March News

Will spring ever arrive? We had a sneak peek last week. I think we all need the warm weather to stay. This month Room 14 has been very busy with the presentation of our Native American Projects, beginning a new Science Unit on Weighing and Balancing and preparing for the distribution of report cards. We survived and we are looking forward to our final term together. It is hard to believe there are only 55 days left of school. WOW! Where did the year go? Your children are more experienced readers, writers, scientist, mathematicians, historians and so much more. This year has been awesome! Please see the other posts on the projects, our science lesson on mobiles and our talented stars of the stage in Space Pets.

In Math, we just finished unit 8 on fractions. The children will be assessed on Monday. Fractions and arrays are preparing students for multiplication and division. The children are very motivated to learn to multiply and divide. Please have them continue practicing FACT POWER as they need to have those facts down. Many have not practiced Fact Fever in awhile. It would be very beneficial!

In writing, the children continue to practice the writing of a paragraph. Paragraphs need to indent, have a topic sentence, three or more detailed sentences and a clincher or closing sentence. Some of the children have a good handle on this already at this point in the year and they are moving on to capably handling the writing of two bridged paragraphs. In the details they should be using transitional words to change up each sentence or detail. This was practiced when they brought home the writing paper on respect for people and the environment. Some kids still need reminders to use capitals and periods but fifth grade teachers tell us that is happening in fifth grade too!

In Fundations, we continue with double vowel teams. This week the focus is on ou and ow in words like; cloud, proud, down, frown and plow. In grammar we are learning the rule for using commas when writing a list of items in a sentence. Again, some students are using this rule at this point and for others it will be new to them. Thank you for your support when discussing and reviewing these rules with your kids at home.

Finally, this week in social studies we will be discussing different important people in history. Students will learn that famous people can be in history, science, math, music, art and sports. The children will be given the opportunity to explore many biographies and pick a famous person they would like to learn more about. If your child has mentioned to you that they will be doing another very special project, it will be a biogrpahy. More information will be sent home this week. As before, there will be two weeks to work on the project at home and the kids will be expected to balance their time on the project. The children will present their information to the class in costume and during the Learning Fair.

I hope you have a wonderful week and enjoy these lastest posts! Don't forget that the second grade Pillars assembly will be on Wednesday, April 6. It is on respect and the students are encouraged to wear their pillar color of yellow!

The Patience of Weighing and Balancing

Did you get to experience the excitement of our class Science experiment on creating mobiles? Everyone had so much fun even though it began with a struggle for some. Our Science unit involves a learning of how balancing works. We have been exploring with the use of a beam balance thus far.


Next week we move to an equal arm balance. What weighs more; a pound of bricks or a pound of feathers? The beam balance has a movable "fulcrum". The kids explored where the fulcrum would be if you had equal weights on each side or different weights. Ask your child and see what they can tell you. This week the kids will build their own equal arm balance and explore weighing different items. In an equal arm balance the fulcrum is stabile. Will there be less frustration? Stay tuned!

Space Pets

Who knew we had stars in our midst? Corinne, Molly and Ava participated in a Koala Class after school on Wednesdays. Along with other children and a wonderful instructor, these kiddos acted in a very cute play called Space Pets. If you see these kiddos around, ask them about their experience in this wonderful production. Again, who knew these girls were so talented! Congratulations girls!

Our Natvie American Projects

What a wonderful display of knowledge and creativity as our class presented their Native American projects. Each of your children presented their project in front of the class and explained the region of choice and what they created. The presentation was followed by the class asking thoughtful questions and giving positive feedback to each of their classmates.

Thank you to all families who guided their children through this project. I hope you had fun. Here is a sampling of all projects which are now on display in the 2/3HiD. If you have time some afternoon next week please come in and see the work on display. It is quite fabulous!

Congratulations to all the second graders for a job well done!

Weekly Update

It will be another busy week ahead in Room 14. Students will be busy exploring weighing and balancing in both Science and Math. In math, they will weigh items on a scale and record the data on a bar graph or plot it on a line plot. In Science, students will balance items and add weight to the item and record in a journal what they observed. Everyone will be working with partners and communicating their findings.

Writing continues to be a challenge as second graders experience again the bridging of two paragraphs. This week students will be writing about respect. It will be part of their preparation for the Pillars of Character Assembly. (I mentioned last week that the assembly was scheduled for Wednesday, March 23 but it has been postponed.) When writing a paragraph the children are reminded to; indent, have a topic sentence, several detailed sentences, a bridging sentence, and repeat for paragraph two with a closing/wrap-up sentence. The two paragraphs about respect will be about the respect for people and for the environment.

Now that information for the Native American project has been distributed, most students have turned in their information sheets. I am really looking forward to these wonderful projects. They sound very interesting. This week I will be sending home a sheet asking for an update on their progress.

In Fundations, we will continue to learn the double vowel spellings of oi and oy. The spelling words remain the same. In grammar, students will be reviewing plural nouns by adding _s or _es.

Thankfully the weather is warming up and the kiddos can get out to recess this week. Remember report cards go home next week!

Favorite Book Characters

There were lots of cute little characters hanging around Room 14 last Wednesday. Among them were: Clifford, Wimpy Kid, Cat In The Hat, Junie B. Jones, Amelia Bedelia, Dorothy, Bunny, Fancy Nancy, Arnold Schwartzenager and many more. Enjoy these pictures!

Marching In

Wow, can you believe it's March already? We will be pushing hard the next couple of weeks preparing for the end of the second term. Report cards will be going home on March 18. So make sure your kiddos are well rested and in school for all assessments that will be coming up. All in all it will be a busy month.


On Wednesday, all Killam students will be celebrating Dr. Seuss' birthday by dressing like their favorite book character. It can be any character not just a Seuss character. Students will also participate in an all-school write about their favorite character. I have a few other surprises up my sleeve. It will be a fun day.

We are culmunating our unit on Native Americans with a special take home project. On Wednesday, be on the lookout for an informative letter about this project. Your child will be creating something that will demonstrate what they have learned about one region that we explored. For example, students could make an adobe hut, a tepee, or wigwam complete with terrain appropriate to the region. Students could also produce a craft of the region such as basket weaving, clay pots or wampom beads. Please encourage your child to think about their options and along with you, plan out a time line for the project. Please let me know if you have any questions after reading the information on Wednesday.



Also this month, second grade will be preparing for their Pillars Assembly on respect. This will be presented on March 23. There could be homework assignments in the coming weeks. Begin discussing this with your child so that it will be fresh in their mind as we begin preparing for the event.

Trick words this week are: brother, early, father, mother, neighbor and ocean. In Fundations we continue to learn more vowel teams. we have learned ai, ay, ee, ea and ey so far. This week the team is oi and oy. Use oi in the middle of one syllalbe words such as coin, join, boil, foil, joint. Use oy at the end of a one syllable such as toy, boy, loyal, joyful, enjoy and enjoyable.

In grammar our work continues with the use of the pronouns them and they. We encourage students to use pronouns in their writing wheneven possible. Before vacation, students wrote about Washington and Lincoln. This was a perfect example to show what they know about pronouns. Instead of using Wshington and Lincoln over and over again, they could have used the pronouns that they have learned. In writing, students are now learning to bridge more than one paragraph together. Your children are becoming very sophisticated writers. You should be proud of them.

In closing, I want to mention that I continue to check reading logs on Friday. Students need to practice reading everynight to stay fluent. If time allows, please ask your child questions to check comprehension. Also, the math epidemic is slowing down. I hope it shows its contagiousness again real soon.

Enjoy your week and hopefully March comes and goes like a lamb!