Science News Our class is beginning a scientific study of solids and liquids. We will observe the properties of many solids and liquids, comparing how solids and liquids are alike and different. We will discuss the properties of solids and what different solid objects are made out of (wood, plastic, rubber, paper, metal, ceramic). Please continue this discussion by observing objects in your home and when you are outside. We will also be doing some engineering lessons where we build structures like towers and bridges using solid materials. We will discuss what properties make successful towers and bridges. We will test the structures for stability and strength. You can continue this with projects at home. Your child may enjoy using items he/she finds around the house to build structures like we are building at school. You may also want to go onto the internet and watch videos about building structures. As part of National Computer Science Week, Nate Mack is participating in the international event, "The Hour of Code". In this "Hour of Code" students watch videos from the top Computer Scientists and coding experts of our generation. Then they will have an opportunity to create code themselves. Be sure to ask them more about their "Hour of Code" today. If you are interested in learning more, go to or to the link http://csedweek.org/learn Computer Science Education Week link. There are hours of lessons on coding for Kindergarten and beyond. Go to our
http://macksites.weebly.com/hour-of-code-event.html Hour of Code Event and watch the Hour of Code Launch video created by our Tech Club, and then try Coding yourself with your child. Our class has been learning about the first Americans and the Pilgrims' journey. Click on the picture above to learn more at http://www.scholastic.co/scholastic_thanksgiving/voyage/
I-Ready passwords were sent home with your child. Please have your child go to i-ready.com so he/she can practice on reading and math skills in a fun way. This is great on the weekend or for extra homework during the week. Your child took a placement test and has a specific learning path assigned to him/her. The program will work at his/her level and progress your child to the next level after mastery. If the link does not work go to https://login.i-ready.com and enter the login and password info I sent home. Dear Parents or Guardian:
I am writing to you to tell you about and exciting project we started on November 4th. Our project is studying the phases of the moon. We will watch the moon cycle for every day in November. (November 4th- November 30th). I sent home a packet with a spot for recording each day of the month. Your child is expected to observe the moon each night, draw in the circle what the moon looks like, and write a small description of the moon they observe that evening. You may also take the time to discuss the different patterns you see as you observe and record the moon each day. This is very important to complete each night as a part of your child’s homework because it will be graded as a project. Student’s must also record the moon on the weekends. I want student’s to see exactly how the moon patterns change. The Moon Phases project will be due on Friday December 4th, 2015. Students do not need to record the moon for the days in December only November. I can’t wait to share our Moon Phases as a class and discuss all that we observed! Here are a few websites you may want to visit: http://www.primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk/moon/phases.html http://www.almanac4kids.com/sky/thismonth.php? monthyear=10/2015 http://www.calendar-12.com/moon_calendar/2015/november Hello, our fellow Nate Mack Parents, Supporters and Teachers!
We are still needing more volunteers for during the festival (games, etc) and take down. If you know of a student in Junior High or High School who needs community service time, this is a fantastic opportunity for them. Our goal is to have as many as possible so that no one HAS to volunteer the entire time. The more, the merrier. We need volunteers during the festival for 30-60 minute sessions. If you are able to sign up online, please do so. If you are unable to sign up online, or know of someone interested, please let us know by dropping a note at the front desk or catching us in the hallway. Remember, if we have too many volunteers, we send you out to spend time with your family and enjoy the festival. Please go to [ http://vols.pt/gPWTkq ]http://vols.pt/gPWTkq or fill out the form sent home with your children and get to the main office by Wednesday or Thursday, at the latest. (Copy and paste the link mentioned or type in. It IS case sensitive.) We would love to thank you for your donations of cupcakes. At this time, I do believe we have plenty. If you have donated cupcakes, we are extremely grateful! It is going to be an amazing cake walk, this year! We just need a small amount of your time. If you have already signed up, please disregard this email. Thank you so much! Angela Shino PTO Co-Vice President Nate Mack Elementary Here are some fun Web sites that you can visit to learn more about air and weather.
http://eo.ucar.edu/webweather/index.html http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/en/kids/cloudsat_puz2.shtml http://skydiary.com/kids/ http://www.mathsisfun.com/measure/thermometer.html http://www.epa.gov/safewater/kids/flash/flash_watercycle.html
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Thank you for placing Scholastic Book Club orders. With the bonus points I earned I was able to order 14 new books for our classroom library! We are all so excited!
If you would like to order, use the Scholastic Book Club link above or the link below. https://orders.scholastic.com/L9YMJ
Back to School!
Dear Parents and Students, Welcome to 2nd grade! The school year has started again, and I want you to know how happy I am to have your child in my class for this exciting and challenging new year. I am looking forward to getting to know both you and your child and hope to have a fun and productive year with you. I will keep you informed of your child’s progress and any upcoming events that may go on in the school year. Be on the lookout for a weekly newsletter that I will send home with your child at the beginning of each week. This newsletter will be attached to the front of your child’s homework packet and include dates of upcoming events, weekly spelling words, a reading log, along with exciting updates on what is going on in our classroom. You can also visit the school web site at http://macksites.weebly.com to see what’s going on. Policies and Procedures Homework: Homework is sent home on Monday each week. The packet is due back by Friday. Please make sure your child completes the nightly reading log. I would like you to sign the reading log and check over the work before it is returned on Friday. There will be a newsletter attached to each packet to keep you informed. Spelling Words: Each Monday, your child will get a list of words that he/she should practice spelling. These words will be on the newsletter and in the homework. Your child will be tested on these words each Friday. Grading: Nate Mack continues to utilize a standards-based report card to report student progress. These report cards will provide information on students’ mastery toward Common Core State Standards. Once a standard has been taught and repetitively practiced, an assessment will be given. The assessment will be graded with a rubric or percentage and recorded in the grade book. Progress reports will be sent home throughout the semester. You can also access your child’s grades using Infinite Campus on-line. If you do not have a password please contact the front office. Birthdays: Your child’s birthday is important to me, but birthday treats and celebrations are not allowed at school. Your child may pass out birthday invitations at the beginning of the day if there is an invitation for each one of his/her classmates. Otherwise, invitations should be passed out after school. This will help to avoid hurt feelings. Specials Schedule: Monday- library Tuesday- P.E. Wednesday- Music Thursday- art Friday- P.E. Behavior Management: I strongly believe in praising and rewarding positive behavior. I use stickers for hard work, Nate Mack money for individual rewards, team points to earn prizes, and praise to make children aware that I notice good behavior. The classroom rules are: 1. Listens while others are talking. 2. Follow directions. 3. Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself. 4. Work quietly and do not disturb others. 5. Show respect for school and personal property. 6. Work and play in a safe manner. Students who choose to not obey these rules will write his/her name in my behavior book and pay one Mack dollar back to the class bank. If negative behaviors persist, a check will be placed next to his/her name and recess will be lost. Parents will be notified if the behavior continues. Students who have followed the classroom rules all day will earn one dollar of school money. Students save the earned money to buy prizes and privileges from the school store. I encourage you to contact me if you have questions or concerns about anything going on with your child or our class. I want to know how you and your child are feeling about this school year, so let me know! You can call me at the school or send me an email to [email protected]. I am looking forward to spending this new school year teaching your child and being a part of a support system with you. Thank you in advance for your cooperation. Your partner in education, Mrs. Chumakov |