy! We are all so excited to have a name for her finally. I think she was getting tired of being called bunny. 

I hope your child had a fantastic first week of second grade. Please see a copy of our newsletter in your child's binder. There is a study guide on the back for the things we will be learning next week. The study guide will get more elaborate as we progress through the year. We have done some math and writing this week. We wrote book recommendations to our friends and started on a personal narrative about a pet. We have read LOTS. Today, we got familiar with our classroom library and chose a book to read. We had a special treat at the end of the day to celebrate our first week together. 

I hope everyone has a wonderful, safe weekend! 

Jillian 

First Day!

We had a wonderful first day! We started off the day talking about our feelings and reading First Day Jitters. We talked about our feelings and found out that lots of people were feeling the same way. We said we were feeling everything from weird and nauseous to excited : ). 

We had fun in Guidance with Ms. Arnold and started a new chapter book, Love Ruby Lavender. It is Ms. Arnold's first year at CFG and we could not be more excited. She is so much fun!

We organized and labeled our supplies, then headed off to lunch and recess. This afternoon, we talked about making good choices. We read Miss Nelson is Missing and talked about the kind of teacher and classroom we want to have this year. Our WOW activity was to make airplanes. We talked about all the exciting places we are going to travel as we learn this year! 

Tomorrow we will go over section C of our Cub Code. We will talk more about our reward system. I encourage you to look over this at home with your child and stress the importance of great behavior. We will begin taking a math preassessment tomorrow. This is going to help me place students in guided math groups and plan for the year. We will also begin writing homework assignments and begin 100 Book Challenge. I will give our first "project" tomorrow. It is due Friday. Look for this in their agendas tomorrow. 

Thank you for all your support already! I can't wait for an awesome year. 

Ms. Parris 

Meet the Teacher

Wow!!! I could never have imagined a sweeter more precious class! We have the most perfect mix of spunky, sweet, shy, creative, and hilarious. I loved spending time with each of you who made it to meet the teacher day!! 

Parents.. Please be sure to get the student survey and volunteer form back to me Monday. Thank you for sharing your child with me. I look forward to an awesome year. Please email me if you have any questions.. You are encouraged to comment or ask questions on the blog as well. I am looking forward to beginning our journey together! 

Last Post of Summer

Boys and Girls...

I hope your last week of summer is the best one yet! This week I was able to go to Edisto Beach and enjoy a little relaxation before coming back to school. The beach is pretty secluded here... Which means there aren't a lot of people. I saw dolphins while I was laying on the beach today... I tried to get a video to share with you but you could barely see them in the video. I'm getting ready to go to the serpentarium (a place with snakes and other reptiles) and then to eat at a place called The Old Post Office.

I'm heading back home tomorrow and looking forward to an incredible week getting ready for you!

Hugs and Kisses!

Miss Parris 

Supplies

Parents, sending your child to school prepared is so important! It sets them up for success for the entire year. Please be sure to help your child organize their binder so that they are ready for the first day of school. The following are the supplies your child will need in second grade: 

Supplies

Book bag 

2 - 1 in. 3 ring binders with pockets (one will be used for homework and one for writing) 

3 folders with pockets

4 composition notebooks (vocabulary, reader's response journal, math, social studies/science)

Pencils (bring as many as you can and sharpen them before bringing if at all possible.. we always need more pencils!!) 

Pencil pouch with 3 rings 

Wide Rule notebook paper - 1 pack 

Glue 

Small child scissors

24 pack of crayons 

Colored pencils (optional)

Highlighters 

Dry erase markers & eraser 

Kleenexes 

Clorox wipes

Hand sanitizer

Ruler with CM. and IN.

Snack

NO PEANUT BUTTER!!!! 

No drinks except water 

No items that require a spoon to eat 

No chips with messy residue (Doritos, Cheetos, etc... They leave messes that attract ants.. They can be taken to lunch.)

Make every effort for your child's snack to be healthy. We eat snack around 9:30. Children need something nutritious that will give them energy, not things containing sugar. Diet plays a vital role in brain functioning. 

Homework Binder

Our homework binder should be organized as follows: 

3 ring pencil pouch

Carlisle Foster's Grove Agenda 

3 study guides & PBIS chart (front & back) in sheet protectors 

Homework ALWAYS stays in front left hand pocket. 

Classroom Wishes for donation 

Electric Pencil Sharpener 

Crayons

Colored Pencils

Foaming hand soap 

New or gently used chapter books 

Scentsy smells - My favorite is Eskimo Kiss 

PetCo gift cards/Or ask for specific needs for our baby!

Small prizes for treasure box (1$ section at Target, Michaels, Party City, Dollar Tree, etc) 

Beginnings

The thing I love most about my job are the beginnings. Each year brings a new classroom full of eager, rejuvenated little hearts and minds... It's overhelming when I think of how they must see me... being mommy, nurse, teacher, motivator, comforter, protector to twenty-something seven year olds doesn't always come so natural. My prayer is that I can effectively take on these roles to give each of them exactly what they need. My heart rejoices when I can, but it breaks when I can't. I cherish every child who is given to me and for the brief time that we have together (really a lot longer than that), I see them as just that.. mine. Each of them is their own little mystery and I want to know their story, discover who they are and most importantly help them learn to discover themselves. I'm starting this blog so we can share a little bit of our year long journey together.

This year will be my third year teaching at CFG Elementary. Two things let me know that it was the right school for me.. When I drove up and saw the pasture full of grazing Charolais next to the playground (Charolais are the white cows.. I'm a farm girl through and through!). The second was when I met the amazing group of women who teach alongside me. I won't even attempt to describe the blessings that each of them bring to my life. Watching the way that they selflessly love and fight for their students has taught me more than any amount of teacher education I have ever had (or ever will have.) I went to the College of Charleston and earned my B.A. in Early Childhood Education. I moved to Clemson for a brief time after college before landing my job, which I consider to be the biggest blessing (apart from my family) in my life thus far. The past two years have been quite the roller coaster of emotions. Coming into education at a time when so many big changes were happening was really exhausting on the best days, and completely defeating on the worst. I came to the realization that teaching is such a continuum that I can never fully be a "master" at my trade. I can only love my students and try to do right by them by making an effort to become a full time learner myself. My heart has grown more than it ever has in the past two years, and on the days when I'm not so sure, that's my affirmation that teaching is right for me. I was thrilled to meet many of my new students at CFG's registration this week! My ears have been filled with so many wonderful things about them. I've been busy getting my room together and trying to reflect on last year and what can be done better. If teaching is one thing, it is a whole lot of self-reflecting. 

To the parents of my 21 babies this year, I know you soon will be curious about the person your child spends their days with. And while I know I can't love them quite like you do, I promise that I will love them unconditionally. Not because of how sweet or smart or well-behaved they are, but because they are mine. I will treasure them, pray over them, celebrate with them and hurt when they are hurting. I will work hard to challenge them and try to make them understand that they can be anything they want to be. I don't do those things because it's my job, I do them because I know your child is worth it. I'm looking forward to a wonderful, adventurous year together! I hope you will partner with me to make sure your child has an amazing second grade year.