Room 108 News
November 6, 2009
Dear Families,
I hope all of you are doing well. Halloween is a thing of the past and now
we can look forward to Thanksgiving! Can you believe that...Thanksgiving.
Well, I've been doing a lot of thinking about reading, more specifically
reading at home. I know that all of our schedules are packed. For some of
us, finding the time to read at home tends to be late when our children are
already tired. Plus, some of you may have little ones who say they're
reading when they are actually doing something else far away in their rooms
(We were all kids at one time!).
In an effort to help both you and me with reading I am going to purchase a
web based reading program called Reading A-Z. I didn't find this on my own.
I was talking with Ms. Elliott (1st grade) and she told me about how she uses
Reading A-Z. I looked into it and immediately realized the benefits. So, I
will be purchasing a year subscription for our class. That means your child
will be able to go on the website, have books read to them, read books, and
answer comprehension questions.
Your children know that I want them to read, read, and read. This will be
another tool. It will also allow me to check in and monitor every student in
regards to their usage of the website. Please take a minute to view the
video (product description) on www.raz-kids.com. I will be in touch with
more information regarding how to access the website once I have an account.
Take care,
Brian
Possible Questions to Ask Your Child
- What happened in the book Guji, Guji?
- Fix this sentence - i playd basball with my friend.
- What makes weather?
- What is precipitation?
Date to Remember
- Open House = Friday, Nov 13th from 8:00 - 8:30
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Room 108 News
October 23, 2009
Dear Families,
There's a lot of information to give this week. So, I thought bullets would
work best!
Please ask your child if he/she needs more pencils for his/her pencil box.
We don't have a snack/break on Wednesdays. A packed lunch will be sufficient
if your child is not buying lunch.
If your child brings home a math facts sheet to practice, please make sure
he/she practices those facts for homework.
Please make sure your child writes his/her name on his/her math homework.
Ask your child if he/she needs to bring in more dry erase markers from home.
We use them a lot and some children's markers are already dried up!
I plan on painting the classroom windows with the children in November. So,
if you would be willing to volunteer, keep the month of November in the back
of your mind. More information will be coming!
If you could spare a box of tissues or hand sanitizer, we would love some
because we are running extremely low! Thank you!
Take care,
Brian
Possible Questions to Ask Your Child
- What happened in the book Little Tim and the Brave Sea Captain?
- What is the fact family for these numbers (4,6,10)?
- What is your favorite math game you play in school?
- What type of weather are we forecasted (predicted) to have on Saturday?
Date to Remember
- Open House = Friday, Nov 13th from 8:00 - 8:30
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Room 108 News
October 16, 2009
Dear Families,
Well, I guess winter is here. A little early for me but that's New England!
Please make sure your child has appropriate clothing to wear outside.
We're really moving forward with our math stations. I know I've said this
before but it is truly fantastic to watch the children rotating through
groups, practicing a different skill set at each one. The children need to be
commended on how quickly they have grasped what math stations should look
like.
In writing the children are continuing to work on writing small moment
stories. We have been focusing on adding dialogue, noises, and
thoughts/feelings to our writing pieces.
Conferences are well under way. If you have not signed up for a time, please
email me to do so.
Take care,
Brian
Possible Questions to Ask Your Child
- What did the class discuss at Open Circle this week?
- What is the trick of learning your +9 facts?
- Did we have rain in our rain gauge? What's going to happen to the water
inside it now that Mr. O'Donnell brought the rain gauge in the classroom?
- What type of weather comes with HIGH pressure? LOW pressure?
Dates to Remember
- Book Fair = Monday, Oct 19th from 12:00 - 12:30
- Open House = Friday, Nov 13th from 8:00 - 8:30
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Room 108 News
10/9/09
Dear Families,
This is the time of year (October) when I step back and see how the class is
doing as a whole. Please know that our class, your children are doing a
fantastic job at becoming part of our team in Room 108. It's so nice to see
your children listening, sharing, and working with his or her new classmates.
Let your child know that you are proud of him or her for doing the "little
things" in class.
Conferences have begun. If you have not signed up for a time, please email me
so that we can make arrangements. Conferences are 20 minutes in length.
Email: Brian_O'Donnell@wayland.k12.ma.us
Thank you to all the volunteers. Math stations are clicking! Your
participation has really made a difference.
Take care,
Brian
Possible questions to ask your child
- What does a rain gauge measure?
- Is this true? 10 + 2 = 11 + 1
- What happened in the book Just Like Josh Gibson?
Date to remember
- Open House - November 13th (8:00-8:30)
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Room 108 News
10/2/09
Dear Families,
Well, we had a short but busy week of school. Our trip to the Blue Hill
Observatory was great! We had perfect weather conditions which allowed for
the children to see the skyline of Boston. If you happen to hear a tall tale
of a bus almost hitting us...don't believe any of it. It's amazing how second
graders' imaginations work!
So you know, some children may have been given math facts to practice.
The assignment would be in their Take Home folder. If so, please make sure
your child practices these facts. It's important so he or she can move onto
the next set of facts.
Take care,
Brian
Possible questions to ask your child
- What does an anemometer measure? Hint: the ______ of the wind
- Does 2 + 7 = 9? Why?
- What does a Cumulus Cloud look like?
- What happened in the book Chowder?
Date to remember
- Open House - November 13th (8:00-8:30)
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Room 108 News
9/25/09
Dear Families,
It was great to see so many of you last night. I still think it is funny
that everyone sat far away from "the teacher"! Looking back, I rambled on
quite a bit, but if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
We drew parent names out of a hat for the Blue Hill Trip on Tuesday. I
drew the names in front of the children so they could see it was a fair
process . The lucky chaperones are....Colleen Sheehan and Sheila Brown. So,
Colleen and Sheila, we'll see you bright and early on Tuesday morning! I
appreciate all of those who were willing to come - thank you.
Please remember to provide your child with a packed lunch,snack and
appropriate clothing/footwear because we will be walking the trails some of
the time while at the observatory.
Take care,
Brian
Possible questions to ask your child
- How were pictures today?
- What is ten more than the number 32?
- What is wind?
- What happened in the book The Dot?
Dates to remember
- Yom Kippur - No School - Monday, Septmeber 28th
- Blue Hill Trip - Tuesday, September 29th
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Room 108 News
9/11/09
Dear Families,
Let me tell you right off the bat that I had a fantastic four days with
your children! I hope they enjoyed coming to school as much as I did this
week. So you know, we have been working on routines, expectations, and
creating a sense of community. In my opinion, these are the big three for any
classroom because without them a class is like a ship lost at sea!
Mark your calendar, we will have our first Open House on Thursday,
September 17th from 8:00am - 8:30am. I hope to see you there! If you need to
send me an email, my address is: Brian_O’Donnell@wayland.k12.ma.us
Take care,
Brian O’Donnell
Possible questions to ask your child
- Can you name the children who sit at your desk group?
- How do you play A Cold Wind Blows?
- What did you play in Gym?
- What happened in the book Ballerino Nate?
Dates to remember
- Curriculum Night - Thursday, September 24th
- School Pictures - Friday, September 25th
- Yom Kippur - No School - Monday, Septmeber 28th
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Have a wonderful summer. See you in September!
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Room 108 News
6/10/09
Dear Families,
Here is a list of interactive games to help your child practice multiplication
facts over the summer. I suggest you add:
http://www.multiplication.com/interactive_games.htm to
My Favorites on your computer.
Now, please don’t be overzealous and have your child practice multiplication
facts if he or she has not mastered (3 seconds or less) addition and
subtraction facts. Instead, practice + and - until mastery is proven.
Take care,
Brian
P.S. I found Timez Attack on the computer last night while looking for
software on math facts. It looked engaging!
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Room 108 News
6/5/09
Dear Families,
I was thinking about math facts on my way to school this morning.
Over the
summer children continue reading, but tend to kick back in the math
department!
As I was driving, I was thinking of searching for math facts software
when I
got to school. Believe me, I still think flashcards are effective for most
children. However, there is software out there that is structured and allows
for independence.
I stumbled upon Math Facts Now!. This software focuses on the basic
facts of
addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. I’ve never used it, but
it looked interesting and affordable.
The mastery of math facts is so important! It builds confidence and
helps
make math that much easier for all students. I encourage parents to look into
ways of providing time for their child to practice math facts whether it be
addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. My only advice would be
to make sure your child has their addition and subtraction facts... COLD
before practicing multiplication or division facts.
Take care,
Brian
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Room 108 News
5/29/09
Dear Families,
Ms. Bearse walked by our classroom today and saw the children
performing
American Idol - Room 108 “The Life of a Butterfly”. She was impressed so much
that she asked if we would perform it at our all school meeting this coming
Monday, June 1st at 9:00am in the gym. Some of the children agreed. So, you
are invited to the all school meeting on Monday. Please ask your child if he
or she is going to participate in the song. We have a majority of the class
participating, but not everyone.
Have a nice weekend,
Brian
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May 26, 2009
Dear Chaperones,
I hope you had a wonderful time in the North End with your child.
This field
trip has always been a favorite, a trip they’ll never forget! Academically,
it is an opportunity for the children to apply what they’ve studied in class
around goods, services, consumers, and producers.
I want to thank you for your support on Friday. I appreciate your
help.
Again, this field trip could not happen without you, the parents. Thank you
so much!
Sincerely,
Brian O’Donnell
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Room 108 News
5/15/09
Dear Families,
Just a reminder our North End Field Trip is next Friday, May 22nd. I
am
still waiting for a few permission slips. Extras were sent out today. We are
planning to leave Claypit as close to 9:00AM as possible. For those meeting
us at the Andrew Papalo Park and Skating Arena, we plan on arriving at the
North End between 9:45 and 10:00. The buses will be leaving the North End at
12:50 to head back to Claypit. More info to come for those chaperoning!
Have a nice weekend,
Brian O’Donnell
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Room 108 News
5/8/09
Dear Families,
There are a few things I’d like to share in this newsletter. I decided to
bullet them because we are all pretty busy at this time of year.
* You’ve seen some story maps come home with your child. There will be more
of them next week. The first page of identifying the setting, characters,
problem and solution is an easier skill. The second page of identifying the
steps to solve the problem is more difficult. So you know, I am teaching the
strategy of going back into the book, locating the page we are told the
problem and then finding all the events that lead to the solution from that
page on.
* In math I’ve been teaching them the traditional way of adding. The
children seem to like it. I’m sure most of you do too! I told them that the
traditional way is all about speed whereas the partial sums way is all about
understanding numbers and developing a better number sense. We will be
practicing the traditional way over the next week and then move onto teaching
the traditional way of subtracting.
* There won’t be spelling tests from this point forward. I will review and
practice the weekly words with the children in class. I want to focus on
giving the children more practice with math concepts taught in class.
* A big thank you to all the parents who donated paint and their time to help
make the last window painting a success!
Happy Mother’s Day,
Brian O’Donnell
