September 15 News

We are starting to get into a regular routine – yeah!  We had pictures taken on Tuesday and head lice checks on Friday.  The children went to computer lab three days this week. 

Reading: We’ve started the first unit in our new reading books.  Each week we will have an essential question and the stories will focus on that.  Our essential question this week is, “How do friends depend on each other?”  Some of the ideas that the children came up with as answers are:  help each other, say kind words, compromise and share.  As we read the stories this week, the children will also learn how the characters did these things.  They will also learn about the elements of a fantasy story. 

Phonics:  The children have reviewed short vowels.  Our spelling test will include both short a and short i words, as well as some of the high frequency words.  There are 15 words on the list, but I’ll only have the children write 10 of them for the test.  Please help your child practice these words this week.  The list will come home with your child tonight.

High-Frequency Words:  blue, even, yellow, help, put, for, ball, there, both, why

These are words that we frequently find in our stories. 

Math:  The children started working in their math journals this week.  They worked a lot on finding the missing number.  The children also began writing their number scrolls.  The children had a grid paper and wrote 0-100 on it.  Some children have started writing the next group of a hundred numbers.  In second grade, the children are expected to write to 1000 by the end of the school year. 

This week’s events: 

Tuesday: music class

Wednesday:  P.E. class

Thursday:  P.E. class

Friday:  spelling test, library – please have your child return his/her books

Happy Birthday! 

Nelly  - Sept. 16

Lydia S. – Sept. 19

September News (9/6/14)

            2^nd Grade Superstars!

We had a busy start to the school year.  On Tuesday, the children got re-acquainted with each other and found out where things are in the classroom.  On Wednesday, we did morning rotations to review the school rules and expectations.  On Thursday, the children went to PE and spent time with Mrs. Kelley.  Finally, on Friday, we went to the library.  The children were able to check out two books and they will be due back in 2 weeks.

Reading: We’ve read several stories that help understand our classroom rules:  Be safe, be kind, do your best!  We read Officer Buckle and Gloria (for safety), Bucket Filling A to Z  (for being kind) and others about doing your best.  We also read Chrysanthemum and talked about our special names.  We have a few more “my special name” papers to share.  Thank you for helping your child fill that paper out – it has been a pleasure to read them.

Phonics:  The children reviewed the 5 short vowel sounds this week.  We made word ladders where we started with one word and, after changing one letter at a time we ended with a different word.  The children also practiced blending sounds together to figure out words.

High-Frequency Words:  Our high-frequency words are the same as sight words.  We are reviewing 4-5 first grade words each day.  We will start on the second grade words on Thursday of this week.  At that time, the children will receive a folder containing all of the second grade words.  As we practice them, the children will high-light the words.  They will keep this folder in their desks to refer to for spelling them correctly.

Math:  We did a lot of review activities for math.  The children practiced with coins (recognizing them and adding them), filled in missing number and learned about our calendar routine.  They will start work in their journals on Tuesday.

This week’s events: 

Tuesday:  picture day, music class

Wednesday:  P.E. class
Thursday:  P.E. class