A Whole Month Together!

We did it!  We have spent a whole month together exploring, teaching, and learning cooperatively, as second graders.  And there is so much more to come!  Here are some quick updates:

Subjects

 

Math:  We continue to review as we work through Unit One.  Currently, we are working on fluency with addition math facts, starting with combinations of 10 and doubles, and using that knowledge to help us with other combinations.  For example, if you know that 7+3=10, it will help you know 7+4 (think: 7+3+1; or 10+1).  We will continue to visit telling time and working with coins throughout this unit, and as the year goes on. 

Reading:  Guided Reading and Work Board Centers is under way!  Guided Reading is small group instruction with me.  I meet with each group at least twice a week.  When students are not with me, they are expanding their reading, writing, phonics, fluency, and word work knowledge through various learning centers. 

Writing:  In Writing Workshop, we continue to explore ways to come up with ideas for writing (what to do when you don't know what to write about).  We are also learning about adding detail to our stories.

Spelling:  We have reviewed short vowel sounds, and are now working on VCe words (vowel-consonant-e), such as lake, time, and hope.  These words have a "bossy e" that make the vowel say it's name (long vowel sound).  However, we have learned about "rule breakers" that follow the VCe spelling pattern, but do not have the long vowel sound -- such as: have, give, and are.
Please continue to help your child study spelling words that are sent home, as needed. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Social Studies:  We have started a unit on mapping and communities.We will review and broaden our knowledge on map skills, including understanding what kinds of different maps there are and what features you will find on a map, including a title, map key, symbols, compass rose, and map scale.  We will explore our roles in the community as citizens, as well as learn about human interaction with the environment.

A New Area to Dig Into

We have learned about another area in our classroom that is open to use at any time -- our Reference Area.  These shelves include books such as encyclopedias, dictionaries, rhyming dictionaries, atlases, thesauruses, and other resources.  Right now, these are the student's top pick when they need a book to read!

 

Volunteers:

 

 

I am now looking for volunteers in the classroom.  Specifically, at this time, I would like volunteers to come in during our Reading Block (12:15 - 1:15).  Volunteers can read with individuals or small groups, or help students in Work Centers.  If you are interested, please email me your availability and interest; and make sure that you either have attended the volunteer meeting or contact the office to see about any paperwork that needs to be filled out.

 



Things to Remember:

* Don't forget to send in headphones with your child for the Computer Lab.  Computer is now on Mondays.
* There is no school on Monday, October 8 (Columbus Day) or Tuesday, October 9 (Teacher In-Service Day).

Things to Know

Picture Day

Picture Day is Thursday, September 27.  Don't forget to send in your Picture Envelope if you are ordering photos.  You can send it in early, if you want, and I will hold on to it.

Specials Changes

In order to accommodate our new school-wide assemblies (which will be every other Wednesday), our school schedules have been changed.  This means that our Monday schedule has switched with our Wednesday schedule.  We now have Art and Computer on Monday and Library on Wednesday.

This does not effect NWEAs.  We will still take our final NWEA test on Wednesday, September 26.

Beginning the week of October 1, we will have our regular Computer Lab class.  Please send in headphones for your child that can stay at school.  I have a few student's headphones already here.  If you need help locating an inexpensive pair, please let me know.

Cold Weather

Cold weather is approaching - especially in the early mornings.  Your child might need a pair of knit gloves and a sweatshirt or other long sleeve jacket to keep comfortable on the playground.  Your child might especially need chapstick to stay at school.  Chapstick sent to school will be kept in a labeled baggie and stored in your child's cubby bucket. 

Lots of News

 Positive Behavior Support

 

 After successfully completing the first few weeks of school, our second grade class is just about into the routine of things.  Center Drive School has adopted a "Voice Scale" and "Core Values" as a school wide approach to promoting positive behaviors.  The system-wide Voice Scale goes like this:

0 - No Talking

1 - Whisper Voice

2 - Inside Voice

3 - Playground Voice

  It is so nice to be able to remind students to use a "Number 1 Voice", for example, and it means the same thing to all.  Not only is the Voice Scale useful in the classroom, but common areas, such as the hallway, have posters that state what voice you should use and what the behavioral expectations are.
 
  Our Core Values are discussed, modeled, and expected school-wide as well.  These values can be applied to all aspects of our school day.  Current Core Values are:

Respect

Responsibility

Kindness

Honesty

 

Math, Reading, & More

 

  We are starting to get into our Math program.  Much of what  we are doing in September is review from last year.  One of the biggest skills to work on in math, and across all areas of learning, is how to work in a cooperative group.  Students will learn this year the importance of sharing ideas and strategies, explaining and backing up their thinking to others, collaborating with others, and being invested in the success of others.  These group skills will prepare our students for a lifetime.  In our class, we are all teachers and we are all learners.

  In Reading Workshop, we have just started using our "Work Board", which means Guided Reading (small group reading with me) and Centers.  The reading centers that your student visits throughout the week are filled with a variety of literacy activities that support and enhance skills such as phonics, spelling, poetry, writing, and of course more reading.  In Writing Workshop, we are using mentor stories to help us understand how to write a personal story that tells the reader a lot about the character.  We have all at least started writing a personal story about ourselves; some of us have finished.  We also have been discussing ways to come up with ideas when we don't know what to write about.  Most recently we have created our own "Idea Maps" to keep inside our Writing Folder.

  We continue to study Life Cycles as we observe our own monarch caterpillars and butterflies, read nonfiction texts, and use the Promethean Board for interactive work and videos.  In Social Studies, we are still discussing Rights and Responsibilities.  We have learned that a right is what everyone deserves so that we live in a fair world.  Our responsibilities are our jobs we must do to make sure that we, and others, can have our rights.  An example of our discussions includes: "We have the right to learn, so it is our responsibility to...do our best, ...listen when others are talking,...be prepared for class."  Much of this topic ties in nicely with our school's Core Values.

 

Lots of Adults

 



  There are several adults who are in and out of our room each day.  Some names and faces that will become familiar to you are: Mr. Davis (mostly mornings), Miss Crandlemire (mostly afternoon), Mr. Dale (math), and Mrs. Webb (reading).  Sometimes you may see different writing on your student's papers if another teacher is helping me out, but I will always go over them before handing them back.  The more adult hands in the room, the more individual attention your child is receiving.

Our Monarch Caterpillar

Monarch caterpillars were early this year!  My son, Thomas, and I enjoyed finding monarch caterpillars, watching them grow and turn into a chrysalis, and then releasing the beautiful monarch butterflies that emerged.  Unfortunately, I was only able to bring one caterpillar to school, because the others just couldn't wait to complete their journey.  Our classroom caterpillar had already turned into a 'J' by the third day of school!  And on my way home Friday evening, it turned into a chrysalis.  I will try to find a few more caterpillars to bring in so that the kids of Mrs. Pelkey's second grade can enjoy the process of metamorphosis a little bit longer. 

Either way, we will continue to learn about the stages of a butterfly life cycle, how a monarch caterpillar changes over time, and what monarch caterpillars use for energy.  Below are pictures of a butterfly that emerged from his chrysalis in our classroom, and our one and only caterpillar who turned into a 'J'.