Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Reading and Language Arts

Next week we will read aloud Galimoto by Karen Lynn Williams.  It is about a boy named Kondi who searches for wires to make a toy car called a galimoto. 

Comprehension Focus
-Students use wondering to understand a story
-Students make predictions and infer
-Students refer to the text to support their thinking

Vocabulary Words
-stunned
-genius
-chaos
-notorious

Reading Logs  Second graders are expected to read 20 minutes each night.  Please continue to log minutes with your child.  November Reading logs are due Monday, December 2nd.


Spelling Look for your child's word sort to come home on Monday. Please keep the Weekly Spelling Activity Card in your child's green folder when they have completed the nightly activity. Students are being asked to choose a different activity from the Weekly Spelling Activity Card to complete each night (Mon-Thurs) to help them master their spelling words for the week. Once your child has completed the activity, please fill out the spelling homework sheet, indicating which activity they chose, initial it, and have them return it the following day. This will help them prepare for the assessment on Friday. 

Math We will continue with 2-Digit Addition.

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

Here is a website where you can make fact worksheets   http://www.mathfactcafe.com/build/

Social Studies Next week students will learn about the expedition of Lewis and Clark. They will also learn about how pioneers settled the West by traveling the Oregon Trail.

Important Dates & Announcements

Mrs. Hayes has been teaching the students keyboarding. Check out her blog to find keyboarding websites: http://librarydayswithmrshayes.blogspot.com/

MITTEN TREE  As part of our commitment to our school and community, Elizabeth Ide will once again be collecting new mittens, gloves, hats and scarves to decorate our holiday tree in the library. Just before the holiday, they will be donated  to families in need. Donations will be accepted December 2 - 19. Thank you in advance for your generosity!

November Dates to Remember   

   26 - Report Cards sent home

27-29 Thanksgiving Break - No School

December Dates to Remember

  2 - November Reading Logs Due
  5-  Holiday Gift Shopping Day
20 - Classroom Holiday Parties
23 - Holiday Break

January Dates to Remember

  6 - Classes resume
15 - Early Dismissal @12pm
20 - No School - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Friday, November 22, 2013

Reading and Language Arts

We will discuss "The First Thanksgiving" and do Thanksgiving activities. 

Reading Logs  Second graders are expected to read 20 minutes each night.  Please continue to log minutes with your child.  November Reading logs are due Monday, December 2nd.

Six Flags Read to Succeed  Don't forget to log minutes for Six Flags. Every student who completes six hours or 360 minutes of reading before February 24 will receive a free admission ticket valid at participating Six Flags Theme Parks. Please make sure to initial each entry and sign the reading log to verify that the six hours have been completed. 

Spelling Next week we will not have a spelling test.

Math Our next chapter will continue with 2-Digit Addition. Students will practice 2-digit addition with and without regrouping. 

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

Click on the following link to print copies of the math facts worksheets:
http://www.ccsd66.org/wp-content/uploads/Teacher_Pages/Schultz/Math/

Science  We will continue the chapter on motion. Students will investigate how to move objects, classify moves as pushes or pulls, and know that the amount and direction of the force exerted on an object determines how much and in what direction the object will move.

Social Studies Our next lesson is Thirteen Colonies, One Country. We will discuss the significance of national celebrations and learn about the causes and effects of the American Revolution.

*****************************************************************Star Student of the Week  Noah was our star student of the week. When he is at school he enjoys reading, math and recess. When he is at home he likes to play with his legos and toys, and ride his electric scooter. When he grows up he would like to be a policeman. Noah is a star because he is helpful. Thanks for sharing Noah!

***************************************************************** 

Important Dates & Announcements

Mrs. Hayes has been teaching the students keyboarding. Check out her blog to find keyboarding websites: http://librarydayswithmrshayes.blogspot.com/

MITTEN TREE  As part of our commitment to our school and community, Elizabeth Ide will once again be collecting new mittens, gloves, hats and scarves to decorate our holiday tree in the library. Just before the holiday, they will be donated  to families in need. Donations will be accepted December 2 - 19. Thank you in advance for your generosity!

November Dates to Remember   

   26 - Report Cards sent home

27-29 Thanksgiving Break - No School

December Dates to Remember

  2 - November Reading Logs Due
20 - Classroom Holiday Parties
23 - Holiday Break

January Dates to Remember

  6 - Classes resume
15 - Early Dismissal @12pm
20 - No School - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Friday, November 15, 2013

Reading and Language Arts

Next week we will read aloud The Incredible Painting of Felix Clousseau by Jon Agee.  It is about Felix Clousseau and his unusual paintings. We will also read aloud The Ghost-Eye Tree by Bill Martin Jr. and Johh Archambault. It is about a brother and sister who are fearful of a tree they pass on their way to get a pail of milk on a dark, windy night.

Comprehension Focus
-Students use wondering to understand a story
-Students make predictions and infer
-Students refer to the story to support their thinking

Social Development Focus
-Students relate the value of responsibility to their behavior
-Students develop the group skill of sharing their thinking with one another      and using a prompt to give reasons for their thinking

Vocabulary Words
-miniature
-rarely
-duplicate
-disguise

Reading Logs  Second graders are expected to read 20 minutes each night. Please help your child record their minutes in their November reading folder. Reading log folders should be returned to school at the end of the month after reading for 21 days. 

Six Flags Read to Succeed  Reading logs went home yesterday for the Six Flags Read to Succeed Reading Club. Every student who completes six hours or 360 minutes of reading before February 24 will receive a free admission ticket valid at participating Six Flags Theme Parks. Please make sure to initial each entry and sign the reading log to verify that the six hours have been completed. Start reading today! 

Spelling Look for your child's word sort to come home on Monday. Please keep the Weekly Spelling Activity Card in your child's green folder when they have completed the nightly activity. Students are being asked to choose a different activity from the Weekly Spelling Activity Card to complete each night (Mon-Thurs) to help them master their spelling words for the week. Once your child has completed the activity, please fill out the spelling homework sheet, indicating which activity they chose, initial it, and have them return it the following day. This will help them prepare for the assessment on Friday. 

Math We will continue Chapter 5, Exploring 2-Digit Addition. Students will model 2-digit addition to find sums, solve problems by using the strategy make a model, and record sums for models of 2-digit addition. Our chapter test will be either Friday or Monday of the following week. Check your child's assignment notebook next week for the exact date.

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

Click on the following link to print copies of the math facts worksheets:
http://www.ccsd66.org/wp-content/uploads/Teacher_Pages/Schultz/Math/

Science  We are beginning a chapter on Motion. Students will investigate the ways a ball can move. They will understand that things move at different speeds and discover that objects exhibit different kinds of motion (straight, circular, back and forth).

Social Studies We began the unit Our Country Long Ago. Next week students will learn about the first European settlements in North America: St. Augustine, Jamestown, and Plymouth. We will also begin learning about the origins of the Thanksgiving Holiday.

*****************************************************************Star Student of the Week  Gwen was our star student of the week. When she is at school she enjoys recess. When she is at home she likes to play Disney Infinity. When she grows up she would like to be a gymnastics coach. Gwen is a star because she is helpful. Thanks for sharing Gwen!

***************************************************************** 

Important Dates & Announcements

The students did a wonderful job in their musical! Enjoy the pictures!












Mrs. Hayes has been teaching the students keyboarding. Check out her blog to find keyboarding websites: http://librarydayswithmrshayes.blogspot.com/

November Dates to Remember   

20 - Early Dismissal Day - 12pm
21 - Concert DVD Order form due

26 - Report Cards sent home

27-29 Thanksgiving Break - No School

December Dates to Remember

17 - Early Dismissal Day - 12pm
20 - Classroom Holiday Parties

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Reading and Language Arts

Next week we will read aloud Chester's Way by Kevin Henkes.  It is about two mice, Chester and Wilson, who are best friends. They share the same ways of doing things, until one day Lilly moves into the neighborhood. 

Comprehension Focus
-Students make inferences to understand characters
-Students informally explore text structure in narrative texts, including character and plot
-Students read independently

Social Development Focus
-Students take responsibility for their learning and behavior
-Students develop the group skill of explaining their thinking

Vocabulary Words
-prepare
-embarrass
-grip
-huddle

Reading Logs  Second graders are expected to read 20 minutes each night. Please help your child record their minutes in their November reading folder. Reading log folders should be returned to school at the end of the month after reading for 21 days. 

Spelling Look for your child's word sort to come home on Tuesday. Please keep the Weekly Spelling Activity Card in your child's green folder when they have completed the nightly activity. Students are being asked to choose a different activity from the Weekly Spelling Activity Card to complete each night (Mon-Thurs) to help them master their spelling words for the week. Once your child has completed the activity, please fill out the spelling homework sheet, indicating which activity they chose, initial it, and have them return it the following day. This will help them prepare for the assessment on Friday. 

Math We will finish Chapter 4, Number Concepts and Patterns, with a chapter test on Tuesday. Our next chapter is Exploring 2-Digit Addition. Students will use mental math to add on multiples of 10, and model 2-digit addition, with and without regrouping. 

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

Here is a website where you can make fact worksheets   http://www.mathfactcafe.com/build/

Science  We are learning what causes sound and how sound is made. We did an investigation on how sound is made. Ask your child about it. 

Social Studies We will begin the unit Our Country Long Ago. Students will learn about the beginning 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. 

*****************************************************************Star Student of the Week  Owen was our star student of the week. When he is at school he enjoys math and recess. When he is at home he likes to read, play outside, and help his mom. When he grows up he would like to be a police officer. Owen is a star because he loves his family and he shares. Thanks for sharing Owen!

***************************************************************** 

Important Dates & Announcements

November Dates to Remember   

 8 - No School - PT Conferences

11 - Veteran's Day - No School

14 - Second Grade Concert @6:45pm, Lakeview

20 - Early Dismissal Day - 12pm
21 - Concert DVD Order form due

26 - Report Cards sent home

27-29 Thanksgiving Break - No School

December Dates to Remember

17 - Early Dismissal Day - 12pm
20 - Classroom Holiday Parties
23 - Holiday Break

Friday, November 1, 2013

Reading and Language Arts

Next week we will read aloud Erandi's Braids by Antonio Hernandez Madrigal.  It is about a girl, Erandi, who hopes for a new dress for her birthday. But when her mother finds holes in the fishing net, Erandi wonders how they will get the money for the things they need. 

Comprehension Focus
-Students make inferences to understand characters
-Students informally explore text structure in narrative texts, including character and plot
-Students read independently

Social Development Focus
-Students take responsibility for their learning and behavior
-Students develop the group skill of explaining their thinking

Vocabulary Words
-reluctant
-ponder
-introduce
-unique

Reading Logs  Second graders are expected to read 20 minutes each night. Please help your child record their minutes in their November reading folder. Reading log folders should be returned to school at the end of the month after reading for 21 days. 

Congratulations to all the readers. Today we celebrated 21 days of reading for the month of October with lunch in the classroom. We watched the movie The Magic School Bus Getting Energized.

Writing  In writing next week students will continue writing silly animal stories. We will continue building our writing community where students are listening respectfully to the thinking of others and sharing their own writing as well as working in a responsible way.  

Spelling Look for your child's word sort to come home on Monday. Please keep the Weekly Spelling Activity Card in your child's green folder when they have completed the nightly activity. Students are being asked to choose a different activity from the Weekly Spelling Activity Card to complete each night (Mon-Thurs) to help them master their spelling words for the week. Once your child has completed the activity, please fill out the spelling homework sheet, indicating which activity they chose, initial it, and have them return it the following day. This will help them prepare for the assessment on Friday. 

Math We  will continue in Chapter 4, Number Concepts and Patterns. Students will identify patterns on a hundred chart, extend counting by 1s, 5s and 10s, skip count by 2s, 5s, and 10s, starting from different numbers, and solve problems by using the strategy find a pattern.

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

Here is a website where you can make fact worksheets   http://www.mathfactcafe.com/build/

Science  We will continue learning about heat. Students will explain the transfer of heat and how heat is measured. 

This week a fire fighter from the Darien-Woodridge Fire District came to talk to us about Fire Safety. We learned how important it is to have a home escape plan and a meeting place if a fire should occur. Please discuss this with your child.

*****************************************************************Star Student of the Week  Claire was our star student of the week. When she is at school she enjoys reading and math. When she is at home she likes to play with her friends and family. When she grows up she would like to be the best gymnast in the world. Claire is a star because she tries her best. Thanks for sharing Claire!

***************************************************************** 

Important Dates & Announcements

Wow, what a spooktacular Halloween party! Thanks to all who helped! Our party planner: Mrs. Rivera; our party helpers: Mrs. Kerfin and Mrs. Obeid; to our bakers: Mr./Mrs. Radwanski, Mrs. Klein and Mrs. Mennicke; and Mrs. Mendoza, Mrs. Cecconi, and Mrs. Banick for sending in juice and party supplies. The kids had a blast!

November Dates to Remember   

   1 - Family Halloween Party @6:30

4-5-6 Parent/Teacher Conferences

   8 - No School - PT Conferences

 11 - Veteran's Day - No School

14 - Second Grade Concert @6:45pm, Lakeview

20 - Early Dismissal Day - 12pm
21 - Concert DVD Order form due

26 - Report Cards sent home

27-29 Thanksgiving Break - No School

December Dates to Remember
 17 - Early Dismissal Day - 12pm
 20 - Classroom Holiday Parties
 23 - Holiday Break