Class Dojo + ParentSquare

Reminder: Picture Day is tomorrow, and our class is scheduled for photos from 1:00 to 1:30. If you'd like, feel free to send your child with a brush or comb, and I'll make sure they're looking their best before picture time.
Also, a big thank you to the mystery donor who left a generous bag of Lysol wipes in the classroom this morning—I really appreciate it! I am not quite sure who it was, but I thank you ❤️
-Melissa

Dear 2nd Grade Families,

We had an exciting two weeks, and I'd love to share some highlights with you all!

1. Coffee Cart Success!

Our monthly Coffee Cart was a big hit today! This time, we switched things up by adjusting the pricing for our menu items:

- $12 for black coffee

- $14 for coffee with cream or sugar

- $16 for coffee with both cream and sugar

- $10 for a cup of tea

Some of the teachers even gave $6 in tips, which added a fun twist. This change helped us deepen our understanding of math concepts like repeated addition, graphing, and understanding what tips are and why they matter. It also showed us how tips can impact the total amount earned—great real-world learning.

A special benefit for me is getting to know students in other grades as a few 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders help me set up the coffee cart and decorate the teacher cups. It’s such a fun project, and I look forward to seeing how it shifts and evolves throughout the year.

If you’d like to contribute to this mini project (held on the first Friday of every month), my Venmo is @Melissa-Provancha. To confirm, the last four digits of my phone number are 0277.

2. Personal Narrative Writing Highlights

We are working hard on finishing up our personal narrative stories. I wanted to highlight a fantastic story that was just completed yesterday! These final drafts are truly showing how much the students are growing as writers, and I can't wait for you to see them.

Title: My Best Friend

By: Abby

Did you know dogs have feelings? They do! Hi, I am Abby and in this story I am going to tell you about when I got my dog. First, I was coming home from school with my friend, named Jameo. Then, I saw my mom holding a brown and white dog. I felt so confused. “Why?” I walked to her and asked why she had a dog in her hands. I wondered if she was babysitting. I saw the puppy wagging her tail. My mom said “I bought her.” I was so happy. I was crying so hard! I said “thank you so much mom!” I thought I was going to explode. I was so so so happy!! I pet her and hugged her. I really felt like the happiest girl on the planet. Her name is Belle and she sleeps with me. When I feel her soft fur, I smile. I will always remember her. I will never forget that time I got Belle. Thank you for reading.

3. Field Trip to the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History

Our field trip to the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History was also a great success! A big thank you to the chaperones, drivers, and everyone who helped make the trip such an enjoyable experience. Henley's mom, Lindsey, kindly sent out a photo album of pictures taken during the trip (in class dojo)—be sure to check it out.

4. Picture Day – October 11th

Mark your calendars—Picture Day is coming up on October 11th! I’ll be there to help with those final touches before the photos are taken, whether it's brushing hair (if you send one in your child's backpack) or straightening shirts. I’ll make sure they all look cute as can be!

5. Heads Up: Back Outside for Snack and Lunch

Starting next week, we will all be heading back outside for snack and lunch. The PAC will reopen, offering a cooler space for P.E. and theater rehearsals. If the wasps return in force, we may shift back inside, but for now, we’re excited to enjoy the fresh air again.

Lastly, thank you for your support. Your involvement makes such a difference, and we couldn’t do it without you. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

Warmly,

Melissa

Lots of exciting things are happening in Room 10, but I'll save the full update for Friday! For now, I just wanted to send a quick reminder (from the Mountain newsletter) that tomorrow is PJ Day! Students are welcome to bring a stuffed animal (as long as it fits in their backpack) and a blanket, if they'd like. Looking forward to the special spirit day.

-Melissa

Reminder for tomorrow: Thursday, September 26th, we are headed to the SC Museum of Natural History. Please send your child with their booster seat*, an extra snack (unless they are getting school snack), and a water bottle.

We find our chaperones right as the bell rings, so please aim to drop off your child by 8:30. If you are running late, please message me if you can so I know that your child is on their way.

*Regulations for Booster seats in California say that children under 8 years of age or 4'9" tall must be in a booster seat.

Please message me if you have any questions.

Stay warm today :-)

-Melissa

Happy Friday! Two announcements for this week: 

Our first coffee cart was a huge success! Your children did an amazing job, and their efforts brought so much joy to our school community. I’m excited to keep this wonderful tradition going on the first Friday of each month. To support this, I’ll be reaching out to other coffee shops for potential donations—fingers crossed! 

We used one coffee traveler this morning, which costs $22. Thankfully, Starbucks has generously offered to donate for both this Friday and October 4th. Looking ahead, I would love for our class to lead this project on the following first Fridays: Nov. 1, Dec. 3, Jan. 10, Feb. 7, Mar. 7, Apr. 4, and May 2. If you would like to contribute to this initiative, any amount would be greatly appreciated by our entire Mountain staff.

Upcoming Field Trip!

On Thursday, September 26th, we will be visiting the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History. We will depart promptly at 8:30 a.m. as the museum’s program for our grade begins at 9:00 a.m., so our timing will be a bit tight, but together we will make it work. I will prepare students so that they know what is expected of them that morning. I’ll have my door open and get everyone ready prior to the bell and as soon as everyone is accounted for, we will head off. 
I’ll send out more details, including driver assignments and procedures directly to the drivers, early next week.
The program will run from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m., followed by a snack break and class photo outside the museum. We plan to return to school around 11:30 a.m., just before lunch. We’ve been preparing for this trip by learning about fossils, habitats, adaptations, and nature journaling. The students have even had the chance to study real skulls, including those of a coyote, cat, and ground squirrel, as well as the horn of a bighorn sheep. We’re all very excited for this educational experience!

Message me with any questions. Have a safe weekend. Cheers! :-)
-Melissa

👋🏼 Just a quick update to let you know that our first letters have been officially sent to Mrs. Galvan's second grade class at Main Street. We are excited to be pen pals with them this year and are looking forward to our classes meeting at the end of the year. (Sarah is an excellent teacher and a family friend, she was also my mentor teacher in graduate school.)
♥️Melissa

I hope this message finds you well and ready for a wonderful weekend ahead!

First and foremost, I want to give a huge shoutout to Kian for kicking off our student spotlight project for the year in an absolutely awesome way. It was such a pleasure getting to know him better, and we even had the exciting opportunity to learn how to break a board in Karate together. Kian truly impressed us all!

❤️ This week we got to meet our little buddies! Check out the pictures attached. ❤️

In math, we successfully wrapped up our first module this week. As we head into the next week, we will be taking a few days to catch up on any concepts that need a little extra practice.. then we will take the test. Next Friday, we will be diving into our next module, focusing on and working with data, graphs, tall charts, and place value using sticker notation. Which leads me to explain the upcoming coffee cart!

On Friday (9/20 and 10/4), my students are going to run a coffee cart (in-class) during the first 15 minutes of school, delivering pre-ordered cups of coffee to teachers, staff and aides for free (Starbucks is willing to donate a free coffee traveler to the class for those two days).

This mini project acts as a small pick-me-up for staff and gives our students a chance to dive into some foundational math concepts in a practical way; specifically, data collection and graphing, measurement, financial literacy, and basic arithmetic. It is a hands-on math experience with real-world relevance.

That’s it from me! Have a fantastic Friday and a great weekend.

-Melissa

Dear Second Grade Families,

I hope you all are enjoying the sunshine and finding time to soak in these beautiful days.

In math, we are shifting our focus to explore even and odd numbers and how they help us understand arrays, skip counting, and the fundamental concepts of addition and subtraction. Last week, we worked on a theme packet about coins and money. Although this topic is planned for later in the year, I wanted to introduce some early practice with counting coins to help the students strengthen their skills in this area (with an emphasis on Calvin Cash).

In writing, we're delving deeper into the revision process by exploring the steps that "good" writers take to enhance their stories. We are focusing on adding sensory details, using transition words, and employing sentence frames to expand ideas.

This week, we will also focus on understanding our sense of self and learning how to care for our brains and bodies. In art, we’ll start our self-portraits, a wonderful opportunity for the children to express their individuality and creativity. Lastly, we get to meet our little buddies this week! 

Looking ahead, here are some important dates:

1. September 9th: Lego STEM class after school in the library. (Students will line up with the class on the grass and be excused to the PAC by an aide or Ms. Tresham).

2. September 11th: Band and Art after school. (Students will line up with the class on the grass and be excused to the PAC by an aide or Ms. Tresham).

3. September 12th: MESD Board Meeting 6 p.m.

4. September 13th: Taco Movie Night 5-9 p.m.

Thank you for your ongoing support! See you tomorrow. :-)

Happy Saturday,

I hope you're all enjoying the start of a relaxing and restful long weekend! It was so wonderful seeing so many of you at Back to School Night—it was great to meet new faces and catch up with familiar ones!

I wanted to give you a quick recap of our week in the classroom. We have a few bugs going around, so we’ve added extra hand-washing and hand sanitizer to our daily routine to help keep everyone healthy. I hope you all stay healthy as well!

In math, we are continuing our study of arrays and repeated addition equations, which is the foundation of multiplication. For phonics, we have been diving into initial consonant blends, and next week we’ll continue with our "s-beginning blends." In science, we began discussing the three states of matter and completed the surface tension water drops on coins experiment to learn more about liquids. Next week, we’ll experiment with the state of matter "gas" in one of my favorite science lessons! 

Check out these short clips of our science lesson last week: (Check class dojo for links)

A quick reminder: on Fridays, I will try to post little games and academic puzzles to be solved before school. This is mainly a fun way to remind students to turn in their homework folders. After a conversation with the class, I wanted to extend two main points to you: all grades are welcome to participate if they’d like, and everyone can have a chance to solve the puzzles, regardless of how close to the bell they are dropped off.

Also, I sent home a field-trip form last week for my class to attend the creek. Please note that this form is ONLY for NON-swimming trips. I will send other forms home (with date, time, and chaperones needed) for walking trips that they can go into the water. 

Lastly, please share your child’s shirt size on this google form. It will come in handy for a future project. 😀 (Class dojo for link!)

Wishing you all a fantastic long weekend with your families! Looking forward to another great week ahead!

-Melissa

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1oIHtjTRmz1K-AvPWeqCMmE-APCRCuMJ7-W2BzFrwEi0/edit?usp=sharing

Back to School Night Slideshow, 2024

See you soon! :-)

​​Good morning Room 10 parents,

I hope you all had a restful weekend and are ready for the week ahead. Our weekly theme is bubbles, and we are excited to explore the incredible states of matter in our second science experiment on Friday. It's going to be a fun and educational week in second grade!

Don't forget that open house is on Wednesday. This is a great opportunity for you to see what is happening in room 10. We'll start the evening in the PAC at 5:00 p.m. for a welcome message from Megan, an introduction of the teaching staff, info about the parent club and more! Then, meet me in room 10 and I will present twice, from 5:30-6:00 and 6:15-6:45.

Now, a quick reminder from MPC;

Please fill out and turn in the volunteer form that was attached to the MPC flier sent home in your child's homework folder
OR
Add your name to the digital list via the “Turn in those Volunteer Sign-up Sheets!” post on Parent Square by clicking the little green hand icon.

We are lacking the volunteer power we need to run out first two events and need your help to make that Mountain Magic happen!

Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or concerns. Let's make it a great week together!

​​Hi there!

Just a quick note to confirm that you received the green permission slip that went home with your child today. This slip is for our upcoming trip to the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History (on Thursday, September 26). Please return the completed form with your child at some point this week or next.

Additionally, I wanted to let you know that I've booked two more exciting field trips! We'll be visiting Natural Bridges (Tide Pool Study) and Wilder Ranch (Farm Animal Program). These enriching trips are scheduled for February and April.

Wishing you a wonderful evening!

-Melissa

Friday Newsletter - 2nd Grade Highlights

Dear 2nd Grade Families,

Happy Friday! We've had an exciting and productive week of school, and I’m thrilled to share some highlights with you.

Class Jobs:
Our first week of class jobs was a big hit! The students had so much fun taking on their new responsibilities, and it was wonderful to see them work together to keep our classroom running smoothly.

Science Exploration:
This week, we dove into the world of science with an exciting study of Mount Etna’s recent explosion. The students learned about each part of the scientific method, from making observations to drawing conclusions. We even conducted our very first science experiment! Be sure to check your child’s backpack for their completed lab report—it's a great way to see the fantastic work they’ve been doing. (Head to class dojo to view a private link to a video of the experiment.)

Homework Success:
A big thank you to all the parents for helping your child remember to turn in their homework folder this week. Your support at home makes a huge difference, and it shows in the students’ enthusiasm for learning.

Looking Ahead:
Next week, we’ll be moving forward with our phonics lessons, focusing on initial blends like "br" (as in "brown"). In math, we’ll continue our work on sorting data, and in science, we’ll explore more about solids, liquids, and gasses. Lastly, we will be practicing the use of transition words in the personal narrative unit of writing. 

Calvin Cash: Begins on Monday! 

Have a fantastic weekend! 

Best, Melissa

Hello and happy Monday!

I hope you're having a great start to the week. I’m reaching out with some less-than-ideal news—I’ve unfortunately caught the cold that was making the rounds last week. As a result, I’ll be staying home tomorrow to rest and recover. Aubrie and Reina, our fantastic reading intervention teachers, will be covering my classroom and ensuring that everything continues smoothly. I’m planning to be back on Wednesday, as there’s so much exciting stuff happening this week that I don’t want to miss!

We kicked off classroom jobs today, and congratulations to Bearett for being named our first Class Captain! On Friday, we’ll start our Calvin Cash system, and Dillon and Ronan, our two bankers, are all set with the hidden bank key and lock. This week, our phonics focus is on compound words, and in math, we’re diving into place value, data, and graphs. We’re also exploring active volcanoes, including the recent eruption in Italy (Mount Etna). To top it off, we have our first science experiment planned for Friday, which promises to be an explosive event!

I’m hopeful that with plenty of rest tonight and tomorrow, I’ll be back in action soon. Looking forward to a great week ahead.

Talk soon!

Melissa

Happy Friday!

What a fantastic first week we've had! I’m genuinely proud of our students—their energy, attitude, and effort have been exceptional. It’s clear they’re a joy to work with. I’m excited for a year full of growth and fun!

To keep you informed, you’ll find all announcements posted in three places: my classroom website, Dojo, and ParentSquare. I understand that juggling multiple platforms can be overwhelming, so I’ll ensure that all announcements are available on each platform. Whether you prefer Dojo, ParentSquare, or my website, you’ll always have access to the same information.

***Please note that class photos will only be shared on Dojo due to its monitored, invite-only nature (with access granted to 2nd grade families and not the general public).

Regarding homework, I have two main goals for 2nd grade: 1) Helping students get into the habit of bringing their folders home on Monday and returning them on Fridays (which sets them up for success in grades 3 and up), and 2) encouraging nightly reading. I know that every child’s after-school schedule, energy levels, sport lives, play-dates, family time, personal preferences, and routines are unique to each family.

Homework should never be a source of stress, anxiety, or frustration. You know your child and their afterschool schedules best, so PLEASE I ask you to adjust the homework load to fit your child’s needs, whether that means tackling the entire packet, selecting a few worksheets, or focusing solely on reading and not touching the packet! :-)

To support reading at home, I’ve secured a yearly subscription to Epic! Books, available free for your child (and siblings). This resource is fantastic for fostering a love of reading and includes features like read-aloud options for those who enjoy listening while following along. I’ll share our class code as soon as it’s set up.

We’re also embarking on an exciting Project-Based Learning initiative: renovating our Mountain School Garden! I’m a big advocate for outdoor education and want to give students plenty of opportunities to be active and enjoy the outdoors. I’m collaborating with parents and teachers on this project and will provide more details soon.

Class Jobs will start on Monday, and I’m thrilled about it! I’ll share more information soon. Calvin Cash will commence on the 19th, and we have an exciting lineup for our student spotlight: starting with me, followed by Teacher Kate, my son Calvin, and then Kian on 9/19.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend! Please feel free to reach out with any questions.

Best,

Melissa

YAY! Desks are here. Please come by at any time to help set up. If you could bring a phillips screwdriver #2 that would be awesome!

2nd Grade Student Materials List:

(Links are on my classroom website, under the "2nd Grade" tab)

I have purchased class packs and bulk sets to sustain replacements throughout the year, however, it is essential that your child comes to school on the first day with the items listed below. If for any reason you are not able to send your child with the following items, please email me and I will make sure that your child will have access to the listed materials. If you would like to donate to support other children in class, please message me, and thank you so very much for your generosity.

*I will have a materials box/pouch for each child to use at school.

Student Materials Checklist:

Personal Materials (please write your child’s name on these items):

1. Crayola Broad Line Markers (12 Count)

2. Crayola Colored Pencils (36ct)

3. Crayola 24 Count Box of Crayons

Shared Class Materials:

1. Box of #2 Pencils

2. Paper Mate Pink Pearl Erasers, Medium, 3 Count

3. Elmer's School Glue Sticks

4. Box of Fine Tip, Black Dry Erase Markers

5. Lysol Disinfectant Wipes

Optional:

Class Donations and Wishlist

At any time of the year, if you are interested in donating materials to our class, I have created an amazon wishlist of items that we readily use. Absolutely not necessary, but greatly appreciated.

I am SUPER excited for Wednesday :-)

See you all soon,
Melissa

Stay connected with your child's learning experience!
mrsbeckmansclassroom.com