Sarah is doing FANTASTIC in school! She enjoys learning and doing her very best.
She and a few other students worked on 2015 goals and predictions with their gifted teacher.
In January the 2nd grade had a snowman making contest. A blank white snowman paper was sent home with each student and they were to work on it at home, together with people in their family. Popee, Nanee, and I all helped Sarah come up with the idea and create "Jessie the yodeling Cow Snowgirl". Each 2nd grader had a chance to vote for their favorite snowman created by their peers, but could not vote for their own. Sarah received 3rd place. It was fun to help her find materials to use to make this piece of paper (below right) come to life and look like Jessie from Disney's Toy Story.
Sarah continues to do very well on weekly spelling tests.
They studied and learned about Kansas, some of its history, and about places in Kansas.
And in February she learned about the Plains Indians,
They also studied about the moon and stars.
In math they have continued practicing addition and subtraction, money, measuring, time, multiplication intro, and other 2nd grade math skills.
She is an excellent reader. We were told at her 3rd nine weeks parent teacher conference, that after being tested in reading, they found that Sarah is actually reading on a 5th grade level! Wow! What a smarty pants! We were also told again that it would be great to have a classroom full of children like Sarah. It is great to know that she does her best academically and behaviorally at school. She is kind to others, and leads by example. She follows the rules and genuinely cares for others and about those that she attends school with, (students and teachers).
Sarah enjoys music and singing. They are tested in music several times throughout the year on musical concepts, signs, words to songs, and on their actual singing voice. Each student must sing individually for the teacher and is graded on their pitch intonation, rhythm and tempo, diction timbre and vocal quality, posture and breathing, word memory, and effort. Each of these 6 categories is worth 4 points with a total on the singing test of 24 points. (I personally am curious if all other elementary schools in the state of Kansas gives this singing test to their 1st through 5th graders too???)
Me: Did you have a Valentine party in your classroom? What did you do?
Sarah: We did a big puzzle of a dog in a group and we were trying to beat each other. My group got in 2nd place. We had a bunch of treats. Everybody got their Valentine sack to look at and bring home.
Me: Did your class do anything special for Dr. Seuss day? Tell me about it.
Sarah: We made these hot air balloon pictures. We read stories that he wrote.
Me: You have been saving your AR (Accelerated Reader) points up all year. Tell me how you earn AR points and about the opportunities to spend them at your school. What did you buy at the end of the 3rd nine weeks?
Sarah: By taking tests on books that I read I get points. Then I can buy things at the AR store in May (held at the end of each 9 weeks). I didn't spend any of my points the first two times. I have been saving my points. I had 148 points! I bought a Barbie car, and a Barbie bike that came with a barbie, and a M&M candy cane. I spent 103 points.
Me: What do you like to do at recess time?
Sarah: Play basketball with mostly the boys and Brook, Savannah, and Lauren, and me. I got them to start playing and they liked it.
Me: How did you make this turkey art project that was displayed at the school's art fair? Tell me about it.
Sarah: I used glitter and paper and crayons, and a toilet paper roll.
Below is Sarah's Spring school picture.
