Scaredy Squirrel

     This week was Scaredy Squirrel week. Scaredy is one of my favorite storybook characters.  He's afraid of everything.  He creates emergency plans that never work, plays dead, then realizes there is nothing to be afraid of.

     Students have started studying habitats.  We sorted living things from both a pond and rain forest habitat.  Next week we will explore desert and arctic habitats.

     We have been measuring and estimating measurements all week.   This week's focus was on inches, and feet.  We will be measuring in centimeters and meters soon.

     Today, I played the music for our holiday program for the first time in class.  The children have been practicing for weeks in music class, but I hadn't watched.   SUCH FUN.   The kids were having the best time singing and dancing.  It's going to be a spectacular program.

     Next Friday we will have a test on locating continents and oceans on a map.  A study guide will be sent home on Monday, so be sure to watch for it.

Halloween

     Halloween seems like so long ago.  Students had lots of fun Trick or Trek-ing around the school.  My understanding is over $15,000 was raised by the PTO.  That's just amazing.

     We have been reading one of my favorite stories ever this week, The Rough-Faced Girl.  I cry every time I read the happy ending.   Today, we focused on the main idea of the beginning, middle and end.  Earlier this week, we compared and contrasted the story to another very famous fairytale.  Ask your child which one?  Let your student compare and contrast the two stories for you.

Describing with adjectives.

    Students have worked hard turning their heritage homework into a narrative.  I'm looking forward to having the students share them next week.  Thank you for all your help at home with this assignment.  If you'd like to come into class to share even more about your family's heritage or traditions, we'd love to have you.

     In math, we've been solving word problems, one of the trickiest things for second graders.  I encourage students to underline the question to ensure they know what is being asked of them.  Students should then circle the numbers in the problem that they will use to solve it.  When they have an answer, students should go back to the question to be sure their answer makes sense.  VERY TRICKY STUFF and we will practice all year long.

     We have finished growing our plants and learning about what plants need and have moved on to animal/plant dependence.  Today we used craft materials to try to spread pollen and seeds like insects and other animals do.  It was fun.  

     Lucky us had TWO mystery readers today.  I encourage all families to participate, so let me know if you are ready to set up a time.  It takes ten minutes and students are thrilled to share both their worlds, home and school, with each other.   You can bring in your favorite story, or I can have one ready for you.