Hello Families! We had a wonderful couple of weeks. Last week, we had our Author's Celebration for our How To Book unit. Everyone published their How To books as a slideshow on the computer. I will make them available to view on the class website before spring break. We went to the Domes on Thursday. We also made our biography presentations last Friday. Enjoy all the pictures!
Reading: We finished our biography unit. It was very interesting to learn new facts about people like Abraham Lincoln, Houdini, Hank Aaron, Harriett Tubman, George Washington, Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. We have now moved back into fiction. We are talking about making inferences while we read (using clues from the author, both pictures and words, to draw conclusions). We read Where the Wild Things Are and made lots of inferences. Ask your child to share some inferences we made.
Math: We took our Unit 8 test on Fractions this week. Please review, sign and return the test to school. This was the hardest test we have taken in second grade. We will continue to study fractions and have an opportunity to master the skills. We will be starting a new unit on Measurement. We continue to work on double digit subtraction-trade first.
Science/SS: We took our Plant unit test this week. It was a fun unit. Ask your child to share own of their favorite planting experiences. Look for the Plant Unit test to come home.
Spelling: The past few spelling lists have been very tough. I just want to remind you that the spelling pattern words are meant to expose kids to patterns and give me information for further teaching and are not expected to be mastered. The 5 high frequency words are expected to be mastered every week.
Writing: Everyone received a mini notepad to use to jot ideas from other authors, from our own lives and make plans to use to grow into stories. The kids are allowed to bring them home and write ideas down. Please help your child remember to return the notepads to school. We will be using the notepads for our Poetry unit in April as well.
Other News:
*We will be going on a wonderful field trip to the Ye Olde School House in April. It will compliment our Social Studies unit on Communities. It is recommended that the kids wear traditional school clothes and carry their lunch in a bucket/basket. We will be going on the field trip the day we return from spring break: Monday April
*Captain Question has retired- I am just having a hard time keeping up with it. I encourage you and your child to use the sites on the blog to play learning games together.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
February 19-March 5
Hello Families! We have had a great couple of weeks. Here is what we have been up to:
Biographies: We have been reading lots of biographies and have started our biography reports. As a reminder, the rough draft is due next Wednesday and the final copy along with the presentation dressed as the famous person will be next Friday. Your child may need some time at home next week to write their final copy (the rough draft will be edited in class and ready to be published) They will only need to copy the edited draft in nice handwriting. A blank final copy will be sent home Monday. The kids have been working hard and are excited about the report! I can't wait to see the presentations!
Writing: We are almost done publishing our How To books. We created a slideshow in KidPix. We created 6 pages of text and illustrations then put them into a slideshow. We will have our Author's Celebration next Friday
Math: We just had our Unit 7 test. You should see the test in your child's red folder. We continue to work on double digit subtraction. Ask your child to show you how he/she learned in class. We just started a new unit on fractions. The kids are doing well with the new concept. We continue to take math facts tests twice a week. This quarter we take addition tests on Tuesdays and subtraction on Thursdays. I encourage the kids to take the tests home and complete the rest of the problems. It's a great way to practice. If your child is having a hard time with facts, try flash cards, orally quiz your child in the car, while making dinner or have your child practice facts online (see the links to right).
Science: We got to see our amaryllis bloom into three flowers last week. This week we learned that plant cuttings can be used to start a new plant. So we put the cuttings in water, making sure at least one node on the stem was under water. We are now carefully observing to see if the cuttings start growing into a new plant. Ask your child what he/she would need to observe to know that the cutting is growing into a new plant (roots and leaves).
Keyboarding: We have been typing for a couple weeks now. The kids are doing well. It is a hard skill to learn, as the kids have to break their old habits. You can support your child at home by encouraging them to use the correct hand positions when typing at home.
Reminders:
Domes field trip next week Thurs Feb 25. We will leave at 9am and return at 12. The kids will eat lunch at school (bag lunches are not necessary).
Biographies: We have been reading lots of biographies and have started our biography reports. As a reminder, the rough draft is due next Wednesday and the final copy along with the presentation dressed as the famous person will be next Friday. Your child may need some time at home next week to write their final copy (the rough draft will be edited in class and ready to be published) They will only need to copy the edited draft in nice handwriting. A blank final copy will be sent home Monday. The kids have been working hard and are excited about the report! I can't wait to see the presentations!
Writing: We are almost done publishing our How To books. We created a slideshow in KidPix. We created 6 pages of text and illustrations then put them into a slideshow. We will have our Author's Celebration next Friday
Math: We just had our Unit 7 test. You should see the test in your child's red folder. We continue to work on double digit subtraction. Ask your child to show you how he/she learned in class. We just started a new unit on fractions. The kids are doing well with the new concept. We continue to take math facts tests twice a week. This quarter we take addition tests on Tuesdays and subtraction on Thursdays. I encourage the kids to take the tests home and complete the rest of the problems. It's a great way to practice. If your child is having a hard time with facts, try flash cards, orally quiz your child in the car, while making dinner or have your child practice facts online (see the links to right).
Science: We got to see our amaryllis bloom into three flowers last week. This week we learned that plant cuttings can be used to start a new plant. So we put the cuttings in water, making sure at least one node on the stem was under water. We are now carefully observing to see if the cuttings start growing into a new plant. Ask your child what he/she would need to observe to know that the cutting is growing into a new plant (roots and leaves).
Keyboarding: We have been typing for a couple weeks now. The kids are doing well. It is a hard skill to learn, as the kids have to break their old habits. You can support your child at home by encouraging them to use the correct hand positions when typing at home.
Reminders:
Domes field trip next week Thurs Feb 25. We will leave at 9am and return at 12. The kids will eat lunch at school (bag lunches are not necessary).
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Friday, February 5, 2010
February 8-12
Cooperation-The human chair
We filled our winter caring tree*Important Note: 2nd Grade is taking a standardized text next week M, W and Th (see the note in your child's home folder today)It is a national test. We will test right away in the morning so please be sure your child is well rested, has eaten breakfast and is on time. Thank you!
Reading: We started a 2 week unit on Biographies. We will read lots of Biographies of people from the present and past. Then we will create a mini report on a person to share with the class.
Math: Double Digit subtraction is off to a good start. We are slowly practicing the trade first algorithm as well as using other strategies like base ten blocks and the number grid.
Science: We have now planted brassica seeds, grass and wheat seeds. We got to mow our lawn last week and plant wheat this week.
Other News: Our Valentine party is next week Friday. Look in your child's home folder for a class list to use when making Valentines.
*Nature Center Field Trip is Tuesday-please dress your child in winter gear- especially boots!
*Our trip to the Domes is coming up. Please turn in permission slip and fee this week.
Have a great weekend!
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