Book Recommendations
Follow this link to find lots of great book recommendations for your kiddo!
Level 2 Homework:
In Level 2, our homework is on the honor system. We ask families to develop and sustain this important practice at home in a way that works best for you. Having a regular routine (time/place/materials) will ensure that your child will be prepared to tackle their required homework in Level 3 more easily.
Reading: at least 20 minutes reading (outside of school) every day.
- The public library is a great resource. Make sure your kiddo has access to lots of “good fit” books that they are excited to read. Check out our Level 2 Book Recommendations HERE.
- Read-alouds and audio books work too! Also, listen to your child read out loud, and ask them questions about their reading & thinking.
Set your kiddo up with an account at home at: typingclub.com
Math: 15 minutes (or more) of math practice each week day. If you are able to support your child’s math practice at home, we recommend that students use their Eureka “Apply” math homework workbook with adult supervision. Each week, a suggestion for lessons/pages to work on in the workbook for the following week will be posted on the main page of the newsletter (just under Upcoming Events).
The Apply book helps students deepen their understanding of the concepts they learned in class through practice at home. Apply has three parts:
- Family Math
The Family Math letters provide a topic overview, images of models and strategies, and key terminology. It also includes ideas for topic-related math activities that may be done at home. - Student Practice
Each Practice is structured as two pages. The front page includes Practice problems that represent learning from class that day. The second page includes Remember problems (to stay sharp with familiar concepts). - Practice Partners
Practice Partners serve as a guide for families who are supporting their student with the Practice and Remember problems at home. These pages illustrate problems like those worked in class and an example of the thinking that helps students solve those problems (in purple text) .
For independent computer practice, you can set up a free account for your child:
- Khan Academy: instructional videos and problem solving practice
- Prodigy: answer math questions, complete quests, earn rewards
- SumDog: solve math problems while playing video games
- Math Game Time: no account set-up required, select grade level & play!
- Prodigy Game
- Math Training for Kids
- Khan Academy
- Singapore Maths
- Tower Math
- Sushi Math
- Operation Math
You can also add in time with family math games and real-world math activities:
- A few Board game examples: Sushi Go Party, Zeus on the Loose, Monster Sock Factory (also see math games handouts from Family Visits)
- Budget for grocery shopping/gas/expenses, measure things around the house and calculate for DIY projects, cook to a recipe
Level 2 Specials Schedule:
Monday: Puffins-PE Plovers-Art
Tuesday: Puffins-Art Plovers-PE
Wednesday: Out & About Both classes
Thursday: Puffins-PE Plovers-Art
Friday: Puffins-Art Plovers-PE
For PE and Out & About days, students should wear or bring weather/activity appropriate footwear and a rain jacket. Students can also bring extra clothes/socks/shoes and masks (keep in backpack).
In cold weather we strongly recommend WARM footwear, hats and gloves.
Puffin Class Schedule
8:15 - 8:40 Independent Reading Time
8:40 - 9:10 Morning Meeting
9:10 - 9:30. Spelling & Phonics
9:30 - 10:30 Grade Level Math
10:30 - 11:20 Specials (PE, ART, O&A)
11:20 - 11:30 Transition & Read Aloud
11:30 - 12:20 Recess & Lunch
12:20 - 12:30 Quiet Time
12:30 - 1:25 Language Arts
1:25 - 1:45 Recess
1:45 - 1:50 Mindfulness & Snack
1:50 - 2:30 Language Arts
2:30 - 3:00. Project: Social Studies/Science
3:00 - 3:10 Clean up & Pack up- Closing Meeting
3:10. Dismissal
2023-2024 School Year Calendar
Things to Know in Level 2
Puffins & Plovers: Things to Know
Schedule:
- Doors open at 8:15am. Students need to be IN the room before 8:30am. Parents, please give hugs and goodbyes at the upstairs door.
- School is dismissed at 3:10. Please be prompt when picking up your kiddos.
- For students who ride the bus, guardians must notify the office of any changes.
Food:
- ALL students should bring a water bottle, labeled with their name.
- SNACKS: We will have 1 afternoon break for snacks in the classroom. Send daily snacks with your child, or consider donating a box of snacks for the class. NOTE: Snacks should be healthy, easy to eat and non-refrigerated. We prefer granola bars and fruit leather (please NO chip bags or sweets).
- If we have an all-day Out & About, students signed up for school lunch will receive a sack lunch.
- For birthdays at level 2, we will not be sharing food. However, we do like to celebrate with kiddos in other ways in class. (singing a birthday song, birthday interview or game, special classroom job privileges, a little gift from the teacher)
Electronics Policy:
- Electronics are NOT allowed. Cell phones and other electronic devices should be left at home. We cannot guarantee the security of turned off devices stored in backpacks. To contact your student during the day, call the school office.
Library Visits and Cards:
- Our classes go to the Forest Grove Public Library once a month to check out books. Students MUST have a library card to check out books. We recommend that all students keep their library card with the classroom teacher.
Chaperones
- Classroom teachers will post chaperone opportunities on their website newsletters a few weeks in advance when possible. If you are interested, simply respond with email, and we will follow-up with you.
- All volunteers at FGCS are required to complete an annual criminal background check through the Forest Grove School District. You can find information about this on the school website and at the school office.
Communication
- Classroom news, photos and a schedule of upcoming events can be found on our class website. The website link will be emailed out each week.
- Please contact your kiddo’s classroom teacher with any questions or concerns as our year unfolds. The best way to check in is through email. Guardians can also leave a message with the office for urgent matters.
Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to work with your family, and your amazing kiddo. We look forward to an amazing school year!
Supporting a Daily Reading Practice at Home
Questions to ask your child when they are reading Fiction:
During reading:
• What has happened so far in the story? Can you tell me using sequence words? (first, then, next, after, finally, etc.)
• What do you predict will happen next? How do you think the story will end?
• What are you wondering about as you read? What questions do you have?
After finishing a book:
• If you had to give it a different title, what would be another good title for it?
• If there was a problem, did it get solved? How did the character try to solve the problem? What happened because of the problem?
• Did any of the characters change through the story? Who changed, and how did they change?
• Is there a lesson or a message in this story? What big idea is the author sharing?
Supporting your child when reading Non-Fiction:
Before reading:
Take a "walk" through the book before reading. Looking together at the front and back cover, the index, table of contents, the glossary, and the photographs or other images.
During reading:
Encourage your child to be a reader who asks lots of questions by talking or thinking out loud as you turn the pages of the book. Model this as you read together. Ask questions and look for the answers in the text.
Contact
Ginny Brown
[email protected]
(503) 359-4600
Forest Grove Community School
1914 Pacific Ave
Forest Grove, OR 97116
The Puffin Classroom at the Forest Grove Community School is a mixed-aged class of third and fourth graders.
FGCS is a free public charter school that engages students in scholarship, stewardship and citizenship with the goal of educating for sustainability.
Ginny Brown
[email protected]
(503) 359-4600
Forest Grove Community School
1914 Pacific Ave
Forest Grove, OR 97116
The Puffin Classroom at the Forest Grove Community School is a mixed-aged class of third and fourth graders.
FGCS is a free public charter school that engages students in scholarship, stewardship and citizenship with the goal of educating for sustainability.