This month in morning meeting, we discussed our support system. We explained that a support system is kind of like crutches that you use when your leg has been hurt. These crutches help support your feelings and self esteem. We came up with many people who are in our support system: our parents, grandparents, siblings, pets, teachers, friends, and, most importantly, ourselves.

Discuss this idea with your children - who do they turn to when they are upset? How do each of these people help them?

Please be patient - these maps take a long time to load.

To conclude our study of geography and map skills, second graders were asked to create an island. This island had to have specific features based on the map features we learned in class. Below are the maps your children created. We used the rubric as a key, so you will not see a legend on these maps. Printed copies of the maps are being sent home this week.

Families - please enjoy this slideshow and add a comment explaining why you like specific features of these maps. Students, please do the same!

I am going to guess that this particular Monday morning was a difficult one for your children. It was difficult for me, too! After all those days off and all that wonderful family time, facing a five-day week was a challenge! I'm happy to say, we survived and came back to school on Tuesday, with smiles. It was remarkably easy to jump back into our routines; almost as if we hadn't had the past month of inconsistent school days. 

Despite the wacky schedule, we have been busy. We are finishing up our study of geography and are beginning our study of People of the Nation and World. We finished reading a series of fiction and nonfiction books. We also finished our first major writing assignment, our autobiographies. They are hanging in the room and will be sent home soon. 

I am looking forward to having the students reflect on the week as we write our blog post on Friday. Stay tuned!

...all the parents who have volunteered their time these past two weeks to cover lunch in the classrooms. The students loved seeing you and I loved having the 30 minute break to eat lunch. I know many of you had to rearrange your schedules to be at school in the middle of day and I truly appreciate your effort. 

Thanks goes to:
   Sonja, Daniel's mom
   Julie, Anthony's mom
   Tony, Anthony's dad
   Joan, Hannah's bubbie
   Jonathan, Jacob's dad
   Jeff, Jessica's dad
   Karen, Jessica's mom
   Lauren, Oscar's mom
   TJ - Jonah's mom
   Merle - Jonah's grandma

And to the rest of you who would have liked to be in school, but who weren't able to arrange your schedules.

Thanks also for making my job so easy, by sending wonderful students to school each day.

Have a meaningful fast.