Mrs. Beaver's Best Buddies

September 1,2007

Dear Best Buddies,

     Thank you for the huge turnout to orientation night. I hope that you are more aware of what we're doing in second grade. I realize that a few of you were unable to come, please feel free to call with any concerns or questions.

    Concerning discipine. I hope you have had an opportunity to read over the discipline procedures in our packet. As we discussed, I want the students to be self motivated to make the best choices possible. I feel that it's my job to help you instill life skills that will enable your child to be successful in real world situations. Therefore, we will have class meetings in our room to discuss how we can make our community (classroom) a productive,safe, and fun environment. I encourage you to hold family meetings in order to discuss issues with your children and include them in some of the decision making. Ownership is very powerful. If there are issues that I am not able to resolve at school, I will contact you at home for suggestions.

    Thank you for signing the agendas daily! This is a great communication tool ! Please tell your child if you're writing a note to me. This will ensure that they show it to me right away. The Buddy Folders are a one time deal. Please do not lose them. Remind your students to bring them back and forth daily. Wow! Responsibility!

    We will begin math flash-cards for homework. There's a great website that reinforces math facts at different levels. Go to www.aaamath.com  for extra practice. You may want to set a goal and visit it a couple of times a week. Ask your child how to play Car Tag Math. This will be a great car game over the long weekend.

   Have a fantastic and safe weekend!

Kind Regards,

Deanna Beaver

August 22, 2007

Dear Best Buddies,

     Welcome to second grade! I am so excited to have your children in my class this year. There are so many new things for you to know as parents of a second grader. Please make every effort to attend our Curriculum Night on Tuesday, August 28. There will be a brief PTA meeting, followed by an orientation to Best Buddies 2007-2008. You don't want to miss this one! Expectations for the year will be explained.

     Thank you for all of the supplies that you have sent in to our classroom. We are in the process of getting and staying organized.

    Please ask your children to explain our "constitution" that we drafted together. There are a lot of promises that Best Buddies made for the year. These laws should help our classroom work peacefully.

    Don't forget to send water bottles daily. Not only is drinking water good for the brain, but the rest of our body needs hydration throughout the day. (Especially these days) Please note that we do not stay outside for long periods of time. Ten minutes may be all on some days.

    Wow! I love the agendas!!!! I do check them daily (preferably in the morning). Thank you signing the agenda. This lets me know you have seen the assignment, and have checked to see if it was completed correctly. You have the opportunity to work one on one with your child on a nightly basis. You may want to list the books that your child has read somewhere in the agenda. It will be so neat to look back, when your child is older, and see what type of writer your child was in second grade.

     For those of you who have already been "Bear of the Day"...Way to go! Best Buddies are writing their own stories about Beav's visit to their house. Watch the honey!

    Once again, come to Curriculum Night on Tuesday, August 28, 2007 @6:30.

Kind Regards,

      Deanna Beaver