Season's greetings!

Winter Break!!

We have made it to the last week of school before the New Year!  I am excited! The students have been working hard on their MAP tests these past weeks and learning about coding.  They will use their new skills and creativity to complete a few Mind Missions in IC this week.  Be sure to ask them about what they built.

In Math, we have started working on patterns found in numbers and will review some two digit addition and subtraction.  In Reading the students will learn about the purpose an author has to write.  We will be discussing three main purposes:  Persuade, Inform, and Entertain.  As you read a book at home with your child ask them questions about Author’s Purpose, and the elements of the story.

Reminder that Thursday December, 18^th, 2014 is our Winter Party from 1:30 PM- 2:30 PM.  Friday December 19^th is the last day of school before Winter Break.  We will have our assembly at 7:55 AM that day.  Friday is a half day so students will need to be picked up by 12:00 PM.  Be aware that both days will have an alternate lunch schedule.

Enjoy your time with your kids this Winter Break!!

Multiplication and MAP tests

Happy Tuesday!

 

I hope you had a great holiday this past week! Even though we had a week off, we are coming back strong and doing great things in 2^nd grade. In math this week, we are learning the basic steps to multiplication and division. Keep a look out for homework that will be coming home on Mondays and Wednesdays. In Language arts we are reviewing how to summarize the texts. Ask your student to summarize their day for you or a book that they are reading. In Social Studies we are learning all about local, state, and national landmarks.

Parents, please be aware that MAP testing will be happening for the next two weeks. Math will be this week, and reading will be next week. Please make sure your student gets extra sleep and eats a healthy breakfast.

Starting next week 3 O'Clock Rocks will last till 4:30.

Happy Thanksgiving

It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving break is here!  The first round of parent/teacher conferences are wrapping up; however, if you were unable to attend your conference, contact your child's teacher to reschedule.  They will make time to meet with you.

 

Triple digit subtraction is in full swing.  This is a very hard for our students to understand, so please help them at home.  View this video to see one of the ways we are teaching this skill.

 

Triple Digit Subtraction Video

 

Happy Holidays to all of our Christie Cubs!!

 

 

 

Pretty Cool...

Today, Ms. Bradley's class got to try out the new Learning commons for the first time. I have to say, it was WONDERFUL! Students were collaborating together and really using their critical thinking skills.

Their task was to create a race car out of Legos. We talked about how car companies pay engineers to create designs of new cars and that car companies wouldn’t want to pay a lot of money for a car that didn’t’ work. Therefore their car had to be the cheapest AND fastest car to win. Students used their addition and problem solving skills to find out how much each car was worth, and then tested each car down a ramp.

Here are some pictures from the day!

 

 

 

 

November

Hello Parents.....so hard to believe it's November. Where did the year go?

We are looking forward to conferencing with you in two weeks, Nov. 11-14th!

 

This first week in November we will continue to work on map skills. The students

will learn to locate important places on the map.  Google Earth is a favorite way to

explore and kids love it. We will also discuss how people change our physical environment,

this will involve a Mind Mission which is always fun.

 

In Math we will continue to work on subtraction with two-digit numbers.  We will

also teach the students how to subtract using a number-line and how we use addition

to check subtraction.

 

In Reading we will continue to discuss community hero's. Our focus will be on inferencing.

This involves helping  the students understand the story by using text clues and pictures, as well as

what they already know.

 

Have a wonderful week, and thank you for all your support !

 

 

 

 

Field Day!

Tomorrow is Field Day at Christie Elementary School! Field day is always a BLAST! Here is our schedule for tomorrow:

7:30-10:20 We will be in our classroom

10:20-10:40 Lunch in our classroom

We can pick up "to go" lunches in the cafeteria, but won't be able to eat there.

10:40-11:55 We will be in our classroom

Kindergarten, First, and Second Grade start Field Day!

12:00-2:15

*Remember:

1. Put sunscreen on your kids at home in the morning, we cannot put it on them at school.

2. Send a towel with them to school and a disposable water bottle.

3. If they are staying for PASAR or day care send a change of clothes just in case they get wet.

4. Friday would be a good day to bring a lunch!

 

Parent Conferences and Spirit Assemblies

Hello Parents! 

This week we are continuing our venture into double digit addition and subtraction. Students are using a 1-100 chart to figure out the equations. Be sure to ask them questions and quiz them to encourage their learning! Here is a great game that they can play at home.

On Thursday November 13th I will be having my parent conferences. Look next week for the sign up sheet, as times will be given on a first come basis. If you are unable to meet on the 13th, I will have some slots available for the morning and afternoon times. 

 

We have our first school wide design challenge this week.  All design challenges will occur on Spirit Assembly days. Our first challenge will be this Friday.  Students will design, create, and improve their own bubble wand.  With Field Day coming up Friday, October 24th, the coordinators want to save money, by having students make their own bubble wands.

Our first assembly will be this Friday, October 17th at 8:00 a.m. Students are invited  to dress in something they think is awesome (tell them no scary Halloween costumes and nothing with masks). Ideas: Superhero, cool clothes, book character, favorite animal, favorite food…anything awesome.

 

PV stands for Place value and Parent volunteers.

We have moved on from money in math and delving into two- digit addition using different strategies such as the hundreds chart and place value.  Have your child explain to you how they came up with the answer when working on these strategies at home.

Tutoring is now in full swing.  It will be held every Tuesday.  Keep an eye out for a tutoring slip from your child because it is flexible tutoring this year.  Every Tuesday will have a different group of students invited to tutoring.

The Health museum was fantastic!  The students were engaged and did an excellent job on their displays.  

 

Students also have a new reading log coming home this week. Please write the book they read, for how many minutes, and the date on the paper.

 

Parents, We always love volunteers. IF you would like to volunteer for anything this year, feel free to print off the picture below or write me a note. :)

 

 

 

 

Money and Museums

This week in math, we are working on money! We are practicing identifying coins and adding them up. Please try to find some ways around the house to help your child practice this skill!

In IC, we are creating a health museum! We will be studying topics like how to keep your teeth healthy, safety rules, healthy eating, and keeping your skin healthy. Ask your student what they have been learning about!

Suggested Home Enrichment

It has been a great school year!  Last week students worked hard with place value and numbers up to 1200.  This week we will compare numbers and learn to locate numbers on a number line.  We will also learn the symbols for greater than, less than, and equal to.  Students complete activity pages daily.  Any pages that are not completed will be sent home as a suggested home practice.  

 

Research shows that it is important for children to read at least 20 minutes per day.  We suggest that you have your child do this daily and write the minutes read in their calendars.

 

We will have our second Mind Mission challenge this week.  Be sure to ask your child what it is?

Math in Action!

Hi Parents!

Our 2^nd week in 2^nd grade has been amazing! Students are learning the rules and are showing that they are great citizens.

As sad as we are to have lost Mrs. Ramsey, we are very, very excited to have our new students. Thank you all for being flexible to the change and being so helpful to their transitions.

On another note, a free program through the City of Plano is starting at our local library, Schimelpfenig. The program is called MATH in Action, and The program is for 2nd-4th graders who are struggling with math concepts according to PISD standards. They have Scholastic workbooks the kids get to take home, and a plethora of math manipulatives and games for the students to actively engage in math during the program. This is a perfect program for students as our math standards have changed this year and are harder than years before.

To sign up, you can register online through their website (www.planolibrary.org) or give them a call at Schimelpfenig Library (972-769-4200).

Off to a great start!

 

Second grade kicked off with great success this past week. We want to thank all parents and guardians for remaining flexible as the school amends dismissal procedures to better serve all of Christie. Also, we want to extend another thank you to those whom participated in Discovery Tech Night. Envision, our new Math curriculum, also began this week with positive feedback from both teachers and students. 

 

This week, Second graders will begin testing in both Math and Reading, so teachers and administrators can attain a strong baseline for the needs of each child. We would love to see each student come to school with a well rested mind and a healthy snack. 



Ms. Bradley's class is extremely lucky! An anonymous donor gave the class tons of supplies, legos, and other great things. The students wrote thank you notes and were extremely appreciative for their new items. Students learned how to begin and end a letter and what sort of things to write in between.
Such sweet kids!

Car Pool Changes

Carpool Changes

In an effort to better serve our families, and increase the safety and speed of our dismissal… We are implementing a new carpool system for grades K, 3, 4, and 5 in the front of the building. First and second grade will stay the same in the south parking lot. When you come to pick up your student(s) the teacher calling cars will say your child’s name, and then Station 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6. All six stations are south of the crosswalk and will be clearly marked. Each station will have a teacher ready to help your child into your vehicle. Today was the first day of trying this system, and we were completely finished within 21 minutes. Yesterday’s dismissal took a total of 26 minutes, so we are encouraged about today’s results as a first try.

Kindergarten walkers will still be picked up in the north parking lot. Second grade walkers will now be picked up in the south parking lot.

Thank you so much for your support as we continue to try and improve dismissal.

Christie Elementary

Welcome to Second Grade and to the first week of school at Christie Elementary. This week students will become familiar with their classroom routines, daily schedule, and best of all, meet new friends and classmates. 

Back to School Night is on Wednesday, August 27th, at 5:45 where parents will receive in depth information on our new online Discovery Education Techbook. Additionally, be on the lookout for handouts and essential school paperwork so we can all get the year started with ease. 

I am so excited for the students in Second Grade and for those in Ms. Bradley’s class... It will be a great year!

Chloe Bradley

Below are a few books that we plan on reading this year. :) 

Parent Newsletter