Reading Target Skills:
Fact - Fiction
Facts About Penguins
Writing:
Facts About Penguins
Writing:
Persuasive Writing Map
D'Nealian Cursive Practice Sheets (Print Out)
Science:
Dear Families,
It's hard to believe that we are in the middle of February, the sun is shining, and it's warm (in northern Illinois terms) outside. Due to this crazy weather, it's also hard to believe how quickly this school year is slipping by. Soon the Valentine hearts will be stored away, the shamrocks will be coming out, and then spring break (and 4th quarter) will be here.
We still have a lot of learning ahead, but I just wanted to take a moment to let you know how much I sincerely enjoy working with your children. Each and every student in 2BR has grown so much this year both socially and academically. More importantly, from the beginning of the school year until now, your children have continued to be stellar role models of what a good citizen should be.
I want to share a little "snip" of a recent day in 2BR, that reconfirmed my belief that this group of students is just a little extra special:
The other day, the class was singing 2BR's version of "Happy Birthday" to one of our newly 8 year old students. Usually on the 2nd verse, 3 or 4 students from the birthday child's table group, come to the front of the room and join the birthday boy/girl. Well, on this particular day not only did the small table group come to the front, but the entire class came to the front of the room to join the birthday child. My first instinct was to panic...I was picturing the next day's headlines: "Crowd of Wild 2nd Graders Crush Birthday Child". While keeping a very close eye on the situation, I was pleasantly surprised with how all the children gently put their arms around eachother, no wildness or craziness, and sang the remainder of the verses as one whole group of good friends. Your children have become a classroom family in a few short months. Yep...I had tears in my eyes. We have had a couple more birthdays since this day, and I'm happy to share that we have a new tradition in 2BR...the whole class comes to the front of the room on the 2nd verse. And this, my friends, is why I love my job!
D'Nealian Cursive Practice Sheets (Print Out)
Science:
Sink or Float
Top Tab: Pearson On-line books (access with student username and password)
Math Practice Sites:
Top Tab: Pearson On-line books (access with student username and password)
Math Practice Sites:
Fraction BarsFraction PiecesFractionsFractions AddingFractions Comparing_1Fractions Comparing_2Fractions EquivalentFractions NamingFractions Parts of a WholeFractions Primary Games
Fractions Visualizing
Just For Fun:
Scroll to the bottom of this post to see some really neat chalk drawings. I wonder if "Cool Ali" would like these?
Fractions Visualizing
Just For Fun:
Scroll to the bottom of this post to see some really neat chalk drawings. I wonder if "Cool Ali" would like these?
Dear Families,
It's hard to believe that we are in the middle of February, the sun is shining, and it's warm (in northern Illinois terms) outside. Due to this crazy weather, it's also hard to believe how quickly this school year is slipping by. Soon the Valentine hearts will be stored away, the shamrocks will be coming out, and then spring break (and 4th quarter) will be here.
We still have a lot of learning ahead, but I just wanted to take a moment to let you know how much I sincerely enjoy working with your children. Each and every student in 2BR has grown so much this year both socially and academically. More importantly, from the beginning of the school year until now, your children have continued to be stellar role models of what a good citizen should be.
I want to share a little "snip" of a recent day in 2BR, that reconfirmed my belief that this group of students is just a little extra special:
The other day, the class was singing 2BR's version of "Happy Birthday" to one of our newly 8 year old students. Usually on the 2nd verse, 3 or 4 students from the birthday child's table group, come to the front of the room and join the birthday boy/girl. Well, on this particular day not only did the small table group come to the front, but the entire class came to the front of the room to join the birthday child. My first instinct was to panic...I was picturing the next day's headlines: "Crowd of Wild 2nd Graders Crush Birthday Child". While keeping a very close eye on the situation, I was pleasantly surprised with how all the children gently put their arms around eachother, no wildness or craziness, and sang the remainder of the verses as one whole group of good friends. Your children have become a classroom family in a few short months. Yep...I had tears in my eyes. We have had a couple more birthdays since this day, and I'm happy to share that we have a new tradition in 2BR...the whole class comes to the front of the room on the 2nd verse. And this, my friends, is why I love my job!
Reading:
Next week your child will begin reading The Emperor’s Egg, by Martin Jenkins. This nonfiction story is set on the continent of Antarctica and tells about how the male Emperor penguin takes care of his egg. The father penguin must protect the egg for two months until it hatches. During that time, the father cannot leave the egg, not even to eat. After the egg hatches, the father keeps the chick warm and fed until the mother penguin returns to take over.
Please encourage your child to read The Emperor’s Egg over the weekend. Vocabulary Power precedes the story.
Focus Skill: Fact and Fiction
Vocabulary Power:
flippers-small fins used like hands or feet
hatch-to break out of an egg
miserable-very unhappy
slippery-not sticky, causing sliding
waddled-moved in a funny way, like a duck; horizon-where the sky seems to meet the earth
School-Home Connection:
The Next Step – This story discusses the responsibilities of the mother and father penguins. Discuss with your child what a responsibility is. Find some small jobs around the house that your child could be responsible for completing. Keep a chart of when each job has been done so that your child can see his or her progress.
Math: Unit 8 Fractions
Capacity is the amount of cargo a floating vessel can bear without sinking.
The attributes that contribute to a vessel’s ability to float are size, shape, material, and weight.
Essential Questions:
What is buoyancy?
What is capacity?
What attributes contribute to a vessel’s ability to float?
Writing: Persuasive
Students will explore the mode of persuasive writing. They will see that the main goal in persuasive writing is to convince someone to take some action or to change his/her thinking. In this unit, students write a persuasive piece that includes facts to support their opinion on a topic.
Essential Questions:
1. Know basic fractions concepts
2. Compare fractions and find equivalents
3. Solve number stories using fractions.
4. Name parts of a whole and of a collection.
1. Know basic fractions concepts
2. Compare fractions and find equivalents
3. Solve number stories using fractions.
4. Name parts of a whole and of a collection.
Science: Sink or Float
Essential Understandings:
Buoyancy is the ability of an object to float or rise when placed in a liquid. Capacity is the amount of cargo a floating vessel can bear without sinking.
The attributes that contribute to a vessel’s ability to float are size, shape, material, and weight.
Essential Questions:
What is buoyancy?
What is capacity?
What attributes contribute to a vessel’s ability to float?
Writing: Persuasive
Students will explore the mode of persuasive writing. They will see that the main goal in persuasive writing is to convince someone to take some action or to change his/her thinking. In this unit, students write a persuasive piece that includes facts to support their opinion on a topic.
