Week 33

 Dear Parents,

           This week in math we took our district end of year Math CBA test. It covered the second grade TEKS taught this year. We began our unit on graphing. We are learning to read bar graphs and pictographs. We also are learning to tally answers to generated questions to create our own bar graphs.

          In writing we are continuing to write our class paper on the Great White Shark. They are really enjoying this project and cannot wait to start their individual papers. At the library this week they chose an animal for their individual research paper.

          In reading/social studies we learned all bout Earth Day and worked on several projects. We wrote a promise to the Earth, filled in a small book with blanks and drew illustrations. We also read a Scholastic News about How lollipops are made to go along with our study of producers and consumers.

         In science we have been learning all about animal characteristics such as eye shape and placement, the size of ears and limbs, and body coverings. We are realizing how all these characteristics help the animals survive in their habitats. We did hands on stations in which we listened to each other with two different sizes of ears, we looked through four different eyes, felt and observed body coverings and limbs, made animal tracks in sand and paddled like a duck in a tub of water. We had so much fun learning together!

Week 32

 Dear Parents,

         In math this week we finished up our unit on plane and 3-D shapes. We took our assessments on Thursday. This is a challenging unit as they needed to be able to count sides, edges, vertices, faces and know the names of these shapes. The last question on our assessment combined 2 3_D shapes and asked them to count the edges, vertices, and faces of the new 3-D shape. Getting this answer correct earned them a $10.00 Bonus. Congratulations to Carter and Olivia for getting the answer correct.

         In writing we finished up our procedural writing project, wrote our end of year writing sample to a nonfiction writing prompt, and began our new class project, writing a report about a Great White Shark! We learned they can be more than 20 feet long. When we lined up 20 rulers, they were amazed at the size!

         In reading/Social Studies we learned about the map skill of borders. We looked at the bordering states of Texas. We also read about consumers and producers and their definitions. We made a circle- rama to show what we learned. We learned about facts and opinions and opinions, did a whole class sort and wrote about our favorite facts. We also read the story The Best Habitat for me and filled out a graphic organizer for a grade.

         In science we began our unit on animals by talking about what we thought animals needed and did not need to survive, then put it on a T-chart. We chose an animal name from a bag, drew the animal and discussed how that animal’s physical characteristics help it survive. We looked at the eyes, ears, teeth, and skin examples to talk about these characteristics.

         Have a wonderful Weekend!

 

 

Dear parents of PreK – 2^nd grade students, 

 

State testing will begin soon across the district and state.  Our campus will be participating in STAAR testing on the following dates:

 April 24^th & 25^th  (Science); and May 2^nd&3^rd  (Mathematics).

This is a state mandated test. Because of the confidentiality and security of testing, please note campus adjustments to support staff and students: 

 

• NO VISITORS WILL BE ALLOWED ON CAMPUS ON THESE DATES and this includes no lunch visitors. Please ensure that your child has a proper lunch prior to the day starting to reduce lunch drop-offs. 

 

Please reach out to your child’s homeroom teacher if you have additional questions. We thank you for your support during this very important state assessment process. 

Sincerely, 

Mrs. Thompson (Asst. Principal & Testing Coordinator)

Week 31

 Dear Parents, 

      What an exciting day we had on Monday! In second grade we watched the live feed and watched as 3 different cities across America went into totality. When it was in totality here, we went to the door by our room and saw the darkness. We watched as the light of the sun shone again outside, but only saw the eclipse on live feed. It was a day to remember!

        In math we have been learning the names of our 3-D shapes, and  the number of faces, vertices, edges or flat surfaces they each have! We have been using 3-D shapes to help us count those faces, vertices, edges or flat surfaces. We have been comparing those solid figures and looking for real world objects that are those shapes.

        In writing we began our individual procedural papers. We drafted, revised for specific prepositions, edited and took them to final copy.

     In reading/social studies we continued on with our map skills. Knowing our directions on a map is an important skill. In reading we focused on eclipse pages, read a scholastic news on butterflies and took a comprehension check. We also learned more about goods and services and completed a sort. On Friday we read a Scholastic News called April Fools Insects and took another comprehension check.

          Science has been so exciting as well! We have watched our butterfly larvae eat, grow bigger and shed their skins. They are in the pupa stage safe inside their chrysalises, all except one. One caterpillar attached himself to the lid, but then never turned into a chrysalis. This was a good example how nature works. Some insects don’t survive. They are eaten or never go through full metamorphosis. We are watching and waiting for our adult butterflies! In the meantime we are learning vocabulary, watching interesting videos and reading about the stages in the life cycles of butterflies and grasshoppers.

Week 30

 Dear Parents,

         This week in math we have focused on plane shapes. We learned the names of all the polygons from triangles ( three sides, three vertices) to dodecagons (twelve sides, twelve vertices). A polygon is a closed two-D shape made up of an equal number of sides and vertices. It was really difficult to count the sides of a dodecagon, but we did it. Next we will learn how to draw these shapes.

          In writing , we finished up our class project on how to draw a crab and began our individual procedural papers. These will continue into next week. I can’t wait to read all the things my class knows how to do!

          In reading/social studies, we read two different versions of Jack and the Beanstalk. We compared them and took a comprehension check. We read and discussed informational pages on Making Good Choices together as a class. The students added the flip page to their journal to explain what earning, saving, and spending mean. On Friday we read the Scholastic News Article, “Something Big is Coming”. We are all excited about the solar eclipse!

        In Science our butterfly larvae arrived just in time for our new unit, Life Cycles of insects. We will be learning about the different stages in the life cycle of both a butterfly and a grasshopper. We will be watching as our butterfly larvae turn into a pupa and then an adult. This is such an exciting unit for our second graders!

Week 29

 Dear Parents,

              This week in math we finished our unit on fractions. We made a fraction book and started making our fractionpillar! We took our assessment on Wednesday. Our upcoming unit will be on two dimensional shapes.

              In writing we worked together on a procedural text. We wrote a how to draw a crab paper. We researched and wrote the materials list that someone would need to draw a crab. We thought out the steps using descriptive words and prepositions to explain to our readers. We drew step by step pictures to make it very clear. Next week we will write our individual procedural papers.

                In reading/ social studies we learned about wants and needs, watched a Brainpop Jr., and took a quiz. We read the story Jack and the Beanstalk , completed a story structure chart as a class and learned how to retell the story. We took our reading Checkpoint on Wednesday. On Thursday we had an egg hunt. In the eggs were directions for us to follow to complete a picture. It was so much fun finding the eggs! There may have been a little treat inside as well!

                 In science we did an experiment in which we had a “bee” visit flowers to pollinate them. We wrote down our observations in our science notebooks. We took our unit assessment on Wednesday over pollination and seed dispersal .

                Everyone has signed up for a conference! Your children are doing a great job so far. We finish up our student led conferences next Wednesday. Thank you for participating! Your children are very proud of all they have accomplished this year- and so am I!

Week 28

 Dear Parents,

    It was great to get back after spring break! We were all a bit tired, but we got right back into the swing of things. In math we began our unit on fractions. Our chant is: “The top number is the shaded, the bottom number is the parts.” The parts we are learning are halves, fourths and eighths. They are doing a good job understanding that to be a fraction you must have equal parts.

     In writing we have been researching famous Americans all week: John Hancock, Irma Rangel, Thurgood Marshal and Theodore Roosevelt. We read two websites and used a book to learn about their contribution to our country. We sited our sources and had to decide the three most important things each person has done. We had a lot of fun learning about these amazing Americans!

      In reading we read a Scholastic News article called “Why is the River Green?” We answered comprehension questions for a grade. As this is the last nine weeks, I am no longer returning papers that are unfinished. If something is incomplete, it will now count as an incorrect answer. I am letting go to help my students be more independent and check their work before turning it in to me. We also  read a book about Spring and wrote about why we love the Spring. We were sure to use our transition words. We read a story from our reading book. We learned how to evaluate information and filled out a graphic organizer together. We listened to the story Experiment with What Plants Need to Grow and focused on cause and effect. We worked on a cause/effect worksheet  for a grade. Lastly we read a Scholastic News article called Time to Climb and completed a reading checkpoint.

         In science we started a new unit on how seeds can be dispersed by water, wing, or animals. We had two days to explore stations to experience each type of sed dispersal. We watched videos and discussed our vocabulary words. We wrote about our observations in our notebooks.

  

Here is the link to our student led conference sign up genius. Your child will be conducting the conference.  He/she will be showing you his/her leadership notebook, goals, a chosen project,  as well as a reflection page on which he/she reflected on his/her second grade year by answering questions.

 

 https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0B4CAFA82AA02-48613759-spring

Week 27

 Dear Parents,

        This week in math we finished up our unit on 3 digit addition and subtraction with regrouping. It’s been a long journey, but the class was successful on the assessment. I am so proud of their hard work!

         In reading and writing this week we focused on researching famous Americans and learning how to cite the sources we used. We are using articles, websites, and books. They are learning about how to have the courage to take risks others before you, have not. Leaders live an excellent life! We will continue this research after Spring Break.

         In Science, we finished up our unit on plants. We planted grass seeds and watched them grow- or not grow. This was a good lesson in learning the basic needs of plants. The over watered plants did not sprout. The rest of their environment was the same. We learned it also mattered how deep we planted the seeds. Some students had a lot of blades of grass grow- others a blade or two. We are moving on to a new unit on seed dispersal. How do seeds get to where they begin to grow. We will be experimenting with air, water and “animal” dispersal of seeds upon our return from our break. The plant cups will go home today.

          A BIG thank you to those of you who braved the weather last night to come to open house. We were showcasing all of our projects from the beginning of the year until now. The halls are completely decorated with amazing work. The student pockets will go home today if you were unable to come. The wonderful work in the hallways will stay up until after parent conferences and then will go home. 

          Parent conferences are coming. Upon our return to school, a sign up genius link will be sent out. These conferences will only be for before or after school as your child is the one running the conference. I will have some mid-year testing information to share, but our second grade leaders will be presenting their leadership notebooks and talk about their goals and learning experiences in second grade.

         I hope you all enjoy a wonderful Spring Break with your families!

Week 26

 

Dear Parents,

          This week in math we continued with three digit addition and subtraction, with and without regrouping. We solved many word problems and had to switch back and forth from addition to subtraction.

         In writing we continued researching Helen Keller as a class. After collecting all our information in a time line order, I modeled how to take our notes and turn them into sentences. Partners worked together to make the rest of their sentences. They revised , edited and wrote their final copies. 

         In social studies we reviewed the cardinal and intermediate directions and used a compass rose to answer questions about a map. 

         In reading/writing we began researching changes in communication, recreation, transportation, homes, and schools. We are continuing this into next week as we create a flip book showing what we have learned. We have begun the capital, cursive letters. Cason and Carter can write their names in cursive!

         On Thursday we discussed what a LEAP year was, got a hoppy and a gummy frog and had many Frog related activities. Learning can be so much fun!

• Please send in your timelines by Tuesday. They are a grade and will be put out in the hallway for open house. I really appreciate your help in getting these done. Several students have said they haven’t started as of yet. Let me know today if the package of materials got misplaced and I’ll send more home.

Week 25

 Dear Parents,

     This week in math we worked on both addition and subtraction of three digit numbers using math stories. We wrote stories to represent problems and read stories to solve them. The children are doing very well, knowing what to do! Lots of stickers were earned for excellent work.

      In writing we continued writing our rough draft of our research paper about Helen Keller. We are mostly finished and will be starting to write the final copy. They are proud of their hard work as they should be!

       In reading/ social studies we focused on timelines and how to order years of a person’s life. A Timeline project went home. Each child received 11 index cards. One is for the title card and the other 10 cards are one for each year of your child’s life. At the top of the index card goes the year- 2015. Under the year the student must write a complete sentence, starting with a capital and ending with a period.  Example : I was born. Example of not a complete sentence: Went on vacation. The sentences do not need to be elaborate, just complete. The index cards get glued to the two sentence strips which should be taped together in a long line. Pictures are to be added to the bottom of each index card. You may print out photographs or your child may draw a picture for each card. The directions are in the bag. Please locate the large ziplock bag with the project and put it in a safe place. It went home on Tuesday. This project is a grade and is due March 3^rd. We also began looking at nonfiction text features.

        In science we took our unit test on Wednesday and began our new unit called physical characteristics and needs of plants. We set up our unit, planted a biome in a bag and did a talk -read- talk- write activity.

Week 24

 Dear Parents,

       This week in math we continued working on subtraction word problem strategies. We then worked on subtraction problems with numbers in the hundreds. Please help reinforce this skill at home as it is one of the hardest math skills for second graders to master. The switch between subtraction and addition with regrouping can cause confusion. We are hitting this hard at school and have a chant to help us.

         In writing this week we have moved into research. We are learning how to read different sources that are biographies and decide what information is important and should be included in our paper. We are also focusing on research in reading as we are researching famous African Americans for Black history month. We have a library choice board linked in our canvas class as well as a Pebble Go choice board that the children can click on and read or listen to information about famous African Americans all month!

         In social studies we continued using a map key to read maps and answer questions. We are focusing on the cardinal directions and what objects on the map that are north, south, east, or west of other objects. We read a Scholastic News about Stevie Wonder and did a comprehension check. On Friday we learned about Chinese New Year and had a celebration. A big thank you to Panda Express for donating fortune cookies and chop sticks to our second grade at CRE! We made Ramen Noodles and tried eating them with chop sticks. We read a Scholastic News article called “Lion School” and watched a video called Happy Lunar New Year!

        In science we began our new unit on Effects of Wind and Water. We set up an investigation in which we used a puffer cup to create wind and observed the effects on soil, sand and rock. We drew our observations in our science notebooks as we observed them before and after the wind was applied.

Week 23

 Dear Parents,

          This week in math we have been hitting problem solving very hard. We have read many types of problems, analyzed them, created beginning-middle-end charts, and number sentences. We then put that information in a part-part-whole box or a strip diagram. We represented them on number lines and then solved for the answers.

            In writing we are working on finishing our poetry books, and writing an imaginative story about weather. We are very happy to be continuing our cursive writing practice and can write many words. We are still working on how to properly connect the letters. 

             In reading we read a story called Wild Weather.  It was a nonfiction narrative. We learned lots of information about the many kinds of weather. This was in support of our science unit on weather. We took a comprehension check. We also listened to Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs and wrote an imaginative story based on this picture book. 

             In social studies we learned about reading maps by looking at the map key and map symbols. We practiced our skill for a grade. We had a great day celebrating Groundhog’s Day. We ate a treat, learned about groundhogs and answered questions to do a word search. Fourteen students think he will see his shadow, two say he will not.

Week 22

 Dear Parents,

       This week in math we had a set of numbers that went up in a pattern. It was our job to figure out the pattern. Was it plus 10 or plus 100? Some were plus 20 or plus 30. They were very good number detectives as we figured out the rule the person used to make the list of numbers. We reviewed on Tuesday and had our assessment on Wednesday. They did very well over all. On Thursday we had many 1ooth day of school math activities for learning and fun! Thank you to the nine parents who sent in their snack items so that we could create our 100 piece snack. We will have lots of left overs that can be bagged up and put in our snack tub.

       In writing this week we continued to work on our poetry unit. For 100^th day we read a poem that had 100 words! On the 100^th day of school we aged ourselves with an app and wrote about if we were 100 years old.

       In reading/social studies we made a compass rose, Read a scholastic news article called the Snow Man. We took a comprehension check on Tuesday and Listened to the story- Snowflake Bentley on Wednesday. We made snowflakes using Marshmallows and toothpicks. We also filled out a graphic organizer about our snowflake. We saw a video about how a snowflake was formed. We also created a work of art out of the digits in 100.

        In science we started our weather unit. We learned about what causes wind and how to read a wind vane. We learned about temperature and how to read a thermometer. We made the weather tools and put them in a pocket in our science notebook.  We read an article and did a talk-read-talk-write activity. We learned about precipitation and used a sponge to fill a rain gauge. We talked about our seasons, made a season box and discussed clothes we would wear during each season.

 

*Dear Parents,

                Mark your calendars for Friday, February 9^th – CRE and PTA are hosting our annual Valentine Dance from 6:30-8:30.  More information will come home next week.❤️

 

Thank you so much,

Randie and Tiffany

Week 21

 Dear Parents,

      This week in math we have been practicing order, and comparing numbers. We filled in missing numbers on a 100s chart and talked about how some numbers are greater than or less than a given number. We worked together as well had individual challenges to earn stickers. Can I just say that I gave away a lot of stickers and are very proud of them. 

        In writing we are still holding onto our friendly letters until all are turned in , final copy. These will go home next week and can be delivered to the person your child’s letter is addressed to. We started our unit on poetry. We are listening to many poems, pointing out the elements of poetry we find in them. We are drawing pictures as we visualize each poem as its read. We will draft several poems and take at least two to final copy. Reading is also focusing on poetry as we read, visualize and took a comprehension check over a collection of three poems.

         In science this week we started our unit on weather. The weather we have been experiencing has given us a lot to think about. We are learning the names of the weather tools and what each tool can tell us about the weather. We even learned that our eyes can be a weather tool.

Week 20

 Dear Parents,

         This week in math we focused on numbers to 1,200.  We continued working on writing numbers up to 1,200 in word form, standard form and expanded form. We decomposed them in model to show two different ways to make a number with place value blocks. We compared numbers and said if they were greater than, less than or equal to each other. We also ordered numbers from least to greatest and greatest to least. We spent two days taking the middle of year Math CBA. This test had all the skills that were taught the first semester represented in 20 questions.

       In writing we learned the parts of a friendly letter, wrote a rough draft, revised, and published our letters. The original Letter will go home with your child. I will put a copy of the letter in their work portfolio. I am asking that you help your child deliver their letter whether it be in person, by mail, or even as an attachment to an e-mail. They worked very hard on this letter and chose whoever they wanted to receive it.

       In reading we read the story The Mitten and did an activity using the warmth of our hand, observing and recording what happened. We had to post pone this activity to this week as everyone did not have their mitten. We had a map skills lesson in which we compared maps and globes. We read an article about conservation and how our choices affect our environment. We read the story Time for Cranberries, sequenced the events and tried dried cranberries and cranberry juice. We read a Scholastic News article about Martin Luther King and took a reading check point.

         In science we continued our unit on manmade and natural resources as we learned about conservation, finished our pic collage sorting pictures of these resources, did a talk, read, talk, write, and took our assessment on Friday.

• If you haven’t already replenished your child’s supplies. Please send in a 24 count crayon box and a 12 count colored pencil set.

 

• We were running low snacks for the class. Thanks to Mrs. Walker who sent in individual packets of Lone Star Cheddar Crackers! Individual Goldfish/ Some brand of Crackers is the snack the children prefer. A big cheer went up when they heard that Roy’s mother sent in more crackers.( This is separate from our 100^th Day Snack. Another Parent, Cason’s mom sent in Goldfish on Thursday, so we should be good through January.

Week 19A

 Dear Parents,

           This was a very quick week, but it was so good to see your children again and I feel that they were happy to be back at school. In math this week we worked on writing numbers up to 1,200 in word form, standard form and expanded form. We decomposed them in model to show two different ways to make a number with place value blocks. We compared numbers and said if they were greater than, less than or equal to each other. We also ordered numbers from least to greatest and greatest to least.

           In writing we read Squirrel’s New Years Resolution and wrote our own resolutions. We had so much fun thinking of ways we could improve or help others. We then made a likeness to ourselves and wrote our resolutions on party hats. We even have blowers! I hope your children enjoyed their ring pop treat to RING in the New Year!

           In reading we read a Scholastic news called An Icy Tradition and took a comprehension check on it. I am still working with some children at not guessing at answers, but finding it in the text and underlining it. We look for key words in the questions and then look back to the text. We also read the story The Mitten and did an activity using the warmth of our hand, observing and recording what happened.

           In science we went on a scavenger hunt to look for 5 manmade resources and 5 natural resources. Then we used Pic Collage to make a collage of each on our ipads.

• Please read the second grade Newsletter about our new math log homework and Flashcards. These will go home Monday.