January 31, 2013

Reading Because we had snow days this week, we will continue discussing the Big Bushy Mustache by Gary Solo, next week. The comprehension strategy focuses on problem solving and predict/infer. 

Language Arts We will learn how to create the plural form of nouns, and how to use a dictionary.

Reading Logs  Please continue to log minutes with your child in their January reading log. January Reading Logs are due Monday, February 3.

Ozzie's Reading Club  All students are official members of the Ozzie Reading Club. If they continue to read and log their minutes for the next 8 weeks they will receive a ticket to the Kane County Cougars minor league baseball game. Make sure to send in the log when it is complete.

Math We began the chapter on data and graphs. Students will be solving problems using the skill use a table, reading bar graphs to find information, and making bar graphs.

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 timed tests:
  http://www.mathfactcafe.com/build/

Social Studies:  We began the unit People and Places in History. Students are learning about immigrants, how they entered through Ellis Island and Angel Island, and how they contribute to the United States. 

Science  We finished the last lesson in the chapter of Living and Nonliving Things. Look for a study guide to come home next week which will help your child prepare for the chapter test on Wednesday. The next chapter we will study is Animals. 

*****************************************************************Star Student of the Week  Leah was our star student of the week. When she is at school she enjoys reading. When she is at home she likes to read. When she grows up she would like to be a teacher. Leah is a star because she is helpful. Thanks for sharing Leah!

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Important Dates & Announcements

February Dates to Remember

 The First 100 Days of School!
We are asking that each student bring in 5 cans to help our classroom reach the goal of 100 cans by February 13th. Cans will be donated to the West Suburban Community pantry. Currently the pantry is in need of hearty soups, canned chicken, and canned tuna. Thanks in advance for your participation!

  4 - Early Dismissal @12pm

14 - Classroom Valentine Parties

17 - President's Day - No School

20 - Spring Picture Day

22 - Snowflake Ball

28 - County Institute Day - No School

March Dates to Remember

17 - Conference Day - No School

18 - Teacher Institute/Election Day

31 - Spring Break

April Dates to Remember

  7 - Classes Resume

17 - Early Dismissal @12pm
18 - No School - Good Friday
24 - Spring Open House and Book Fair

Friday, January 24, 2014

Reading Next week we will read aloud Big Bushy Mustache by Gary Solo. It is about a boy named Ricky who borrows part of a costume from school in order to look like his father. After he loses it on his way home, Ricky learn a lesson about responsibility. The comprehension strategy will focus on problem solving and predict/infer. 

Language Arts We will discuss the suffixes ly and ful, learn about plural nouns, and how to use a dictionary.

Reading Logs  Second graders are expected to read 20 minutes each night.  Please continue to log minutes with your child in their January reading log. January Reading Logs are due Monday, February 3.

Ozzie's Reading Club  All students are official members of the Ozzie Reading Club. If they continue to read and log their minutes for the next 8 weeks they will receive a ticket to the Kane County Cougars minor league baseball game.

Math We will have a chapter test on subtraction on Monday. Our next chapter is on data and graphs. Students will record the results of a survey in a tally table and frequency table, solve problems using the skill use a table, read bar graphs to find information.

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 timed tests:
  http://www.mathfactcafe.com/build/

Social Studies:  Junior Achievement  Mrs. Haiduc, our volunteer from Junior Achievement, came to our class this week to talk to us about how money flows through a community. This was the final session in the Jr. Achievement program, Our Community. The students received Certificates of Achievement. This was a wonderful program. Thank you to Mrs. Haiduc for volunteering her time in our class. The students really enjoyed her visits!

Science  We are will continue the unit Living Things. Next week we will discuss what plants need in order to grow. 

*****************************************************************Star Student of the Week  Nicolas was our star student of the week. When he is at school he enjoys recess and math. When he is at home he likes to play Xbox. When he grows up he would like to be a doctor. Nicolas is a star because he likes to read. Thanks for sharing Nicolas!

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Important Dates & Announcements

January Dates to Remember

31 - PJ Day - School Wide Reading Incentive Day
31 - Pro Kids Assembly

February Dates to Remember

  4 - Early Dismissal @12pm

14 - Classroom Valentine Parties

17 - President's Day - No School

20 - Spring Picture Day

22 - Snowflake Ball

28 - County Institute Day - No School

Friday, January 17, 2014

Reading Next week we will read aloud Exploring Parks with Ranger Dockett by Alice K. Flanagan. Students will learn about a park ranger who teaches people about exploring nature. The comprehension strategy will focus on fact and opinion and evaluating.

Language Arts We will discuss antonyms and commands.

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

Ozzie's Reading Club  All students are official members of the Ozzie Reading Club. If they continue to read and log their minutes for the next 8 weeks they will receive a ticket to the Kane County Cougars minor league baseball game.

Math We will continue with subtraction. Students will use addition to check subtraction, estimate to find the difference, and use the strategy of chose a method to problem solve.  

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 timed tests:
  http://www.mathfactcafe.com/build/

Social Studies:  Junior Achievement  Mrs. Haiduc, our volunteer from Junior Achievement, came to our class this week to teach us about the decision making in a community.

Science  We began a unit on Living Things. We are learning about animal needs. 

*****************************************************************Star Student of the Week  Juliana was our star student of the week. When she is at school she enjoys recess. When she is at home she likes to read. When she grows up she would like to be a baby sitter. Juliana is a star because she helps people. Thanks for sharing Juliana!

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

Important Dates & Announcements

January Dates to Remember

20 - No School - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

31 - PJ Day - School Wide Reading Incentive Day
31 - Pro Kids Assembly

February Dates to Remember

  4 - Early Dismissal @12pm

14 - Classroom Valentine Parties

17 - President's Day - No School

20 - Spring Picture Day

22 - Snowflake Ball

28 - County Institute Day - No School

Friday, January 10, 2014

Reading  With this week being so short, next week we will finish discussing and identifying elements of fables. Students will also compare and contrast two versions of the same story, The Three Little Pigs by James Marshall and The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig, by Eugene Trivizas. 

Language Arts Students will work on improving their writing by learning how to write complete sentences. We will also revisit punctuation marks. 

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

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

Math We will have a chapter test on subtraction on Monday. In the next chapter we will continue working with 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, our volunteer from Junior Achievement, came to our class this week to teach us about the economic role of government in a community. Students discussed government jobs in the community and why taxation is necessary.

Science  We began a unit on Living Things. We will read and learn about animal needs. We will observe, identify and describe the basic needs of animals. 

Important Dates & Announcements

January Dates to Remember

13 - MAPS Testing
15 - Early Dismissal @12pm
16 - MAPS Testing
20 - No School - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

February Dates to Remember

  4 - Early Dismissal @12pm
14 - Classroom Valentine Parties
17 - President's Day - No School
20 - Spring Picture Day
22 - Snowflake Ball
28 - County Institute Day - No School