Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween!
This week a conference form went home with your child. Please confirm your conference time and return the form to school as soon as you are able. If for some reason you are not able to attend your conference time, please let me know and we can look at rescheduling. You should also see coming home a pink pre-conference form. If you could take a few moments to fill this form out, it will let me know what specific things you would like to discuss at your child’s conference. Return this form to school by November 3rd.
This week we have been celebrating red ribbon week! Friday is the last day as we say “boo” to drugs. Tuesday we were the audience for the sixth grade music program, dress rehearsal
Curriculum information-
Writing- This week we have continued our unit on descriptive paragraphs. Monday each child was given a paper bag with an object inside. Using descriptive writing each child took turns trying to get their friends to guess their mystery object! Last week we used apples as our inspiration. First we collected information using our five senses as we “experienced” an apple. Step by step we took this information through the writing process. The end result was a descriptive paragraph about apples. This week we used another fall favorite to inspire our writing… pumpkins!
Math- Last week we wrapped up our unit on story problems. Our focus now shifts to telling time. Wednesday we had a “mix it up” day. In efforts to focus instruction to our students needs, we grouped our second graders for additional practice in telling time, using the clock, and other time skills.
Animated literacy- We continue to work on parts of speech and are practicing contractions.
Science- We are studying about the 6 body systems in science. So far we have learned about the skeletal, muscular, digestive, and respiratory system. We even made our own skeletons… Thursday we will decorate them for Halloween! Next week we will take a look at the last two systems and will take our end of unit test.

Friday is the big Halloween class party. Just a reminder that we will begin putting on costumes around 2:10pm and to refrain from blood and weapons on costumes. I am looking forward to seeing all the fun costumes! It sounds like the room moms have a fun party planned.

Have a safe and fun weekend!

Beautiful Autumn Day!

I hope autumn is treating everyone well and that you and your 2nd graders are finding time to enjoy the beautiful weather! This week we made stain glass pumpkins to hang by our window… and spooky bats to hang from the ceiling.

Curriculum for the next few weeks is as follows:

Math - In the third unit of Math Expressions, students continue looking at different types of story problems. I am really impressed with the progress they are making in showing their thought processes for various types of problems! We continue to look at examples of change plus, change minus, comparison, and collection story problems. This week, we have examined story problems that have either too much information or not enough information as well as solve story problem with multiple steps. Thank you for your continued support with math homework!

Writing - Students have been working on different paragraph writing activities. We touched on descriptive paragraphs about autumn (be sure to check out the 2nd grade display in the pod!) and are currently working on paragraphs about memories. They are wrapping up these paragraphs about their memory boxes!

Spelling - As spelling lists and pattern sorts become more challenging, it is so important that students continue to practice at home. Please help your child remember that some sort of spelling homework is due at least once a week...this can be anything from an art project using spelling words to words written out on a sheet of paper to a sticky note from you saying he or she wrote words with sidewalk chalk. It is also important to spend time studying the meaning of these words.

Health - This afternoon, students were assessed on our unit on taking care of the body, eyes, and ears. Next week, we will begin to study the different body systems, starting with the skeletal system and the muscular system. Thanks to those of you who have sent in books, X-Rays, and models...a big thank you to Mrs. Knapp for coming in to share the spine and heart with our class!

Reading - Students continue to work hard in their guided reading groups! Don't forget that reading group books that come home can be used on daily reading logs! Our author of the month is Mem Fox; we continue to read many of her best loved stories from Australia.

There will be no school next Friday, October 22.
There are sixth graders at school raising money for the oil spill in the gulf. This will continue through October. If you would like to send a check make it payable to: National Wildlife Federation.

Have a wonderful weekend!