Parent Letter Week of 8/29-9/1

Dear Parents,

Welcome back for the second week of school. I hope that your child is adjusting well to the school days and that the first week has been enjoyable to them. We are still going through our new routines for the school year because there are many things that are different this year.

Homework
Your child will be bringing homework almost every night each week. This homework needs to come back the next morning. It is important for you to get your child in the habit of sitting down each night to get their homework done. The homework that is sent home will be something that each student should be able to do on his or her own. It is a review of something that we did that day. From night to night your child’s homework will change from subject to subject. Homework is something that your child should be doing independently or with support. It is ok to help or guide them but please do not do it for them.

Spelling
Each week the students will bring home a spelling list. We will be practicing the spelling words at school, please also practice the words at home. Every Friday the class will have a spelling test. The scores from the test will be a part of the students spelling grade. Attached to the spelling list will be a spelling game that the students can play at home as a way to practice.

Specialists
Monday: Music 9:00-10:15
Wednesday: P.E. 1:45-2:15 (Your child must wear tennis shoes to participate!)
Friday: 8:45-9:15 Library (Make sure your child brings back his or her book!)

Contact Information
Phone Numbers
Before or After School: Classroom: 281-6899
During the school day: Office: 281-6220

Blog
The blog is now up and running. If you haven’t checked it out this year please do. All notes that come home will also go up on the blog. This is also a great place to see what we have been doing this week in the classroom.
The website is http://mranderson20102011.blogspot.com *I know that it isn’t 2010-2011. I am keeping the same link as last year! Another way to find the blog is to go to Sandstone’s homepage, click the STAFF hyperlink, click on the Mr. Anderson hyperlink.

Thanks,
Mr. A

Starting Centers

The 2nd graders have begun learning the new procedures for our Centers. Centers are a time for students to independently work in the classroom. This gives me time to meet with small reading groups. The pictures above show the students working at the Building Center, Reading Center, Math Center, and Computer Center.

Exploring Base-Ten

The students are reviewing how to make numbers with Base-Ten Blocks. The pictures below show the students playing the game Race for a Flat. The students rolled 2 dice, found the sum, and put that amount of cubes on their mat. After ten cubes they trade in for a 10 rod, after ten 10 rods, they trade in for a 100 flat!

First Day of 2nd Grade

Going Green

Parents,
This year I am not going to buy, or have parents buy, disposable water bottles. If you would like to send in a reusable water bottle with your child to use that would be great. I will send them home every Friday to be washed.
Thank you, Mr. A

Welcome Letter to Parents 8/24/11

Welcome to 2nd Grade!


Dear Parents:

My name is Mr. Josh Anderson, and I will be your child’s second-grade teacher this year. I will spend a great deal of time with your child in the upcoming school year. Because of this, I’d like to take this opportunity to tell you a few things about myself--both personally and professionally.

I was born and raised in a small town in Montana. I still love to fish rivers and go backpacking in the summers and head to the mountain to go snowboarding in the winter. I graduated with a degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Psychology from MSU-Billings. I student taught in the Billings Public School District at the fourth-grade level and taught for 3 years at the first-grade level. I now have the opportunity to teach second-grade making this my fourth year at Sandstone Elementary School!

As a parent, you are the most important person in your child’s life, and we need to work together for your child’s benefit. I need your support for the homework assignments, academic goals and classroom discipline plan I have set for the students. I will keep you informed about your child’s progress. With school and home working together, I know your child can have a successful year.

I look forward to meeting you personally at Open House on September 13th. If you have any questions or comments before then please contact me at andersonjs@billingsschool.org or call me before 8:15 or after 2:30 at 281-6899

Sincerely,

Mr. Josh Anderson

Education is not the filling of a bucket, but the lighting of a fire.
- W.B. Yeats