September 5, 2014

Reading This week we have been practicing our first Daily 5 station, Read to Self.  The students have been working hard to build their reading stamina. We reviewed the 3 ways to read a book. We also read aloud Rainbow Fish, by Mark Pfiister. Mrs. Riadi and myself modeled what it looks like to do a close read (looking at a passage in a text for deeper understanding). We focused on identifying unfamiliar words and finding their meaning, and identifying key words to answer a question, using text marking. Next week we will continue to practice Daily 5, learn how to pick a good fit book and begin a unit on comparing and contrasting.

Reading Logs  Please continue to read and help your child record their minutes in their September reading folder. Second graders are expected to read for 20 minutes each night, for a total of 21 days per month. Reading logs should be returned to school at the end of the month after reading for 21 days. Students who read and return their logs after 21 days will be recognized with a special celebration. 

Language Arts Students will identify parts of a sentence.

Spelling  Next week we will begin the spelling program Words Their Way. Words Their Way is a developmental spelling program aligned to the new common core standards.  It is a word study. The goal is not to memorize the words or the spelling "rules"  which have so many exceptions, but to understand or make sense of the words. The students will focus on making sense of words by looking for patterns in spelling and sound in order to categorize words.  All students were given a developmental spelling test. Based on their results they will be given a list (sort) of about 20 words to study over about a 2 week time period. During the week they are given a variety of activities to do with these words. They will be tested on 12 of them. Look for the word sort and activities in your child's green folder on MONDAY. I will discuss this further on Tuesday during Curriculum Night. 

Math  Students began the topic Understanding Addition and Subtraction. By the end of the topic students will be able to describe ways to think about addition and subtraction. Our focus this week was on 

• putting two parts together to make a whole and then showing this by writing an addition and number sentence
• writing addition number sentences to show stories about joining
• solving problems by writing subtraction number sentences.                     

Next week we will focus on:

• writing subtraction sentences to solve stories about separating groups and comparing groups
• writing related addition and subtraction facts
• using counters to model and solve addition and subtraction problems.

Math Facts Math facts should be reviewed daily. The Math flash cards that you purchased should be used to practice math facts as well as the one minute math practice worksheets that are brought home. Weekly timed tests are given. 

Click on the following link to print copies of the math practice worksheets:

http://www.ccsd66.org/wp-content/uploads/Teacher_Pages/Schultz/Math/

Important Dates & Announcement

2nd Grade Curriculum Night is Tuesday, September 9th at 6:00pm. Sign up sheets will be available for holiday parties and copy helpers. Don't forget to bring your calendar so you can volunteer.  This night is for parents only. If you have a concern about your child prior to Tuesday, please don't hesitate to contact me at szurales@ccsd66.org. 

Copy Helpers
If you are interested in copying for our class, please email me. If I get a few more volunteers I will set up a rotating schedule. Thanks in advance!

September Dates to Remember

*Note: OUR MAPS TESTING DATES WERE CHANGED

  9 - MAPS Math
  9 - Curriculum Night - 6:00-7:00pm (PARENTS ONLY)
11 - MAPS Reading
16 - Magazine Drive Kick Off
18 - PTO Book Fair @6:30pm
23 - 1st Magazine Turn In Day
25 - 2nd Magazine Turn In Day
25 - Early Dismissal @12pm - School Improvement Day
30 - Last Magazine Tun In Day