Friday, August 31, 2012

It's Friday!

This morning we used words with -id and -ide. We also read a phonics story and highlighted all the words with that pattern.  We added another poem to our poetry binder.  Your child needs to practice reading his/her poems over the weekend.  Two lucky students also get to take home our class book buddies to read to and write about.  Every child will get a turn in time.  We completed our DLP, re-read our story in groups, and reviewed what makes a sentence.  We had our first "Celebration Day" today....a time when we celebrate our good behavior that has been occuring all week.  This afternoon we went to gym and music.  Then, in math we learned how to add three numbers by making tens or using doubles facts.  We used dice to roll three numbers and used a number line to help us add, too.  We do have one page of homework to do over the weekend.  At the end of the day, we took another timed test.  Practice those math facts!  Enjoy the long weekend!

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Thursday, August 30th

We sure worked hard today!  This morning we wrote in our journals about different laws we follow.  After we shared, we clapped out some words in syllables.  We read paragraphs and identified the main ideas.  We learned about indexes, glossaries, dictionaries and tables of contents.  We completed our DLP, too.  Typically on Fridays we would have our Reading and Spelling tests, but since it is the beginning of the school year, we are going to study this story and the author next week, too.  We got together with our new 4th grade Book Buddies from Mrs. Walters' class.  The children also did a good job practicing for our fire drill. In Social Studies, we re-read our lesson in groups and completed a worksheet in class.  This afternoon, we made a water cycle wheel to take home and study.  We also read a book about rain and made a mini-book about water.  For tonight's "homework", your child should check in the mirror after his/her bath or shower to see the condensation.  Also, if you have ice in your freezer, please add some to your student's glass to watch the condensation on there as well.  Thanks for helping with some hands-on science lessons!  In math, we used a ten frame to help us solve problems with sums larger than ten.  It helped us to make a ten first, then add the leftovers.  There is one page of math homework to be returned tomorrrow. 

Thank you for submitting your Book Orders!  I will be sending in the final counts tomorrow.  Please explain to your children that the company has to send the books from a factory and it will take a few days to receive our books! :) 

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Wednesday, August 29

We are just jumping in and learning so much in second grade!  We started our busy morning off with journal writing.  We wrote about what we might see at a zoo.  Then, we reviewed our phonics pattern, word wall words, and vocabulary words.  We re-read The Mixed-Up Chameleon in groups and completed a scavenger hunt using our story together.  We also completed our DLP and practiced identifying complete sentences.  I explained to the class what we will do during guided reading/centers time.  Tomorrow we will try some of the centers together.  In Social Studies, we talked about the words "law" and "vote".  We identified different road signs and talked about what they mean.  We also discussed what consequences people face when they break laws.  This afternoon we learned about the water cycle in Science.  We read about it and watched a brainpopjr clip about it. Then, we watched a Magic School Bus video showing the steps of the water cycle in a fun way.  In math, we learned how to use our doubles facts to solve near doubles problems.  The students have one page of math homework.  At the end of the day, we took another timed test.

Don't forget that Spelling Packets and Book Orders are due tomorrow! 

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Tuesday, August 28

This morning we wrote about things we wish we could be.  Then, we shared our journals with the class.  We reviewed our phonics pattern for this week and next, -id and -ide.  We did a making words activity together on the board and completed a workbook page together.  Then, we learned our vocabulary words for the story The Mixed-Up Chameleon.  Students should know what the words mean and how to read the words.  They will need to put them into sentences on the test.  We read The Mixed-Up Chameleon together.  We talked about the chameleon's feelings as he got all mixed up.  After art class, we completed our DLP sentences.  After lunch, we took some time to silent read.  It is a difficult transition to go from reading out loud to reading in our heads in second grade.  Then, we went to music and gym class.  At the end of the day, we learned how to count on to add in math.  We used a number line to solve problems.  The students have one page of math homework for tonight.  We also took another timed test. 

**Don't forget that Book Orders and Spelling Packets are due on THURSDAY.  Curriulum Night for Parents will be held on Thursday, September 13th.

Monday, August 27, 2012

Monday, August 27th

This morning we worked hard!  We jumped right into the curriculum!  First we learned our phonics pattern for this week and next (-id and -ide).  Then we introduced our spelling words.  Thank you to those of you who practiced with your children over the weekend....I could tell!  We completed two workbook pages together in class and worked on correcting DLP sentences, too.  We talked about how we needed a topic when we write.  Every day there will be a journal topic on the board.  Some students earned wild cat cash today for being responsible this morning.  They got their journals out and started writing without me even reminding them!  Hooray!  We are learning the routine!  Then, we talked about what makes a sentence (complete idea, capital letter at beginning, punctuation at end).  In Social Studies, we introduced Unit 1.  We talked about our new vocabulary words and about groups we belong to.  We cut apart our vocabulary cards and put them in a baggie for us to use later.  This afternoon, we completed our first math lesson.  We learned about the commutative property (we can add in any order and still get the same sum) and the zero property (any number plus itself is that number).  We do have one page of math homework for tonight.  We also took a timed test.  At the end of the day, we went to the computer lab.  It was a great day!

Every Monday, a Spelling Packet will go home for homework.  It will be due on Thursday each week.  Also, a Book Club order was sent home as well.  Many students expressed an interest for the Pete the Cat books that we read last week.  If you would like to order, it is due on Thursday as well.  Thanks for supporting our classroom library!

Friday, August 24, 2012

Friday, August 24

We had another great day today!  Many students remembered that we start our day by writing in our journals.  They got their notebook right out and started writing about their favorite book. Then we shared some.  Every Friday, the students will receive a poem for their Poetry Binders (If you haven't sent one to school yet, please do so soon!).  We read the poem, highlighted rhyming words, and practiced reading it together.  For homework this weekend, your child needs to read his/her poem to someone at home several times.  We are working on reading with fluency.  The more times we practice reading something, the better we get at reading it!  Then, we read our third Pete the Cat book!  We had so much fun reading about the buttons that kept falling off his shirt and singing the song that goes with the story.  Then, we worked in a Pete the Cat packet for fun.  We attended an all-school assembly to review the school rules and expectations.  At Wesley, we are committed to being safe, responsible, and respectful at all times.  Students can earn rewards and prizes on account of their good behavior.  Then, we made a class book showing how we can be respectful.  This afternoon, we practiced silent reading.  We went to music and gym class.  At the end of the day, we took our first one minute timed test, cut apart some math vocabulary words, and did a Pete the Cat math activity.  It was a great day.  Have a wonderful weekend!

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Our First Day of School

We had a great day today!  After talking about the rules of Wesley School and getting our books organized, we read a book called Pete the Cat Rocking in my School Shoes.  The class loved it!  We also sang Pete's song and made puppets of Pete.  Our puppets enjoyed rocking out with us.  We practiced writing the letters l and i correctly.  Some of us need to work on using the correct pencil grip.  Bad habits need to be broken!  This year we will be learning cursive and it will be difficult to do if we do not know how to correctly hold our pencils!  We learned about our classmates and shared things we found out about them.  At the end of the day, we wrote about what we are looking forward to in second grade.  You will be able to read the paragraphs when you visit on Curriculum Night. 

I am looking forward to spending a fantastic year with your children.  Thanks for sharing them with me!