Hello Families!
Please see the right side margin for details of what we are learning in 2nd grade. Here are some other classroom happenings:
Animal Reports: The kids will soon begin their final nonfiction study on animals . The kids will all conduct and write a research report. Everyone will use a variety of sources including books, magazines, ipad apps and websites. You will receive a letter this Friday asking for help finding pictures of the animal your child chose. We are looking forward to sharing all our hard work this unit with you at our Nonfiction Celebration!
Nonfiction Celebration: Mark your calendars for Friday March 15th at 2:45-3:30.
2 Post It's every night: I am asking the kids to write 2 thoughts from their reading every night (except weekends). This is a way for the kids to formally document their thinking as readers. I do check the kids in every morning and document if homework is incomplete, including post it notes.
Conferences and MAP Scores: Conferences begin this week on Wednesday evening and then continue Wednesday March 6th. If you have a conference scheduled, you will receive a parent questionnaire on Monday. I would really appreciate if you could return it by Wednesday.
Winter MAP scores will be sent home Friday and at Wednesday Feb. 27 conferences.
4th Grade Buddies: We have started a Dr. Seuss webquest with our buddies. We are learning about Dr. Seuss' life, reading a Dr. Seuss book with a message and discussing Dr. Seuss' style using alliteration. Each buddy group will create a Powerpoint Presentation to share their learning.
Ask Your Child:
What is your 2nd Book Club topic?
What does being a close reader mean?
How can you make sure you do not turn in a test with skipped answers?
What does empathy mean?
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Februray 8-22
Happy February. Here are some new happenings and updates in the classroom:
Valentine's Party- Please note that our class party will be on Wednesday, February 13 at 2:30 instead of February 14. We will exchange Valentines at the party. A class list was sent home last week so kids can be sure to make a Valentine for everyone.
What I Am Is.....A Learner: This month our school wide focus is being a Learner. Our class especially is working on being Learners. It has been a difficult year thus far keeping academics in focus with disruptions throughout the day, everyday. We have had more conversations as a class and individually than I can count about attentively listening (eyes, ears and body), following directions the first time, doing what you are suppose to/making good choices, keeping silliness and silly comments at lunch and recess... Ask your child what being a learner means and what he/she can do to help our classroom of learners be more focused on learning.
New Behavior Management System- In partnership with being a Learner, I am trying a new system to help maximize learning in the classroom by decreasing the amount of disruptions we have. This new system charts any disruptions, rule breaking and missed learning as well as positive behaviors. You will automatically receive an email every Friday, but you have access to reports every day. Once you create a user name and password, you can log in at your convenience. Let me know if you have any questions.
Book Series- Your child brought home a packet on Friday that he/she worked on in January when studying a book series. This was a new, higher-level thinking study that second grade tried this year. All three of us teachers were very pleased with the "close reading" and book club conversations our second graders practiced! Please take time to look through the packet and have your child share the process.
Animal Reports- In the next couple weeks your second grader will begin a research project in school on an animal of their choice. It will be a lot of new and hard work! The kids will be using multiple source types to gather quality and credible information including books, magazines, videos and apps on the ipads and online articles and encyclopedias. We will have a celebration at the end of the unit in which families will be invited. I am aiming for the 1st week of March, but the kids progress will guide the timeline. I will keep you posted and get you the date ASAP.
2 Post Its- You probably noticed an addition to reading 20 minutes every night in your child's assignment notebook- now kids are expected to jot their thinking on 2 post its. In second grade, we want the kids to track their thinking every night on post its. We gave examples of possible thoughts your child can write on the back of the reading log located in your child's reading bag. Please use that as a reference if needed. Your child should keep the pad of post its in their reading bag everyday.
MAP Scores- Next week, you will receive a graph and description of your child's grown on the MAP test. This will be a great opportunity for you to talk about the graph with your child. I will also be helping the kids with goal setting using the graphs.
Ask Your Child:
*What is a biography?
*Which person in history did you study and publish a book about?
*What part of a plant makes its food?
*Did you mow grass at school? How? Why?
*What makes you proud at school?
*What is our school wide goal for PAW slips on the playground in 1 week?
Valentine's Party- Please note that our class party will be on Wednesday, February 13 at 2:30 instead of February 14. We will exchange Valentines at the party. A class list was sent home last week so kids can be sure to make a Valentine for everyone.
What I Am Is.....A Learner: This month our school wide focus is being a Learner. Our class especially is working on being Learners. It has been a difficult year thus far keeping academics in focus with disruptions throughout the day, everyday. We have had more conversations as a class and individually than I can count about attentively listening (eyes, ears and body), following directions the first time, doing what you are suppose to/making good choices, keeping silliness and silly comments at lunch and recess... Ask your child what being a learner means and what he/she can do to help our classroom of learners be more focused on learning.
New Behavior Management System- In partnership with being a Learner, I am trying a new system to help maximize learning in the classroom by decreasing the amount of disruptions we have. This new system charts any disruptions, rule breaking and missed learning as well as positive behaviors. You will automatically receive an email every Friday, but you have access to reports every day. Once you create a user name and password, you can log in at your convenience. Let me know if you have any questions.
Book Series- Your child brought home a packet on Friday that he/she worked on in January when studying a book series. This was a new, higher-level thinking study that second grade tried this year. All three of us teachers were very pleased with the "close reading" and book club conversations our second graders practiced! Please take time to look through the packet and have your child share the process.
Animal Reports- In the next couple weeks your second grader will begin a research project in school on an animal of their choice. It will be a lot of new and hard work! The kids will be using multiple source types to gather quality and credible information including books, magazines, videos and apps on the ipads and online articles and encyclopedias. We will have a celebration at the end of the unit in which families will be invited. I am aiming for the 1st week of March, but the kids progress will guide the timeline. I will keep you posted and get you the date ASAP.
2 Post Its- You probably noticed an addition to reading 20 minutes every night in your child's assignment notebook- now kids are expected to jot their thinking on 2 post its. In second grade, we want the kids to track their thinking every night on post its. We gave examples of possible thoughts your child can write on the back of the reading log located in your child's reading bag. Please use that as a reference if needed. Your child should keep the pad of post its in their reading bag everyday.
MAP Scores- Next week, you will receive a graph and description of your child's grown on the MAP test. This will be a great opportunity for you to talk about the graph with your child. I will also be helping the kids with goal setting using the graphs.
Ask Your Child:
*What is a biography?
*Which person in history did you study and publish a book about?
*What part of a plant makes its food?
*Did you mow grass at school? How? Why?
*What makes you proud at school?
*What is our school wide goal for PAW slips on the playground in 1 week?
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