News & Notes {and a photo overload!}

We've been having a fantastic time in second grade!  We completed several different formal assessments to monitor progress since the beginning of the year, and I'm overjoyed at the progress each student has shown in a variety of areas!  In addition, we've also been working on creating goals for our third quarter of school (I can't believe we're into the third quarter!).  Needless to say, we've been busy, busy, busy!

I was really looking forward to moving into a more typical week this week, but... with the impending weather, I'm a bit skeptical.  At the moment, I'm pretending that our week will begin tomorrow morning at 8am with the usual cheerful, morning greetings I exchange with students on a Monday.  :)

A Peek At Our Week:

- Bible ---  We will slowly wrap up our study of the Israelites' journey to the Promised Land in the next two weeks and move into a study of Jesus' life and ministry.

- Language Arts --- In our Writer's Workshops, students will be putting the finishing touches on their second published pieces.  We've also been discussing adding "spice" to our writing by choosing more descriptive words as we write.  Our comprehension focus will be on cause and effect, while our phonics focus will be on reading ou/ow words.

- Math --- As the latest family letter stated, Unit 7 will focus on number stories and operations.  The upcoming week will focus heavily on strategies for solving number stories as well as distinguishing between addition and subtraction stories.

- Science --- Students will have opportunities to explore how air acts under pressure, studying both compression and air resistance.

Below are pictures of several students sharing their talents in music class last week.  I found it refreshing to see the interests and extra-curricular abilities of so many second graders, and, of course I was so proud of their courage to share.  (Many also shared in chapel!)

 We had some indoor recess fun (and I expect we'll be having more with the upcoming inclement weather)!

 Students completed several shape sorts over the past weeks.  The polygon sort below is an example of one such sort.

 Here we're studying quadrangles by creating various 4-sided figures on geoboards.

 Creating pyramids out of toothpicks and play dough!  

 We examined how pyramids changed when the shape of their bases changed.

I have a feeling that everyone enjoyed our unit on geometry so much because it's so easy to make it very "hands-on".  

On top of all of that, we watched a little book on the smartboard called "The Greedy Triangle".  What a fun way to integrate reading and math!

 We also began our science unit on air.  Students explored what air can do with a variety of objects including feathers, straws, balloons, and cotton balls.

The balloons were definitely the most exciting.  ;)

News & Notes {and a new year!}

Well everyone, Christmas break is winding down very quickly.  I hope you were able to enjoy the extended time with your children, found rest, hope, and rejuvenation, and are ready to dive into a new year!

Thank you all for the encouraging gifts, cards, and class gift!  How wonderful to feel the support of families!  I am blessed to have a small part in each of your lives and thank you for allowing me to be a part of your children's education.

Here are a few reminders to note before the first school week of 2015 begins!

- Please return December Book-It calendars by Tuesday so I can award Pizza Hut certificates to students who met their reading goal for the month.

- I will be assigning two Bible memory passages for the month of January.  One for the first half and one for the second half.  The first passage will be placed in the clear pocket of each student's take home folder tomorrow.

- Just a reminder that you may still give towards the $50 in 50 days challenge!  If you need information about how to give, please contact Mrs. Hess.

A Peek At Our Week:

- Bible --- This will be a week in which we wrap up our Christmas projects (pictures to come in the next blog post) and revisit the Moses story, continuing on with the Israelites' journey to the promised land.

- Language Arts --- Our theme for the week will be farming (a topic near and dear to my heart)!  Students will focus on cause and effect using some humorous farm-themed books.  Our writer's workshops will aim to help students create "awesome endings" for their writing pieces.

- Math --- We began a unit on geometry shortly before break.  Students will continue with this unit, focusing mainly on parallel lines, 2D shapes and how shapes change.

- Social Studies/Other --- Students will be comparing school in the past with present-day schooling as advance preparation for their field trip to the Museum School in April.  On Tuesday afternoon, students will also participate in dental hygiene activities with the first and third grade students.

Below are some pictures of pre-Christmas activities.  Enjoy!

 What a good-looking group!

 Making Bethlehem stars for our Christmas party!  I didn't get a picture of the final product, but I'm sure you saw it come home.  They were beautiful!

Playing a little "left-right" Christmas game.  Thanks to all of the parents who helped with the party, sent in food and paper products, and helped us to have a wonderful celebration!

 The students enjoyed a little bit of "I Spy" math review before break.

 I love these "I Spy" activities because they get students up and moving around the room.  Gotta get those wiggles out!  (And I might as well give the wiggles some direction to go in!)

 Students also worked on identifying polygons with a few different activities.

 These flap-ups are pretty fun and quickly let me know if students are understanding the basics.  

They are.  :)