Friday, November 16th

Friday, November 16, 2012

A special Thank You to everyone who attended Parent-Teacher Conferences yesterday! It was great to spend time talking with so many of you and getting to share all of the hard work our Second Graders are doing each and every day!

A special thank you to EVERYONE for wearing their pajamas to school today! Remember, if you haven't donated new pajamas yet to the Pajama Drive, you can do so all through the month of November. Thank you to those who have already donated to this worthy and special cause.

 

Reader’s Workshop

In Workshop this week we spent time looking for ways writer’s use “said” alternatives in texts. We brainstormed a giant web of different words for “said” and nearly found over 25 variations! We spent time looking at how these ‘alternatives’ can influence how we read a passage, such as if a character whispered or yelled. Students spent time acting out passages from their texts to continue their look into dialogue and using contextual clues from the author to signal dialect changes. Last we spent time looking to see if all books have dialogue. We made some big generalizations, such as non-fiction tends to not have dialogue while chapter books are loaded with conversations.

Writer’s Workshop

This week in Workshop we’ve done a couple of different things… First, we learned about writing a persuasive paper! We transformed your children into Thanksgiving turkeys and gave them the task of persuading the shoppers not to eat them for Thanksgiving dinner! If you have not had a chance to read these in the hallway, you need to stop by, they are instant classics! Our writer’s also spent time this week editing and revising a poem that they would like to publish for our Poetry Celebration next week. Mrs. Weckstein has been frantically typing poems so that our students can illustrate their published pieces!

Math Workshop

In Math this week we have been learning to use different diagrams to help solve addition problems. We have learned about “Part-Part-Total” diagrams as well as “Change to More” diagrams. Students have also continued working with money – a fun concept for second graders! At home remember you can use real money (coins) as well as a hundreds grid to help your child count coins and make change.

Word Study

In Word Study this week we spent time working on High Frequency words by playing a “Follow the Path” game. We also played a concentration game this week that taught us about antonyms (words that mean the opposite of each other).

Social Studies

This week in Social Studies our Geography Unit shifted to look at the ways we take care of our environment. We spent time reading a book by Don Madden called The Wartville Wizard. In this story, an ordinary man continually cleans up the litter and pollution around his town of Wartville and finally becomes fed up. He ends up gaining a special power over the trash and uses it to teach the citizens of Wartville a very important lesson. Be sure to ask your child about this story! We then brainstormed a list of environmental problems and solutions for taking care of our environment. We ended the week by learning about absolute location on a coordinate grid. While our Science Kits have arrived, Mrs. Weckstein will be responsible for teaching Social Studies to the kids of 203 and 204.

Science

Our Science Kits have ARRIVED! Mrs. Brown will be responsible for teaching Science to the kids of 203 and 204. Our second graders started their first science unit this week…NEW PLANTS! The botanists planted brassica seeds and found that plants need space, light and water to grow. We also documented our findings in our plant investigation journals. Brassica is a very fast growing plant and we hope to observe the full life cycle of a plant within the course of a few weeks. They are also a plant that need light 24/7, so we have them under artificial light during the entire day and night. We are looking for a family who would volunteer to take our brassica plants home over the Thanksgiving holiday to make sure that they are well taken care of. All they need is light to be watered every other day. If you are interested, please let me know.

Important News and Dates:

·         Thursday, November 22 – Monday, November 26^th – No School. School resumes on Tuesday, November 27^th.

·         If you volunteered at Conferences to bring in an item for our special “Turkey Treat” on Wednesday, November 21^st, please send that in to school as soon as possible!

·         If you did not receive a PTA Dublin Directory at Parent-Teacher Conferences, please email me so that I can send one home with your son or daughter.

 

At this point in the year there is SO much to be thankful for! We are thankful for the days we get to spend with your children. We wish you all a very happy and healthy Thanksgiving holiday!

~Mrs. Weckstein

Friday, November 9th

Word Study

This week we looked closely at word endings/spelling patterns.  Students sorted words by these endings.  The endings all included silent e.  To read these words fluently students must be able to look beyond the first letters of the word to solve it.  In our discussions we stressed the importance of our word study carrying over to our daily spelling.  

Interactive Read Alouds

This week we used a Frog and Toad story to continue our learning on visualization.  We are finding that if we listen carefully for key words it helps us build our mental images.  Partners are enjoying sharing the pictures they’ve created in their minds with each other.  We also revisited our Poppleton chapter from last week and used a venn diagram to compare the story with Frog and Toad.

To add to our visualization unit we used a fun song called “The Princess Who Saved Herself” by Jonathon Coulton. Students listened to this song (story) several times and then illustrated part of the song.  We’ll be sharing this with families soon.

Reader’s Workshop

We are beginning our study of dialogue.  Your child should be able to tell you what dialogue is and what types of books have it.  Students searched their books during independent reading for examples of dialogue.  They also are learning about patterns of books that use dialogue.  We used Cynthia Rylant books to compare how authors choose to use or not to use dialogue in a book.  It was interesting to see that her series Mr. Putter and Tabby  uses no or very little dialogue in them while Henry and Mudge books seemed full of dialogue.  This study will continue for several weeks.

Writer’s Workshop

Though we haven’t yet completed our poetry unit, we took a brief break this week learning about “how to” writing.  We used making grilled cheese sandwiches as a model for this type of writing.  Then students brainstormed something they were experts with and wrote their own “how to” pieces. Next, we asked students to write a how to on something they had to guess about…how to cook a turkey!  We will be compiling this writing for a class book to share in the new future.

Additionally, our poets are working on choosing a poem to revise and edit for a class poetry book.  We will work more on this over the next two weeks.

Math Workshop

Our unit 3 is now complete and we’re moving on to unit 4 working more with addition and subtraction.  We continued to work on making change throughout the week as students will need many experiences to better grasp the concept.  We used number stories with data charts to practice the change to more concept.  Students are listening to determine the outcome of a number story.  Our explorations this week included working with a thermometer (along with icy and hot water cups), using attribute blocks to sort and play “what’s my rule”, students also practiced stamping with coins and counting already stamped coins.  My students have come to expect and look forward to our Friday explorations!  Today when I asked students to take out journals for math, 3 quickly panicked and ran up to me asking why we weren’t doing explorations.  Of course once I explained the explorations and they realized they needed journal pages for some they were all smiles.

Social Studies

This week we looked at both good and bad changes in a community.  Ask your child about the story we read that had significant changes called Letting Swift River Go.

Updates:

·        Thursday, November 15^th: NO SCHOOL, parent-teacher conferences

·        Friday, November 16^th:  Pajama day at Dublin!  Please consider donating a new pair of pajamas for a child in need.  For every pair of pajamas donated, Scholastic book club will donate a book for that child as well.   In addition all Dublin students are invited to wear pajamas that day as well. 

Friday, November 2nd

Interactive Read Aloud

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 chapter in the book, Poppleton and Friends called “Dry Skin” in order to create mental images in their mind.  Students talked to their partners about their visualizations.  This helped them comprehend the story.

Reader's Workshop

In Workshop this week we fine-tuned our partner roles this week. We talked about what to discuss with our partners, what is expected of us to be a good partner as well as how to solve problems that come up in partnerships. To end the week we recited and signed a Reader's Workshop Contract. Read below to see what we have agreed to do as "Wow" readers.

Writer’s Workshop

Keeping to the theme of Halloween, students created their own haunted houses!  Our second graders included creepy creatures in the windows and chose their own color scheme to create a one-of-a-kind haunted house.  Next, they took a look at real estate advertisements on the internet and found the “juicy words” that would entice would-be buyers.  Next, students were given the challenge of writing a piece that would persuade others to buy their haunted houses.  Look for these “spooktacular” persuasive pieces in the hallway!  

 

We ended the week by reading Hailstones and Halibut Bones by Mary O’Neill.  It’s a book that is filled with color poems!  Each poem demonstrated 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

At the beginning of this week, students took the first Benchmark Assessment.  I was impressed with how well our class scored!  Mid-week, we worked on making change this week by counting up.  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. 

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. Students used these words to compose their own sentences.

Social Studies
Our second graders reviewed the cardinal directions and the use of a compass rose. We learned the acronym: “Never Eat Soggy Waffles” to help us remember the cardinal directions. Next, we practiced the cardinal directions by looking at map of the United States and answering statements like: Name a state that is south of Michigan. We also learned about the natural (trees, grass, mountains, hills, etc) and human features (bridges, roads, buildings, etc) that are found on map keys.  We read a poem “Making Maps” and students highlighted the natural and human features in the poem.  Students were given a homework assignment today that asked for them to draw a map of their bedroom.  These maps are due on Wednesday.

Computers!
Hopefully by now you have visited our classroom blog! Please make sure to stop by and check out our page on the web. Click here!

Special News & Reminders

·        We all had a super fun time at our Halloween Party!  Special thanks to all of the parents who planned or donated items for our celebration. J

·        Sunday, November 4^th– Daylight Savings Time Ends… remember to set your clocks back one hour

·        Tuesday, November 6^th– NO SCHOOL – Professional Development Day – No students!  Don’t forget to vote!

·        Wednesday, November 7^th- Map of bedroom due

·        Thursday, November 15^th  – NO SCHOOL – Parent/Teacher Conferences All Day

Friday, October 26th

It’s been another fun-filled week in Second Grade! You can feel a definite buzz in the air as anticipation builds for Halloween next week! Mix that with these summer-like temperatures and the energy is high amongst our kiddoes.

Reader’s Workshop

In Workshop this week our Readers’ learned about noise levels that are good for all readers. We talked about and modeled “library” voices emphasizing that different times in Reader’s Workshop call for different noise levels (independent reading vs. partner reading vs. whole group share vs. reading groups! Then we spent time talking about ways to give kind reminders for noisy or distracting behaviors. Next we moved onto learning about Reading Conferences. Similar to the conferences we have been having in Writer’s Workshop, students learned about my expectations for Conference Time when I am working with them as well as what they need to do when I am not working with them.

Writer’s Workshop

In our Poetry Unit this week we continued looking at different literary elements of poetry by learning about onomatopoeia’s (ask your writer what that means). Then we reviewed using sensory features to add detail to our poetry. It’s been great to see all of the progress our writers’ have made with their poetry. Share Time is a hot-ticket time in our classroom as they ALL want to share their work. There’s nothing better than seeing enthusiasm and pride in a child’s eye!

Math Workshop

This week in Math Workshop we have done a multitude of things! Each child made their own clock and we have spent a lot of time reviewing the different between the minute and the hour hand, practiced making specific times and then practiced figuring out the times on our clocks. Having a handheld clock that each child can use helps tremendously as they can use the clock to manipulate and count the minutes! We also did a fun data project this week counting the number of pockets on our clothing. We counted our pockets and then found the median (middle value) of our set of data. For our class, the median number was 4 pockets. While some students had no pockets, one in our class had eight pockets! We used the end of the week to review for our upcoming Math Benchmark on Monday! Please make sure you are reviewing the Study Guide packet WITH your child!!

We spent a lot of time this week reviewing for our upcoming Benchmark Assessment up on the big screen, on white boards, at the easel... You name the resource, we used it!

Word Study

In  Word Study this week we began the week by making connections between familiar words and new words by using the beginning of a word. For instance, if you know the word stop, you can take the “st” from stop and figure out many other words that start with “st”. Students completed “word ladders” using different similar beginning consonants and consonant clusters. Next we did a sort using consonants and consonant clusters. We talked about how as a reader, you should hear/pronounce every letter in a consonant cluster. Last we played a “Lotto” game using words with a “vowel + r” pattern.

We also continued working on Word Wall work stations this week, practicing our "No-Excuse" words in fun and exciting ways!

 

 Social Studies

Maps, maps and more maps!! Our students have been introduced to SEVERAL different types and uses for maps this week. We did map stations where our students got to explore with a variety of different types of maps from several locations across the country. We explored globes and noticed when they showed “relief” (also known as land elevation). We talked about the features of a map (compass rose, key, symbols, colors, labels) and we wrote about the many different uses of maps. We also watched a short video that helped to show different uses of maps in real life. Everyone is VERY excited about the new map station in our classroom and the option to “read” maps during extra time that they may have.

 Our Special Guest...
If you didn't hear, we had a special guest in 204 this week... Spike the Praying Mantis came all the way from Mrs. Weckstein's house in Novi to spend the day in our classroom. We made him a habitat, learned facts about the praying mantis and even got to name him! He was very well behaved except for a minor incident with Mrs. W's finger! (Good news, no blood!) This is a picture the following morning after he was released... he seems to like Mrs. Weckstein's house!

  
Technology!!
This week we started rotations for our 2 iPads and 4 iPod Touch! The Weckies were eager to explore new math, reading and writing games on the equipment with a partner or independently!

Important Dates/Reminders:

-Monday, October 29^th-  Quarter 1 Math Benchmark

-Wednesday, October 31^st – Halloween Parade @ 2:30pm followed by our classroom party at approximately 3:00pm.

Have a fantastic, fall-like weekend! After the mild weather this past week, I think we’re all going to be bundled up this weekend!  :-) Mrs. Weckstein

Friday, October 19th

It’s been another FABULOUS week to be a Weckie!! We ended the week on a high note with a Pizza Party thanks to our fantastic PTA. As the class with the highest participation in the Fun Run donations, we were treated to pizza and candy for lunch on Friday. A special thank you to Windmill Market on Cooley Lake for donating the pizzas! Another special thank you to Carly’s Mom, Joyce, for providing us with drinks and cookies to go along with our special lunch on short notice!

 

Math Workshop
We ended Unit 2 this week and finished our unit test.  Throughout the week we continued work on function boxes and practiced subtraction using number grids as tools to help us find differences between numbers.  We also worked on the subtraction shortcut of 8 and 9.  Students learned that if they can easily subtract 10 from a number they can subtract 8 or 9 by adding 1 or 2 back on.  For instance if they know that 28-10 = 18, then 28-8 =18+2 more which is 20.   Towards the end of the week we started work on place value.  It is crucial that your child understand this concept, as it is the base for future math learning. 

 We hope you’re using the practice packet sent home with your child on Friday to help prepare for their first Math Benchmark Assessment on Monday, October 29th.  Additionally, I am currently grading journal pages so that they too can be sent home to use as preparation for the benchmark.  On a side note, please know that when possible I check math pages immediately to help my students’ correct errors and clarify misunderstandings.  Often you’ll see a response circled that your child already corrected in class with me during a quick conference.  When you see this, please try to give a new problem with the same concept to be sure s/he understands it.  Your support will truly make a difference for your child’s learning.

 Word Study
Our Word Study this week focused on past tense endings and syllables.  Students were listening to the word endings of past tense words and noticing that though they sound different, they do all end with ed (though they may not always need to add an e).  Our syllable work was connected to our reading and writing.  I’m emphasizing the fact that breaking words into syllables will help students read and write longer words.  I gave several reminders of this during writer’s workshop to encourage better spelling.

 Reader’s Workshop
Reader’s continued work with finding just right books with reminders to use that “Five Finger Rule”.  They also learned to put these books away properly on our shopping day.  Next, we worked on skills to build good reading partnerships.  Students practiced what a good partnership looks like and more so what is sounds like.  We introduced different ways to read with a partner such as “echo”, “choral” or
“round robin” reading.  Partners are also learning how to have book discussions with each other.  Ask your child what she and her partner talk about.

*Please make sure that guided reading group bags are being returned in a timely manner. Even if I am out, I do make it a point to try to see reading groups the following day and ask for your help in making sure your child’s forms are signed after they read to you.

 Writer's Workshop
We have continued to work on poetry this week.  Children are beginning to identify components of poetry such as line breaks and word choice.  For many it is difficult to switch from writing stories.  We took several students’ poems and rewrote them to look more like poems.  This week we looked at how poets use alliteration (writing a sentence with words beginning with the same letter.  For instance I wrote about my comfy, cozy shoe that was not so colorful.  Students are exposed to books or poems using these techniques. They learned about nouns and adjectives and how to use them to jazz up their writing.  

 *Memory Collection Notebooks – thanks to ALL who have already sent back their photo and card for their notebook. If you have not done so, please do this ASAP. I am also asking for a call for artifacts. Our kids need things to write about. Please start sending in (labeled with their name) items like ticket stubs, photos, or other small items that can easily be glued into a notebook! We need things to write about and these artifacts are perfect story starters.

 Social Studies:
Our focus this week was on communities.  We took an in-depth look into rural, urban and suburban communities. We spent time creating posters about which community we would choose to live in if we could move anywhere. We talked about a community being a place where a group of people work, play and live. Ask your child which community they chose – and where they would work, play and live in that community! We will take a brief unit test next week! We spent time reviewing for this on Thursday.

Important News/Reminders
· Monday, October 29th - Math Benchmark Assessment

· Wednesday, October 31th – The Halloween parade starts at 2:30 and the party will follow.

Friday, October 12

The weather was perfect for our Fun Run last Friday afteroon! The sun was out and we had some wonderful parents cheering us on! Everyone was pumped up and excited to move their feet around the track. Thank you for all your Fun Run donations! Look for some Fun Run pictures and video on our blog in the near future. On an exciting note, we were the second grade class that had the most donations and won a PIZZA PARTY for Friday, October 19th!!

 Math Workshop
We are nearing the end of Unit 2. This week our mathematicians practiced making fact families using dominoes and fact triangles. A set of fact triangles came home with your child earlier this week. Please make sure that you keep them in a special place and practice them with your child. We spent significant time on frames-and-arrows, addition and subtraction number stories, function machines and some counting strategies for subtraction. Students also learned a new math game called Name That Number. A practice packet came home with your child on Friday to help prepare for their first Math Benchmark Assessment on Monday, October 29th. Please make sure you are completing the study guide at home.

 

Word Study
In Word Study this week we have taken a look at forming possessives in words. Second graders learned that to show ownership of something, you add ‘s to a word. Then we worked with words with double consonants. Students worked on identifying two-syllable words with double consonants in the middle (lad/der, muf/fin). Children sorted word parts to create their own two-syllable words! Last, we learned about forming past tense in words by adding –ed or –d to the end of words.

 

Reader’s Workshop
In Reader’s Workshop this week, each child set reading goals for themselves. Time was spent talking with each child about their goal and the importance of setting goals for their reading. Ask your child the two reading goals that they set for themselves.  Each marking period, your child will set two new reading goals.  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 how everyone has a book that fits perfectly to their needs as a reader and likened it to having a pair of shoes that fits you perfectly.  Ava and Mrs. Brown tried on each other’s shoes to demonstrate.  Needless to say…Ava’s shoes weren’t “just right” for Mrs. Brown!  We talked about talked about being able to abandon books that are too easy or too hard for us.They also learned about the “FIVE FINGER RULE” and how to choose their books carefully.  Please ask your child to demonstrate the “FIVE FINGER RULE” at home.

 

Writer's Workshop
This week as writer’s we spent more time with our mentor text, Owl Moon. After familiarizing ourselves with the language in the story (similes, onomatopoeias, alliteration and repetitive language) we pulled out phrases from the piece that appeared to contain poetic language. As a class we took these individual phrases and put them up on sentence strips. We then spent time creating a poem as a whole class that re-arranged the phrases from the text as well as created a new mini-story.  Next, our poets spent time with partners taking the sentence strips of phrases and playing once more with the order to create their very own poems.  Students also 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. We learned how to write list poems and wrote a list poem together as class entitles “Fabulous Fall”. They also tried adding similes to their own poetry.

 

Social Studies:
This week was spent focused on “Needs and Wants”. We talked about the definitions of each word, read the book, But I Want It, and created a giant list of needs and wants. We spent time looking specifically at our needs as the four main things we need to survive: food, water, shelter and clothing.

Important News/Reminders
· Friday, October 12th – Memory Collection Notebook photos and index cards DUE !  If you haven’t returned it to school, please do so ASAP.
· Monday, October 29th - Math Benchmark Assessment
· Wednesday, October 31th – The Halloween parade starts at 2:30 and the party will follow.