Jensen Jots 2008-2009

2010-03-13T07:24:00.000-08:00

Reading

2009-11-20T17:03:00.000-08:00

The importance of reading to children cannot be over emphasized. The importance of reading to children is significant in child development, and reading books to little ones at an early age is essential. In fact, reading childrens stories aloud is one of the most important activities we, as parents, grandparents, teachers, and care-givers, can do for our kids. The importance of reading to children plays out in a myraid of developmental, emotional, and learning issues from bonding and security . . . to learning to read . . . to future success.

As your child gets older and can understand the stories you read, take time to ask questions, e.g. What do you think will happen next? Do you know what that word means? Which character is your favorite? You can have her retell the story or make up a new one with the same characters.Reading to children is so crucial that parents should find time to do it every day. You will be surprised at how creative you can be at finding time to read aloud to your child. Read while waiting to see the pediatrician, having a treat at a restaurant, waiting in line at the store, or cooking dinner. Instead of watching the news, turn off the TV and read aloud. You can read aloud in the morning before school and, of course, at bedtime. Read a story aloud while waiting for the bus. Make tapes of yourself or another family member reading stories and play them in the car on the way to school or daycare.

Older siblings, relatives,

and friends may alsoenjoy reading aloud. When your child is ready, encourage him or her to read aloud to you and the rest of the family. This will pave the way for a love of reading.

Math Attack

2009-11-13T12:43:00.000-08:00

We have been working hard with different combinations of coins. The children are doing a great job. If you have coins in your pocket or purse, lay them out for your child to add. Extra practice will help them to become successful with money.

Book A Night

2009-11-02T17:36:00.000-08:00

Book A Night is a program to help your child's reading increase with speed and fluency. Please work with your child for ten minutes a night. If your child is reading a chapter book, sign a chapter a night until the book is done. If it is a smaller book have your child read the book that night and send back the next day for another one. I work on the honor system. The children check out one of my books and bring them back. If they loose one of my books, I ask that they replace it.

Math Sharks

2009-11-02T16:48:00.000-08:00

I wrote and received a grant last year and was able to purchased 6 math sharks for our classroom.
Using Math Sharks is a way to build skills through math practice. It is timed drills, non-stop feedback with lights and sounds!

Children Builds Math Skills Fast! It is a portable electronic game and a full-function calculator that really makes math easy and fun! Students play against MathShark's clock with random or sequential drills. Math Skills include: Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division, Fractions, Decimals, and Percents. MathShark's progressive levels build and sharpen mental math skills from basic math facts to pre-algebra practice. Students can improve at their own pace with a timed, no-fail game format. Lights and tones make math exciting and learning effective!

Listening to Reading

2009-11-02T16:34:00.000-08:00

As teachers we are dealing with a generation that is totally wired. Students who grew up in a techno-drenched atmosphere that has trained them to absorb and process information in fundamentally different ways than we ever did. This generation of students are armed with cell phones, laptops, and iPods, instead of spiral notebooks and No. 2 pencils.

We compete with social technologies --such as blogs, wikis, mys space, facebook and other media-syndications. This media allows anyone to shift from consuming to being a media creator. This technology gives students a powerful media-authoring tool. As teachers, student centered learning means relinquishing a degree of control, but doing so also makes it possible to help them learn in more effective ways than ever before.

We have six ipods that we are using in our classroom for listening to reading as well as educational podcasts. The children are using the ipods for comprehension, fluency, and interests in science and social studies. We hope to get more ipods for our classroom through donations and grants.

Welcome Class 2009-2010

2009-11-02T16:26:00.000-08:00

It is so exciting to start a new year with such a wonderful group of students. I am looking so forward to working with your children and truly want to thank you for trusting them in my care. Our future is in their hand and great leadership and leaders will come from them.

Computers

2009-11-01T17:53:00.000-08:00

We will start using our computer lab for Waterford next week. Everyday children around the globe ask the same question: "When will it be my turn?" Children burst with excitement at the changce to use Waterford programs. They sing along to familiar melodies, trace letters on the computer screen, and read colorful books. Not only is it an engaging, entertaining form of education -it's effective. Inspired by the idea that every child should receive the best education possible, Waterford delivers innovative, explicit instruction that adapts to each child’s needs

Summer Is Here

2009-06-11T07:30:00.000-07:00

I hope all of my students are reading, reading, reading! What great readers you have become. Please practice reading aloud to someone. Read a second time for fluency. I hope you have a great summer and hope to see you in the fall. What a great year of learning.

Mrs. J's Class News

2009-04-13T09:52:00.001-07:00

REAL LIFE MATH

2009-03-23T16:45:00.000-07:00

Google Safe Search For Kids

2009-03-05T08:55:00.000-08:00

Big Thanks!

2009-02-28T09:26:00.000-08:00

Thank you parents for helping make our party special! We had smoothies and lots of goodies. The kids had a great time as you can see from the video they made. Thanks to all the moms who sent food and those who came and helped at the stations. We appreciate you giving your time to invest in our lives and classroom.

Science Fair

2009-02-13T06:47:00.000-08:00

The children are having a blast getting ready for the science fair. We are working with shadows. With a little pair and share with a partner we generated a number of questions about what they wanted to learn. The question we generated was, "Does the position of the sun effect shadow?" The students then shared their thinking and we began to generate a hypothesis (maybe two). Our only obstacle.....no sun! The Science Fair has been moved to March 16. Thanks to Dr. Henry, we will have more time for shadows.

Valentine Party Feb. 13

2009-02-09T11:02:00.000-08:00

I have bananas but no strawberries or blueberries (frozen or not) for our smoothies. We had only had 3 slips come back for snacks for the party? Please send back those slips or call. I also still need a couple more moms, dads, or grandparents to help out for the party. We will start the learning stations at 12:15. Parents please be here at 12:00. We are looking forward to having fun!
See You Then,
Mrs. J

Waterford Computers

2009-01-29T17:42:00.000-08:00

Our Waterford Lab is up and running. The program automatically provides individualized instruction and easy-to-use reports. It’s built on basic computer skills many Pre K–2 students already have and helps build computer literacy for those who don't. Students get the time they need to absorb initial instruction. Teachers are alerted if additional intervention is required. Learning is self-paced. Students get the time they need to absorb initial instruction. Teachers are alerted if additional intervention is required. This is to support a commitment to quality education that Miles Avenue provides for your child.

Winter Carnival - Second Grade Cooking Basket

2009-01-29T14:35:00.001-08:00

Our winter carnival is coming up. Second Grade chose the theme "Baking Basket." We would very much so appreciate if you could send items to school to fill our basket. If you don't want to shop send five dollars and we will do the shopping. Suggested items:electric mixer, measuring cups, measuring spoon, aprons, hand towels, pot holders, candles, cake or muffin pans. We need items by Tuesday, Feb. 3.

Order Scholastic On Line

2009-01-29T13:52:00.000-08:00

You can now order books on line through scholastic. Click on the Scholastic Symbol and go in under my username and password. Our class will receive points to help purchase other books for our class library. It is very easy just a little click. We will check periodically to see how many points we have received from orders.

President Obama's Inauguration

2009-01-26T20:01:00.000-08:00

We decided to be a part of history. The children watched and became a part of President Obama's inaguration. We talked about congress and that each state has two senators and legislative representatives of the house. The number of house representatives depends on the size of the state. The were so excited to learn that our representative for Montana, Denny Rehberg, was Dr. Henry's brother. The children then took the campaign slogan that Obama had used throughout his campaign, "We Can Change," and wrote a letter in their journals. They asked President Obama what change needed to take place in our country. They generated some pretty good ideas and change that needs to take place today.

A Visit From Snakie

2009-01-19T08:40:00.000-08:00

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Get your own

After studying snakes, we thought it would be a great time to invite Snakie into our classroom. The children loved holding and touching Snakie. They had lots of questions and information of their own to share.

2008-12-16T12:31:00.000-08:00

During this special holiday season our class has decided to give the gift that grows. We will be raising money to buy an animal or a share in an animal to help end world hunger through Heifer International.

Through our giving millions of people who were once hungry will be nourished by milk, eggs and fresh vegetables. Families who for generations knew only poverty will be building new homes and starting businesses. Children who once headed out to the fields to do backbreaking work will be heading into schoolrooms to learn to read. And people who never thought they’d be in a position to help someone else will be experiencing the joy of charitable giving.

Each recipient of an animal will be “Passing on the Gift,” which means they agree to share the offspring of gift animals with others in need, making them equal partners with Heifer in the fight to end world hunger. Families will be trained through Heifer International. You’ll be helping families lift themselves out of poverty and help others in their village to sustain themselves.

What greater gift than to teach our children to reach out to those in greater need. I have asked the children to each donate a dollar or more towards the animal we will purchase or buy a share in. If you know others who would like to give to help out it would be greatly appreciated.

Class Poetry

2008-11-20T06:22:00.001-08:00

CREDITS: Importing, Recording, & Photography
by Danica & Madison

A cinquain is a 5 line stanza. It can be done in many different ways. Three patterns we looked at were syllable count, word count and using a noun, two adjectives, three ing words, a phrase and another word for the noun. This was the pattern our class did.
Line1: A noun
Line2: Two adjectives
Line 3: Three -ing words
Line 4: A phrase
Line 5: Another word for the noun

Click on the name below to view your child's cinquain

Kyle Hunter Ian Jarrett Alison Freya Ben Madi Carlos Anna Harmony Danica Madison Gevin Caleb Nathan

What Is A Voki?

2008-11-02T20:31:00.000-08:00

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Horrible Harry

2008-10-21T19:00:00.000-07:00

Horrible Harry is about the worst friend and best friend a kid could ever have. Second grade is never dull with him around. He always does horrible things like showing snakes to his classmate Song Lee and making her scream! You never know what Horrible Harry is going to do.

We enjoyed the play at the Alberta Bair and truly laughed as Horrible Harry entertained us with his mischief. We wanted to thank Mrs. Martinez and Mrs. Zumbrennen for helping chaperone the awesome kids in Room 12. A GREAT BIG THANKS from the teacher and children.

Penny War

2008-10-19T14:00:00.000-07:00

I am so proud of my class and the pennies they have brought in for the Penny War. A project to help raise funds to purchase supplies for Huntley Project, a school that was destroyed by fire. The kids have shown such tender compassion and interest in another community.

Native American Heritage Day

2008-10-19T12:35:00.000-07:00

We read the story, Where Did You Get Your Moccassins? by Bernelda Wheeler. Mrs. Wheeler has a rich heritage being a part of the Cree and Saulteaux.

The Story is bout children in an urban school who are curious about a classmate's new pair of moccasins. In answer to their questions, the boy describes in detail how his grandmother, or Kookum, made his moccassins.
Our class then visited the site-with Native Maps of North America American varieties of moccassins. We clicked on the different moccassins and viewed bead works and patterns of the different tribes across North America.

We then visited a Native American Beadwork site. We saw different items from the different tribes culture that had beadwork.

We then visited a Native American Beadwork site. We saw different items from the different tribes culture that had beadwork.

We then made our own moccassins. Designing our own beadwork, we then sewed the moccasins top and bottom together. It was so much fun.

We located the seven reservations and discussed the different
tribes in Montana. Then Carlos pressented moccassins from his family with their own beadwork from his grandmother, hair bretts, and his sister's jingle dress. A big thanks to his mom, and an excitement to hear her share about their rich heritage of their clan, in November. We are looking forward to your sharing!

Art History

2008-10-19T10:23:00.000-07:00

Paul Gauguin was a french artist, known as a Post-Impressionists painter. He used vivid colors, thick application of paint, distinctive brushstrokes and real-life subject matter, but most Impressionists were more inclined to emphasize geometric forms, to distort form for expressive effect, and to use unnatural or arbitrary color. After spending a short period with Vincent van Gogh (1888), Gauguin increasingly abandoned imitative art for expressiveness through color. From 1891 he lived and worked in Tahiti and elsewhere in the South Pacific painting natives and scenery.

We painted a nature scene with hills, mountains, water, trees, cloud and sun. We used real-life subject matter from nature and painted it unatural colors or without restrictions, just as Gauguin did in the late 1800's.

Learning to make Connections

2008-10-19T07:54:00.000-07:00

We invited Mrs. Hoi, our district literacy coach to come into our classroom this past week. We are learning how to improve our literacy discussions and how to improve our book clubs. Mrs. Hoi read us stories, The Fox and the Red Hen and Goldilocks and the Three Bears. We made predictions and made connections with the stories from our own lives. How exciting it is to have a visitor in our classroom that helps us with our learning.

A BIG Thanks

2008-10-19T07:36:00.000-07:00

What a great bunch of kids! I am having fun learning with your children. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of their lives. Each child is unique and very special to me.