Notes From Mrs. Bell---

It has been another busy week full of fun, educational events to help your children learn and grow.  Please be sure they bring their Friday Folders back on Monday and have read and recorded their minutes on their monthly reading calendar that they have in a designated place at home.  (We still have a few students who have shared they have no idea where it is kept at home and haven't recorded any minutes for September!)  September calendars are due this Friday, September 29.  You can record any minutes they read, you read to them, etc and we can check to see just how much time you and your child have spent reading on a daily basis.  We will log our minutes read, goals met and receive various incentives each month.  School wide incentives will begin when we participate in Pizza Hut's BOOK IT! reading program next month!  If your child meets their reading goal EVERY month, they will be eligible for many reading incentives in my classroom and through Pizza Hut!  Ask me for more details!!

Last week in your child's Friday Folder today, you received their first unit test in Math!  This was a review of everything they learned in 1st grade.  Most students did an outstanding job!  We had so many 100% tests and many kids just missed one or two.  Unfortunately, a few students had some challenges completing this test after we worked daily reviewing this 1st grade work.  We have moved on to Unit 2 - Addition and Subtraction and will be moving into our Guided Math Groups next week where we work in teams rather than whole group.  This will be especially beneficial for those that had difficulties with Unit 1 as we work daily on Math Facts, Math Games, FrontRow Math iPad Work, Seesaw Math, RSA ?, # Journal and Math Box Review and Math Teacher Table where they get the daily lesson in a small group setting.  If you have more questions, don't hesitate to contact me so we can work together.

As a reminder, please discuss with your child their before and after school procedures.   We must have a parent note, email or phone call if their is a change in your daily routine.  We cannot take the student's word that he or she is to do this or that.  I will send them on their procedure given to me at our Back-to-School Open House by each of you UNLESS you notify me by note, email or phone call.  My e-mail address is kbell@mphawks.org and Mid-Prairie East Secretary, Miss Jessica's e-mail is jtadlock@mphawks.org.  Thank you for your help! 

Just 22 days into the new school year and we've moved desks/furniture three times to make best use of our classroom via kids ideas! We're still finding our niche as we enjoy the comforts of our new second grade classroom!

I am using ClassDojo to encourage important skills like working hard, being a kind kid, being on task and so much more. Used by teachers in one in every two schools, ClassDojo is the most popular classroom management app in the US!  ClassDojo is a simple, safe classroom management app that helps teachers encourage students in class and easily communicates with parents.  Each Friday we will print our individual ClassDojo pie charts and then students will individually evaluate their week by setting goals for the next week.  I trust you'll take time to go through this with your child to see how they can improve their behavior each week.  I've shared some screen shots of students who are having great difficulties each week in class with parents to help communicate areas of concern and how we can help your child improve their behaviors so that we can get to work learning in a friendly, safe environment together.

Please take time to chat with your child about their behavior. The choice is yours to make it a great day or not.  I hope they choose to make it a great day every day!  Helping them get in the habit of being ready and prepared for school each day is a step in learning how to be more responsible and a sign of maturity.  Your guidance means the world to them as they are just in the beginning stages of their academic lives.

Students are rewarded with PBIS tickets for being respectful, responsible and safe at any time throughout our building by any adult.  Each week we turn in to the PBIS "Hawks Nest" for our bi-weekly Friday PBIS assemblies.  Be sure to ask your child about their PBIS tickets received daily and if they remember how they earned them. 

Each Friday we celebrate our Mid-Prairie pride by wearing our Mid-Prairie and/or MP East Elementary apparel! Show your school spirit and wear it proudly each Friday.  Check out the Mid-Prairie School website for ongoing apparel sales throughout the school district all year long.  Furthermore, each Wednesday we'll continue our Workout Wednesdays to promote healthier living by working out while eating healthier!  

Please take time to stop, look. listen, question, and enjoy our special projects.  Your participation is a very important part of the whole learning process.