This will be quick!
Wednesday, February 1st is our 100th day of school. If you could send a collection of 100 things with your child that day, it would be extremely helpful! We plan to sort those items and use them to reinforce the value of 100!
We are busy talking about folktales and fables in reading. Our comprehension focus is cause/effect. It is always interesting to discuss if we do something, then something happens. ;)
In math we are continuing to work on using efficient strategies for adding and subtracting. When the numbers are in story problems, kids need to be able to use the functions correctly. Do you add? Do you subtract? I find myself asking these questions a lot!
In social studies we are studying our branches of government. The students are also interested in reading biographies of people like Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks. We have enjoyed wonderful discussions!
Okay, this wasn't as brief as I predicted it would be!
Thansk for reading
Happy Friday to you! Happy Friday to you! Happy Friday to you---Happy Friday to you! (insert the tune to the birthday song)
It has been a busy week around here. I hope you enjoyed having your kiddo home on Monday. What cold weather we've had since then!
Miss Coney has been busy teaching the spelling and writing curriculum this week. She has begun the non-fiction writing unit. The kids have learned about Koko (a gorilla) and her kitten. Then they focused on asking and writing questions.
In spelling they worked on some common, high frequency words. Next week's spelling words focus on endings like -nd, -nk, and -ng. Miss Coney will also begin teaching the reading series. The focus next week will be on the Non-fiction story, ANT.
In math we've been working on strategy method for solving 2 and 3 digit addition problems. We have practiced proof pictures, show all totals, expanded method and the traditional method. By teaching all of these ways to solve the problems, we hope all kids can latch on to a method and work on solving the math efficiently. We shift to focusing on subtraction problems next week. We will show them several methods for solving those problems, too! I hope they all find success in solving their p
Welcome back after the New Year! I admit to not seeing the clock strike midnight on Saturday night. I was too tired from staying up Friday night watching the local football teams in their bowl games. Although both ISU and Iowa lost their games, I am always proud to support both teams as they play in the post-season!
I also am happy to introduce Traci Coney, student teacher from ISU. She is working with our second graders until the first week of March. Look forward to meeting her at conferences. Don't forget those conference times will be scheduled on February 15, 21, and 23. Once the schedule is complete, I'll send home your assigned time. LET ME KNOW if the time isn't good. I'll try to work out something better! I can't wait to see you then!
As mentioned in my previous post, students are finishing their unit on communities in reading. Post-testing for Unit 3 will occur next week. During the review and reteaching weeks, I'm going to work hard with students on their comprehension strategies. I hope to revisit summarizing, main idea/detail, and predicting. I am going to assess their progress with some quick-write activities.
In math, we have begun Unit 4 which is adding and subtracting within 1,000 by using an efficient method. Please remember to encourage your child to discontinue using fingers for adding...but rather to try using proof pictures, show all totals, expanded form, or the tradtional method. ALL of these methods will be taught and practiced repeatedly in the next several weeks!
Please check out the photos section of the website. I'm trying to add some interesting and informational pics there.
As always, if you have anything interesting to share or questions to ask, please send me an email through the contacts tab at the top of the header. It will send an email directly to me!
Thanks! ~Mrs. S.
Well, we made it to Winter Break!!!! It has been a super duper busy month and I hope you are all hanging in there--even if it's by a thread. I know I've felt a little overwhelmed lately...but that just makes a little time off even more rewarding.
Students have finished their graphing unit in math. The post-test scores were great! Nice job kids! The next unit will begin when we return...we are focusing again on adding and subtracting double and even triple digit numbers! We are to work with numbers to 1,000. The work will go smoothly if kiddos have a good foundation of their basic addition and subtraction facts. We really want them to know those facts. If they know them in their heads...then the proceedural part of adding won't seem like so much work! If you have questions, just ask for clarification!
When we return in January, we will spend time wrapping up our unit studying communities in reading. Our next story will be Jamaica Louise James. Ask your kiddo about that story!
We really enjoyed our last day before Winter Break. We did a nice job during the all-school showing of Rio. The movie is great and follows the themes of the story The Great Kapok Tree.
We also did a nice job during the all-school sing-along. Students were presented with their special Brubaker gifts at then end of the day. Thanks, Mr. Lord, more making sure that is arranged for all 700 students!
Please enjoy your time off with your kiddos! I hope you get to see family and celebrate the season. I will miss them, but I also look forward to family time at home during this time of year!
See you all next year!!!! Mrs. S. :)
First of all, I want to thank our student teacher, Miss Devine, for her dedication and hard work with our second graders. She put in a lot of extra time planning and organizing lessons to meet the students' needs. She also worked really hard to get to know all the students and to build positive relationships. I know our class will miss her. I wish her well as she looks for a job in elementary education! Her last day with us is December 14th.
Second graders have been working on identifying topic, main idea, and details in the reading curriculum this week. The worked on words with -ai and -ay sounds. In writing they worked on peer conferring and how to be good listeners when others share their work.
In math we have been graphing! This unit is breif, but it allows kids to read data on a bar graph and picture graph. They also have to be able to construct a bar graph using data from a tally chart. It's fun to spend time graphing data about our individual interests. Students will be assessed on this unit at the end of next week.
I hope everyone has a good weekend with their families.
As usual, if you have any questions, concerns, or nice things to say--please feel free to contact me directly through school email or reach me through the contact available on this website!
Thanks~ Mrs. S.
It's December already! I know many of us say this each year, but where has the time gone? It is amazing how fast time goes. As I get older, it seems to be going even faster.
Second graders have been busy working with Miss Devine this week. In reading, they have been using the story "Chinatown" to practice the comprehension strategies of making judgnments and summarizing. They have filled out graphic organizers and have discussed using both strategies when they read. In math, they have been reviewing their fact strategies. They revisited using counting on, counting back, using fast 9's, making tens, and doubles. Keep working on those skills with your kiddo!
On Wednesday we enjoyed the PBIS sock hop. We had a blast dancing to some of our favorite songs. It was a bit surprising to see how many kids didn't know (or remember) the YMCA! We had so much fun. :) Students earn a chance to participate in monthly school-wide celebrations if they earn fewer than 2 office referrals in the month.
Thanks for checking on the website! I appreciate your interest in what we're up to in Room 201~ Mrs. S.
UPDATE -- WE don't have school NOVEMBER 23-25
I have no idea why that didn't post the first time I tried to write it. (I'm still learning about this website stuff, sorry!)
Friday is finally here!
Thanks to the families that participated in Math and Literacy night. Although attendace was a little disappointing, I encourage you to work with your child on the math activities and book that were provided. Mark you calendars now--Spring Math and Literacy Night will take place at the Blank Park Zoo on May 8, 2012. Details will come later in the spring. :)
--This week in math we focused on telling time and counting money. These are life skills that all kids need to keep practicing. Can your kiddo tell you how to make 47 cents with any combination of coins? Can he/she tell you the time on an analog clock to the 1/2 and 1/4 hour? If not, please help reinforce these skills.
--In reading, we worked on comprehension strategies including a KWL chart and story structure. We have begun to discuss the Pilgrims and the meaning of our upcoming holiday. Next week will be full of holiday-themed activities. I'm sure that will be fun!
REMINDER: No school November
Okay, I'll try to remember to enlarge my posts. The previous post published REALLY small. Sorry about that!
So my first website is up and running...with an amazing 39 page views yesterday! Thanks to all of yo u that took time to see what I've been up to on here. I hope that you'll continue to regularly check in. I appreciate it!
As th e week goes on, be sure to check both the HOME page and the CALENDAR pages for timely information. I am looking forward to collecting food for the food drive and Math and Literacy Night this week! See you there!
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