Projects

     Boy!  Did the time lines come out FANTASTIC!  They all really did come out great and it was fun to watch the children present them to the class.  It was very clear that they were excited about their projects.  I thought I had a picture to post but it disappeared from my phone.  Stay tuned for that.

     We have been reading lots of great things in class.  First, we are in the middle of reading The Littles Go Exploring.  The Littles have set off down the brook looking for Grandpa.  They accidentally found a group of Brook Tinies who invited them for lunch and told them they have seen Grandpa.  The Brook Tinies warned the Littles that it was dangerous to continue down the river but the Littles decided to keep on going.  They want to find out what happened to Grandpa.

     We also have read two non-fiction books.  One about Buddy the first seeing eye dog and another about Penguins.  We have been reading Tacky the Penguin books too.  Tacky is an "odd bird but a good bird to have around".  Ask your child to tell you more about him.

     This up coming week will be fun.  Last week, I went to a day long workshop on science.  It was FUN!  This week I plan on sharing the owl pellets.  I have two already dissected and one ready to go. We had hoped to check them out on Friday but time got the better of us so I PROMISED we'd do it on Tuesday.  I know they are excited about them.  There were lots of disappointed faces on Friday.

     We are starting our animal diorama projects this week.  Directions will come home tomorrow but basically, the students pick an animal to research, answer questions on, and create a diorama about.  A diorama is a scene in a shoe box.  Ideally, each student will pick a different animal so we can learn from each other's projects.  On Thursday, the children will have the opportunity to check out books about animals from library to aide in their research.  Start thinking about what animal you'd like to choose.  Remember, this is your child's project and I know you'll have to help but the diorama does not need to look like it belongs in the Museum of Fine Arts. ( I'll search for some pictures from last year to share-stay tuned for that too.)

     I'm feel as though I haven't been posting as much as I'd like.  I will be completing my Retell course this week.  It's a course all teachers must take in order to renew their certification.  I've been taking it since Sept. and it isn't hard but it is LABOR INTENSIVE.  It ends this week-whoop whoop.  I know you all feel me when I say I don't have a spare second in my life (does any parent?).  So fitting this course in has been a nightmare challenge.  I should be back to my old (but still overbooked) life by Friday-YIPEE!

Timelines

     Today, I sent home a timeline project.  It is not due until next Friday but I thought that some students may want to get a start on the weekend when they may have more time.  We have created a few timelines in class, one on Martin Luther King and one on Miss Nicole, so the process is familiar to your child.  Make them colorful.  I will use them to decorate the hallway.  Most importantly, HAVE FUN!!!

Happy 2015

     Happy New Year everyone one.   I hope your winter break was full of fun and you're ready to start a wonderful 2015!!! 

     We wrote our resolutions for the New Year.  Let's hope we all try our best to make ourselves or our world better.  We also wrote about our vacations and winter.

     We are off and running this week.  We are reading all different things.  Some students are reading about Buddy and some about a Principal from the Black Lagoon.  We are all reading about The Littles.  They are heading out on an adventure to find Grandpa.

   In math, we have been working on some geometry and measurement.  We found the perimeter of squares and rectangles today.  Did you know that all squares are rectangles?  As your child to explain to you why this is so. 

     Our field trip to the theater is on January 29.  There may have been an incorrect date on a previous notice so please mark you calendar accordingly.

     This Friday is Patriot's Day.  Wear red, white and blue to help cheer our beloved football team to victory.  I'm pretty sure that Derek and Jason will have football jerseys on but for different teams.  For some crazy reason they never root, root, root for the home team. 
    

    

VACATION

  I'm super excited for winter break and I hope you are too.  Although I don't have big plans, it will be great to hang out with my family.

     Today we "played" in quite a few learning centers.

Sentence sort

wrote silly sentences

abc order

made plural

matched synonyms

mischievous fella

     We finished up reading Amber Brown is Not A Crayon.  Be sure to have your child tell you all about Amber and Justin.  Have them tell you about their class field trip to China as well.

     Tuesday is a half day and pajama day.  Dismissal will be at 12:30.  Your child may pack a fun party snack and we will have a little celebration during snack time.  FUN!!

     Thank you all for the class gift stuffed with my favorites!  I can't wait to get myself a new outfit and take Mr. Potamis out on a dinner date!  It was very generous of you!

     Best wishes for a fun holiday, wonderful break and New Year full of love and laughter!

 

Gingerbread

     We had fun this past week with gingerbread.  We wrote stories about how we eat them and did an experiment on what would happen if a gingerbread man got wet.  The students were really excited about that.  Mrs. Connors let us borrow her collection of gingerbread books.  Ask your child to tell you about some of them.

     We practiced counting coins.  Please keep practicing at home.

      I missed the Winter Program on Friday but was told that it was fantastic.  In fact, I was told that this years show was the best yet.  I knew our class would steal the show after performing on Thursday for the school.  Those second grader sure can sing.  Their voices are beautiful. 


     Please contact me if you would like to make up your missed conference time. 


     This week will be jammed packed.  We will be writing about a time we spent with someone special, on Thursday we will shop at the school Holiday Workshop, and on Friday we will be walking to the movies.  What fun!


     Your child's school supplies are probably running low.  This time of year is a good time to replenish.  Glue sticks dry out, pencils have been sharpened to stubs, crayons break, folders rip and markers dry out.
   

December

     Can you believe it's December already?   The first trimester has ended and report cards will be sent home next week.  It's important to remember that report cards have changed A LOT.  Grades are related to the Common Core Standards and reflect EVERYTHING that we will learn in second grade not just what was taught thus far.  It's impossible to master a skill that hasn't even been introduced yet.


     Most of you have already signed up for a conference.  Tues. is a half day for conferences and there are conferences on Thursday evening as well.  If you haven't set up a time yet and want to, just let me know. 


     The Wyman Holiday show will be next Friday, Dec. 12, at 9:00.  We have a lot of practicing to do before then but I don't doubt that we will be fantastic.


     On Monday, we had Wingmasters come into school with a show about birds and Native Americans.  It was awesome.  Check out these pictures.

     Have you heard the exciting news yet?  Our class won Walking Wednesday again!  WHOOOHOOO!!!

Parent Teacher Conferences

Hi everyone.  Log into Edline to get directions on how to sign up for a conference.  I'll send a notice, with direction, home tomorrow on how to book a time if you can't log into Edline.