Week 23

Dear Parents,

            This week flew by! In math we were working on our number sense up to 1,200. Your children were able to compare numbers as greater than, less than, or equal to each other by comparing their place values. They also ordered numbers and could look for a pattern of numbers going up in a series. They provided missing numbers in a series as well and also solved word problems involving numbers to 1,200.

             In writing they dug deep into their research of their famous American. Most are finished with their rough draft and are writing final copies. A few are beginning to work on their poster for their presentation next week.

             In reading we read Henry’s Freedom Box and discussed the mood of the story. There were several feelings we felt as we read what happened to Henry and his family. We were angry, surprised, shocked, and sad. We finally felt happy that Henry found a way to be free like the birds he watched. We took a comprehension check to finish out the week. We also worked on a research pyramid of a famous African American as it is Black History Month. The children are interested in the lives of people who make a difference. We are learning that we all can make a difference no matter what age we are.

              In social studies we are studying the Earth. We looked at globes, and maps of the Earth. We are learning about the seven continents and four oceans. I am challenging each student to learn their names. They may be able to earn some cash for their efforts. We will be learning about all the different landforms.

              In science we finished up learning the 8 phases of the moon and were looking at how the sun moves across our sky. We learned terms like orbits and rotates and that the sun is really stationary, it is the Earth that is moving.

               It has been a very rainy week and we are hoping for the sun to come out as they are pretty tired of indoor recess! Have a great weekend!

*Look for directions to a special timeline project. The directions are in a gallon zip lock bag. Ten index cards and two sentence strips are what was given. A picture needs to be attached to each year. If you don’t have photographs or cannot print any out, your child may draw a picture for each year to get full credit.These are due on 2/28.

Week 22

Dear Parents, 

                   This may have been our busiest week yet, packed with learning, fun and new experiences! In math we completed our unit on counting money and economics! We are circling back around to place value this coming week as we look at numbers up to 1,200.

                    In writing we began a three week unit on research as we dug into our famous American of choice and began our rough draft. Part of the process was deciding which facts were important and helped shape the life of that famous American. There is a difference between an interesting fact and an important fact.

                    In reading we learned to summarize a story using the beginning words somebody, wanted, but, so, and then.  It was a challenge to try to summarize Helen Keller in twenty words or less. They did a good job for their first exposure to this higher level thinking activity!

                    In science we began studying the moon. We tracked the phases over the next month. We will be learning the names of the phases of the moon and also be taking a look at how the sun moves in our sky.

                     In social studies we revisited our personal, and two school goals to make sure we are on target. We learned about George Washington as we read a Scholastic News to understand why he was important and that Presidents Day honors our important leaders of our country. We celebrated Chinese New Years on Friday as we learned about how the Chinese celebrate this holiday. We ate noodles with chop sticks, had a fortune cookie and made a banner with Chinese symbols of choice!

                     A special thank you to Mrs. And Mr. Massingale for buying the items needed for our Valentines Day party and helping your children have a lot of fun on this special day. Thank you for your kind cards and gifts. It warms my heart to know that I am making a difference in the lives of your children.

                    Another thank goes our to Mrs. Wall, our school technologist, who set up google hang outs for the second graders as we got to know children from another state, shared Valentine jokes, danced together to a go noodle song, and exchanged virtual valentines.

What a week we had!

* . Congratulations to our new leader of the week Kais! 

*Look for directions to a special timeline project in your child’s take home folder. The directions are in a gallon zip lock bag. Ten index cards and two sentence strips are what was given. A picture needs to be attached to each year. If you don’t have photographs or cannot print any out, your child may draw a picture for each year to get full credit.

Julian was our Leader of the week.

We celebrated Chinese New Years!

We told each other Valentine jokes!

We hung at with second graders from Alabama. We made virtual Valentines!

Valentine Games!

Valentine Day Fun!

Week 21

Dear Parents,

                     It was so nice to get back to our normal routine! In math this week we began money! Most of the class is picking up the strategies of counting money very quickly. I sent home a homework page this week so that you can see how we are teaching it. The children order the coins from greatest to least. They then write the values on the coins. They count up underneath each coin as they add the values. On Friday we practiced all the ways to make 100 with our coins.

                      In Language we wrote our middle of year writing sample to be scored by the district rubric. We then worked on a persuasive brochure that incorporated our swim week. The children were to persuade the first graders the importance of the water safety and swimming course through pictures, captions, and writing on a brochure.

                      In reading we read about the Winter Olympics, and this years team from the USA. We were gearing up our research skills as we found the difference between an important fact and an interesting idea.

                       In science we continued to learn about natural and manmade resources. They were given a homework page that asked them to look where items around their house were made. They learned  a $20 bonus for bringing this back.

                      In social studies we are learning all about economics: producers, consumers, goods, services, income and bartering are all vocabulary terms we are learning. The fact that they are earning money for their efforts at school has got them thinking about what it means to earn a living.

                      Friday is the 100th day of school. We did many fun activities to go along with this theme from counting 100 cents to writing about when we turn 100 and eating the 100th day snack that your child counted out themselves. Ten pieces of ten different items to make the snack. Of course there was plenty left over so they could refill their bags.

Week 20

Dear Parents,

         The children loved swim week but were happy to get back to a full day of learning. Our schedule has been changed around to accommodate the classes swimming this week. They will love to get back to our normal schedule next week. Math was a busy week with reviewing and assessing the math skills your children have learned thus far this year. Every second grader in the district has taken this assessment called our math CBA. Teachers use this information to look at what skills the children have learned and retained. It also shows if there should be reteaching in some areas.

          In writing we are learning how to persuade someone to believe our opinion. We compared it to a tug of war game, but instead of the rope going to one side or the other, the opinions do. They then partnered up to convince us of something like “ you should always be kind” or “It’s best to be honest”. We next decided to write a letter to someone to convince them to let them do something or get something. Beware, you might just get a letter to convince you of something from your child.

         In reading we read the story Alexander Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday  The children learned the value of saving money as well as learned some new vocabulary. We wrote about something we’d like to save up to buy. We also wrote about the story by reading quotes, thinking about them , then responding in our journals.

         In science we continued learning about bodied of water as we watched videos, a brain pop jr. episode, compared the properties of fresh /salt water and examined a scenario to decide what water the child was swimming in.

         In social studies the children have been learning about consumers, producers, wants and needs. We talked about the fact that needs help us stay alive. I promised them that their video games really ere wants! :)

         Daily the children are earning money for getting their job done at school, following directions, being on time, keeping an organized desk, and talking at appropriate times. They can also be fixed if these expectations are not met. They are trying very hard to earn a lot of money so they can be a consumer. They will use their money they earn this nine weeks to purchase snacks, treats, and a movie ticket to watch a much earned movie in our classroom at the end of this unit. 

         On Thursday the second grade got to SKYPE with author and illustrator Peter Raymundo. They had an opportunity to be the first children to hear him read aloud the beginning of his new book which will be released later this spring by Scholastic Books. They listened as he explained the process of getting ideas and writing a book. The questions the children asked showed how interested they were. They got to see him draw pictures live and on screen. Look at our blog for video clips and pictures.

I am also requesting that all children bring in 4 more large glue sticks, two large pink erasers, a new box of 24 crayons and more number 2 pencils as our supply is getting low. Thank you for your help. Only 11 children have brought new supplies. Everyone of them need of them. The children are borrowing from each other as all are running out of their supplies.

* Letters went home from the second grade teachers as well as our room mother, Tennille Massingale. Each child needs to bring in $3.00 to cover the cost of the supplies for the party. Each child also needs to bring in a shoe box decorated, with a large slit in the top of the box for the valentines to be put into. Please send the $3.00 by Friday February 9th. Please send in the decorated shoebox no later than Feb. 13th so we can make sure everyone has their box for the party.

• Ten students brought home a request for a snack item for our 100th day of school. The children will count out ten of each item to make a delicious snack next Friday. Please Check to see if your child has this note.

Writing is a process!

Peter Raymundo SKYPED for National Read Aloud Day