Going into the last 2 weeks before Spring Break, and there is no slowing down!
This post will be relevant for the next two weeks, as next week is going to be very very busy!
Tuesday (March 17)-Dress Green, Library Day, Tutti Fruity Tuesday
Wednesday (March 18)-Popcorn $0.50
Friday (March 20)-Wear funky socks! Hot lunch and spelling test
Monday (March 23)-Swimming in the afternoon (leave at 1 pm); Student Led Conferences (5-7pm)
Tuesday (March 24)-Swimming in the afternoon (leave at 1 pm), Tutti Fruity Tuesday
Wednesday (March 25)-Swimming in the afternoon (leave at 1 pm); Parent/Teacher Conferences 3:15-6pm (by appointment only)
Thursday (March 26)-Swimming in the afternoon (leave at 1 pm); Spelling Test
Friday (March 27)-No School
March 28-April 6-No School
April 7-Return to school
Please remember that there are swimming lessons every afternoon next week. Students need to bring a swim suit, towel, bag (for their items), goggles (if they need them), and any other items for the swimming pool. Students are responsible for their own belongings. They will have time to change at lunch, so they do not need to come to school in their swim suits.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.
Student Led Conferences are next Monday March 23 from 5-7pm. All students are asked to attend with a family member. Please sign up for a time slot on the following website: (http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0f4daeac29a2f58-student)
Parent Teacher Interviews can be booked on the following website: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0f4daeac29a2f58-parentteacher
Parent Teacher Interviews are individual and private meetings that are an option for families.
Language Arts
We started 6+1 Traits of Writing, and the students are really enjoying being 'expert writers'. This program focuses on one main topic/lesson. We have discussed: organizing thoughts in order, capitals/periods, writing based on a picture, focusing ideas on one topic, and writing with detail.
In phonics, we have been working with consonant blends (ex. br, st, tr, ng, lt, fl, etc). Students are recognizing that each consonant is heard in a consonant blend.
All of our writing work has been paying off, especially in Journal writing and 'Story Prompt' writing. They are focusing more and more on conventions, details, and writing more in depth stories.
The students have been practicing reading aloud more and more. They are working on diction, phrasing, and where to take a breath.
Math
We are finishing up with our "Measurement" unit. Today we talked about comparing mass by using the words 'heavier than' and 'lighter than' while using our hands to weigh items. We also used a scale to compare my phone to small unit cubes, interlocking cubes, a shoe, markers, and math counters. The students were pretty amazed at how many items it took to get the same weight as the phone.
Fact Families. Fact Families. We continue to work on our fact families and addition/subtraction to 18. There are many activities we have been doing: dice games, card games, manipulatives, pencil/paper, moving students around to re-group, whiteboards, etc. Students are not even realizing they are doing the addition and subtraction any more because they are doing it so many different ways. It is wonderful seeing them relate addition and subtraction to each other and the different ways we use it in every day life.
Science
Our 'Exploring Liquids' unit is in full swing. Last week, students observed different household liquids (what did it look like, what did it smell like, how viscous was the liquid, etc). Then we stuck the liquids in the freezer to see if the liquids would freeze...and some of them did! But some of them didn't. This sparked a lot of conversation! From the frozen state, the liquids were left out over the weekend to evaporate. Some liquids changed consistency, some evaporated, and others did not change at all. The students have AWESOME questions!
We began making crystals on Friday last week. Each student has their own 'crystal jar' at the back of the room that they can watch every day to see if their salt crystals are forming in the jar and on the pipe cleaner.
Next up in science is discovering which objects absorb the most water and which ones evaporate the water the fastest. They will observe how water evaporates in different situations (with a fan, without a fan, with heat, etc).
Social
We continue to explore the differences between the three communities and relate it to ours. This is done more through cross-curricular opportunities, but the students have explored the different industries of the three communities and what it is like to live in the communities with the changing of the seasons.
Tuesday, 17 March 2015
Wednesday, 4 March 2015
March 2-5, 2015
It's a 4 day week! Looking at the month ahead, it is very busy! We have 2 special theme Fridays (March 13&20) and swimming starts at the end of the month.
**Please return all swimming permission forms with payment ASAP!**
Language Arts
Writing-We are starting our new unit this week called "House and Home". We are going to explore the different parts of a writing piece (is it expository or informative writing? Where is the title/paragraphs/main idea/introduction/conclusion? How is it organized? etc)
We also started the "6+1 Traits of Writing" this week. This is a program designed to help the students write more informed, detailed, and exciting pieces by focusing on little 'chunks' at a time.
As per usual, we will continue with phonics (blend words), spelling, small group reading, story prompts, and reading comprehension.
Math
We continue to review and work with Fact Families. Students are starting to grasp the idea of the relationship between addition/subtraction sentences, but we want them to master this idea. Through the use of Fact Families, they are adding and subtracting to 18.
Our measurement unit is going pretty well. This week they are going to learn how to measure a large object using only 1 object (ex. pipe cleaner, popsicle stick, etc). They will learn skills how to get the most out of what they are measuring while only using one object.
Science
Exploring Liquids starts this week. We will be looking at different liquids using our senses.
Social
Learning about the 3 communities and their main industries was very interesting. The students had lots of questions and it sparked a lot of questions about their land/jobs, and how they relate to each other.
**Please return all swimming permission forms with payment ASAP!**
Language Arts
Writing-We are starting our new unit this week called "House and Home". We are going to explore the different parts of a writing piece (is it expository or informative writing? Where is the title/paragraphs/main idea/introduction/conclusion? How is it organized? etc)
We also started the "6+1 Traits of Writing" this week. This is a program designed to help the students write more informed, detailed, and exciting pieces by focusing on little 'chunks' at a time.
As per usual, we will continue with phonics (blend words), spelling, small group reading, story prompts, and reading comprehension.
Math
We continue to review and work with Fact Families. Students are starting to grasp the idea of the relationship between addition/subtraction sentences, but we want them to master this idea. Through the use of Fact Families, they are adding and subtracting to 18.
Our measurement unit is going pretty well. This week they are going to learn how to measure a large object using only 1 object (ex. pipe cleaner, popsicle stick, etc). They will learn skills how to get the most out of what they are measuring while only using one object.
Science
Exploring Liquids starts this week. We will be looking at different liquids using our senses.
Social
Learning about the 3 communities and their main industries was very interesting. The students had lots of questions and it sparked a lot of questions about their land/jobs, and how they relate to each other.
Tuesday, 24 February 2015
Feb 23-27, 2015
1. Swimming permission forms are being sent home today (Feb 24). Please fill out and return (with payment) by March 13. Please note that if you pay online, a receipt of payment will need to be sent.
2. Wednesday Feb 25 is PINK SHIRT DAY. Students are encouraged to wear a pink shirt in recognition of no bullying.
3. Scholastic Book orders are due on Thursday. Also there is an in-school field trip Thursday afternoon which will focus on Softball. A group from Softball Alberta will come in and work with the students for 1 hour.
4. Spelling Test on Friday and Hot Lunch (Subway). I will not be here on Friday so there will be a Substitute here for me. There will be no assembly on Friday afternoon.
Once again, there are a lot of illnesses going around so I really encourage you to keep your child at home if he/she is experiencing symptoms. Ensure that your child is receiving enough sleep every night and eating healthy 'immune boosting' food, and daily vitamins never hurt.
Language Arts
Writing-Students are learning to write 'convincing' writing. We have started to talk about gifts they would like to receive from a family member, but trying to think of ways to convince you to purchase the item for them. (Please note, this is just a writing technique...you don't have to purchase anything for them!) Later this week we will be starting POETRY. This is the first time (this year) that the students will experience writing poetry. Our topic will be 'Winter Poetry'. We are going to start with Haiku poetry. This type of poetry has a 3-5-3 rule (3 syllables on the first line, 5 syllables on the second, and 3 syllables on the third line). The traditional Haiku follows the 5-7-5 rule, but we are adapting it for Grade 2.
Reading-I have noticed a huge decrease in home reading sheets returning to school. I am hoping that students are still doing reading at home every night, however, I encourage you (and your child) to send the red duotangs back to school. We do quite a bit of individual and group reading at school, but students reading at home is a great way to demonstrate their ability to concentrate and recognize good areas around your home to read.
Phonics-Last week we worked on high frequency words (only, even, laugh, own, their, might), and this week we are moving on to a new section: sounds of c/g, words with an 'le' ending, and compound words. This will take us into the next part of 'blends with consonants'.
Math
We have been spending extra time working on fact families, addition and subtraction to 18, and understanding the "triangle rule". Have no clue what the triangle rule is?? Ask your child to explain it to you! Having them teach you about it demonstrates a higher level of understanding and is a great conversation starter with your child.
In addition to the extra help with the above topics, we have been experimenting with measurement and using different instruments (pipe cleaners, straws, blocks, dice, etc) to measure larger objects. We are going to be working with objects that we only have 1 of, and the techniques used to measure with the one object.
Social
Last week we spent quite a bit of time learning about the Canadian Flag, as it turned 50 years old on Feb 15. This week, the students will be researching different types of country flags and creating their own flag.
Science
We have wrapped up our Hot and Cold unit and the students will have a final test on Thursday. Next week will begin our 'Exploring Liquids' unit.
Friday, 13 February 2015
Before the long weekend starts...
Good Afternoon!
Here are some things before the long weekend starts (yes, Monday is Family Day and there is no school):
1. Beginning next Tuesday, our school will be starting Tutti Fruitty Tuesdays. This means that all students are encouraged to bring any "fresh" fruit or vegetable to school. This does NOT include juice, gummies, apple sauce, or anything else packaged. This means REAL FOOD. Each Tuesday right before snack, a SWAT member will come to your class and ask "who has a fresh fruit or veggie in their lunch?" A tally will be recorded from each class each Tuesday. A grand total will be added up for the last week of March before Spring Break. There will be a "healthy" class prize to the class with the highest total. Ultimately this is clearly to encourage fresh fruit and veggies.
2. Family Day. We are challenging our East Elementary Families to go 'unplugged' for Monday Feb 16. Everyone is asked to disconnect from technology for the day in order to reconnect with family, friends and community. Go for a walk, gather for a board game, eat dinner together, or play in the snow.
Enjoy the long weekend :)
Here are some things before the long weekend starts (yes, Monday is Family Day and there is no school):
1. Beginning next Tuesday, our school will be starting Tutti Fruitty Tuesdays. This means that all students are encouraged to bring any "fresh" fruit or vegetable to school. This does NOT include juice, gummies, apple sauce, or anything else packaged. This means REAL FOOD. Each Tuesday right before snack, a SWAT member will come to your class and ask "who has a fresh fruit or veggie in their lunch?" A tally will be recorded from each class each Tuesday. A grand total will be added up for the last week of March before Spring Break. There will be a "healthy" class prize to the class with the highest total. Ultimately this is clearly to encourage fresh fruit and veggies.
2. Family Day. We are challenging our East Elementary Families to go 'unplugged' for Monday Feb 16. Everyone is asked to disconnect from technology for the day in order to reconnect with family, friends and community. Go for a walk, gather for a board game, eat dinner together, or play in the snow.
Enjoy the long weekend :)
Tuesday, 10 February 2015
Feb 9-13, 2015
A 5 day week! We have been so lucky lately to have short weeks! Our class is gaining another person too! Mrs Pomeranz is going to be joining our class and sharing her time with the 2A class. She will be working with students one-on-one to help develop a variety of skills. We are so lucky to have her!
The Talent Show is coming up and students who were interested in participating took a permission form home on Monday. These forms are due back Wednesday Feb 11.
Yearbook order forms are due back on Friday Feb 13.
Our 2K Valentine's Day party will be on Friday morning (Feb 13).
The Talent Show is coming up and students who were interested in participating took a permission form home on Monday. These forms are due back Wednesday Feb 11.
Yearbook order forms are due back on Friday Feb 13.
Our 2K Valentine's Day party will be on Friday morning (Feb 13).
Just a few reminders:
-Please ensure your child is dressed for the weather. The kids got in the habit of wearing thin coats this week and with the cooler weather returning, they need to have the proper attire to go outside.
-As the second half of Grade 2 is here, I encourage each student to take ownership of coming in the school and getting settled independently. Students should be able to put their backpacks and boots away, get the necessary items (agenda), go to the bathroom, and come to class without any assistance. Please assist me in this transition.
-Ask your child if their indoor shoes fit. I find right after the holidays (especially in January) that students hit a growth spurt and usually need a new pair.
LA
Writing-The theme of this months writing is "Gifts and Gift Givers". This week we are working on sentence writing (subject/predicate, capitalization, and punctuation), sorting details into main idea categories, and an introduction to suspense writing.
Spelling-Words are on the Blog with a test on Friday.
We will continue with our Story Prompt and Reading Comprehension. The emphasis is still on applying the lessons (from our writing) to our writing during Story Prompt.
If you have your child write for you at home, get them to edit their writing (focus on punctuation, capital letters, and spelling).
Math
Measurement: We have jumped right into our measurement unit by looking at calendars (focus on Months, Days, and a year in relation to each other). On Monday, we looked at using smaller items (straws, paper clips, blocks, ones cubes, etc) to measure other large items (window, carpet, desk, etc). Challenge your child to show you their measuring abilities at home!
Addition and Subtraction to 18-Although we have just begun this unit, it is a unit that continues on throughout the year. We are starting to look at the relationship between addition and subtraction. For example: 5+6=11 and 6+5=11 and 11-5=6 and 11-6=5. This is quite an abstract thought for most students. There is no overdoing this! Simple questions at home are a good review for them. By the end of Grade 2, students should be able to recall (from memory without any help) addition and subtraction to 12.
Science
We are wrapping up our Hot and Cold unit this week. Today we talked about hazards and rules of household items and situations (ex. BBQ, space heaters, hot tubs, the beach, etc) where we need to be cautious of temperatures. We will be looking at insulators later this week to determine which insulator is the best for hot and cold water.
Spelling-Words are on the Blog with a test on Friday.
We will continue with our Story Prompt and Reading Comprehension. The emphasis is still on applying the lessons (from our writing) to our writing during Story Prompt.
If you have your child write for you at home, get them to edit their writing (focus on punctuation, capital letters, and spelling).
Math
Measurement: We have jumped right into our measurement unit by looking at calendars (focus on Months, Days, and a year in relation to each other). On Monday, we looked at using smaller items (straws, paper clips, blocks, ones cubes, etc) to measure other large items (window, carpet, desk, etc). Challenge your child to show you their measuring abilities at home!
Addition and Subtraction to 18-Although we have just begun this unit, it is a unit that continues on throughout the year. We are starting to look at the relationship between addition and subtraction. For example: 5+6=11 and 6+5=11 and 11-5=6 and 11-6=5. This is quite an abstract thought for most students. There is no overdoing this! Simple questions at home are a good review for them. By the end of Grade 2, students should be able to recall (from memory without any help) addition and subtraction to 12.
Science
We are wrapping up our Hot and Cold unit this week. Today we talked about hazards and rules of household items and situations (ex. BBQ, space heaters, hot tubs, the beach, etc) where we need to be cautious of temperatures. We will be looking at insulators later this week to determine which insulator is the best for hot and cold water.
Wednesday, 28 January 2015
Jan 26-29, 2015
It's a short week! There are A LOT of illnesses going around in our class, so I encourage each child to wash their hands regularly and get extra sleep. Please do not hesitate to keep your child home if they are sick.
Scholastic Book Orders are due Thursday.
Report Cards go home on Thursday.
Spelling Test on Thursday (it is a review week of the past 5 lessons, so there are 20 words and I will select 10).
Reminder that our Field Trip to the Telus World of Science is on Monday. We will leave PROMPTLY at 8:35am. Students are asked to bring a bag lunch (everything can be disposed of).
Scholastic Book Orders are due Thursday.
Report Cards go home on Thursday.
Spelling Test on Thursday (it is a review week of the past 5 lessons, so there are 20 words and I will select 10).
Reminder that our Field Trip to the Telus World of Science is on Monday. We will leave PROMPTLY at 8:35am. Students are asked to bring a bag lunch (everything can be disposed of).
Tuesday, 20 January 2015
Jan 19-23, 2015
Lots of 'little' things over the next week or two:
-Permission forms for the field trip to the Telus World of Science (on Feb 2) are due on Jan 27. If you can volunteer to help us this day, please fill out the purple sheet attached to the permission forms.
-The Lego contest is underway. If your child plans to participate, please send all entries in by Jan 27 at 3pm. They can be sent in any day until then.
-Scholastic book orders were sent home yesterday. They are due back Jan 29.
LA
Writing-This week we are continuing to discuss 'effective extended endings.' The focus is on a hope/wish, decision, feeling, or memory. In association to that, we talked about the difference between 'telling' a characters' feelings, and 'showing' a characters feelings. Both ways are effective, however, I encourage students to include character feelings in their writing.
SWAT-The Leduc Jr High SWAT team will be in on Wednesday to help us set goals with the students. This is a great opportunity for both the Grade 2 class and the Jr High students to participate in. They will be joining our class once/month to work on different topics/activities. These are all led under the direction of the SWAT teacher.
Journals-Our journals this week were about a favorite winter activity/pass time. I find that some students are struggling to recall information and memories, so I encourage you to review activities you are doing with your child. Have a conversation with them at the dinner table about what they learned in school, and on Sunday evening you can talk about what they did this past weekend that they enjoyed the most.
Math
Now that our patterns unit is finished, we will begin our Measurement unit. This will begin next week as we are finishing our Numbers unit this week as well.
Here is a good game to try: Write down 10 numbers on separate pieces of paper (0-100). Have the child arrange them in numerical order.
Yes, it sounds simple, however your child is practicing the order of numbers. This is an important skill for them to master. Encourage them to start with the 10s number then the 1s number.
Ex. 28
Tens column: 2
Ones column: 8
Science
This week our focus is on body temperature. We did an activity today that allowed the students to learn about 'normal body temperature' (which is 37 degrees Celcius), then test their body temperature. Ask your child about what they found out!
Social
As a wrap up activity to our Social unit, the students were able to play a board game that allowed them to explore the different activities that you could do in each of our 4 communities. It was neat to see the students make connections to their textbook and what we have learned about each community and apply it to the game.
-Permission forms for the field trip to the Telus World of Science (on Feb 2) are due on Jan 27. If you can volunteer to help us this day, please fill out the purple sheet attached to the permission forms.
-The Lego contest is underway. If your child plans to participate, please send all entries in by Jan 27 at 3pm. They can be sent in any day until then.
-Scholastic book orders were sent home yesterday. They are due back Jan 29.
LA
Writing-This week we are continuing to discuss 'effective extended endings.' The focus is on a hope/wish, decision, feeling, or memory. In association to that, we talked about the difference between 'telling' a characters' feelings, and 'showing' a characters feelings. Both ways are effective, however, I encourage students to include character feelings in their writing.
SWAT-The Leduc Jr High SWAT team will be in on Wednesday to help us set goals with the students. This is a great opportunity for both the Grade 2 class and the Jr High students to participate in. They will be joining our class once/month to work on different topics/activities. These are all led under the direction of the SWAT teacher.
Journals-Our journals this week were about a favorite winter activity/pass time. I find that some students are struggling to recall information and memories, so I encourage you to review activities you are doing with your child. Have a conversation with them at the dinner table about what they learned in school, and on Sunday evening you can talk about what they did this past weekend that they enjoyed the most.
Math
Now that our patterns unit is finished, we will begin our Measurement unit. This will begin next week as we are finishing our Numbers unit this week as well.
Here is a good game to try: Write down 10 numbers on separate pieces of paper (0-100). Have the child arrange them in numerical order.
Yes, it sounds simple, however your child is practicing the order of numbers. This is an important skill for them to master. Encourage them to start with the 10s number then the 1s number.
Ex. 28
Tens column: 2
Ones column: 8
Science
This week our focus is on body temperature. We did an activity today that allowed the students to learn about 'normal body temperature' (which is 37 degrees Celcius), then test their body temperature. Ask your child about what they found out!
Social
As a wrap up activity to our Social unit, the students were able to play a board game that allowed them to explore the different activities that you could do in each of our 4 communities. It was neat to see the students make connections to their textbook and what we have learned about each community and apply it to the game.
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