This Week in Second Grade

Fall Hike

We had a great afternoon for our hike. Thanks to all the parents who were able to come and hike with us!

We are loving Fasttmath!

The kids are doing one lesson of FM most mornings when they arrive. They may then do another lesson at home if they wish. Fasttmath only allows children to do a maximum of two lessons a day. 

Math

This week in math we played Make Ten and Tens Go Fish. Ask your child how to play each game and what each game is helping us learn and get better at.

Make Ten

Make Ten

Tens Go Fish

What needs to be added to 8 to make a 10?

Science

In Science we have been learning about Matter.  We learned that everything is made of matter and matter can be solid, liquid, or gas.   We have been looking at the properties of solids.  We sorted solids by color, shape, stack, roll or both. 

We are keeping track of the properties of solids so that we can compare them to the properties of liquids.

This is what we have discovered so far:

Can you figure out how these solids were grouped?

Working Together to look at attributes

I

September in Second Grade

We have been so busy the past few weeks!
This week, the second graders helped me write the captions for each picture!

During Spelling we have been reviewing all short vowels, -ck, digraphs (sh, ch, th), and tapping out words
We have been sorting picture cards by sounds.

In math we learned how to play Collect 25 cents.
 Ask your child how to write 25 cents using a dollar sign and a decimal point.

Students helped each other identify coins and count coins to 25 cents.
Ask your child to tell you what each coin is called and how much it's worth.

Once students are done their math Have Tos they move on to Math Menu!

Students are practicing showing their math thinking.

Our first math menu!
Ask your child to tell you all about it!

At writing Ms Moore showed us how to sketch quickly to get our ideas down.

In Writing we got our Teeny Tiny Topic Notebooks for writing ideas to write about.

Scientist Students drew the bottom of their shoes.
They then were given a different drawing and had to find the shoe that matched it.

This student is looking very carefully at the details!

Scientist students identified the properties of some solids.

We shared and recorded the properties of two solids, a steel ball and a plastic spoon.
Ask your child what this type of chart is called.

Nuts and Bolts

 September 4, 2015 NEWSLETTER
Nuts and Bolts

This newsletter contains some of the nuts and bolts of the classroom. I am hoping that it will answer some of your questions for the start of the school year.  

         

OUR SCHOOL DAY – Our day begins at 7:50 and ends at 2:35.  Students come into the classroom and prepare for the day by passing in folders, lunch cards, getting pencils and chairs, going book shopping,  and greeting their classmates.  Most of our classes and small groups begin at 8:00.  Children arriving after 7:50 will be marked as Tardy.  It is important for students to be on time in order to be ready for academics.  If your child is going to be late due to appointments, please be sure to email me and our school secretary, Pam Preston, ahead of time, if possible.  If your child is going to be absent, please call or email Pam Preston. 

COMMUNICATION:  I encourage you to call me at school or email me any time if you have any questions or concerns.  I will get back to you as soon as I am able to, usually within 24 hours. The easiest way to communicate is via email.

NEWSLETTER:  This year my newsletter will sent home every other week. Newsletters will contain information on curriculum.

BLOG:  Please check out my blog for pictures as an informal way to see what we have done the past week in the class.  I am hoping that my Blog will be used as a means for you and your child to talk about what they have done in class that week.   
I have added a subscribe feature to my Blog that will automatically let you know when my blog has been updated.

SCHEDULE:   Our Specials schedule is on your child’s Home School Folder.  Please take note as to when your child has specials so that they may have the necessary items for that day.   

SNACK:  We take a snack break every day around 9:15. 
Our school has snack available to purchase.  If your child does not have a snack, I will remind them that they may purchase a snack from the lunchroom. 
Letters have been sent home regarding our policies regarding snack.  Snacks need to be packed separately and be checked and labeled peanut /tree nut safe. Snacks need to be packed in a different bag from lunch.  Also, check the ingredient label to be sure your child’s snack was not processed in a facility that produced peanuts/tree nuts.  If your child’s snack is packed with their lunch and/or is not labeled peanut/tree nut safe, your child will eat his/her snack in Mrs. Prestons’s office.  We do have children with severe allergies in our school.  Please help me keep them safe. 

BUS NOTES: If your child is taking a different bus, getting off at a different stop, or going home with a friend or a different adult, we need a note telling us of the details.  You can either phone the school, email me (preferably before 12:00) and Pam Preston or send a note in your child’s Home School Folder.  This saves your child from anxiety and the school from having to make often last minute phone calls to confirm where your child is going.

BOOK ORDERS: You can order books through me ANYTIME online by going to my school webpage and Blog.  I will also be sending home book orders every 4-6 weeks or so.   Directions for ordering online will be sent home with each book order.   Ordering books through Scholastic is easy and an affordable way to add to your child's collection of books and helps your child develop a love of books and reading.   Additionally, buying books through Scholastic gives me points to buy more books for our classroom library!

HOMEWORK:   Homework usually starts in October.  Homework is sent home on Monday and due on Friday. This allows you and your child to plan around other after school and evening activities.  The general rule is that  second graders should spend no more than 20 minutes a night.
I will not be sending homework home on weekends or vacations.

BIRTHDAYS:  Due to our policy regarding no sharing of snacks, we will not be sharing a birthday snack.  I have a special day planned for your child on his or her birthday that includes a singing of “Happy Birthday” and other fun activities!   Please do not send invitations to school to be delivered. 

TOYS:  Children are not allowed to bring toys to school. All toys should stay at home.

VOLUNTEERS:  If you are interested in helping out there are several ways to help.  We always need a Room Parent to organize our parties.  If you wish to help out with reading, math, or spelling,  I will have a classroom volunteer sign up that will be available at Open House.   We also always need Four Winds volunteers.  Be sure to note the policies about volunteering in the handbook.  I generally don’t put together a volunteer schedule until October.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES:  All school supplies are provided by the school.   If you have bought supplies, they will be very handy to have at home for homework projects.

Please feel free to call or email me if you have any questions.

Have a wonderful weekend!
Mia Coulombe

Our New Chromebooks!

Today Mr Wells and Mrs Garrapy helped us get started with our new Chromebooks.  This year, each student will have a Chromebook to use in the classroom.  Needless to say, the students were very excited to get started!

Learning how to carry our Chromebooks safely.
So exciting!

"Oh!  This is sooo awesome," exclaims a  second grader as he rubs his hands in anticipation as he opens his computer for the first time. 

. 

Learning how to log on.

Logging on.

Listening Carefully

Ready for the next step!

The best part, choosing the profile picture!

KidRex, a kid safe search engine.

One last direction.

Carefully carrying our Chromebooks to put them away. 

Celebrating great listening with Popsicles after.