Interactive Blog Links for the week: (right hand column)
Reading Target Skills:
Multiple Meaning Words
Multiple Meaning Words Jeopardy
Explore Books:
Choose any link in this category
Grammar:
Homophones
Social Studies:
Top Tab: Pearson On-line books (access with student username and password)
Math Practice Sites:
Area
Capacity
Volume
Math Playground Area/Perimeter
Measure Funbrain
Otter Creek Math Facts: (make your own flash cards)
Right hand column of this blog_Math Practice Sites_Mastering Math Facts Practice Sets
Dear Families,
I hope you have been relaxing and enjoying a wonderful spring break.
What a tremendous journey we have been on and will continue into 4th quarter. As we enter these last 9 weeks of school, I will continue to encourage the kids to work hard and finish strong! Although the spring weather looks like it's here to stay, and outdoor activities begin to become a part of our lives, please continue to encourage your children to read daily and to practice math facts as well. Now, and throughout the summer, these two academic activities are important for your child's retention and continued growth.
Writing:
Our review writing over the last few weeks has really shown me how the children have grown as writers. Many of them came in only able to write a few sentences and now, for their reviews, they are writing 2, 5-8 sentence paragraph papers with a lead.
On Tuesday, we had the opportunity to meet with the 3rd grade teachers and ask them what things do they feel are essential to a beginning third grader. Some of the things they mentioned were using periods and capitals correctly, writing paragraphs with additional details and using their resources to self edit. This quarter, I will pushing the children to improve these skills and to utilize conventional spelling, when they know it, in their writing.
When we return from break, we will be completing our good copy reviews and sharing them with each other. (I love the process of sharing their work - they hone and improve each other's skills just by listening and asking questions. How cool is that?)
Right hand column of this blog_Writing_4-Square Graphic Organizer-2nd Grade
Reading:
This week we have been reading the story Max Found Two Sticks. It is the story of a little boy who doesn't feel like talking one day. While he is outside, he finds 2 sticks and uses them to drum on a variety of different objects.
Focus Skill - multiple meaning words. We are looking at words that are spelled the same and said the same but have different meanings. For example:
The leaves are starting to grow on the trees.
The family leaves the restaurant.
Please read the story and the vocabulary with your child when they bring home their books on 4/5. Our assessment will be on 4/9.
Vocabulary Power:
appeared-came into view
conductor-someone who is in charge of a train
created-made or designed something
imitated-copied something or someone
rhythm-a regular beat in music, poetry, or
dance
startled-surprised someone and made the person
jump
Math:
After break, we will review and finish up unit 9 on measurement. The assessment will be on Wednesday 4/4. At the end of the week, we will turn to unit 10. The learning in unit 10 will include:
Reviewing notation and equivalencies for money amounts
Providing experiences with comparing prices, estimating costs and making change
Developing and extending place value concepts
Again, when we met with the 3rd grade team on Wednesday, we discussed math and important skills for beginning 3rd graders. One item they mentioned was the importance of children knowing their basic addition and subtraction facts with automaticity. Please continue to practice facts with your children throughout this quarter and into the summer as well.
Social Studies:
We completed our unit on Economy the week before break with our producer/consumer project. The children used their imaginations and creativity to produce all sorts of goods to sell. Their "gold tickets" earned for the week were exchanged for spending "money". Not only did the students have a wonderful time shopping, but Mr. Raczak, Mrs. Keene, Mrs. Golat, and Mrs. Caul joined in the fun!
Our next unit will be on Geography. The essential questions will be:
1. What are types of landforms?
2. What are the different continents and bodies of water?
3. What are natural resources and how do we care for and protect them?
4. How do you identify landforms on a map?
Volunteers Wanted for 2nd Edition:
Hi parents,
Our second graders have been working really hard in creating a book of poetry and need help to publish it. Please help if you can. Thanks,
Sudha Ananthanarayan
LMC News
Mrs. May has noticed that a number of books have gone missing from the library this year. Could you please take a few minutes during your spring cleaning to look around your home and see if you can locate any books that belong to our LMC? I know that Mrs. May would greatly appreciate any and all finds!
