Week 5

Dear Parents,

           This week in math we began recalling our basic facts to 20, adding three numbers together in a two step problem and adding using ten frames. We found out that making ten first, makes it easier to figure out the sum. 

           In writing we are learning the complete writing process in what we call speed week. We are taking one sentence through the stages of the writing process. We can’t wait to be able to take a personal narrative through this process. 

          In reading we had so much fun reading a play about Johnny Appleseed! Readers theater can be loads of fun as we read, act and move around on our “stage”. We also started learning map skills as we colored Johnny’s journey through six states.

         In science we were busy looking at objects’ physical properties. We did an investigation that included observing a frozen gummy worm, a regular gummy worm, an empty balloon, a blown up balloon, a popsicle, and a melted popsicle. We looked at size, shape, color, texture, flexibility, mass, and temperature. We know that matter takes up space!

          In social studies we have been working on setting up our leadership binders. We are starting to think about setting our first personal goal as well as our first academic goal.We know that goals must be specific and achievable.

Things to return to school

• Please send in your child’s field trip form as well as the $9.00 for him or her to enter the Perot Museum (it is $6.00 for chaperones)
• Please send in your conference time choice so that I can schedule a conference with you to talk to you about  about your child and second grade.
• Please send in your child’s Leader of the Week Poster

Our First Leader of the Week: Jirah

Week 4

Dear Parents,

           It’s hard to believe we just finished our fourth week of school. This week in math we finished up learning about place value in numbers with hundreds, tens, and ones. We took our assessment over place value and odd/even numbers. New flash cards will be going home again today in your child’s math/reading log. Thank you for working on your child’s fast facts with him/her. Fasttmath is up and running your child will be bringing a log in card home soon so they can do it at home. We did a great job learning our facts the last two weeks. This week several children took longer than two minutes to complete the twenty problems. Keep working until they become fast facts. Reading books will be going home with your child from our guided reading lessons. This book can be read for the 15 minute reading log.

           In writing we wrote our final copy of a writing about fall. Students' papers had been revised and edited. Final copies were graded with a rubric. We also learned how to form the letters Ee and Ss during handwriting. We also looked at David Shannon books to see how he set up the pages of his books. We learned authors get to decide how and where to put their words and pictures. We are going to try a few of his ideas in our own writing.

          In reading we read about our Constitution, the Preamble, and the rights it gives us as US citizens. We put the words of our pledge in order and learned what those words mean. We talked about what it means to be a good citizen and will be adding good citizens to our circle map throughout the year.

          In science we finished up our unit on what a scientist does and what tools he/she may use and took our assessment. Our next unit will be classifying matter. We will be talking about what physical properties matter may have.

          In social studies we have been discussing Leader in Me activities. It is helping us know how to take initiative to do what needs to be done. We are creating a classroom that works together so it is win-win for everyone.

Week 3

Dear Parents,

         In math we have been busy with doing intentional problem solving (learning that there are many ways to solve a problem) and number talks (talking about our thinking as we solve problems). We have been learning about place value in many interactive learning activities. We are continuing on with our fast facts. We want our second graders to work hard each week learning these flash cards that go home in their reading / math logs. It should only take a couple of seconds for your child to come up with the answer to the addition fact on a flash card. If they work hard all week the quiz on Friday should be easy. If your child goes past the two minute time, it will be noted on the quiz. If your child receives a smiley face their quiz was completed within the two minute window. Your child will be able to complete the test. They will get to sign our number board when they can complete the quiz with at least 80% accuracy. This will be a great help when we start three digit addition with regrouping. Thank you for partnering with me to help your child learn these facts.No grade will be taken.

        In language we wrote an acrostic poem about peace as we remembered the brave first responders and 9/11. We also learned that writing can start with words or pictures, but both have details. We know that when we think we are done we can add to our pictures, label our pictures, write more words, reread our writing, or start a new piece.

        In reading we read a nonfiction story called My Family   in that story we looked at the nonfiction text features and their purpose: photograph, title, illustration, and a diagram. We focused on our thinking as we read the story on sticky notes that we call thinking tracks.

         In science we learned about the many science tools that scientists use and explored tubs full of them. We had an investigation where we used our five senses to observe a gummy worm and used three of our science tools in the exploration. The last sense we used was taste. Those gummies tasted sweet and fruity!

         In social studies we talked about how our physical environment and  how we carry our own weather can have an affect on our learning. We also wrote our class mission statement which will help us have a great year of learning together.

Week 2

Dear Parents,

             It has been a short, but good week! We are getting into our second grade routines and building our stamina in reading, writing, and doing other independent work. Please make sure your child fills out their reading/math log and turns it in on Friday. Please help your child practice his/her flashcards for the math quiz on Fridays. In math this week we learned about even and odd numbers. We used manipulatives to break numbers into partners or teams. If we have even teams and everyone has a partner the number is even. If there is one left over without a partner or the teams are not even, the number is odd. We also learned that we can find the number in the ones place to see if a number is odd or even. In writing we learned that a big idea from a mentor text can help us find a topic for our writing. In reading we learned about stories having characters, a setting, and details and identified these for the story Henry and Mudge. We also compared two Henry and Mudge stories using a Venn Diagram. In Science we learned what a scientist does, what the classroom science rules are, and made our science emergency plan. They need to bring back their science safety contract that went home Thursday night to get their science safety license. In social studies we began talking about the seven habits and how to find the primary greatness that lies in each of us. We took our first spell check. Please make sure your child practices their words all week so they are ready for the spell check on Fridays. I appreciate all you do to help your child be successful in second grade.

Week 1

Dear Parents,

   It was a great first week! I was happy to see a lot of you at our second grade parent meeting on Tuesday evening. If you could not attend, I sent home the second grade packet with the information that we went over in it in your child’s daily blue folder on Wednesday after school. If you have questions about anything, please contact me and I will answer your questions. If your child has not been able to log into fasttmath, don’t be concerned. It sometimes takes a few weeks for the district to get all the new students entered. There are forms inside the packet for you to fill out and return to school. They will help me meet the needs of your child and family. In math this week we began exploring manipulative and started learning our math routines. We reviewed both analog and digital clocks to the hour and half hour. In writing we are set up our writing journal, learned how to use our spelling dictionaries, and write about our feelings about the first day of school. We are finishing up our T-Riffic Summer T-shirt books. In reading we learned the routines, how to read to self, how to read with a buddy, and began building our reading stamina as we read books from our book box and a story called a different tune. In Science we set up our science journal, discussed the scientific method, observation and did a cooperative activity. Ask your child how they saved Sam, the gummy bear! In social studies we are discussing manner, created our class rules so we can all feel comfortable and learn in our classroom. Most of us shared our Me Bags today. Two children forgot them, one child was absent. Please send them in on Tuesday. This is a social studies participation grade. It was fun learning about each other. I can tell that it is going to be another fantastic year! :)