May 15th
The following students have achieved the Top-5 highest grade point averages in their second grade classes:
Ms. Rasnick's Class: Mrs. Matney's Class Mrs. Tester's Class
Harper Outlaw Quinton Tate Maelee Foster
Noah Hubbard Olivia O'Quinn Lexie Sabedra
Malia Lawson Daityn Tucker Hannah Everett
Benson Warren Hayden Bolling Ryan Trent
Brayden Rhymer Jocelyn Wohlford Elvin Shi
Bryson Felty
(There was a tie.)
Congratulations to these kiddos, and a big congratulations to those who have also made every attempt to do what is right and what is required, especially in this unprecedented time. I am so proud of everyone and what has been accomplished this difficult year.
Mr. Rader will be announcing (by Robocall) the date for report card pick up as well as personal belongings left in the classroom. I have been bagging up these things as well as headphones left in the baskets. If the headphones were not in a labeled bag, then it is possible they won't be returned because I have no idea who they belong to at this point. I've making every attempt to put items together so they will be able to located and pick up a labeled bag with names on them.
I LOVE teaching, and I'm a firm believer that "teaching is not telling." This transition has been very difficult for me as I'm sure it has for many. I'm prayerful we will soon be able to return to teaching in a traditional setting, but realistic that the beginning of the next school year may look very different. Right now many scenarios are being discussed and I'm sure you will be informed. Computers are not being taken up at this point, and frankly I believe (my opinion) it is because we may have to begin the school year using them. I know training will be offered to parents, students and teachers on Schoology sometime soon as this will be the general platform used throughout our school system. Students will be able to continue using most math programs throughout the summer, or until our subscribed/paid prescriptions expire. I encourage all students to KEEP PRACTICING MATH!
Much love and appreciation for your understanding this year, your help and encouragement. I've loved teaching your child.
May 11th - May 15th
This is it! We've reached the last week of online learning! I'm so grateful beyond words for those who have attempted, tried and even succeeded in doing what was asked to complete work at home after the school closure. It has been no easy feat for any of us, and we have all done the best we possibly could. I'm thankful for the help and support I've had from families and for the encouragement you've given your children during this difficult time. I truly believe that no matter what has been accomplished at schoolwork, what is most important is that each child has felt loved and secure through all this lack of normalcy. I'm sad that the school year ended this way, and while I had hopes that we would be able to get together during the summer, it seems as though the pandemic will continue to alter our hopes and dreams for some time yet while we try to remain safe at home with our families.
News and Information:
- Online learning ends on Friday, May 15th. I have not heard any info as to when computers are to be returned. (I'm very prayerful we do not have to begin the next school year with online learning.)
- Each 2nd grade teacher will be awarding students with the top averages in the subject she teaches. I'll be announcing the top math students later this week and I have plans to mail the awards. I am so proud of all of my students. I've loved watching them grow and learn.
- Since we are not having the usual celebrations and Fun Fridays in our traditional classroom, students may choose their lessons this week from Prodigy, Reflex, i-ready and/or ixl math.
If you should need to contact me or if you have questions, you can certainly reach me on Class Dojo or email me at [email protected].
May 4th - May 8th
Great news! I've received word that we can stop our remote learning by May 15th! We are in the home stretch, as hard as it is to believe. I'm so appreciative of the hard work and determination shown by the 2nd grade families who encouraged their child to work from home. I'm working hard to match the SOLs with the assignments already completed on ixl, Reflex and Prodigy, and completing an Achievement Record for each child.
Daily Assignment for this week:
Go to i-ready. It will take you to your assignment when you log-in through Clever. Spend 15 minutes working each day, OR if it is sunny go outside and then on a day when it's colder or rainy you can certainly make up the time you missed. Just please try to complete the assignment by the end of the week. If you want to work more, that's great...if you want to go onto ixl or Prodigy and Reflex, that is great, too!
*Some students have not completed their Diagnostic on ixl or haven't entered the Diagnostic Arena. It gives valuable information which is needed. (Mrs. Neirmans is already asking me for data on her upcoming 2nd graders!) I may be in touch through Class Dojo to encourage them to get it done as soon as possible.
April 27th -May 1st
Thank you to those who are making the effort. We're making progress so I'm going to continue to try to keep the lessons short!
Daily Assignment:
Go to ixl math: Begin or finish the Diagnostic Assessment if you didn't last week. (See directions from last week or on Class Dojo).
Spend 15 minutes total on the diagnostic OR on lessons each day. Students may certainly choose to go to another math site when they are finished such as Reflex, i-ready or Prodigy.
News:
Grade level teachers are reporting back to Mr. Rader about students who are making the effort to complete assignments each day. He is choosing one per grade level from our suggestions and delivering a hot pizza to them at the end of the week!.
April 20-24
A sincere thank you goes out to those who are working hard to try to complete assignments. Each day is a mixed bag of emotions when I go online and see who AND how many students are online making the effort. If you are feelilng stressed about the time it takes your child to complete the work, I get it, I really do. I have a sincere desire and responsibility to complete the year having covered the remaining SOLs, and I've assigned them as best I can in our programs which students are familiar using. This week, let's keep it short. I love and miss my students and they are constantly on my mind every day.
Daily Assignment:
Go to ixl math: Begin or finish the Diagnostic Assessment. (See directions from last week or on Class Dojo).
Spend 15 minutes total on the diagnostic OR on lessons each day.
Questions? Still don't know your ixl password or username? Email me at [email protected] or message me on Class Dojo.
I'm not assigning Reflex, i-ready or Prodigy this week. Students who want to go any of these programs and work on them may certainly do so, especially if you are close to your goal. (I'm hoping for some self-directed learning) I'm tickled with the progress made, particularly in Reflex, by so many students. This week, congratulations goes out to Willie C. and Gabriel N. for 100% fluency in Reflex addition and subtraction!!
Interesting fact: I can see all student activity (or inactivity) in Clever!
April 13-17
We welcome John Price back to Van Pelt and into Ms. Rasnick's Classroom! He picked up his laptop last week and you may have seen his name at the top of the leader board on Prodigy!
Keep up the good work this week. So many kiddos are working and completing assignments, and I'm proud of you!
Assignments for each day:
1. Reflex Math: work until the green light is on. (about 15 min.)
2. i-ready: finish a lesson and then do a lesson. (about 10 min.)
3. ixl math: Begin with the Diagnostic Assessment.
When you log into ixl, go to the bottom of the page under where it says "Explore Recommendations For..." and below the listed grade levels you will see:
Not sure where to start? Try the IXL Real-Time Diagnostic...Click there! It will see what skills are known and what needs to be explored.
4. Prodigy can be done after doing the lessons above.
April 6-10
I'd planned not to assign any work because we had originally scheduled Spring Break at this time but as you probably know, Dr. Perrigan cancelled it in order to still be able to provide meals. In addition, I've had some families request to "keep going" with assignments now that their child is on a daily schedule. Any way we go, I think it's important to have some kind of "normal" and all my students are used to working on their computer and most enjoy it.
You need to know that I am required to complete a revised Math SOL Academic Achievement Checklist form on each child and these will be placed in their permanent record as we've done in years past. This means I'll be reviewing the data from the computer programs we use to document their achievement from March 13th onward as I complete these forms. It's SO important they keep up the good work!
Assignments for each day:
1. Reflex Math: work until the green light is on. (about 15 min.)
2. i-ready: finish a lesson and then do a lesson. (about 10 min.)
3. ixl math: work on lessons with a star beside them first. (about 15 min.)
4. Prodigy is to be done after doing the lessons above.
The total amount of time spent would be around 45 minutes to an hour. Any time spent above this is by choice, especially for those who love to get on Prodigy or any other program. Students can certainly work on them as long as they would like to or have time. All my students are used to going to Clever and getting started by themselves and know exactly what to do without assistance (teacher or parent) unless there is a technology issue.
Questions? Still don't know your ixl password or username? Email me at [email protected] or message me on Class Dojo.
I will continue to try to get in touch with students who are not working, and will be available this week. I sure miss teaching, the classroom and our schedule, and mostly, all my WONDERFUL STUDENTS!
Sunday, March 29th News and Assignments for the week:
Hello families! I hope everyone is staying healthy and has been able to enjoy the warm sunshine as we begin a new week. I've had several people asking me questions about work, so maybe you have the same questions?
*Paperwork completed does not get returned to the teachers who assigned it. Grades will no longer be taken.
*We are working on an online means of instruction to reach students and cover the SOLs which need to be taught this year. In order to know how this will work, I've been asked to gather information regarding these questions:
a) Do you have internet access at home?
b) Is there a computer, ipad or tablet you can use at home? Which one do you use, and is it the school computer?
c) Do you have a big brother or sister who attends VMS or VHS?
If you have not already responded to me with answers to these questions, please contact me on Class Dojo or by email. Also, if you have not asked me for the username and password for your child's IXL math online account, PLEASE do. I have assigned the SOLs which we did not get to cover, and your child will see the new information when he or she sees a lesson with a "star."
CONGRATULATIONS to Thomas, Hayden and Quinton for achieving 100% fluency in Reflex math!! WOOHOO. I have several students who are also very close... Ryan, Maelee, Gabriel and Olivia O.!
THIS WEEK....USE REFLEX UNTIL YOU GET THE GREEN LIGHT AND THEN ixl MATH FOR AT LEAST 15 MINUTES! THEN....GO TO PRODIGY OR STAY ON IXL IF YOU HAVE MORE TIME FOR MATH! Homeschool should only take a small fraction of your day. Stay healthy and remember I miss you!
Thursday, March 26, 2020
Have you been on the IXL math site? Contact me for your username and password if you haven't yet. I'd like for my students to use only IXL for the rest of this week instead of Reflex and i-ready. So far, I've had these guys already exploring and enjoying the site, answering good math questions:
Hayden, John G., Sadie, Benjamin, Kristal, Harper, and Phebe!!
And I'd like to add to the list these fine young people...
Benson, Jocelyn, Adeline, Catherine and Daityn!
Wonderful use of your time! Do some math and then go out and play in the sunshine!! I don't think I've left anyone off that has practiced, but if I have please let me know and I'll add you to the list!
I keep tabs on your online work on the sites and hope you guys are feeling okay about working some at home. If we make great progress then we will be able to have our summer time as scheduled! Wouldn't that be super? You can find the new skills on IXL by looking for the stars, so you will see a star beside the skills I have assigned to show you that we haven't done these in class but you will be able to practice them online. IXL has good examples of the skills used in teaching the SOLs!
Need help? Let me know what I can do to help you. If I can't help, then I'll find someone who can. Keep up the good work, and keep in touch with me! I love you and miss you so much!!!