Monday, Sept. 16th: Puffins to Forest Grove Public Library 1:50pm-2:50pm
Students should bring their library card and a tote bag.
NOTE: Ginny can keep your child's library card in the class card-holder for these trips.
Chaperones Welcome! We will be visiting the children's department about every three weeks and can always use parent volunteers to walk with us, encourage our kiddos to make smart choices, and to help kids find and check out books. If you would like to join us, simply meet us in the classroom at 1:55pm on library days.
Wednesday, Sept. 18th: Picture Day!
Wednesday, Sept. 25th: Out & About to Rogers Park
We will be walking to Rogers Park and eating lunch there.
Parent Chaperones are needed!
If you would like to join us, please email Ginny:
[email protected]
Friday, October 4th: NO SCHOOL for students
Professional Development/Grading Day
Friday, October 11th: NO SCHOOL for students
Statewide Teacher In-service Day
Thursday, October 17th: NO SCHOOL for students
Goal-Setting Student Conferences
Friday, October 18th: NO SCHOOL for students
Goal-Setting Student Conferences
Let's Get That Homework Going!
Level 2 Suggested Weekly Homework:
Reading Homework
Spend at least 20 minutes reading (outside of school) every day.
Reading is on the "honor system" and we ask that you help your kiddo to develop a daily reading routine with good-fit books and a well-lit, comfy reading spot away from distractions. We will talk more about how to encourage and track reading at our "Goal-Setting" conferences in October.
Typing Homework
Level 2 students have typing homework to develop and support important keyboarding skills. Please practice at least 20 minutes per week on: Typing.com
After logging on to the website, select “student” and enter the username (student’s first name and the word puffin with no spaces) and the password (puffins).
Please email Ginny if you need help getting into your child's account.
Math homework
It is strongly recommended that your student practice math skills at least 30 minutes (or more) per week.
When our Dreambox math program for homework gets going, passwords and account information will be sent home with your kiddo.
In the mean time, please check out the ideas below for ways to get your math homework routine going!
Ideas for math practice:
- 4th graders can get valuable math practice with Khan Academy. Current 4th grade math topics to explore: Addition/Subtraction & Place Value/Rounding
- Online Math Game Sites: ZapZap Math or Prodigy- create your own account!
- Multiplication Facts Practice with a simple dice game. How to Play: Each player takes turns rolling 3 dice. First to break 200 (or 500, etc.) wins. On your turn, you get to choose two dice to add together, then you multiply the sum by the final die. That’s your score for that turn.
- Facts Practice with Free Math Apps: Sushi Monster & Math Hero
- Facts Practice with Purchased Math Apps: Operation Math & Math Vs. Zombies
What’s happening in the Puffin Nest?
During our first week, we worked on establishing routines, getting to know each other and building community with lots of fun partner activities. Our Puffins created maps of the classroom, built towers from post-its, discovered a maze of friends, and engaged with a STEM activity based around “Fred the Worm” and his misadventures. Students worked together to put a “life preserver” on Fred (without using their hands) so he wouldn’t drown while whitewater rafting!
Our goals:
- Learn and practice classroom expectations
- Brainstorm ideas for how we will help each other to be safe, able to learn and feel happy(aka: class rules)
- Encourage each other to explore ideas and take risks while having fun
- Practice flexible thinking and problem solving
- Work on our communication and collaboration skills
Upcoming Project Work and Fall 2019 Out & Abouts
Level 2 students engage in two "Storypath" units of study each year.
What is Storypath?
Storypath is an instructional strategy for developing and organizing social studies units which incorporate science, math, reading and writing. It uses a narrative structure to give a sense of context and connection to the information that is being taught. Students are engaged with investigations framed as stories in which characters experience certain events and are affected by them.
Each Storypath unit is comprised of the following episodes:
- Creating the Setting
- Creating Characters
- Context Building
- Critical Incidents
- Concluding Event
Students will explore the history of early NW coastal people through the creation of a story that centers around a community living on the Pacific Northwest Coast in the 1800s.
Students begin their study of the people of the Northwest Coast by creating a setting and characters. They learn more about early Northwest Coast culture through role-playing and writing about critical historical events. This unit spans the time period from pre-European contact through Native American relocation to reservations.
The culminating episode, a First Salmon Ceremony, focuses on honoring traditions, community values and generosity.