Fun Run.

The Fun Run was a great event! Students did a great job and persevered during the run/walk.  All students received a bracelet with a foot charm.  We will add to this each year. After the Fun Run, students enjoyed an assembly about bike safety.  We enjoyed a few minutes of peace and quiet in the classroom!

USA Day.

Students looked wonderful in their red, white and blue today. Last week we earned another classroom reward.  Today we celebrated it with bomb pop popsicles -- worked out great for USA day.  

Celebrating the last weeks of school.

Here are some class photos from Rainbow day.  Students wore all or mostly one color.

Science.

The field trip was a hit minus a little bit of rain.  I am so glad the students were able to go and experience some of their learning first hand. Thank you to all the chaperones that made it possible.

Students have been enjoy Science lessons with the other second grade classes each Monday.  Videos have been shown to teach and reinforce their learning on various animal topics.  Students have been doing a wonderful job! I told the students I would post the most recent video along with others.

VIDEO: Bill Nye Science - Reptiles

VIDEO: Bill Nye Science- Mammals

VIDEO: Bill Nye Science- Animal Locomotion

Students are anxiously awaiting the next phases in the life of the mealworms.  More to come later.

Author's Craft / Robert Munsch.

We will take time to explore Robert Munsch as an author as we learn about Author's Craft.  Students are excellent detectives and have found many examples of craft that writers use.

Explore Robert Munsch's website HERE

Mealworms.

Students observe the mealworms weekly.  So far not many changes have taken place. We are keeping track of their population and watching them grow. Students enjoy predicting what might happen.

Walk to School Wednesday!

Walk to School Wednesdays starts this week.  Meet some of the staff and other students on the route along County ii. Students who walk or bike to school will have a chance to win a prize by completing walk/ bike cards give by their teacher.

D is for Dance.

As part of our countdown to school, we had dance day on Friday. Students enjoyed dancing and listening to hip hop songs.

ABC Countdown.

We will be counting down the last days of school with a countdown calendar of fun activities.  The calendar was sent home.  Reminders for certain activities will be in the student planner :)

Multiplication Strategies.

Students are feeling more confident with multiplication.  After being exposed to the different strategies, students are becoming more fluent in working with their facts.  We will continue to apply the knowledge of multiplication with word problems. Encourage your child to share the strategies with you.  It's important for students to explain the steps and the reason the strategy works.

Reptiles.

Reptiles are an amazing animal group.  Many students have misconceptions about them and get them confused with amphibians.  We learned the 5 distinguishing characteristics today.

• have a backbone
• are cold-blooded
• most lay eggs
• breathe air 
• have scales 

Students continue to take notes and record their schema, wondering and new learning in their Science Notebooks. 

Exploring Animals.

Students are learning to research and doing a great job.  The San Diego Zoo has a great website to explore and learn more about animals of different groups.  The photos are wonderful and provide lots of interesting facts for students to read and learn more!

Click HERE to visit the SanDiego Zoo.

Live Eagles.

We have been discussing birds this week.  Students have been learning new vocabulary and noticing nonfiction text features in their reading.  Students are beginning to understand the key traits that make a bird: 

• backbone
• feathers and wings 
• lay eggs
• warm-blooded
• breathe air 

We watched a live cam today featuring bald eagles in Minnesota. I am posting the link for students to share and admire them from home. 

Click here ----------> Minnesota Eagles

Introducing Mealworms!

Students are excited about our new "class pet." Students will learn about how this animal lives and grows alongside our Science unit exploring all of the animal groups.  Students observed them yesterday.

Author's Purpose.

Students are digging further into their reading and identifying the author's purpose.  Students are tying it to evidence from the story to prove. Students learned a mnemonic device to help them remember.

Specifically, we will focus on nonfiction and determining importance as well as looking at the text features noticing how and why the author wrote the book.

Research.

Students are building on their research skills.  They will get opportunities to do so in library, the computer lab and in class.  Students will understand how to gather information from multiple sources, take notes and give credit to the author. All of this will go hand in hand with our science unit on animals.

Research Insects here

Wrapping up Poetry!

Students have been doing an amazing job with Poetry.  We have been exploring it in reading and applying it in writing.  Students have learned several different kinds of poems.  Ask them about each!

• ABAB Rhyming
• Limerick
• Haiku
• Repeating Poem
• List 
• Acrostic
• Diamante  <----- Click here to write and publish a diamante poem.

Students worked together in groups to come up with a food and animal poem.  I was impressed with their ability to work together and brainstorm great ideas while applying the poetry aspects.

Science: Animal Groups.

We are starting a unit on Animals. Students will learn about the 6 different groups: Fish, Birds, Amphibians, Reptiles, Mammals and Insects.  Yesterday students watched a video about the different groups as an introduction.  Students are anxious to learn more!

video

Spring Break Challenge.

Students were given a challenge to document practice over break.  I encouraged students to do what they could.  A simple parent initial in each box would mark their practice. Students are to bring them back Monday, April 4.

Heart Activity.

We are taking some time to revisit kindness and following school and classroom rules.  Students understand the importance of using kind words and actions but aren't always remembering to do so in the heat of the moment. Ask your child about the heart activity we did today. It's important to remember we all matter and we need to consider each other's feelings.

Students were asked to hang their wrinkled heart in their locker. Hopefully it will be a reminder for students to remember what their words and actions can do to others.

It's TIME for math.

Students just finished a unit on time and graphing.  Students also reviewed word problems with multiple steps. You will notice the test coming home later this week. We will continue to work on these skills until break. Students will have the opportunity to apply and extend their learning and play games focusing on these concepts as well. Encourage your child to tell time at home and use the clock (both digital and analog).

Below are some links to some games that students will begin using in Computer Lab this week:

Time Games Galore
Telling the Time
Time in Space
Time & Clocks
Time Games
More Time Games

Author Visit.

Katie Mcky visited our school today! She is a children's author along with many other things. Before being an author, she taught special education students for 20 years. Below are some of the books she's written.  We read Wolf Camp earlier this year.

The students enjoyed two assemblies.  She had volunteers (teachers and students) act out two of her books.  Ask your child about it.  It was very comical! The whole gym was laughing! She is a great entertainer.  Thanks to PTO for organizing her visit.

First day back!

It was lovely being with the kids today.  Ms. Gundlach and I worked together today! It was fun and I am looking forward to being back for a full week next week.  I was so impressed how far they've come - they demonstrated awesome work ethic today! Keep it up.  I am proud to be your teacher! :)

Beautiful Concert.

Thanks to all the parents for coming out and showing your support to the class! They have been working very hard this past month.  They did a wonderful job!  If you or another family member or friend missed it, you can view it here!
-------> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmZ56frcQNM