Expanding our Vocabulary.

Students are working on this very important reading concept to expand their vocabulary.  Students have learned to notice, tune into and use new and interesting words that they hear and read. If it's one they don't understand, they are encouraged to use other resources, ask an adult or friend or ultimately read on to try and figure it out (think about what makes sense).

In our classroom, we will build an ongoing wall of new and interesting words we come across as a class.  We will discuss the meaning and think of examples. Students are encouraged to share these with you. I encourage you to do this at home with your child(ren) as well!

Homecoming Week!

We will participate in three dress-up days as a school.  Wake up your school spirit! :] ... (I know I'll be participating!) Remember, the homecoming parade and game is Friday if you are looking for something fun and engaging to do with your family.

Wednesday: Neon Day
Thursday: Be a Star!
Friday: Red and White dress

Have a great week!

Activity Day.

The weather was beautiful this afternoon for our annual activity day.  Students took part in cooperative games and activities.  It was enjoyable to see them having fun and working together so well. Enjoy some photos!

Schema (Prior Knowledge).

Schema is also called Prior Knowledge.  It's everything we know about something.  It includes all of our experiences, our knowledge, things we've seen, done and heard. It's always growing and no one can take it away.

I demonstrated how schema works/ happens with a lint roller. Just like our brain, it picks up everything which makes up our schema.

Students practiced activating their schema before reading a book. We do it daily as a class.  The students love to share their schema.  (They have lots of connections from their daily lives!) Students are practicing it independently and in partners with every book they read.  Encourage them to share their schema at home while reading as well.

Tiny Topic Notebooks.

Students each have a "tiny topic notebook" where they will develop a habit it jot down ideas from their life that can later be used as story and writing ideas.  We talked about "writer's block" and how this can be a great solution.  Students should be adding to it at home and school regularly.  Please suggest or point out ideas that can be added. If your student does not have their tiny topic notebook with them, ideas can be jotted in their planner or placed in their folder to be added when they return to school.

Students were very excited about this!

Behavior Reflections.

Students were introduced to a behavior reflection form this week.  It is a form that will be used for repetitive classroom issues that cause disruption to theirs or others learning.  With many reminders, student will be prompted to complete a reflection form that will come home and need to be signed by the student and the parent. 

As a class we talked about the importance of having a safe and respectful classroom while growing individual responsibility.  Students suggested many consequences for various actions.  It has been decided that we will use this form to help students be accountable for their actions and learn from their mistakes/ choices. I believe it's always better to focus on the positives vs. the negatives; I do make every effort to do this in class.

Please let me know if you have questions, comments or concerns with this process. Thank you for being supportive in advance. 

Classroom Constitution.

As we gathered throughout the week, students thought about important rules that should exist in a classroom.  I believe it's important to develop these with the students so they can take ownership and be held more accountable for them. Students definitely know what is important to keep a comfortable, respectful and safe classroom.  Here is what they came up with.  We combined many of their great ideas into these 5 things.

RAZ Kids.

Students experienced RAZ Kids in the computer lab last week. It is a great online reading program differentiated for your child and works with reading and comprehension at your child's level.  Many students are familiar with it from first grade.  Students can follow along with a text while its read or record themselves reading and earn stars for completing books and doing well with the comprehension questions. It focuses on many skills and strategies they need.  Students have special accounts that are linked to my class so I can view each students activity and progress and help guide my instruction to meet their needs.  You are also able to view student progress by signing up with your email or letting me know and I can link it.

This program is optional to use at home but I have sent letters home to enable this possibility.  Students will use this program at school at least once per week in addition to other independent and partner reading opportunities.

You can find a shortcut to the website under "websites" to the right.
Please let me know if you have any questions!

Building Stamina and Independence.

Students learned important routines for independent work this week.  They practiced making good choices, staying on task and working the whole time. They are doing a wonderful job working cooperatively with their classmates sometimes by choice and sometimes being assigned. Enjoy some photos of their hard work.  Ask your child about these activities. 

Building Community. Accepting Others.

We have been taking some time to get to know each other and what's special about each one of us. Students are being reminded how important it is to accept others. In our classroom we value our unique differences and celebrate how they all come together to form our second grade community. We read a poem about being marvelous.  Students shared something that is special to them- something that makes them marvelous. Each one is written on a star. 

Back to School Kick-Off. & First Week.

This week was great! Students continue to learn routines, build stamina and learn to work as a team.

Today was the kick-off assembly where students were refreshed on the positive character traits to want every student to have at Spring Road.  Students are great at listing the traits and continue to work hard to control their actions and words.  They enjoyed watching some of the teachers do skits to represent smart choices.

Students learned how to play Boggle.  We will have different boards of letters throughout the year where students can be challenged at their individual levels to find and make words using what they know. Students will soon have individualized word walls of words they are working on mastering.

Students started writing and practicing good habits.  I was so impressed with their ability to use time wisely and pick topics to write about. We will kick off our first unit of the year writing Personal Narratives next week.  This is a genre they are familiar with from year to year.  They will write about a true event in their life, something meaningful and important with lots of details including a beginning, middle and end.

Students are starting a unit on addition, subtraction and word problems within 20. They will be building upon strategies they already have and being deeper problem solvers. Students are learning to use self control with math tools (white boards and dry-erase markers). I admire their bravery to share their thinking even when they aren't sure if they are correct. I hope to help students continue to build confidence.

Day 1. Back to School.

The first day was a success! I very much enjoyed getting to know the students and we had a great time.  I hope they have lots to share when they come home this evening.

We discussed some basics, developed the Classroom Constitution (rules), learned some routines and got to know each other. We have a great group! Students explored the classroom with a scavenger hunt.  I am already impressed with their motivation to work hard and complete tasks.

Students are developing a morning routine with their planners and folders.  Please help remind your student to take out their Take Home Folder and Planner to be shared each night.  Remember to sign their planner.  This is a place to look for notes or contact me if need be as well!

Students worked with a math fact program in the computer lab today called Xtramath.  It's a self guided program that helps motivate and increase speed and accuracy with facts starting with addition. You can access the link to the right under "Websites." A letter came home today explaining how to access it at home if you choose.