Thursday, December 20th

We had another exciting day!  I think we all have jet lag from traveling so much today!  This morning the students went to Poland.  They learned about the holiday traditions there and made a project, too.   When they returned, we took our Social Studies test.  Then, we had Book Buddies.  This afternoon, we silent read.  Then, we traveled to Mexico where we made poinsettas and learned about their traditions.  At the end of the day, we watched part of Matilda, since we finished the book last week.  It was a great day.  There is no homework, except for the usual Book Bag. 

Wednesday, December 19th

This morning we wrote about what we would do if we had reindeer.  The ideas were quite creative!  Then, in math we learned how to add tens and hundreds mentally.  We do have one page of math homework.  After we went to the library, we took our Science test.  In Social Studies, we learned about bartering and we reviewed for our test tomorrow.  This afternoon we silent read.  Then, we traveled to Germany!  We learned about the custom Weinachten.  We also learned about advent calendars and how to use them to count down to Christmas.  Did you know that the first Christmas tree was cut down by a German man named Martin Luther in 1604?  In his honor, we made a Christmas tree.  We also learned some German words and sang "O'Christmas Tree".  It was fun.  Tomorrow we will continue traveling to two more countries and we will take our Social Studies test.

Tuesday, December 18th

Today we traveled to Israel!  The students learned about the holiday tradition of Hannukah.  They made miniature menorahs.  They also colored the flag and located Israel on a map.  Then, they went to art class.  When they returned, we worked on two review pages for our Science test tomorrow.  They don't need to be returned, but should be used as a study tool.  This afternoon we silent read.  Then we went to gym and music.  After, we learned how to add hundreds.  Some students have math homework to finish tonight. 

Don't forget: Science test tomorrow, Social Studies test Thursday!

Monday, December 17th

Since we are learning about "Holiday Traditions Around the World" this week, our schedule looked a lot different today.  We started off our day by doing math.  We started a new chapter by taking an "Are You Ready?" quiz, practicing vocabulary and making a foldable.  Then, in Science we learned about things that are made of plants and things that are not made of plants.  Tonight for homework, you need to go on a hunt of things that ARE made from plants in your household.  I told the children to start in their kitchens.  So many spices and foods are made from plants.  We also started a lesson outline in class that needs to be completed for homework.  There will be a Science test on Wednesday.  A small sheet is going home with your student that lists the pages that need to be reviewed.  Then in Social Studies, we read about how we trade goods with other countries.  Since we do not grow everything we need in the United States, we trade our goods to get ones that we cannot grow. We completed a worksheet in class and made two more vocabulary cards.  There will be a Social Studies test on Thursday.  I know that is a lot to focus on during this busy week, but there will not be a Spelling or Reading test this week.  Also, in this way, we will have our units wrapped up before the long break.  We will be able to start fresh when we come back.  Then, this afternoon, we "traveled" to another country!  We visited Poland (in Mrs. Walter's class).  Ask your child what he/she learned about holiday traditions in Poland!  Tomorrow we will be visiting another country.  It is very exciting!  The children have suitcases, passports and boarding passes, too.  Altogether, the students will be visiting six different countries this week.

Friday, December 14th

This morning we wrote in our journals and shared with the class.  Then, we put our poem in our poetry binders and turned in our book bags.  We took our Reading and Spelling tests, too.  We also corrected our DLP.  This afternoon we FINISHED Matilda.  We were so excited and shared our favorite parts.  We went to music and gym class.  We took our math test.  Then, we started preparing for our exciting unit next week.  We are going to be studying holiday traditions around the world.  We will be traveling to different countries (between Mrs. Walter, Mrs. March, and our own classroom) and learning about how people celebrate the holidays.  Today we prepared our passports and suitcases so we are ready to "travel" on Monday!  It will be a lot of fun!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

We had a very busy day!  This morning we wrote how trees change in the winter.  Then, we reviewed the oo pattern and learned our vocabulary words.  We talked about facts and fiction.  Then, we read our story for this week The Secret Life of Trees. After art, we finished talking about the story and completed an activity about capitalizing proper nouns (names of holidays).  We also presented our musical to the whole school.  This afternoon we read Matilda....we are nearing the end!  Then, we went to gym and music.  In math, we reviewed place value, greater than/less than, and numbers before and after one another.  There is no homework.  We also took a timed test.  At the end of the day, we completed a "Months of the Year" activity.

There will not be a blog for the next two days as I will be pulled out for a Math Committee meeting tomorrow and an Evaulation Committee meeting on Thursday.  I will post on Friday, as usual.  Next week, there will be a Science test and Social Studies test.  That way we will not have topics left hanging over break.  We will be working hard right up until the end!

Monday, December 10th

Tonight is the 2nd grade musical!  Meet us in the classroom at 6:45!  Because I know that it can be crazy at home before a school event, there is no homework for tonight.

This morning we wrote informational paragraphs in our journals about trees.  Then, we learned about words with -oo.  We introduced our spelling words and completed a word sort, too.  We talked about research papers and names of holidays as well.  In Social Studies, we read about how goods get from the factory to us.  We did a sequencing activity to put the steps in order.  We made a vocabulary card for the word "factory" and completed a geography packet as well.  This afternoon we read Matilda.  In math, we learned how to skip count by 5's, 10's and 100's with numbers up to 1,000.  It was quite challenging!  At the end of the day, we took a timed test and then practiced for our musical.  See you all tonight!

The Spelling Packet is due on Thursday.

Friday, December 7th

This morning we wrote about our plans for this weekend.  Then, we reviewed words with -eer and -ear.  We practiced capitalizing proper nouns.  We also practiced writing words in ABC order.  Then, we took our Spelling test.  After guided reading/centers, we took our Reading test.  This afternoon, we read Matilda.  Then, the power went out!  It added to our very exciting afternoon!  The kids practiced for their musical in the dark....luckily our voices still work without electricity.  When the power came back on, we read a Time for Kids magazine and did some problem solving.  We also reviewed place value using a domino game we learned at the math conference.

Have a wonderful weekend!

This morning we wrote about our favorite months during Journal time.  Then, we reviewed many skills: VCV patterns, diagrams, vocabulary words, and proper nouns.  We also completed our DLP.  We read with our 4th grade Book Buddies and had centers/guided reading.  In Social Studies, we looked at a diagram of a fire engine.  This aftternoon we read Matilda.  Then, we learned a lot about plants and diagrams in Science.  We labeled the parts of a plant and flower.  Some students have Science worksheets to finish.  In math, we learned how to read and write numbers to one thousand.  We do have math homework.  At the end of the day, we got our Dinosaur Dioramas and paragraphs back with grades.  We learned so much and really enjoyed hearing all the presentations.  We have been admiring our work every day! Tomorrow we will bring home our fossils, too.

There is a Reading and Spelling test tomorrow!

Wednesday, December 5th

This morning we wrote about why it is fun to imagine.  The children had some really creative ideas!  Then, we made a pamphlet about our story From Seed to Plant to use as a study guide for the test on Friday.  We reread the story in pairs and completed a scavenger hunt.  After we went to the library, we had centers/guided reading.  In Social Studies we wrote about service workers and what they do.  After lunch we read Interrupting Chicken and some of Matilda.  In Science, we continued learning about plants.  We made a diagram of plant parts.  The children have a lesson outline for homework.  In math, we tried some logical reasoning.  You may need to help your child with the math homework tonight as there are a lot of steps to think through!  Make sure he/she has completed all of them before answering! 

Book Orders are due on Friday.  Spelling Packets are due tomorrow.

Tuesday, December 4th

This morning we wrote about how water changes seeds.  It is great to do some non-fiction writing!  The students are really enjoying sharing their knowledge of plants and how they grow with the class.  Next, we practiced words with spr, thr, and str through a Making Words activity.  We also learned our vocabulary words and how to read diagrams.  Then, we read our story for this week, From Seed to Plant.  It is a non-fiction story about how plants grow and it goes hand-in-hand with our Science unit.  Part of the Reading test this week will actually count for Science, too.  The children went to art class.  After lunch we read more of Matilda.  Then, the students practiced for their musical that will be next Monday night.  In math, we learned how to write numbers in expanded form.  There is one page of math homework.  At the end of the day, we took a timed test.

Spelling packets are due on Thursday.

Monday, December 3rd

It is hard to believe it is already December!!!  We started this morning by writing about how pumpkins grow in our journals.  Then, we learned our phonics pattern for this week (str, spr, thr).  We introduced the spelling words and completed a word sort.  We corrected two sentences of DLP and talked about informational paragraphs.  We learned that Months of the Year are proper nouns and should always be capitalized.  In Social Studies, we learned about service workers in our community.  We also discussed the word "tax".  We watched a video clip including goods and services along with service workers, too.  This afternoon we took our Math MAP test on the computer.  Then, we reviewed our spelling pattern from last week (ear, eer).  We also worked on a worksheet about capitalizing proper nouns.  Some students need to finish it for homework.  At the end of the day, I shared some of the things I learned from the math conference with the class.  We did some common core problem solving.  I got to meet the author of Lemonade for Sale while I was there.  I shared a picture of him with the class.  There are many fun things I will be sharing with the students throughout the year.

The Spelling Packet is going home tonight and will be due on Thursday, as usual.  Students also need to complete their Book Bags.