The first fifteen days of the school year have absolutely flown by. I am really enjoying my experience in second grade and am so happy that I was given the opportunity to change grade levels. I love the excitement and the energy my students bring to school every day, not to mention the smiles and hugs. I can say in all honesty and sincerity that I have left school with a "happy heart" each and every day. (My niece Megan, a kindergartner, is my role model for having a happy heart!)
We spent the first two weeks of school introducing routines and getting to know each other. I modeled and we practiced Read to Self and discussed how good readers select good-fit books. I also introduced a skip counting game called "Boo-Ya" which has been a hit with the kids. Last week I began fully implementing both language arts and math. We also took the MAPS Reading and MAPS Math tests which will provide valuable data about each student and will allow us to set goals and monitor their progress in reading and math.
I have really appreciated your willingness to communicate thus far. I hope to make more "good news" calls this week, as I am finally beginning to feel more on top of things. I am really impressed with how well my second graders follow directions, even those with multiple steps, and how respectfully they behave. I have a really nice class!
If you ever have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact me.
