Well, was last week a short week or what?! While the students did an exceptional job of adjusting to the changes in schedule, I am looking forward to a more typical week this week. Although, since it is Literacy Week, I'm sure there will be much excitement!
Speaking of Literacy Week, here are a few things to keep in mind throughout the week:
- Each day the Scholastic book fair will be open in the morning from 7:45-8:30 and after school is dismissed. It will also be open on Friday evening during the Taste of New Danville event.
- Tuesday is "Night Owl Day"! So send students in their pajamas with a flashlight! They may also bring one other "snuggly" item (blanket, pillow or stuffed animal).
- Thursday is "Read My Shirt Day". Students are invited to wear a shirt with words on it for others to read.
Also, just a reminder that the Taste of New Danville is on Friday! I'm very excited for this event and can't wait to taste all of the yummy dishes! Please bring your own dishes and silverware for this event.
A Peek At Our Week:
- Math --- This week, students will be extending their knowledge of 10-complements, practicing addition with multiple addends, investigating weight, and practicing double-digit subtraction. There's a lot on our plate, but we'll break into small groups and go at a pace that works for us.
- Language Arts --- We are continuing our study of verbs, using context clues to understand unfamiliar words, introducing similes, and continuing to learn about synonyms and antonyms. Our Writer's Workshops will continue to focus on using author Angela Johnson's work as mentor texts to improve our own writing.
- Bible --- During this last week of February, we will wrap up our unit on showing love to God and others (though, of course, we will always continue to work on this!).
- Science --- This week, we are transitioning our focus from air to the weather outside. We will be completing activities involving temperature and clouds.
Sunday, February 22, 2015
Friday, February 6, 2015
News & Notes {and some science fun!
Happy weekend!
It always amazes me how much can happen in one week of school. I'll be honest. At the beginning of the week, I felt like a needed some sort of motivational pep talk. Yet, this group of students has a way of turning my days around, and by the end of this week I said goodbye to each student with spirits high and am already looking forward to next week. You have some pretty spectacular children!
I have many items of note, so grab a pen and paper to make yourself a list. :)
--- Please return your Taste of New Danville RSVP if you have not already done so. (It was on yellow paper.) We need all families to respond regardless of whether or not you intend to attend. Please respond by February 12. This will be a great time of fun and fellowship... and some yummy food!
--- I am planning to provide a low-key time on Thursday, February 12 for students to exchange valentines if they wish to. I do encourage children to bring a small box or paper bag to set on their desk so that they may receive valentines. Below is a list of students in our class (there are 23).
- Asaad, Nora, Mya, Raylin, Caleb, Caleb W., Jordan, Bethlehem, Meckenzie, Isaiah, Ava, Arturo, Olivia, Isaac, Zachary, Aliyah, Nya, Alaina, Zoey, Kordell, Amerti, Sinim, Evan
--- Sherrie Strange Pratt, a New York City soprano, will be joining New Danville for chapel at a special time: Friday, February 20, 9:15a.m. She will be focusing on African-American spirituals, sharing not only her voice but stories of the songs. It's not often that we get to hear a world-class soprano, so please do feel free to join us!
--- There are several days coming up during which students will not have school, making for one big extended weekend for them. Check out the "Calendar" tab above if you need to double-check those dates.
--- Mark your calendars! Grades 2-5 will be holding student-led conferences this spring (March 12)! I am excited to walk through this new conference format with you and your children. More information to come. I haven not yet made students aware that they will be leading conferences, though they are unknowingly already preparing for them. I wanted to share the news with you first. :)
A Peek At Our Week
--- Bible --- Students will be studying the greatest commandment in conjunction with their Bible memory. We will discuss how we can show love to God, our families, and our friends.
--- Science --- Continuing our study on air, students will be building balloon rockets (a highlight each year) to help them understand air pressure and how it can be used to propel objects.
--- Math --- We will finish Unit 6 with a few more lessons on multiplication and equal sharing. Then, we will take a short respite from typical lessons to learn traditional addition (the way you and I learned in school)! Yay! After those lessons, students will generally be given the freedom to choose which method of addition they prefer --- partial sums or traditional addition. Surprisingly, it's usually a 50/50 split!
--- Language Arts --- Students will be analyzing the different structures of nonfiction and fiction texts as well as completing a variety of activities about verbs and homophones.
I don't want to overload one post with pictures like I did last time, so I'm going to post a few now and some more later this weekend. Here are the science highlights of the week!
It always amazes me how much can happen in one week of school. I'll be honest. At the beginning of the week, I felt like a needed some sort of motivational pep talk. Yet, this group of students has a way of turning my days around, and by the end of this week I said goodbye to each student with spirits high and am already looking forward to next week. You have some pretty spectacular children!
I have many items of note, so grab a pen and paper to make yourself a list. :)
--- Please return your Taste of New Danville RSVP if you have not already done so. (It was on yellow paper.) We need all families to respond regardless of whether or not you intend to attend. Please respond by February 12. This will be a great time of fun and fellowship... and some yummy food!
--- I am planning to provide a low-key time on Thursday, February 12 for students to exchange valentines if they wish to. I do encourage children to bring a small box or paper bag to set on their desk so that they may receive valentines. Below is a list of students in our class (there are 23).
- Asaad, Nora, Mya, Raylin, Caleb, Caleb W., Jordan, Bethlehem, Meckenzie, Isaiah, Ava, Arturo, Olivia, Isaac, Zachary, Aliyah, Nya, Alaina, Zoey, Kordell, Amerti, Sinim, Evan
--- Sherrie Strange Pratt, a New York City soprano, will be joining New Danville for chapel at a special time: Friday, February 20, 9:15a.m. She will be focusing on African-American spirituals, sharing not only her voice but stories of the songs. It's not often that we get to hear a world-class soprano, so please do feel free to join us!
--- There are several days coming up during which students will not have school, making for one big extended weekend for them. Check out the "Calendar" tab above if you need to double-check those dates.
--- Mark your calendars! Grades 2-5 will be holding student-led conferences this spring (March 12)! I am excited to walk through this new conference format with you and your children. More information to come. I haven not yet made students aware that they will be leading conferences, though they are unknowingly already preparing for them. I wanted to share the news with you first. :)
A Peek At Our Week
--- Bible --- Students will be studying the greatest commandment in conjunction with their Bible memory. We will discuss how we can show love to God, our families, and our friends.
--- Science --- Continuing our study on air, students will be building balloon rockets (a highlight each year) to help them understand air pressure and how it can be used to propel objects.
--- Math --- We will finish Unit 6 with a few more lessons on multiplication and equal sharing. Then, we will take a short respite from typical lessons to learn traditional addition (the way you and I learned in school)! Yay! After those lessons, students will generally be given the freedom to choose which method of addition they prefer --- partial sums or traditional addition. Surprisingly, it's usually a 50/50 split!
--- Language Arts --- Students will be analyzing the different structures of nonfiction and fiction texts as well as completing a variety of activities about verbs and homophones.
I don't want to overload one post with pictures like I did last time, so I'm going to post a few now and some more later this weekend. Here are the science highlights of the week!
Air fountains! (Sorry that some of the pictures are a bit blurry... it was a quick capture.)
Here you can see what they are actually doing... using air to shoot green water! What could be better on a Friday afternoon?!
Before students created their air fountains, they explored the idea that air takes up space using water.
Sunday, January 25, 2015
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.
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. ;)
Sunday, January 4, 2015
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!
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. :)
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