October News

        We’re into the 2^nd month of 2^nd grade already. We’ve been working hard to establish routines in the classroom and at school. Each classroom has worked hard to create rules to live by while in that classroom. All four of the 2^nd grade classrooms created guidelines (rules) based on respect for self, others, and property. It was wonderful to hear the students talk about treating others the way they want to be treated. It’s even better to see those words in action.

          On Friday, October 3^rd, we celebrated some of our fall learning through the Frog Olympics. Each student created an origami athlete to compete in such events like the high jump, long jump, target jump, hurdles and races. We had a great time and each student should have come home with a certificate from the big day.

        We have studied the monarch larva as they developed into butterflies. Everyone enjoyed releasing the adults at the butterfly garden they worked so hard to create as first graders. We are well into our science unit about insects. We have been learning how to make scientific observations and detailed, labeled diagrams. This week we will begin the investigation process as we continue to study silkworms, mealworms and pill bugs. The students are seeing 2 different science teachers at this time. They are studying one bug in homeroom and then move to another teacher for another bug. This is an amazing way for the teachers and students to really get to know each other and for us to go really in-depth with the different insects.

        In reading we have been working on learning how to choose a “just-right” book based in reading ability, interest and schema (what we already know about the topic). During this first month we’ve also begun to write thoughtful responses to the literature we’re reading and we’ve been working at apply the strategies great readers use while we’re reading. These strategies include asking questions, making predictions, making connections, visualizing, and deciding what’s important as we read. It’s truly amazing how much thinking goes on when we’re reading. Already we’re seeing a difference in some of the students as readers. Keep listening to the students read every day at home for at least 10 minutes. We’re already seeing a difference in the fluency of the students who are actually doing this homework regularily.

       

The Hurdles

In writing we’ve been gathering ideas in our writing notebooks at school and in our TWINs when we’re away from school. The TWIN is our Traveling Writer’s Idea Notebook and we are supposed to “feed” our TWIN whenever we experience something interesting. We are beginning to look at the world through writer’s eyes – noticing all kinds of very ordinary things in most extraordinary ways.

                Just a couple of quick reminders:

1.      Dress for the weather – we go outside everyday unless it’s pouring rain.

2.    Send in a healthy snack for your child each day – they get hungry.

3.    Keep on top of the homework each day. Students have math Mondays through Thursdays and should be studying spelling words each of those days.

4.    Read out loud for at least 10 minutes EVERY day. It does make a difference.

5.    Complete the current event form early in the month so no one is scrambling at the end of the month. Also, practice the oral presentation at home a couple of times before presenting to the class.

6.    Have fun. 2^nd grade goes by very quickly.