Friday, December 20, 2013

Reading  After break we will focus on fables.  We will read aloud fables from More Fables of Aesop by Jack Kent.  Students will use the comprehension strategies of understanding fables and predict/infer to identify elements of a fable.
Language Arts Students will be revising stringy sentences and reading and writing words with final /k/ spelled k and ck.

Reading Logs  Second graders are expected to read 20 minutes each night.  Please continue to log minutes with your child in their December reading log. December Reading Logs are due Monday, January 6th.


Math After break we will continue 2-digit subtraction. Students will model and record 2 digit subtraction, and use regrouping to subtract and find the difference. 

Flash Cards  Students should be practicing their addition facts with their flash cards and Rocket Math fact sheets. Weekly timed tests are given.

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

Social Studies:  Junior Achievement  Mrs. Haiduc, a volunteer from Junior Achievement, came to our class this week to teach us about unit and assembly production. We compared unit and assembly-line production methods by making "donuts". Ask your child all about it. Next time we will learn about the economic role of government in a community.

Science  We will begin a unit on Living Things. Students will describe characteristics that distinguish living and nonliving things. They will sort objects to determine whether they are living or nonliving. 

*****************************************************************Star Student of the Week  Brody 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 games. When he grows up he would like to be a teacher. Brody is a star because he likes his family. Thanks for sharing Brody!

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

Important Dates & Announcements

Thanks to Mrs. Rivera, Mrs. Stewart, Mrs. Kerfin, Mrs. Murphy and Mrs. Haiduc for planning a wonderful holiday party.  A special thanks to all our parents, including Mrs.Tannhauser, Mrs. Haiduc, and Mrs. Mendoza, who sent in yummy treats, drinks and supplies for our party. The students had so much fun! 

Thank you to our PTO and all the families for the delicious cookies and appetizers! 

December Dates to Remember

23 - Holiday Break

January Dates to Remember

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

Friday, December 13, 2013

Reading and Social Studies
Next week we will be completing a unit on Holidays Around the World. The students will be "traveling" to China, Israel, Italy, Mexico, Poland and Sweden to learn about the holidays and traditions that these countries celebrate this time of year.

Reading Logs  Second graders are expected to read 20 minutes each night.  Please continue to log minutes with your child in their December reading log. 

Spelling Next week we will not have a spelling test.

Math We will begin the next chapter on exploring 2-digit subtraction. Students will count back to subtract multiples of 10, and use regrouping to subtract and find the difference.

Flash Cards  Students should be practicing their addition facts with their flash cards and Rocket Math fact sheets. Weekly timed tests are given.

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

Science  We had 2 visitor from Willowbrook Wildlife. They talked to the students about owls. We learned about what they look like, how they live, what they eat and where they live. They brought a real Screech Owl and a Great Horned Owl for us to see! In our classroom we also got to dissect an owl pellet. Ask your child about it! Next week we will finish up the unit on owls with a written report.

*****************************************************************Star Student of the Week  Izzy was our star student of the week. When she is at school she enjoys reading, When she is at home she likes to play teacher. When she grows up she would like to be a singer. Izzy is a star because she is good at gymnastics. Thanks for sharing Izzy!

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

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 until December 19. Thank you in advance for your generosity!

December Dates to Remember
17 - Early Dismissal @12pm
19 - Last day to send in Mitten Tree donation
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

24 - Ide Movie Night at PV 6:30

Friday, December 6, 2013

Reading and Language Arts

Next week we will read aloud I Wanna Iguana, by Karen Kaufman Orloff.  It is about a boy that tries to convince his mom to let him have an iguana. We will discuss the meaning of persuasion and go through the steps of writing a persuasive essay together. Then the students will write their own persuasive essays. 

Reading Logs  Second graders are expected to read 20 minutes each night.  Please continue to log minutes with your child in their December reading log. 

Congratulations to those students who read for 21 days during the month of November. We celebrated with lunch in the classroom, popsicles and a Magic School Bus Movie. A coupon for a free personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut was also handed out. 

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. Students will solve problems by using a table, and apply place value concepts when using a break-apart strategy for 2-digit addition. We will review and have a chapter test next week. Check your child's assignment notebook for the exact date. 

Flash Cards  Students should be practicing their addition facts with their flash cards and Rocket Math fact sheets. Weekly timed tests are given.

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

Social Studies We are finishing the unit Our Country Long Ago. We'll review and take a chapter test next week. Look for a study guide to come home prior to the test.

Junior Achievement  Mrs. Haiduc, an employee from Opportunity International and a volunteer from Junior Achievement, came to our class today to teach us about Our Community.  This is a five week program. Today we learned how a community works. We identified businesses and related jobs in a community. We discussed the terms volunteer, business and citizen and how they are important to our community. 

Science  We finished the chapter on motion with a test on Thursday. Next week week we will be studying owls. Students will learn about their habitats, diet, calls and their place in our environment. Students will complete an investigation and dissect an owl pellet.

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 till December 19. Thank you in advance for your generosity!

December Dates to Remember

10 - Owl Assembly
17 - Early Dismissal @12pm
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