E Day-April 30th

Today was Exercise Day!  We had so much fun doing jumping jacks and playing Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes together!  Tomorrow the children can bring a flashlight as we will be reading in the dark. 

This morning after we shared our journals we reviewed our phonics pattern (ou, ough) and we did a Making Words activity with our spelling words.  We introduced the vocabulary words, talked about author's purpose, and read our story for this week Dinosaurs Travel.  Then, we went to art class.  This afternoon we read Poppy Pendle, went to music and gym class and then switched classes for math.  We introduced two dimensional shapes.  Most students have one page of math homework.

Don't forget that the timeline information is due tomorrow as we will be making timelines of events for each child's life.

D Day-April 29th

This morning we drew pictures of our favorite second grade memory for D Day.  It was fun to reflect back on our school year and the many things we have done!  Then, we worked on our ABC books.  We learned our phonics pattern of the week ou and ough.  We introduced the spelling words and practiced sorting them, too!  Then, we talked about writing how-to paragraphs and completed our DLP.  We talked about the present and past tense forms of go and do.  We learned our last lowercase cursive letters: v and z.  In Social Studies, we learned more about Lewis and Clark and their journey westward.  We watched a video clip about them, too.  We also learned about Sacagawea and her role in their success.  After lunch we took our MAP test for Reading.  We've made some great progress this year!  We took a timed test in math and introduced our new unit on Geometry.  At the end of the day, we learned our first two capital cursive letters.  It was a great day!  Tomorrow is excersize day...make sure to send your student to school in gym shoes if he/she does not have an extra pair here at school!

C Day-April 26th

Today was Compliment Day!  We wrote compliments to our friends and delivered them.  The smiles lasted a long time!  Then, we reviewed the prefixes re and pre.  We corrected our DLP and completed a grammar activity.  Then, we took our Spelling test.  Next, we had centers/guided reading.  Our Reading test was completed after that.  This afternoon we read Poppy Pendle.  Then, we went to gym/music.  We took our math test on measurement.  Next week we will start a Geometry unit.  At the end of the day, we looked at our plants....we have some seedlings!

Have a wonderful weekend!

B Day---April 25th

Today I tested half the class to see what reading level they are now at....it is so exciting to see the progress the students have made this year!  Next week we will take MAP Tests again....more data to show the growth of our students! 

While I was testing the students wrote in their journals about life in the colonies.  Then, they did a phonics activity, reviewed the vocabulary words, and worked in a comprehension packet to go along with Beginner's World Atlas.  They completed their DLP and a grammar worksheet.  They also had centers/guided reading.  In Social Studies, they learned about Sacagewea and Lewis and Clark while discussing westward expansion.  This afternoon we got to read with a Buddy for B Day.  The students enjoyed it!  Then, we took our Science test and the children completed some Earth Day activities when they were finished.  At the end of the day, the children finished learning about measurement and we will be taking our test on this unit tomorrow.

There will be a Reading and Spelling test tomorrow.

Alphabet Countdown Day---A Day (April 24th)

Today we started an Alphabet Countdown to the last day of school.  For A Day, we made Alphabet books.  I am sending home a list of things we will do each day until the end of the year....starting with letters from A-Z.  We hope to have a little fun every day.  Some days we will need your help.  Please refer to that sheet daily.  Then, we finished reading the Beginner's World Atlas.  We talked about different types of maps and features of North America.  Then, we went to the library.  After, we had guided reading/centers.  In Social Studies, we read more about the first colonies and Paul Revere.  We read The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere, too.  After lunch, we read Poppy Pendle.  Then, we practiced and presented our Washington, D.C. paragraphs.  The students did a great job!  At the end of the day, we did an Explore Activity showing what would happen if water was polluted.  We also reviewed for the Science test and there are two pages of homework to help study.  The Science test will take place tomorrow.

Don't forget that Spelling Packets are due tomorrow as well! 

April 23rd

This morning after we wrote in and shared our journals, we reviewed words with oo.  Then, we did a Making Words activity.  After, we introduced this week's vocabulary words (the word "feature" is difficult!) and began talking about different reference materials.  We discussed the function of a dictionary, encyclopedia and an atlas.  We learned that an atlas is a book of maps.  This week, we will read about atlases.  Grades will be entered in both Reading and Social Studies.  We will finish reading the atlas tomorrow.  Then, we completed our DLP and went to art class.  This afternoon, we read more of Poppy Pendle.  Then we went to music and gym class.  In math, we learned how to measure with a number line.  Students needed to use their subtraction skills to help measure!  Most students do have homework. We will have a math test on measurement later this week.

There will be a Science test on Water Habitats on Thursday.  A sheet with pages to review was sent home with your child today along with his/her Science book.

Happy Earth Day!

Today we squeezed in as many Earth Day activities as we could!  First, we wrote paragraphs on how we can help the earth.  Then, we completed an ABC order activity that had a word search on the back.  Then, we learned our phonics pattern for this week and practiced sorting our spelling words.  We completed our DLP and talked about the present and past tense of the words come and run.  In Social Studies, we learned how to read History Maps.  Then, we learned about the 13 colonies and why the Declaration of Independence was written.  We read a short paragraph about the American Revolution, too. Then, we watched a video clip about the Declaration of Independence.  After lunch, we planted seeds for Earth Day!  It was a lot of fun!  We have a Grow Lab that we got as a grant so we thought we could do some experiments.  We will keep you posted with our progress.  In math, we learned how to related centimeters and meters.  We also went outside on a scavenger hunt to measure various things at Wesley School.  Most students do have math homework.  At the end of the day, we went to the computer lab.  It was a great day!

April 19th

What a crazy day!  We started with a program called Junior Achievement where a community worker comes in to teach the children about economics and assembly lines/unit production.  Your child has many handouts that were used in class.  Please talk about all of the sheets and have him/her explain to you what we did.  Then, in the afternoon we read more of Poppy Pendle.  Then, we went to gym and music.  At the end of the day we learned how to compare measurements by subtracting.  We also did some problem solving using measurement.  Some students have math homework. 

Because of the day we missed yesterday, we did not take a Reading test this week.  It wouldn't have been fair because the children did not have their books at home and missed a day of instruction due to the bad weather.  Hopefully the weather clears and it turns out to be a beautiful weekend!

April 17th

This morning we wrote non-ficiton Native American paragraphs in our journals.  Then, we re-read our story, Abuela, in small groups.  Then, we completed a Scavenger Hunt.  We visited the library.  Then, we had centers/guided reading.  In Social Studies, we re-read our lesson on the first colonies and watched a video clip about the first Thanksgiving.  After lunch, we finished our Washington, D.C. projects, chose what lines each student will present and practiced saying our lines.  Please practice at home with your child because we will be grading the students' presentations next week.  In math, we learned how to choose the correct tool to measure certain items.  Some students do have homework.

Spelling packets are due tomorrow!  Dioramas are due on Friday.

April 16th

This morning we wrote about what it would be like to fly.  Then, we reviewed words with -air and -are.  We introduced the vocabulary words and read the story Abuela.  We also talked about what happened in the beginning, middle and end of the story.  Then, we went to art class.  This afternoon, we read more of Poppy Pendle and made predictions about what we thought would happen next.  We went to music and gym class.  Then, we learned about meters in math class.  We used meter sticks to measure objects around the classroom.  We compared them to centimeters too.  Most students have math homework.

Don't forget that OPTIONAL Native American Dioramas are due on Friday.

April 15th

This morning we read a fantasy story and talked about elements that cannot happen in real life.  Then, we talked about words with -air and -are.  We completed a word sort and introduced our spelling words.  We also did a challenging alphabetical order activity.  We finished two sentences of DLP, talked about personal narratives and subject/verb agreement.  In Social Studies we read about three different colonies.  We took notes on St. Augustine, Jamestown and Plymouth.  Then, we watched a couple of short video clips on each colony.  This afternoon we silent read and set up our Book Bags.  In math, we learned about centimeters.  Tomorrow we will focus on measuring in meters.  Some students have math homework.  We took a timed test and then we went to the computer lab to work on Earth Day activities.  It was a great day.

April 10th

This morning we learned how Chinese food can be cooked in a wok.  Then, we re-read our story about Chinatown.  We reviewed our vocabulary words and our phonics pattern for this week.  We completed our DLP, too.  Then, we saw an amazing animal assembly that we be back at Wesley TONIGHT!  Every student got a pass with the information about tonight's show.  If you can, please come!  There is an entry fee.  In Social Studies, we made a chart showing information about three different Native American tribes.  There is one page of Social Studies homework.  Information was sent home today about an optional Native American project that will be due a week from Friday.  In Science, we learned about salt water habitats and the animals that live there.  We watched a video clip showing the layers of the ocean.  Some students need to finish a Science worksheet for homework.  In math, we continued to measure objects.  Today we compared their lengths.  Most students have homework.

I will be attending the Illinois Education Association's Conference tomorrow through Saturday so I will not be in class.  I have left detailed plans for the sub to follow and the students know my expectations.  I will see them again on Monday!

April 9th

We have been learning about Chinese culture this week!  We've talked about Chinese food, Chinese customs, and traditions, too.  It has been a lot of fun!  Our story this week is called Chinatown.  Those students who have visited Chinatown in Chicago have had a lot to add to our conversations!  If you have a wok at home, please show your child!  It was interesting to learn this morning that a lot of our classmates have never tried Chinese food!  We also did a Making Words activity, completed our DLP, and worked on a grammar activity.  Then, we went to art class.  This afternoon we went to gym and music.  Then, we learned to measure using rulers, yardsticks and measuring tapes.  Most students have one page of math homework.

April 4th

This morning we reviewed many skills: words with gh and ph, vocabulary, how to summarize, and subject/verb agreement.  We also completed our DLP sentences.  Then, we read with our Book Buddies.  We had centers/guided reading and we learned the cursive letter "n".  After lunch we read more of Poppy Pendle.  Then, we re-read our lesson in Science on fresh water habitats.  We completed an activity together and then did one individually.  Since we had more time, we began reading the next lesson on salt water habitats.  The students need to complete the lesson outline for homework tonight.  In math, we learned how to measure using inches.  If your child does not have a ruler at school, he/she needs one quickly!!!!  There is one page of math homework to be completed. 

There will be a Reading and Spelling test tomorrow!

April 3rd

We are getting back into the swing of things after Spring Break!  This morning we had a visit from the Addison Fire Department.  They reminded students what to do in case of an emergency.  We practiced "calling" 911.  We needed to be able to tell what our addresses and phone numbers were and what our emergency was.  If your child does not know his/her address or phone number, it is imperative that it is learned!  Please practice at home.  After our visit, we finished reading Anthony Reynoso: Born to Rope.  It is a non-fiction personal narrative that teaches us about roping in the Southwest.  Then, we re-read it in small groups and completed a scavenger hunt.  After we went to the library, we had guided reading/centers.  Then, in Science, we started learning about Water Habitats.  We did an explore activity to find out how ducks stay dry in water.  Ask your child what happened to his/her duck in the experiment.  Then, we read the lesson, took some notes in a flip-book, and started the lesson outline.  It needs to be completed for homework.  At the end of the day, we worked very hard on our Washington, D.C. projects.  We are almost finished!  Students are writing and typing their reports to add next to the posters.

Don't forget that the Spelling packet (only two pages this week) is due tomorrow.  There will be a Spelling and Reading test on Friday.