This document provides information for parents of students in Mrs. Mikkelson's second grade class. It welcomes students to the new school year and provides details about upcoming events like a request for fathers to read to the class, book orders due on September 10th, library day on Tuesdays, and having students bring in a photo page by September 8th. It also outlines what topics will be covered in reading, math, science, and writing for the coming month and encourages parents to stay in touch with the teacher. Important upcoming dates are listed at the end.

1. SECOND GRADE CLASS NEWS
VOLUME 7 NUMBER 1 August 31, 2009
Welcome to second grade!
Guys wanted!!! Studies show that children, small boys in particular, do not
see enough men reading. In order to combat this growing problem, I’m asking that
DADS come to our room and read a short story to the class. I’d be happy to send a
book home so you could practice it and look through it – or perhaps you have a
favorite you’d like to share. Just let me know if you are interested by calling me at
school 723-3382 or at home 892-6810. Moms, we’d love to have you read to us as
well!!!
Book orders galore! Because children need such a variety to read from, I will be
sending home several different book orders. The first book order will be due
Thursday, September 10th. You can make checks payable to Shelly Mikkelson, as I
order online.

2. LIBRARY
Library is always on Tuesdays. Those absent on Tuesday are allowed to visit the library
during recess on another day to choose new books.
Photo Album Page Please have the provided photo album page complete
with pictures and a short explanation under each picture back to school by
Tuesday, September 8. The pages will become a class photo album. Remember,
the pictures you choose could be of pets, family, baby picture, a memorable time,
or about anything of importance. I will send the pictures home with each child at
the end of the year.
A Look Ahead
This coming month we will continue to read books independently at a “just-right” level and
think about what we are reading. Please listen to your child read on a regular basis and have
him/her talk to you about what he/she just read after every couple of pages. In math, we will
be understanding the sequence of numbers up to 100, developing strategies to solve addition
and subtraction problems, learning addition combinations, and showing our thinking. A parent
newsletter with some ideas of how to help your child see math in every day life will be sent
home at the beginning of every unit. In science, we will learn about plants as we observe and
journal about our brassica plants and lawns. We will soon be growing wheat in a straw. In
writing, we are thinking about small moment stories which really happened in our lives and
writing descriptive stories about those events, including detailed illustrations.
PARENTS WELCOME!
I encourage you as parents to keep in touch with the school and with me.
Please feel free to call me before or after school, or during our lunch period.

3. School starts at 8:00 and ends at 3:20 with our lunch period from 11:20-11:55.
I am looking forward to a great year in second grade!
Important Dates
Sept. 4-- No School
Sept. 7-- Labor Day—No School
Sept. 10-- Book orders due
Sept. 11-- School Day
Sept. 18-- Intersession
Oct. 2-- Homecoming—early
dismissal
Mrs. Mikkelson & Mrs. Suiter