Spring Break and Recent Learning

With Terra Nova testing finished, we resumed our normal routines this week.

Among many wonderful read aloud stories, we read a magazine about Dr. Seuss! We "celebrated" his birthday about a week late (birthday = March 3rd) with goldfish (One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish) and Dr. Seuss erasers.

In Religion, we talked about ways to be peacemakers in our school and in our homes. Our ideas are written on outlines of our hands and are hanging on the door as reminders to us for ways to act like Jesus.

In Science we've been learning about animal habitats. Check out the group posters about the rainforest, forest, desert, and arctic.

We finished our after-lunch read aloud The Tale of Despereaux, and we compared it with the movie- we found some similarities and also quite a few differences. The students were already asking what great book we are going to read next... They'll have to wait and see!

In writing, we finished up our class report about the Statue of Liberty. I was proud of how the students took the chart with notes and transferred it to an outline/paragraphs. They even added some illustrations and made a simple bibliography to cite their sources. After spring break, the students will get a chance to work on their very own research projects about a topic of their choice! (The picture below is the model I made while the students were working on their own papers.)

Please remember:
Next week is spring break (March 17th-21st). I look forward to seeing your children again on March 24th. Enjoy the time off! Please remember to have your child(ren) read every day. It is very important!

Terra Nova testing finished

Terra Nova testing is finished!

Thank you for bringing your students to school on time, sending snacks, getting them to bed early, and encouraging them to do their best.

We'll be back to a "normal" week next week, and then the following week (March 17-21) is spring break.

Aquarium Photos

Don't forget to ask your children about today's field trip to the Shedd Aquarium. We had a wonderful time! There were so many animals to see. We even watched a 4D movie and a Dolphin Show!

Please see some photos below:

"Look! The turtle is following my hand!"

Sting rays

The students were able to pet the fish.

Students waiting to pet the fish

Ready for the 4D movie

Waiting for the 4D movie

Ready for the Dolphin Show!

Please check your children's Thursday folders. There was a note about how to prepare for Terra Nova tests. Here are the main points from the letter:

1.    Go to bed early every night.

This may mean turning off video games or the TV earlier than usual. It is important that they are well-rested so that they can focus. I will send home less homework than usual as well.

2.    Eat breakfast every morning.

Food helps the body and the brain function at their best.

3.    Be prepared.

Help your child arrive to school on time every day (7:45am). Please make sure he or she has pencils and healthy snacks in his or her backpack.

4.    Stay calm. 

      Please make sure your child understands that the results will not affect his or her grades and that he or she may not know every answer. The important thing is to keep breathing, follow ALL directions, and try his or her best.

Hard at Work

Terra Nova has started! I am proud of the second graders as they pushed through three of the InView test sections today. (We took a break in between each test to keep our brains and bodies awake.)

They are taking it very seriously, which is a wonderful thing to see. I also hope they are not too nervous. Just before the test started, I had them take out their manila "Testing Tips" folders they made yesterday. Hopefully that helped to calm them down and remind them to focus. Check out some pictures of the folders they made:

Miss Foyle's models

Our 6 Testing Strategies to keep calm and test on...

Thank you for making sure to bring your children to school on time. We had perfect attendance today!

Terra Nova Tips

St. Ann starts taking the Terra Nova state tests next week (week of March 4th). I know your child may be nervous about these tests, but please remind him/her that it is not for a grade. I want the students to try their very best, but I also want them to relax.

I sent home some helpful hints in preparing to do their best, but here they are again:

1. Get a good night's sleep. (It's hard to focus without enough rest!)

2. Eat a good breakfast. (It's hard to think on an empty stomach!)

3. Keep breathing. (It's hard to concentrate with too many nerves!)

4. Bring a healthy snack. (It's good to refuel!)

There is not any studying they can do to prepare. The best they can do is come to school ready to be a good listener and ready to listen to directions.

Also, your children will not have homework (or a spelling test) the next two weeks to allow for plenty of time to rest their bodies and their brains.

*Reminder* Don't forget to register your child(ren) for next year!