The first round of report cards are on their way home October 30.
The core subjects of math, reading, social studies, science, spelling, and writing will all recieve a letter- S (succeeding), DV (developing), or N (needs improvement). This is considered the overall "grade" for that subject. Underneath each of these subjects will be a short list of key skills from that subject. These are taken straight from the state of Ohio standards for 2nd grade. If your student is struggling with one of these key skills, there will be an asterisk next to it. It is possible to receive an "S" for a subject even if there is an asterisk underneath it.
Art, music, and gym have each been given one of the following letters; O (outstanding), S (satisfactory), or U (unsatisfactory).
I look forward to meeting with each of you at conferences in the next few weeks. Please feel free to bring any questions you may have so taht I can address them.
Happy Halloween!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Catching up!
Your second graders have been hard at work learning and practicing many things!
In reading, we have been focusing on the main idea and details of both fiction and non-fiction stories. We used a chocolate chip cookie as an analogy for this, as well as a chair, and a person wearing clothes. They should be able to explain to you how those three things help them remember what main idea and details are.
For math, we've been taking basic concepts a bit deeper such as; working more in-depth with clocks, working with bills and coins together, and double patterns in the same problems. Timed tests are now a weekly occurrence as you've seen the progress charts coming home on Fridays. Keep practicing those facts!
We did take a break from the normal spelling patterned lists this week. After the end of the first quarter, I checked in on students with an assessment to re-evaluate their spelling development. Some will be changing groups next week based on what their new needs are for spelling.
Ohio habitats and animals have been our obsession during science! We even had a guest speaker come to show us different furs, beaks, and skulls of Ohio animals to help us learn more about their adaptations. See if your student can explain the word "adaptation" and tell you the 4 main habitats in Ohio. They are becoming brilliant!
With Halloween approaching, the class is looking forward to their party on Friday afternoon. We've had a few "spooky" moments in class with students forgetting to raise hands, and even forgetting to pay attention. I'm sure that these "frights" will end as the excitement of the festivities passes. If you would please, give your little "goblins" a short reminder to be the best little "ghoul" they can be! I appreciate all of your involvement!
Be on the lookout for report cards on Friday afternoon! I will post an explanation of the marks closer to the time.
Thanks for your patience as I get caught up! Pictures of daily class activities are coming soon!
In reading, we have been focusing on the main idea and details of both fiction and non-fiction stories. We used a chocolate chip cookie as an analogy for this, as well as a chair, and a person wearing clothes. They should be able to explain to you how those three things help them remember what main idea and details are.
For math, we've been taking basic concepts a bit deeper such as; working more in-depth with clocks, working with bills and coins together, and double patterns in the same problems. Timed tests are now a weekly occurrence as you've seen the progress charts coming home on Fridays. Keep practicing those facts!
We did take a break from the normal spelling patterned lists this week. After the end of the first quarter, I checked in on students with an assessment to re-evaluate their spelling development. Some will be changing groups next week based on what their new needs are for spelling.
Ohio habitats and animals have been our obsession during science! We even had a guest speaker come to show us different furs, beaks, and skulls of Ohio animals to help us learn more about their adaptations. See if your student can explain the word "adaptation" and tell you the 4 main habitats in Ohio. They are becoming brilliant!
With Halloween approaching, the class is looking forward to their party on Friday afternoon. We've had a few "spooky" moments in class with students forgetting to raise hands, and even forgetting to pay attention. I'm sure that these "frights" will end as the excitement of the festivities passes. If you would please, give your little "goblins" a short reminder to be the best little "ghoul" they can be! I appreciate all of your involvement!
Be on the lookout for report cards on Friday afternoon! I will post an explanation of the marks closer to the time.
Thanks for your patience as I get caught up! Pictures of daily class activities are coming soon!
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Fact POWER
As we keep moving in math, the students are starting to realize the importance of knowing their addition and subtraction facts quickly. Today they reviewed a few subtraction strategies- counting back and counting up. While the end goal is for students to figure know the basic facts without additional help (fingers, counters, number lines, etc.) right now as they learn them these tools can be very helpful.
Next week we will be starting addition and subtraction timed tests. These will be done once a week and are more for practice than actual testing. I encourage you to begin (if you are not already) practicing facts each evening to help prepare them! I will send home a letter explaining the procedures when we begin!
Next week we will be starting addition and subtraction timed tests. These will be done once a week and are more for practice than actual testing. I encourage you to begin (if you are not already) practicing facts each evening to help prepare them! I will send home a letter explaining the procedures when we begin!
Comprehension work
We are taking a time out from reading books during guided reading group time to give all of the students a lesson about comprehension. They have been (or will by the end of the week) learning about STAR reading. STAR stands for: See it in your mind's eye, Think about what's going to happen next, Ask fat questions, Relate it to your life. These are four key skills that will help the students make more meaning out of reading.
Here is the song we are singing to help them remember these important things to do while reading:
(Sung to "She'll Be Coming Around the Mountain")
Oh, I want to get the meaning out of reading, (snap, snap)
Yes, I want to get the meaning out of reading, (snap, snap)
I will see it in my mind's eye,
Ask fat questions such as "why?"
Make predictions
And connections
All the while (snap, snap)
As you read at home, try to remind students to practice these skills each time they read so that they become natural!
Here is the song we are singing to help them remember these important things to do while reading:
(Sung to "She'll Be Coming Around the Mountain")
Oh, I want to get the meaning out of reading, (snap, snap)
Yes, I want to get the meaning out of reading, (snap, snap)
I will see it in my mind's eye,
Ask fat questions such as "why?"
Make predictions
And connections
All the while (snap, snap)
As you read at home, try to remind students to practice these skills each time they read so that they become natural!
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