Wednesday

Today in music, we had a substitute and we played The Old Gray Cat. We played Down by the Banks in morning meeting this morning.  We had a test in math on geometry. In reading we finished the book Crickwing which was about cockroaches. We had the last day of math WIN groups in the morning. After lunch and recess, we finished Trumpet of the Swan! In writing workshop, we worked on a special project and then worked on our stories. We ended the day with a story about butterflies.

Tuesday

We had math in the morning today! Today in PE, we made mini-golf courses. At science with did new drawings of dragonflies and other insects that have symmetry. During math stations, some people stayed in the classroom and some people went out of the classroom to different places. In reading we read Crickwing and wrote down our questions. Today was awesome!

Monday

 Today in morning meeting, we had quite a few people share. That seems to always happen on Mondays! We wrote Weekend News and did Writing Share. After snack, we went to the computer where it was really cool! We typed up our writing benchmarks for Mrs. Griffin. We also illustrated them so we can put them in a book. In reading, we worked on the workboard and started to talk about the strategy of questioning. Some people met in reading groups. After lunch, we read aloud and then in math we talked about flat surfaces and curved surfaces.  We did a scavenger hunt around the classroom looking for objects that have flat surfaces and curved surfaces.  At the end of the day, we fit in some science with insects.

Homework went home today. It is due on Monday.

Friday

Today in art we did our self portraits. Miss Sarah came in to help. Today we had Ketchup Work to do. We did math with Mrs. Jones and read a book with riddles.  This afternoon it was really hot. We got to go into the computer lab to work on our Storybirds.

Have a great weekend!

Thursday

Ms. Adams came back! Today was a zigger zagger because we had an assembly and we started PE in the classroom. Today parents came in for lunch. In the assembly, everyone sang. We had math WIN groups. People who had enrichment reading didn't do it. In reading, we did Scholastic News. We didn't have an activity in morning meeting. In math, we did an activity about lines and curves. At recess, it was really crowded with the parents. In writing workshop, we typed.

Wednesday

We had a fast morning meeting today before music.  After music we did the MAP test for math. There were some computer glitches, but almost everyone is done. We had reading after that. Today was the first day of WIN groups for math. It was fun to "mix it up". It was inside recess. We had writing workshop in the afternoon. Different people did different things!  Have a super night!

Tuesday

Today feels like a Monday!  A lot of people shared at Morning Meeting today. Today in writer's workshop, we worked on our Weekend News because we didn't have school yesterday. Today in gym, we played Jewel Thief. This is when you have teams and there is a big bucket with balls.  You pretend they are diamonds and you try to steal them.  In reading, we did the work board. We read The Grouchy Ladybug and determined the main characters, the settings, and a major event. This is what we need to do for our Write about Reading this week. Today in science we learned that insects are symmetrical. This means that something is the same on both sides, like in a mirror. We read a long chapter of Trumpet of the Swan: only 4 more to go!  Today in math, we learned about geometry and had a pretest as well as a Mad Minute.

Please remember to memorize the poem for Thursday.  There is no homework other than that unless you had some catch up work to do.  That was sent home on Thursday.

Thursday

Please remember that tomorrow is a Professional Development Day for teachers so students are off.  Enjoy the long weekend!

In morning meeting today, we played "Excuse Me, What are You Doing?". We also talked about what we would like to be when we grow up.  After that, we had a math review and math test on picture graphs. In writer's workshop, we made covers for our Ta Da! books. From there, we did some catch up  work. Some people have some to do at home. That work is not due until June 3.  There will be no homework next week unless you have catch up work to do. This afternoon, we worked on our handwriting books. These will come home when we are finished with them.

Don't forget to memorize the poem for Memorial Day.

Poppy Flowers
by Emily James

When you see a red flower called a Poppy this Memorial Day,
Remember those who fought and died for our country, the USA.
Remember their sacrifice; it is their lives that they gave.
It is because of them we are known as the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave.

Wednesday

Today in morning meeting, we rhymed words with rain since it was rainy outside. We came up with a lot of words!  After morning meeting, we performed the play for the whole school and did a wonderful job. During writing workshop, we did a writing prompt about the play. In science today, we studied bugs. We read a fun book about flies and all sorts of them! This afternoon, we read Trumpet of the Swan and did more work with picture graphs.

Tuesday

In morning meeting, we learned that Max moved back to New York. Mrs. Follansbee told us that we were going to do science today. Today in word work, we did an activity with the word wall words and syllables. Today it was our last rehearsal for the play in the MPR. In science, we read a book about bugs. It was called Bug Off. We learned a song about ants and we did a ladybug puzzle. This afternoon, we had quiet time, read aloud and math. In math, we made picture graphs. Then we put our costumes at our seats for tonight!

See you at the play!

Monday

Today, we had morning meeting. Many people shared. Writing workshop was next. We did Weekend News here. Then we had a dress rehearsal for the play! For reading, we practiced a Memorial Day poem that we need to memorize for next week. That is part of our homework. In word work, we played Sparkle, practicing our word wall words. In read aloud we read 2 chapters of Trumpet of the Swan. The end of the day was math. We started learning about picture graphs.

Tomorrow is the play!

Friday

This morning in art, we had a substitute teacher.  It was Mrs. Simpkins. We painted and drew pictures about wind. Today in morning meeting, we used calculators and we greeted each other. We were supposed to take our math MAP test, but there were computer problems. So, we didn't. We did Time Bingo from the Learning Center. We practiced for the play in our classroom. Today in writer's workshop, Mrs. Ehrmanntraut came in to interview people for their Ta Da! books. We worked on our drafts. When we sat down to do read aloud, the fire alarm sounded. The firemen actually came because the smoke detector malfunctioned. Then we read Trumpet of the Swan and finished our day with Ketchup Time.

Have a fabulous weekend!

Wednesday

In morning meeting, Mrs. Follansbee told us we were going to have a "zigger zagger" day today because in music we were going to practice our play parts. In music, we of course practiced our play. It was our last time practicing the play for this week. We did each song twice. In math, some people did a packet about time. We did a Mad Minute too. During read aloud, we read another chapter of Trumpet of the Swan. Today during "special event" we had an off-site evacuation. Mr. Carozza said it went really well.  For the rest of the day, we had choice time.

Tuesday

In morning meeting today, a lot of people shared including the leaders. The leaders bring the lunch basket down and they get the snack milks.  All of the second grade classrooms have leaders. During Word Work, we sorted words into categories like parts of speech or vowel sounds. We had a special event and it was the second grade play practice.  We practiced in the MPR again today. Today in writer's workshop, some of us finished our Weekend News. In lunch, the whole second grade sat differently because of the stuff from the play. Elise also lost her tooth in lunch by eating a chip! We read two really funny chapters called "Love" and "The Trumpet".  In math we did a Mad Minute with addition facts, we made a graph, and we talked about AM vs. PM. 

Monday

During morning meeting Jonah, Alex, Judah, Kally, Kevin and Natalie shared. Today in writer's workshop we worked on Weekend News. After writer's workshop, we had our first rehearsal for the second grade play in the MPR. In snack, we went outside. In reading, we got to choose what we did from the work board. In independent reading, it felt longer than usual. In read aloud we read Trumpet of the Swan. In this chapter, the swan learned how to write and read.  He wrote catastrophe! Today in math we used clocks in our workbook B. Before dismissal, we did the blog.

No homework for the week!  Enjoy a week off!

Friday

Just a reminder that the Fun Fair is tomorrow!  I hope to see you all there! 

In art we wrote a poem about our lightning pictures. In morning meeting we talked about MAP tests and taking our time. We had the reading MAP test today. Today in math Mrs. Math Jones came in and we played a game that she brought in. In computer lab we were typing our portfolios for last month. In independent reading, everybody was really quiet and reading. Read aloud was at the end of the day today.

Have a good weekend!

Thursday

This morning in morning meeting, we played a game called Excuse Me What are You Doing? In reading, some people did reading group and some people did the work board. After snack, we practiced our play songs and our parts. During math, it was our second time using the clocks. We are learning about time. In PE, we played 3 games: 4 Square, Pac Man, and we bounced the ball in the hoop for someone to catch. In writer's workshop, we worked on our poems about spring.

Wednesday

In morning meeting we talked about that next week we will have an off site evacuation. This is sort of like a fire drill but we go to St. Andrew's church and sit down to do attendance and then walk back. In music, we practiced our play and we found out that the play is in 2 weeks! In writing, we did writer's workshop. We added to our I Knew it was Spring poems. During reading, we played charades and made inferences. Then we did the work board. In word work, we played a game where you have to write words using graph paper. At read aloud, we read Trumpet of the Swan. In math, we started time. We did a couple activities with the clock.

Tuesday

In morning meeting, a lot of people shared about what they did over vacation. Ned brought in his wooden tiger to share because he was the Pocket Winner last week. We did a poem about spring in writing workshop today. Today in PE, we played tag. We played 4 square too. Today in reading, we read a book called Tight Times and made inferences about it. In word work, we did poems with "there", "their", "to", "too", and "two". Today in read aloud, we read Trumpet of the Swan. We took 2 tests in math.  The first one was to get your brain ready to think.

Tomorrow, we will begin school 5 minutes early.  Please be at your bus stop 5 minutes before normal. We will also end school 5 minutes later. This will be until the end of the year. Our last day of school is June 20.

Monday

Happy Birthday to Will!

In morning meeting, a lot of people shared today. In writing, we did Weekend News and wrote in our writers' notebooks.  In computer lab, we did a Wordle. In reading, we read Click Clack Moo Cows that Type.  We played Making Words in word work. The game is about using letters on your game board to try to make words.   In math, it was our final day of fractions. Tomorrow is the test!  It was a very normal Monday.

Friday

Today in art, the class worked on drawing lightning. In morning meeting, Mrs. Follansbee told us that we will be hanging our banner today. Today in math, Mrs. Math Jones came in and talked to us about algebra and geometry! In "Ketchup Time" many of us sat at Mrs. Follansbee's table so she could help us. Ms. Nichols gave us 2 praying mantis egg cases and so we read a book called MaryAnn. The book was about a girl and her friend who moved away but then she found a praying mantis and named it after her friend. We picked our April portfolio artifacts. Some of us finished while others need more time. The rest of the work is coming home today. At the end of the day, we went out of the classroom to see other classrooms' banners. The banners were all containing 3 words that represented the 3B's.

Have a fabulous weekend!

Thursday

Today felt like a short day. It was day 3 of a hornet in our classroom. In morning meeting, we played a game called Coseeki with Mrs. Jones. Math was about fractions again. We added fractions together and learned to never add the denominators!!!  After snack, we practiced our play.  We read the book Two Bad Ants and did more inferring. In word work, we practiced word families. This afternoon, we had PE where we played 4 square or 2 square. In writing workshop we finished up some work and decorated our banner.

Wednesday

Today in music we practiced for the play! Today in morning meeting we played a game called Zap! to practice counting money. In writer's workshop, we practiced the strategy of showing and not telling. We read a passage from a book called A Dog's Life and made an inference. In word work, we had a spelling test. In read aloud, we read chapter 2 of Trumpet of the Swan. During math, we worked on fractions (for the third time) and used fraction bars. Mrs. Ehrmanntraut came in for math Daily 5.

Tuesday

Happy Birthday to Max today!

At morning meeting today, we chose our 3 word slogan to represent the 3B's: Kindness Always Wins.
Some of us finished our Rainy Days vs. Sunny Days papers; others finished Weekend News; and the rest of us worked in our writers' notebooks. We learned how to play 4 square in PE. Today in reading, we read a mystery book called The Stranger. We worked on making inferences about the stranger in this book. In word work, we learned our last new word wall words for the year. We started a new read aloud book called Trumpet of the Swan. Will's grandmother came in to help today during Math Daily 5. We worked more on fractions!

Monday

Welcome back from April vacation. This is the second time 2F has helped Mrs. Follansbee write the blog.  Today, Mrs. Follansbee tried out some new organizational tricks! Today in math we started to work on fractions. In computer lab, we worked on Into the Book. This is a website where you can learn about strategies that you use when you read.  In writing, we did Weekend News.  Independent reading was longer today because Mrs. F was at a meeting and we skipped read aloud also. Mrs. F brought in a box of stuff and we practiced making inferences about this stuff. We also have a new sharing stool. In morning meeting today, we did a lightning share.

Thursday

Today is the first time the students of 2F are writing this blog! 

Today was a really "zigger-zaggery" day.  We had both art and PE.  This is the first time that we've had art and PE on the same day! We had word work earlier  than usual.  We did Spelling City on the computer.  We had a test in math about money. Someone special came in this afternoon to talk to us about the importance of Dairy products.  We had snack a little later than usual. We had a fire drill this morning too.  We did the work board in reading. Some people did Write about Reading.

The Week Before Vacation

We just finished watching The BFG and having snozzcumbers and frobscottle!  Thanks to Mrs. Ehrmanntraut and Mrs. Chapman for helping put those two things together!  The reviews were mixed as far as the snack and the movie.  I heard a lot of "The book was so much better"!  I love that!  It was a fun afternoon.

We are wrapping up our unit on money.  Some children are still struggling a bit with identifying and counting money. Any help on that would be great!  I will test them tomorrow.

Many students finished their write about reading this week.  We also made weather graphs in computer lab.  It was our last WIN for word work this year.  The next cycle will be focused on math.

As we approach vacation, we will be researching weather topics in the library this week and making weather mobiles.  We have an assembly Friday morning which is always a special treat. This is the TIGER assembly which focuses on bullying.

Energy is high and spring has sprung!  Life is good in 2F!!!!

Wednesday and Thursday

2F is a happening place! We had Mrs. Maynard come today to read us some books and talk to us about upcoming library programs.  Also, we had the Jump Rope for Heart assembly.  We saw some amazing kids jumping rope!

We are almost finished the BFG and I would like to show the movie next week.  Along with the movie, I would like to make snozcumbers and frobscotle (ask your children!) and will need some help with ingredients as well as putting it together.  I will send an email out tomorrow about this.

The link for the channel 9 broadcast is below in case you missed it.

Channel 9

Monday and Tuesday

Kevin Skarupa came today!  We learned a lot about weather today.  The students will be on TV tomorrow morning at 6:15.  Set your alarms!

In math, we are learning about money. Students have identified coins such as quarters, nickels, dimes and pennies. Today we looked at bills as well. We are skip counting to get ready for counting coins and bills.

In computer lab yesterday, we drew pictures and wrote sentences about our favorite types of weather. I will put these into a class book when everyone is done.

We did our weekend news yesterday and finished up today. Students are working on reflecting about their week in guided reading. I ask students to think about what they are doing well each week as well as what they will work on the following week. This week, we talked about the definition of being successful at something. They needed to give me reasons for why they were successful with something rather than just listing it.  This requires a lot of thought.

We've been concentrating on contractions in Word Work. Yesterday we played a game in partners forming contractions.  We will have WIN groups tomorrow.

Wednesday and Thursday

I was out at an elementary school in Dover visiting a school who has Math in Focus as their math program yesterday. It was so insightful!  This school is in its 3rd year of implementation and we got to see teachers teaching lessons and talk with them later about our questions.  It was a great experience.  The students seemed to enjoy having Mrs. Mosca as their substitute teacher.

We read a book about weather today.  Students are gaining vocabulary about the topic.  Kevin Skarupa will be coming on Tuesday to visit us.  He is the weatherman for Channel 9 News. There will be a permission slip coming home tomorrow for you sign granting permission for students to be video taped. Traditionally, Skarupa brings his camcorder and videos students waving then plays it (with no sound) the next morning after his forecast.  Please send these slips back as soon as possible.  Thank you. If you choose not to grant permission, students will be asked to step outside the room when Skarupa tapes the crowd.

Tomorrow, Miss Mary the Turtle Lady will visit us in the afternoon.  She does a great talk, sings with the kids, and brings her turtles for them to see.  The kiddos always love it!

Students are in full swing of writing workshop. They are choosing their own topics, drafting, editing, revising and publishing their stories.  It's great to see them proficient with the writing process.

In math, we are finishing up the chapter on Mental Math and Rounding.  I will test them tomorrow.

Monday and Tuesday

We're off to a great start this week!  Students are learning to round numbers to the nearest ten and figure out whether answers to addition and subtraction problems are reasonable.  We will continue to review this as is it a difficult concept.

FYI:  math homework this week is not a math log but a cumulative review of chapters 1 through 4.  This is not an assignment students can choose to do. I would like all students to complete it as best they can.  Thanks for your help with this.

In reading, we will be working on the skill of inferring coming up this week.  Students are working on their Write about Reading letters.  Every week, they need to write a letter to me about a book they have read over the course of the week. They include the title of the book and what it is about as well as their reactions to the story.  I am impressed with their ability to craft these letters.  They do this all on the computer in class.

We have been talking about contractions in word work.  We are also doing WIN groups twice a week. This cycle is revolving around word wall words, vocabulary, and phonics work.

We are beginning our study on weather. Kevin Skarupa will visit on Tuesday!  We will be in the library doing a weather mobile project.  We were able to use a weather CD in computer lab to kick off this unit.

Let me know if you have any questions or concerns!

Wednesday and Thursday

We are almost done with our biography reports!  The projects are rolling in and they are fantastic!  In reading today, we read the beginning of Thank You Mr. Falker. We will finish tomorrow.  This is an important book about how we all need help and that it's okay to ask for help. This is a theme that we have been discussing at length in 2F.

Today, we switched rooms and mixed up for WIN groups. This cycle the lessons are involving Word Work.  Some children are using word wall words, some are working on vocabulary lessons, while others are doing some intense phonics work.

In math, we are working through mental math strategies. Students are learning how to add and subtract large numbers in their heads using the following strategies: Add/Subtract the ones, tens, and hundreds and Make Tens/Hundreds.  I am impressed by students' abilities to add and subtract in their heads!

The BFG is a fun book to read aloud!

Monday and Tuesday

Greetings from 2F!

We are so busy lately.  Students are working hard on their Write about Reading letters. They are learning how to use templates on the computer to guide them in writing a reading response letter. So exciting! Also, we've been typing our portfolio reflections as well as our biography reports. For the biography reports, we've learned about how to change the lead to something that will grab the reader.  Today, we learned about wrap around endings. This is an important way to end our papers that ties it up nicely, referring to something mentioned in the lead. Tomorrow we will learn about how to make our sentences varied. There is some amazing revision happening!

In math, we are sharpening our mental math strategies. Students are learning strategies such as add the ones, add the tens, add the hundreds, make a ten and make a hundred to help them add in their heads. Tomorrow, we look at mental math with subtraction.

Biography projects are coming in!  It's so exciting! I'll put videos of the students presenting their work on this blog later in the week.  Second graders are so excited about doing projects!  I love their enthusiasm.

Friday

Where has this week gone?  It has been a blur, for sure.  3 of us in my house have been sick with the stomach bug (yuck) as well as a bad cold.  Thankfully, we are on the mend. 

Today, was a catch up day in many ways. We had a math test on measurement and we're done with this unit. We're on to Mental Math and Estimation! 

Many of us finished writing our first drafts of our biography reports. We will look at how to revise them next week. In word work, we learned the new word wall words for the week (better late than never!)  I usually introduce them on Tuesday, but, like I said this week was crazy!

This afternoon, we were in the computer lab working on our Write about Reading letters. Some of us began portfolio work as well.

Have a fabulous weekend!

Tuesday

It feels like it's been forever since I've seen your children.  Between the snow day on Friday and then me out yesterday, I was glad to get back to the routine.  Both of my girls have been sick so Mrs. Jones covered for me yesterday so I could stay home with them.

Today, we had a "normal" day.  In writing, we did a shared writing where I'm showing them how to write a biography report. We talked about an exciting lead, a middle that has details and some personal comments, and a conclusion that wraps it all up.  We will look at this tomorrow again and students should be on their way writing their own. 

In reading, I showed students how to do this week's Write about Reading. This week, they are writing actual letters to me about the books they are reading. We are using a template on Kidspiration to do this, therefore, they are done on the computer.  We had guided reading and did the work board.  In word work, I read a book about suffixes.

This afternoon, we talked about using bar models to help us solve word problems using measurement.  I also did a few math assessments.

Please remember our field trip on Thursday morning. Students need cans of soup and permission slips.
Thank you!

Thursday

Please don't forget to come to the Celebration of the Arts tonight at the high school.  Students from HMS (2 in our class) will be performing at 5:30 in the auditorium.  There will also be student artwork on display in the cafeteria.  This is a fabulous night.  I hope to see you there!

Students are being asked to bring a can of soup on the day of the Stone Soup play (Thursday).  All soup cans will be donated to the Hopkinton Food Pantry. 

Today, we began our day with math.  We are comparing lengths using centimeters.  We worked in our handwriting books as well.  In reading, Mrs. Jones read a book called Bartholomew and the Oobleck. Students were asked to visualize two times, once in the middle of the story and once at the end.  Next, students worked on their own Write about Reading using the strategy of visualizing. 

This afternoon, we began to discuss the important components of a written biography report.

Wednesday

Happy Read Across America Day!  We had our traditional assembly where Mr. Carozza reads Green Eggs and Ham and the audience participates.  I think this is the best assembly!  Our class got to hold up umbrellas to represent reading "in the rain".  It was great!  That was at the end of the day.

This morning, Mrs. Clark came in and did an activity with wrap around endings in writing.  Ask your child about that!  Also, she stayed for reading time while I was at a meeting. She read The Lorax and students wrote about the problem and solution in that story.

In word work we talked about words that had letters that made the /ow/ sound.  After read aloud, we did more measuring with centimeters.

Welcome Back!

Happy Tuesday and Welcome Back from break.  It was nice to hear about all of your adventures of the week prior yesterday during Morning Meeting.  Students seemed very happy to share and also to be back with their friends.  It's so nice to see the nice community we have here in 2F.

Today, we had a zigger zagger day because we went to see How I Became a Pirate at the Capitol Center for the Arts.  It was a musical and we sat in the balcony.  Ask your child how he/she liked it.  There were mixed reviews when we got back.  After we got back, we learned 5 new word wall words.  This afternoon, we read  The BFG, our new read aloud.  Next, we had math.  We are continuing our study of measurement.  Today, we talked about and measured things using centimeters.  Yesterday we talked about comparing lengths using meters.

I sent homework home last night.  There are the regulars: reading log and math logs.  Then, there is a March calendar to fill out as well as March Word Wall Words to study.  Another permission slip for a trip on next Thursday was sent home.  Please send that one back as soon as you can.  Thank you!

Let me know if you have questions or concerns!

Friday

Happy Vacation!!!!!

Thursday

Today, we had math in the morning.  We worked on more measurement and looked at things that measured about 1 meter, less than 1 meter, and more than 1 meter.  Students had fun using a meter stick to measure things around the classroom.   We had time for Daily 5 math.

In writing, everyone finished their notes for our biographies!  We will write the reports after break.
During reading, we went to the Into the Book website and did an activity with visualizing.  Students worked on the laptops or desktops to do this.  It was fun!  In word work, we put this week's words into our word wall list in our writer's notebooks.  Then we quizzed each other on the words.

This afternoon, after PE, we finished Mr. Popper's Penguins and did a math assessment.

I'm still missing a few permission slips.  If you could get them in tomorrow, that would be fabulous.

Wednesday

Today, we started a new (refreshing) topic in math:  measurement!  It was nice to focus on something different rather than computation.  We talked about units used to measure length.  The focus is metric units of measurement for this chapter (meters, centimeters, etc). 

In writing, we continue to consolidate our notes onto a graphic organizer to prepare for writing our reports.  I'm thinking the reports won't be done until after the break.  The goal is to get all graphic organizers done by tomorrow.

In reading, we did a visualization activity after discussing the actual strategy.  During word work, we played a game with r-controlled vowels.

We are almost finished Mr. Popper's Penguins!

Tuesday

We continued our work putting our biographies onto the program Kidspiration.  With these notes, students will be able to write reports on the people about whom they have learned. Students either worked on the computer or on a laptop in the classroom.  In reading, we read the February poem of Chicken Soup with Rice.  Also, we did guided reading groups and focused on nonfiction reading.  I introduced 5 new word wall words today too.

This afternoon, we took a math test on multiplication and division.  We also did Daily 5.

Monday

Happy Monday!

We began our day with our Weekend News, as usual.  It is great to see children able to write a detailed paragraph on one focused topic.  They have really come a long way!  In computer lab today, we put our notes from our biography project into a graphic organizer using Kidspiration.  This will be really helpful when it comes time to write our reports.  In reading today, students were able to choose what they would like to do for Write about Reading.  Many worked on the work board, while I met in guided reading groups to read other biographies and Mrs. Jones did Scholastic News.  In word work, we played 20 questions and made a record of guessing the word in 6 questions!

This afternoon, we had math and did more multiplication and division.  We had time for Daily 5 math!  We used Kidspiration to make arrays that related to multiplication.

Please return permission slips to go to the Capital Center for the Arts.  That trip is the week we come back from vacation and I would LOVE all of the permission slips before the break.  Thank you!

We are in desperate need of tissues.  Any help would be so appreciated!  Thanks!  Here's to a great week!

Thursday

Happy Valentine's Day today!

It was an amazing day...very busy!  We made compliment cards for each other today.  On Monday, in the computer lab, we designed the cards for ourselves.  Then, today, we sat in a circle and passed them around.  Each child wrote a compliment to everyone in the classroom.  It was awesome!  The students couldn't wait to read their cards at our Valentine Party this afternoon.  It is a great day when we can celebrate our friendship in the community of our classroom.  

Mrs. Maynard came in today too.  She read some books and mentioned a few things happening at the library.  On April vacation, the library will be hosting a Star Wars party (April 24).   You can sign up at the library or you could call them.  There seemed to be a lot of interest in our class about this.

We had our last WIN group today for this round.  We will start again in March.

The party was fabulous. Thank you for all of the donations.  A special thank you to Tammy E. for organizing the whole thing!

Tuesday

I hope to see you all at the spaghetti dinner tonight!  There is a 5:15 and a 6:15 seating. 

It was another busy day today.  We began taking notes on our biographies.  Students were looking for facts about their famous people in certain categories: growing up, middle years, later in life and amazing facts.  This process will continue tomorrow.  Figuring out which facts are important from reading a page is a challenge, but we are certainly working on it.

During reading today, we read a Valentine poem and talked about what we noticed and what we liked.  Students were so good at looking at the poem in the ways that we've been talking about in class: the rhythm, the rhyme, the comparisons.... I LOVE it!!!!!  Makes my heart sing for sure!    I also explained the Write About Reading for the week which has to do with making connections.

For word work today, I tested children on the January word wall words. The results will help determine WIN groups for the next round in March.

During math, we did more multiplication.  Tomorrow we will look at division as part of the fact families.  We also had Daily 5 groups.

Monday

It was a very busy day today in 2F!  We began with our Weekend News, as usual.  When students finished, they got to decorate their Valentine Bags.... Fun!  In computer lab we made cards for ourselves that we will fill out on Thursday (you'll see.....).  During reading, we read a biography and talked about what will we do with our own biography books.  In word work, I introduced the new word wall words for the week. 

In math this afternoon, we talked about multiplying by 10.  We had Daily 5 Math today!

I sent home homework.  As usual, everything is due on Monday, with the exception of the timeline activity.  I would like those by FRIDAY please.  We will do something with them in the computer lab on Monday of next week. Thanks for your help with that.

Remember our Valentine party is Thursday afternoon.  Thanks to Tammy E. who organized the whole thing!

Thursday

Good Afternoon!
Today we began our day with math.  We are talking about all of the different ways to represent multiplication: "groups of; an array; a multiplication sentence; and repeated addition".  We keep reviewing our 0 tables, 1 tables, 2 tables, 5 tables and 10 tables. 

In reading today, we read the poem "Sick" by Shel Silverstein (one of my all time favorite poems!) and talked more about fluency.  Students had a turn to read the poem "What If?" to each other to practice.  It's great to hear them verbalize what makes fluent reading!

We had WIN groups today.  Also, after recess we had PE. Our day ended with an assembly about the
IKidarod happening at the high school on Sunday.

Wednesday

I succumbed to the stomach bug and had to stay home yesterday. My apologies for not updating the blog yesterday.  Seems as though there are many things going around.  We are using the anti bacterial wipes and washing our hands like crazy!  I am in need of tissues for the classroom. Thanks for any donations.

Today, we went to the library and Mrs. Alibrandi did an introduction to our unit on biographies.  Students chose their own biographies and will be reading them in class.  We will focus this unit on taking notes on important information.  We will then turn those notes into a written report in writing.  Please let me know if you have any questions about the unit.

We also began something in class today called the Magic Pocket Name.  This is a system to manage classroom behaviors that I am noticing.  We are all focusing on the 3B's: being safe, respectful and responsible.  Students, as of late, have been interrupting, talking out, not settling down after transition times and overall being very chatty.  My solution to this is the Magic Pocket Name.  For each time frame during the day (today it was morning meeting and snack; library and reading; and quiet time and math), I pull a name from a bucket where all the students' names are. I put this person's name in my pocket and keep an especially close eye on that person to see if he/she is following the 3B's.  At the end of the time frame, I will announce what this person (by name) has done (by following the 3B's) and put his/her name into another bucket.  If the person did not follow the 3B's during that time frame, his/her name goes back in the original bucket but I do not announce his/her name.  Students are then asked to reflect on whether they think the Magic Pocket Name was his/hers.   I want students to be reflective in their behaviors and I believe this system really will allow for that.  AT the end of the week, we will have a drawing of all the Magic Pocket Name winners.  If a student's name is picked for that drawing, he/she will win a "prize".  The prize will not be a materialistic thing but something like a chance to eat in the classroom with a friend or extra iPad time, etc.  Let me know what you are hearing at home about this.  I am interested in your thoughts.

Please don't forget about our Valentine party on Thursday of next week. If your child chooses to make Valentines, please have him/her do so for the whole class.  Thank you!

We had WIN groups today.  Also, we learned about our 5's times tables in math.

Monday

Have you heard about Storybird yet?  It's a really cool website where you can choose artists' work and make books out of it!  Your child had a chance to explore this a little on Friday and we worked more with it today.  If you are interested, go to storybird.com and log in.  Your child's user name is his/her first name and last name as all one word with no capitals.  Passwords are the passwords that your child uses to log into the computer at school.  If you need help, let me know.  You can see some of the work that we've been doing over these last 2 days.  This is a great avenue for the reluctant writer.  It's digital storytelling at its best!

In reading today, students learned what book reviews are as well as how to write one.  This will be their Write about Reading for the week.  They continue to work on their fluency videos this week as well.

The new lunch menu went home.  Make sure you remember that February 13 is second grade eats hot lunch free day!

I sent homework home today. There is the usual reading log and math log. Also, I've attached the February word wall word list.  One last thing is a Scholastic News calendar activity.  This calendar is not part of the math log and should be completed for Monday.  Thanks!

We had a test on multiplication and division today.  The beginning of the test was difficult, really testing understanding of the concepts.  Students struggled, which means I will spend more time on the concepts in class in the future.  No Daily 5 Math today.

Thursday

It was another busy day!  We had our last Second Step lesson with Mrs. Kleiner today.  It was a lesson in safety.  During math, we worked on word problems with multiplication and division.  We will have a test on this chapter on Monday.  Tomorrow, Mrs. Math Jones will be in to talk more about multiplication.

In reading today, we learned about rubrics and how to rate ourselves in certain areas.  Students picked a piece to read and rate themselves on for their fluency.  I had them videoing themselves using the iPad and then listening back to it.  They, then proceeded to use a rubric to evaluate themselves.  This will be something for their portfolios. We will do more with this tomorrow.

This afternoon, we had writing workshop. 
Tomorrow students are welcome to wear any sports gear that they have (even hats!) in honor of the Super Bowl on Sunday.  Even though my team missed out (boooooo), I'll be sure to don my Patriots gear!

Wednesday

Happy Delayed Opening Day!
We had a very productive day.  Did you know that we are studying division?  Wow!  It's amazing and we're doing it!  We've learned that division is repeated subtraction (just like multiplication is repeated addition).  Today, we did word problems involving multiplication and division.  I'm so proud of these kiddos!

In reading, we worked on using emotion when we read aloud to help our comprehension.  We read The Day the Goose Got Loose practicing this.

We switched groups for WIN time.  We had outside recess even (yahoo!).  February lunch menus went home today. On February 13, the entire second grade gets to eat hot lunch for free! I circled the date on the lunch menu.

Monday

We had a full day of learning today!  In the computer lab this morning, we took a virtual tour of the house where Martin Luther King, Jr. grew up.  Then, we completed a Venn Diagram comparing our houses to his. 

In our Weekend News, we tried to have nice, full sandwich writing. Ask your child what that means!  We did very well with this!  In reading, we read the January poem of Chicken Soup with Rice and went over the Write About Reading for the week.  Students worked on the work board while Mrs. Jones and I met with reading groups.  During Word Work, we learned more about suffixes.

This afternoon, we finished our last activity with magnets.  We were able to see the actual force field from the magnets!  It was so cool.  We also had a class meeting to take care of a few issues, like spots in line.  Finally, we did worked on division in math.  We are looking at it as repeated subtraction at this point. 

Homework went home tonight.  Thanks for your help with this.  Let me know if you have any questions/concerns.

Thursday

Brrrr!!!!!  Our room is nice and toasty, which is great!  We've had indoor recess yesterday and today, though.  Seems like everyone is a little itchy to get outside: me included!

We have been learning things about magnets.  Today, we learned that magnets have a North and a South Pole and that objects are more attracted to those areas than the others of a magnet.  Fun stuff!

In math, we continue our study of multiplication. Students are using language such as 5 groups of 3 is the same at 5 X 3.  This is new for many but we are slowly catching on.

This week in reading, our focus has been reading fluently.  Yesterday, we talked about how punctuation affects how we read. Today, we discussed how to phrase and stick words together that belong together to make it sound more natural. 

I hope you stay warm!

Tuesday

We did some great activities with magnets today!  Students are learning many things about magnets and they are so excited!  Ask your child what he/she learned or did today having to do with magnets.

Students also took a test on bar models and we did a writing benchmark. Students also did some snow shoeing in PE today.  In word work, I introduced 5 new word wall words today. We also finished the Whangdoodle today!  I will read the Epilogue tomorrow.  I loved this book and I'm hoping your child did too!

Friday

We have been busy as usual in 2F. I have finished my reading benchmarks. Students read aloud a leveled piece of writing while I look at their miscues.  Next, they read the rest of the story on their own and I check for comprehension.  I am so encouraged by the results of this assessment.  Students are moving right along!  Very exciting!

In writing, we are all almost done our published pieces.  When everyone is finished, we will have a special author's tea. I will invite parents to come in as students share their final drafts.  I will let you know when this is.  I look forward to that celebration as publishing a piece of writing is a lot of work!

Mrs. Math Jones came in today and taught us beginning multiplication!  The kiddos were so excited!  We will have a test on the bar models on Tuesday and move right into multiplication next week.

I hope you all have a wonderful long weekend!

Wednesday

Our day began with an all school assembly in the MPR.  We talked about bullying and saw videos that went with the book Don't Laugh at Me. We sang the 3B's song as well.

In writing today, we spent quite a bit of time on the steps of Writing Process.  Students are at the point now where they decide what they are working on during writing class and then sign up on our chart with a clothespin.  We went over what each step means exactly before trying it out.  It went well!  Students are really understanding and implementing the writing process.

In word work today, we switched classrooms and worked in WIN groups.  We will do this for the next 5 weeks.

Today in math, we worked with more word problems.  Students were faced with 2 step problems today.  This is difficult!  Students did very well!  I am so proud of them!

Tuesday

Tomorrow is the 3B's assembly. Please have your child wear black and yellow if possible.  We talked a lot about certain vocabulary that students may hear at the assembly.  I read the book Don't Laugh at Me.  Students will hear more about bullying at the assembly. 

Our writing lesson was about Show Don't Tell.  This is a strategy where authors use words to describe things, rather than come right out and tell you how a character is feeling.  I read When Sophie Gets Angry and we talked about how we show anger. Then students wrote a description of someone who was angry. We all shared our best sentences with the group.

Today in word work, I introduced the 5 new word wall words for the week. Tomorrow, we will switch groups for WIN time based on a phonics assessment.

In math, we continue our study of bar models. We are working with comparison models.  Students are working well with it. 

Monday

We are continuing our study of bar models in math.  For some, this strategy seems silly, especially if the child can compute correctly another way.  Bar modeling is a very important part of the Math in Focus program.  It is introduced in second grade and built upon throughout the program.  We will be finishing up with bar models this week, but the exposure to them is important for each child.  Thank you for your assistance and understanding with this part of the program.

We are also continuing our study of retelling fictional texts. In the computer lab today, we learned how to use Kidspiration as a method of organizing our thoughts for retelling. We practiced with our read aloud book.  Students continue to work on this in the classroom during Guided Reading as our Write about Reading station.

In Word Work today, we discussed how to add suffixes to root words. I focused on adding "ing" and "ed" to words that end with silent "e". Dropping the silent "e" before adding a suffix starting with a vowel is where we are focusing.  This is the second lesson on this rule.  It was introduced on Friday.

We also have begun to study about magnets.  This is a fun unit that is very "hands-on".  You will hear more about this as the week goes on.

We are in need of plastic grocery bags for our wet snow clothes after recess.  Any donations are greatly appreciated!  Thank you!

Thursday

We continue to keep busy in 2F!  This morning, I showed students new ways to represent bar models.  Some of it seems a bit confusing, so I am exposing them to these ways, but am really just looking for concrete understanding of part, part, whole represented in a bar model.  Students are really doing well with the concept of bar modeling.  I am so excited to see how well they are doing.  We have some great mathematicians in our room!

Mrs. Kleiner came in today and did some relaxation exercises with us. After that, we read Leo the Late Bloomer and talked more about retelling and how this relates to story elements (character, setting, plot, conflict and solution).

In word work today, we changed many short vowel words into long vowel words by adding a "magic" e or silent e to the end.  It's amazing how many words that this works for.

This afternoon, we had PE and then writing.  Busy, busy, busy!

Here is a link to Mrs. Emerson's site.  Check it out!

https://sites.google.com/a/sau66.org/hopkinton-art/

Wednesday

It's the middle of the week and we are back to working hard!  Bar models in math, publishing our writing, making words, and retelling stories are some of the things that have been happening in here today!

We are also reading a great book aloud: The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles.  It is entertaining as well as well written.  For many, this is their favorite part of the day!

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns along the way.  I appreciate any feedback you have.

Tuesday

We have all settled into our routines again today.  We revisited our original Hopes and Dreams for second grade and talked about how we are doing as far as achieving them.  Our discussion focused on how we are a community and here to help each other achieve the goals/resolutions that we've set for ourselves.  Students were so supportive of one another and the goals.  (SO proud!)  It's great to revisit our goals this time of year and also solidify the structure that is put into place in our room.

In writing today, we learned about the trait of organization.  I presented a mixed up story and we took it apart to make it fit back together again. I'm hoping to see more of this in students' writing.  Students will not write on 2 sides of the paper when drafting stories so that if they need to cut their stories apart and paste them back together, they can.

In reading, we read a poem and we talked about how to proceed with Write About Reading this week.  We are working on retelling, which is a tough skill. 

We learned the 5 new word wall words today.  Also, we focused more on bar models in math.

Monday

Happy New Year!

It's great to be back!  I hope you all had a wonderful relaxing holiday/break.  I sure did and I raring to go today.

We began our day, after our morning meeting, we wrote our Weekend News.  Students had to really focus on one aspect of the time they had off.  After this, students worked on their published pieces.  We are all almost done and ready to share.  So exciting!

In computer lab today, we learned about a new site called Thinking Blocks.  (www.thinkingblocks.com)  Students were able to practice with bar models using this site.  I love it!  Next, Mrs. Pond showed us an activity using Kidspiration, pattern blocks and snowmen.  It was challenging, but fun!

In reading we got used to the work board again.  I have begun doing winter reading benchmarks today.  Word Work had us being mind readers!  Fun stuff using word wall words.  I will send home the January word wall words tomorrow.

During math, we did an assessment and then Daily 5 math!  Good stuff!

I sent home homework for the week: a reading log and a math log.  There was also some information that goes with our math program about bar models with practice problems.  Students are welcome to try some of those at home.  Thanks for your support with this!