This week, we have been busy getting to know many classroom routines in second grade! We start each day with a morning meeting, which allows us to greet each other, talk about the calendar and our daily schedule, listen to sharing, and participate in fun team-building activities.
During our literacy times, we have been learning about basic story elements: characters, setting, problem and solution. As a whole group, we have listened to several Frog and Toad stories and have worked together or in pairs to fill in a story map telling about the story elements. We also participated in a movement activity in which students had to choose ways to move like Frog or Toad during the Lost Button Story. One favorite part was moving like Toad when he was very upset that the world is full of buttons, but he cannot find his button!
Students have been doing an amazing job during our "Read to Self" times each day. They already have stamina to read independently and are making great choices when picking "just right" books for themselves. The "Helper of the Day" can use this time to use the listening center with a classmate.
During our writing workshop, each student has been writing a personal narrative in response to a writing prompt as part of a pre-assessment. Next week, we will start this exciting writing unit that allows students the opportunity to focus in on these special moments and stretch out their writing to include great details and descriptions.
In math, we discussed place value as we played a "build a number" game using base 10 blocks and white boards. We have also been learning our "turn around" facts, such as 5 + 4 = 9 and 4 + 5 = 9 using Cuisenaire rods. We talked about how we can switch the order of numbers when adding and it does not give us a different answer, since the value of the numbers stays the same. We also practiced all of the ways to make numbers, such as 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4.
During "discovery" time this year, students will learn about many science and social studies skills and concepts. Our first social studies unit focuses on world geography. We have started this unit by learning about the difference between maps and globes and about the various types of information we can find on them. We colored in a world map and learned a fun "continents chant" to help us learn the names and locations of the continents and oceans.
Thank you to everyone who has returned the many beginning of the year forms that we have sent home! Please return them early next week if you still have any at home.
Important reminders:
This Tuesday, September 9th is Picture Day! Please remember to send in your picture orders and payment.
Sharing starts next week during our morning meeting. Please help your child remember his or her sharing day.
Please return the ECO forms as soon as possible. We are hoping to start ECO lessons very soon! I will keep you posted about dates.
Hike forms are coming home today. Please return them by the due dates next week.
Homework Packets will be coming home next week. I will send a letter in the homework folder that explains how our monthly packets work.
Have a great weekend!
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