Wow...the month of September has flown by! We have a lot going on this month in 2nd grade.
Math
Our Unit 1 test will be next Thursday, October 6. Students have been working on addition and subtraction fact fluency, identifying and explaining odd and even numbers, and discussing and showing strategies for many different types of story problems. We begin Unit 2 on Monday, October 10. In this unit, students will represent numbers in multiple ways using place value, compare larger numbers, work with counting mixed groups of coins, and begin learning strategies for adding double digit numbers.
What can you do at home?
To prepare for next week's assessment, please work with your child on reading and re-reading story problems carefully and showing work in an organized, detailed way. This would be a great time to discuss the importance of checking over work carefully before turning it in! If you are able to get on Blackboard at home, work with your child on any of the word problem games and activities in the Unit 1 folder. Help your child select activities that are a good fit, as the activities range from basic addition and subtraction story problems to comparison and multi-step problems. There are also practice games and videos for odd and even numbers and basic addition and subtraction strategies. The Unit 2 folder will become available soon.
Reading
This week, we continued our unit on exploration by investigating the things we can learn by exploring in space. During this time, students worked with identifying the main idea and details in an expository text called Exploring Space with an Astronaut. Phonics skills covered so far have been short vowels, as well as words with long vowels and a silent e. Next week, we will look at the things that can be discovered by exploring in nature as we read Henry and Mudge and the Starry Night. Our next spelling list includes words that have consonant blends.
What can you do at home?
Continue to explore the Reading Street items that are available on Blackboard. Allow your child time to do some exploring in the community as we continue our discussions of the importance of exploring and the things that can be learned! Read stories to your child, and have your child read to you. Find new and creative ways to help your child study spelling words and vocabulary words.
Writing
Students have really enjoyed learning about writing personal narratives! They have been working on writing strong beginnings and endings, zooming in to magnify details, and using the writing process to improve what they are working on. Next week we will work on self-evaluation in writing, as well as using interesting words, dialogue, and action to bring characters in a story to life.
What can you do at home?
Encourage your child to write stories for fun at home. I've been updating our Narrative Writing folder on Blackboard (under ELA) with videos, tips, and visuals that tie in with what we are learning. Mini lessons we've covered so far are also available on Blackboard, if your child has missed a day.
Science
For the past two weeks, students have been researching various landforms using a variety of sources here in the classroom. Next week, they will work on some self-guided projects to deepen their understanding of these landforms. The following week, we will begin our study of erosion.
What can you do at home?
Earlier this week, you received a copy of our first at-home connection project. Please help your child complete his or her landform sculpture and poster. We will be using these in 2 weeks to create digital presentations. Let me know if you have questions.
Important Dates this Month
October 5 - Walk to School with Teachers
October 11 - Mrs. Williams out (touring preschools for next year...YIKES!)
October 13 - Landform Projects Due
October 14 - No School
October 18 - Mrs. Williams out in the afternoon
October 21 - No School
October 24-28 - Red Ribbon Week
October 26 - Birthday Breakfast - Happy Birthday to Alyssa, Parker, and Allison!
October 31 - Halloween class party
Friday, September 30, 2016
Friday, September 2, 2016
Back to School!
What a wonderful start to the school year we've had! Students have come in each morning ready to learn, work hard, and help one another. I'm so excited to see them grow this year! Please read on for information about curriculum and upcoming dates for this month.
Math
In Unit 1, 2nd graders are reviewing basic addition and subtraction fact strategies. During this unit, we will look closely at various strategies for solving equations accurately and efficiently. Story problems are also a large focus in this unit. Students are working on expanding their story problem knowledge and showing work in detailed, informative ways. We are practicing showing work in a way that could be used to explain and teach concepts to others. When math homework comes home, please encourage your child to talk through his or her thinking when solving problems!
At home connections:
* Let your child spend time practicing basic math facts using the interactive game links to the right of this blog post.
* Get a set of addition/subtraction flashcards (they have them at Dollar Tree!) and make up games to play together.
* Go on a nature walk and make up math story problems about the things you see.
Reading
For the past two weeks, we have been studying the works of children's author Kevin Henkes. Students are using his stories to review reading comprehension skills (story mapping, identifying the author's purpose in a story, discussing lessons taught through fictional works, etc.) We have also been using Henkes books like Chester's Way and Penny and Her Marble to inspire some creative art projects and written stories in class! Next week, 2nd grade teachers will be collecting oral reading data on students and teaching independent work expectations during our reading block. The following week, the week of September 12, we will begin our first Reading Street unit! Unit 1 is called Exploration. During this unit, students will work with a variety of texts about exploring different communities. Please watch for your child's first spelling refrigerator copy to come home that week. It's important to pick at least one night each week to work with your child on spelling words, as well as vocabulary words. If you need ideas for practice, let me know!
At home connections:
* Work on spelling words in a fun way (check out our Spelling City page that is linked to the right!)
* Have conversations as a family about places you've gone exploring and what you've learned.
* Help your child research a famous explorer. Let me know if your child would be interested in teaching the class about who he or she has researched!
Writing
This week and next, students are reviewing the writing process and basic sentence writing skills. We will begin our first Units of Study writing unit the week after Labor Day. In this unit, students will learn how to craft personal narratives. We will focus on stretching out a story, organizing our writing in a way that makes sense, and using various techniques to bring characters to life when we write.
At home connections:
* Provide your child with a fun journal for free writing at home.
* Make a list of memories your child would like to write about at school.
* Read rich narrative stories at home and talk about the great words and tricks that real authors use.
* Explore keyboarding games on abcya.com.
Social Studies/Science
We are getting into our school year by doing various activities related to citizenship and being a good friend. Students have brainstormed traits of good friends, worked collaboratively on STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) projects and practiced group skills. Next week, we will be looking at some unlikely animal friendships. Students will use technology to create a small research project about a set of unlikely animal friends. The week after Labor Day, we will begin our study of landforms.
At home connections:
* Go to the local library and find a book about the ways that animals can help each other.
* Check out some of the great "Unlikely Friend" videos on Youtube.
* Watch for information about our first home connection project toward the end of our landform unit.
Upcoming Dates
September 5 - Labor Day - No School
September 9 - Grandparents' Day celebration - 2:45 (please return your forms ASAP)
September 12/13 - Fall MAP testing for 2nd grade
September 16 - Constitution Day - Wear red, white, and blue!
September 26 - Birthday Breakfast - Happy Birthday, Joseph and Finn!
September 30 - Fall pictures
Have a WONDERFUL long weekend! I really enjoyed meeting with all of you last week!
-Jaclynn Williams
Math
In Unit 1, 2nd graders are reviewing basic addition and subtraction fact strategies. During this unit, we will look closely at various strategies for solving equations accurately and efficiently. Story problems are also a large focus in this unit. Students are working on expanding their story problem knowledge and showing work in detailed, informative ways. We are practicing showing work in a way that could be used to explain and teach concepts to others. When math homework comes home, please encourage your child to talk through his or her thinking when solving problems!
At home connections:
* Let your child spend time practicing basic math facts using the interactive game links to the right of this blog post.
* Get a set of addition/subtraction flashcards (they have them at Dollar Tree!) and make up games to play together.
* Go on a nature walk and make up math story problems about the things you see.
Reading
For the past two weeks, we have been studying the works of children's author Kevin Henkes. Students are using his stories to review reading comprehension skills (story mapping, identifying the author's purpose in a story, discussing lessons taught through fictional works, etc.) We have also been using Henkes books like Chester's Way and Penny and Her Marble to inspire some creative art projects and written stories in class! Next week, 2nd grade teachers will be collecting oral reading data on students and teaching independent work expectations during our reading block. The following week, the week of September 12, we will begin our first Reading Street unit! Unit 1 is called Exploration. During this unit, students will work with a variety of texts about exploring different communities. Please watch for your child's first spelling refrigerator copy to come home that week. It's important to pick at least one night each week to work with your child on spelling words, as well as vocabulary words. If you need ideas for practice, let me know!
At home connections:
* Work on spelling words in a fun way (check out our Spelling City page that is linked to the right!)
* Have conversations as a family about places you've gone exploring and what you've learned.
* Help your child research a famous explorer. Let me know if your child would be interested in teaching the class about who he or she has researched!
Writing
This week and next, students are reviewing the writing process and basic sentence writing skills. We will begin our first Units of Study writing unit the week after Labor Day. In this unit, students will learn how to craft personal narratives. We will focus on stretching out a story, organizing our writing in a way that makes sense, and using various techniques to bring characters to life when we write.
At home connections:
* Provide your child with a fun journal for free writing at home.
* Make a list of memories your child would like to write about at school.
* Read rich narrative stories at home and talk about the great words and tricks that real authors use.
* Explore keyboarding games on abcya.com.
Social Studies/Science
We are getting into our school year by doing various activities related to citizenship and being a good friend. Students have brainstormed traits of good friends, worked collaboratively on STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) projects and practiced group skills. Next week, we will be looking at some unlikely animal friendships. Students will use technology to create a small research project about a set of unlikely animal friends. The week after Labor Day, we will begin our study of landforms.
At home connections:
* Go to the local library and find a book about the ways that animals can help each other.
* Check out some of the great "Unlikely Friend" videos on Youtube.
* Watch for information about our first home connection project toward the end of our landform unit.
Upcoming Dates
September 5 - Labor Day - No School
September 9 - Grandparents' Day celebration - 2:45 (please return your forms ASAP)
September 12/13 - Fall MAP testing for 2nd grade
September 16 - Constitution Day - Wear red, white, and blue!
September 26 - Birthday Breakfast - Happy Birthday, Joseph and Finn!
September 30 - Fall pictures
Have a WONDERFUL long weekend! I really enjoyed meeting with all of you last week!
-Jaclynn Williams
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