Happy Friday! :)

Happy Friday!

I hope you have had a great week!  We have been very busy in 2nd grade!

Today, we went to Hickman High School to see a jazz performance.  Justin Kauflin was the piano player and he has been blind since he was 11!  Very impressive what he has accomplished during the his life.  If you would like to watch a short video about his life (the kiddos really enjoyed learning about him before seeing him today) you can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDXTreXq92w

The students were very well behaved and enjoyed the concert.  Check out the pictures here.  

Here is what we will be working on next week and some important information about the rest of the year.  

Reading

• We have started talking about different components of poetry.  We will learn about the components and then have the opportunity to identify them in various poems.  The kiddos are really enjoying this station during literacy time and being able to try out different ways of writing.

Writing

• We have finished up our first BIG opinion piece using an app called 30 hands.  I am in the process of uploading these to a private YouTube channel so you can enjoy all their hard work.  Also, these writings (book & video) along with our 2nd opinion writing will be what we share at the fun event of Oreos and Opinions.  
• We have already almost completed our research on the best/coolest/most awesome/scariest ______.  For the second BIG opinion writing we let the kids choose whatever they wanted to research (some chose animals, others chose people, and some even chose a team or sport).  I know the kiddos are enjoying researching WHATEVER they would like! :) We will continue working on this opinion writing next week.   
• The writing bug has sprung in room 26 - which I love to see!!! :)  Kiddos are enjoying writing all sorts of different & fun stories during any spare moment that we have during the day.  This has been great to see because the kiddos are putting everything that we have been working on all year into their writing!

Charlotte is really into what her character is saying in the book she shared today! :)

Lauren has finished the first book in her new series that she is writing!

Math

• We are wrapping up our measurement unit.  Our current plan is to test on Wednesday, May 4.  After we finish up measurement, we will move onto early algebra.  These will actually be concepts the students have already seen such as finding the missing number.  

Science

• We are continuing to learn about the needs of plants in science.  We are also going to start discussing food chains and ecosystems in preparation for our field trip to Runge.  
• We have been incorporating a science literacy station into our reading station rotations, also.  During this station the kiddos have learned some interesting & fun facts about a variety of plants.  Currently we are learning the parts of the plant and the vocabulary words that go with the plant.

ST Math

• Our school now has ST Math available to the students.  They haven't used it yet, but will next Tuesday in Media.  It is a website that has games to practice math concepts.  The games have no words, the students have to use their problem solving skills to identify how to get JiJi (the penguin in the game) across the screen by solving different math problems.  Once students set up their account (next week in Media), they will be able to access ST Math from home also.  On the Symbaloo on the RBE Media Center website, they can click on the penguin which will take them to ST Math.  Again, they won't have access until next week, but starting next week, if they want to play around with it at home, they can.  The first few times they play, it might be frustrating to them since they aren't directions, they have to figure out how to play each game.  There is research behind the program that shows that nonverbal (all pictures) allows the students to use more problem solving skills and to ultimately be more successful.  

Homework

• Just a reminder that weekly homework is finished as of today.  If the students would like to continue doing homework, they will get a sheet on Monday they can fill out.  They will need to reading for 15 minutes and do 15 minutes of math facts and get both initialed by parents.  If they do this for 3 days of the week, they can eat lunch in the room on Friday.  This is not at all required, it is completely optional.  

Important Upcoming Events

• Wednesday, May 11: Runge Field Trip
• If you have signed up to chaperone and haven't let me know about releasing your contact information, please do so.  This will allow chaperones to coordinate carpooling to Jeff City if they would like.  
• Friday, May 13: Variety Show
• Tuesday, May 17: Oreos and Opinions from 7:45-8:15 (Please remember to RSVP on the blue sheet sent home)
• Friday, May 20: Field Day and Dress like Summer day (No swimsuits)
• Tuesday, May 24: End of the Year Lunch Bunch (Please remember to RSVP if you will be coming, the invite was on yellow paper)
• Thursday, May 26: Last day of school, early dismiss at 12:10
• Thursday, June 2: Summer School Open House, 4:30-6:00

Have a wonderful weekend!

Fun Events Coming Up! :)

We have two fun parent and student events planned in May.  Your student brought home a sheet about them both today and there is an RSVP to be returned at the bottom of each.  

Oreos and Opinions

The students have worked so hard on their opinion writing and would love to share their hard work.  Also, who doesn't love Oreos?  :)  So, why not put them together.  On May 17 from 7:45-8:15, please join us in the classroom so your student can share their awesome opinion writing.  Please fill out the RSVP at the bottom of the invitation and return it with your student.

End of the Year Lunch Bunch

On Tuesday, May 24, we will be having an end of the year lunch bunch for students and their parents (or grandparents, special friend, etc) from 11:00-12:00.  The students will go to recess like normal from 11:00-11:15 and then we will have lunch in the pavilion.  You may bring fast food in for your child if you would like, or they can buy a school lunch or they can bring their lunch from home.  On the permission slip, please make sure to mark what they will be eating for lunch (brought by you, school or brought from home) and also let me know if you will be purchasing a school lunch.  This will be a fun way to celebrate the end of the year.  :)

Runge Field Trip

We are 80% there of people turning in their permission slip for the field trip.  As a reminder, your child has to have a signed permission slip to go because we are traveling out of town.  If you need an extra form please let me know!  If you signed up to be a chaperone, please email me to let me know if I can share your contact information (if so, please send me the information you would like me to share) with other chaperones to possibly coordinate carpooling.  

Homework

As a reminder, this is the final week or "normal" homework.  Next week, students can do optional homework if they would like.  They can read and practice facts for 15 minutes each night.  If they get this signed at least 3 nights during the week, they can eat lunch in the room on Friday.

It Was Early Release But We Did a LOT!!

It may have been an early release day, but we did a lot today! :)  We started the morning off with getting new table spots and cleaning out our chair pockets - some had got a little messy.

In reading, we started talking about poetry.  The kiddos decided that poetry was a little harder to understand than fiction because some of the words are harder and that sentences are sometimes broken up.  We will be continuing to work on reading and understanding poetry during reading time and begin dabbling in writing poetry during writing a little bit also.

Today was secretary's day & we made cards for Mrs. Rhonda, Mrs. Angela, and Mrs. Hopper.

Delivering our cards to Mrs. Hopper in the Media Center.

Delivering our cards to Mrs. Rhonda & Mrs. Angela in the Office.

Thirds grade has had chicks hatching in their classroom this week.  So the chicks came to visit second grade while third grade was MAP testing! :)  The kiddos were SUPER excited.  Some of the chicks were fast movers - check out the pictures & the video!  You can hear the excitement in their voices.

Miss Till is a Junior at MU in the Education program & has been with us this semester on Wednesdays.  The kiddos love her!! :)  Today was her last day. :(  She brought doughnuts as a treat for the kiddos.  Look at all the happy faces with doughnuts - if they came home a little sugary this is the reason why! :)

Field Trips

Just as a reminder, we have a field trip to Hickman High School to listen and learn about jazz music on Friday.  We are leaving around 9:30 & we will be eating lunch at a later time on that day.  

Our big field trip to Runge Nature Center is on May 11.  For your child to attend this field trip I must have a signed permission slip because it is out of town.  If you have not returned your child's permission please do so.  If you need an additional form please let me know.

Library Checkout

Due to early release today our library checkout was rescheduled for tomorrow.  Please help your child remember to pack his/her library books tonight.  We only have 2 more library checkouts after tomorrow - I know it is crazy how quickly the school year has gone!!  

I hope that your child is enjoying their early release - I heard that some of them had some fun things planned!

Happy Friday - I am so glad that we had a beautiful spring day to be able to enjoy the Outdoor Classroom today because we were busy little beavers! :)

Our day started out with the 4th and 5th grade choir performance.  The students were a fabulous audience and really enjoyed it.  The 4th and 5th graders did an awesome job!  I can't wait until our kids get to 4th and 5th grade to watch their choir performances.

We also have worked EXTREMELY hard and finished publishing a paper copy of our opinion writing about what animal makes the best pet.  The kiddos learned about how we will be making video books of our publication on a fun app called 30 Hands.  We will be starting our electronic publishing on Monday! :)  

As some students have been finishing up their opinion writing, other students have been creating new stories.  Below are a few pictures from our writing share circle today about some fun stories that are being published!

Brady sharing the first chapter of a new book he is writing!

Joshua sharing a story he wrote about basketball.

Sophia sharing a list that she wrote.

This group of kiddos are writing a whole bunch of stories based on the series "Don't Let the Pigeon."  This story was "Don't Let the Pigeon Do the Whip & Nae Nae."

We also went to Makers Space!  Today the students played with Ozobots.  They are small robots that are programmed and coded to run off different colors.  The students put them on premade "tracks" and then were able to use markers to make their own tracks.  The Ozobots also change color based on the color of the marker.  You can check out our pictures & even some videos of them working here.

This afternoon the kids were awesome helpers in the garden.  They helped to mulch half the garden.  They worked so hard to make the garden look nice.  They will probably sleep well tonight!  :)  You can check out the pictures here.

Then we finished up our Earth Day with some science observations around the Outdoor Classroom.  We went to the garden, the prairie and the pond.   

We learned the importance of sitting and staying quiet while we observed at the pond. We saw frogs, toads and other insects...maybe even a snake!  Can you find the frogs in the pictures below?

Please check out the Newsletter.  

In your student's Friday folder, you will find a permission slip and information about our Runge Field Trip.  Please read over the information and sign the permission slip and return it to school with your student.  A signed permission slip is required for your student to attend this field trip because we are going out of town.  If you would like to help and attend the field trip, please make this on the permission slip.

Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy this weather!  

Outdoor Classroom & Earth Day

Happy Monday!  We had a great day.  We have kicked off Outdoor Classroom Week with an assembly this morning.  We honored the people who originally came up with the idea for the Outdoor Classroom, and learned about all the parts of the Outdoor Classroom!  We learned about the prairie, pond, amphitheater, the arbor, and the garden.  We will get to go on a tour of the Outdoor Classroom on Wednesday (fingers crossed about having good weather because I know rain is in the forecast).  Second grade also performed a song in the assembly, and the whole assembly also sang a song called "One Seed" (video below).

We started talking about Earth Day is coming up on Friday.  To enjoy the beautiful weather today we had Word Study outside.  We went on a nature walk and the kiddos had to fill in an ABC chart with words that they found in nature.  

This week we will be talking more about how to take care of the Earth.  We will be reading passages about Earth Day and pollution, writing about ways that we can reduce, reuse, and recycle.  Make sure to ask you kiddo about what they can do to help take care of the Earth each day! :)

Happy Friday!

Happy Friday!

I hope you all have had a wonderful week!  I am absolutely LOVING this beautiful weather.  If you are needing something to do tomorrow CPS & MU are teaming up to put on the Science Sleuth for elementary students and their families.  This is a free event.  I hope that if you are able to stop by that you will.  The kiddos always have a fun when they go! :)

I can't believe the end of the year is so close.  You can feel the excitement already building about the end of the year.  We had a conversation this afternoon that it is important to continue to do their job at school and that we have a lot of fun things planned for the rest of the year. We talked about that they are almost third graders and it is important to act like it. :)

Reading

This week, we worked on summarizing fiction stories.  We taught them a different strategy other than "Somebody, wanted, but, so then" this week.  We focused on identifying the main idea, details and the most important words and then using this information to create a one sentence summary.  A one sentence summary was hard for some kiddos but by today they had it down! :)  

Next week, we will be working on a similar strategy with nonfiction passages.  We will identify the main idea, details and then use this information to create a one sentence summary of the nonfiction passage.

Writing

This week, we wrapped up our rough draft for our best pet opinion writing.  Next week, we will edit it and then publish our writing.  We will be publishing our writing next week, and afterwards we are planning to use a form of technology as another way to publish our writing.  

Math

This week, we wrapped up our geometry and fraction unit.  I will be sending home this test next week.  Please review them with your student then sign and return it to school.

We took our pretest over measurement today.  We will start our measurement unit on Monday.  We will start with non-customary measurements, then move into standard measurements.  We will also be talking about different units of measure and tools to measure.  

Science

We have been observing our plant experiment, and the students are noticing what the plants need to survive.  We had a conversation that the plant with no water is hard, droopy and dying, so we now know that plants canNOT survive without water.  We also noticed that the plant with LOTS of water is also getting droopy and not really growing.  To our surprise the plant with no soil is not growing but the flowers are still okay - we had a conversation that cut flowers can live a while in just water, so we predict that the plant will slowly die.  The flower with no water is starting to grow some mold :( and the flowers are turning yellow instead of orange.  The kiddos are LOVING to read to our "Read to Me" plant - we have found plant books to read to it and the flower leaves on the plant are fuller than our control (maybe this spring & summer you should have your kiddo read to your flowers!).  We will continue to observe our plants over the next few weeks to see if our hypothesis is confirmed that plants need water, soil and sunlight to grow. 

 

Homework

We will have homework for the next 2 weeks and then will be finished with homework.  The students will have optional homework after that of reading and math facts each night.  If they do math facts and reading (15 minutes each) for at least 3 nights (starting in May), they can eat lunch in the room on Friday.

Field Trips

• April 29: Jazz Ensemble at Hickman High School, leave RBE at 9:30 & return by 11:30
• May 11: Runge Nature Center, leave RBE at 8:30 & return around 2:00

Important Dates

• April 22: "Earth Day" - Wear green or other "Earth Friendly" attire
• April 29: Jazz Ensemble field trip
• May 10: PTA Meeting (5:30)
• May 11: Runge Nature Center field trip
• May 13: Variety Show
• May 20: Field Day
• May 20: "Summer Fun" - Wear your most colorful, fun, floral outfit to kick off summer (no swimsuits)

If you are looking for something to do tomorrow afternoon, CPS & MU are teaming up to put on a Science Sleuth.  Elementary students and their families are invited.  The kiddo always have so much fun when they go, so if you have the time - go check it out!! :)  Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy the warm weather! 

Wednesday's Wows!!! :)

I am so proud of our classroom!  On Monday, we learned about the St. Judes Children's Hospital Pin Caner fundraiser that Myles Putnam and Mrs. Howard's second grade class is working on.  We set a class goal of $25, and we "crushed it." (as one of our second graders said).  Yesterday the kiddos brought in approximately $35, and so we made a new goal of $65.  WOW!!!  Today we "crushed it" again!!!  Today the kiddos brought in $68.16 - that's over $100 that we are giving to kid's who have cancer!!!!  We set a new goal of $135.00.  I am so super proud of our classroom and how they are wanting to give back!!  What a wonderful example that you are setting for your kiddos to be so generous!

 

Math

We have been working super hard on geometry and fractions since we have gotten back from Spring Break.  We have learned about triangles, quadrilaterals, pentagons and hexagons.  We have also talked about special quadrilaterals called a square (all sides are even), rectangle, and trapezoid.  We have also learned that partitioning is dividing a shape equally into parts.  We have talked about halves, thirds, fourths and sixths (this is a third grade objective - so the kiddos were excited when we learned it).  Today we made a fraction quilt.  Each kiddo designed their own quilt square and we added our squares to Mrs. Ross's class.  Our fraction quilt is hanging in the hallway (also pictured below).

Summer School

I also wanted to remind everyone that the date for a guaranteed spot in summer is this Friday.  I know that summers can be very busy, but if summer school fits into your schedule, it is a good review of 2nd grade skills, as well as an introduction to 3rd grade concepts.  During summer school we have a lot of fun learning activities and some specials things that we don't always have time to do during the school year.  If your child is going to a different school next year, they will still go to RBE for summer school, unldess you have requested a different school (and will be providing transportation for your child).

I am so happy for warmer weather - I just hope it is here to stay!  I hope you have a chance to get out & enjoy it tonight! :)

Pinning Cancer!

I hope that you have all had a wonderful start to you week!

Your child is coming home with flyer about about raising money for St. Jude Children's Hospital.

One of her students, Myles Putnam, is doing a fundraiser called Pinning Cancer to raise money for cancer research.  Mrs. Howard's class has decided to take this opportunity to do a whole school fundraiser.  We will be collecting coins (dollar bills are fine also) in the classroom to donate to St. Jude Children's Hospital.  The link below gives additional information about the fundraiser and also a place to donate if you would like to donate online.  Please do not feel obligated to donate by any means, but I wanted to share the information with you because the kids may come and talk about it.

https://getinvolved.pincancer.org/fundraise?fcid=593893

This week, we will be working on summarizing in reading, opinion writing, fractions in math and experimental design through plants in science.

Please remember to send a jacket with you kiddos  for recess - it can be very chilly in the mornings.

Have a wonderful evening!

Happy Friday!

We have had a wonderful week back from Spring Break!  So many fun things have happened.  I have uploaded the newsletter to the blog - make sure to read through it.  :)  There is an additional field trip scheduled, and information about what we are doing in reading, writing & math!

Science
Before we left for Spring Break, we designed an experiment to test whether or not plants need sun, water and soil to grow.  We talked about the importance of having a control (plant that we do not change anything) and on the other plants that we could only change one variable.  Yesterday we actually set up our experiment!! Miss Sullivan & Miss Steward lead us as we put together our experiment.

The kiddos had a lot of fun getting a little "dirty" while they planted.  Each group was responsible for one of the variable plants.  We will keep observing them each week to see how much the plants change.  Our hypothesis is that the plants with no soil, no light, extra water and no water will die.

All our flowers (except the one with no light - it's in the closet).

Mother's Day Singers
Yesterday we enjoyed listening to the Mother's Day Singers.  We learned some sign language to the song "The More We Get Together" and they even sang a song from Aladdin!!

Maker's Space

Today we had Maker's Space.  The kiddos really enjoyed building with K'Nex.  Some kiddos used the directions to make some items and others used their imaginations!!  Here are some pictures from today!!

Fractions

Today we started learning about fractions.  The kiddos enjoyed making fractions by cutting brownies in halves, thirds and fourths.  We then compared the fraction pieces to determine which fraction is smallest and which fraction is the biggest.  Even though 1/4 has a denominator (a new vocabulary word) of 4 and 4 is a big number the kiddos learned that it means that you have to share your brownie with 4 people and the brownie pieces are actually smaller than 1/2.

We also learned when you are talking about fractions you don't say I partitioned the brownie into "twos" instead you say halves.  Here is a video of the kids saying the fractions that we learned today! :)

MyOn Reading

We now have on display the student that has read the most on MyOn in each grade in our Media Center hallway.  Josselyn was the "Super Reader" for 2nd Grade for the month of March by logging the most hours on MyOn.  Congratulations Josselyn!!!  Please remember that your child can use MyOn to read books at home and is a wonderful way to drastically expand your home library. 

I hope you have a wonderful weekend! :)

Skippyjon Jones Play!! :)

Before we left on our field trip we had a discussion about Audience Etiquette (a new word we learned - so ask your kiddo about it!).  They did a wonderful job of coming up with examples & non-examples of Audience Etiquette.  Our class rose to the occasion and were wonderful audience members at the Skippyjon Jones: Cirque de Ole play today!!

The kiddos had SO much fun on our field trip today! :)  We weren't able to take pictures during the show but I was able to get a few before the show started.  Enjoy our pictures!  Also before the show started we had to wait on another school to arrive so we had a dance party.  Please don't judge my videoing skills but here is a video I shot. :)

When we got back from seeing Skippyjon Jones: Cirque de Ole we had a discussion that RBE's PTA gave us money to be able to go see the play.  We wrote a thank you note to our wonderful PTA.  We really appreciate everything that you do for our kiddos!!

We definitely are having a different type of day but we are enjoying ourselves!!!  I hope you are having a wonderful Hump Day - just like we are!!

Field Trip Tomorrow & Other Things! :)

I hope that you & your family had a wonderful Spring Break!  The kiddos were all very excited to share what they did over break.  We talked about it, drew a picture and wrote about it.  We will be having their writing and their pictures in the hallway, but they won't be hung together.  The goal is to match the writing to the correct picture because of all the wonderful details that were included! :)

Field Trip
We will be going to see Skippy Jon Jones play tomorrow.  We will be loading the bus at 8:45 and will be back around 11:00.  We will have a slightly later lunch tomorrow since we maybe back a little after 11:00.  The kiddos we have recess/lunch from 11:30-12:15 tomorrow instead of our normal time.  Please remember to ask your kiddos about the play tomorrow afternoon. :)

Math
We took our geometry/fraction pretest yesterday.  In this unit, we will work on identifying triangles, quadrilaterals, pentagons, and hexagons.  We will discuss the difference between a cube and a square.  The kiddos will also have to partition (evenly divide) shapes into halves, thirds and fourths, as well as, identify the fraction that is shaded.  This unit will take approximately 2 weeks.  Even though we aren't currently working on addition or subtraction please continue to practice these facts at home! :)

Reading
This week in reading we are working on visualizing.  This is a skill that helps the students to better understand the story.  The idea is that the students have a "movie" playing in their head as they read or have a story read to them.  As the kiddos advance as readers pictures are not as prevalent in books and visualization is important skill to help with comprehension.  We are practicing visualization through our read aloud book and various poems.

We are continuing to practice on using prefixes to help us identify the definition of words.  We have learned that re- is to do again, pre- is to do before, and un- is the opposite or not.  Have your kiddo find words that have prefixes in their reading and explain what the word means (examples: pregame is before the game, unhappy is not happy, or rearrange is to arrange again).  We have talked about the difference between a prefix and a compound word.  A prefix is a sound that is added to word to change the meaning, but a compound word is 2 words that are put together.

Writing
We are continuing our opinion writing unit.  For our next opinion writing the kiddos are writing about what the best pet is.  They will be conducting research and using their research to support their opinion.  They started looking at different pets today on PebbleGo (this is a great website with kid-friendly information) - many kiddos enjoy reading off this website and is a great place to find information!

Science
Before Spring Break, the kiddos designed an experiment to test what a plant needs to survive.  We had a conversation that we have been taught that, but we might not have evidence to back it up - proof.  Our experiment that we designed will give us the proof we need! :)  We talked about having a control and also variables.  We discussed the importance of only changing one variable so that we can identify what made the experiment successful or unsuccessful.  On Thursday, we will set up the experiment and make observations over the next few weeks to determine if our hypothesis is correct that plants need soil, water and light to survive.  

20 Stars Were Earned Again!!! :)
The kiddos worked hard and earned another 20 Stars today!!!  They were excited.  Our celebration today was iPad time.  Here are a few pictures. :)

Weather
Hopefully warmer weather will be here to stay shortly.  Please make sure your kiddo has a jacket with them for recess.  It is still chilly at our morning recess, especially with the wind on the playground.  It is harder to enjoy recess if they are cold.

Have a wonderful week, and as always, if you have any questions feel free to contact me!