Class Updates

We are very busy in second grade!  Here are some updates:

Reading: We are learning that readers make predictions before and during their reading.  Reading the pictures, the story's title, and looking at the characters' faces give us clues that help  make our predictions powerful!  We are now working on retelling fiction stories!  Stay tuned for more information on retelling!

Math: We are just finishing up our 2nd unit in enVisions: Addition Strategies.  Doubles, near doubles, and making ten are some of the strategies we can use when adding!  We are also working hard to use math vocabulary when we talk about math.  Ask your child about these words: addend, sum, number sentence, part and whole.  We will continue to post math videos on the enVision website for families to use as a resource.  Watching the videos nightly is a great reinforcement of the day's concepts.  Please be sure math facts are practiced nightly.  "The Great Websites" section on the blog has some great sites to practice facts!

Writing: Now that we've spent some time learning about the three types of writing (narrative, expository, and opinion) the class will have multiple opportunities this year to write in these genres.
Check out our expository writing about fall!  This week we used the information we learned about fall for opinion writing.  Ask your child to share his/her opinion on fall!  Our next focus will be on using specific, vivid language when we write.

Science: We are learning that the earth is made up of rocks, soil, water, and living things.  The kids partnered up to create Earth's Materials Slideshows in Google Drive!  We will post these amazing slideshows on the blog very soon!

Class news and updates!

We are off to a wonderful start in second grade!  Over the past couple weeks we spent a lot of time getting to know one another, learning class routines, and establishing behavior expectations.  Last week we began our daily detective report.

The purpose of this report is to establish 2-way communication between home and school.  Each day the kids report out on their behavior as well as on any classroom news/updates.  I am asking that a parent signs their child's report nightly, this lets your child know that there is daily communication between home an school.  Has your child mentioned kid bucks or Mr.Mrs. Potato Head?  If not, see what they can tell you!  Each day the class shows proof of star behavior, we add a piece to Mr./Mrs. Potato Head.  Once all the pieces are all  on, the class earns a reward.  Kid bucks are away to reward kids for individual star behavior.  For each day a child shows star behavior, a kid buck is earned.  The kids will then have an opportunity to buy rewards from the class reward catalog!

In reading, the class is learning about The Daily Five.  The Daily Five consists of read to self, read to someone, listen to reading, work on writing, word work and meet with teacher.  The purpose of daily five is to teach the children to become meaningful, independent readers and writers.  Right now we are teaching the class the first of the daily five, read to self.  We've focused on what read to self looks like in the classroom.  Reading the whole time, staying in one spot, reading quietly, getting started right away and building our reading stamina will make us better readers.  This is what read to self looks like in our classroom!

The kids also learned  3-ways to read a book.  Check out our video!

Next week we use the "i-pick" method for choosing just right books!  Stay tuned for more information!
Lastly, we wanted to share some pictures from the last ten days of school! We look forward to seeing all of you at our curriculum night this Wednesday!