Born to Teach

We have completed the first trimester of second grade.  Some of our activities this month were the Patriotic Program featuring the beginnings of the United States of America.  The program was presented November 7 to the delight of parents, friends and students at Hartland South.  The following week the children enjoyed a field trip to Retzer Nature Center for a hands on adventure into the prairie of Wisconsin.  The weather cooperated and everyone came back with great memories of the owl pellet search!  Native Americans has been our new unit of study in social science.  We are using SMART board activities, legends and project to enhance this study.  Thanksgiving and the journey of the Pilgrims fit right into this unit also.  We read 14 class books in November.  Our Extra Quiet Reading Time has been extended to 25 minutes daily.

The month has come and gone with some beautiful weather and exciting learning.  We have completed 19 more class books.  In math we have been working on learning targets of addition and subtraction facts to 18 with mental math and mad minute.  Our problem solving has included algebraic number sentences and differentiated problems.  We can spend an entire math time on three different types of problems!  Double digit addition and subtraction are our next targets.  Our America Program is coming up soon.  All the children are doing a Reader’s Theater to coincide with the study of America.  This will help with their fluency and speaking in front of a group.  Conferences were interesting and informative.  Thanks to all parents who helped make them so.

NetTrekker is a great resource for families.  I have a site ready to go for your child. Please log on to the Hartland Lakeside main page, www.hartlake.org. click Hartland South, then click classrooms. second grade then Mrs. Krueger and finally useful links. The netTrekker link should come up.  Use the user id isouth, password 53029.  When the main page comes up go to the right and click show and then click My Portfolio.  There will be many safe, grade level sites for your child to use throughout the year.  The information follows our curriculum at Hartland Lakeside schools.

• December 19, Snow Day
• December 20-January 4 Break
• January 7, Popcorn day

The first month of school has gone by quickly.  Our second graders are settling in to the routine.  This week they experienced me being gone for two and half days with laryngitis!  They were so sweet and helpful when I got back.  We are busily working toward our Patriot Program to coincide with the election.  We will make shirts, sing and preform about the U.S.A.  Various class reading and writing activities have been centered around the birth of the U.S. and it’s great leaders.  In September we read together 23 books with a range of topics including Kevin Henkes, our first author study.  It is amazing when the children reflect on their learning, every Friday, how much we have accomplished together!

The school year has begun! My class consists of 21 wonderful learners.  We have had five days of getting to know you time.  The most interesting thing for me as a teacher is to observe the inner action of this new community. I predict an awesome year with lots of joy.

Welcome to my child centered blog.  Teaching has been my passion for 27 years.  I would like to collaborate with other educators to continue on this journey.                        

“No other subject of study is more important than reading…all other intellectual powers depend on it.” Jacques Barzun