Post 27

IMPORTANT DATES:

Thursday, May 11, 2017 - 12:30 Release

Thursday, June 8, 2017 - Field Trip - Boston Children's Museum

REMINDERS: 

CAP: Please send back signed CAP forms (see email sent today for forms). You child needs a signed form to participate.

Water bottles: Please make sure to send your child to school with a sport top water bottle (i.e. one that will not spill when tipped over) each morning that s/he should bring into class each morning to keep on his/her table to have easy access to water throughout the day. Thanks! 

Wow words: Please continue to help your child gather new words each week through their reading and your conversations at home and bring them in on Wow Word Wednesday. Here are links to an online dictionary (Merriam Webster for kids - Word Central) and our wow word worksheet in case you need a new one. This is an ongoing reminder for the year. Please make acquiring new words part of your home routine.

CURRICULUM UPDATE:

In reading: 

• We worked in our folktale unit. 
• We compared elements of realistic fiction and folktales.
• We began learning about fables. We determined fable elements and charted them, have been fable moral detectives and compared ancient and modern fables. 

At home, read fables together. Work to be moral detectives and try to determine the morals together. There are many fables online.  

Next week, we will continue reading and learning more about fables.

In fundations (word study): 

• We began working in unit 11, which covers the long e sound. 
• We used the spelling options procedure to practice writing words with long e.  

At home, please refer to the Units 1-11 family letter to learn how you can support our word study work at home. Also, look though the fundations/word study section on my website. There, you will find all of the first and second grade trick words. If your child needs practice with these words, please practice through activities such as playing bingo, memory or through reviewing them on flashcards. Here is a link to a great website with different sight word games that you might like to try. 

Next week, we will continue working in unit 11.

In social studies: 

• We learned about Confucius and read proverbs.
• We compared routine events in our lives with those of a child in China.
• We compared life in rural and urban China.

At home, ask your child what they have learned and still wonder about China. Guide them to find answers to their lingering questions.       

Next week, we will continue our unit on China.

In writing: 

• We wrote letters to share our opinions about characters and books.
• We practiced editing for punctuation.
• We wrote stories for National Tell A Story Day 

Next week, we will continue working in our opinion writing unit.

In math:

• We reviewed fractions using different materials, such as folded paper and pattern blocks.
• We measured different parts of our classroom using inches and centimeters.

At home, continue to look for ways to include math in your daily conversations. Here is a website called Bedtime Math, whose mission is to "help kids love numbers so they can handle the math in real life." They also have an app with daily problems that are often linked to a quick movie or picture. It's a great way to weave math into your daily routines.
  

Next week, we will work in our measurement unit.

Have a great weekend!

Post 26

IMPORTANT DATES:

Friday, April 14, 2017 - NO SCHOOL - Good Friday

Monday, April 17 - Friday, April 21, 2017 - NO SCHOOL - Spring Vacation

Thursday, May 11, 2017 - 12:30 Release

Thursday, June 8, 2017 - Field Trip - Boston Children's Museum

REMINDERS: 

CAP: Please send back signed CAP forms (see email sent today for forms). You child needs a signed form to participate.

Water bottles: Please make sure to send your child to school with a sport top water bottle (i.e. one that will not spill when tipped over) each morning that s/he should bring into class each morning to keep on his/her table to have easy access to water throughout the day. Thanks! 

Wow words: Please continue to help your child gather new words each week through their reading and your conversations at home and bring them in on Wow Word Wednesday. Here are links to an online dictionary (Merriam Webster for kids - Word Central) and our wow word worksheet in case you need a new one. This is an ongoing reminder for the year. Please make acquiring new words part of your home routine.

CURRICULUM UPDATE:

In reading: 

• We began our next unit on folktales. 
• We listened to Anansi the Spider and The Enormous Turnip during read aloud and discussed character, setting, problem and solution within these folktales.
• We buddy read folktales of our choice and charted characters, setting, problem and solution in our own folktales.

At home, read folktales together. Take a trip to the library and head to the folktale section. Perhaps you can choose different versions of the same folktale from different countries (such as these Cinderella stories).   

Next week, we will continue reading and learning more about folktales.

In fundations (word study): 

• We continued working in unit 10, in which we focused on the vowel teams ai and ay. Students used the spelling options procedure again to determine the conventional spelling of these words. 
• Trick words: America, thought, school  

At home, please refer to the Units 1-11 family letter to learn how you can support our word study work at home. Also, look though the fundations/word study section on my website. There, you will find all of the first and second grade trick words. If your child needs practice with these words, please practice through activities such as playing bingo, memory or through reviewing them on flashcards. Here is a link to a great website with different sight word games that you might like to try. 

Next week, we will finish our work in unit 10 and move onto unit 11.

In social studies: 

• We learned about the Yangtze River and how it impacts the people of China.
• We learned about the Forbidden City and wrote about what we learned about Chinese culture and history.
• Kiran presented a powerpoint about the Great Wall of China and we wrote about what we noticed in photos of the Great Wall and why the Great Wall was built.

At home, ask your child what they have learned and still wonder about China. Guide them to find answers to their lingering questions.       

Next week, we will continue our unit on China.

In writing: 

• We wrote letters to share our opinions about characters and books.

Next week, we will continue working in our opinion writing unit.

In math:

• We used inches and centimeters to measure arm spans and standing jumps.
• We created a tally chart, line plot, and bar graph based on our class arm span data.
• We solved story problems involving difference.

At home, continue to look for ways to include math in your daily conversations. Here is a website called Bedtime Math, whose mission is to "help kids love numbers so they can handle the math in real life." They also have an app with daily problems that are often linked to a quick movie or picture. It's a great way to weave math into your daily routines.
  

Next week, we will continue our unit on subtraction, data and fractions.

Enjoy your week! 

Post 25

IMPORTANT DATES:

Friday, April 14, 2017 - NO SCHOOL - Good Friday

Monday, April 17 - Friday, April 21, 2017 - NO SCHOOL - Spring Vacation

Thursday, May 11, 2017 - 12:30 Release

Thursday, June 8, 2017 - Field Trip - Boston Children's Museum

REMINDERS: 

Water bottles: Please make sure to send your child to school with a sport top water bottle (i.e. one that will not spill when tipped over) each morning that s/he should bring into class each morning to keep on his/her table to have easy access to water throughout the day. Thanks! 

Wow words: Please continue to help your child gather new words each week through their reading and your conversations at home and bring them in on Wow Word Wednesday. Here are links to an online dictionary (Merriam Webster for kids - Word Central) and our wow word worksheet in case you need a new one. This is an ongoing reminder for the year. Please make acquiring new words part of your home routine.

CURRICULUM UPDATE:

In reading: 

• We practiced making inferences as a comprehension strategy while reading. We defined inference as: 

              clues from text (words or illustrations) + background knowledge = inference

At home, ask your child what questions they have before, during and after they read. Also see if they can find places in their reading in which they can make an inference.   

Next week, we will begin a unit on folktales that includes fables, trickster tales and pourquoi stories.

In fundations (word study): 

• We worked in unit 10, in which we focused on the vowel teams ai and ay. Students used the spelling options procedure again to determine the conventional spelling of these words. 
• Trick words: country, great, away  

At home, please refer to the Units 1-10 family letter to learn how you can support our word study work at home. Also, look though the fundations/word study section on my website. There, you will find all of the first and second grade trick words. If your child needs practice with these words, please practice through activities such as playing bingo, memory or through reviewing them on flashcards. Here is a link to a great website with different sight word games that you might like to try. 

Next week, we will continue our work in unit 10.

In social studies: 

• We watched a video and read chapters from non-fiction books about China to learn more about Beijing. We discussed what we would like to see if we were to visit Beijing.
• We discussed buyers, sellers, consumers and producers. 
• We learned about the Yellow River and how it impacts the people of China.

At home, ask your child what they have learned and still wonder about China. Guide them to find answers to their lingering questions.       

Next week, we will continue our unit on China.

In writing: 

• We wrote letters to share our opinions about characters and books.

Next week, we will continue working in our opinion writing unit.

In math:

• We played a game called Hit the Target that dealt with finding the difference between two numbers.
• Practiced solving addition problems with 4-6 addends.
• We solved a problem involving wubbles (fictional characters that double every night!!)

At home, continue to look for ways to include math in your daily conversations. Here is a website about why it's important to talk with your kids about math. 
  

Next week, we will continue our unit on subtraction, data and fractions.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Post 24

IMPORTANT DATES:

Friday, April 14, 2017 - NO SCHOOL - Good Friday

Monday, April 17 - Friday, April 21, 2017 - NO SCHOOL - Spring Vacation

Thursday, May 11, 2017 - 12:30 Release

Thursday, June 8, 2017 - Field Trip - Boston Children's Museum

REMINDERS: 

Water bottles: Please make sure to send your child to school with a sport top water bottle (i.e. one that will not spill when tipped over) each morning that s/he should bring into class each morning to keep on his/her table to have easy access to water throughout the day. Thanks! 

Wow words: Please continue to help your child gather new words each week through their reading and your conversations at home and bring them in on Wow Word Wednesday. Here are links to an online dictionary (Merriam Webster for kids - Word Central) and our wow word worksheet in case you need a new one. This is an ongoing reminder for the year. Please make acquiring new words part of your home routine.

CURRICULUM UPDATE:

In reading: 

• We worked on asking questions when we read as a comprehension strategy. We worked on asking an answering questions before, during and after reading.
• We practiced making inferences as a comprehension strategy while reading. We defined inference as: 

              clues from text (words or illustrations) + background knowledge = inference

At home, ask your child what questions they have before, during and after they read. Also see if they can find places in their reading in which they can make an inference. 

Next week, we will continue our unit on inferring and questioning.

In fundations (word study): 

• We completed unit 9.
• We began unit 10, in which we will focus on the vowel teams ai and ay. Students will use the spelling options procedure again to determine the conventional spelling of these words.  

At home, please refer to the Units 1-10 family letter to learn how you can support our word study work at home. Also, look though the fundations/word study section on my website. There, you will find all of the first and second grade trick words. If your child needs practice with these words, please practice through activities such as playing bingo, memory or through reviewing them on flashcards. Here is a link to a great website with different sight word games that you might like to try. 

Next week, we will continue our work in unit 10.

In social studies: 

• We had an amazing trip to the Chinese Cultural Center! While we were there, we practiced calligraphy, learned about the abacus, learned about mahjong, made a Chinese lantern, learned about and made dumplings and watched a dance performance with traditional music.  
• We wrote articles about what we learned on our field trip.
• We read and recalled facts about China.
• We colored the Chinese flag.
• We revisited maps of China to determine the size, location and geographic features of China.

At home, ask your child what they have learned and still wonder about China. Guide them to find answers to their lingering questions.       

Next week, we will continue our unit on China.

In writing: 

• We wrote letters to share our opinions about characters.

Next week, we will continue working in our opinion writing unit.

In math:

• We solved mixed addition and subtracted number stories.
• We practiced telling time on analog clocks. 
• We solved array number stories and played array bingo to begin seeing multiplication as repeated addition.

At home, continue to look for ways to include math in your daily conversations. Here is a website about why it's important to talk with your kids about math. 
  

Next week, we will begin a unit on subtraction, data and fractions.

Have a great weekend!

Post 23

IMPORTANT DATES:

Monday, March 27, 2017 - Field Trip - Greater Boston Cultural Center

Thursday, June 8, 2017 - Field Trip - Boston Children's Museum

This email was sent to you earlier this week regarding our trip on Monday:

Dear Second Grade Families,

We are excited for our field trip to the Chinese Cultural Center this Monday (March 27th).  It is especially important your child arrives to school on time. Here are some details that will help us all prepare for our visit. 

• Please send your child to school with a paper bag lunch.  You should write your child's name on the bag. 

Please note: Students will be making dumplings in one of the workshops.  Students will also be offered fortune cookies. 

• If you have a concern regarding allergies and would like your child to avoid working with or eating the dumplings (or fortune cookies), please let us know.

Should there be any concerns regarding weather, please plan as though we are still going and send a bag lunch.  

Looking forward to a fun field trip!

Signed,

The Second Grade Team 

REMINDERS: 

Water bottles: Please make sure to send your child to school with a sport top water bottle (i.e. one that will not spill when tipped over) each morning that s/he should bring into class each morning to keep on his/her table to have easy access to water throughout the day. Thanks! 

Wow words: Please continue to help your child gather new words each week through their reading and your conversations at home and bring them in on Wow Word Wednesday. Here are links to an online dictionary (Merriam Webster for kids - Word Central) and our wow word worksheet in case you need a new one. This is an ongoing reminder for the year. Please make acquiring new words part of your home routine.

CURRICULUM UPDATE:

In reading: 

• We worked on asking questions when we read as a comprehension strategy. We worked on asking an answering questions before, during and after reading.
• We read books about China and noted what learned and what we wonder.

At home, ask your child what questions they have before, during and after they read. 

Next week, we will continue our unit on inferring and questioning.

In fundations (word study): 

• We worked in unit 9, in which we focus on the sounds of er, ir and ur. These are trickier, as they all make the same sound! Students are using the spelling options procedure to determine the conventional spelling of these words.  

At home, please refer to the Unit 9 family letter to learn how you can support our word study work at home. Also, look though the fundations/word study section on my website. There, you will find all of the first and second grade trick words. If your child needs practice with these words, please practice through activities such as playing bingo, memory or through reviewing them on flashcards. Here is a link to a great website with different sight word games that you might like to try. 

Next week, we will finish our work in unit 9 an begin unit 10. 

In social studies: 

• We read books about China to learn more information about China.
• We looked at 7 different maps of China and discussed what we learned about China from these maps.

At home, ask your child what they have learned and still wonder about China. Guide them to find answers to their lingering questions.       

Next week, we will continue our unit on China.

In writing: 

• We learned the 5 parts of a friendly letter an practiced writing friendly letters about influential people in our lives.
• We discussed and practiced using periods after telling sentences and abbreviations.

Next week, we will continue working in our opinion writing unit.

In math:

• We continued practicing the partial sums algorithm.
• We solved comparison number stories and drew diagrams to show our thinking.
• We applied our problem solving skills to solve a problem about how many candies would fit in a jar.
• We made a game with a partner that would allow students to practice their double digit addition and subtraction skills.  

At home, look for ways to include math in your daily conversations. Check out this website about how to include math talk at home.
  

Next week, we will working with mixed addition and subtraction number stories and telling time.

Enjoy the weekend!

   

Post 22

IMPORTANT DATES:

Monday, March 27, 2017 - Field Trip - Greater Boston Cultural Center

Thursday, June 8, 2017 - Field Trip - Boston Children's Museum

On the day of each trip, please send your child to school with a paper bag lunch. We will not be purchasing lunch on either trip. We'll remind you and fill in details closer to our field trips.

REMINDERS: 

Water bottles: Please make sure to send your child to school with a sport top water bottle (i.e. one that will not spill when tipped over) each morning that s/he should bring into class each morning to keep on his/her table to have easy access to water throughout the day. Thanks! 

Wow words: Please continue to help your child gather new words each week through their reading and your conversations at home and bring them in on Wow Word Wednesday. Here are links to an online dictionary (Merriam Webster for kids - Word Central) and our wow word worksheet in case you need a new one. This is an ongoing reminder for the year. Please make acquiring new words part of your home routine.

CURRICULUM UPDATE:

In reading we: 

• Read Ivy and Bean
• Worked in our independent reading books to explain ways that characters change and stay the same throughout our books and make personal connections between our friendships and friendships that we are reading about.

At home, talk to your child about the characters in their books. How are they similar or different from their characters? How are their characters changing in their books? Why do they think their characters are changing? 

Next week, we will work in our new unit on inferring and questioning.

In Fundations (Word Study): 

• We worked in unit 9, in which we focus on the sounds of er, ir and ur. These are trickier, as they all make the same sound! Students are using the spelling options procedure to determine the conventional spelling of these words.  
• Trick words - picture, learn, and earth.

At home, please refer to the Unit 9 family letter to learn how you can support our word study work at home. Also, look though the fundations/word study section on my website. There, you will find all of the first and second grade trick words. If your child needs practice with these words, please practice through activities such as playing bingo, memory or through reviewing them on flashcards. Here is a link to a great website with different sight word games that you might like to try. 

Next week, we will continue our work in unit 9. 

In writing/social studies: 

• We finished our special writing project on Mexico and most students have published their Mexican teaching books.
• We flew to China and shared what we already know and want to know about China.

At home, talk to your child about China. Ask about what they want to know about China. Help them explore their interests to learn more through books and the internet.       

Next week, in writing, we will begin a new unit on opinion writing. In social studies, we will be studying China. 

In math:

• We learned about "ballpark estimates" and used them to help determine if our calculated sums seemed appropriate. 
• We learned more about the partial sums algorithm and practiced using it.
• We solved addition problems with 3 or more addends by rearranging numbers to make problems friendlier. 

At home, ask your child about ballpark estimates, present a double digit addition problem and ask her/him to show you how they would solve it using partial sums or have your child show you how they would rearrange these number to make this problem friendlier:

14 + 2 + 3 + 15 + 1 + 5 =
  

Next week, we will continue to practice using the partial sums algorithm, solve comparison number stories, and practice organizing and displaying data in a bar graph.

Have a great weekend!

   

Post 21

REMINDERS: 

Conferences: It has been wonderful meeting with families in this round of conferences and I look forward to meeting with others next week. Please sign up for a conference if you have not already do so.

Water bottles: Please make sure to send your child to school with a sport top water bottle each morning that s/he should bring into class each morning to keep on his/her table to have easy access to water throughout the day. Thanks! 

Wow words: Please continue to help your child gather new words each week through their reading and your conversations at home and bring them in on Wow Word Wednesday. Here are links to an online dictionary (Merriam Webster for kids - Word Central) and our wow word worksheet in case you need a new one. This is an ongoing reminder for the year. Please make acquiring new words part of your home routine.

CURRICULUM UPDATE:

In reading we: 

• Continued reading books about friendship, charting character traits and events.
• Worked in our independent reading books to make predictions, ask questions and retell important events in order.

At home, talk to your child about his/her predictions, questions, and what is happening in their books that they are reading.

Next week, we will continue reading Ivy and Bean and begin our new unit on inferring and questioning.

In Fundations (Word Study): 

• We finished our work in unit 8, in which we we focused on ar and or r-controlled syllables.
• We began unit 9, in which we focus on the sounds of er, ir and ur. These are trickier, as they all make the same sound! Students are using the spelling options procedure (ask your child what this is!) to determine the conventional spelling of these words.  
• Our new trick words are picture, learn, and earth.

At home, please refer to the Unit 9 family letter to learn how you can support our word study work at home. Also, look though the fundations/word study section on my website. There, you will find all of the first and second grade trick words. If your child needs practice with these words, please practice through activities such as playing bingo, memory or through reviewing them on flashcards. Here is a link to a great website with different sight word games that you might like to try. 

Next week, we will continue our work in unit 9. 

In writing/social studies: 

• We continued our special writing project on Mexico. We moved our notes from our graphic organizers to our books, practiced using sentence starters for our introductions and conclusions, and heard our classmate's introductions and conclusions for inspiration.  

At home, talk with your child about his/her Mexico book.      

Next week, we will wrap up our Mexico writing project. 

In math:

• We solved addition and subtraction problems, sharing our strategies. 
• We used cubes to build numbers and solved addition and subtraction problems with them.

At home, present addition and subtraction problems to your child and have him/her show you how s/he solved it.

Next week, we will continue practicing strategies for solving double digit addition and subtraction problems.

Enjoy the weekend! Stay warm!