Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!!

Merry Christmas  and a Happy New Year!!!!

STAAR Resources from TEA

Parents and Readers of this Blog:

Some of our parents have children in 3rd grade or higher that will be taking the STAAR test this spring.
In order to prepare our students and parents on the complexity of the STAAR, I have found this on the TEA website.

The Texas Education Agency has developed Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) Study Guides to help students strengthen the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) that are taught in class and tested on TAKS. The guides are designed for students to use on their own or for students and families to work through together. Concepts are presented in a variety of ways that will help students review the information and skills they need to be successful on the TAKS.

The following files are extremely large and the download time depends on your internet connection speed.  These low-resolution files are optimized for Internet use and they may vary in quality from the original high quality booklets.  

If you are having trouble downloading the files, try the solutions found on the Downloading and Printing PDF Documents webpage:  http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/taks/study-guides/

2nd grade parents I also advise you to check this site and see the kinds of questions that your student will have to answer  in order to pass this very difficult test.

Mr. Fierros

Christmas Practices

Parents and reader of this blog:

With two weeks of vacation I know that many of  you may be concerned with our students getting rusty on their math facts and reading fluency.

 So here is a schedule to keep your child's skills sharp.

Use the computer for 20 to 30 minutes a day (no more than that)

Check to see if your student is  doing the correct problems or on the  correct site:

for example: are they practicing spelling with the correct games?  Spelling section? 

Vocabulary: check to see if they are doing the vocabulary section....
Subtraction and not some fun game....

I found this excellent education site. These are great subtraction sheets that can be downloaded and practiced.

http://www.greatschools.org/worksheets/second-grade/math/?start=48

On the same site are very good reading worksheets:

Look for worksheets that have a story that your child has to read and answer question from the selection:

http://www.greatschools.org/worksheets/second-grade/reading/

Thanks Parents,

Mr. F

Winter Break!!!

   Our kids had a lot of fun at their Christmas party today.
 Nachos, Chicken Nuggets, cookies, candy, and soda.
Thank you parents that helped out, your assistance was greatly appreciated!!!

Please remember that we are going on a field trip tomorrow to see Snow White at Brackenridge High School.
We will leave at 9:00 a.m. and return by 11:00 a.m.

Mr. F

Friday: Field Trip to See Snow White!

Parents and Readers of the Blog:

     Friday, December 16, our class will be going to see a production of Snow White at Brackenridge High School.   We will be leaving at 9:00 A.M. and returning at 11:00 A.M.   I did not receive the permission slips till 3:45 p.m. today so only the kids at Challenge got them and I will pass them out tomorrow to the rest of the kids.

Thanks,

FFierros

Week of December 12, 2011 Extended Practice Assignments

Week of  December 12, 2011 Extended Practice Assignments

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	parent notes
Math Workbook 9.4	Math unit 9.5	Math unit 9.6	Math unit 9.7	Math unit 9.8	Practice :Have your child show you how to  “regroup” , we called it “borrowing
Reading Helen K	Reading Helen K	Reading Helen K	Reading Helen K	Reading Helen K	Children must read aloud 10 minutes every day
sign here	sign here	sign here	sign here	sign here	90 words per minute is our reading goal
Spelling 5x each practice HF words	Spelling vocabulary flash cards	Spelling	Spelling	Spelling	Is your child doing all of their homework?
Language/	Language/  Write sentences using spelling words	Language/	Language/		Do you know your child can take the spelling and vocabulary test on-line?  Ask them about it.
Science	Science	Science	Science	Science
Spelling list Basic words 1. own 2. most 3. soap 4. float 5. both 6. know	7. loan 8. goat 9. flow 10. loaf 11. throw 12. coach	Review 13. so 14. grow Challenge 15. swallow 16. ocean	High Frequency Words  (must be able to read) 1. all 2. food 3. hair 4. never 5. party	6. sky 7. started 8. stories 9. warm 10. front	Target Vocabulary : must be able to define: see flashcards 1. knowledge 2. curious 3. motion 4. silence 5. illness 6. imitated 7. darkness 8. behavior

Check out our blog for latest class information:  http://fierros2nd.blogspot.com 
New site:Texas Journeys   https://www-k6.thinkcentral.com/content/hsp/reading/journeys/tx/gr2/ese_9780547355313_/Volume1/launch.html#                                                    everyday...practice Spellingcity.com  

Reminders, Homework, New site to try....

Parents and followers of this blog,

  Please note that this weeks words will be tested...next year! lol
Actually because of  all the activities this week and the short week when we get back this will work out great!

Thursday:   School party at 1:30 pm.  Don't forget the 3.00 donation so we can purchase chicken nuggets for the kids and nachos...yum yum....
Also kids are to bring their own sodas (cans are best) for themselves. (easier to clean up)
If you want to donate anything for the party, please account for 21 students.
Don't forget the gift exchange is a calculator from the dollar store....please gift wrap.
Friday:  Kids will be cleaning the room then watching cartoons in the p.m. after P.E.
Check the homework sheet: we will have homework till Wednesday.
Thursday and Friday will be no homework because it will be done in class. (as time permits)

Finally caught up with the spelling list that I started last year with Spelling City, even though they are not complete list like this year (lacking HF and Vocabulary List) It's good to have most of the words on line now.

If you haven't check out the reader on line, please check it out: Texas Journeys 
 https://www -k6.thinkcentral.com/content/hsp/reading/journeys/tx/gr2/ese_9780547355313_/Volume1/launch.html#

Winter Schedule, Updates and Classroom Party

Parents and Readers of this Blog:

We have two weeks left before our Winter holiday, and our kids have decided on a menu for their party.

Chicken nuggets
nachos
root beer floats

Students may bring their own can of soda to the party.
I would like a 3 dollar donation to pay for the nuggets and I will need a parent volunteer to pick up the nuggets at Mc Donalds.
Students may also bring chips, cookies or candies to their party- 21students

Christmas gift exchange is simple:   gift wrap a math calculator (from the dollar store)

We are going to use them a lot during math time.

When:  December 15
Time:   1:30 p.m.-2:45 p.m.
Place: Classroom

If you can volunteer to help bring the chicken nuggets or help in the classroom please sign up

Thank You Parents for all you do,

Mr. Fierros

Martin Luther King Jr. 16th Annual Memorial Chess Tournament

Martin Luther King Jr.

16^th Annual Memorial Chess Tournament

January 14, 2012

Mission Academy

9210 South Presa

San Antonio, TX 78223

UNRATED FIVE ROUND SWISS TOURNAMENT

Sections

Primary (K-2)Elementary (3-5) Middle (6-8) High (9-12)

Check In 8:45 – 9:45 am

Round one 10:30 am (Rounds are one hour each)

Round one subject to change to ensure correct pairings

Registration Guidelines

Names must be emailed by January 12, 2012

Name(s) School and Section of any student that you may think may come to the tournament.

At check-in, names can be verified or added.

Entry Fee is $6.00

Only names on list will be charged a late fee of ($9.00)

and given a ½ round bye.

No Registration on January 14.

Any question please email TD ecchase@chessforeducation.com

Bring chess sets in case of large turnout

Snacks Bar Available

Ample Seating in the gym. Please bring your own chairs and team tables...

Reading Book Information

Parents and Readers of this blog:

I have found some additional resources for your student to help with their reading the daily story.
Texas Journeys   https://www-k6.thinkcentral.com/content/hsp/reading/journeys/tx/gr2/ese_9780547355313_/Volume1/launch.html#

It is interactive and very useful.   I would use it to preview the story, then have your child read what he or she just listened to.

I plan to research a bit more into this site since it seems it was established by the publisher but for some reason this information did not reach SAISD.   I would like our own site with links to useful locations.

Give it a try and tell me what you think.


As always: Parents you are the best,


Mr. Fierros

December 5, 2011 Extended Practice Assignments

Week of  December 5, 2011 Extended Practice Assignments

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	parent notes
Math Workbook 8.9	Math unit test	Math unit 9.1	Math unit 9.2	Math unit 9.3	Practice :Have your child show you how to  “regroup” , we called it “borrowing
Reading Schools	Reading Schools	Reading Schools	Reading Schools	Reading test	Children must read aloud 10 minutes every day
sign here	sign here	sign here	sign here	sign here	90 words per minute is our reading goal
Spelling 5x each practice HF words	Spelling vocabulary flash cards	Spelling test on HF words	Spelling test on spelling words	Spelling test on vocabulary	Is your child doing all of their homework?
Language/	Language/  Write sentences using spelling words	Language/  study flash cards for Target Vocabulary	Language/		Do you know your child can take the spelling and vocabulary test on-line?  Ask them about it.
Science	Science	Science	Science	Science
Spelling list Basic words 1. free 2. teach 3. teeth 4. please 5. beach 6. wheel	7. team 8. speak 9. sneeze 10. sheep 11. meaning 12. weave	Review 13. eat 14. read Challenge 15.between 16.reason	High Frequency Words  (must be able to read) 1. about 2. everything 3. first 4. her 5. of 6. slowly 7. store 8. story 9. two 10. world		Target Vocabulary : must be able to define: see flashcards 1. culture 2. community 3. languages 4. transportation 5. subjects 6. lessons 7. special 8. wear

Please note the words have in the High Frequency list were incorrect...they have been corrected.

Check out our blog for latest class information:  http://fierros2nd.blogspot.com 

or type google and search for: 2nd grade fierros  fluency: read aloud everyday...practice Spellingcity.com  (your child has their password and username)

Timeme.com  (use this to time your child when reading out loud)

Computer Lab time to Monday 1:00 -1:30   Wednesday  2:30 -3:00