Arrive to School Early on Friday

Room 5 and TPES students perform in the Wizard of Oz musical program.  More pictures and a video are in the Photo and Video Gallery linked to the right.

Arrive early on Friday!
Our field trip to the zoo will be this Friday.  We need to leave right away so bring your students early at 8:45 AM--the classroom will be open.  Students should wear cloths and shoes that they can get dirty and move around in.  Layers that keep them warm might also be a good idea.

Bring Sack Lunches on Friday!
Students will eat at the zoo on Friday.  You need to send them to school with a sack lunch that they will take with them to the zoo.  If this is not possible please let me know, we have ordered a few lunches from the cafeteria.

Zoo Chaperones
I will contact you this week with information about what I need from you regarding the field trip.  Foremost, I am hoping you will have some sort of bag or backpack that can carry about 4 lunches.

Head Lice
It sounds like this has been an issue for a few of you. The only way we can control it is if we all are vigilant. Check your students tonight. Check them regularly. There are no longer any pillows in Room 5.

TPES Online Auction
The TPES online auction is happening now.  This auction raises money for the school and is a good place to start your holiday shopping.  This year's auction includes a book which I authored a few years ago.  Visit the online auction by going here.

Literacy
When we read together as a class we have been studying and writing about the stereotypes and generalizations author's make when they create boy and girl characters.  This week we will begin looking at books with boy and girl characters that break those stereotypes.  We started last Friday with the book When Mindy Saved Hanukkah.  The main character Mindy, scaled walls and fought off a menacing cat to secure Hanukkah candles for her family.

Photos and Videos
I put a few new photo sets and one video in the Photo and Video gallery.

Velcro Book Pouches
Hopefully your students brought those today, if not bring them tomorrow.  They have a clear window in the front and can be blue, red, green, or yellow in color.  Thank you for doing this.

Maps
We have been studying maps at school as well as the major geographical features of California and the U.S.  If you are going on a trip next week, and you use a map, show it to your student.

Curriculum Overview

Literacy - Studying characters that break the stereotypes for boys and girls.

Math - Estimation with addition and subtraction.

Writing - Editing and improving our writing to produce a final draft.

Language Conventions and Word Study - compound words, suffixes (-ing, -ful -ly, -ed, -ish)

Social Studies - Understanding maps.  Map legends, scales, topography, as well as the major geographical features of California, and the U.S.

Room 5 students (as well as students from other classes) perform in The Wizard of Oz.

Last week students worked on their own and with partners to edit their own writing.

Bring Velcro Reading Pouches on Monday

I would like every student to bring his or her velcro reading pouch with them to school on Monday, December 12th.  The girl above has a green pouch but they also come in yellow, blue. and red.  If by some chance you don't get this message in time, bring the pouch on Tuesday.

Thank you,
Mr. Luxon

Using and Reading Maps

Last week students learned how to use a map scale to estimate distances.

Zoo Trip Extended by 30 minutes
I tried to contact any volunteers who had already signed up about this.  After meeting with the other second graders we decided that the zoo field trip would be from 8:45 AM to 2:30 PM (leaving the zoo at 2:00 PM).  Subsequently if you are interested in volunteering I would need you for that entire window.  Also, it is crucial that you are on the school volunteer list, which means you have filled out the office paperwork, and shown the office a clear TB test.

Sign Up For Driver/Chaperone Spots Here 

Wizard of Oz Performance
I know a few of you have students participating in the Wizard of Oz musical performance (you know if your child is involved).  The performance is scheduled for this Thursday at 5:00 PM.

Winter Holiday
Our Winter Break is a little bit odd this year.  The last of day of school before winter break is Friday, December 16th.  Students return on Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012.


Curriculum Overview

Literacy - Studying how authors typically portray girls in their books.

Math - Estimation

Writing - Editing and improving our writing to produce a final draft.

Language Conventions and Word Study - compound words, suffixes

Social Studies - understanding maps