It is time for another update to give you a glimpse of what we've been up to in second grade!
In Math, we finished Unit 9, which was all about two and three digit subtraction with regrouping. Students learned various methods to solve these types of subtraction problems including: making a proof drawing (typically by drawing ten sticks and circles), the expanded method and ungrouping. Ungrouping is the method the most students now use. Even though it is called "ungrouping" in our new math curriculum, it is really the same thing as traditional borrowing. Students also learned about solving story problems in which they had to find the unknown partner. They learned how to subtract to find the unknown partner as well as add up to find the unknown partner. This week we began Unit 10. Students have learned about congruent and similar figures, and also had fun exploring with pattern blocks this week.
The second graders did four different reading responses this week all to the same story. They are working on expanding their thoughts to a story and writing them down. We read the story Happy Birthday, Grampie, and they rated the book and justified the grade they gave it, wrote about the main character and what their actions say about them, identified a favorite quote from the book and explained why they chose that quote and also drwe a sketch or symbol from the book and wrote about why it was so meaningful or memorable to the story. We will be doing more resonses this week before beginning our study of nonfiction after Spring Break.
We have concluded our study of poetry in Writer's Workshop. The students edited and published two of their free verse poems. They will be on display in our hallway. Last week, students also got to try a few different types of form poetry.
In Social Studies, students learned about landforms and made landform books. They also learned about producers and consumers, natural resources an also the importance of conservation. Also, they learned a little bit about national parks. We even took a pretend trip to Yellowstone! After Spring Break we will be returning to Science with a unit about Solids, Liquids and Gasses!
Just a reminder that students have a short week this week. Thursday is an early release day and Friday students do not have school.
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Free Concert!
Mrs. Garrity, our Bravo volunteer, shared this neat opportunity...
The Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies is holding a free concert geared toward children and families on April 27. Since the kids are currently talking about classical music in Bravo, they might be interested in going to a concert.
Here is the website for more information:
http://www.gtcys.org/
The Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies is holding a free concert geared toward children and families on April 27. Since the kids are currently talking about classical music in Bravo, they might be interested in going to a concert.
Here is the website for more information:
http://www.gtcys.org/
PTC Carnival
PTC Carnival New in 2013!
Please join us at the 32nd annual PTC Carnival on Sat, April 20th at the Prior Lake High School from 11-4:30 (silent auction until 5pm)! For those of you new to the district or that have never attended, it is one of the largest school carnivals in Minnesota and you have to see it in person!
All of the favorite Games are back this year including Freaky First Aid, Money Machine, Pop and Snack Walks, Birthday Party, Plinko and a ton of others! New this year, look for the Human Slot Machine, Lucky Key game, and Gymnastic Challenges from Elite Gymnastics!
Some new Feature Attractions coming this year - - The GameTruck will be there, where you can play video games against your friends. Mini-Golf is coming for the first time - - play 5 holes including Goldy Gopher and MN Wild designed holes! Also, look for Candy Bar Bingo near the cafeteria, where a Bingo = a full-size candy bar. Returning is Crazy Hair by Fantastic Sam’s, which was one of the most popular booths last year!
All New in the Craft area – Make your own bandanas! And the return of Sand Art with many different bottle shapes and sand colors.
All New Gold Coin Prizes – This year we are giving away a Kindle Fire, Xbox, Ipod Touch, Nook Simple Touch and a Season Pass to Valleyfair!
We hope to see you, your friends and your family at the community carnival! For more information on everything carnival, please visit www.PTCCarnival.com.
Monday, March 11, 2013
Classroom Update
February flew by and now it is hard to believe that March is upon us and Spring will be arriving soon!
We have been so busy in our classroom with special activities and learning new things. Here is a look at what we've been up to over the past couple of weeks:
In Reader's Workshop, we have been studying folktales. We've read a number of different folktales and learned about the characteristics of a folktale. We've also talked some about fables and fairy tales and done some comparing of the three different types of traditional literature. I was very pleased with some of the conversations students were having as they worked on deciding whether a story was a folktale, fairy tale or fable based on it's characteristics.
In Writer's Workshop, students have been writing poems and more poems! It has been a lot of fun and it seems like most students really enjoy writing within this genre. Each day, we read a poem, discuss it and point out things we notice or observe in that particular poem. Reading poetry is the best way to learn to write poetry. Students have learned about using sound words, similes, strong endings and using more specific nouns. Now, we are working on revising our poems and making them even better than they already are. At the end of this week, students will be typing two of their poems!
As I am sure you know, we've been working really hard in math lately! Students have been learning to do two and three digit subtraction. It has been challenging for some students, but they are getting better each day. Please let me know if you need more help or support with this. Please remember that in this math curriculum, we call the traditional strategy of borrowing, "ungrouping." It really is the same thing and likely the same way that you learned.
We finished up our last Social Studies unit on community workers, goods and services, making decisions about money, and trade and transportation. Now, we've begun another unity which begins with learning about landforms. Students have learned about islands, peninsulas, lakes, rivers, oceans, mountians, plains and valleys. They are completing their very own landform book to show what they have learned.
During our Grammar time, we've been pracitcing with adjectives and now will be learning about plural nouns.
In addition to all of this, we have also had four Junior Achievement lessons taught by a volunteer from a law office in Prior Lake. The students really enjoy this and have been learning a lot about how a community works. They've experimented with unit production and assembly line production, learned about taxes, different workers in our community as well as decision making with pros and cons.
Have a great week!
We have been so busy in our classroom with special activities and learning new things. Here is a look at what we've been up to over the past couple of weeks:
In Reader's Workshop, we have been studying folktales. We've read a number of different folktales and learned about the characteristics of a folktale. We've also talked some about fables and fairy tales and done some comparing of the three different types of traditional literature. I was very pleased with some of the conversations students were having as they worked on deciding whether a story was a folktale, fairy tale or fable based on it's characteristics.
In Writer's Workshop, students have been writing poems and more poems! It has been a lot of fun and it seems like most students really enjoy writing within this genre. Each day, we read a poem, discuss it and point out things we notice or observe in that particular poem. Reading poetry is the best way to learn to write poetry. Students have learned about using sound words, similes, strong endings and using more specific nouns. Now, we are working on revising our poems and making them even better than they already are. At the end of this week, students will be typing two of their poems!
As I am sure you know, we've been working really hard in math lately! Students have been learning to do two and three digit subtraction. It has been challenging for some students, but they are getting better each day. Please let me know if you need more help or support with this. Please remember that in this math curriculum, we call the traditional strategy of borrowing, "ungrouping." It really is the same thing and likely the same way that you learned.
We finished up our last Social Studies unit on community workers, goods and services, making decisions about money, and trade and transportation. Now, we've begun another unity which begins with learning about landforms. Students have learned about islands, peninsulas, lakes, rivers, oceans, mountians, plains and valleys. They are completing their very own landform book to show what they have learned.
During our Grammar time, we've been pracitcing with adjectives and now will be learning about plural nouns.
In addition to all of this, we have also had four Junior Achievement lessons taught by a volunteer from a law office in Prior Lake. The students really enjoy this and have been learning a lot about how a community works. They've experimented with unit production and assembly line production, learned about taxes, different workers in our community as well as decision making with pros and cons.
Have a great week!
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