Friday, November 30, 2012

Friday

I was out sick yesterday so that is why I didn't post.  Thanks for understanding.

Today we worked on triple digit subtraction with 2 regroupings.  Wow!  That is a hard skill that requires many steps and organization.  It is tricky but we are working on it for sure!  Mrs. Math Jones was here today too for that lesson.

After that, we did some catch up work.  We all worked on different things at this point. Anything that was not done was sent home to do over the weekend.  Thank you for your help with that.

In word work, we discussed blends and digraphs and played a game on the computer about those.  This afternoon, we read aloud and then did centers.  In our centers, we read Scholastic News, some writing, and Making Words.

Have a fabulous weekend!

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Wednesday

Hello to all!  Yesterday I was at the Christa McAuliffe Technology Conference.  I learned some great stuff that I can't wait to try in the classroom!

Today, we began with music.  After morning meeting and snack, we had a lesson by Ms. Adams for writing. We wrote about our December traditions. In reading, we listened to a song by Jack Johnson and made some connections to that. We switched for WIN groups today. This afternoon, we learned how to regroup ones and tens in 3 digit subtraction.

Monday, November 26, 2012

Monday

We are back and in full swing!  Students started their day thinking about the difference between general details vs. specific details.  We used examples like "I had fun." and  "It was nice." as general details.  I've asked students to be more specific with their details in their weekend news. 

In computer lab, we typed the final drafts of our How to Make a Scarecrow pieces.  We learned some things about formatting on the computer.

In reading, I explained a new center called Fluency Folders.  Students will be reading their poems to themselves to work on their fluency.  Also, I explained the Write about Reading this week which is to make a text to self connection with something that they've read this week.  Students worked on the work board while I met in guided reading groups.

In word work, I introduced 5 new word wall words.  Compound words were the theme this week!

After read aloud, we began 3 digit subtraction without regrouping.  Our day ended with Daily 5 math and more practice on this skill.

Homework went home tonight: Reading log and Math log.  Thanks for your help with that!

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Tuesday

Energy was high today!  We did a lot of catch up work and students worked diligently to get it done!  We selected items for our portfolios for the month of November.  I sent the rest of the work home. We are working on developing our self reflection skills.

In reading, we read The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant.  Students were asked to make a connection based on this book.  They could have a text to text connection or a text to self connection.  After that we did some math.  I introduced the concept of checking the answer of a subtraction problem by using addition.  This was hard!  We'll plug away more when we return.  We will be delving into 3 digit subtraction when we return as well!  Woo Hoo!  Subtraction is a difficult concept for so many.

In the afternoon, we watched a BrainPop Jr. video about Thanksgiving.  Then, we made a turkey to show what we're thankful for. We also watched our Voice Thread project. 

Please be sure to check the tabs for the additions to this blog: the Voice Thread project and the Think Central math site.

Have a super Thanksgiving!

Monday, November 19, 2012

Monday

It was a very busy day today!  We did quite a few assessments to get ready for report cards coming out in December.  In writing today, we looked at our first drafts of our stories that we plan to publish.  I read McDuff Moves In to start the class. We went back through and looked for sensory details in the book.  Next, students were asked to check their own writing for sensory details. This was difficult.  I'm thinking we will need to go back to this and do lots of modeling with this skill. Students are still working on identifying what sensory details are.  We will continue this work in future writing classes.

In the computer lab, students went on Think Central which is the math website for our program, Math in Focus.  I was able to load student accounts with personalized assignments, depending the skill level each child demonstrates in class.  This is something that students can do at home.  I will put a tab on this site for access as well as directions for them to log in.

During reading, we did another lesson on schema.  We collected schema on Thanksgiving (we had a lot!) vs. our schema on Rocky Point (not so much).  We talked about why we might have had more schema on one topic vs. another.  Students then practiced their visualization skills by illustrating poems/shared readings that we've done in class.

In word work, we learned the five new word wall words. This afternoon, we read our read aloud. Finally, during math, we did some assessments for report card standards.

Friday, November 16, 2012

Thursday and Friday

Sorry for not posting yesterday....we had a busy day that started with math MAP testing.  Please let me know if you want to know your child's score.  We also had Second Step and an assembly in the afternoon.  HMS voted Pete the Cat as the Ladybug winner!  3 Hens and a Peacock came in second and Calvin Can't Fly came in third. We voted after the test and had a special Ladybug snack.  The assembly in the afternoon was about bullying.  We talked about schema in reading today.

On Friday, we did a lot of catching up of sorts.  During math, Mrs. Math Jones came in and did a fun number game as well as some subtraction with regrouping.  We did Daily 5 math after that.  Students worked on finishing up work and during word work, we acted out some of our word wall words.

After recess, I read aloud the beginning of our new read aloud: The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles.  Students drew what they visualized as I read.  Finally, we worked on handwriting, finish up work and played on the iPads. 

Have a great weekend!

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Wednesday

After music class this morning, we did a piece of writing about how to build a scarecrow.  Students planned with pictures and then wrote a first draft.  We will take these to final draft by editing and revising them next week.

In reading, we talked about the last of the strategies to use when figuring out unknown words.  I will hand students a bookmark tomorrow to use to prompt them with these word attack skills.  We read a poem about numbers and found many things like short vowels, compound words and contractions.  We know a lot as second graders!

In word work, we switched classes to work in WIN groups. This afternoon, I started a new read aloud and did more with subtraction with regrouping (2 digits).  After Daily 5, we reflected on our feelings of this skill.

Please have your child wear red and black tomorrow as we vote for the Ladybug book winner.  Also, we will MAP test in math tomorrow.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Tuesday

This morning in writing, we worked on our Weekend News. It's a bit beefed up now, with added requirements.  Students looked at the goals they set for themselves and tried to work on that in this writing.  Also, we use special paper now where we have to read our piece over 3 times in order to edit it.  Once for capitals; once for end punctuation; and once for word wall words.  Some of us didn't finish.

In reading, we learned about a new activity called word work that is open during guided reading.  Students are responsible for working with the words in their personalized spelling notebooks in different ways.  It seemed to go well today. This week's write about reading is a graphic organizer retelling one of the Ladybug books.

During math, we worked on subtraction with regrouping with blocks.  The mantra we say is:
"More on the top, no need to stop.  More on the floor, go next door, take a ten, and start again.  Numbers the same, zero's the game."  Ask your child what that means and see if he/she can explain it.  We did Math Daily 5 today. 

I introduced the second 5 word wall words today too.  We wrote them and paid special attention to the handwriting paper and letter formation.

Friday, November 9, 2012

Friday

We had a sort of "ketchup" kind of a day.  Mrs. Jones came in and did some math with us.  Then, students did some structured catch up work.  I was able to meet in reading groups that had not had closure in certain books while students did handwriting and a math bingo game.  During word work, I introduced the first of the November words (better late than never!): boy, girl, use, want and why.  Thanks for your help with these.  We then did a cool activity with the word wall words that we haven't spelled correctly.  We found the value of each word using scrabble tile amounts.  A little math and word work mixed together!  This afternoon, we read the second to last Ladybug book called Blackout.  On Tuesday, we will read the last one so students can be informed voters on Thursday.

In the week ahead, we will vote on Thursday as well as MAP test in math on Thursday.  We have an assembly about bullying on Thursday too!  Don't forget that Monday is off for Veteran's Day.

I am in need of Pledge Multipurpose wipes for the iPads in our class. If you can donate, that would be fabulous!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Thursday

The snow is so exciting!  We were able to go outside for recess as well.  Kiddos need snowpants and boots if they want to play on the field with snow.  Thanks for your help with this!

Tomorrow is popcorn and the Veteran's Day assembly.  Please have your child wear red, white and blue if possible.  Thanks.

In math, we began subtraction with regrouping!  Exciting stuff!  We will keep working on this as it is a difficult concept.  In reading, we cleaned out our book boxes and had a lesson on metacognition.  Mrs. Turcotte read us a book while I modeled what her think bubble would be saying.  Fun!

In writing, we typed our riddles.  Everyone is almost done.  We will turn these into a VoiceThread document soon... that will be very cool!  Students also worked on their drafts.

Word Work had us switching classes again for specific phonics lessons.

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Wednesday

Thank you so much to all of you who came out yesterday to meet with me about your children.  I must have talked a lot because I had no voice when I got home last night!  Let me know if there is something that I need to follow up on from our conversations.

Today, we had an eventful day in 2F.  In the morning, we talked about having a beginning, middle and end to our stories that we are publishing.  I read a book and we talked about how to find the beginning, middle and end in a story.  This will help with reading as we discuss retelling as well.

In reading, we began our discussion of metacognition. We made a 'salad' with a mix of text and thinking to demonstrate this. We talked about real reading, not fake reading... making sure we are making meaning of the words that we read.  This will be a continuing conversation in class.

During word work, we switched classrooms and were mixed up with other second grade classes.  This was fun.

This afternoon, we looked at how to subtract without regrouping.  We used unifix cubes to help us understand this concept.  We practiced subtracting 2 digits minus 2 digits.

Don't forget about popcorn on Friday.  We will also have an assembly for Veteran's Day on Friday. We are asking for kiddos to wear red, white and blue that day.

Monday, November 5, 2012

Monday

We began our day in the computer lab and we ended our day in the computer lab!  This morning we took the reading MAP test. I have the scores to share with you at conferences tomorrow. 

We got a chance to vote today too.  Ask your child how the election turned out at HMS! 

In math, we rebuilt a number and did some seat work. Reading consisted of just Read to Self time. In word work, we practiced the words we haven't mastered from the word wall.  I have sent home a list of these words for you to study with your child whenever you can.  That would be great!

This afternoon we did a writing prompt and then went to the computer lab to type our backyard habitat riddles.  The end product for this will be a Voice Thread including children reading their riddles and showing the picture as the answer.  Fun!

See you tomorrow!



Thursday, November 1, 2012

Thursday

We had math first thing today and talked about strategies for subtraction.  Counting back, counting on, and part, part whole are 3 that we came up with.  I had students practicing the counting back strategy using the number line.  Then we broke into small groups for daily 5 math.

In reading today, we read Stars, one of the Ladybug books.  We talked about what the book made us think as we read it.  This is the ground work for us to begin our discussion about metacognition.  In word work, we changed a hen into a fox (ask your child about that one!). 

This afternoon, I showed students how to change their brainstormed lists into a draft of sentences.

Tomorrow is popcorn and the book fair.  If you want to send money in for your child to purchase books, you may.  Also, we are making our scarecrows in the afternoon.  A fun filled day!!!!