Hensley's Happenings

I am so proud of each of these wonderful kids! They've worked hard this whole week and are doing an awesome job of learning all of our procedures and routines. When they are challenged, they don't give up!

Refocuses

I am starting to use our Refocus behavior plan on Monday. I wait until I feel confident that the kids know and routinely follow the procedures before I start having them refocus for not doing so.

We have positive reinforcement in our class- golden tickets! They earn tickets for following procedures/ directions, working quietly, being quiet in the hall, not shouting out in class, etc. If they are having a hard time remembering a rule and have had a couple reminders I will have them give me back a ticket. Hopefully, that will be enough to help them make a better choice. If they continue the behavior then I will have them refocus. Just a reminder they will receive AT LEAST 1 verbal warning to change their behavior before they owe me a ticket and/ or refocus. If the behavior continues and they are asked to refocus--- they will move to a quiet spot in the room, fill out the green refocus sheet, and wait (while listening to the lesson) for me to check their paper. Please sign the refocus and return it with your child the next day.

If you see a refocus come home on occasion, it is not the end of the world! In second grade we know how capable they are of making good choices, and we have high expectations for those choices. An occasional refocus does not constitute grounding, spanking or removal of electronics/ privileges; it is merely a visible reminder that they need to do better the next time. Frequent (daily or several in the same day) refocuses are a different story, and while it is rare, it does happen. If we would get to that point, I would be calling you to talk and brainstorm ways we can make things better for your child here at school.

You are always welcome to email or message me in Seesaw if you aren't sure what happened that caused a refocus.

Newsletters

Each Friday I will send you our newsletter via Seesaw and Twitter. Please make sure you read the newsletter to find out important dates and events for our classroom!

Follow me on Twitter: @staciehensley26

Seesaw

If you have not yet connected to Seesaw, please do that as soon as you can. Invitations and directions for connecting were sent home yesterday with your child. Seesaw will be a major way that I communicate with you this year. If we would have to go to e learning at any point this year we will use Seesaw to share lessons and assignments.

Water bottles

Thank you for sending water with your child- they've done a great job managing their water in the classroom! I would ask that you send water (clear, flavored water is fine) and not juice or colored water. We just want to keep our new carpet as clean as we can! We will continue to have bottled water available if your child needs that.

Jackets Needed!

It tends to get a little chilly at times in our classroom. Your child is welcome to bring a sweatshirt or jacket to leave at school in the closet so they'll have something to wear if they get cold.

Your child's nightly homework will start on Monday. They will be bringing home a sheet to read to you. I'd love for them to read it a few times 3-5 would be great! After that I would love for them to read for 20 minutes from a book of their choice. If you need books at your child's reading level please let me know- we have lots of books we can copy and send home!

There may be times that students need extra practice at home with a certain skill and I will let you know some options for extra practice at home to help strengthen those skills.

Your child may have homework is when they are choosing not to complete their work during the time given in class. Ample time is given during class time to complete regular items assigned in class. Your child SHOULD NOT be bringing work home to finish. In the past I have not kept children in from recess for not completing their regular in class work. It has been my experience that those who do not finish in the given time most likely will not finish at recess.All daily work that needs to be finished at home will be stamped with a rubber stamp stating to finish and return by the date stamped on the paper (s). Work not returned by the date due will be recorded as a zero in the grade book.

If you child is absent, they will have work to make up at home. They have the number of days they were absent to finish and turn in the work.

This week reviewed some skills (vowel sounds, predicting, comprehension, vocabulary, setting, characters, problem and solution, making connections and comparisons) using Kevin Henkes' books Shelia Rae the Brave and Chester's Way We are also working hard on our classroom procedures for our Daily 5 stations.

We got started in our math program by reviewing some skills from last year, getting our Rocket Math goal and level, and finishing our iReady diagnostic assessment.

Here is a link that explains the math program briefly. Also, as a team we decided not to send math homework this year. BUT, if you're child needs more practice or as a class we are struggling to grasp a concept I will send home extra practice that can be done at home but does not have to be returned to school. Also, if at any time you'd like extra practice for your child just send me a note or email.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1q0bZnKXP7q6H-h0EogG9RlviBtLL3BpxFK2eEYO996A/edit?usp=sharing

We are just getting started with English and writing- they are included in our new language arts materials!

Pretest on Wednesday

Final test on Friday

No words next week. Our first spelling test will be September 3.

I love having all of my wonderful, happy, fun kiddos each day. Here is a short list of tips to help keep them happy and healthy emotionally as we start the year.

https://childmind.org/article/helping-children-with-special-needs-go-back-to-school/

September

6 Labor Day, No School

3 Midterm ends

9 Picture Day

TBD midterms posted to Skyward

Email: staciehe@ohusc.k12.in.us
Location: 600 E Walnut St, Converse, IN, United States
Phone: 765-395-3341
Twitter: @staciehensley26