October 21-November 5

Hello Families! It was a pleasure to see everyone at conferences! As the days get shorter and the weather gets colder, I am reminded how quickly this year as already gone. Here is what we have been up to in 2nd grade:
Reading: We continue to work on the skill of retelling as we narrow our focus to characters. As readers we have been really thinking about the characters we read about and listing character traits in a web. Next week, we'll add setting to our focus and how it relates to the characters in the story.
Writing: We have been working very hard drafting small moment stories that have a B, M, M, M and E (ask your child what the letters stand for). We have also focused on writing strong leads to hook our readers. In this unit, we will focus on the entire writing process which includes thoroughly editing and revising our work.
Spelling: We will finish our short vowel study with our review test on Wednesday. Then we will study the /ou/ and /ow/ sounds and then contractions.
Math: We just took our Unit 2 Test on Thursday. It will be returned on Wed. 10/26. Our next unit is Place Value, Time and Money.
Social Studies: We completed our 2nd unit: How Are Communities Different? The tests will come home on Wed 10/26. We will begin a new unit entitled How Do We Use Maps?
Science: We will begin to study about motion, specifically spinning.
Reminders:
*Book bags should be returned everyday with the book and completed book log.
*Our Fall Party is on Wednesday at 2:30.

Ye Olde School House

October 7-21

Show and Share

Hello Families! What a beautiful week it has been! We were able to enjoy an extra 20 minutes outside this week as a reward for filling our pebble jar (again!). We have had some other extra fun recently: Mrs. Hughes was our substitute on Tuesday, we met our Buddy class today (Mr. Nicholas' 4th grade), Mrs. Dahms' store opened for the first time and we had our first Show and Share day. (Mrs. Dahms' store and Show and Share are always on the last Friday of every month). Here is what we have been up to:

Reading-Our Reader's Workshop is fully running: reading groups, independent read, buddy read, reader response (plus word work and shopping). I have been very impressed with this class' reading stamina and focus during Reader's Workshop. Thank you to all parents for helping your child remember to read their book at home and return the book in the bag the next day. I placed a new reading log in your child's bag. Please just write the book title and initial the log everyday! We have been working on reading strategies- what to do when we get to unknown words. Also, we have worked on being a reading coach to our buddy. Look for the list of strategies and coaching tips in your child's reading bag this weekend.

Author's Celebration

Writing- We had our first Author's Celebration. Every student shared their favorite writing piece from September. All month, we really worked as writer's building our stamina, stretching out our stories and making lists of ideas in our memo pads. We are now starting our Personal Narrative (Small Moments) writing unit. We'll focus on writing about a small moment from our lives and stretch it out using lots of details. We'll also focus on the writing process- planning, prewriting, writing, revising, editing and publishing.
Spelling-I have added a piece to spelling homework. Every Wednesday, I will send home handwriting lines for the kids to write their spelling words and use each one in a sentence. See the right sidebar for a suggested schedule for spelling homework.
Social Studies- We are continuing to study communities in unit 2 (Our first test came home last Friday) We are looking at urban, suburban and rural communities.
Science- We experimented more with balance by making mobiles and getting a pencil to balance on a popsicle stick with a wire. Next week will will be investigating motion- specifically spinning.
Math- Our first test came home this week. Please go over the test with your child, sign and return to school. We are working on addition and subtraction strategies to build our fact power. I tell the kids that they can get the right answer by counting on with fingers or drawing pictures, but strong fact power will help them know the answers in a snap. We have been practicing doubles, the plus 9 shortcut, doubles plus 1 and 2...ask your child to show you these strategies.
Ask Your Child:
*Who is your 4th grade buddy?
*What is the +9 shortcut?
*What reading strategy do you use the most when reading?
*What small moment are you writing?
*What are the three types of communities? (urban, suburban and rural)
Reminders-
*Ye Olde Schoolhouse form and fee were due today, 10/7