Wow, we have come to the final week of the semester! Second grade is halfway done, how crazy is that? It's been a wonderful few months of learning and I am excited for the spring semester and the experiences we will have. Kids will learning about folk tales, 2 and 3 digit addition and subtraction, and multiplication and division. We will be completing a research project as a class and then they will get the chance to create their own project later in the semester. Thank you for all of your support so far and I am looking forward for the months to come!
A change that will be occurring is we will no longer have weekly spelling tests. Round Rock ISD has changed its philosophy on phonics education and has purchased a phonics curriculum for all second grade teachers. The lessons will be similar, students will be learning about different spelling patterns, contractions, high-frequency words, and vocabulary words, but there just won't be an end-of-week- test like there was this semester. The assessments will be more based on observation and application along with a few check-ins here and there. You won't see a spelling list coming home each week, but please still ask your child what pattern they learned about in class that day. Ask them to spell a few words that use that pattern and look for the pattern in the books they are reading. I am very excited about these changes and look forward to putting them into practice!
This week we are finishing up some holiday projects, including our Grinch letters and a very special gift for you! We will be taking our assessment on measurement before spending the rest of the week playing review games and activities. We will finish learning about energy while creating an energy robot that has multiple sources of sound, light, and heat energy.
Our holiday party is on Wednesday at 12:15. I hope you will come join the fun! Please also send in a wrapped book for our book exchange.
Winter Break begins on Thursday, December 20th and school resumes on January 8th.
Kids will need a new set of crayons and markers for next semester. Ours have worn out over the course of the semester. Please plan on sending in a box of each in January. Sending in an extra box for a child who can't bring one is always appreciated.
Happy Holidays, everyone! Hopefully I'll see you next week, but if I don't, have a very restful and merry holiday.
Friday, December 14, 2018
Friday, December 7, 2018
December 10-14
Writing:
We have a little bit of work to do to finish our letters. Students have done a fantastic job of thinking of a real problem in our community or school and coming up with actionable suggestions to fix the problem. It's so exciting to see kids take an interest in bettering our community! After we finish the letters, we are writing a completely different type of letter: to the Grinch! We are going to think about how we can cheer him up this holiday season and write a letter explaining our suggestions.
Reading:
We have two more Leo Lionni books to read. Kids have been enjoying finding similarities and differences between his books. After we finish our Leo Lionni books, we will begin wrapping up the semester with a review on everything we've learned, including retelling a story, character traits, main idea, and fiction versus nonfiction.
Math:
Last week we studied the customary system of measurement and this week we are focusing on the metric system. Students will measure items in centimeters and meters. We will have a race car derby where we will measure how far the car rolled! Students will also learn about the inverse relationship between the size of the unit and the number of units needed.
Science:
We are focusing on energy. Students will learn how they can increase or decrease energy to make a change in a material. We will focus on thermal, sound, and light energy.
Reminders:
Book Fair this week!
International Festival: Thursday, 6pm. Book Fair is open late that night!
We have a little bit of work to do to finish our letters. Students have done a fantastic job of thinking of a real problem in our community or school and coming up with actionable suggestions to fix the problem. It's so exciting to see kids take an interest in bettering our community! After we finish the letters, we are writing a completely different type of letter: to the Grinch! We are going to think about how we can cheer him up this holiday season and write a letter explaining our suggestions.
Reading:
We have two more Leo Lionni books to read. Kids have been enjoying finding similarities and differences between his books. After we finish our Leo Lionni books, we will begin wrapping up the semester with a review on everything we've learned, including retelling a story, character traits, main idea, and fiction versus nonfiction.
Math:
Last week we studied the customary system of measurement and this week we are focusing on the metric system. Students will measure items in centimeters and meters. We will have a race car derby where we will measure how far the car rolled! Students will also learn about the inverse relationship between the size of the unit and the number of units needed.
Science:
We are focusing on energy. Students will learn how they can increase or decrease energy to make a change in a material. We will focus on thermal, sound, and light energy.
Reminders:
Book Fair this week!
International Festival: Thursday, 6pm. Book Fair is open late that night!
Sunday, December 2, 2018
December 3-7
Writing:
This week we are writing for change! We will identify problems in our communities and students will write letters persuading someone to make a change. Students will practice letter writing skills and persuasion skills and have the chance to be an active member of their community.
Reading:
We are studying one my all-time favorite authors this week: Leo Lionni. We will be reading several books written by him and will compare and contrast the main characters, problems, solutions, and themes. We will also look at how he illustrates his books and look for similarities and differences.
Math:
It's going to be a long week as we focus on measurement. We will start with the customary system of measurement and students will practice measuring objects using inches, feet, and yards. Students will practice estimating the length of object before choosing the appropriate unit of measurement to measure it.
Social Studies/ Science:
We are finishing up our study of good citizenship and government with a look at the traits we think are important for a president to possess. Students will fill out a "Wanted" poster with traits they think are important in a president. Then we are starting a new unit in science where we are looking at how objects move- do they roll, spin, or slide, or can they do a combination?
Question of the week: What is your favorite Leo Lionni book? Why is it your favorite?
Reminders:
Special Library checkout- the last one of the semester! Wednesday, December 5th
This week we are writing for change! We will identify problems in our communities and students will write letters persuading someone to make a change. Students will practice letter writing skills and persuasion skills and have the chance to be an active member of their community.
Reading:
We are studying one my all-time favorite authors this week: Leo Lionni. We will be reading several books written by him and will compare and contrast the main characters, problems, solutions, and themes. We will also look at how he illustrates his books and look for similarities and differences.
Math:
It's going to be a long week as we focus on measurement. We will start with the customary system of measurement and students will practice measuring objects using inches, feet, and yards. Students will practice estimating the length of object before choosing the appropriate unit of measurement to measure it.
Social Studies/ Science:
We are finishing up our study of good citizenship and government with a look at the traits we think are important for a president to possess. Students will fill out a "Wanted" poster with traits they think are important in a president. Then we are starting a new unit in science where we are looking at how objects move- do they roll, spin, or slide, or can they do a combination?
Question of the week: What is your favorite Leo Lionni book? Why is it your favorite?
Reminders:
Special Library checkout- the last one of the semester! Wednesday, December 5th
Monday, November 26, 2018
November 26-30
Writing:
This week we are reading Hey, Little Ant and learning about persuasive techniques used in the book. Then students will decide who presented the better argument, the boy or the ant, and write a letter explaining their choice.
Reading:
We are learning about media this week. Students will learn about the purpose of media, the different types of media, and how media affects our daily lives. Students will have a chance to design their own cereal box to convince people to buy their product!
Math:
It's time for telling time. Students will practice telling time to the minute using an analog clock. They will also decide what events take place during the AM hours and the PM hours and give an estimate of how long different events take.
Social Studies:
This week students are learning about local, state, and federal monuments and places that have historical or cultural significance. Students will learn to identify the monument and locate it. Then later in the week, we are digging into our local, state, and federal government. Students will learn the officials that represent them and the function of government.
Question of the week: Write a letter to me, persuading me to give you extra recess.
Reminders:
Holiday Pictures: Tuesday
Library Checkout: Friday
This week we are reading Hey, Little Ant and learning about persuasive techniques used in the book. Then students will decide who presented the better argument, the boy or the ant, and write a letter explaining their choice.
Reading:
We are learning about media this week. Students will learn about the purpose of media, the different types of media, and how media affects our daily lives. Students will have a chance to design their own cereal box to convince people to buy their product!
Math:
It's time for telling time. Students will practice telling time to the minute using an analog clock. They will also decide what events take place during the AM hours and the PM hours and give an estimate of how long different events take.
Social Studies:
This week students are learning about local, state, and federal monuments and places that have historical or cultural significance. Students will learn to identify the monument and locate it. Then later in the week, we are digging into our local, state, and federal government. Students will learn the officials that represent them and the function of government.
Question of the week: Write a letter to me, persuading me to give you extra recess.
Reminders:
Holiday Pictures: Tuesday
Library Checkout: Friday
Sunday, November 11, 2018
November 12-16
Writing and Reading:
Reading and writing are combined this week and are all about Thanksgiving! We are reading a great Thanksgiving book called Turk and Runt. Students will write a letter to one of the main characters to give suggestions on how they can escape being someone's Thanksgiving dinner. Students will take quotes from the book and infer what author's true meaning. Lastly, students will learn about adjectives and adverbs and practice using them in their writing.
Math:
We are wrapping up addition and subtraction facts with lots of practice on word problems! Students will decide if the problem requires addition, subtraction, or both by looking for key words. At the end of the week, students will take an assessment to check everything they've learned.
Social Studies:
This week we are looking at our society has changed from long ago to today. We will look at how communication, transportation, entertainment, and clothing has changed over the years. We will also look at different holidays celebrated in America, such as Veteran's Day, Memorial Day, and Thanksgiving.
Question of the week: What president decided Thanksgiving should be on the final Thursday of November. What was the name of the girl who campaigned for Thanksgiving to be a holiday?
Reminders:
November 16- Adventure Dash during specials. Second grade's time is at 9:00 am.
No school: November 19-23
Reading and writing are combined this week and are all about Thanksgiving! We are reading a great Thanksgiving book called Turk and Runt. Students will write a letter to one of the main characters to give suggestions on how they can escape being someone's Thanksgiving dinner. Students will take quotes from the book and infer what author's true meaning. Lastly, students will learn about adjectives and adverbs and practice using them in their writing.
Math:
We are wrapping up addition and subtraction facts with lots of practice on word problems! Students will decide if the problem requires addition, subtraction, or both by looking for key words. At the end of the week, students will take an assessment to check everything they've learned.
Social Studies:
This week we are looking at our society has changed from long ago to today. We will look at how communication, transportation, entertainment, and clothing has changed over the years. We will also look at different holidays celebrated in America, such as Veteran's Day, Memorial Day, and Thanksgiving.
Question of the week: What president decided Thanksgiving should be on the final Thursday of November. What was the name of the girl who campaigned for Thanksgiving to be a holiday?
Reminders:
November 16- Adventure Dash during specials. Second grade's time is at 9:00 am.
No school: November 19-23
Friday, November 2, 2018
November 5-9
Writing:
We are continuing to work on our All About Books. Students are responsible for coming up with at least four chapters about the topic in which they are an expert. Students will write their chapters, create a table of contents, add in a map or diagram, and then put the entire thing together. I am looking forward to learning about all of their topics!
Reading:
We are reading Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts and are talking about how to show generosity at school and at home, a perfect lesson as we are approach Thanksgiving! We will also use clues the author gives us and our schema to makes inferences to figure out the message.
Math:
This week we are practicing a few more addition strategies before moving into subtraction. Even though these strategies are a review for most students, having the fundamentals down before moving into bigger numbers is so important! We will practice combinations of ten, part part whole models, and related facts.
Social Studies:
We have learned so much about the traditions of other countries and we are excited to learn about what we celebrate within our class. Thank you for taking the time to talk about a celebration with your child. We will go over these papers this week.
Question of the week: Research a celebration from a different country that you don't already know about. Tell me where the country is, what is being celebrated, and what people do to celebrate.
Have a great week!
We are continuing to work on our All About Books. Students are responsible for coming up with at least four chapters about the topic in which they are an expert. Students will write their chapters, create a table of contents, add in a map or diagram, and then put the entire thing together. I am looking forward to learning about all of their topics!
Reading:
We are reading Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts and are talking about how to show generosity at school and at home, a perfect lesson as we are approach Thanksgiving! We will also use clues the author gives us and our schema to makes inferences to figure out the message.
Math:
This week we are practicing a few more addition strategies before moving into subtraction. Even though these strategies are a review for most students, having the fundamentals down before moving into bigger numbers is so important! We will practice combinations of ten, part part whole models, and related facts.
Social Studies:
We have learned so much about the traditions of other countries and we are excited to learn about what we celebrate within our class. Thank you for taking the time to talk about a celebration with your child. We will go over these papers this week.
Question of the week: Research a celebration from a different country that you don't already know about. Tell me where the country is, what is being celebrated, and what people do to celebrate.
Have a great week!
Sunday, October 28, 2018
October 29- November 2nd
Writing:
We have picked our topic for our All About Books and now students are working on creating their chapters. We are working on explaining the facts we know and not telling a story with them. After all our chapters are written, we will turn the finished product into a book.
Reading:
Since we are focusing on nonfiction in writing, it only makes sense to figure out the difference between fiction books and nonfiction books. Students will sort through features of fiction and nonfiction texts and even come up with a fiction and nonfiction book pairing!
Math:
After a quick review of our addition strategies, students are ready to move into adding 3 or more numbers together. We will work through some strategies such as finding a doubles fact or making a ten to make it easy on ourselves. Students will work through our daily math stations where they have the opportunity to play review games, complete journal activities, practice independently, and work on new skills with me!
Social Studies:
We are learning about traditions from all over the world and we will continue that this week. Students will be completing research on foods eaten in different countries and popular games and sports played around the world.
Homework this week is to talk about a celebration you participate in as a family and students will fill out an information page on it. This will go home on Tuesday and will be due by Friday.
Reminders:
Halloween: No costumes! But kids are welcome to wear their pajamas!
Question of the week: where the tradition of Halloween start?
We have picked our topic for our All About Books and now students are working on creating their chapters. We are working on explaining the facts we know and not telling a story with them. After all our chapters are written, we will turn the finished product into a book.
Reading:
Since we are focusing on nonfiction in writing, it only makes sense to figure out the difference between fiction books and nonfiction books. Students will sort through features of fiction and nonfiction texts and even come up with a fiction and nonfiction book pairing!
Math:
After a quick review of our addition strategies, students are ready to move into adding 3 or more numbers together. We will work through some strategies such as finding a doubles fact or making a ten to make it easy on ourselves. Students will work through our daily math stations where they have the opportunity to play review games, complete journal activities, practice independently, and work on new skills with me!
Social Studies:
We are learning about traditions from all over the world and we will continue that this week. Students will be completing research on foods eaten in different countries and popular games and sports played around the world.
Homework this week is to talk about a celebration you participate in as a family and students will fill out an information page on it. This will go home on Tuesday and will be due by Friday.
Reminders:
Halloween: No costumes! But kids are welcome to wear their pajamas!
Question of the week: where the tradition of Halloween start?
Friday, October 19, 2018
October 22-26
Writing:
We are starting a new unit this week on expository writing. We aren't researching yet, but instead students will be writing about topics in which they are experts. Students will use the text features we learned about last week and write an "All About" book which will explain all about a certain topic. Students will start by brainstorming possible topics and then will choose a topic and pick which chapters they want to be in their book.
Reading:
As we are getting closer to Halloween, it is the perfect time to learn about spiders. We will be reading Spiders by Gail Gibbons and picking out new and interesting facts. We will practice making connections by thinking about how we feel about spiders and how someone else might feel.
Math:
We are focusing on addition strategies this week as we move toward independence from counting on fingers to add! We will practice the counting on strategy, the making ten strategy, and the doubles strategy. You can help at home by quizzing your child on their basic addition facts to 20 so they can practice building automaticity!
Social Studies:
We are wrapping up good citizens by learning about the Navajo Code Talkers from World War II. We will also be learning about our heritage and how everyone's culture has something to celebrate.
Our wonderful cafeteria manager, Debra Parks got some bad news last week when she found out she has lung cancer. Paige Cox has set up a Go Fund Me to help with her mounting medical bills. If you would like to donate to it, here is the link: https://www.gofundme.com/925yg-debra-parks-cancer-fund
Reminders:
Sock Hop: October 20th
Coins for Coats Deadline: October 22
Trunk or Treat: October 28th
Red Ribbon Week:
We are starting a new unit this week on expository writing. We aren't researching yet, but instead students will be writing about topics in which they are experts. Students will use the text features we learned about last week and write an "All About" book which will explain all about a certain topic. Students will start by brainstorming possible topics and then will choose a topic and pick which chapters they want to be in their book.
Reading:
As we are getting closer to Halloween, it is the perfect time to learn about spiders. We will be reading Spiders by Gail Gibbons and picking out new and interesting facts. We will practice making connections by thinking about how we feel about spiders and how someone else might feel.
Math:
We are focusing on addition strategies this week as we move toward independence from counting on fingers to add! We will practice the counting on strategy, the making ten strategy, and the doubles strategy. You can help at home by quizzing your child on their basic addition facts to 20 so they can practice building automaticity!
Social Studies:
We are wrapping up good citizens by learning about the Navajo Code Talkers from World War II. We will also be learning about our heritage and how everyone's culture has something to celebrate.
Our wonderful cafeteria manager, Debra Parks got some bad news last week when she found out she has lung cancer. Paige Cox has set up a Go Fund Me to help with her mounting medical bills. If you would like to donate to it, here is the link: https://www.gofundme.com/925yg-debra-parks-cancer-fund
Reminders:
Sock Hop: October 20th
Coins for Coats Deadline: October 22
Trunk or Treat: October 28th
Red Ribbon Week:
Monday 10/22:
We are ready for Red Ribbon Week: Wear Red!
Tuesday 10/23:
Come to school Healthy & Strong:
Eat a healthy breakfast and bring a healthy snack.
Wednesday 10/24:
Create a world without bullying: Wear Orange for Unity Day.
Thursday 10/25:
“Team Up” for exercise: Wear your favorite team shirt or jersey.
Friday 10/26:
Give a “Hoot” about our Health: Wear a Caraway Shirt!
Saturday, September 22, 2018
September 24-28
Writing:
We are still working on our personal narratives this week. This week, it is all about adding more details to your stories. Students will practice stretching out action scenes, adding speech bubbles to pictures, adding dialogue to the written story, and showing how a character feels, not telling. Students will have writing time each day to practice these skills and time to share what they have been working on at the end.
Reading:
We are stepping away from fiction to focus on nonfiction texts and good citizenship. Students will read about what it means to be a good citizen and point out some good citizens in our community. They will also read short biographies and will be challenged to write down some important facts they learned. We will learn about some important historical figures, such as Paul Revere, Abigail Adams, and John Hancock. Toward the end of the week, we will go over a few important US symbols.
Homework this week will be to complete some good citizenship secret missions! A note will go home in your child's Tuesday folder with some options to complete their secret missions. Take a picture of your child completing one of the secret missions and email it to me. At the end of the week, we will share how we helped make our community a better place!
Math:
We are still focusing on place value this week. Last week, students really got the hang of building numbers using base-ten blocks. This week we are taking it a step further by comparing numbers using the greater than/ less than symbols and adding one, ten, or a hundred to any number. We will have a whole group lesson then students will split into math groups for more practice on these skills and previously learned skills.
Science:
Students have been loving our study of matter and its properties. This week we are still focusing on physical changes and how combining materials can make them do things they can't do on their own. Students will have the opportunity this week to build a tower out of spaghetti or pipe cleaners. They goal is to make a free standing, sturdy structure that support a cotton ball on top. It's going to be fun! Later in the week, we will look at magnetism and how we can use magnets in everyday life.
Question of the week: If blood is red, why do our veins look blue?
This is optional but your child can research the answer, write it down and bring it to school. I'll give them 2 Dojo points!
Reminders:
Library Day: Friday- send in books
Caraway 40th Anniversary Party: September 29th
Caraway's 2018 Bike Rodeo, which only happens every other year, is scheduled for Saturday, October 6th, from 10am-12pm at the Caraway's parking lot (flagpole / Carlwood Drive side). There will be a raffle for a FREE bike from Empire BMX, FREE helmets to the first 50 students, helmet fitting and bike tune-up stations, and a bike course set-up to learn how to ride safely. Watch a BMX bike stunt show and grab some food from Rosarito's Taco truck. We need parent volunteers to make this event happen, so please sign up here: https://goo.gl/XQprac. H
We are still working on our personal narratives this week. This week, it is all about adding more details to your stories. Students will practice stretching out action scenes, adding speech bubbles to pictures, adding dialogue to the written story, and showing how a character feels, not telling. Students will have writing time each day to practice these skills and time to share what they have been working on at the end.
Reading:
We are stepping away from fiction to focus on nonfiction texts and good citizenship. Students will read about what it means to be a good citizen and point out some good citizens in our community. They will also read short biographies and will be challenged to write down some important facts they learned. We will learn about some important historical figures, such as Paul Revere, Abigail Adams, and John Hancock. Toward the end of the week, we will go over a few important US symbols.
Homework this week will be to complete some good citizenship secret missions! A note will go home in your child's Tuesday folder with some options to complete their secret missions. Take a picture of your child completing one of the secret missions and email it to me. At the end of the week, we will share how we helped make our community a better place!
Math:
We are still focusing on place value this week. Last week, students really got the hang of building numbers using base-ten blocks. This week we are taking it a step further by comparing numbers using the greater than/ less than symbols and adding one, ten, or a hundred to any number. We will have a whole group lesson then students will split into math groups for more practice on these skills and previously learned skills.
Science:
Students have been loving our study of matter and its properties. This week we are still focusing on physical changes and how combining materials can make them do things they can't do on their own. Students will have the opportunity this week to build a tower out of spaghetti or pipe cleaners. They goal is to make a free standing, sturdy structure that support a cotton ball on top. It's going to be fun! Later in the week, we will look at magnetism and how we can use magnets in everyday life.
Question of the week: If blood is red, why do our veins look blue?
This is optional but your child can research the answer, write it down and bring it to school. I'll give them 2 Dojo points!
Reminders:
Library Day: Friday- send in books
Caraway 40th Anniversary Party: September 29th
Caraway's 2018 Bike Rodeo, which only happens every other year, is scheduled for Saturday, October 6th, from 10am-12pm at the Caraway's parking lot (flagpole / Carlwood Drive side). There will be a raffle for a FREE bike from Empire BMX, FREE helmets to the first 50 students, helmet fitting and bike tune-up stations, and a bike course set-up to learn how to ride safely. Watch a BMX bike stunt show and grab some food from Rosarito's Taco truck. We need parent volunteers to make this event happen, so please sign up here: https://goo.gl/XQprac. H
Friday, September 14, 2018
September 17-21
Writing:
We are starting a new unit this week on personal narratives. We will read Owl Moon to kick things off. Then we will brainstorm times in our lives where we felt strong emotions, such as joy, anger, fear, and sadness. We will pick one of those times to turn into a small moment story. Students will participate in planning their story, crafting a strong beginning, and work through the writing process.
Reading:
We are continuing to build good reading skills with lessons on character traits, making connections, and inferring. Students will continue to have to time to read to self and practice these skills on their own.
Math:
Place value is in place this week as we begin a new unit. Students will practice building numbers using base-ten blocks. Then they will be challenged with place value riddles. Then we will review comparing numbers using the greater than and less than symbols.
Science:
We are still learning about states of matter and physical changes. This week students will go through several challenges, including building a paper airplane, sanding materials, and melting candy to see how physical changes affect how a material looks and feels, but doesn't change the actual substance.
Reminders:
Here is the PE newsletter for September:
https://sites.google.com/roundrockisd.org/kathycarawaype/pe-news
Here is the sign up genius to volunteer to bring items to help with Academies.
Caraway Academy SignUp Genius
Upcoming Events:
Riata Roundup: September 20th
First Round of Academies: September 21st
40th Anniversary Party: September 29th
We are starting a new unit this week on personal narratives. We will read Owl Moon to kick things off. Then we will brainstorm times in our lives where we felt strong emotions, such as joy, anger, fear, and sadness. We will pick one of those times to turn into a small moment story. Students will participate in planning their story, crafting a strong beginning, and work through the writing process.
Reading:
We are continuing to build good reading skills with lessons on character traits, making connections, and inferring. Students will continue to have to time to read to self and practice these skills on their own.
Math:
Place value is in place this week as we begin a new unit. Students will practice building numbers using base-ten blocks. Then they will be challenged with place value riddles. Then we will review comparing numbers using the greater than and less than symbols.
Science:
We are still learning about states of matter and physical changes. This week students will go through several challenges, including building a paper airplane, sanding materials, and melting candy to see how physical changes affect how a material looks and feels, but doesn't change the actual substance.
Reminders:
Here is the PE newsletter for September:
https://sites.google.com/roundrockisd.org/kathycarawaype/pe-news
Here is the sign up genius to volunteer to bring items to help with Academies.
Caraway Academy SignUp Genius
Upcoming Events:
Riata Roundup: September 20th
First Round of Academies: September 21st
40th Anniversary Party: September 29th
Friday, September 7, 2018
September 10-14
Writing:
We have been having so much fun launching writer's workshop and many students have finished or are close to finishing their story. This week we are focusing on fixing up our stories. Students will practice reading closely and fix the mistakes they find. They will also practice adding details to make their stories come to life. We will have a writing celebration on Friday to celebrate all our hard work!
Reading:
Our book of the week is Edward the Emu. We will focus on making predictions and adjusting them when we finish the book. Then we will read the sequel Edwina the Emu and make predictions for that book as well. Students will take that skill and apply it to their own reading during Read to Self and Read to a Buddy.
Math:
We are continuing to focus on putting numbers in sequential order and comparing them to other numbers. Students will look at the tens place and ones place to determine if a number is higher or lower. We will play a game in math stations called Spot the Numbers. We will also use a hundreds chart to solve some tricky puzzles. Then we will have an assessment on Friday to check everything we've learned.
Science:
Our study of matter will continue this week. Students will learn the properties of solids and liquids and practice classifying different materials using different physical properties. Later in the week, we will see how matter changes when heat is applied or taken away.
Reminders:
Sunday Funday with PTA: Sunday, September 9th from 3-5
Life Journals are going home this week: one diary-like entry that is due on Friday.
We have been having so much fun launching writer's workshop and many students have finished or are close to finishing their story. This week we are focusing on fixing up our stories. Students will practice reading closely and fix the mistakes they find. They will also practice adding details to make their stories come to life. We will have a writing celebration on Friday to celebrate all our hard work!
Reading:
Our book of the week is Edward the Emu. We will focus on making predictions and adjusting them when we finish the book. Then we will read the sequel Edwina the Emu and make predictions for that book as well. Students will take that skill and apply it to their own reading during Read to Self and Read to a Buddy.
Math:
We are continuing to focus on putting numbers in sequential order and comparing them to other numbers. Students will look at the tens place and ones place to determine if a number is higher or lower. We will play a game in math stations called Spot the Numbers. We will also use a hundreds chart to solve some tricky puzzles. Then we will have an assessment on Friday to check everything we've learned.
Science:
Our study of matter will continue this week. Students will learn the properties of solids and liquids and practice classifying different materials using different physical properties. Later in the week, we will see how matter changes when heat is applied or taken away.
Reminders:
Sunday Funday with PTA: Sunday, September 9th from 3-5
Life Journals are going home this week: one diary-like entry that is due on Friday.
Friday, August 24, 2018
August 27-31
Writing:
This week we are launching Writer's Workshop. We are beginning the week by reading Eileen Spinelli's The Best Story, where students will learn that the best stories come from the heart. Students will practice writing a story with a beginning, middle, and end and they will learn strategies to plan their writing before starting. They will also learn what to do when they finish a story. Along the way, students will have plenty of time to work on their stories and start creating the habits of a good writer.
Spelling:
Spelling begins this week! Students will take a pre-test to determine their knowledge of the pattern of the week, short vowel sounds. After being given the appropriate list, they will practice their words all week and will take a test on Friday. Be on the lookout for your child's spelling list in their take home folder to practice at home.
Reading:
Last week we picked books for our book boxes and we are ready to read! Students will begin learning procedures for Read to Self. All year long, students are working on becoming independent and self-sufficient readers with lots of help and guidance along the way. We also will be reading A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon and will be practicing the skill of retelling and summarizing a story.
Math:
This week we are focusing on number sense with lessons on different ways to write a number, ordering numbers, and using tally marks to display a number. Students will continue to practice independence during math stations and will complete a journal activity for each day.
Science:
"I am a scientist!" is what students will say this week as we begin our first unit of science for the year. We are focusing on what a scientist does and the tools a scientist uses. We will also look at different careers a scientist might have and discuss science safety during experiments and investigations.
Reminders:
Parent Night: August 30th at 6:30pm
No School: September 3rd
PTA Sunday Funday: September 9th
This week we are launching Writer's Workshop. We are beginning the week by reading Eileen Spinelli's The Best Story, where students will learn that the best stories come from the heart. Students will practice writing a story with a beginning, middle, and end and they will learn strategies to plan their writing before starting. They will also learn what to do when they finish a story. Along the way, students will have plenty of time to work on their stories and start creating the habits of a good writer.
Spelling:
Spelling begins this week! Students will take a pre-test to determine their knowledge of the pattern of the week, short vowel sounds. After being given the appropriate list, they will practice their words all week and will take a test on Friday. Be on the lookout for your child's spelling list in their take home folder to practice at home.
Reading:
Last week we picked books for our book boxes and we are ready to read! Students will begin learning procedures for Read to Self. All year long, students are working on becoming independent and self-sufficient readers with lots of help and guidance along the way. We also will be reading A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon and will be practicing the skill of retelling and summarizing a story.
Math:
This week we are focusing on number sense with lessons on different ways to write a number, ordering numbers, and using tally marks to display a number. Students will continue to practice independence during math stations and will complete a journal activity for each day.
Science:
"I am a scientist!" is what students will say this week as we begin our first unit of science for the year. We are focusing on what a scientist does and the tools a scientist uses. We will also look at different careers a scientist might have and discuss science safety during experiments and investigations.
Reminders:
Parent Night: August 30th at 6:30pm
No School: September 3rd
PTA Sunday Funday: September 9th
Friday, August 17, 2018
August 20-24
Welcome to the first full week of second grade! We have had so much fun getting to know each other over the past few days and it will continue into this week.
So far we have learned about two of our classroom agreements, active listening and mutual respect. This week we will finish the other two, appreciations, no put downs and right to pass and right to participate.
This week in math we are going to make a graph of our favorite colors and a pictograph of our pets and then spend the rest of the week working on number sense. We will review odd and even numbers and work on missing numbers in a number line. We are also working on launching our math stations for the rest of the year.
We will be reading The Invisible Boy and think about making connections with the text. Students will practice diving deep into the text and making deeper connections rather than surface level connections.
In writing we will begin launching Writer's Workshop where students will come up with ideas from the heart that they can turn into a story. Later in the week, we will write our first story of second grade!
Reminders:
Parent Orientation Night: August 30th
So far we have learned about two of our classroom agreements, active listening and mutual respect. This week we will finish the other two, appreciations, no put downs and right to pass and right to participate.
This week in math we are going to make a graph of our favorite colors and a pictograph of our pets and then spend the rest of the week working on number sense. We will review odd and even numbers and work on missing numbers in a number line. We are also working on launching our math stations for the rest of the year.
We will be reading The Invisible Boy and think about making connections with the text. Students will practice diving deep into the text and making deeper connections rather than surface level connections.
In writing we will begin launching Writer's Workshop where students will come up with ideas from the heart that they can turn into a story. Later in the week, we will write our first story of second grade!
Reminders:
Parent Orientation Night: August 30th
Friday, May 11, 2018
May 14-18
Writing:
Watch out! A new angry bird is in town! This week we are creating our own angry bird and giving it powers. We will make a model of it and work on interesting descriptive words. Then we will write a letter to the community warning them of this new hazardous bird.
Reading:
Lights, Curtain, Action! There are some new thespians in second grade. We are working on our reading skills by performing different reader's theaters. Students will work on reading with expression and fluency and staying together as a team. There will be a performance soon so watch your email for the date.
Math and Social Studies:
Our game of life continues. Students have moved into their neighborhoods, survived a flood, learned about the importance of insurance, and are saving and spending their salaries. They also have learned about credit and interest and how paying interest on something isn't always worth it. It might be better to wait until you have saved up the money. This week we are learning about goods and services and producers and consumers. We will look at how things are made and students will have the opportunity to create an item and a factory that will make it.
Reminders:
Field Trip: May 16th- closed-toed shoes and disposable lunch
Party and awards ceremony: May 25th
Watch out! A new angry bird is in town! This week we are creating our own angry bird and giving it powers. We will make a model of it and work on interesting descriptive words. Then we will write a letter to the community warning them of this new hazardous bird.
Reading:
Lights, Curtain, Action! There are some new thespians in second grade. We are working on our reading skills by performing different reader's theaters. Students will work on reading with expression and fluency and staying together as a team. There will be a performance soon so watch your email for the date.
Math and Social Studies:
Our game of life continues. Students have moved into their neighborhoods, survived a flood, learned about the importance of insurance, and are saving and spending their salaries. They also have learned about credit and interest and how paying interest on something isn't always worth it. It might be better to wait until you have saved up the money. This week we are learning about goods and services and producers and consumers. We will look at how things are made and students will have the opportunity to create an item and a factory that will make it.
Reminders:
Field Trip: May 16th- closed-toed shoes and disposable lunch
Party and awards ceremony: May 25th
Friday, May 4, 2018
May 7-11
Thank you to everyone who came to Knowledge Night last night. It was so fun to show off everything we have been working on this year. It's hard to be believe we only have a few weeks left before the last day of school, but there are still things to learn! Here is what is going on this week:
Writing:
Shh, it's a surprise for our moms! Mothers Day is coming up and students are working on special cards to honor their mom. I won't tell you more but it's sure to be sweet!
Reading:
This week we are focusing on government. Students will learn about the function of the mayor, governor, and president and the names of each. They will also take place in a mock election, where students are voting for their favorite candy. They will register to vote, vote in the primary election where the candidates from the chewy party and the chocolate party will be chosen. Then students will create a campaign poster to promote their candidate. Then they will participate in the general election to choose the winner!
Math and Social Studies:
These subjects are combined this week as students are beginning a big project on financial literacy. Students are participating in a simulation where they will earn a salary for doing a job, create a budget and pick a place to live that is appropriate for their salary, and move into their new community. Students will learn about saving money and needs versus wants. They will also learn about credit and interest. It's sure to be a fun few weeks!
Reminders:
May 8th: Spirit Night at Phil's Ice House
May 16th: Field Trip to Austin Humane Society
May 25th: Class party and awards ceremony
May 29th: Last Day of School
Writing:
Shh, it's a surprise for our moms! Mothers Day is coming up and students are working on special cards to honor their mom. I won't tell you more but it's sure to be sweet!
Reading:
This week we are focusing on government. Students will learn about the function of the mayor, governor, and president and the names of each. They will also take place in a mock election, where students are voting for their favorite candy. They will register to vote, vote in the primary election where the candidates from the chewy party and the chocolate party will be chosen. Then students will create a campaign poster to promote their candidate. Then they will participate in the general election to choose the winner!
Math and Social Studies:
These subjects are combined this week as students are beginning a big project on financial literacy. Students are participating in a simulation where they will earn a salary for doing a job, create a budget and pick a place to live that is appropriate for their salary, and move into their new community. Students will learn about saving money and needs versus wants. They will also learn about credit and interest. It's sure to be a fun few weeks!
Reminders:
May 8th: Spirit Night at Phil's Ice House
May 16th: Field Trip to Austin Humane Society
May 25th: Class party and awards ceremony
May 29th: Last Day of School
Thursday, April 26, 2018
April 30th- May 4th
Reading and Writing:
Students are finishing up their products this week so they will be ready to present and show off at Knowledge Night on Thursday. If a student finishes, then they will have an opportunity to make a digital product on their animal.
Math:
Students are finishing up multiplication and division this week with some problem solving. Then they will take a short assessment to see what they have learned. Later in the week, students will be creating a board game to teach other students about a math topic they love. Students will use creativity, math knowledge, and team work to create a fun new game!
Science:
There is one more week of ecosystems where students are learning about food chains. Students will see that every food chain starts with the sun and ends with decomposers. They will also learn that most food chains are really food webs and many plants and animals are connected in more way than one. They will notice the transfer of energy within the food web. Students will take a short assessment at the end of the week to check what they learned.
Reminders:
Book Fair: April 30th- May 4th
Knowledge Night: May 3rd from 5:30-7:30. Come by and see what your child has been working on!
Spirit Night: May 8th at Phil's Ice House
Field Trip: May 16th to Austin Humane Society
End of Year Party and Awards Ceremony: Friday, May 25th
Last Day of School: May 29th
Students are finishing up their products this week so they will be ready to present and show off at Knowledge Night on Thursday. If a student finishes, then they will have an opportunity to make a digital product on their animal.
Math:
Students are finishing up multiplication and division this week with some problem solving. Then they will take a short assessment to see what they have learned. Later in the week, students will be creating a board game to teach other students about a math topic they love. Students will use creativity, math knowledge, and team work to create a fun new game!
Science:
There is one more week of ecosystems where students are learning about food chains. Students will see that every food chain starts with the sun and ends with decomposers. They will also learn that most food chains are really food webs and many plants and animals are connected in more way than one. They will notice the transfer of energy within the food web. Students will take a short assessment at the end of the week to check what they learned.
Reminders:
Book Fair: April 30th- May 4th
Knowledge Night: May 3rd from 5:30-7:30. Come by and see what your child has been working on!
Spirit Night: May 8th at Phil's Ice House
Field Trip: May 16th to Austin Humane Society
End of Year Party and Awards Ceremony: Friday, May 25th
Last Day of School: May 29th
Friday, April 20, 2018
April 23-27
Writing:
Kids are getting close to finishing their final copies of their research papers. The next step is to make a product showcasing what they learned. Students will plan their product on Monday, bring in items from home, and start creating later in the week. Please plan on talking with your child about the product they plan to make and the materials they will need.
Reading:
This week we are reading "Miss Rumphius." Students will look at using flashbacks in writing, character motivation, and character traits. They will also learn about prefixes. Spelling words this week are also prefixes and the new list will come home on Monday.
Math:
Students are continuing with multiplication. They will learn about arrays and other ways of displaying a multiplication sentence. They will also create a multiplication monster with "multiplied" features. Later in the week, students will start learning about division and how to split numbers into equal groups.
Science:
Students are learning about animal characteristics and how different adaptations help the animal meet its basic needs. Students will decide which adaptation is the most useful and create a super animal with the most desirable traits.
Reminders:
Send back blue permission form for field trip
Field Day: April 27th- plan to send a change of clothing- Lunch on Field Day is at 12:35.
Fundraiser is still going on! Send in your donations of money or items! Don't forget to send in pictures of your pet for the bulletin board.
The glue stick crisis is still in dire straits. Sending any in would be a big help!
Kids are getting close to finishing their final copies of their research papers. The next step is to make a product showcasing what they learned. Students will plan their product on Monday, bring in items from home, and start creating later in the week. Please plan on talking with your child about the product they plan to make and the materials they will need.
Reading:
This week we are reading "Miss Rumphius." Students will look at using flashbacks in writing, character motivation, and character traits. They will also learn about prefixes. Spelling words this week are also prefixes and the new list will come home on Monday.
Math:
Students are continuing with multiplication. They will learn about arrays and other ways of displaying a multiplication sentence. They will also create a multiplication monster with "multiplied" features. Later in the week, students will start learning about division and how to split numbers into equal groups.
Science:
Students are learning about animal characteristics and how different adaptations help the animal meet its basic needs. Students will decide which adaptation is the most useful and create a super animal with the most desirable traits.
Reminders:
Send back blue permission form for field trip
Field Day: April 27th- plan to send a change of clothing- Lunch on Field Day is at 12:35.
Fundraiser is still going on! Send in your donations of money or items! Don't forget to send in pictures of your pet for the bulletin board.
The glue stick crisis is still in dire straits. Sending any in would be a big help!
Friday, April 13, 2018
April 16-20
Writing and Reading:
We are continuing to research our animals this week. We are working on taking all of the facts we learned and turning them into different body paragraphs. We will take the facts on one topic and put them into their own paragraph so our paragraphs are organized and easy to understand. Students will work on correct sentence structure and varying the beginnings of their sentences so not every sentence begins the same way. By the end of the week, students will work on publishing their final copy.
Math:
We are working on studying and counting money. We will learn about the difference between displaying an amount using the cent sign and the dollar sign with decimal point. Students will take an assessment before beginning our study of multiplication. In second grade, students are responsible for modeling multiplication situations, rather than memorizing their facts. However, once students learn the process, they can start memorizing their facts to make the transition into third grade easier.
Science:
This week we are looking at plants adaptations. We will also look at how seeds are dispersed to help the plant grow new sprouts. Later in the week, we will start our study of animals and life cycles. We will look at several different life cycles including the darkling beetle and the butterfly. We will also look at animal adaptations and how they help the animal survive in its environment.
Reminders:
April 16: Mrs. Alden will be at a training for the day. Please contact the office if there is a change in transportation.
April 17: Dress up in 60s gear to celebrate how Mrs. Sanders started teaching in the year 1966!
April 19: Library day- send in books
April 27th: Field Day
May 3rd: Knowledge Night
We are continuing to research our animals this week. We are working on taking all of the facts we learned and turning them into different body paragraphs. We will take the facts on one topic and put them into their own paragraph so our paragraphs are organized and easy to understand. Students will work on correct sentence structure and varying the beginnings of their sentences so not every sentence begins the same way. By the end of the week, students will work on publishing their final copy.
Math:
We are working on studying and counting money. We will learn about the difference between displaying an amount using the cent sign and the dollar sign with decimal point. Students will take an assessment before beginning our study of multiplication. In second grade, students are responsible for modeling multiplication situations, rather than memorizing their facts. However, once students learn the process, they can start memorizing their facts to make the transition into third grade easier.
Science:
This week we are looking at plants adaptations. We will also look at how seeds are dispersed to help the plant grow new sprouts. Later in the week, we will start our study of animals and life cycles. We will look at several different life cycles including the darkling beetle and the butterfly. We will also look at animal adaptations and how they help the animal survive in its environment.
Reminders:
April 16: Mrs. Alden will be at a training for the day. Please contact the office if there is a change in transportation.
April 17: Dress up in 60s gear to celebrate how Mrs. Sanders started teaching in the year 1966!
April 19: Library day- send in books
April 27th: Field Day
May 3rd: Knowledge Night
Friday, April 6, 2018
April 9-13
Writing and Reading:
We have picked our research topics and are excited to start learning! This week we will focus on reading different resources to learn new facts. We will read our book as well as research online. Kids will learn correct note-taking skills and how to not directly copy what the book told them. Later in the week, we will start organizing our facts into useful facts for the paper we will be writing.
Math:
We are taking an assessment on 3 digit addition and subtraction to check what kids have learned. Then we will spend the rest of the week focusing on money. Kids will learn to identify coins and count a collection of change up to one dollar. They will also learn to show an amount of change using both the cent sign and a dollar sign with a decimal point. Students will practice giving change using the smallest amount of coins possible because no one likes a pocketful of pennies. Get out your collection of old coins this week and give your child a pile to count!
Science:
We are continuing our study of plants this week. Students will learn how a seed comes with special packaging to help it sprout after it is planted. We will also look at how light affects how a seed grows. It will sprout without light but can it grow into a healthy plant? At the end of the week, we will look at plant adaptations and how plants have adapted to stay safe in their environment. Maybe they have thorns, or a smell to keep predators away. Plants have also adapted to disperse their seeds to make sure new plants will grow.
We have picked our research topics and are excited to start learning! This week we will focus on reading different resources to learn new facts. We will read our book as well as research online. Kids will learn correct note-taking skills and how to not directly copy what the book told them. Later in the week, we will start organizing our facts into useful facts for the paper we will be writing.
Math:
We are taking an assessment on 3 digit addition and subtraction to check what kids have learned. Then we will spend the rest of the week focusing on money. Kids will learn to identify coins and count a collection of change up to one dollar. They will also learn to show an amount of change using both the cent sign and a dollar sign with a decimal point. Students will practice giving change using the smallest amount of coins possible because no one likes a pocketful of pennies. Get out your collection of old coins this week and give your child a pile to count!
Science:
We are continuing our study of plants this week. Students will learn how a seed comes with special packaging to help it sprout after it is planted. We will also look at how light affects how a seed grows. It will sprout without light but can it grow into a healthy plant? At the end of the week, we will look at plant adaptations and how plants have adapted to stay safe in their environment. Maybe they have thorns, or a smell to keep predators away. Plants have also adapted to disperse their seeds to make sure new plants will grow.
Thursday, March 29, 2018
April 2nd-6th
Writing and Reading:
We have a few more days of poetry to cover. We're going to be writing and reading lots of different kinds of poems, including an acrostic poem, a rhyming poem, and a free verse poem. Kids will pick their favorite poem and publish it using a medium of their choice. Later in the week, we are kicking off our big research unit. Kids will choose an animal to research, learn lots of new facts, write a research paper, and create a product to showcase what they learned. This will take several weeks and we will be starting with goal setting and the beginning stages of research.
Math:
We are continuing 3 digit subtraction. Students will learn how to subtract across zeroes, play games, and solve a word problem riddle, all to give them more practice on this important skill.
Science:
Our study of plants will continue as we learn about the parts and function of a plant. We will look at different plants that we eat and what part of the plant it is. We will grow our own plant people and learn how a seed comes with its own "lunchbox" to help nurture it as it sprouts. On Friday, kids have picked their science club and will be attending the first session of it!
Reminders:
Field trip: April 4th- close-toed shoes and disposable lunch
Family Fun and Fit Night: April 6th, 6:30-7:30. Kids must be with an adult.
We have a few more days of poetry to cover. We're going to be writing and reading lots of different kinds of poems, including an acrostic poem, a rhyming poem, and a free verse poem. Kids will pick their favorite poem and publish it using a medium of their choice. Later in the week, we are kicking off our big research unit. Kids will choose an animal to research, learn lots of new facts, write a research paper, and create a product to showcase what they learned. This will take several weeks and we will be starting with goal setting and the beginning stages of research.
Math:
We are continuing 3 digit subtraction. Students will learn how to subtract across zeroes, play games, and solve a word problem riddle, all to give them more practice on this important skill.
Science:
Our study of plants will continue as we learn about the parts and function of a plant. We will look at different plants that we eat and what part of the plant it is. We will grow our own plant people and learn how a seed comes with its own "lunchbox" to help nurture it as it sprouts. On Friday, kids have picked their science club and will be attending the first session of it!
Reminders:
Field trip: April 4th- close-toed shoes and disposable lunch
Family Fun and Fit Night: April 6th, 6:30-7:30. Kids must be with an adult.
Friday, March 23, 2018
March 26-29th
Writing and Reading:
We're immersing ourselves in poetry this week. Students will read lots of poetry and learn about different poetic devices such as alliteration, onomatopoeia, and repetition. Students will also learn how rhyme and rhythm affect how a poem is read. A poem often has multiple meanings and so students will dive deep into the analysis of these poems to figure out the author's meaning. Finally, after lots of exposure to many different kinds of poems, students will begin writing their own poetry, using rhyme and rhythm to convey their message.
Math:
We've been learning how to add 3 digit numbers the last week and that will continue this week with a quest to solve many different word problems. Students will take a short assessment to see what they have learned. Later in the week, we will dive into 3 digit subtraction with regrouping. We will practice regrouping in the hundreds and tens place and practice using games, I-spies, and word problems.
Science:
We are beginning an exciting unit on plants and animals this week. We are beginning by looking at ecosystems and living and non-living things. Then we will learn how every living thing comes back to energy from the sun. Students will also learn about a plant's basic needs. Then on Friday, we are beginning science enrichment clubs. Students will get to choose a club to be a part of and they will go to it every Friday for several weeks.
Reminders:
No School on Friday, March 30th.
Field trip to Laguna Gloria on April 4th- permission slip coming home soon
Family Fun ad Fit Night: April 6th
We're immersing ourselves in poetry this week. Students will read lots of poetry and learn about different poetic devices such as alliteration, onomatopoeia, and repetition. Students will also learn how rhyme and rhythm affect how a poem is read. A poem often has multiple meanings and so students will dive deep into the analysis of these poems to figure out the author's meaning. Finally, after lots of exposure to many different kinds of poems, students will begin writing their own poetry, using rhyme and rhythm to convey their message.
Math:
We've been learning how to add 3 digit numbers the last week and that will continue this week with a quest to solve many different word problems. Students will take a short assessment to see what they have learned. Later in the week, we will dive into 3 digit subtraction with regrouping. We will practice regrouping in the hundreds and tens place and practice using games, I-spies, and word problems.
Science:
We are beginning an exciting unit on plants and animals this week. We are beginning by looking at ecosystems and living and non-living things. Then we will learn how every living thing comes back to energy from the sun. Students will also learn about a plant's basic needs. Then on Friday, we are beginning science enrichment clubs. Students will get to choose a club to be a part of and they will go to it every Friday for several weeks.
Reminders:
No School on Friday, March 30th.
Field trip to Laguna Gloria on April 4th- permission slip coming home soon
Family Fun ad Fit Night: April 6th
Friday, March 2, 2018
March 5-9
Writing and Reading:
This week in both subjects we are focusing on sensory language and poetry. We will read I Love You the Purplest and think about the images and feelings that come to mind with certain colors. We will also taste-test different foods to come up with descriptive words using our "poet's eyes." There will also be a ton of poems to read and analyze before students start writing their own poetry.
Math:
Students are doing great at dissecting these difficult multi-step word problems. We will continue practicing this week as students work on solving more missions. Then students will take what they've learned to tackle a fun game where they have to solve problems to get clues that will help them figure out where the enemy is hiding on a hundreds chart. At the end of the week, students will take an assessment to see what they have mastered.
Science:
We're learning about magnets this week and how they are used in everyday life. We will find magnetic items around our classroom and school and think about the function of the item. We will also look at electric motors and how they use magnets to run.
Reminders:
Caraway City Limits: Tomorrow, March 3rd
Spring Break: March 12-16
This week in both subjects we are focusing on sensory language and poetry. We will read I Love You the Purplest and think about the images and feelings that come to mind with certain colors. We will also taste-test different foods to come up with descriptive words using our "poet's eyes." There will also be a ton of poems to read and analyze before students start writing their own poetry.
Math:
Students are doing great at dissecting these difficult multi-step word problems. We will continue practicing this week as students work on solving more missions. Then students will take what they've learned to tackle a fun game where they have to solve problems to get clues that will help them figure out where the enemy is hiding on a hundreds chart. At the end of the week, students will take an assessment to see what they have mastered.
Science:
We're learning about magnets this week and how they are used in everyday life. We will find magnetic items around our classroom and school and think about the function of the item. We will also look at electric motors and how they use magnets to run.
Reminders:
Caraway City Limits: Tomorrow, March 3rd
Spring Break: March 12-16
Friday, February 23, 2018
February 28- March 2nd
Writing:
This week students can choose what they want to write about, but our focus is dialogue. Students will learn to use quotation marks and practice putting them into a story with a beginning, middle, and end. Students will also practice editing and fixing up their stories before publishing a final copy.
Reading:
Yee Haw! We're fixin' to read some Texas fairy tales, y'all! We will read the "Texas" version of several popular fairy tales and see what the author changed to make it fit into our local culture. Students will also brush up on their "Texas" vernacular and add some good phrases to their vocabulary.
Math:
Left, left, left, right, left. It's Problem Solving Boot Camp time. Multi-step word problems are difficult, so we're spending two weeks focusing only on that. Students will be in teams and have to complete several problem solving "missions" before they can graduate from Problem Solving Boot Camp!
Science:
This week we will be observing the moon and its changes. Students will learn that the moon follows a pattern and how it never actually changes shape. We will learn about the moon phases and keep a journal so we can follow its progress.
Reminders:
February 28th: 6 Flags For Reading recording sheets due
Caraway City Limits- Adults Only Party: March 3rd, 6-9pm
Spring Break: March 12-16
This week students can choose what they want to write about, but our focus is dialogue. Students will learn to use quotation marks and practice putting them into a story with a beginning, middle, and end. Students will also practice editing and fixing up their stories before publishing a final copy.
Reading:
Yee Haw! We're fixin' to read some Texas fairy tales, y'all! We will read the "Texas" version of several popular fairy tales and see what the author changed to make it fit into our local culture. Students will also brush up on their "Texas" vernacular and add some good phrases to their vocabulary.
Math:
Left, left, left, right, left. It's Problem Solving Boot Camp time. Multi-step word problems are difficult, so we're spending two weeks focusing only on that. Students will be in teams and have to complete several problem solving "missions" before they can graduate from Problem Solving Boot Camp!
Science:
This week we will be observing the moon and its changes. Students will learn that the moon follows a pattern and how it never actually changes shape. We will learn about the moon phases and keep a journal so we can follow its progress.
Reminders:
February 28th: 6 Flags For Reading recording sheets due
Caraway City Limits- Adults Only Party: March 3rd, 6-9pm
Spring Break: March 12-16
Monday, February 12, 2018
February 12-16
Writing:
Students are writing their own fables this week. Students will create animal characters and pick a moral that they want their character to learn. Then they will piece together a story with a problem and solution leading to the moral they picked.
Reading:
Our study of folk tales continues as we learn about tall tales and myths. We will learn about distinguishing characteristics of each and read several examples to add to our folk tale knowledge.
Math:
Students are continuing to learn about fractions. Students will practice identifying the fraction and also creating fractions. They will learn to identify halves, fourths, eighths, sixths, and thirds. Students will create a fraction creature and learn that as the number of pieces a whole is cut into increases, the pieces get smaller.
Science:
We are wrapping up weather and seasons this week. Then we will be looking up to learn about objects in the sky and how they follow a pattern. Students will look at phases of the moon and different types of clouds.
Reminders:
Valentine's Box: due February 13th
Valentine's Party: February 14th.
No School: February 19th and 20th
Below are some pictures from our fun fraction pizza lesson and the field trip!
Students are writing their own fables this week. Students will create animal characters and pick a moral that they want their character to learn. Then they will piece together a story with a problem and solution leading to the moral they picked.
Reading:
Our study of folk tales continues as we learn about tall tales and myths. We will learn about distinguishing characteristics of each and read several examples to add to our folk tale knowledge.
Math:
Students are continuing to learn about fractions. Students will practice identifying the fraction and also creating fractions. They will learn to identify halves, fourths, eighths, sixths, and thirds. Students will create a fraction creature and learn that as the number of pieces a whole is cut into increases, the pieces get smaller.
Science:
We are wrapping up weather and seasons this week. Then we will be looking up to learn about objects in the sky and how they follow a pattern. Students will look at phases of the moon and different types of clouds.
Reminders:
Valentine's Box: due February 13th
Valentine's Party: February 14th.
No School: February 19th and 20th
Below are some pictures from our fun fraction pizza lesson and the field trip!
Friday, February 2, 2018
February 5th -9th
Writing:
This is the last week of persuasive writing and every student is finishing up their travel brochure. Students have written convincing segments on their favorite places and are creating an eye-catching final copy.
Reading:
Fables, folktales, fairy tales, oh my! We are diving into a fun unit covering fables, folktales, fairy tales, myths, and tall tales. Students will learn the difference between the different types of stories and be able to point out distinguishing factors of them. We will compare and contrast different stories that we read and figure out the moral in them all.
Math:
We are learning about fractions this week. Students will learn that a fraction must have fair or equal parts and will practice naming the fraction. Students will play games, solve problems, and complete I-Spies to practice their new fraction skills.
Science:
Our study of weather will continue as students practice recording the weather each day. We will also review the seasons and make appropriate clothing and activity choices for each season.
Question of the week:
What is the world's tallest lighthouse? Where is it located?
Reminders:
Spirit Night: February 7th at Catfish Parlour
Field trip: February 9th
Skate Night: February 9th
Valentine's Box due: February 13th
Valentine's Day Party: February 14th 1:30-2:30
No school: February 19th and 20th
This is the last week of persuasive writing and every student is finishing up their travel brochure. Students have written convincing segments on their favorite places and are creating an eye-catching final copy.
Reading:
Fables, folktales, fairy tales, oh my! We are diving into a fun unit covering fables, folktales, fairy tales, myths, and tall tales. Students will learn the difference between the different types of stories and be able to point out distinguishing factors of them. We will compare and contrast different stories that we read and figure out the moral in them all.
Math:
We are learning about fractions this week. Students will learn that a fraction must have fair or equal parts and will practice naming the fraction. Students will play games, solve problems, and complete I-Spies to practice their new fraction skills.
Science:
Our study of weather will continue as students practice recording the weather each day. We will also review the seasons and make appropriate clothing and activity choices for each season.
Question of the week:
What is the world's tallest lighthouse? Where is it located?
Reminders:
Spirit Night: February 7th at Catfish Parlour
Field trip: February 9th
Skate Night: February 9th
Valentine's Box due: February 13th
Valentine's Day Party: February 14th 1:30-2:30
No school: February 19th and 20th
Friday, January 26, 2018
January 29th- February 2nd
Writing:
We are working on our travel brochures for this week. Most students have finished their rough draft and are working on creating a colorful, eye-catching final copy. Come check out our bulletin board to get your next travel location!
Reading:
To wrap up our study of different cultures, we are going to be reading a book called The Rough-Faced Girl. It is a version of Cinderella with Native American characters. We will focus on comparing and contrasting characters and asking questions while we read. We would still love to hear about your culture though! Let me know if you would like to come in share with us.
Math:
We learned about 3 digit numbers last week and now we are extending to 4 digit numbers. Students will learn how one thousand is represented and how to express 4 digit numbers in multiple ways, including expanded form, base-ten block form, and word form. Students will also practice using to place value to add and subtract 10 and 100 from numbers.
Science:
We are finishing up natural and man-made resources with a nature walk through Oak View Park. Students will bring their science journals and record anything they see that is a natural or man-made resource. Later in the week, we will focus on weather. Students will become meteorologists and record different aspects of the weather over an extended period of time. Students will become familiar with weather tools such as a rain gauge, thermometer, and weather vane.
Question of the week: What does a meteorologist do in order to make a weather report?
Reminders:
Return field trip permission slip if you haven't yet.
Field trip: February 9th.
Valentine's Party: February 14th- details to come soon.
We are working on our travel brochures for this week. Most students have finished their rough draft and are working on creating a colorful, eye-catching final copy. Come check out our bulletin board to get your next travel location!
Reading:
To wrap up our study of different cultures, we are going to be reading a book called The Rough-Faced Girl. It is a version of Cinderella with Native American characters. We will focus on comparing and contrasting characters and asking questions while we read. We would still love to hear about your culture though! Let me know if you would like to come in share with us.
Math:
We learned about 3 digit numbers last week and now we are extending to 4 digit numbers. Students will learn how one thousand is represented and how to express 4 digit numbers in multiple ways, including expanded form, base-ten block form, and word form. Students will also practice using to place value to add and subtract 10 and 100 from numbers.
Science:
We are finishing up natural and man-made resources with a nature walk through Oak View Park. Students will bring their science journals and record anything they see that is a natural or man-made resource. Later in the week, we will focus on weather. Students will become meteorologists and record different aspects of the weather over an extended period of time. Students will become familiar with weather tools such as a rain gauge, thermometer, and weather vane.
Question of the week: What does a meteorologist do in order to make a weather report?
Reminders:
Return field trip permission slip if you haven't yet.
Field trip: February 9th.
Valentine's Party: February 14th- details to come soon.
Friday, January 12, 2018
January 16-19
Writing:
This week we are taking what we've learned about the powers of persuasion and creating a travel brochure to our favorite place. Students will choose a place (near or far!) near and dear to their heart and will be responsible for designing and writing their brochure using catchy phrases and captivating pictures.
Reading:
This week we are continuing our study of different cultures from around the world. We will be studying the cultures from India, Germany, Mexico, the Netherlands, and more. We are so excited to learn more about the world around us and how to be kind and respectful to cultures different from ours. We would love to hear more about your culture! Want to come in and present your food, clothing, way of life, etc? Please contact me and we can figure out a time for you to come in.
Math:
Put on your 3D glasses: This week we are learning about three dimensional shapes! Students will learn about the attributes of different shapes, vocabulary words such as edge, face, and vertex, and where these shapes are hiding in everyday life. At the end of the week, we will take a short assessment over everything we've learned.
Science:
It's fresh water versus salt water this week as we study the difference between the two. Students will discover where we can find fresh and salt water, what kinds of things live in each, and if items will float when put into each. We will also look at natural and man-made resources and how we use each everyday.
Reminders:
No school on January 15- MLK day.
Saturday, January 20th- Green Team Garden workday- 10am
This week we are taking what we've learned about the powers of persuasion and creating a travel brochure to our favorite place. Students will choose a place (near or far!) near and dear to their heart and will be responsible for designing and writing their brochure using catchy phrases and captivating pictures.
Reading:
This week we are continuing our study of different cultures from around the world. We will be studying the cultures from India, Germany, Mexico, the Netherlands, and more. We are so excited to learn more about the world around us and how to be kind and respectful to cultures different from ours. We would love to hear more about your culture! Want to come in and present your food, clothing, way of life, etc? Please contact me and we can figure out a time for you to come in.
Math:
Put on your 3D glasses: This week we are learning about three dimensional shapes! Students will learn about the attributes of different shapes, vocabulary words such as edge, face, and vertex, and where these shapes are hiding in everyday life. At the end of the week, we will take a short assessment over everything we've learned.
Science:
It's fresh water versus salt water this week as we study the difference between the two. Students will discover where we can find fresh and salt water, what kinds of things live in each, and if items will float when put into each. We will also look at natural and man-made resources and how we use each everyday.
Reminders:
No school on January 15- MLK day.
Saturday, January 20th- Green Team Garden workday- 10am
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