Arrrgh! OES Captured by Pirates!

It was fun week at Oakland this week! Unfortunately, I was out on Monday with a bug. But after much needed rest, I returned on Tuesday, which was Dress Like a Pirate Day. All the kids that participated looked great! Being sick, I wasn't able to get all my pirate gear together from the attic, so I hate I didn't get to participate like I wanted. But it was nice to see all the little buccaneers around.

We had our final MAP test for the Fall this week as well. I'll be going over their scores with you when we meet for our Parent-Teacher Conferences at the end of October.
We will be starting our Animal Unit this week! I am so excited about this! They have notes in their Science section. However, this is our integrated PBL (Project Based Learning) unit, so rather than a usual test at the end of the unit, the work they complete in class will be their grades. They will be keeping a field journal about what they learn, taking some notes, writing some summaries, creating a PSA (public service announcement), and presenting to the class. Most of this work will be done in small groups. This unit integrates Reading, Writing, and Science. I'm sure the students will love it!
I hope you all have a fabulous week!

Week of September 15-19

There was a lot going on this week in Room 102! First, thank you to those who came to Open House on Tuesday night. The students were excited to show you around the room and it was nice speaking to each of you. To those of you who weren't able to attend, feel free to call or email me at any time with any questions or concerns. Here is our bulletin board in the hallway displaying who they are as second graders. They even decorated their own "selfie"....so cute! :)

During Math, we usually work with partners or groups after a whole group lesson. This is a picture of them working together to decide what is greater than or less than, and then reading it the correct way. We are 2nd graders, so we don't talk about "alligator mouths" any more!!

Mrs. Skinner came and read the book Stuck to us. It is about perseverance and not giving up. This is a skill we could all use a reminder of at times! They really enjoyed the story and I bet they'd love to tell you about it. Thank you Mrs. Skinner!

We are preparing to start our Animal Unit. Before we begin, I wanted to see what they already know, so they wrote in their Science journal what they already know about animals. Wow! They know a lot! I was so impressed with all of their background knowledge: types of animals, habitats, hibernation, camouflage, and more! After we shared, I had them write a wonder on their sticky note to put on our wonder board about what they would like to learn or know about animals. This will be such a fun unit!

Now for some reminders and other information:
In Reading, we will begin to discuss text features. I had the students change the newsletter today, because it says we will have a Reading test Friday. We are NOT. In fact, we haven't even started with it quite yet. I will be giving them notes to put in their Reading section tomorrow that you can be looking over. You can call a few of these out to your child each night, ask them about their importance, or even pull out a magazine or other nonfiction piece of writing and have them locate some of the text features.
In Math, we have added a Classwork side to the back of the Homework sheet. This will show you a little insight into what we discussed in class that day so you will hopefully understand more of what they are doing for homework. As long as they are focused and paying attention, they will know what to do as well. Also, be practicing their addition facts with them each night. This includes the facts that include 0, 1, 2, doubles, and near doubles. You could make 2 stacks rubber banded together: 1 of those they seem to have mastered and 1 of those they need to continue to practice.
We will be starting our Animal Unit soon. This includes discussing the classes of animals (mammals, birds, reptiles, etc), their life cycles, and their habitats. They will have notes in their Science section, so again please look over these a little each night. Break it up into sections, because that is a LOT to study if you try to get it all in in one night!
Remember, second grade is different from first. As are all of the other grades past second. With each new year, more study skills and time is involved. Begin good study skills early. Call out the information in the car, make flash cards, or whatever works best for your child. Do not try to study every bit of information in one night. Break it up and make it more manageable so they are not doing homework for 2 hours. Also, if any homework requires reading (a reading story, a passage, etc) log it as part of their 100BC! That way, they are not doing extra work! I hope this helps!
Finally, even though I was sick this weekend, my baby girl turned 4 so it was a special weekend! I can't believe it! I know you all understand when I say, TIME, SLOW DOWN! She brings so much joy to our lives, as I know your child does for you. I take care of your child like they are my own in the approx. 6 1/2 hours I have them each day. They'll be in high school in the blink of an eye!

Have a fabulous week!

Making Memories

We had a wonderful week in Room 102! Wednesday, we honored our grandparents by having them come eat breakfast, or goodies, with us. I enjoyed meeting each of them and I know the students really enjoyed having them visit! 

I did my best to get around and meet everyone, so I apologize if I missed anyone! Here are a few pictures of that special time:

This week, we also were scientists and performed an experiment called Liquid Fireworks. We used what we've learned about the scientific process to complete this experiment using water, cooking oil, and food coloring. It was so cool and showed us how water and oil do not mix. 

Recording and drawing what they observed.

We also observed dropping food coloring in whole milk, turning it into "magic milk." You should try this fun experiment at home! 

On Friday, Eli brought our snazzy snack for the week. Doughnuts!! He even brought me the pumpkin ones they have for Fall. Delicious! Thank you for sharing Eli!

Speaking of doughnuts, Friday is National Talk Like a Pirate Day. Participating Krispy Kreme stores will give a free doughnut that day to those who talk like a pirate and a free DOZEN to those dressed like a pirate.

 

 

Dress Like a Pirate Day at OES is Sept.23. 

We also practiced reading EEKK (elbow to elbow, knee to knee) with a buddy on Friday. They love working together and helping each other.

Remember to look at the week's newsletter to see what important events are coming up. Don't forget about Open House at 6:30pm on Tuesday. We hope to see you then!! Have a fabulous week!

Week 3 already?!

We were hard at work in Room 102 this week! In fact, we were so busy, I don't think I took one picture :( I'm so disappointed in myself for that, so I plan to do better this week. It was nice having a four day week and I hope the students enjoyed the extra day off for Labor Day on Monday. I know I did!
This week in Math, we continued representing numbers in different ways but we added the hundreds place. They did wonderfully! We've also been collecting items for our math "tool bags" that will help them be the mathematicians they already are. We've been practicing our Number Talk by solving a problem of the day in our math journals and learning how to share with one another by using terms such as "I agree/disagree with you because" or "Can you explain your thinking." I love hearing them talk to one another, teach each other, and learn together whether it be from right answers or mistakes that were made.
I will be sending graded papers home this week. Please look over them with your child and return them, including the green sheet signed, within 2 days. Don't forget to send in their Fall fundraiser orders Monday and that Goodies with Grandparents is Wednesday. I still remember a time when I was in elementary school (at BSES) when my grandparents came to eat with me. What a special memory! I hope everyone has a fabulous week. I know we will in our classroom!

Lots to Do in Room 102!

We had a great second week of 2nd grade! We're slowly but surely getting into a routine. It will take a while for us to keep practicing procedures and memorizing new routines, but they're doing wonderfully!

                                                         Making numbers
The routines have even had to change a few times already as all the kinks are worked out to make things run more smoothly. Second grade now goes to activity from 10:25-11:10, then out to recess, and finally straight to lunch. I haven't shared our activity schedule yet, so here it is:
Monday: Art
Tuesday: Music
Wednesday: PE (Don't forget tennis shoes)
Thursday: Library or Guidance (alternate weeks)
Friday: Computer
Don't forget about the Fall Fundraiser going on, which is selling items from Mixed Bag Designs. Also, please remember to look at the newsletter each week to see what tests we're having and what is going on in our class. You'll notice some subjects say to study on the homework sheet. By study, just break it up however best fits your child and/or schedule. By no means do I think they should stare at it for 45 minutes! Just call out a few items each night to make sure they're retaining the information. They have sheets/notes in each section of their binder for you to look at or study so you can see what we're working on. I will have them clean these out as we complete each unit.
Friday was College Colors Day, and it was awesome seeing so many colleges and universities represented. Of course there was A LOT of garnet and orange!

Mrs. Barfield came to speak to our 2nd graders on Friday as well. She is the mom of Sully, and is an author. You may even have a copy of her book, Sully Bug, at your home. She discussed being an author and where she gets her ideas from. We hope this helps them gather from their own experiences as we begin to write personal narratives. She even gave them a sneak peek of the characters in her book being released in October. But we were sworn to secrecy, so I cannot share any more than that :) Thank you, Mrs. Barfield!

Ryan brought in our first Snazzy Snack of the year! Krispy Kreme doughnuts = YUMMY! Thank you Ryan! That made a for a sweet Friday! Notice the tab at the top that has a link to the Snazzy Snack schedule. If you haven't signed up yet, just let me know and I'll be glad to put you down for a time.

I hope you all enjoyed your long weekend! Have a fabulous week!