Friday, December 21, 2018
Week 18
Dear Parents,
This week in math we learned more about place value as we placed numbers in order on an open number line. We talked about each place value and how the number would change if we added a hundred more, a hundred less, ten more or ten less. We then compared two numbers with the signs greater than, less than, or equal to each other. We will review these concepts when we get back from break and then take our assessment.
In writing we continued writing our personal narratives in the style of Ezra Jack Keats. The language arts facilitator who visits our campus was impressed with the books your children are creating. We have some budding authors and illustrators in our room.
In reading we finally got to perform our drama of the Gingerbread Man as everyone was present on Wednesday. The two groups did amazingly well and Alyshan got a lot of laughs as he created a voice to speak the fox’s lines. The elements of drama learning was evident by their performance.
In science we began our unit 7 on bodies of water, both fresh and salt water. We began the unit with a SWAT game as the teamed up to learn the names of all these water sources. We watched two Brainpop Jr. videos to learn more about fresh and salt water sources.
We had our class party on Thursday and it was a huge success. Thank you to all the family members who attended. A big thank you to Mrs. Clarke for purchasing all the items and running our party. Friday went quickly as we had our annual sing a long, then an early release. Your children have been working very hard and are ready for their holiday break. Thank you for all the cards with kind messages and gifts. Your kind words mean so much, they warmed my heart. Have a wonderful break with your families!
Sunday, December 16, 2018
Week 17
Dear Parents,
This week we finished up our unit on multiplication as repeated addition, division as repeated subtraction as well as the concept of odd and even numbers. We ended our week beginning our unit on hundreds, tens and ones written as word form, expanded form, standard form and shown through models. We also added missing numbers to a number line.
In writing we are continuing to create a book using the author Ezra Jack Keats as our mentor. We are showing our feelings and actions through detail as well as word choice. We are designing the setup of our book by choosing where the words and pictures go on each page. We are having so much fun being authors and illustrators!
In reading we were focusing on drama and its 7 elements. Next week we hope to perform our reader’s theater play of the Gingerbread Man. We had a few children out sick and did not want them to miss this opportunity!
In science we finished up our unit on Rocks by taking our closing in on science vocabulary quiz and our unit test was taken on Friday! This was a unit we truly enjoyed. Students still spend their recess time looking for rocks and describing them with their physical properties.
We had a wonderful experience this week with Mrs. Wall, our school technologist. We embarked on a mystery hangout adventure with another second grade classroom from somewhere across the USA. We asked each other geographical based questions until we discovered in what state the other classroom was located. We lost rock paper scissors to ask the opening question, but were the first to discover their state. It was Illinois!
*We are collecting $3 from each student for the winter party to pay for their supplies and snacks
*Go to Belfour.com to order your yearbook.
- In the Friday folder is a flyer. We are collecting personal hygiene items to donate to a local shelter. Please send in things you feel you can donate. What a wonderful community outreach for our students to learn about helping others.
Saturday, December 8, 2018
Friday, December 7, 2018
Week 16
Dear Parents,
It is hard to believe that it is December. This week in math we built patterns with blocks like AB, ABC, ABCD, AABBC. We then looked at recording the numbers of certain colored blocks in that pattern. We filled in a chart recording all the “blues” and noticed patterns in the numbers. We realized that each number increased by the total number of blocks within the pattern. This higher level thinking activity went very well as all students worked together to look for the pattern. We ended our week by learning about odd and even numbers. We know that even numbers can be broken up into two even teams. With odd numbers there will always be on left over.
In writing this week, we have been focusing on the author Ezra Jack Keats. We have been using him as a mentor to see how he crafts his books. We have been writing narratives, and soon will choose one to take through the writing process.
In reading we have been learning about the 7 elements of drama. We looked at a diagram of a stage and practiced a reader’s theater story about Bosley Bear going on trip to Washington D.C.
In social studies we have focused on the leader in me Habit, Think Win-Win! We learned how to be strong, courageous and do what’s right!
In science we have enjoyed our unit on rocks thus far. We have been sorting and observing our rock’s weight, size, color and texture! We record our observations in our science notebooks. We also compared our rock to our partner’s rock and marked our findings on a table.
*We are collecting $3 from each student for the winter party to pay for their supplies and snacks
*Please sign and return the progress report.
*Go to Belfour.com to order your yearbook.
Friday, November 30, 2018
Week 15
Dear Parents,
In Math this week we have been learning the basics of multiplication and division as repeated addition and repeated subtraction. We have been building buildings with our snap cubes. We talk about the groups as floors and the number in each group as rooms. We built 5 floors and then used our math skills to figure out how many rooms there were in 10 floors. We also had objects that we had to put into equal groups. This showed us how to divide the objects.
In Language we have been learning how to write a biography. We learned that a person’s life needs to be told in a chronological order. We also had to distinguish which facts were important and should be included in our biography. We then worked with partners to rewrite the information in our own words. We took this piece through the writing process.
In reading we have been learning about how things change over time. We have read about how communication, homes, schools, toys, games, and transportation have changed over time. We completed a book that showed our knowledge about then and now.
In science we finished up our unit on force and motion and took our assessment on Thursday. We will be starting a new unit next week.
Congratulations to our Leader of the Week, Analise!
Congratulations to our Leader of the Week, Analise!
*It’s yearbook time! The 2018-2019 CRE yearbook is on sale now. Ordering information went home in student Friday folders. You can also order online at www.balfour.com and select our school. Order by January 25th to guarantee your copy when our yearbooks are delivered in May.
*Thank you to all the families who participated in our first Habit Newsletter last month!
In your child’s folder on Monday, will be the November Goals Newsletter. Attached to the newsletter is an activity that corresponds with the monthly habit of December, Habit 2: Begin with the end in mind. Please assist your child in completing the activity and sign/return the half sheet to their homeroom teacher by TUESDAY December 6th.
We will be tracking grade level participation for returning the half sheet. The grade level with the highest percentage of participation for December will receive 15 minutes of extra recess!
*Please note that this month students only have one day to complete and return the activity to their teacher
Saturday, November 17, 2018
Week 14
Dear Parents,
This week in math we finished up our unit on measurement, area, perimeter and time. We will continue to practice these TEKS at school and I will still be sending homework home to reinforce these skills as well. We took our assessment on Thursday.
In writing we had several smart lessons to learn some parts of speech. We learned about adjectives and worked with partners to describe ice cream. Some of our excellent adjectives were: icy, melted, sweet, yummy, delicious, minty plus many more. We learned how apostrophes are used to make contractions and to show possession. I can’tbelieve how touching our second grader’sthankful writing prompts turned out to be! We learned that pronouns take the place of nouns. We will be watching for all these parts of speech in our writing. We also finished up our how to bake a turkey writing. We actually watched a how to video, then used our transition words to write the steps. We then used our handprint to make a turkey. I hope you love this keepsake. Don’t forget to ask them for their what they are thankful for cornucopia papers they were very sweet.
We also read several Thanksgiving related stories and practiced our reading skills by writing the story elements, answering comprehension questions, and writing text- to- self connections. One of their favorite activities was the directed drawing of The Rough Faced Girl.
In science we started our unit on force and motion. We dipped a top in paint, then watched the track it left across the paper. We realized that the more force used the longer the paint track was and the longer the top kept spinning. We actually used string to measure the tracks. We also saw that some objects slide easily because of their physical properties and others do not. Physical properties can cause objects to slide, roll, or spin. On Friday Mr. Salas was in our classroom as our watchdog dad. He helped a group synergize and create a roller coaster that allowed a marble to go through the track because of the momentum the marble built up as it raced down the first big hill. Thank you Mr. Salas for being with our class off and on today!
Wishing you and your families a wonderful Thanksgiving together!
Saturday, November 10, 2018
Week 13
Dear Parents,
This week in math we have focused on three different math skills. Area, we learned that the area is the inside of a shape. We used inch squares to build shapes with different areas and then looked at shapes drawn in our math book to count how many square units made up each shape. We then looked at two different shapes that had the same area, but this time we looked at the outside, or perimeter of the shape. We learned that the perimeter is only measured in units around a shape. After that we began measurement with a nonstandard unit like a paper clip. We soon moved on to measuring with rulers and yard sticks.
In writing this week we are writing a how to expository piece of writing. I’m not going to tell you our topic since this will be made into a wonderful keepsake which will come home right before our Fall break! They are working very hard on it and can’t wait to share it with you.
In reading we have been learning about expository texts such as manuals, recipes, and directions. We have been working at 4 stations, one a day, to use these expository reading texts to create some fun projects, recipes, and to follow directions.
In science we have been learning about magnets. We had two investigations so far. One we used magnets to see their affect on iron filings. Next we dug in sand for buried treasure. The magnets helped us find some objects, but not others. We had to dig with our hands! We learned the terms magnetic/ nonmagnetic and put our objects on a T- chart.
The leader in me focus for the month is be proactive. Please read the below blurb about how your family can be a lighthouse family!
*This is Coyote Ridge’s 3rd year using the Leader in Me Program. In order to continue growth and learning at home, we will send home a newsletter each month that will focus on a different habit. We will also send home an information sheet that provides more activities and details about the focus habit. By the end of the year we will have discussed all 7 Habits. If your family participates in ALL 7 Newsletters, you will be showcased in our school as a Lighthouse Family!
*Be Proactive Day – November 14th
As you know, we are focusing on Habit 1: Be Proactive this month. During class, we have been discussing how to be proactive vs reactive along with controlling our own actions. To continue the growth of this skill we are having a school wide spirit day on Wednesday, November 14th- Be Proactive Day! We would love for everyone to participate by wearing YELLOW from head to toe! Let’s be proactive!
*Our Veterans Program was a wonderful celebration which honored our veterans. Analise had a family member come who is a veteran. The second grade sang a song ( we were in the back row) and learned motions to a song (we were in front) to honor them. Aleena helped lead the second graders by being out front!
Friday, November 9, 2018
Friday, November 2, 2018
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