Moving and Math Both Challenges

Hello everyone! I hope you all enjoyed the first major snow fall of the season. I hope it didn't spoil any of your holiday activities. I spent the weekend sorting and packing trying to get ready for an Estate Sale on the 28th and moving by January 10. Christmas shopping here and there and minimal decorating have kept my husband and I in the Christmas spirit. It has been a very stressful time. Thankfully my boys came to help move some boxes and my son Kenny and his wife offered to host Christmas Eve. It will be the first time in almost 30 years I will have to give it up. This year will just be different but I will perserver and keep calm. Oh, did I mention, we have to move to an apartment as we haven't found our new home yet. The challenges of a move....UGH!

Grade Two has begun Chapter 4 of the In Focus program. It is titled: Using Bar Models in Addtition and Subtraction. It is similar to the part-part-total that we used to teach in Everyday Math. Students would represent numbers in part-part-total diagram, providing a pictoral representation of parts making a whole. Comparing these numbers, illustrating the known and unknown parts, helps the children see clearly whether to add or subtract to solve problems. Please refer to the In Focus Think Central website for parent support videos.

This week we also begin to work on informative writing. The children will begin with a How To writing teaching a friend "how to" do something. Over the course of the next several weeks we will continue to perfect narratives while moving onto non-fiction writing. This will tie in nicely as will begin to focus on non-fiction in reading as well. Did you know we read non-fiction very differently then fiction? Students will learn all of the charateristics of non-fiction texts such as: break-aways, diagrams, charts, titles, subtitles, glossaries, and captions. Students really enjoy no-fiction, especially when they can read about something they are seriously interested in. You will find some non-fiction on RazKids as well.

Mapping continues to be our focus in Social Studies. Ask your children if they can tell the longest mountain range in the world or the largest range in the US. After the first of the year we will finish up with important rivers of the world.

Griffin is our Star Student of the Week this week. D'Monye did a fine job last week including singing and went home with a beautiful book with positive thoughts about him from classmates. We look forward to great things from Griff this week.

                                                                                                                                                  

Don't forget to send in "Snowball" gifts Monday. We will have our swap on Friday afternoon. Thank you to all who will be contributing goodies for our Holiday Snack which will be Friday morning.

Merry Christmas to all! I wish you all happiness and good health in the New Year!

Conference Final Thoughts

       

         I just wanted to thank you all for taking the time and effort to come in and discuss your child's progress this week. "It takes a village" and I believe we should work together to continue the successful start to this school year. All are working hard and are special kiddos who brighten my day. I love coming to school and being part of their lives. Thank you for sharing them and sending them well prepared to conquer the day.

         I want to take this time to wish you a wonderful Holiday Season. May you all find happiness and joy in the New Year ahead. May 2014 be year of great prosper, peace and pleasant family adventures. 

          Warm Regards,
           Deb

Please check out this link to see your child's finished Community Media project.

End of First Term Success Stories

 

        The first quarter came to an end last Friday. It's hard to believe that our little learning community has been together for three full months. It's been a wonderful three months of growing, learning and working together as readers, writers, mathematicians and community participants. Everyone has been working together putting their best foot forward, showing great effort and perserverance! I am looking forward to meeting with families to discuss our standards based report card. Please remember these are standards based and you can refer to the rubrics on EDLINE. Most students at this time of the year are progressing towards the standards in all areas of the curriculum. Children should be trying their best, putting forth great effort and being a good friend and classmate. I would consider this a successful term. I willbe sending home reminders on Monday about conference dates and times. If you feel at this time that you are not in need of a conference, please let me know.

       The class is very excitied about STAR STUDENT OF THE WEEK. I was the first to model for the class. Everyone was so excited for D'Monye who will our STAR STUDENT next week. We will only choose a new studnet when there is a full week. Please encourage your child to share a special talent with the class and if a family member wants to read to the class please contact me to schedule a time that works for you and the class.

       These last weeks, the children have been enthusiastically writing about small moments in writing. The kids are starting to add many more details to their writing. We've also learned about adding descriptive adjectives including color, size words, and other juicy words. We talk about "hooking" in your audience. Last week I read the story Miss Nelson is Missing. It's a story about a class that comes to school one day and their teacher, Miss Nelson is missing. I then asked the kiddos to write a story (narrative) about what they would do if they were teacher for a day. They are in the process of editing and revising. These could be published and compiled into a class book in a couple of weeks.

        Grade Two has begun our next social studies unit which is MAPPING. The children are learning about continents, oceans, major rivers, and mountain ranges. Ask your child what is the difference between globe and a map or a continent and a country. They are very enthusiastice about their discoveries.

       Mathematically, second graders have been subtracting with and without regrouping. More challenging than addition, students need to perservere. The real stumbling block is not having their easy subtraction facts memorized. This is still so important. A favorite poem of mine to help with the process is:

When the numbers are the same,

zero's the game.

When there's more on the top,

no need to stop.

When there's more on the floor

go next door and get ten more (regrouping).

       I hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Chanukah. I hope enjoyed the weekend with family and friends. I told the kiddos I was busy cooking Thanksgiving dinner, doing report cards, planning lessons for next week, cutting down my Christmas Tree and trying to sell my house this weekend. It has been a wild and crazy few days with which I must persevere.

Please enjoy the few Compound Word Day Ladies! There will be an assembly on Wednesday on the kids should wear their Pillars colors or Killam shirts. Stay tuned for information on our Holiday Celebration and Snow Ball Exchange at the end of the month.

Have a great week and stay warm!!

 

November Happenings

November finds second grade involved in new learning and holiday anticipation. I feel like we just celebrated Halloween (see pics below). This weekend was Veteran's Day (thank you to all our Veterans past and present), next we are on to Thanksgiving and Chanukah and before you know it's Christmas. Amazing..."stop the world I want to get off"..."round and round and round we go" are just a couple of phrases that come to mind. Amidst all the hustle and bustle, there is much learning to be done. Away we go!!!

Second Graders are learning about compound words. We are all looking forward to COMPOUND WORD DAY on Wednesday, November 13. It is so exciting. I will post pictures next week. They will also learn about adjectives and verbs in their reading and writing. These describing words and interesting verbs will add to embelishing their writing to "hook-in" their audience. Right now their audience is me and their classmates. Soon it will be parents and others beyond the classroom.

In math, we are assessing addition with regrouping and begin subtraction with and without regrouping. The kiddos seem to be doing a pretting good job with the new math language of the
In Focus program. Olease make sure they continue to practice thier easy math facts. It will help with accuracy in the bigger problems.

We will begin Unit 6 in Fundations. Remember to practice all trick words through SPELLCITY and flash cards. Please practice FUNdations words from worksheets and newsletters found EDLINE.

Lastly, in social studies, we are finishing up with communities this week. Kiddos will finalize their media projects and in class they are working on a "helper" craft which are coming out so cute.

Stay warm and enjoy the beautiful fall colors that abound.

 

Late October Happenings

What a fabulous trip down town on Thursday. I hope the kiddos told you all about it. The firefighters, police officers, town workers and friends at the cable studio were all so wonderful and happy to share their knowledge with the kids. Sitting in the ambulance or ladder truck, trying on handcuffs, being seen on TV or seeing our school on a large map were just a few highlights from the days events.

 

 

Charlotte B even had her birth certificate pulled from the files of thousands of certificates in just seconds.

Thank you to all the chaperones who came along for the fun. We had an absolutely beautiful day. The children were very excited and enthusiastic everywhere we went. All were well prepared and asked some very interesting questions. On Wednesday night, homework will be to write a thank you note to one of the services workers who patiently shared their time and expertise with us. The children have also been working on a research project on one service worker with a partner. This week they will use their research to put together a short power point on their service worker. A final piece will be to create a service worker craft project to culminate the unit. It has been a very productive unit on communities. Our next topic will be mapping which will further develop their knowledge of these social studies skills.

 

On Thursday, our class is looking forward to our Halloween Celebration. The children will be involved in creating some haunting craft projects in the afternoon. It is always a fun day but the week is always very exciting too. There will be lots of reading of wonderful literature,  poetry and song. It is always hard for second graders to focus this week anticipating the haunting events but there is still lots of business to accomplish as well. Please have your child wear Halloween colors, Halloween shirts and possibly some limited make-up. Thank you to all who offered to send in materials and snacks for the day.

In Math, all second graders are working on Chapter 2 of the In Focus Math Program. This chapter is Addition of Three Digit Numbers With and Without Regrouping. Kiddos still need to practice their easy facts in order to make these three digit problems easier.

In FUNdations, we are beginning Unit 5; the study of multisyllabic words, compound words, and homophones. Students will be taught that at the end of  two closed syllables you use _ic as in the words; traffic, public, and comic. Please continue to practice trick words possibly putting them on index cards and keeping a set in the car.

Finally, in grammar, we continue to focus on capitalizing proper nouns. The children know the rule but often forget and do not carrythe rule over to their everyday writing. In writing, we are still writing small moments and narrarives trying to "stretch" and "super size" sentences.

Happy Haunting friends and GO RED SOX!

Looking For Changes

Each Leaf Is Beautiful

     Looking at this beautiful tree and thinking about the changes taking place around us, reminds me of the changes taking place in classrooms around the world. Just as each beautiful leaf on a tree grows and changes every fall so do our children every fall season. All crisp and fresh for a new school year, children float into our schools ready to grow and change with another year of learning.

I am beginning to see the changes already happening like beautiful colored leaves in the tree of life.

     Mathematically, all second graders are working on place value (ones, tens, hundreds), writing numbers in standard form (342), word form (three hundred forty two), and expanded form (300+40+2). They are also comparing the value of numbers as greater than, less than and equal to,  (>,<,=). Next they need to order these numbers from greatest to least (432, 231, 129). Finally students should be able to use these skills in real life situations (word problems) using critical thinking skills to solve problems such as:

        Mel has 523 stamps. Jan has 374 stamps. Who has more stamps? How many more?

     Grade 2 students have all been writing narratives daily in their classes. Students are learning to take a "small moment" and write about it using details that can help a reader visualize what happened. They think, talk, sketch and write about these "small moments" that happen to all of us each and everyday. Next, they will pick one piece and edit it for capitals, end marks, spelling and add an appropriate opening and closing to thier piece. Soon children will be able to revise their piece and "stretch" their thoughts and ideas. Stretching thoughts and ideas helps to create more interest in their piece therefor captivating their audience. For example:

        I saw a big bird in the trees. Revise it to: I was surprised when I gazed at the big red Cardinal sitting quietly in the tall maple tree in my backyard.

      Grammar will also tie into these writing pieces. Second graders have been learning the difference between simple and compond sentences. This week students will learn that a noun names a person, place or thing in a sentence. Next week our goal will be verbs (action).

      During reading time, students have been reviewing reading strategies to improve Comprehension, Accuracy, Fluency and Expanding Vocabulary. The DailyCAFE works in partnership with guided reading at an individual students reading level. Students work with teachers in groups and individual conferences to determine a strategy goal that needs to be practiced through the reading of "JUST RIGHT BOOKS" or guided reading. Students need to take responsiblity for practicing these strategies (back-up reread or cross-check do the pictures and words match) often.

       Fianlly, OCTOBER 24 has been set for our Field trip into the Reading Community. Anyone willing to chaperone is welcomed as long as a CORI has been filled out prior to the trip. Information will be coming home to all second graders this week. Also, please be supportive when our Room Parents call for volunteering, snacks or supplies for our Halloween Celebration on Thursday, OCTOBER 31. Thank you advance for your help.

     Overall, everyone is doing well. At times some students need subtle reminders to follow rules and routines. Hopefully all will run smoothly in the very near future. All in all, they are a great bunch of leaves!

Have a great week!
Deb

        

Hear Us Roar

     Looking at the deer in my front yard last week,made me think of some students who have a difficult time learning new academic material. They are like deer in the headlights not knowing which way to turn. As educators, we try to assist all students and coach them to ask questions and seek out clarity when they are trying to learn new material. Most kiddos are VERY comfortable asking for help but others sit quietly trying to make sense of it all. In time, all will feel comfortable and safe to take a risk or ask for help from a buddy, helper or teacher. When they "get it"...hear them ROAR, I've GOT IT!

     All second graders have started the social studies unit on communities. There will be a couple of homework assignments associated with this unit. The children are asked to interview a family member about their community growing up. Another assignment is to write some questions that they may want to ask a fireman, policeman or a town worker. finally, after our visit down town, the children will be asked to write a thank you note to one of the departments visited. There will be a very exciting field trip to the local public departments. Again, stay tuned for the date to be announced soon.

     In Math, the children have begun switiching classes for math. All classes are working on place value with our new In Focus Math Program. Homework will be coming home this week from your child's math teacher. All students still need to practice their facts and will be assessed weekly. Kiddos are enjoying their new materials and playing games.

     This week we will begin Unit 3 in our Fundations program. This unit is only one week and will teach the closed syllable exception. A closed syllable has one vowel closed in by one or more consonants. The vowel is short and is marked with a breve. The closed syllable exception involves the spelling of the glued sounds: ost(post), olt (colt), ild (wild), ind (find), and old (cold). The children should be practicing all words that come home on Fundations worksheets and word families. For instance, if the word on the worksheet is cold, the children should also know bold, fold and gold. If the word is wild, they need to know child and mild. These are spelling pattern strategies. We practicing the sounds and spelling with magnest boards, white boards, smartboard lessons and workbooks. On Monday, the Unit 2 Dictation will come home. Your child is assessed on how well they carry over the lesson learned. These Dictation assessments will improve as the year progresses. I f you have other questions, there are Fundation's parent letters on EDLINE as a resource or you can always email me.

     Finally, the children in our class are working together trying to fill each others buckets. We are trying to be fair, taking turns, helping others, being kind and a good friend. Most important, we strive for EXCELLENT EFFORT in all we do. When we have a problem, we work on strategies to solve those problems like CALM BREATHING, TALKING CALMLY, WALKING AWAY or ASKING FOR HELP. We learn crying doesn't solve anything. Also, Students should be RESPECTFUL of all others. Laughing at others is never acceptable. Please encourage your child to remember these strategies each day.

Enjoy the week! We will continue to ROAR down the road of success.
Thanks,
Deb Dellovo

Eleven Days and Counting

Hello Friends, Well as of today, we have been in school eleven whole days. Rules and routines are getting better but still need review and reminders. This week I am holding the kiddos accountable and reminding them about classroom/school expectations. We are also trying to transition from one activity to another quickly and efficiently. Please discuss this with your children so that when we begin to switich classes for reading and math, time won't be lost. They are all cute little chatter bugs. Hopefully everyone received the spelling and Calendar activities packets that went home today. First spelling, as you could see from the scores most kiddos need to practice the first grade trick words often. At open house I had a handout in the packet with suggested ideas to do with spelling/trick words. Please continue to practice these with your child. A great way is to put the words on index cards and put the cards on a ring. Keep the ring in the card to practice when in the car for short or long rides. Quick and easy! Keep the list I sent home in the back outside packet of their homework folder for easy reference. The first list of second grade trick words will come home on Tuesday (spelling day). Here's an opportunity to start a second spelling ring. The Calendar Activities packet will come home on Friday or Monday as I said in my note. Many of you will find some pages incomplete. Hopefully this will improve in a short time. For now, I told the children these pages "could be" done at home so they can become "experts" at school. No need to return the packets to school. The time spent on them can be recorded as part of math practice on the "LOG" that came home today. Lastly, your child should have had a copy of their Math and Reading LOG. Please encourage them to keep it in their homework folder. Assist them with filling it out or model for them for several days before they attempt it. Thank you to all those who attended Curriculum Night. It is very important for you all to hear about procedures and routines to help our class run smoothly. Have a great week. Deb

Here We Go!

Wow! Our first week of school was absolutely wonderful! We spent a lot of time getting to know each other and learning about our classroom community and new school rules (ask your kiddos about them). During the first couple of days we talked about what makes a great learner and a great classroom. We read several books to help guide our discussions about behavior and excellent efforts. In addition to learning about classroom rules and procedures we also began our Daily 5 Reading To Self. We are learning about the importance of having stamina (the ability to do something for a long time) and endurance (the ability to do something for a long time even when it is hard) during Read To Self. In order to grow as readers we must work hard and read a lot. Students have found that choosing a "good fit book" and a comfortable spot helps with their stamina. Kiddos are trying out different spots throughout the room. Soon, grade two will begin switiching for reading. All students will be benchmarked to find their instructional reading level and grouped with other kiidos at their level. It seems like everyone enjoys reading and looks forward to this reading time. In writing, the children wrote about a time when they had a strong feeling about something. We brainstromed strong feelings such as thrilled, excited, frustrated, embarassed or worried. They then would "turn and talk" about a feeling with a buddy before they stat their writing. This was to be their first narrative piece for the year which seemed to go pretty well. Every Monday, the kiddos will also write their weekend. In their "Personal Pad" they can reflect on their weekend and share small moments familiar to them in a narrative form. Each week I will choose a few students to share their writing as the class learns from each other. We have a new math program this year called Math In Focus. It is aligned with the new Massachusetts Frameworks (common core). It looks great and came with lots of new materials so stay tuned for mor information about it. Well, I need to go greet my friends for the opening bell. I look forward to a great year! I hope it is fun, safe and productive for all.

Technical Difficulties But Time Moves On

Hi Families, I know it has been awhile since I have written a post but technical difficulties on this site have frustrated me and I have postponed returning to the blog. However, I have many cute pictures I want to share and hopefully I will have some success. Our work with the Native Americans is coming to a close. Your kiddos will be coming home with a portfolio of projects and information. They all did such a wonderful job on their projects. Each proudly presented their work and it has been on display in the 2/3 HI/D. Please make a plan with your child to pick-up or have them take their projects home over the next few days. Our Native American research and activities were highlighted by a visit of a real Native American, Dan Krips, and by the exciting field trip to The Peabody Musuem at Harvard University. The children shared their knowledge and impressed the guides with they knew of all the regions. We also had opportunity to explore other areas of the museum such as rocks, minerals, insects, glass flowers, fossils, crustesans and other areas of the world such as the Phillipines and South America. It was a great day for all!

So here we are, the first weekend in March. It came in like a lamb thankfully but time is moving on. Report cards will be released in the next few weeks. The children have been working very hard reading, writing, spelling, researching, exploring and problem solving. Many areas on the report card will show continued progression towards meeting the end of the year goals. We will be assessing over the next week and beginning new units of study for the final term. In Science, we will beging a unit on Weights and Balances. In Math we begin work with money reviewing the counting of dollars and coins being able to write the totals in two ways ($__.__ and __Cents). Learning to make change will also be explored. In grammar, our next unit is writing and the use of contractions. Please keep your children practicing their math facts, reading and don't forget SUPER SLIPPER SPELLING DAY on Tuesday. Happy Spring! Deb Dellovo