A Fantastic Friday

We had a fantastic Friday today!

Pizza & Pajamas
For lunch, we had our 2nd Trimester Pizza Party.  The kiddos enjoyed eating lunch in the classroom and eating pizza, chips, healthy side & a dessert!  Today was also RBE's February Spirit Day & it was Pajama Day!

5th Grade Colonial Wax Museum
We went and visited Ms. Archer's 5th grade class and their wax museum.  The kiddos were dressed up and had props as they told about colonial times.  This correlated wonderfully with what we learned about colonial jobs and dress in November!

Lots of Learning is Happening in Room 26!

Reading

We have been working hard making inferences while we read.  An inference is an assumption that can be made about what is happening in the book.  You need two things to make an inference: 1) evidence from the book & 2) schema from your head.  Last week, we had focused on making inferences from clues that were provided.  This week, we focused on making inferences from short passages.  Next week, we will continue to work on inferences from short passages and comic strips.

Spelling

This week, we have continued to work on making words past-tense.  We talked about needing to double the last consonant and then add "ed" to CVC words (example: clap - clapped), dropping the "e" and then adding "ed" to CVCe words (example: skate - skated), and then adding "ed" to CVVC & VCC words (example: mark- marked).  Next week, we will continue to work on past tense words, but will focus on irregular past tense words.  Below is a chart of the next week's spelling words. The purple words are the spelling words, but we will also be expecting students to be able to spell the present tense words correct in their writing.  Please make sure that you are practicing your child's spelling words with him/her!  

Writing

This week in writing, we have worked on second opinion piece about our favorite flavor of ice cream.  Our focus has been on making sure that the reasons to support their opinion are specific to only their flavor.  The students were expected to come up with two specific reasons to support their opinion and then a counter argument of why they did not like a different flavor of ice cream.  We made a really cute ice cream cones and these are hung in the hallway.  The next time you come to school, make sure you check these out!  To celebrate all of our hard work we had an ice cream party today!

Next week, we will continue to work on opinion writing.  Last week, we took notes using PebbleGo, on two places that we would like to live (which correlates with our Social Studies objectives). Our third opinion piece will be on our favorite place to live.  We will be using a writing checklist to create a four paragraph opinion piece that has two specific reasons why s/he would like to live in either a small town, city, suburb, rural area, desert, polar region, rain forest, mountains, plains by the ocean, or on an island.  Then a counter argument why s/he would not want to live in a different part of the world.

Math

We continued to work on subtraction with regrouping (borrowing).  We have learned how to solve 2 & 3 digit subtraction problems with regrouping twice.  Next week, we will continue to work on solving subtraction problems with regrouping twice and also regrouping across a 0 (example: 405 - 278).  We will also be practicing solving addition and subtraction word problems containing extra information.

Health

We started our health unit this week.  As a kick off to our health unit, Alice's dad came in to speak with us because he works in the healthcare profession.  He talked with us about his job as anesthesiologist nurse.  Next week, the students will have the opportunity to read about all the different body systems and take notes.  By the end of our health unit, your child will have learned about the circulatory, digestive, muscular, nervous, respiratory and skeletal systems.

Planetarium

On Tuesday, 2nd grade will be going to the planetarium at RBHS.  We will be loading the bus at 9:15 and will be getting back around 10:45.  This is a change from what we had on the Friday Folder checklist - sorry!  Due to our field trip, we will have library checkout on Wednesday next week - not Tuesday.

Counselor
This week in counselor, Mr. Smith talked with the class about importance of safety and what to do if something was to happen that they felt was unsafe.  When making a decision there are 3 R's that the kiddos were taught: Recognize (is the situation safe?), Refuse (if the situation is unsafe say) and Report (tell a trusted adult).  The students also learned 8 "Never, Never Rules."

1. Never, never go in water without an older person.
2. Never, never use sharp tools with out an older person's help.
3. Never, never ride on wheels without a helmet.
4. Never, never ride in a car without a seat belt.
5. Never, never touch a dog without asking the person in charge.
6. Never, never touch guns.
7. Never, never play with fire.
8. Never, never cross the street without looking both ways.

Mr. Smith with be revisiting the importance of safety during his next counselor class.  Please let me or Mr. Smith know if you have any questions!

Lots of Items Are Due Next Week!

Six Flags Read to Succeed

A Student Reading Log came home with your child at the beginning of January for the Six Flags Read to Succeed program.  Your child must log 6 hours (360 minutes).  This form is due to Mrs. McKinzie by February 28.

Yearbooks
A year book order form came home at the beginning of February.  Yearbooks are $7 and can be ordered until Wednesday, March 1.  If you are wanting to order a yearbook for your child please send in the order form & money by Wednesday.

Book It
As a reminder, February's Book It form is due by Thursday, March 2.  For your child to be able to receive a free personal pan pizza your child needs to log 300 minutes of reading for the month.  Homework reading can be used for a part of this time.

Read Week is Almost Here!!

RBE's 3rd Annual Read Week is during the week of March 6!  We are so super excited to have LOTS of different guest readers.  If you would like the opportunity to come in and read a favorite book to the class there are still a few openings available.  You can checkout our SignUp Genius page with our available times. I just wanted to reiterate that our classroom & Mrs. Ross's classroom is peanut free - so if you choose to bring in a snack to share with the class as a connection to the book you read, please make it peanut free.

As a reminder, we will have a special Munch & Read Lunch on Tuesday, March 7.  You can come to school to eat lunch and read with your child.  Munch & Read Lunch will be from 11:00-11:45.  I hope that you can make it - if you are able to come please let us know by signing up on the SignUp Genius.  If your child will not be eating school lunch, or if you will be choosing to eat school lunch for our Munch & Read Lunch, please let me know.  I need to the let the kitchen staff know so that they can prepare the correct amount of food.  We will be sending home a form on Monday, please fill it out if you are planning to attend (even if you sign up online), so we can give the cafeteria an idea of how many lunches will be needed that day.

To celebrate the love of reading during our Read Week, each day will be a different dress up day.

• Monday, March 6: Mixed Up Monday! (wear your clothes inside out, backwards or mismatched)
• Tuesday, March 7: Top Hat Tuesday! (wear your favorite hat to school)
• Wednesday, March 8: Who's Who Wednesday! (dress as your favorite book character)
• Thursday, March 9: Think Green Thursday! (in honor of Green Eggs & Ham - wear green)
• Friday, March 10: Flannel Friday! (wear flannel - pajamas, shirts, etc.)

A flyer is also coming home in your child's Friday Folder - so make sure you look this over & start planning! :)  You can click here to view the flyer.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Happy Tuesday!

I hope that your family had a wonderful weekend & enjoyed the warm weather!  Today we talked about wishing this beautiful weather would stay around!

Health Unit
We will be starting our health unit this week and the kiddos always love having guest speakers come in to talk.  Our focus during this health unit is on the different body systems.If you or anyone in your family/friends is in the health care profession & would like to come and speak to the students, please let me know & we can set up a time.

Nutrition Pretzel Class
To kick off our health unit today we had a lady from Nutrition Services come and speak with us about the Grain Family.  She taught us about the different parts of a wheat plant and the importance of eating wheat bread versus "white" bread.  She brought in examples of grain plants that everyone was able to look at.  After she talked with us, we got to make & then eat our pretzels!  Check out all of our pictures here!

Opinion Writing
We started our second opinion writing today on our favorite flavor of ice cream (from controlled choices of vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, or cookies and cream).  We talked about the importance of coming up with specific reasons to support our opinion.  For example, a specific reason that I might like cookies & cream ice cream is that it has Oreos in it and Oreos are my favorite cookie.  However, a not specific reason I might  I might like cookies & cream is that it has stuff in it.

Math
We are continuing to work on regrouping with subtraction in math.  Today, we taught the kiddos to highlight (or circle) the bigger number to bring attention to this number.  We have been using the sayings below when teaching about regrouping.  On homework this week, one of the sections asks students to circle the biggest number and then identify whether or not regrouping is necessary.

Pizza Party
As a reminder, our 2nd Trimester Pizza Party is on Friday.  Students may bring in a drink (20 ounces or smaller, no glass) if they would like.  Each student will get 2 slices of pizza, a healthy side, chips, and a dessert.  They do not needs to bring in a lunch on Friday, but please still send in a snack for your child during snack time.

Reading Week Mystery/Guest Readers
If you or a family member/close friend would like to come in during the week of March 6 to be a mystery/guest reader, we still have available times.  Check the Sign Up Genius for available times.  Also, we have our Chat & Read Lunch on Tuesday, March 7 from 11:00-11:45 - if you are able to attend you can sign up to let us know.

A Note From Mrs. Sharp (RBE Music Specialist)

Hello! Ms. Mottaz’s class has earned a celebration in music by completing their class song. Each day, a beat can be earned and I’m happy to announce that they have completed 12 beats! We will celebrate two music days in a row so that EEE kids can participate. Your child is allowed to bring a stuffed animal and a snack to music class on Thursday, 2/23 and next week on 3/1. No drinks, please. 

Beautiful Weather!!
We are going to take advantage of the beautiful weather (it is supposed to be in the high 70's tomorrow!) and go to the track.  Please send your kiddo in or with tennis shoes tomorrow.

I hope that you have a wonderful evening!

Happy Wednesday!

We have had a great week so far!!  It has been so great to be able to talk with everyone this week during our conference - please know that if you have any questions that come up between now & the end of the year to let me know! :)  I cannot believe that we are already a two-thirds of the way finished with our 2nd grade year together.

As a reminder, I will not be sending home Friday Folders tomorrow due to speaking with everyone this week at conferences & being a short week - plus a long weekend (no school on Friday or Monday).

Special Sharers

Aubrey sharing her Piggie & Elephant book that she created.

Lexi sharing her rabbit cage that she made for her stuffed rabbit.

Valentine's Day Party
Yesterday, we had a great Valentine's Day party!!  The kiddos enjoyed making "heart attacks" (writing something special to either Mr. Jim-our custodian, the secretaries in the office, Mr. Smith or Mrs. Carey) then they went & delivered their "heart attacks" by decorating their office/classroom door.  They had lots of fun with this  I even received a "heart attack" from each of the kiddos and these are displayed in the back of the classroom!  We enjoyed some sweet sugar cookies, creative fruit kabobs, cheese sticks & popcorn.  They loved passing out their Valentines & the of course seeing everything that they got in their bag or box!  Thank you for everyone who sent in supplies to make our party a success!!

Diggin' in Trash

Your student may have come home on yesterday and said we made them dig in the trash, which is some what true.  :)  We had bags of clean trash for them to dig through and infer about the family/location the trash came from.  They had to support their inferences with evidence from the trash and their schema.  It was funny to see which pieces of trash stood out to them.

Which Hershey Kiss tastes the best?

Today, we taste test of Hershey's Kisses  that will be used with our opinion writing.  The students enjoyed most of the flavors.  :)  Ask your student which was their favorite.  We had them write down things they liked and didn't like about the flavors.

Pizza Party

We will have our 2nd Trimester Pizza Party next Friday, February 24.  Students will each get 2 slices of pizza, a healthy side and a dessert.  Students may bring in a drink if they would like.  No larger than 20 ounces and plastic or aluminum only, no glass.  :)

Next Week

Math

• Next week, we will continue working on subtraction with and without regrouping.  The students have learned how to use tens frames, hundreds charts, number lines and the traditional algorithm for subtracting.  Please continue to practice subtraction facts at home so they know them quick and fast when solving 2 and 3-digit subtraction problems.  

Hundreds Chart for 36-24

Circle the 36, go up 2 tens (for 20) and cross them out, then count back 4 (from the ones place of 24) crossing them out as you go and circle the 4th number, that is our answer.

Tens Frame for 36-24

Draw 4 tens frames and fill in 3 of them all the way with dots, then on the 4th tens frame fill in 6 spaces.  Cross out the 4 ones to start, then cross out 2 full tens frames (for the 20).  You are left with one full tens frame and 2 extras, so the answer is 12.  

Traditional Algorithm with Regrouping

Reading

• This week, we have started learning to make inferences.  Inferences are made using schema (background knowledge) and clues from the text.  We practiced this by digging in the trash that has pictures above.  We also had mystery bags today where the students had to infer what was in the bag based on the clues.  They were all stumped by a clothespin.  :)
• Next week, we will continue working on inferences using short passages and finding evidence within the text.

Writing

• We have started our opinion writing unit.  We did a continuum on Monday where they had to choose between two items (types of pizza, cookies, colors, etc) and then explain why the one they chose was better.  Today, we taste tested Hershey's Kisses (pictures above) and tomorrow they will write an opinion pieces about their favorite flavor using evidence from our taste test.  The Dark Chocolate ones were the least favorite for most students.  :)  After we finished the Hershey's Kiss opinion, they will write an opinion about ice cream flavors (we like food) and then we will use our notes from reading about places to live and write an opinion piece about the best place to live.  

Social Studies

• We are continuing to research different places to live.  The students are using their note taking skills learned in reading to keep their information organized.  They will use this information to write an opinion piece in the coming weeks.  

Science

• February 28 we will be going to the Planetarium at Rock Bridge High School.  They will get to watch a short movie and then get to see the stars.  We will be gone from approximately 9:30-10:30.

Happy Friday!

What’s Happening in Room 26

·         Math: This week, we started to introduce new strategies on subtracting 2 and 3 digit numbers. We started with ten frames, number lines, and hundred charts. We are also continuing to practice our 2 and 3 digit addition problems.

o   Next week in math, we will continue to work on 2 and 3 digit subtracting unit. We will practice the strategies we learn this week and begin to learn more. We will start to moving into solving subtraction problem through algorithm (stacking).

·         Reading: We have been working on identifying main idea of the article and for each paragraph. We have also been identifying supporting details in each paragraph too. We have been practicing with different nonfiction articles.  Today we read A Picture Book of Abraham Lincoln, and the students identified the main idea & 3 supporting details.  We then made Lincoln tall hats that they glued to a print out of their faces.  These are hung in the hallway – so make sure to check them out we you come for conferences next week!

o   Next week in reading, we will be working on inferring. We have discussed inferring before, so we know a little about it already! We will dig deeper into inferring and see what all inferring might include!

·         Spelling: This week and last week we worked on adding –ed to words.  With CVC words you double the last letter & then add –ed & with CVVC & VCC words you just add –ed.

o   Next week, we will continue with words ending in –ed, but this time working on different ways to add the –ed. We will be looking at CVC words (clipped, knotted & rubbed), CYC words (tasted, skated, traded, scored & wasted), and words that we drop the –e and add the –ed (marked & stamped). 

·         Writing: This week, we finished up our information writing about the animal of our choice. We are worked so hard on publishing our writing. We worked on adding different text features to our published work and using our best handwriting. We are so excited to show off your students work to you!

o   Next week in writing, we will be starting our opinion writing. We have fun activities this week where we will have to make really hard decisions on our favorite thing and give reasons why it is our favorite. We also we be making counter arguments on why the others are not our favorite!

Today the kiddos shared their writing with their classmates!

·         Social Studies: Today in social studies, we learned about Abraham Lincoln's life, had a short conversation about the Civil War & timelines.

o   Next week in Social Studies, we will be researching different place where we would like to live. We will pick 2 places to research and then pick the place we would most like to live! We will give reasons why we would rather live in one place instead of the other based on the facts we have researched.

·         Maker Space: Today in Maker Space, the students used their creativity with infusion beads! They had different outlines to choose from or they could design their own. The students choose what colors they wanted to create with. An adult ironed their beads so they would stick together. Your student should have their creations in their backpack!

National Counselors Week

This week was National Counselors Week.  We celebrated Mr. Smith today by making a banner.  He was surprised & said that no other class had remember & was super excited to hang our banner in his office!

No Homework Next Week

There also will be no homework this week due to a short week, Valentine’s Day & conferences.

Parent Teacher Conferences!

Parent Teacher Conferences are next week! (Feb 13-17) I am so excited to meet with everyone! Your confirmed time is on your students Friday Folder Checklist under the comments.

Specialist Showcase is on Monday

Monday is Showcase with specialist.  Our specials are from 12:45-1:35.  Please check in at the office (or volunteer at the door) and then head to the gym.  You will be able to see what your child does in PE & then listen to students sing songs in Music (which is in a trailer).  I will then pick the students up from Music at the end of specials.  The students have some fun things to share with you. J

I look forward to seeing and meeting with everyone next week!  Have a fabulous weekend - it is supposed to nice - so enjoy!