The Most Wonderful Time of the Year :-)

So here’s how our Friday morning began…

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Next we went to the all school “Sing Along” … Here are some highlights! Enjoy the singing as the gym was very dark so there was not much to videotape! (P.S. Yes, I was talking to Joe M. during the end of each song… You’ll get to hear him sing in the last song quite clearly!)

Deck the Halls and Jingle Bells (You can hear me and Joey McCormick talking at the end…Whoops!)

Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer

Notice how I turn the camera into the crowd so you can see our blinking red noses…

Joy to the World

We Wish You A Merry Christmas

After lunch it was time to open our books from our parents… We only begged ALL day long to open them up!

Last, it was time to PARTY!!! We had such a great turn out of parents, grandparents and siblings… (There are a few pictures here from the Sing-Along as well)

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A special thank you to EVERYONE for making this such a fabulous day, week, month and year. I love these 26 Weckies so much and feel blessed to be spending time with them on a daily basis! Enjoy them the next few weeks – I’ll be missing my 26 kids!! Love, Mrs. Weckstein :-)

Friday, December 9th

Hello 204 Families!

It has been an excellent week here in second grade! The kids have been hard at work while eagerly anticipating everything still to come in the month of December!

Reader’s Workshop
This week in Workshop we continued our look into the three types of dialogue (simple, no-said and continuation) by finding examples within books we were reading independently, with our partners, and even a portion of a story from Pinky and Rex and the New Baby. Our readers’ have grasped on to not only the types of dialogue, but the types of punctuation we see when we come across dialogue within a text.

Writer’s Workshop
Our writers’ have been working on written retellings of short stories. This week we modeled another written retelling after reading a short story. Then we took a look at another retelling for a different story that was “kid” written. We spent time as a whole group editing and revising this retelling to make it a stronger piece. Last the kids were given the opportunity to take a familiar text of their own and write a short retelling about it.

Math Workshop
Shapes, shapes and MORE shapes... This week we moved into our geometry unit by looking at 2-dimensional shapes and learning about their properties. We focused on lines, points, vertices and edges. Then we explored 2-dimensional polygons and learned about the prefix within each name (i.e. tri-angle). Next as a whole group we practiced a writing activity where we compared two dimensional shapes – how they are alike and different. Lastly, each table group was given shapes on paper, triangles and rectangles and asked to work as a cooperative group to create new shapes on a small poster. The word “flexible” was used a lot as some worked well in their group and others needed multiple reminders about how a group works.

Science
In Science we continued our work with plants. Thank you to everyone who has sent in plant clippings. The brassica are growing large and will soon be pollinating, while our wheat and grass seeds are also growing quite well!

Social Studies
In Social Studies we learned about human and natural features. We did a sorting game with these terms. Then we read the book Letting Swift River Go and talked about the changes in the environment, both good and bad. Last the kids did a cooperative group activity with that (i.e. if lightning struck a tree – What would be good? What would be bad?)

Word Study
We spent time this week in word study looking at the middle of words. So often when we read we look at the beginning and the ending of a word to see if it is something we can recognize quickly. This week we slowed down and spent time looking at the middle letters within a word, in particular the consonants. We did a word game with cards where the kids had to recognize and say the letter name of the sound they heard within the word.


Important News and Reminders:
We are entering into a VERY busy time at Dublin. Here’s a breakdown for each day:

• Monday, Dec. 12th – Gift of Reading book DUE (Each child needs a gift-wrapped book from their parents!)
  
• Monday, Dec. 12th – LAST CHANCE to send in Holiday Traditions for your family
  
• Friday, Dec. 16th – (approximately 10:30am) All school sing-along
  
• Friday, Dec. 16th – 2:30-3:30pm – Class Holiday Party
  
• Tuesday, Jan. 3rd, 2012 – First Day Back in 2012!

Have a fabulous weekend... bundle up, it's going to get cold!!!  ~Mrs. Weckstein~

Our First Big Catch Party

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Friday, November 18, 2011

Thank you so much to everyone for coming to Parent-Teacher Conferences yesterday. I really enjoyed talking to all of our parents and hope you left feeling as proud of them as I do every day!


Reader’s Workshop


This week in Workshop we have continued our look into dialogue within text. We have been focusing on the two major types of narration in text – first person and third person. Our Reader’s have been sorting their own reading books into two categories using clues in the text to determine who is telling the story.


Writer’s Workshop


In Workshop this week our writer’s picked one color poem to take to publishing. They spent time editing and revising their original draft and many even began working on their final published copy!


Math Workshop


In Math we have continued working with money this week. YES, making change is a hard concept however it is something your child will need to be able to do. Please continue to practice this with them at home. We introduced estimating this week as well. You can ask your child about the “Rounding Chant”, a song we’ve used to help us remind ourselves to round up or round down.


Social Studies


This week with Mrs. Brown the kids spent time working with maps! They did a map scavenger hunt looking for different traits on the map. The kids learned about the Cardinal directions and even learned a song. Be sure to ask your child to sing this song to you! Next the kids participated in map stations – they got to spend time looking at different types of maps – globes, paper maps, atlases, animal maps, etc.


Science


In Ms. Chapp’s classroom our scientists were learning about the parts of plants. Then they got to plant their own brassica plants as well as their own grass plants. Ms. Chapp is looking for two students who could help take care of our plants over the Thanksgiving Break. The family that takes the grass will need to have a spot in their house where the grass can receive sunlight (as well as stay watered). The family that takes the brassica plants will need to have space for the plant tray and a light that needs to be plugged in and running all of the time. If you are able to do so, please let me know ASAP.


Word Study/Handwriting


With Mrs. Weckstein this week all second graders had practice working with common endings in words. They worked with the: -ame, -ake, -ate, -ice, -ide and –ine endings. The kids did a sort up on the SmartBoard, sorted additional words with a partner and then created a flower for the hallway specific to one ending.


Important Upcoming Dates:


-Wednesday, November 23rd: Kick-off for Student Council Pajama Drive – ALL School Pajama Day & Classroom Party (more info to come)


-Thursday, November 24th – Monday, November 28th- NO SCHOOL – Thanksgiving Break starts on Thursday! Please remember there is NO school on Monday. Classes resume on Tuesday, November 29th!


If you will be traveling this long holiday weekend, we wish you safe travels! If you are staying locally, please have a wonderful time with your family and friends. Happy Thanksgiving! Mrs. Weckstein :-)

 

Friday, November 11th - Happy Veteran's Day!

Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.

Harriet Tubman

Math


In Math we have been looking at different ways to solve addition and subtraction story problems using “Change-to-More Diagrams” and “Parts-and-Total Diagrams”. We’ve also been looking at reading temperatures and temperature changes. In our Math Explorations this week we sorted attribute blocks, worked with coins and started to explore the concept of multiplication.



Social Studies


In Social Studies we spent time reviewing what we have learned about communities. Our second graders took their first Social Studies Assessment on Friday. Next week we will be moving into our second unit about the geography of our community. If you have any small maps at home (travel maps, park maps, mall maps) or any brochures that have maps that we could look at, please send them in! Please make sure your child’s name is clearly labeled on the map so we can return it at the end of the unit.



Writer’s Workshop


We took a break from our Poetry Unit to do some themed writing for Thanksgiving. During Writers’ Workshop this week, students wrote their own recipes for how to cook a turkey. Additionally our students wrote a persuasive from the position of the Thanksgiving turkey asking not to be eaten this holiday season. Look for these in the 2nd grade hallway during conferences next week!


Word Study


We began the week looking at words that have “oo”. Students learned that “oo” can sound like /oo/ as in moon or /uh/ as in look. We also tried adding on the silent ‘e’ to words to see how new words could be created. Later in the week we worked with high-frequency words as we played a game.


Reader’s Workshop


We continued with our study of Dialogue in Reader’s Workshop. Second graders spent time thinking about what dialogue looks like and sounds like when we are reading. Then we spent time brainstorming a list of “said” alternatives now that we know that said is often a clue to dialogue in a text. The kids created a giant web of alternatives like: shouted, insisted, exclaimed, whined, etc.



Important Dates & Reminders:


• Thursday, November 17th – NO SCHOOL for Students! Parent-Teacher Conferences ALL day long!


• BRRRR! The weather sure is cold and snow is just around the corner! Please make sure that your child has appropriate winter gear: jacket, gloves/mittens, hat, snow pants and boots. Also remember an extra pair of shoes for them to wear during the day (wearing boots all day is too hot). I also suggest packing an extra pair of socks in their backpack for those days when your cutie’s socks may get wet!

Have a fabulous weekend -- stay warm!! :-) Mrs. Weckstein

Friday, November 4th

It’s been quite a BUSY week in 204… From Halloween to Thanksgiving, we are making a big transition!
Reader’s Workshop
It’s been a fun, FUN week in Reader’s Workshop! We’ve moved from our Launching Unit into our Dialogue Unit. When asked what dialogue was, the initial response from the kids was classic… “Ways we choose books”, “Funny parts in stories” or “Books that have hard words”. We’ve now built the foundation that dialogue in text is when characters are talking! We’ve looked for books in our room that contain dialogue as well as for clues that indicate there is dialogue in a text (quotation marks, said, etc.). Please make sure to return ALL guided reading group books on the specified day. There is a sheet inside your child’s book bag that reminds you the days your child needs their bag at school. Parents must also sign the bottom of the reading slip form that comes home each time the bag comes home.


Writer’s Workshop
This week we read two different books that were filled with color poems! We read My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss and Hailstones and Halibut Bones by Mary O’Neill. Each demonstrates different ways to think about colors using your senses… How would a color look? How would a color taste? How would a color feel? How would a color smell? Using the author’s craft from these poems, we have been working to create our own color poems.

Math Workshop
In Workshop this week we began the week with Pumpkin Math! We did estimations about: the number of seeds in a pumpkin, the weight of a pumpkin as well as the number of ridges on a pumpkin. We were surprised to see what the actual numbers were to each question. We also spent time this week collecting data! We learned how to collect data using a tally chart, how to find the median (middle) number in a set of data, create pictographs and create bar graphs. Then we learned the parts of a graph: title, labels, x-axis and y-axis. Lastly we learned how to read a graph. We spent time talking about the choice with the most and the choice with the fewest. As the week continued we worked with making change as we solved story problems involving a vending machine. Finally we took a look back at our Unit 3 Pre-Test before taking our Unit 3 Post-Test. We talked our way through the pre-test and came to the conclusion that we have ALL learned a lot over the course of this unit. Something that seemed difficult to us three weeks ago, is now something we come to find a lot easier to do!

Social Studies
This week in Social Studies we have learned about the three different types of communities: rural, suburban and urban. We read the story, “The Little House” by Virginia Lee Burton as the little house demonstrates life in each type of community. Then we brainstormed a list of features for each type of community before embarking on our own mini-project. Each child was asked to decide which community they would want to live in and then had to create an illustration and blurb about where they would live, where they would work and where they would play! It’s pretty neat to see where our kids would go!

Important Dates & Reminders:
• Tuesday, November 8th – NO SCHOOL for Students! Professional Development for teachers… it’s Election Day!
• Thursday, November 17th – NO SCHOOL for Students! Parent-Teacher Conferences ALL day long!


Don’t forget to turn your clocks back this weekend!!  Mrs. Weckstein
P.S. A special thank you to ALL of our parents who worked hard to make our Halloween Party a BLAST!!

Friday, October 28th

Math Workshop
In Math this week we spent time preparing our mathematicians for our first Math Benchmark.  Everyone in 204 enjoyed the math BA as we kept the atmosphere relaxed and laid back! Jadyn was VERY spirited as you can see!

We worked on making change this week by counting up as well as telling time to the nearest five-minute interval. We also worked with double frames and arrows as we looked at patterns that had two different rules. SIDEBAR: Making change is a difficult concept for second graders. Frequent reinforcement with making change at home would be very beneficial. You may want to practice making change with a hands-on activity at home. An idea could be setting a price for dinner one evening. Give your child a $5 bill to purchase the dinner. They would have to figure out the amount of change owed to them after purchasing the dinner.


Writer’s Workshop
Students became “juicy word” detectives as they listened to and read stories. One example was when they listened to the story, Pumpkin Eye. They learned about nouns and adjectives and how to use them to jazz up their writing. Our poets found interesting words and started adding them to a word list to use in their own poetry! We also learned how to write list poems and wrote a list poem together as class entitles “Fall”.

Reader’s Workshop
In Reader’s Workshop this week our students began the week talking about choosing “just right” books and using the “FIVE FINGER RULE” to help us select our “just right” books. Ask your child how to use the “FIVE FINGER RULE” at home. Students also went book shopping for the first time. While doing our shopping we stopped to talk about how to pick “Just Right” books when browsing books. We talked about being able to abandon books that are too easy or too hard for us. Next, we practiced an important comprehension strategy called visualization. As your child grows as a reader, the books that they will be reading won’t have as many pictures to help them support the meaning of the text. The second graders practiced listening to the words of a poem “My Baby Brother” in order to create mental images in their mind. This helped them comprehend the poem.



Word Study
In Word Study this week we continued to explore the world of syllables by playing a game called the Syllable Race. We also made connections between words that start the same. Some beginning sounds we worked on included consonant digraphs (i.e., sh and ch).


Our classroom smelled delicious on Wednesday when we made applesauce. Everyone lent a hand at: cutting, measuring and adding ingredients, stirring and mashing in order to make a tasty treat! Listed below is the recipe that we used so you can make some to share with your family!


CROCK POT APPLESAUCE


• 12 apples (peeled and cored)


• 1 cup water


• ½ cup sugar


• ½ teaspoon cinnamon


• ¼ teaspoon apple pie spice


• 1 tablespoon lemon juice


Peel all of the apples and slice ‘n dice into small pieces. Add all of the ingredients and heat in a crock pot. (4-6 hours on HIGH, 6-8 hours on LOW). Be sure to stir every so often. Enjoy! 


Important News & Reminders


• Monday, October 31st – Happy Halloween! Halloween Parade at 2:30 pm. outside on the soccer field & Halloween Party in our classroom afterwards


• Tuesday, November 8th– NO SCHOOL – Professional Development Day – No students


• Thursday, November 17th – NO SCHOOL – Parent/Teacher Conferences All Day