Writing Workshop
The children are writing fables in the style of those we've been reading in Gooney the Fabulous, by Lois Lowry. They've planned their story using a story element sheet, decided what they'd write on each page, added detail to bring the characters to life, and thought about good beginnings and endings. They have had a lot of fun with this twist on narrative writing. They hope to finish their stories next week!
We also began talking about parts of speech. We reviewed nouns, and the students played a game to generate as many nouns as possible. Next week we will talk about pars of sentences.
Reading Workshop
Last week we continued our study of folk tales. The children discovered a folk tale is a story that has been passed down orally through time, however today many are written and beautifully illustrated in books for children. We read "The Ant and the Grasshopper" as a class, and the children found its basic story elements including character description, setting (where, and when), problem (someone wanted something but . . . ), and solution. In addition to "The Ant and the Grasshopper," we also read "The Enormous Turnip," and "The Giant Carrot." The children used a Venn diagram to compare two versions of the same folktale.
This week the children worked with a partner to read two versions of a folktale. They found the story elements and lesson in each folktale. Then they compared the folktales using a Venn diagram. This was very challenging work, and the children worked hard to accomplish this!
We also continued reading Gooney the Fabulous by Lois Lowry. The children are using a Retell Checklist to improve their retelling skills of the fables from this book. Retelling a story with the important facts is very challenging for most students. We will continue to work on this throughout the year. A good retell should tell the following things in order:
1. name the title of the story
2. describe the main characters
3. identify the setting (when and where)
4. state the problem
5. state the solution
Ask your child to retell books they read at home! This will help you see how well they comprehend what they're reading.
Math
This week, the students finished Unit One of Investigations, and they took the final assessment for this unit. After doing this work, I heard comments like, "I love math!" and "I love story problems!" Pretty amazing! Many children have discovered the importance of showing their work when they solve math equations and story problems through this assessment. If your child struggled on any aspect of the first unit's test, please note that a wonderful feature of the Investigation Mathematics program is that concepts are continually revisited throughout the year with extensions and other applications. Plus, we review key concepts daily through our ten minute math review. Please remember, on days when math homework is not assigned, please help your child practice his/her addition and subtraction facts to 20. This is a standard your child should master by the end of second grade.
Our second unit in Investigations focuses on attributes of shapes and parts of a whole. In this unit the students will be observing and describing attributes of 2D and 3D shapes (ie. number and shape of faces, number and length of sides, number of angles and vertices) and using those attributes as they sort, construct, draw, and compare shapes.This unit also develops ideas about equal parts of a whole, focusing specifically on partitioning and describing halves, fourths, and thirds of one whole and recognizing that the same equal parts of a whole can be different shapes (ie. one half of a square).
Students have worked with 2D and 3D shapes, recognized that 3D shapes have faces that are made of 2D shapes. Children have drawn 3D geo blocks and played games such as Find the Block, Mystery Shape, and practiced using the language of 2D and 3D geometry. Ask your child to tell you about what s/he's learned!
Word work and high-frequency word wall words
The children have worked on word sorts at their level to discern between words with short and long vowel /i/ and /e/ spelling patterns. Children have discovered that CVC makes the short vowel sound, while CVCe and CVVC usually make a long vowel sound. However, long /i/can be spelled igh (VCC). Plus, short /e/ can be spelled CVVC with /ea/ such as in the word bread. Also, the CVCe spelling pattern is not common with the letter /e/. Although we discuss many spelling patterns as a class, children are only responsible to know the spelling patterns on their word list. Please ask your child to tell you his/her spelling patterns each week and have him/her explain them to you!
Please be sure to have your child practice their words at home using the fun STAR sheet in your child's take-home folder. I’ve already noticed how the students are growing in their ability to recognize spelling patterns and the sound rules they follow. This skill will enable the children to decode and spell larger, multi-syllabic words they will encounter throughout their life.
Social Studies
In honor of Columbus Day, we read Encounter by Jane Yolen which tells of Christopher Columbus coming to the new world from the native American's point of view. We also began practicing for the Living History Fair scheduled for Friday, October 25 from 8:30 to 9:30.
Halloween
Our annual Fall Parties and Character Parade are scheduled for Thursday, October 31. Please know that all festivities are food and candy free! Students should wear NOT costumes to school. They will change into their costumes during recess time.
Please be sure to complete the Google Form (linked below) to indicate your child's plans for Oct. 31.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/18y0wYQz28u_eKozoDuVmlB5UvFm6-xXzu5IAP-OjWkY/edit
This is how the day will look for 2nd grade students:
8:45: K-2 Storyteller Assembly in Auditorium
12:40 PM: K and 1st -4th Character Parade (Franklin Playground)
2:05-3:05 Party in Classroom
Veterans Day Recognition Ceremony - Over the past five years, our Veterans Day recognition ceremony has continued to grow! This year, we are preparing yet another moving celebration to honor the Veterans of our community and families. Therefore, please see the attached flyer regarding this year's assembly scheduled for Monday, November 11 at 9:00am in the Lincoln School Gym. Finally, don't forget to send in as many Veteran's Day Hero Forms that you may have to be displayed in our "Hall of Honor!"
Halloween Decorations for the gym
Please have your child complete the Halloween sheet that was sent home today and bring it back to school as soon as possible. Remember to have your child write their name clearly on the back and return it to the collection box in the office by Monday, October 21. These will be displayed in the gym during the pancake breakfast.
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Thank you for signing up for a conference. If you still need to sign up, please follow the instructions provided in the Lincoln Log. I look forward to seeing you to share your child's accomplishments in the first trimester.
The children are writing fables in the style of those we've been reading in Gooney the Fabulous, by Lois Lowry. They've planned their story using a story element sheet, decided what they'd write on each page, added detail to bring the characters to life, and thought about good beginnings and endings. They have had a lot of fun with this twist on narrative writing. They hope to finish their stories next week!
We also began talking about parts of speech. We reviewed nouns, and the students played a game to generate as many nouns as possible. Next week we will talk about pars of sentences.
Reading Workshop
Last week we continued our study of folk tales. The children discovered a folk tale is a story that has been passed down orally through time, however today many are written and beautifully illustrated in books for children. We read "The Ant and the Grasshopper" as a class, and the children found its basic story elements including character description, setting (where, and when), problem (someone wanted something but . . . ), and solution. In addition to "The Ant and the Grasshopper," we also read "The Enormous Turnip," and "The Giant Carrot." The children used a Venn diagram to compare two versions of the same folktale.
This week the children worked with a partner to read two versions of a folktale. They found the story elements and lesson in each folktale. Then they compared the folktales using a Venn diagram. This was very challenging work, and the children worked hard to accomplish this!
We also continued reading Gooney the Fabulous by Lois Lowry. The children are using a Retell Checklist to improve their retelling skills of the fables from this book. Retelling a story with the important facts is very challenging for most students. We will continue to work on this throughout the year. A good retell should tell the following things in order:
1. name the title of the story
2. describe the main characters
3. identify the setting (when and where)
4. state the problem
5. state the solution
Ask your child to retell books they read at home! This will help you see how well they comprehend what they're reading.
Math
This week, the students finished Unit One of Investigations, and they took the final assessment for this unit. After doing this work, I heard comments like, "I love math!" and "I love story problems!" Pretty amazing! Many children have discovered the importance of showing their work when they solve math equations and story problems through this assessment. If your child struggled on any aspect of the first unit's test, please note that a wonderful feature of the Investigation Mathematics program is that concepts are continually revisited throughout the year with extensions and other applications. Plus, we review key concepts daily through our ten minute math review. Please remember, on days when math homework is not assigned, please help your child practice his/her addition and subtraction facts to 20. This is a standard your child should master by the end of second grade.
Our second unit in Investigations focuses on attributes of shapes and parts of a whole. In this unit the students will be observing and describing attributes of 2D and 3D shapes (ie. number and shape of faces, number and length of sides, number of angles and vertices) and using those attributes as they sort, construct, draw, and compare shapes.This unit also develops ideas about equal parts of a whole, focusing specifically on partitioning and describing halves, fourths, and thirds of one whole and recognizing that the same equal parts of a whole can be different shapes (ie. one half of a square).
Students have worked with 2D and 3D shapes, recognized that 3D shapes have faces that are made of 2D shapes. Children have drawn 3D geo blocks and played games such as Find the Block, Mystery Shape, and practiced using the language of 2D and 3D geometry. Ask your child to tell you about what s/he's learned!
Word work and high-frequency word wall words
The children have worked on word sorts at their level to discern between words with short and long vowel /i/ and /e/ spelling patterns. Children have discovered that CVC makes the short vowel sound, while CVCe and CVVC usually make a long vowel sound. However, long /i/can be spelled igh (VCC). Plus, short /e/ can be spelled CVVC with /ea/ such as in the word bread. Also, the CVCe spelling pattern is not common with the letter /e/. Although we discuss many spelling patterns as a class, children are only responsible to know the spelling patterns on their word list. Please ask your child to tell you his/her spelling patterns each week and have him/her explain them to you!
Please be sure to have your child practice their words at home using the fun STAR sheet in your child's take-home folder. I’ve already noticed how the students are growing in their ability to recognize spelling patterns and the sound rules they follow. This skill will enable the children to decode and spell larger, multi-syllabic words they will encounter throughout their life.
Social Studies
In honor of Columbus Day, we read Encounter by Jane Yolen which tells of Christopher Columbus coming to the new world from the native American's point of view. We also began practicing for the Living History Fair scheduled for Friday, October 25 from 8:30 to 9:30.
Halloween
Our annual Fall Parties and Character Parade are scheduled for Thursday, October 31. Please know that all festivities are food and candy free! Students should wear NOT costumes to school. They will change into their costumes during recess time.
Please be sure to complete the Google Form (linked below) to indicate your child's plans for Oct. 31.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/18y0wYQz28u_eKozoDuVmlB5UvFm6-xXzu5IAP-OjWkY/edit
This is how the day will look for 2nd grade students:
8:45: K-2 Storyteller Assembly in Auditorium
12:40 PM: K and 1st -4th Character Parade (Franklin Playground)
2:05-3:05 Party in Classroom
Veterans Day Recognition Ceremony - Over the past five years, our Veterans Day recognition ceremony has continued to grow! This year, we are preparing yet another moving celebration to honor the Veterans of our community and families. Therefore, please see the attached flyer regarding this year's assembly scheduled for Monday, November 11 at 9:00am in the Lincoln School Gym. Finally, don't forget to send in as many Veteran's Day Hero Forms that you may have to be displayed in our "Hall of Honor!"
Halloween Decorations for the gym
Please have your child complete the Halloween sheet that was sent home today and bring it back to school as soon as possible. Remember to have your child write their name clearly on the back and return it to the collection box in the office by Monday, October 21. These will be displayed in the gym during the pancake breakfast.
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Thank you for signing up for a conference. If you still need to sign up, please follow the instructions provided in the Lincoln Log. I look forward to seeing you to share your child's accomplishments in the first trimester.