Reading: We have just begun focusing on fiction books again. I am encouraging kids to "Climb Into Books"- to really escape and feel like they are really in a new place with the characters. We have also been taking about story plot and events. We are using words like first, next, then and last to retell story events.
Writing: Our Flat Stanley's have been mailed. We are all spread around the United States, one of us even went to Thailand! We anxiously await the return of all our Flat Selves to hear about our adventures! We did finish our letter writing unit with a fun celebration. We have now started writing How To books. This unit compliments our Nonfiction Study in reading. We are enjoying teaching our readers how to do something. We are learning that it is very helpful to have a partner act out the steps in order to find areas where we need more detail to clear up any confusion. We will turn these books into slideshow presentations in KidPix in a couple weeks.
Math: We are close to finishing Unit 6. The test will be next Thursday (January 28). The kids are doing a great job with multiplication! Some were skeptical and afraid of the term, but when they found out it was simply repeated addition of equal groups, they thought it was simple! Looking to the near future, your kids will have home links with double digit subtraction- please do not teach them the borrowing algorithm yet. I will send home a reference to show you some of the strategies we have been learning in class.
Science: We have now planted brassica seeds and rye seeds which will grow into grass. It has been fun to observe the plant life cycle so far: seed-seedling-buds-flower. We will begin discussing how seeds travel: wind, animal, human. It has been an exciting unit so far.
Brassica Plants
Grass and Brassica under the growing lamp
SS: We are finishing up our unit on Mapping. We studied the continents and oceans, landmasses vs water, the equator, reading a map, map key and map grids.
Other News:
- No School Monday for kids
- The quarter officially ends today. Report cards will be sent home next week Friday
- 2nd Grade has raised almost $200 for The Milwaukee Rescue Mission by donating pennies and other change!
- We will be starting to learn keyboarding next week. Using small keyboards, called Alpha Smarts, the kids will practice correct typing skills.
- We are in need of glue sticks and pencils. If you are willing to donate extras for our class, that would be wonderful!
- Have a great weekend!
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