Small Group & Winter Blast 2015

Small Group

Our reading curriculum, Reading Street, has a small-group component that we use almost every day. Students are getting really good at this. They work in a variety of groupings: individually, with partners or trios, and/or in teacher-led groups of 5-6. We work on our reading and writing by completing tasks that support the weekly skills and strategies.

Winter Blast 2015

It was so nice seeing some smiling 2nd grade students on Saturday. I know I didn't get photos of all or you, but I wanted to share some.  Thank you to everyone who was able to make it out.

80s Day, Science & Spelling

80s Day
We really rocked it out on our 80th Day of school. We had fun listening to 80s music during our brain breaks and seeing all the fun outfits at assembly. Can you believe we are almost half way through the school year? Mid-trimester progress reports go home January 26. This marks the half way point.

Science
We spent time this week sorting liquids and solids as well as working with all three forms of matter. On Friday we made ice cream and piled it high with toppings. Thank you for all of the ingredients. It was fun and yummy. I wish I had pictures of this...I spent a lot of time assisting students instead of taking pictures.

Spelling
On Thursday we worked with partners to practice our spelling words. Although your students know the words for the week, there will not be a test in spelling for the next two weeks while we focus on preparing for the NWEA.

Fun with fractions and matter

Fractions
As you know, we have been pretty cooped up this week with indoor recess. Our math lessons gave us an opportunity to time 'one-way trips' and then double them for 'round-trip' data. To make the most of this, we took trips around the school and timed it. The bonus to this was converting minutes and seconds into seconds and then halving and doubling the time and then converting it back to minutes and seconds. Our students are super smart!

Matter
We are working with the states of matter this week. We began by building an anchor chart and then listening to books and videos about solids, liquids, and gases. Some of our students conducted research on a fourth state of matter: plasma. On Tuesday, we used shaving cream to determine how adding heat can change something from a solid or liquid into a gas.

The Last Week of 2014: Concert, Last Day Fun

Music Concert

The kids did fantastic during the music concert. I was so proud that their hard work paid off. They sounded and looked amazing! Well done, 2nd Grade!

Last Day Fun

The Middle School Choir sang to us in the morning. It was neat to have carolers right outside our classroom doors! 

Later that day, we put on antlers, opened gifts from one another, and ate goodies. I am overwhelmed by the generous gifts and donations of snacks and goodies for the classroom, for me, and for the kids. It is no wonder that we have the amazing set of students that we do - they have super families that model generosity and thoughtfulness. Thank you!

My Week As Student of the Week

My Week As Student of the Week
I liked my week as Student of the Week because it was fun. I liked picking sticks for who gets to answer questions. I liked being teacher assistant. I was glad I didn't have to do homework. The Sunday after I was in a piano recital. The day before my friend came over to my house. She got to watch us do gymnastics.