Remember, no school tomorrow (March 31) for a teacher work day.
Quarter 4 begins Friday, April 1. Hard to believe!
Please send in the Book-It reading logs for March.
We have three days of Terra Nova testing beginning Monday, April 4-Wednesday April 6. Your children are very prepared for the test and I'm confident will do an excellent job on it! The testing will be just in the mornings. In the afternoons, we'll resume our normal schedule.
Report cards go home April 7.
I sent home Quarter 3 certificates today. Your children are doing an excellent job in 2nd grade! Keep up the great work.
We're excited in Room 9 because soon we start "The Life Cycle of the Butterfly." I'm sure you'll hear all about it once we start in a couple of weeks.
We're going to be starting our Poetry Unit in Literacy Block. Your children will be reading and writing poetry. We'll present this in an afternoon of poetry later in April...more details to follow!
In Math, we're starting decimals! This fits in nicely with our study of fractions and money.
Let me know of any questions. Thanks so much for your support from home.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Friday, March 25, 2011
Just 3 more days for Quarter 3! It's hard to believe 2nd grade is flying by so quickly (at least for me!)
Just a quick preview of next week...
In Math we'll be starting making change and counting large denominations of money. You can practice this at home with your child.
In Literacy we're wrapping up making inferences. The children have been creating the speech bubbles for comics and making their own stories looking at the illustrations of wordless picture books.
No school on Thursday, March 31 (it's a teacher work day).
Enjoy the weekend!
Ms. Howard
Just a quick preview of next week...
In Math we'll be starting making change and counting large denominations of money. You can practice this at home with your child.
In Literacy we're wrapping up making inferences. The children have been creating the speech bubbles for comics and making their own stories looking at the illustrations of wordless picture books.
No school on Thursday, March 31 (it's a teacher work day).
Enjoy the weekend!
Ms. Howard
Friday, March 18, 2011
Hi Parents,
Just a few reminders. On Monday (March 21) we'll have individual and group photos. Please make sure your child is wearing something nice :-) We'll also preview the Spring Book Fair on Monday.
We had a great week of learning here in room 9! Ask your child how a whale stays warm...our hands-on-science experiement was fantastic! The children also learned about famous people by listening to their peers present themselves as a famous person from History.
Next week in math, we'll continue our fractions study (adding mixed numbers and exploring equivalent fractions using fraction bars).
In Reading, we'll be making inferences by reading many wordless picture books. Then the students will be making their own pages of the book. We'll also make inferences using comic strips.
In Social Studies, we're going to explore all the steps a single grape takes to "turn into" a box of raisins. This hands on lesson will help the children understand goods, transportation and factories as well as trading.
Please send in the GT Global Screenings that were sent home. I've gotten many back, but am missing a few. IF you need another one, please just email me. I hope you enjoy the beautiful weekend with your family!
Just a few reminders. On Monday (March 21) we'll have individual and group photos. Please make sure your child is wearing something nice :-) We'll also preview the Spring Book Fair on Monday.
We had a great week of learning here in room 9! Ask your child how a whale stays warm...our hands-on-science experiement was fantastic! The children also learned about famous people by listening to their peers present themselves as a famous person from History.
Next week in math, we'll continue our fractions study (adding mixed numbers and exploring equivalent fractions using fraction bars).
In Reading, we'll be making inferences by reading many wordless picture books. Then the students will be making their own pages of the book. We'll also make inferences using comic strips.
In Social Studies, we're going to explore all the steps a single grape takes to "turn into" a box of raisins. This hands on lesson will help the children understand goods, transportation and factories as well as trading.
Please send in the GT Global Screenings that were sent home. I've gotten many back, but am missing a few. IF you need another one, please just email me. I hope you enjoy the beautiful weekend with your family!
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
3-D Shape Villages
Just a quick update from Room 9...
Math...the 3-D villages have proven to be a great way to reinforce geometric concepts that 3-D shapes are made up of a variety of 2-D shapes. We also incorporated WRITING TO PERSUADE as the students had to persuade me why their village was the best (with 3 good reasons!) And of course, concepts of Social Studies were evident because some groups included government buildings, grocery stores, houses, etc. They really had to think what is essential in a great functioning community.
Literacy...we presented some biographies today. The kids spoke in the first person and the "audience" had to generate questions about the person's life. We're also continuing our cereal box book reports and main idea/details.
Science...tomorrow we're going to do a hands on experiment with crisco and plastic bags to show the students how whales blubber keeps them warm.
Next Monday (March 21) we'll have both group and individual pictures. We'll also preview the Book Fair as a class. Next Wednesday (March 23) is a Book Fair Fun Night. Come out with your families to this great event!
That's it for now from Room 9. Take care! Ms. Howard
Math...the 3-D villages have proven to be a great way to reinforce geometric concepts that 3-D shapes are made up of a variety of 2-D shapes. We also incorporated WRITING TO PERSUADE as the students had to persuade me why their village was the best (with 3 good reasons!) And of course, concepts of Social Studies were evident because some groups included government buildings, grocery stores, houses, etc. They really had to think what is essential in a great functioning community.
Literacy...we presented some biographies today. The kids spoke in the first person and the "audience" had to generate questions about the person's life. We're also continuing our cereal box book reports and main idea/details.
Science...tomorrow we're going to do a hands on experiment with crisco and plastic bags to show the students how whales blubber keeps them warm.
Next Monday (March 21) we'll have both group and individual pictures. We'll also preview the Book Fair as a class. Next Wednesday (March 23) is a Book Fair Fun Night. Come out with your families to this great event!
That's it for now from Room 9. Take care! Ms. Howard
Friday, March 11, 2011
Preview of Next Week
Math-We are going along with the 3rd graders who are currently review concepts for their MSA test, so we are too! On Monday, we’ll be learning about 3-D shapes and creating them using gumdrops and toothpicks. Fun! On Tuesday and Wednesday, children will be using nets (flat shapes) to make 3-D villages. Thursday and Friday will be adding mixed numbers and adding fractions.
Literacy-Our main focus this week is on main idea, details and summaries. We’re going to be focusing on WHALES. I’ve pulled several high-interest books on whales for students to find the main idea and write summaries. They’ll also be doing a mini-research project on WHALES.
Writing-Our focus is “Writing to Persuade.” Children are writing letters to each other and to me, persuading the person to go along with them by giving three good reasons. We’re also reviewing how to correctly write addresses. This is a skill you can reinforce at home, perhaps by having your children write letters to relatives and addressing them, using the correct format.
Social Studies-Goods/Services continues to be our focus.
It will surely be a great week of learning! :-)
Literacy-Our main focus this week is on main idea, details and summaries. We’re going to be focusing on WHALES. I’ve pulled several high-interest books on whales for students to find the main idea and write summaries. They’ll also be doing a mini-research project on WHALES.
Writing-Our focus is “Writing to Persuade.” Children are writing letters to each other and to me, persuading the person to go along with them by giving three good reasons. We’re also reviewing how to correctly write addresses. This is a skill you can reinforce at home, perhaps by having your children write letters to relatives and addressing them, using the correct format.
Social Studies-Goods/Services continues to be our focus.
It will surely be a great week of learning! :-)
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Our Field Trip :-)
Perseus Bayou was a great success! We had front row seats, the kids enjoyed the creative costumes and story. It's so wonderful that Imagination Stage can make a hard to understand Greek Myth come alive with song, dance and great acting! I heard some students are planning their own version of the play!
We're still hard at work learning about biographies of famous people. Some kids have been learning about Rosa Parks, Cesar Chavez, Roberto Clemente, Abraham Lincoln, among many others.
It was a great day of learning in Room 9! :-)
We're still hard at work learning about biographies of famous people. Some kids have been learning about Rosa Parks, Cesar Chavez, Roberto Clemente, Abraham Lincoln, among many others.
It was a great day of learning in Room 9! :-)
Monday, March 7, 2011
TFK Homework and Math Homework
Hi Parents,
TFK Homework for this week is actually the last issue from 2010 (we haven't gotten any new ones for a few weeks). I had to Xerox some of the students copies.
Math homework will be capacity and volume.
Our Wednesday field trip will be great! I've been talking about the Louisiana Swamp with them...tomorrow we'll talk about Perseus.
Thanks,
Ms. Howard
TFK Homework for this week is actually the last issue from 2010 (we haven't gotten any new ones for a few weeks). I had to Xerox some of the students copies.
Math homework will be capacity and volume.
Our Wednesday field trip will be great! I've been talking about the Louisiana Swamp with them...tomorrow we'll talk about Perseus.
Thanks,
Ms. Howard
Friday, March 4, 2011
Great to See Everyone This Morning!
It was so great to see you all at our Author's Tea Celebration this morning. YOU should be proud of all the hard work your children have done! We have a class filled with excellent writers!
Next week, we'll continue our study of biographies. Students will be choosing one figure from history to research. Then we'll pretend we are the people from history and interview each other. This will give the children a chance to practice questioning and to become a historical figure. In math, we're going to be doing a brief unit on measuring units.
If you'd like to preview Perseus Bayou, the show we'll see on Wed. March 9, check out http://www.imaginationstage.com/. Remember to send in an empty cereal box.
Enjoy the beautiful weekend. See your children on Monday :-)
Next week, we'll continue our study of biographies. Students will be choosing one figure from history to research. Then we'll pretend we are the people from history and interview each other. This will give the children a chance to practice questioning and to become a historical figure. In math, we're going to be doing a brief unit on measuring units.
If you'd like to preview Perseus Bayou, the show we'll see on Wed. March 9, check out http://www.imaginationstage.com/. Remember to send in an empty cereal box.
Enjoy the beautiful weekend. See your children on Monday :-)
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Author's Tea, Tomorrow!
Remember, if you are able, come to our Author's Tea, tomorrow (Friday) from 10-11:30am. Then you may stay for lunch from 11:30-12noon. We'll dismiss at 12:35pm.
Also, I'm the chair of the International Night Planning Committee. If you have any contacts with performing groups, please let me know (ie: Irish Step Dance groups, Bolivian dancers, Chinese dancers, etc, etc).
We started biographies yesterday, the kids seemed excited to learn about a variety of people both from the past and present by reading books about them.
Also, I'm the chair of the International Night Planning Committee. If you have any contacts with performing groups, please let me know (ie: Irish Step Dance groups, Bolivian dancers, Chinese dancers, etc, etc).
We started biographies yesterday, the kids seemed excited to learn about a variety of people both from the past and present by reading books about them.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Cereal Boxes Needed
Dear Parents,
Starting next week, we're going to be starting "cereal box" book reports in the classroom. Can you please send your child in to school with an empty cereal box, wrapped with plain white paper. I will need them by Monday, March 7. Thanks so much!
Ms. Howard
Starting next week, we're going to be starting "cereal box" book reports in the classroom. Can you please send your child in to school with an empty cereal box, wrapped with plain white paper. I will need them by Monday, March 7. Thanks so much!
Ms. Howard
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