Wow!  I cannot believe another school year is coming to a close.  Thank you for all of the support you given me this school year.  Thank you for bringing me into your family and lives for this period of time.  Thank you most of all for the honor and priveledge of trusting me with your children each day.  I don't take it lightly.  

Lot's of fun bonding time to happen this week.  Here's what you need to know.  
1. Wear uniforms today and tomorrow.  Wear Swamped shirts Thursday to Turtle Bay.  Free dress Friday.  Parents, please wear an Achieve Logo to Turtle Bay also, this is your ticket in.  If not, I will print some stickers.
2. I will be sending home student work and extra workbooks, notebooks through out the week. 

This is a great trip to celebrate the end of the school year.  Here's a bunch of info you need.
1. Wear Swamped Shirts and probably shorts.  It's going to be hot!
2. Bring your lunch in a backpack.  They will not be taking them in for us this year.
3.  Arrive at school early.  We will leave by 8:10.  Please be at Achieve by 8:00.  
4. Back at Achieve around 3:30.  This will give us a little extra time to enjoy the park after driving so far.  
5. If you are coming, plan your day with the weather in mind.  If your group wants to go across the bridge and see the gardens, go early before it gets hot.  Let's save the indoor exhibits for after lunch.  

Along with camping, Disneyland, swimming, movies and family fun, don't let those brains take too much time off!  No need to study for hours a day.  Be smart about how you practice and your child will be primed for 3rd grade.  Most students regress in their academics over the summer.  A small amount of work can help them stay where they are.  A little more work and you could actually make gains over the summer!  
1. Find something fun to read!  It doesn't have to be the right 'level'.  This is just for fun reading.  It will keep those brains going.  Also, make sure your child reads everything, everywhere you go.  Signs, brochures, menus, whatever.  This is real life reading and your child can read it all now.  Enter a summer reading challenge at the Butte County Library.  The Paradise Library is a great resource. ​https://www.buttecounty.net/bclibrary/SummerReading.aspx_
2. Math work book.  I'm sending home an extra math workbook that came with our curriculum.  Do it!  Maybe not all, but keep them busy.  Or get your own workbook.  Just keep them doing some math!  Like with reading, make them do all the real math you do when you are out and about.  Count change!  Tell time!  Estimate total bill at a restaurant!  Look for opportunities everywhere.
Most of all, have a great summer.  Get out there and explore with your kids.  Science is everywhere!  History too!  They will be learning and exploring every minute, channel their energies for good.  

I can't believe it's that time already!  Over the next month look for ideas from me about how to best prepare your child for 3rd grade.  One of the biggest things I notice right now that many 2nd graders need to work on to be ready for 3rd grade is self-discipline.  They're just kids right?  They don't know how to do that.  Your 2nd grader right now is much closer to being a 3rd grader than a 1st grader.  That's obvious.  Think of it this way.  They are also, MUCH closer to being a 4th grader than a kindergartener.  None of us want our kids to grow up too fast, but building independence is a process.  You can do many things now to enhance your child's indpendence and self-discipline.  One example is chores at home.  Check out this Age Appropriate Chore Chart I found.  8-9 year olds are really quite capable.  Scramble an egg, bake cookies, sweep the porch.
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In second grade students learn to count money using dollars and coins.  Practice whenever you can!  Have them count your change at the grocery store.  Give them a pile of money to count.  Have them sort everything in their piggy bank.  

Still some pollinator conversations happening.  We are watching our cuttings try to grow.  Also, last week we started on some more simple physics activities.  Students learned about levers and built catapults.  We will do a variety of hands on activities to start to learn how the world works.  With each activity students will have open ended discovery time and then a specific challenge.  For example, after learning about how levers work, students had to build a catapult with the goal of increasing accuracy and consistancy.  I love watching their brains work!

This year at Achieve all K-5 classes will be set up with science activities for you to try with your child.  It should be really fun!  Make a point of coming and then make sure you play with your child.  Some of the challenges are quite difficult.  Some are only difficult for adults.

2nd and 3rd grade are ready to perform!  We will do a performance next week (probably Tuesday 12:45) for the other students.  There will be limited room if you would like to come watch.  We will do a family performance right before Science Night, May 12th at 5:30.  It is great!  Also, the T-shirts turned out great!  Some people still need to pay for shirts, no worries.  The money wasn't the timely part, just the sizes.  I'll send a note home if you didn't pay yet.  You are not late though.  Just a reminder.