A-2 All-Stars

Category: Uncategorized

  • Back to School 2013: Wednesday, August 14th, 8:05 A.M.!

    Are you getting ready to come back to school?

    I have been getting ready. I have already gotten my new Teacher Plan book and a new class calendar. I also took a class for teachers this summer; I worked on being a better writing teacher. In addition, I am reading teaching books to help me be more organized and effective in the classrrom. Last but not least, I have started to think about all the big things and the little things that I can plan for my new second grade class to do next year! As you can see, I have started to get ready to come back to school.

    What are you doing to get ready to come back to school?

  • San Jose Public Library Graphic Novel Making Contest

    San Jose Public Library Graphic Novel Making Contest

    Do you want to write a graphic novel? Take up to 8 sheets of copy paper and get to work! Entries are due July 31st. Please click on the above link for more rules and guidelines for this contest.

    Speaking of the public library…have you signed up for the Summer Reading Celebration yet? They give you prizes for reading a certain number of books. To find out more about that, please click here.

    Families, your child needs their own library card, if they don’t have one already! Here is more information for you:

    1. Library Branches and Hours
    2. Getting a Library Card
    3. SJPL Parents’ Site
    4. SJPL Kids’ Site

  • For Families: Online Resources for Summer Learning

    June 13, 2013

    Dear Families,

    Did you know that studies have shown that students lose about 26% of their knowledge gains during the summer vacation if they don’t practice what they learned that year? The antidote to “Summer Slide” is to keep learning all summer long!

    Here are some online resources to support your efforts to keep your children from experiencing  that “Summer Slide”. Online and indoor activities can’t replace camps, family activities,  time in nature, and of course reading (ideally, 35 minutes per day). Study skills honed by pursuing appropriate online activities and quiet seat work, such as Summer Bridge workbooks, are crucial for academic success, however. Aside from maintaining knowledge gains, summer learning activities simply help maintain the study good habits learned in school.

    Please check these safe sources out and let me know what you think:

    1. San Jose Public Library Kids’ Page. Kids’ catalog, events, and games! Lots of games.

    2. Khan Academy. If your child is going to private summer school or studying virtually anything this summer, Khan Academy can help.

    3. National Geographic Kids. Science and nature!

    5. The American Museum of Natural History’s Science Website for Kids. Visually interesting and informative.

    6. San Francisco Symphony Kids’ Website. For “Fun With Music” and to explore what the A-3 All Stars learned with Miss Gail this year!

    7. Cool Math 4 Kids. Extremely colorful and kinetic web design; lots of activities.

    8. Tumblebooks. Read books online through the San Jose Public Library. Kids may also: Watch informative videos, learn a language, read along with a recording, play lots of educational games, and store their favorites on MyCloud so they can retrieve their booklist from any computer in the world. This is an exciting, FREE resource, and  I encourage all families to explore and use it! Note: Your child will need a library card.

    This is only a start! Please keep checking back for this summer for more ideas, announcements, links, and projects.

  • Happy Summer Reading!

    June 13, 2013

    We have been on Summer Vacation for a whole week. Now that you are rested, it’s a good time to start reading books to keep you in shape for school and even get you ready for Third Grade!

    I searched the Internet and found some websites with book lists for those kids entering Third Grade this Fall. Click on the links below and look over the lists. If you don’t see books you think sound good, follow my “Safe Search” guidelines to look up your own!

    Akiva School’s Reading List for Graduating Second Graders

    Education World’s Second Grade Reading List

    Books Recommended by Adults

    More Challenging Books at the  Third Grade Level!

    To do a “Safe Search” for your great book titles on the Internet:

    1. Go to KidzSearch.com.

    2. Type words that will help you find what you are looking for in the search box. Examples of useful words include:

    • Summer Reading
    • Third Grade Books
    • School Reading Lists

    You may also type in the names of book titles you like, and see what else comes up at the same time. That way you might find books that are similar to ones you have read and enjoyed!

    Happy reading, A-3 All-Stars! Keep checking back for more summer ideas!!

  • Field Trip Forms Due Thursday!

    May 29, 2013

    These students need to turn in their completed and signed field trip forms on Thursday, or they will be doing work in a classroom all day instead of going to Meadows Park:

    Joshua, Janessa, Miguel, Jakob, Nathaniel, Marco, Aaron, Grant, Hatziry, Katelyn, David, Alex.

    Remember, you must have a field trip form signed by your parent or guardian in your teacher’s hands if you plan on going on the field trip!

    Remember that you must also pack a lunch and take it to the park with you.

     

  • Second Grade Class Picnic!

    May 29, 2013
    Dear Families,

    Tomorrow the Second Grade classes will take their annual class field trip to Meadows Park. Here are the main things you need to know:

    1. Students MAY bring outdoor toys and games, such as frisbees, footballs, beach balls, bubbles, badminton, volleyball, mini golf, or anything else that facilitates safe, imaginative play.
    a.Students MAY NOT bring any toy they ride or that has wheels, such as scooters, bicycles, or heelies.
    2. Thank you for chaperoning! We may ask chaperones to help out at activity stations, walk with the classes to the park and back, and escort small groups of students to the Carson bathrooms, should they require it.
    a. Activity stations will include areas for three games that students will rotate through in groups. We will need help setting up, supervising, and clearing away games.
    b. Families may attend the picnic without signing on to help. We do appreciate the help, though!
    3. Sunscreen cannot be applied by a teacher unless we have written permission of a parent or guardian.
    a. Please apply sunscreen to your child’s skin in the morning, and send them to the picnic with a hat, if possible. If you come with us, you can reapply their sunscreen!
    4. Bag lunches are required of all students. Please send your child to school with something they can carry to the park with them.
    a. We will eat lunch with our homeroom classes.

    Finally, here is a checklist of what you and/or your child needs for this field trip:
    o Signed, complete (on both sides) Field Trip form
    o Bag lunch that doesn’t require refrigeration
    o Comfortable shoes
    o Comfortable uniform they can play in
    o Hat, if they have one
    o Outdoor play items that are sturdy and don’t have wheels

    We will leave Carson at around 9:30 Thursday morning, and plan to stay at Meadows Park until 1:30.
    If you have other questions or concerns, please contact your child’s homeroom teacher.
    Yours truly,
    The Second Grade Teachers: Mrs. McMillan, Ms. Seyan, and Ms. Won

  • UPDATE: June 6th is the last day of school!

    May 29, 2013

    Ooops!!! I have a correction to make:

    Thursday, June 6th is the last day of school.  We get out at 12:52 p.m..

    I have to work on Friday, June 7th…but you don’t!

     

  • May 28-31, 2013 and June 3-7, 2013

    Computer Lab-per availability:


    1. Go the RenPlace site and take the STAR Math Test. Use your paper and pencil, and take your time!

    2. Practice your Math facts in a Flash until it’s time to go!

    Spelling Words:

    closing, saving, loved, raced, joked, waving, taped, saved, erased, raising, pasted, voted, glued, gluing, surprised.

    Projects: 

    This week, we will complete the Math End Of Year Test, the Language Arts End of Year Test, the last few Fluency Tests, and the group reports on Butterflies. We will share last week’s writing with the class. We will also write another friendly letter to go in our files and to show what we really know about writing letters. Last but not least, we will do an in-class Reader’s Theater workshop rendition of “Life Cycles” IF the class displays the motivation and interest. Per response, it may end up being an extension project for students who don’t require review.

    Special Events:

    Class Picnic-Thursday, May 30th. 9:30-1:30. Bring a lunch! More information to follow.

    Art Lesson-Mrs. Matuk’s last lesson, Friday, May 31st, at 12:30.

    May Birthdays-Party on Friday, May 31st, at 1:50. Happy birthday Chloe, Tammy, and Jakob!

    (Next Week)

    Talent Show-Tuesday, June 4th. We will bring our chairs to the blacktop and enjoy our schoolmates’ performance!

    Teacher-5th Grade Kickball Game-Tuesday, June 4th.  Come cheer on your favorite teachers and/or 5th graders!

    June/Summer Birthdays-Wednesday, June 5th, 1:50-2:22. Happy Birthday Livana, Katelyn, Janine, Miguel, Hatziry, Monica, Huey, Roberto, Alexa, and Grant!

    5th Grade Graduation-Thursday morning, June 6th. We will sit on carpet squares in the amphitheater.

    Our Class Graduation-after lunch, in our room. Great job this year, A-3 All-Stars!

    Last Day of School-June 7th, 12:52 p.m. Dismissal

  • Funky Nests in Funky Places

    The Cornell University Lab of Ornithology is holding a contest to help kids celebrate birds this Spring! Here is the information from their website:

     

    Have you noticed any bird nests in your neighborhood? Peek in a hanging flower basket, a street light, a store sign, your barbecue grill, an old boot, or under a bridge! Birds build nests in the strangest places!

    Be creative! Take a photo, create some artwork, shoot video, write a story or a poem, or create a sculpture. Just show a bird’s nest built in some out-of-the-way or out-of-this-world place.

    Contest Dates: May 1 – June 15!

    Prizes

    A huge thanks to Fujifilm Digital Cameras and Optical Devices, Celestron, and Pennington. Prizes include binoculars, cameras, bird guides, bird feeders, bird apps, posters, books, bird sound cds, and an iPad!

    Other links on the site lead to information on how to find nests, how to help birds, and myths and FAQs about nests. Click on this link to learn more: http://celebrateurbanbirds.org/community/challenges/funky-nests-2013/!

     

     

     

  • Green Kids Conference in Mountain View!

    The third annual Green Kids Conference on Saturday, June 1, 2013 in Mountain View will offer many displays, an art show, and other interesting stuff!

     

    Third Annual, Green Kids Conference!

    Our goal is to educate kids and their families on environmental issues, make them aware of available resources and opportunities, and also to promote, encourage, and reward new innovative ideas.


    Come and explore the latest developments and opportunities in

     the following areas:

               1. Education and Research

               2. Clean Technology and Alternative Resources

               3. Climate Science

               4. Waste Management

               5. Air Quality

               6. Land / Nature Preservation

               7. Energy / Water Conservation

               8. Biomimicry

    (greenkidsconference.org; retrieved May 27, 2013)