Happy December!

I can't believe it's already December!

I've enjoyed meeting with many of you for conferences already.  I look forward to meeting with the rest of you this week and next.

This morning we started something new.  It's called Think About it.  When the students break a rule, they need to fill out one of these papers.  They are becoming more responsible for their actions.  We are hoping this will hold them accountable for being more respectful and follow the rules more often.  If they need to fill out a paper, a copy will be sent home so that you are aware of their behaviors in the classroom. 

We started our journey around the world on Friday!  Each student got their very own passport.  We took a bus ride to Boston.  We set the chairs up in 2 columns and had a bus snack!  We then went on Google Earth and started at Thompson and zoomed in to South Station.  We looked at some pictures around Boston.  Today we read Tammy Does Boston.  It's a picture book with great illustrations of Boston landmarks.  Next stop:  Logan Airport.  We will continue our adventure around North America!

In Math, we finished our study of geometry and are reviewing fractions.  Most students are quickly remembering what they learned in first grade.  We will be working on equivalent fractions and some projects around symmetry.   We also had our first mix-up math on Friday.  The kids enjoyed working with the other second graders in leveled groups.

In Science, we are continuing to study frogs.  Our tadpoles are growing back legs!  The kids are doing on-going observations of the tadpoles.  

In reading, we will begin working on a character study of Stuart Little.  We are almost done with the Read Aloud.  The kids really enjoy listening to such a great story!

As always, please email me with any questions or concerns.
Thank you,   
   Nicole

Happy November!

Dear Room 9 Families, 

It's finally beginning to feel like autumn!  Please make sure your child is coming to school with a jacket for recess.  

As part of our staff meetings, we meet in small collaborative groups and choose 1 topic to focus on.  I am working on spelling with Sharon Kim (the other second grade teacher), Wendy Mason (special education teacher), and Tania Phillips & Sorelle Cohen (reading teachers).  I have done a check-in on all of the K and 1 words.  Last week, I did in a check-in on 20 second grade words (which students were not yet exposed to.)  We will be implementing our new spelling study tomorrow!!  Each child will get a list of the words that they have not mastered.  They will get to choose 3 words a week to study.  They will study them during Work Board using hands-on materials (sand, felt, sandpaper, stamps, etc.)  They will also bring home a spelling homework bag tomorrow.  Each child is responsible for studying their 3 words in 2 different ways each night.  There is a direction sheet in the bag that will explain the 5 different ways to study their words.  Their spelling words will be on the front page of their homework packet. There also is a recording chart that they are responsible for filling in. The spelling homework bag should stay at home.  There will be a spelling check-in on Friday, and also the following Monday.  We want to make sure they have retained the word even after the weekend.  If students have mastered the word (got it correct both on Friday and Monday), they will get to move it to their spelling ring which will have all of their newly mastered words.  If they get it wrong on either Friday or Monday, the word will remain as one of their spelling words.  I'm really excited to see how this new individualized way of spelling will work out!  Please send me feedback as to how it's going at home.  It's definitely a work in progress and I'd love to hear your ideas on ways to make it more effective.

Our classroom is very dry.  If possible, please send your child to school with a labeled water bottle.  Students may bring in cough drops in a labeled bag.  I keep them by my desk.  I usually allow them to have one in the morning and one in the afternoon, unless if you put a note in there that states something else.  

The Frog and Toad musical was awesome!! The rain didn't stop us!  The kids had such a great time and it was a nice way to see many of the Frog and Toad stories in action.  Thank you to Julia and Kathy for chaperoning.  

Our tadpoles have arrived!!! The kids (and I!) are very excited to see the little guys grow and change!  The students did observation 1 in their science log.  

Our jack o'lantern carving turned into much more than just teamwork and decorating pumpkins.  We saw our pumpkins grow mold and watch the side of one fall in.  Each child planted 3 pumpkin seeds and with the help of sun and water, we are going to see if anything grows.  

In Math, we started our study of shapes and symmetry.  The students have been exploring shapes and patterns.  Ask them to see if they can find any shapes around the house, on the walk to school, at the store, etc.  Many students need to continue to practice math facts (10 facts, doubles, doubles +1).  If an opportunity arises, let your child count out the change that you receive at the store.  Another fun way to count coins is to play store at home with real coins.

Writer's Workshop is in full swing!  Students are working from their story organizers to write personal narrative stories.  Many students have finished writing their first story and some have even edited with Liz or I.  Once every student has an edited piece of writing, we will begin to publish our stories.  It's so helpful to have volunteers in during Writer's Workshop! 

In Social Studies, we will begin a "journey" around the continents. 

Thank you to all of the many volunteers who are coming into our classroom and doing jobs at home.  There are a few slots left for volunteers in the classroom.  There always are jobs that can be sent home.  Just send me an email if you have some free time and would like to help out.

As always, thank you for all that you do for Room 9! 

Enjoy the rest of the weekend.  ~Nicole

 

Halloween Parties

Dear Room 9 Families, 

We definitely have the best group of parents!!!! Thank you very much to all of the families who are donating supplies for our party.  The kids are going to have such a great time!!  Thank you to all of the parents who offered to volunteer at our Halloween party and jack o' lantern party.  If any families would like to join us on Friday for our party, come to Room 9 between 1:15 and 2:15.

If you can, please send in a few dollars to Lisa (Benjamin's Mom) to help cover the cost of our pumpkins that we are going to carve.

A final thank you to Lisa and Jenny, our wonderful room parents, for organizing our parties! 

Have a great week!

Thank you,  

Nicole

October News

The kids are really getting into the routines of second grade!  They are gaining independence and working together to follow the classroom rules to earn a class party!

In Math, we are finishing up our first book which is mostly a review of first grade concepts.  We reviewed story problems (both combining and separating), number sentences, greater than/less than, and money.  We are need of coupons for an upcoming math lesson.  If you have any store circulars/coupons that you can send in, please do so asap.  Thank you!

Our social studies unit on mapping is coming to an end.  The students worked together to create maps of outside of the school.  Check out our maps on the windows inside of Room 9.

Our current read aloud chapter book is Stuart Little.  The kids really enjoy listening and imagining the story as I read aloud to them.

On Thursday, we started our first science unit-Frogs!  We watched some videos on youtube.com to begin to learn about the life cycle of a frog.  The kids loved watching the videos and I'm excited to continue to use technology throughout the year. I promised the kids that I would post the links on here so they could watch them again at home.
Claymation  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNd2z43Ofas
Frog Spawn Time Lapse   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YV1QhYn1S8&feature=related
Intro Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GGuEr-MQf4


We had our first official day of Writer's Workshop with Lisa (Benjamin's Mom) and Jenny (Christos's Mom).  We'd love to have other parents come in to the classroom to help us during morning work, writing, work board, math mix-up. If you have a time that you'd be able to commit coming in for, please email me. 

There are always copying/laminating/prep jobs that can be done. Email me if you have a time that you can commit to or a free morning/afternoon that you'd like to come in just once in a while to help out.  Thank you to Lisa (Benjamin's Mom) and thank you in advance to Peter (Lolitas's Dad) for starting to copy/organize the Think Tank.  Thank you to Elizabeth (Corbin's Mom), Karen (Keely's Mom), and Kathy (Conor's Mom) for taking on the big project of copying/printing/organizing the leveled library.
There are some at home jobs that can be done.  If anyone is interested in doing some cutting/project prep, please email me.  I'd love to have all of the Open Circle parent letters scanned on to the computer so I can email the documents and save more paper.  Let me know if you have access to a scanner and can take on this project.  I couldn't survive without the help of parents!!  Thank you!

First full week of school!

What a busy, exciting, tiring first full week of school!!  The kids are currently busily building, crafting, and playing during choice time.

We started our unit on mapping and the kids came up with what they think they know and what they want to learn about maps.  I read From Here to There, and each student made their own book based upon the story.  We are starting to learn about the differences between our town, state, and country.

In Math, we read Two of Everything.  The book is about a magic pot where anything that goes in, comes out doubled.  We will review the doubles and learn some new math games.  

We finished our first week of work board.  The students are beginning to gain some more independence with moving through their stations.  

We are lucky to have a class of kids who love to read and be read to! Liz read a Frog and Toad story to the class and they had comprehension questions to answer.  We are working on answering questions in complete sentences. 

Open Circle is an important part of our classroom community.  We practiced safely getting our chairs into a circle and played some getting to know you games. 
Room 9's Classroom Rules
Stay Safe
Work Hard
Reach Out
Play Fair
Be Kind

I hope everyone has a restful weekend! 

Welcome to second grade!

Hello Room 9 Families,

Welcome to second grade!  I'm just getting this blog up and running, but I'm looking forward to having this as way for you to be updated on what your child is working on at school.

Can't wait to see your child on Wednesday!

Thanks, Nicole