February 16th

Thanks to everyone for coming to conferences this week!
I really enjoyed meeting with everyone! I cannot believe it is already February. This year is flying by! It was a busy week for a short week.
Here is what we learned this week...
Reading- For shared reading, we have been learning about inferring. We know how to make smart guesses about what is happening or how characters feel using our schema and clues from the text.
In reading groups we are focusing on nonfiction books. We know how important it is to make sure we understand what words mean and comprehend what we are reading before moving on!

Writing- we wrote letters this week to different businesses for our service learning project asking for donations for our silent auction. We included the 5 parts of a letter, and we also learned where our commas should go (in the date, after the greeting, and after the closing). Today we discussed what letters should be capital (the word I, beginning of every sentence, pronouns, and the date, greeting, closing, and signature.) Next week we will begin working on persuasive letters (fair warning to parents...I'm sure you will be receiving one :) )

Math- we finished our unit on adding and subtracting money. It was a short unit, but students grasped it quickly since we just finished our units on adding and subtracting 2-digit numbers.  Ms. Weber is now teaching us all about place value up to 1,000.

Science- this week we learned about volcanoes!

Don't forget...
*No school tomorrow and Monday
*Next week (Thursday night) is our 2nd grade music program. Please arrive st 6pm. The show will be from 6:30-7:30pm.

Here is what is happening this week!

Reading- we are working on figuring out what words means using context clues. Ms. Weber has been showing us a variety of books to work on this concept.

Writing- We are learning the 5 parts of a letter: date, greeting, body, closing, and signature

We have been practicing writing letters to get ready for persuasive writing!

Science- We are learning about slow versus fast changes over the Earth's surface.

Please bring in a shoe box as soon as possible so we can decorate them on Monday!

Writing- This week we have been writing informational books on Hornworms (which we have been observing and researching).  Our books need to include an introduction, 4 chapters (with at least 5 facts plus details as well as definitions), and a conclusion.  The class looked at examples of a 1, 2, 3, and 4 piece of writing, and we made a criteria chart of how to earn a 3 or 4.  They now have their own checklists at their tables to help them remember each component.  We are also in the process of setting writing goals!

Math-We began talking about strategies for mental subtraction.  We are working on 2-digit minus 2-digit numbers. As a class we have talked about mentally subtracting landmark numbers (tens), using a hundreds chart, and subtract the tens subtract the ones add the answers.  We know that the last strategy does not always work (example: 31-19) so then we must try a different strategy. Some groups have even started stacking with regrouping.  Everyone will learn stacking starting next week!  Many groups have also been checking their work by adding!

Science- Ms. Weber began teaching our new science unit: Earth's surface.  We learned that the Earth is made of 71% water and 29% land.

PBIS: We are focusing on Beulah Ralph's 5 characteristics: kind, respectful, responsible, positive, and problem solvers.  So far we have learned what it means to be kind, respectful, and responsible.  To celebrate being responsible, everyone is dressing up on Friday for career day!  Dress as the profession you would like when you are older:O)

Just a reminder that next week we will be celebrating Beulah Ralph's 90th birthday.  We are asking 2nd graders to bring in shampoo and conditioner to donate in honor of Beulah Ralph.

Today we got our hornworms!  We are going to be researching and observing hornworms for our next informational writing topic. We are very excited to get our own "pets."

Today we also took the STAR reading and STAR math tests.  This information will be included on the monthly assessment sheet that goes home at the end of January.

 During reading groups, Mrs. Smith has been doing district reading assessments with each child!

This week we also got to have Sharon Ray from ABC17 come speak to us about weather.  The students have all voted on what kind of service learning project they would like to do, and majority of 2nd graders said they would like to help victims of Hurricane Matthew.  We have been learning about hurricanes (and weather in general) when we have free time.  More information about our actual project will come later in the year :)

Have a good 4 day weekend!

Have a great weekend!

Friday folder information....
Our colors for Friday's "match a class" are undecided right now.  We are working with Ms. Brown's class and deciding together.  I will inform everyone on Monday what was decided so you have time to prepare.

Our spelling bee will not be next week as the paper that went home stated.  It will be on Wednesday, January 18th!  Feel free to practice the words that went home!

It has been a great couple days back from break!  I hope everyone enjoyed their family time!
Here is a look at what we have been working on...

Math- we are prepared for our Topic 6 math test tomorrow.  We will be testing on mental addition.  We have learned how to add several ways:
*Add the tens, Add the ones, Add the sums
*Adding landmark numbers mentally (10,20,30,etc)
*Using a hundreds chart (some can picture this in their mind)
*Breaking numbers apart
Next week we will learn the algorithm of adding two digit numbers!

Writing- We have continued working on our Informational Writing books.  Tomorrow we will learn how to write an effective Introduction and Conclusion.  Next week we will learn how to research a topic (rather than writing about what we already know).  Everyone will be researching the same topic for the first book.  The topic is top secret for now :O)

Reading- We have been building our stamina back up.  Today we read for 25 minutes!  Woo hoo!

Next week the January reading log will begin coming home again.  I am placing them all in folders from now on rather than bags.  Please check the folder nightly as I will also add work in there if your child did not finish something that was supposed to be completed.  If it is still not complete, it will need to be completed at 2nd recess the following day.  Thanks for your help!