Activity Book Exchange

Thank you to everyone who turned in their activity books for the Christmas party today.  If you haven't yet done so, please turn in a wrapped activity book and crayons/colored pencils/or markers to go with it.  Boys will be exchanging with boys.  Girls will be exchanging with girls.  We will do the book exchange at our Christmas party on Wednesday afternoon.  Students who don't have a wrapped activity book and coloring items will not be allowed to participate or call home.  Thank you for your understanding.

Anyone who wishes to come to our party on Wednesday, please have your id and be patient with the office staff as our security has been heightened. 

Michelle Proper
2nd Grade Teacher
Switzer Elementary
michelle.proper@uticak12.org
Check out our NEW website!!!
www.mrsproper5.blogspot.com



 

Homework Packets and Bi-weekly Notes

I am not sending home a homework packet today.  Students will receive them on Monday.  Also, the bi-weekly notes didn't get finished.  I have a few more to get done.  I will send them home on Monday in their OWL folders. 

Please be sure to have kids keep practicing their IXL and Raz-kids.  They are doing great!  Students are allowed to use the computers to get on Raz kids during our Daily 4 time in the morning.  I am going to work out a system for IXL kids in the afternoon, too.  That way they are getting practice at home and in school.  I am seeing HUGE improvements and I am so glad we are able to use these programs.  I hope you are enjoying them as much as I am!!  :0)

Michelle Proper
2nd Grade Teacher
Switzer Elementary
michelle.proper@uticak12.org
Check out our NEW website!!!
www.mrsproper5.blogspot.com

 

Book orders

Just a reminder that book orders are due today.  I'm trying to close it tomorrow morning, to ensure delivery before the holiday break.  If you need to log in, don't forget, here's how: www.scholastic.com/bookclubs   Class activation code: GYT28

Every time you order online, you get a free book and I get a book for the classroom!!  :0)

Michelle Proper
2nd Grade Teacher
Switzer Elementary
michelle.proper@uticak12.org
Check out our NEW website!!!
www.mrsproper5.blogspot.com

 

Activity Book Exchange

We will be celebrating in our classroom on Wednesday, December 19^th.  We will be doing an activity book exchange amongst our students.  Boys will be exchanging with boys and girls will be exchanging with girls.  Please have your child bring in a wrapped activity book and a package of crayons, markers or colored pencils by Monday, December 17^th.  Please keep the purchase around $5.00.  Please make sure the activity book is age appropriate. 
Thank you!

The Giving Tree

Just a friendly reminder that the giving tree gifts are due this Monday, December 10th.  Please have them wrapped and the tag attached to them.  Thank you so much for helping to make a difference in the lives of the families that need help this holiday season.  Merry Christmas!

Spelling

Hi, all!  Due to the students getting new lists and me having to take Tuesday morning off, I am going to have the kids keep their spelling words for 2 weeks.  They will not be taking a test on the words until next Friday, December 14th.  Please hold on to them.  That will give me more time to work with the kids on some word sorts.

Also, I have started an incentive program for raz-kids and for IXL.  The top 2 students for each online program will be on a special message on our daily schedule and ear themselves a reward.  Keep up the great work!  The students are doing awesome!!

Michelle Proper
2nd Grade Teacher
Switzer Elementary
michelle.proper@uticak12.org
Check out our NEW website!!!
www.mrsproper5.blogspot.com



 

IXL

Sorry for this not being ready on Monday.  I had intended to work on it over the weekend, but I had a sick, clingy baby girl.  I hope you can understand that my number one priority this weekend was snuggling with my sick little girl!  :0)  Let me know if you have any trouble with the site.  Have fun!!

I am pleased to tell you that we will be using a website called IXL in our classroom this year. IXL is a comprehensive math review site with an unlimited number of math practice questions in hundreds of skills — all of which are aligned to state standards. One of the best things about IXL is that your child can access it from home, so you have a chance to see your child's progress!

To get your child started on your home computer, please follow these easy steps:

1.  Go to www.IXL.com

2.  Enter your child's username and password in the top right-hand corner and click Sign in.
(Note: If the username and password are not listed below, they will be provided separately.)

Username: firstnamelastname247 ex. Michelleproper247
Password: initials, just like raz-kids ex. mmp

3.  Navigate to your child's grade level on the Practice tab.

4.  Find a skill to practice by doing one of the following:

·     Select a specific skill to practice from the list of skills. You can place your mouse over any skill to see a sample question and click on the link to begin.

·     Click on the Awards tab. Each grade level presents challenges for your child to conquer and virtual prizes to be uncovered. Place your mouse over any challenge to begin.

In addition to making math practice exciting, IXL is designed to help your child learn at his or her own pace. The website is adaptive and will adjust to your child's demonstrated ability level. The site also saves all of your child's results, so you can monitor your child's progress anytime by clicking on the Reports tab.

I hope you'll encourage your son or daughter to use IXL daily. Here's to a year of working together to make math fun for your child!

Book Orders

Book orders will be coming home on Monday, but here is the link in case you'd like to get a head start on your shopping!  https://orders.scholastic.com/GYT28  password: GYT28.

Don't forget every time you order online, you get a free book up to $5 and I get a $3 coupon to add books to our classroom library.

December Calendars

The December calendars will be going home later this week.  But they're up here first!
December Happenings
December Helpers

Homework Packets

It was such a nice vacation, I didn't take the time to make up a homework packet.  Just practice your spelling and keep up with raz-kids.  I'll be awarding points to some of my big time readers.  The students are doing amazing!  We just got our ixl subscription, which is a math website very similar to raz-kids.  We'll be starting that next week...I'm so excited!!!

Fun Video

As you know, we have been practicing money.  Some afternoons for our math warm-up, we watch this quick video.  The kids love it and it's very catchy!  Enjoy!!

Publishing Party

Hi.  We are having our first publishing party tomorrow.  I sent an invite home in the students' OWL folders last week.  It seems some people didn't receive it and I forgot to post on the website until now.  Here is a copy.  We have juice boxes and waters.  Let me know if you are able to bring in anything.  Hope to see you tomorrow!

You are cordially invited to:

Mrs. Proper’s 1st Publishing Party of the Year!

When: Tuesday, November 20, 2012
12:15 p.m.
Where: Switzer Elementary,
Behind the stage

The students have been working really hard with their writing.  Please join us for an hour of showing off our great writing!  If you are able to bring a snack, drink or other supplies for this wonderful event, please let me know!


Michelle Proper
2nd Grade Teacher
Switzer Elementary
michelle.proper@uticak12.org
Check out our NEW website!!!
www.mrsproper5.blogspot.com

Scoop

Here is the latest scoop.

Spelling

Students will have the same words for 2 weeks.  The words that came home today will not be tested until NEXT Friday, November 16th.  With this week being a shortened week and the half day next week, I wanted to make sure I have enough time to work with the students on the spelling patterns.  Thank you for your cooperation and understanding!

Michelle Proper
2nd Grade Teacher
Switzer Elementary
michelle.proper@uticak12.org
Check out our NEW website!!!
www.mrsproper5.blogspot.com



 

Halloween

Pumpkin Math Pics

November Calendars

Here are the calendars for the month of November.
Helpers Schedule
Happenings 

www.raz-kids.com

We are so excited to start a new at home reading program for your child.  This year, we are lucky to have www.raz-kids.com, which is an on-line library of books your child can access both at home and at school.  This program has been initiated to help motivate our students with reading and in turn improve their reading skills at their individual reading levels.  After your child listens and then reads the story, they will take an interactive quiz to monitor comprehension.  After a student completes each story by listening, reading and taking the quiz, they will earn on-line starts to build a virtual rocket ship! 

1)  Here’s how to access the site:

2)  Go to www.raz-kids.com/login

3)  Type in our user name: mproperb

4)  Find your child’s name on the chart and click on it

5)  Type your child’s personal password (Their initials including middle name.  If your child doesn’t have a middle name, it will just be your child’s first and last name.)

6)  Your child can choose any book to read at their level

If you begin using the program, and you notice that your child’s book level is too easy, please let me know as soon as possible.  The levels were based off their September reading assessments.  Most of our students have improved since then. 

Hopefully you received my email yesterday.  I will update our website with the info, as well.  Please let me know if you didn’t!

Math Test

Students brought home a math review that says- REVIEW FOR TEST TOMORROW.  Obviously, we won't be having a test on Halloween, but I knew with all the excitement of Halloween, studying for the test tomorrow would be impossible!  :0)  Students only have to do the front, red side for the math review, but if you "make" your child do more, that's fine!  So...Math Test will be Thursday, November 1st.  Have a Happy Halloween!!

Red Ribbon Week

This week is red ribbon week.  Here is a list of the themes for each day.  '

MONDAY, Oct. 22nd – “LET’S TEAM UP AND WALK OUT ON DRUGS”  Wear your favorite team jersey/shirt Students will be ‘WALKING OUT-side’ TUESDAY, Oct. 23rd – “I ELECT TO BE DRUG FREE”  Wear red, white & blue WEDNESDAY, Oct. 24th – “I’M TOO BRIGHT FOR DRUGS”  Wear bright colors and sunglasses THURSDAY, Oct. 25th – “PUT A CAP ON DRUGS”  Wear your favorite hat FRIDAY, Oct 26th – “I CAN, YOU CAN, WE CAN BE DRUG FREE”  Let’s fill someone else’s bucket (and our own) by bringing in a can (or box) of food to donate to Samaritan House (*see note below*) Students ‘CAN’ also wear something red Also teachers will be selling tickets for the Halloween assembly at lunch Monday-Thursday.

Tomorrow's Weather

Due to the forecast of cool and rainy weather, Mrs. Nicolai and I have decided to go with our rain date instead.  With the little ones, we don't want to take any chances.  I hope to see you all on Tuesday at Eastwood Beach from 9:30-12:30.  :0)  Now, watch it'll be beautiful tomorrow.  If you could do me a favor and spread the word, I would really appreciate it!  Hope to see you Tuesday!
~Mrs. Proper

Michelle Proper
2nd Grade Teacher
Switzer Elementary
michelle.proper@uticak12.org
Check out our NEW website!!!
www.mrsproper5.blogspot.com



 

Class Picnic

Hi, everyone!  Instead of doing my annual summer movie, I decided to change it to a summer picnic.  We will be meeting at Eastwood Beach in Stony Creek Thursday, August 9th from 9:30-12:30.  Bring a lunch and be ready for fun.  Come for some of it or for the whole time.  They have the new play set that I am excited to chase some kids on.  I will be bringing Emily.  I extended the invite to past classes in hopes of seeing some of my favorite faces.  If it happens to be a crummy day that day, we will have a rain date of Tuesday, August 14th, same time, same place.

Mrs. Nicolai is inviting her class, as well.  SO it should be a good, fun time!  Hope to see everyone there!

Michelle Proper
2nd Grade Teacher
Switzer Elementary
michelle.proper@uticak12.org
Check out our NEW website!!!
www.mrsproper5.blogspot.com

 


 

Re: Info

Mrs. Proper,

 

Thanks for the awesome bath and body soap and lotion .  I love that scent . Also thanks for all your help with Michael during the school year.

Hope you have a great summer with Emily.  See you in the fall.

 

 

Love

 

Colleen

Field Trip

Hi!  I hope you are enjoying this beautiful day!!  Wow, it was a scorcher for the Fun Run, but we had a lot of fun!

I've received a lot of questions for the field trip.  If you are chaperoning, please plan on meeting at school by 8:30.  I will give you the chaperone note, get cell phone numbers and give you a first aid baggie.  That will allow you to meet up with other parents to carpool down to the Henry Ford.

We are planning on leaving school at 8:45am and arriving at the museum at 9:30am.  Remember this is an indoor field trip, so you don't need to dress for the weather, but remember your tennis shoes!  :0) 

I think I've covered everything.  Let me know if you have any other questions.  Thanks!!  Enjoy the weekend!!
~Mrs. Proper

Michelle Proper
2nd Grade Teacher
Switzer Elementary
michelle.proper@uticak12.org
Check out our NEW website!!!
www.mrsproper5.blogspot.com

 

Some Info

Due to me being subbed out earlier in the week for a doctor's appointment and next week being a short week, students will have the same words this week and NEXT week for spelling.  Please do not throw words away.  They will take their test next Wednesday, May 23rd. 

Also, next Thursday will be the Fun Run.  Students should wear sunscreen, tennis shoes and their tie-dye t-shirts.  (I will post the directions for the tie dye shirt on the website, just in case the note gets misplaced.)  Don't forget a water bottle, too!  Students will not be able to participate with Fun Run events if I don't get a signed permission slip back.  I will post who has turned them in later this week.

Thanks!
~Mrs. Proper



 

Info

For our mother's day project, we would like a picture of you and your child.  If you could email them to me, that would be very helpful!  Tomorrow will be the last day I can accept them, as we will be finishing them up the rest of the week.

Also, I am hoping to tie-dye t-shirts next Tuesday.  I am hoping to have a few helpers to help.  Please let me know if you would be able to help out at all!  I am planning on doing them in the afternoon, after lunch.  I will be subbed out to test the kids, but I will be in the building, so I'm hoping for someone with "experience!"  :0)  Please let me know!!

~Mrs. Proper

States and Capitals

Some students are telling me that they didn't get their take home States and Capitals lists.  Here are the most recent states and capitals that the students will be tested on tomorrow, Tuesday, May 8th. 


1.  Santa Fe,
    New Mexico

2.  Albany,
     New York

3.  Raleigh,
     North Carolina

4.  Bismarck,
     North Dakota

5.  Columbus,
     Ohio

Here are the states and capitals that they will be tested on next week, Tuesday, May 15th.


1.  Oklahoma City,
    Oklahoma

2.  Salem,
     Oregon

3.  Harrisburg,
     Pennsylvania

4.  Providence,
     Rhode Island

5.  Columbia,
     South Carolina
 

Read In

Congratulations to our class.  They have achieved in filling our jar of marbles.  The students have decided to have a “Read In.”  This will take place tomorrow, Tuesday, April 17th.  Please have your child bring in a sleeping bag, and/or pillow and any favorite books from home.  We will move all the tables aside and lay out the sleeping bags and pillows while everyone enjoys an afternoon of reading.  The students will also be getting their slurpees if they earned them from the science test last month.

States and Capitals

Students will be tested on these states and capitals tomorrow:
1.  Topeka,
     Kansas

2.  Frankfort,
     Kentucky

3.  Baton Rouge,
     Louisiana

4.  Augusta,
     Maine

5.  Annapolis,
     Maryland


 

States and Capitals

I am posting these on the website to help you to keep track of the states and capitals we have covered so far.  Half of the students were ready to test today, some said they needed a bonus day.  They just need to know the last 5 that we have learned for the "test."  Have fun!

Week 1
1.  Montgomery,
    Alabama

2.  Juneau,
     Alaska

3.  Phoenix,
     Arizona

4.  Little Rock,
     Arkansas

5.  Sacramento,
     California

Week 2
1.  Denver,
    Colorado

2.  Hartford,
     Connecticut

3.  Dover,
     Delaware

4.  Tallahassee,
     Florida

5.  Atlanta,
     Georgia

Week 3
1.  Honolulu,
     Hawaii

2.  Boise,
     Idaho

3.  Springfield,
     Illinois

4.  Indianapolis,
     Indiana

5.  Des Moines,
     Iowa



Michelle Proper
2nd Grade Teacher
Switzer Elementary
michelle.proper@uticak12.org
Check out our NEW website!!!
www.mrsproper5.blogspot.com

 

Important Info!

Due to the week we get back being a short week (and missing a few students today,) I have decided to not test the spelling words this week until next week.  Spelling City will still be up and operating over break, so your child can practice over break.

The Cell Phones for Soldiers contest is ongoing until May 24th.  So, if you know of anyone getting a new cell phone, please snatch up the old one and send it in....We're counting on you, Mr. Razook!  :0)

Travel poster homework will be coming home next week and will be due Monday, April 23rd.  Be on the lookout.

If you have not yet turned in your field trip permission slip and money, please do so as soon as we get back from break.  We will have to total up everything and give it to the office the week we get back.  Thanks for your understanding.  I will be sending reminders on Tuesday, after I total up everyone who has already turned it in.

Have a wonderful break!  I am looking forward to some snuggle time with my little cutie pie!  :0)

Spelling This Week

Due to me not being in school the beginning of the week, I am not asking the kids to know their spelling words.  We will have the same words next week so I can do the sorts and really work with them with the patterns.  Thanks for your understanding!

Couple Things

I did not send a homework packet this week.  We will be back on track next week.  :0)

Also, the LION'S assembly and camp that was scheduled for tomorrow has been canceled!  More information will come.  I just wanted to let you know!  I'll keep you posted!!

Michelle Proper
2nd Grade Teacher
Switzer Elementary
michelle.proper@uticak12.org
Check out our NEW website!!!
www.mrsproper5.blogspot.com

 

McDonald's Night

I mentioned it to the kids as they were leaving, but I wanted to let you know.  I am planning on being at the Switzer night at McDonald's on Thursday, February 23rd from 4-5.  I hope to see you there!  I hope you have a great break!  I will be posting the calendar on the blog.  I made them and forgot to send them home with the kids.  If you get your copy from the website, please let me know if you don't need me to print you a copy.  Thanks so much!  Enjoy the next week!  I'm excited to get some extra snuggle time with Emily!!!
~Mrs. Proper

Michelle Proper
2nd Grade Teacher
Switzer Elementary
michelle.proper@uticak12.org
Check out our NEW website!!!
www.mrsproper5.blogspot.com

 

Pizza Party Wednesday

We won the cell phones for soldiers contest!!  That means we WON a pizza party for the class!  We will be having the pizza party on Wednesday at 2:15ish.  Each student will get 2 pieces of cheese pizza, a drink and a small treat.  You may want to pack a lighter lunch for them since they will be getting such a huge "snack" later in the day!  Great work!  And a special thanks to Mr. Razook!!  I think he helped seal the deal for us!!  YAY!!  :0)

 

Scoop

There was some confusion yesterday when the Scoop was being passed out. I don't think everyone got one, so if you didn't, please download your copy here.

We have had some serious talks this week. Some things have happened in the class that have really disappointed me. We had a student steal some gum off my desk, as well as, some students who were not doing what they were supposed to be doing during Daily 4 and a LOT of friend problems and bad choices at recess. I told the students that I hope our normal, respectful, trustworthy class returns on Monday. Please take some time to talk to your student about the issues that have been going on this week. I know things were a little off kilter when I was gone, but now that I'm back, I'm hopeful that we will all be doing what is expected of us at all times so our focus can be on learning and having fun...

Homework will be different this week. Be sure to check your child's STAR folder this week for more info. Don't forget your Valentine's on Tuesday! Check back soon for some funny bubble blowing pics that I will upload later this week!!

Spelling

I have retested the kids and restructured the groups. Students did not bring home lists today because Mrs. Nicolai and I were trying to see if we had similar groups. If we had similar groups, we were hoping to split them up amongst our 2 classrooms to provide more one on one time with teachers. I will be sending the new lists home either tomorrow or Wednesday. We will be starting word sorts and new activities at school, so the test will not be til NEXT Friday, February 17th. I just wanted to give you all a heads up. I'll keep you posted!