News

1/10/25

Hello Families!  

Next week, we start our iReady Reading assessments, so please have your child well rested, fed, and here!  I have already started the Developmental Reading Assessments (DRA) and most kids have made some great gains!  Progress notes come out on Jan 21st, so I'll be updating you in reading then!  Math iReady starts January 21st, so it won't make the cut off.  Math is going really well, overall, though!  I'm proud of your kids!

Next week, we will also be visited by the Planetarium!  So much fun!  That's on Thursday and our class will be in the morning.  Here are some important dates:

Jan 16 - Planetarium

Jan 20 - No school MLK Day

Jan 21 - Progress reports go home

Jan 27 - No school - teacher inservice

Feb 6 - Late Start

Feb 7 - High school kids coming to teach us FRENCH!!!!

Feb 17 to 21 - No School,  Feb Break

I love our class and they are each doing so well in so many areas!

Gayle Martin

Grade 2 Teacher

Winslow Elementary School

12/6/24

Hello Families!

Winter weather is here and most kids are coming in with what they need.  Thank you!  Hats, mittens, snow pants, boots, and jackets make winter weather a lot more fun!  Packing an extra sweatshirt would be helpful.  I don't allow jackets in the class and sometimes kids complain about being cold during class.  

We are learning about animals and habitats in both reading and science.  We are working on informational writing, so we are starting with animals there, too!  

Wednesday of next week, report cards will go home.  Students who consistently complete homework will earn a homework pass!  I will also send home Book It Pizza Passes for students who have done reading logs.  Please know that at this time of the year, 2 is where they are supposed to be.  A grade of 3 means they are doing end of the year expectations and a 4 would be third or fourth grade quality work.  1 means they have not shown improvement from the beginning of the year.  2 means they are making progress.  If students work in another room for reading and/or math, M's standing for modified will the their grade and you will also have an IEP progress note.   

Thursday will be an early release day this week, so kids should arrive between 9:35 and 9:55 with no breakfast served.  We do start with snack.  

It has been a busy few weeks and will continue to be!  We'll keep going!

Gayle Martin

Grade 2 Teacher

Winslow Elementary School

11/15/24

Hello Families!

Book It Pizza Hut passes went home this week for students who have been completing their reading logs.  The one they received is for October and there's still time to get one for November!  We will continue the program through the spring.  Students receive a free (almost) personal pan pizza.  I believe you pay taxes...  

Next week is a mostly normal week.  We do have student spotlight on Thursday at 8:30.  And it is a full week, so encourage your child to do their best!  We haven't had a full week in a little while...  

Please send in layers for recess.  It's often cold in the morning and warmer, but not warm at recess.  Students can't wear just short sleeves and sometimes it's too warm to run around with a winter coat.  It will be getting colder soon, so have that winter gear ready!  

We are talking about Animals in Science.  In reading, we are working on the long a sound and will be working on long e next week.  We have been working on adding and subtracting 2 digit numbers in math, we will continue this next week.  

Here are some upcoming important dates!

Nov. 21 - 8:30 Student Spotlight

Nov. 27 - 31 - Thanksgiving Break

Dec. 2 - Trimester ends

Dec. 5 - PTO 5:15

Dec. 12 - Late start

Dec. 23 - Jan 1 - Christmas Break

Thanks for all you do!

Gayle Martin

Grade 2 Teacher

Winslow Elementary School

11/1/24

Hello families!

Happy First day of November!  This week, big envelopes went home.  Those are for the annual Read-A-Thon.  Encourage your child to collect pledges.  Return them on November 14th.  We have a fun day planned.

Next week, we will begin 3 letter begging blends like str, in reading.  We are wrapping up our Narrative Unit in Writing and we will be doing 2 digit subtraction in math.  Please refrain from teaching kids how to "borrow" and "carry."  The math is strategy based, so if they think there is only one way to solve the problem, it's harder for them to use the strategies.  

I look forward to talking to you on Monday or Wednesday next week!  Remember no school Friday or Monday of the following week!  But come to the craft fair on Satureday, November 9th!

Thanks for all you do!

Gayle Martin

Grade 2 Teacher

Winslow Elementary School

10/25/24

Hello families!

Below I have shared a ski opportunity at Quarry Road Trail that I didn't get enough of to give everyone.  Check it out!

Also, next Friday we are having a grade 2 PJ day.  Of course they don't have to, but...  

Halloween is next week.  Costumes are not allowed and candy should be enjoyed at home...  That being said, 1 piece at snack is OK.  Please keep it small.

In reading, we are going to talk about hard and soft g/c.  We will be working on Narrative writing, still, trying to get a published piece for conferences, and double digit addition in math.  We will be finishing up our erosion unit in science.

Here are some important dates:

Nov 1 - PJ day

Nov 4 and 6 - Parent Teacher conferences

Nov 8 - No School

Nov 11- No school - Veteran's Day

Nov 14 - Read-A-Thon

Nov 14 - PTO 5:15pm

Nov 21 - Student Spotlight 8:30am

Nov 27-Dec 1 No school - Thanksgiving

Your kids are doing an amazing job! 

Gayle Martin

Grade 2 Teacher

Winslow Elementary School

10/10/24

Hello Families!

Next week is another short week, so I'll see kids on Tuesday!  Here's what we are working on:

Science:  Erosion:  What's strong enough to make a canyon

Writing:  Powerful Narratives

Reading:  Ending blends, sk, st, nd, mp

Math:  Bar and Picture Graphs

Conferences are right around the corner!  Be looking for information in the next week or 2.  Conferences are November 4th and 6th.

It's been a really good couple of weeks!  We are making steady progress!  Next week, I will be doing a reading check on everyone.  

Don't forget about PTO Bingo next Friday!  Have a great long week-end!

Gayle Martin

Grade 2 Teacher

Winslow Elementary School

9-27-24

Hello Families!

I can't believe next week is October!  With that in mind, please note that our next Late Start Day is October 10.  There's no breakfast, but we start with snack and have a shortened day, meaning we still do all our subjects.  There is no share on late starts.  I will send the next Share schedule soon.

Next week, we will start some new Fry Word homework.  I will send 1 to 2 papers a week on Monday.  As long as they are in by Friday, I'm happy!  So they will have daily reading, daily math, and weekly fry words.  Fry words are sight words, like the, said, was, through, etc.  that are difficult to sound out and just need to be learned.  

Here's what we're working on in grade 2:

Writing - Narratives - small moments and currently powerful endings

Reading - Words ending with sh, ch, tch, and ng, 

Math - Subtraction strategies

Science - Works of Water (Erosion)

Here are some important date reminders:

Oct. 3 - PTO meeting

Oct. 10 - Late start

Oct.. 11 - In Service - No School

Oct 14 - No School

Oct. 17 - Flu Clinic

Oct. 18 PTO Bingo

We are off to a great start!  Your kids are awesome!

Gayle Martin

Grade 2 Teacher

Winslow Elementary School

September 19, 2024

Hello Families!

There is a new toy policy in Grade 2; please don't let your kids bring toys to school.  There may be days, like share, rewards, reading days that they are allowed, but I will let you know.  They will not be allowed on the playground anymore.  There have been too many problems, especially on the playground (so not necessarily our class) where toys are not being used appropriately, or are being stolen or broken.  This includes Pokemon cards.  Expect a letter with details early next week.  I will be covering this with students in class, too.  This is for all of Grade 2.  Thanks for your support in this!

Next week, we will be starting homework other than reading.  If you have not sent in a 1 subject notebook, consider it.  I will be giving some to kids that don't have them.  In the notebook, kids will glue a strip that lists their homework.  Please initial the strips showing you saw it and they completed it.  This notebook is also a good place to let me know if they are having difficulty on homework.  I look at them at the end of the day, so if you need me to see something earlier than that, (like bus notes or to let me know about a difficult situation) please send in another note.   

So far, your kids are doing amazing!  We are all done iReady testing and I am plugging away at DRAs (Developmental Reading Assessments).    We have started the reading program and will start the math program next week.  We are working on narrative writing, writing about one time when your child did something.  Next week, we will be starting a unit on erosion in science and are getting together with the rest of second grade for community circles!  So much excitement and fun!  

This year is shaping up to be a great one!  Reach out to me with questions or comments!

Important upcoming dates:

Sept 23 (Monday) - Picture day

Oct 3 - PTO Meeting 5:30 in Multipurpose room (New Wing Upstairs)

Oct 10 - Late Start

Oct 11 - No School - inservice

Oct 14 - No School - Columbus Day/Indigenous People Day

Oct 17 - Flue Clinic

Oct 18 - PTO Bingo

Thanks, again!  You're kids are awesome!

Gayle Martin

Grade 2 Teacher

Winslow Elementary School

September 6, 2024

Hello Families!

We are practicing start over today.  Everyone was asked to go to start over at some point, just an FYI.  It is not a punishment, but a  chance to think about choices.  Incase you have questions, I have included the start over fact sheet below.

Next week, we will be starting iReady Reading assessments.  If possible, their homework will be to have breakfast, which can be from school, and be well rested in the morning.  Services such as speech, resource room, OT, PT, etc. will start up next week, too.  

I will still be making calls just to say hello.  I look forward to chatting with you and getting to know you!

I will be sending home background check forms next week for all people who said they want to volunteer.  A DHHS background check will be done through the school yearly before people can volunteer.  I will probably not be asking people to come in until October or November, but having the forms done will give us a jump start.

Thanks for all you do!

Gayle Martin

Grade 2 Teacher

Winslow Elementary School

August 30, 2024

Hello Families!

Thanks for looking for information here!

Here are some important dates to know:

9-2 no school - Labor Day

9-5 PTO meeting (Great way to get involved!)

9-9 - Grade 2 starts assessments this week...  Help your child by having them well rested!

9-19 - Late Start (School starts 2 hours later than usual)

10-10 - Late Start 

I'll be making calls home to everyone in the next few weeks!  Can't wait to talk to you!

Thanks for all you do!

Gayle Martin

Grade 2 Teacher

Winslow Elementary School

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