Thursday, November 29, 2012

November 30, 2012




Reading and Language Arts  Next week we will be reading Big Bushy Mustache.  It is a story about a boy who gets a part in a school play. The mustache he wears in the play makes him look like his father, so he wears it home. Unfortunately, he loses it.

Comprehension Strategies: predict/infer, problem solving
Vocabulary Words:  bushy, disguise, mirror, costume, handsome, mustache
High Frequency Words:  behind, soldier, story
Grammar Skills:   plural nouns
Phonics:  vowel pairs ow, ou & ai, ay

Reading Logs   Please continue to log minutes with your child. November Reading Logs are due Monday, December 3.

Math  We will review and take a test on Chapter 8 on Monday. We will then move on to Chapter 9, Data and Graphs. Students will record the results of a survey in a tally table and frequency table. They will be solving problems by reading tables and bar graphs.

Flash Cards  Students should be working hard to memorize their addition and subtraction facts. To check memorization of these facts, we are taking timed tests. Once your child passes a set of facts, they will move to the next level.  Look in your child's planner to find out what facts they should be working on at home. 


Social Studies  We began the unit Our Country Long Ago.  Next week we will learn about the first European settlements in North America; St. Augustine, Jamestown, and Plymouth. We will also review the origins of the Thanksgiving holiday. We will learn more about Jamestown and Plymouth by reading a history map. We will also learn about the causes and effects of the American Revolution.

Star Student of the Week  Wasfi was our star student of the week.   When he is at school he enjoys reading and gym. When he is at home he likes to play video games and play with his toys. When he grows up he would like to be a doctor.  Wasfi is a star because he is funny and makes people laugh. Thanks for sharing Wasfi!

`Important Dates & Reminders

Mon, Dec. 3 - November Reading Logs are due
Wed, Dec 5 - Santa's Secret Holiday Gift Shopping Day
Fri, Dec 14 - Slipper and Movie Day - School Reading Reward Day
Mon, Dec. 24 - Winder break begins

*Please send in your box tops!


*Please consider donating new mittens, gloves, hats or scarves to decorate our Mitten Tree in the library.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

November 20, 2012




Reading and Language Arts  Next week we will begin a new theme called Around Town. We will be reading a story called Chinatown. It is about a boy from Chinatown and everything that happens in Chinatown-a very busy place. We will learn something about Chinese culture, kung fu, and tai chi.

Comprehension Strategies: Summarizing and story structure
Vocabulary Words:  apartment, delivery, handcart, markets, celebrations
High Frequency Words:  winter, heard, lion, during
Grammar Skills:   naming nouns and plurals
Phonics:  Diagraphs:  th, wh, sh, ch

Reading Logs   Please continue to log minutes with your child. November Reading Logs are due Monday, December 3.

Math  We will continue Chapter 8, 2-Digit Subtraction. We will practice 2-digit subtraction and learn how to use addition to check our answers. We will also be estimating differences.

Flash Cards  Students should be working hard to memorize their addition and subtraction facts. To check memorization of these facts, we are taking timed tests. Once your child passes a set of facts, they will move to the next level.  Look in your child's planner to find out what facts they should be working on at home. 


Social Studies  We will begin the unit Our Country Long Ago.  We will learn about the beginnings and growth of our country. They will be introduced to the Native American groups, early settlers who came from Europe, and explorers who led the way for westward expansion. Next week we will be learning about the ways  of life of three Native American groups.
Important Dates & Reminders

Wed/Thurs/Fri, - Nov. 21-23 - No School - Thanksgiving Holiday
Mon, Dec. 3 - November Reading Logs are due
Mon, Dec. 24 - Winter break begins

*Please send in your box tops!

Friday, November 16, 2012

November 16, 2012




The Dinostars


Reading and Language Arts  Next week we will discussing "The First Thanksgiving".  Our focus will be on understanding the hardships encountered by the Pilgrims on their voyage to the New World and in establishing a new settlement. We will also learn about how the first Thanksgiving came about.

Reading Logs   Please continue to log minutes with your child.  November Reading Logs are due Monday, December 3rd.

Math  We will begin Chapter 8, 2-Digit Subtraction. We will practice 2-digit subtraction and rewrite 2 digit subtraction problems.


Flash Cards  Students should be working hard to memorize their addition and subtraction facts. To check memorization of these facts, we are taking timed tests. Once your child passes a set of facts, they will move to the next level.  Look in your child's planner to find out what facts they should be working on at home. 

Science  We are learning how to make different sounds. We will be identifying the loudness and pitch of sounds, and learn how they can be changed. 

Star Student of the Week  Alexis was our star student of the week.  When she is at school she enjoys gym, art, music and math. When she is at home she likes to play with her sister. When she grows up she would like to be a professional soccer player.  Alexis is a star because she is nice to others. Thanks for sharing Alexis!

Important Dates & Reminders

What an amazing job your children did in the Dinostars performance! I am so proud of them!

Tues, Nov. 20 - Last Day to order a copy of the Dinostars concert
Wed/Thurs/Fri, - Nov. 21-23 - No School - Thanksgiving Holiday
Mon, Dec. 3 - November Reading Logs are due
Mon, Dec. 24 - Winder break begins

*Please send in your box tops!


Friday, November 9, 2012

November 9, 2012



Reading and Language Arts  Next week we will be reading fables. We will be comparing two versions of the same story, Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

Comprehension Strategies: Understanding Fables; Compare and Contrast; Predict/Infer
Vocabulary Words:  fable, lesson, moral
High Frequency Words:  hear, laugh, little, enough, hungry, people, water, idea, more, learn
Grammar Skills:  Writing complete sentences
Phonics:  Words with Final k and ck; VCV Pattern

Reading Logs   Please continue to log minutes with your child.

Math  We will continue with Chapter 7, Explore 2-Digit Subtraction. Students will solving problems by using the strategy make a model and model and record subtraction of 1-digit and 2-digit numbers from  2-digit numbers.

Flash Cards  Students should be practicing their addition and subtraction facts with their flash cards.  Weekly facts tests are given.

Science  We are learning about how sound is made. We will be making our own kazoos. We will also be discussing how sound travels.

Jr. Achievement  Mrs. Schaal, a volunteer from Junior Achievement, came to our class this week to teach us about Our Community.  Mrs. Schaal is an employee of  Turtle Wax. Students will be discovering a variety of jobs, developing awareness of how  businesses operate and increasing their understanding of how citizens must be responsible for the well being of their community. This unit supplements our social studies curriculum. Mrs. Schaal will meet with our class once a week for the next 4 weeks.

Important Dates & Reminders

Mon, Nov. 12 - No School - Veteran's Day
Thurs, Nov. 15 - 2nd Grade Dinostars Concert at 7pm, at Lakeview. Students should arrive at 6:45pm and report to the gym
Tues, Nov. 20 - Last Day to order a copy of the Dinostars concert
Wed/Thurs/Fri, - Nov. 21-23 - No School - Thanksgiving Holiday

*Please send in your box tops!



















Friday, November 2, 2012

November 2, 2012





Reading and Language Arts  Next week we will be comparing and contrasting two stories.  The first story, Owl Moon, is realistic fiction.  We will see what happens when a girl and her father look for owls on a cold winter night. The second story, Owls, is nonfiction. We will learn more about what owls look like, where they live, and how they hunt for food.

Comprehension Strategies: Compare/Contrast; Monitor/Clarify; Classify/Categorize; Fact and Opinion
Vocabulary Words:  owling, shadows, furry, clearing, echo, threading, meadow, pumped, rarely, active, blend, outlined, curved, swoops 
Grammar Skills:  Telling Sentences and Questions; Commands; Exclamations
Phonics:  Long vowels CVCe: o, u, e, 

Reading Logs   November Reading logs went home Thursday. Please continue to log minutes with your child.

Math  We finished Chapter 6 and will begin Chapter 7, Explore 2-Digit Subtraction. Students will count back by tens to subtract multiples of ten and model subtracting 1 and 2 digit numbers from 2-digit numbers.

Flash Cards  Students should be practicing their addition and subtraction facts with their flash cards.  Weekly facts tests are given.

Science  We finished Chapter 11, Light and Heat. Next week we will begin Chapter 12, Sound.  We will discuss what causes sound.


Star Student of the Week  Jake was our star student of the week.  Jake lives in Darien. When he is at school he enjoys recess, gym and math. When he is at home he likes to play his PS3 and with his trains. When he grows up he would like to be in the Army.  Jake is a star because he is learning another language and plays sports. Thanks for sharing Jake!

Important Dates & Reminders

Thanks to Mrs. Bende, Mrs. Lawrence, Mrs. Malatia and Mrs. O'Connell for planning a fabulous Halloween party.  A special thanks to all our parents, including Mrs. Adams, Mrs. O'Brien and Mrs. Zwart, who sent in yummy treats, drinks and supplies for our party.  The children had a blast!

Mon, Nov. 5 - No School - Parent/Teacher Conferences
Tues, Nov. 6 - No School - Teacher Institute
Mon, Nov. 12 - No School - Veteran's Day
Thurs, Nov. 15 - 2nd Grade Dinostars Concert at 6:45, Lakeview Gym
Tues, Nov. 20 - Last Day to order a copy of the Dinostars concert
Wed/Thurs/Fri, - Nov. 21-23 - No School - Thanksgiving Holiday

*Please send in your box tops!

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