Notes From Mrs. Bell---

Go Cyclones! Go Hawkeyes! It was an exciting weekend of football. We were cheering on our alma maters in Ames. It was quite a game to remember.  Everyone can be proud of their efforts. I'm proud to be an Iowan with so many talented players, coaches, assistants and everyone else that makes these CyHawk Series games possible for everyone to enjoy each year.  And I cannot forget to mention the first "W" for my beloved Green Bay Packers yesterday as well!  This leads me to the best week of school yet, Mid-Prairie Homecoming Week!  Be sure to dress your child for each of the fun days ahead this week to show our school spirit!  

Monday-Hat Day

Tuesday-Favorite Team

Wednesday-Class Distinction - wear gray

Thursday-PJ

Friday-Black/Gold Spirit

I am excited to share with you our class blog!  The address is http://2ndgradebellblog.blogspot.com Please bookmark this site on your computer and check back often as I will post new updates throughout each week and include class pictures of what takes place in and out of our classroom. If you have any suggestions to make our blog even better, please let me know as I'm just in my 9th year of this exciting new way to communicate with all of you!  Your suggestions help make our class blog even better!

In addition, you may sign up to receive a notification email of when updates have ben made to our class blog.  To do this, visit the blog address listed above.  Along the right hand side of our blog, enter and submit your e-mail address.  An e-mail will automatically be sent to your address each day I make an update to the class blog!  How simple is that to stay informed.

Don't forget we have a class Twitter account! We will tweet something we learned/accomplished each day.  This week we created our Follow Us On Twitter Pocket Chart where each week students will write a complete sentence of something they want to share with our Twitter followers! Check out their work on our Twitter account.  It is exciting to be on the cutting edge of the latest technology made available to us.  Our class Twitter account address is @mrsbell2nd

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! 

One of the best ways to help your child learn reading skills is to read aloud to him or her.  Reading aloud and talking about books helps your child understand stories and make sense of words.  As you read aloud, your child "makes pictures" in his or her head, imagining the story in action.  Your child's vocabulary will grow as he or she hears new exciting words and ideas.  Try reading aloud to your child - it's easy, fun and educational!  Students shared where they are keeping their September Reading Calendar posted at home.  These calendars went home on September 1st in their Homework Folders.  A few students had no idea of what we were talking about and no clue where their calendar is at home.  Please help direct your child where to place their calendar in a safe place that can be marked on daily with how much reading they are doing, hearing at home, etc.  If you misplaced it, just print one or create your own to keep track of this month's minutes.  We will be tracking minutes through April.

We've put in 12 days of school and some areas I see this class can work to improve upon are:  

handwriting - you will notice I check each and every paper that comes home.  Students are not writing their names correctly and many have forgotten to include spaces between their words, write on the lines, write smaller as we are second graders, etc.

listening - you can learn much more by listening than talking.  Unfortunately, I have a few kids who would prefer to talk when the adult is talking and/or not listen and then make errors in their work because they weren't listening.  We've shared the motto, " Talk less, listen more!"

paying attention - we enjoyed a summer long break, but now it's time to do our jobs as second grade students so we must focus and pay attention.  Thank you for getting your children to bed in a timely manner as it does effect their school day.  In addition, eating a good breakfast is very beneficial to their learning.

do your best - we must try our best in all we do! I know each student can do it, they just have to try.  You will see their weekly work in their weekly Friday Folders.  I'm very proud of the work they've done in just 12 days.  We do many tests to start the year to see where we are and then chart our progress all year long.  Ask your child about the work they bring home in their Friday Folders.  Is there anything you can help them with at home?  Do you have questions for me about their work?  Let's help them see success early so they can really grow this school year.  

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

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.  Below is an example of what is projected on our screen all throughout the school day.  I can access it via my laptop computer and/or my ipad at any time during our classes together.  Likewise, the students stay on top of what is going well and what may need improved with immediate feedback.

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 will take time to go through this with your child this holiday weekend. They will catch on to their self reflection sheets with each new week!  Way to go!  Keep up the POSITIVE behavior, 2B kids.

Each Friday we celebrate our Mid-Prairie pride by wearing our Mid-Prairie and/or Kalona 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 stop in our room to see what your child is learning! Thank you Mid-Prairie Superintendent, Mr. Schneider, for stopping in last week to check in on us!  You are welcome anytime!  We'd love to share with you too, stop in!