Newsletter

Newsletter

The John Collins’ Writing Program is also used to help your child improve their writing mechanics. This program includes five types of writing experiences. Each type has a different purpose, but they all share several things in common. They all provide students with opportunities to “think on paper”, and they establish clear criteria that enable students to know what is expected of them. I have integrated this writing in all subject areas.

Math journal writing is another important aspect of your child’s day. It is important for children to be able to solve math problems and explain their mathematical thinking using pictures, numbers, and words. These problems align with the state frameworks and prepare your child for the MCAS exam.

Available on a regular basis are our Problems of the Week and Reading Challenges. Problems of the Week are enriching activities which develop your child’s analytical and critical thinking skills as well as their math and logical reasoning skills. Reading Challenges focus on reading for the main idea, details, sequencing and comprehension.

Each week there is a “Challenge Question”. This question is given on Monday and we talk about the answer on Friday. The children look for the answer using classroom resources (the globe, the encyclopedia, or the computer encyclopedia) or they may take the question home to do the research there. We discuss the answer and how the answer was found before the next question is assigned.

Each week, starting in October, there is a weekly poem for your child to study and memorize in class. Poems are posted on Monday and recited on Friday. At the end of the year your child will bring home a book of poetry that they have learned this year.

I have also designed monthly classroom projects which highlight specific topics being covered. For example, during the month of September, we will do report entitled, “All About Me”. You will see sections of this done in class and one piece being assigned as homework. In October, we will make a seed catalog, which complements our science unit on growing things. November will be a time where each student will create a “Pilgrim in the 21^st Century.” They will imagine they are a “pilgrim” traveling through space to start a new life on a strange planet. In honor of “Know Your State Capital Day”, which falls on December 4^th, students will create their chosen state bumper sticker. The students will research their state on the computer and in written material. This monthly activity involves an extra credit activity to see how many states and their capitals your child can learn! These projects are designed so that the individual learner can participate at their own ability level.

These are only a few of the new and exciting experiences which will make this year memorable for your child! I am thrilled to work with your child this year as he/she grows and develops as a learner!

Dear Parents,

We have had a wonderful start this year! We have spent a lot of time getting to know each other and learning how to work as a productive group. I would like to take this opportunity to explain to you some of the exciting things that will be going on in our classroom this year. Please refer to the Curriculum Guide for Grade Two that is online.

There are many challenging and enriching activities available for your child. Writing is an important element of your child’s day. This will happen in many different formats and across the curriculum. Writing Workshop is an opportunity for your child to write creatively. Writing during this time is a process which includes the following elements: brainstorming for ideas, writing a rough draft, proofreading their own work, peer editing, and conferencing with an adult before the story is typed by themselves or sent to an adult volunteer for typing. When the story is typed this is when your child learns the many steps included to publish a story. This entails working on detailed illustrations, writing a dedication page, and writing an “About the Author” page. Writing ideas are generated through the use of personal experience or from literature that is engaging to the child.