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Learn the Electric Slide

Electric slide

Welcome Mrs. Tormey!

Dear 2^nd Grade Parents,

My name is Mary Ann Tormey and I'm looking forward to filling in for Mrs. Raynor while she is on maternity leave this spring. I visited the classroom before vacation, and and have been working with Mrs. Raynor on making this as easy a transition as possible for your children.

I taught grades 3 – 6 at Cabot School for 19 years, and have really enjoyed subbing for all grades at Calais Elementary School since last spring. My college background is in science, and before teaching I raised wholesale organic vegetables and had a CSA on our land in Cabot. Therefore I am really looking forward to teaching a unit this spring on plants. I did a lot of work with the Farm to School Program at Cabot, and am looking forward to tying nutrition and healthy food preparation into this unit. We will also be working with other classes on planting the school gardens. Please let me know if you would be interested in joining us in the classroom for any of these activities.

Mrs. Raynor has invited me to join her on Friday the 22nd for parent teacher conferences, and I am looking forward to meeting many of you at this time.

Sincerely,

Mary Ann Tormey

mtormey@u32.org

Parent Teacher Conferences

Parent Teacher Conferences begin tomorrow! If you are unsure of your scheduled time let me know. ~Mrs. Raynor

Pi Night

Preparing our work for Pi Night!

Newsletter

Second Grade News: March 14, 2013

Things to Note:

·         Second grade Parent Teacher Conferences will be held early this quarter due to Mrs. Raynor’s leave.  Conferences will be held   Friday, March 22, 2013.

·         Mary Ann Tormey will begin in the second grade classroom on March 25.  She will spend a week with Mrs. Raynor getting to know the classroom and students more before Mrs. Raynor leaves.  Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns about this transition.

What we have been up to:

Writing

Students have been learning about the difference between facts and opinions.  We have defined a fact as something that is true and can be proved.  We have defined an opinion as a personal believe about something that cannot be proved.  Second graders have been writing opinion pieces where they are asked to state their opinion on a given topic and then give three supporting reasons why they think that way.  We have begun to discuss how persuasion can be used to help others believe their opinion! 

Reading

We have been studying fables during readers’ workshop.  Students have listened to a variety of fables read aloud to them including: the boy who cried wolf, the lion and the mouse, the sky is falling, etc.  Students have been analyzing the moral presented in these stories and have been discussing if that moral or lesson applies to our own lives.  The students have enjoyed hearing these classic tales and often state that they are familiar with these tales! 

Math

Students have been studying fractions.  We have looked at 1/2, 1/4, 1/3, and 1/8.  We have really been focused on how all parts of a fraction must be equal.  Students have also begun to use their knowledge of fractions when measuring objects.  Students have discovered that often it easier to divide a square or rectangle into equal pieces than it is a circle.  One challenge the students were given was to divide a circle into equal thirds then to divide a rectangle into equal thirds.  They said the rectangle was much easier!

Have a great week! – Mrs. Raynor

Pi night

Family pi Math Night – with PIE!
3.14
Thursday, March 14th 6:00-7:00pm
Come for math fun, and bring a sweet or savory pie to share.
Students and families will start the evening in classrooms for pi math games at 6:00 pm.
At 6:30 pm we’ll move to the gym for pie.
We’ll supply the plates and forks, you bring the pie. Hope to see you there!

Pi Night

Pi Night is coming up!  Pi Night will be held Thursday, March 14 and will be a night all about math.  Pi Night will begin at 6pm in students' classrooms.  At 6:30 we will move to the gym to play math games and enjoy pie!  We would love for families that are joining in the math fun that night to bring a pie to share!  See you there!

Type to learn

Students have been practicing their typing skills. I have noticed how it is now much easier to navigate the computers!