Happy Holidays!  Only 10 more school days before we head out for a much needed break.  The next two weeks will be filled with many activities.  Please be sure to check your child's folder every day. 


In class, we will continue to look at holiday traditions and how our ancestors have passed family traditions down over the generations. 


We will be discussing two digit subtraction with and without regrouping.


All students will be completing a timeline project at home.  Please be on the look out for the directions to come home on Monday.


I will also be sending home a sign up sheet for our Christmas party.  Currently we are planning to have Zaxby's as our main meal and will add a few sweets and juice boxes to go along with it.  Please be on the look out for the information to come home Monday.  I hope everyone has a fantastic week. 

The Count down begins.  I have been informed by my 13 year old that there are only 40 more days until Christmas.  WHAT?  Where did the time go?  School just started and now we are looking at Thanksgiving break and Christmas break.  Time slow down!






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This week we will be finishing up our research on severe weather.  We will continue to read about the Native Americans and their influence on our own American culture and how they helped the Pilgrims survive in the New World.   Don't forget that the totem pole project is due next Monday, November 23.   I can't wait to see what everyone has designed.


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Thanksgiving lunch will be this Wednesday.  All parents or other family members planning to attend lunch on Wednesday are asked to prepay using the envelop sent home last week.  If you have not already sent those in, please do so as soon as possible.  Once you have prepaid, you will receive a lunch ticket.  This will help the line run much more smoothly and quicker.


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Field trip forms were sent home last Thursday.   We will be traveling to Chapman Cultural Center to see the play Twas the Night Before Christmas.  The cost of this trip is 7 dollars.  We would like to have all monies turned in by next Tuesday.  Thank you to all of you that expressed interest in coming along as a chaperone.  Unfortunately, due to space restrictions, we are only allowed one chaperone per class.  We will be taking another trip in the spring and we will need many, many chaperones.


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Finally, this week is the Clemson/Carolina challenge.  This is a fundraiser for our Relay for Life team here at Oakland.  If your child brings in money tomorrow, he can put his name on the challenge wall.  Tuesday's money allows them to wear their team colors.  The winning team will get to pie the opposing team next Monday.  The student in the school who brings in the most donations will get to pie Dr. Patterson. 


Thank you, have a wonderful week.

Marvelous Monday!  We were so excited to see the Bulldog athletes today.  We are celebrating Red Ribbon Week and they came for a visit.  Don't forget to look at the back of your newsletter.  We are having specific dress up days this week. Tomorrow is dress for success and Thursday will be our career day.  

Remember tomorrow we will continue with our Cogat testing. Get a good nights rest.  

Finally, don't forget to bring in your loose change to vote for your favorite pumpkin.  

Happy Fall Ya'll

 

I'm loving this fall weather!  Please make sure to send a light weight jacket for your child.  This time of year is so unpredictable. Mornings are cool, but afternoons are warm.  And we never know about our classroom.  :) 

 

 

 

This week we are reading a fun story called Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs.  We will be talking about fact versus fiction.  

 

 

BOOSTERTHON was AMAZING!  We are now trying to get all our pledges in .  If you still have pledge money out, it is due at school now.  Please send it as soon as possible.  Thank you!

 

 

 

The GREAT PUMPKIN CHALLENGE is underway.  Students are being given the opportunity to earn extra credit in reading.  All you have to do is decorate a pumpkin to look like a story book character.   ALL pumpkins are due at school this Thursday. 

 

Parent Conferences are this Tuesday and Thursday.  You should have received a confirmation from me.  It is on a very bright piece of pink paper. 

 

 

Make up picture day is October 28th.  Please let me know if your child is in need of a make up. 

 

 

Finally, Awards Day is this Thursday at 9:30 in the cafeteria.  We hope you can join us. 

 

Have a great week!

The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow!

 

This song keeps playing over and over in my head.  Eventually there has to be sun.  Hopefully everyone stayed dry over the weekend.  We have a great week planned here at Oakland.  Not only do we have our Fun Run on Friday, but this is also Walk to School Week.  Please make sure to check the back of your child's newsletter for the theme each day.  

 

We have started our weather unit.  This week we are reading Thundercake.  Students have vocabulary notes in their binder.  They are also on this week's newsletter.  Please review over the words each night.  The students will also have a quiz on weather tools this Friday.  Those notes are in their binder as well.  

 

Thank you to all of those who have gone to FunRun.com to make pledges and donations.  10% of the money we raise as a classroom will be used to purchase things for our class.  If you have not had a chance to go on FunRun.com, please do so today if possible.  It does not cost anything to register your child and they will receive a prize just for registering. 

 

Today we will be watching Dr. Patterson and Mrs. Skinner ride the tricycles.   Check back later for some photos.  :)

Rain, Rain Go Away!   What a rainy Saturday.  Sitting here watching the Carolina game and  suddenly I realize that I can't post any pictures this week :(  All my Pirate Pictures and PBIS Roll out Pictures are on my now broken phone (sniff sniff) .  Sorry folks, I promise that next week I will do my best to post them.  Hopefully my phone will be repaired by then and I can show you all the cute pirates form room 108. 


This week we will finish up our study of character traits and have our Reading test on Wednesday.  Make sure you are studying those vocabulary words.  You will find them in the clear pocket in the binder.  The label says Reading. 


We will have Spelling this week.  The words are also in the binder inside the clear pocket labeled Spelling


We will finish up our study of The Seasons and plan to have a test toward the end of the week.  On Thursday, our 2nd graders will FACETIME with meteorologist Chris Justus.  We will begin our unit on weather as we are given the chance to ask questions and get answers about weather. 


We will begin our unit on addition with sums more than 100.  This will at times require the students to regroup.  Please help your child at home with this difficult concept.  Check back later in the week for a video about the different strategies you can use to help solve problems that require regrouping. 


Thank you all for your best wishes and prayers.  I am definitely feeling much better and I am so glad to be back at school. 

Book Chat!

Our very first book chat was a huge success!  Everyone is ready for our next time.  I can't wait for them to see the books I have chosen for our next chat😀

Soon they will be choosing for themselves.  I would like for all students to begin making a list "Books I Would Like To Read. "  This way I can help them partner up for our chats. 

Goodies with Grands!

Thank you for coming out this morning to enjoy breakfast with us.  We hope you had a " GRAND" time

Good afternoon parents,
     First let me say how sorry I am that I have been out of touch this past week.   Many of you have contacted me and asked what happened.  I will give you the very short version.  Last Saturday, August 29, my son had a swim meet in Augusta, Ga. He was on the bus with his team and my husband, daughter, and I were on our way home in our car; when we were hit by a car that ran through a stop sign.  He was trying to get away from the police and was going very fast when he hit us.  Thankfully, everyone will be ok.  Bruises fade and broken bones mend.  Unfortunately I broke a bone in my lower back called the transverse process and that is what has kept me out of school this week.  I have a drs. apt on Tuesday and hopefully he will release me and I will be allowed to go back to work.  I have missed my sweeties so!  I know they have been in great hands.  


This week we will review characters, setting, and plot.  Our test will be on Wednesday.  Make sure to study those vocabulary words. 


In math we will continue to learn about addition strategies.  Most of these are similar to last year in first grade and should not cause your child any stress or anxiety over learning them.


This is a language week and we will be studying questions and statements.  Please make sure to look in your child's clear sheet protector for the notes on these types of sentences. 


We will be finishing up our unit on Maps and we will plan to test early next week. 

IMPORTANT

Please make sure to have your field trip form and your money turned in by Friday.  If you have had the SLED check and would like to go with us, please let me know as soon as possible.   

Our First Week Rocked!

Hello parents and students,

We had a great first week.  Everyone is settling into a routine and things are super busy around here.  Thank you all for your overwhelming response for volunteers in all areas.  We truly appreciate you and your support as we educate the next generation. 

 

 Hard at work on their All ABout Me Stars!  Look for them in the hallway outside our classroom. 

This week we will continue to read Cynthia Rylant book, as we discuss strategies for asking and answering questions. We will not have a spelling test this week, but we do have a Language test about sentences planned for Thursday.  

We began Math Minutes on Friday of last week and plan to have our first test this Friday.  Please be studying over those.  They are in the Binder cover called Morning Work. 

We are writing personal narratives about ourselves this week.  We will also begin looking at and writing good, complete sentences.  Please help your child at home whenever they are writing. 

In math, we will continue to work with our base 10 blocks and counters as we learn to compose numbers. 

Thank you to all who were able to come out for the BACK TO SCHOOL BASH.  We had a blast. 

We had some famous visitors at our Bash!  Could really have used a little FROZEN to help out with the heat.  :)

 

AHOY MATES!

 

WELCOME TO 2ND GRADE!

 

I'm so excited to have you and your child in my class this year.  It's going to be a terrific year.  Please check the blog on a weekly basis.  There will be tons of information about what we are doing in class and even things going on at school outside of class.  WELCOME ABOARD!

Have a Great Summer !

I'm so sad to see everyone go.   We have had a fantastic year and I can't wait to see how much you all grow over the summer.  I am posting some photos from throughout the year.  Have a great and safe summer. 

Dress like a Pirate Day!

Working with a buddy to find animal information.

The Science Center came to tell us all about animals.

Dad and Donuts.  :)

Awesome Totem Poles!

Just some "birds" reading
on a ledge.  :) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Girls Win the Jelly Fish Toss ( aka  the water balloon toss) 

 

                            We're so excited!  Our field trip is finally here. 


On Monday, we will be traveling to TD Convention Center in Greenville to look at all the great inventions other kid inventors have made.  Please make sure to wear tennis shoes and your Oakland T-shirt.  If you don't have an Oakland T-shirt then wear black, blue or green.  We will be leaving Oakland at 9:15 and will return by 12:30 in time to each lunch. 















The remainder of the week will be spent preparing for our own Oakland Invention Convention.  We will be working on scripts for our commercials Mon - Wed.  Hopefully on Wednesday, we will be ready to start filming every students commercial. 






We are finishing our unit on subtraction with regrouping and plan to test this unit on Wednesday.  We are also finishing our unit on supply and demand.  We will test this on Thursday.  Look for a study guide for Math and Social Studies to come home on Monday.


Finally, thank you all for your help with our inventions.  The children are super excited about the convention and they can't wait to see what everyone has created.  I hope to see you all there. 

WHEW!  What a February.  I'm glad its over.  Now maybe we will have some warmer weather and Spring will finally arrive. 


Our Inventors unit is underway and we are so excited for the many inventions students will be bringing our way on March 18.  We are also excited about our Field Trip on March 16.  Don't forget to send in your permission form and $3.  The Invention Convention at Oakland will be held on Tuesday, March 24. 


We have a full schedule again this week, as we run our Boosterthon FunRun today!  All the students are super excited about that.  Also, we are celebrating Dr. Seuss this week during our Read Across American Week.  We will have a character parade on Wed.  Students may dress as a favorite book character that day.  Please make sure it is a book character, not movie or video game. 


We are also once again serving ice cream on Fridays for $1.  If your child would like ice cream, they may bring a dollar to lunch and after they have eaten, they will be allowed to buy their ice cream. 


This weeks newsletter was sent home last Friday.  Please take a moment to look it over.  If you have questions, please email or call and let me know.  Have a wonderful week!

Our Inventor Unit is underway!  The students are so excited about creating and inventing their own invention.  Parents, please be on the look out for all the information you need to come home with your child on Monday. 


We will have our Valentine's Day party on Friday, February 13 at 1:15.  Everyone is welcome to attend. 


Don't forget there is no school for students on Monday, February 16 and Wednesday, February 18 is a late start day. 


Next week, we will begin our Boosterthon.  Check back later for more information. 


I hope everyone has a great week. 

I hope everyone enjoyed your extra day off this week.  We have an exciting week coming up!


On Tuesday, report cards will be coming home.  Please sign the envelope and return it to school by Friday.  On Friday we will have our 2nd Nine Weeks Award Day.  I hope to see you all there. 
We will be finishing up our unit on Folktales this week and next week we will be moving on to Informational Text/ Biographies.  We will continue our Measurement Unit and plan to have a test early next week. 


Parents, this is a very important notice from our school nurse and DHEC ( department of health and environmental control).  If your child is running a fever or vomiting, they must stay home for 24 hours.  Please do not send your child to school if they are sick.  We are desperately trying to keep the flu at bay here at Oakland.  Encourage your children to wash their hands with warm water and soap several times each day.  Hand sanitizer is ineffective on some of the flu strains we are seeing this season.