Reader's Workshop:
Non-fiction is
still our focus in Reader’s Workshop. We
read aloud parts of Salamander Rain and noted on a chart the non-fiction
text features that we noticed. We
discussed how to approach the text as a reader and what might good readers do
as they come across these features. We finished out the week by reading Wacky
Plant Cycle, paying close attention to the voice of the narrator and
character. Students brainstormed a list
of things they saw in the text. Then we
re-read the first part of Wacky Plant Cycle, the students had to
“listen” to hear the different writing styles that were found in this
story. The students looked for
non-fiction features and structures in their books and shared with other
classmates. During this time the readers
wrote what non-fiction features they noticed in their reader’s notebook.
Writer’s Workshop:
Most students have finished with their small moment illustration
and are getting excited to share their piece during our “Let’s Read S’More”
celebration on Thursday, March 28th. This past week the writers had the
opportunity to write about many topics.
One topic- “Being Lucky”, many students felt that having a family that
loved them was very lucky, such sweet and loving kids! Some kids wrote letters to Lucky the
Leprechaun to thank him for the special treats we all received on St. Patty’s
Day. During this time, we are also
talking about using the correct punctuation in their writing.
Calling all bird experts!! We are just beginning our Non-Fiction
Unit of Study on Michigan Birds! If you have any field guides, books,
magazines, etc. at home that have information about Michigan Birds please send
them to school (with your child’s name visible on them). We will be spending
the next few weeks sifting through field guides and bird books as well as
listening to bird calls, watching for them outside and even learning about
their nests and more! Next week students will begin learning about different
types of books to use for research and create wonderings of their own about
birds.
Word Study:
We recognized words that have the vowel combinations of- ai, ay, oa, ee, ea, ow. These vowels that go together usually make
the sound of the name of the first vowel.
The partners then sorted and wrote words with these vowel patterns. The next lesson reinforced the same skill by
playing Crazy Eights with their phonics group.
During this time they are learning new words and also how to cooperate
with others.
Math Workshop:
Monday was an exciting day for the second graders as they all had
to graph Lucky Charms. The best part was
eating the math treat. The students then
wrote true facts about their math graph.
Each graph looked very different from their other classmates. Unit 9 Assessment test was given, they will
be coming home this week. We are just
beginning unit 10 which is all about decimals and place value. Students practiced ways to pay for a food
item, then had the chance to play “Spinning for Money”. We then sorted different ways to show a
$1.00, $0.10, and penny. The
mathematicians are beginning to use a calculator to show money amounts, this is
very tricky as $1.70 will show on the calculator display as 1.7. Please make sure your child is preparing for
our math benchmark, which will be on Tuesday, March 26th.
Social Studies:
This week in Social Studies we talked about different types of
resources – human, natural and capital, as we created cheese and butter
sandwiches! It was a sight to watch the kids use plastic knives to butter their
bread – the bread could not have been softer and the butter, more hard! Then we
talked about economic choices we make in our families, such as what we need to
live compared to what things we might want. Students will be reviewing for
their Economics test on Monday in class, and the test is on Wednesday, March
27. Study Guides will come home on Monday.
**Please also make sure to send in your child’s items for our
Market Day on Monday**
Science:
The scientists explored the wind this week. We made a class
anemometer and the students made their own with paper. An anemometer
shows how fast the wind is blowing. We also made a pinwheel, which is
similar to an anemometer. The scientists had fun exploring with the
pinwheel, so many ways to make it work.
We talked about the moon phases and how the moon is always changing its
shape, but it doesn’t. The moon is
always a big ball/sphere, but we only see the part of the moon that’s lit. The sun shines on the moon and lights it up.
Don’t forget- Weather calendar is due on Monday,
March 25th.
Important Dates and
Reminders:
Our Beach Day basket is looking a bit sparse,
we are still in need of many items.
Thank you to the families who have already donated items for our Sock
Hop basket!
·
Monday, March 25th – Desktop Flea Market Sale
·
Tuesday, March 26th- Math BA Test
·
Thursday, March 28th – Read S’More Celebration
·
Thursday, March 28th- End of 3rd Marking Period
•
Thursday, April 11th- Sock Hop
•
Monday, April 15th- Grades posted
•
Wednesday, April 24th –
In-school field trip- Bird Expert comes to Dublin
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