2nd Week of 2nd Grade!! :)

We have had an INCREDIBLE 2nd week of 2nd grade!!  The kiddos have done an incredible job of establishing classroom routine and expectations.  This week we have started diving further into our learning objectives and I am so super impressed with how well they have done!

Math
This week in math, we reviewed different strategies that can be used to solve addition problems.  These different strategies are: drawing a quick picture (with circles), tally marks, part-part-whole, number bonds, tens frames, number line, and the commutative property of addition (the idea that you can flip-flop the two addends and the answer is still the same).  Mrs. Ross & I were super impressed with how much the kiddos remembered how to apply these strategies to solving addition problems!  We also worked on solving and writing our own addition word problems!  Below are some examples of some the strategies we practiced this week. :)

Example of part-part-whole

Example of number bond

Example of a tens frame

Example of a number line

Next week in math, we will learn about different strategies to solve subtraction problems.  These strategies will be: picture, number line, part-part-whole, and fact families.

Reading

In reading, we started talking about a character's physical traits (what they look on the outside) versus their character traits (their personality or how they are in the inside).  We read The Recess Queen which was about Mean Jean the Recess Queen and made a "T Chart" to make a list of Jean's character and physical traits.

We also got to start our first chapter book read aloud on Thursday.  We are reading How to Eat Fried Worms!  We have extended our character trait conversation into our read aloud.  Next week, we will continue to talk about character traits in books that we have read.  The kiddos are 

Writing

This week, we talked about what a small moment story is.  The kiddos had a chance to write a small moment using all their knowledge from 1st grade.  Then, they selected a new topic to write about.  Next week, we will be starting think about the beginning of our story by writing a descriptive setting.

Fun Friday

Today was our first Fun Friday Afternoon!!! :)  

• Science: First, we completed a fun science experiment to teach the kiddos about the Scientific Method.  Our experiment was titled "Dancing Raisins."  Be sure to ask your child what made the raisins "dance" in the soda.  We learned about carbonation in the soda and that the bubble "attach" to the raisins.  The bubbles make the raisins float to the top of the soda and then pop as they fall back down.We also tested it with Craisins and dried blueberries to find out they had the same results.  We discussed making a hypothesis and that you base your hypothesis on things you already know.  We also discussed how the goal of the experiment is to answer a question.  Our question today was "What happens when you put raisins in  clear soda?"  You can check out the pictures here.  
• Social Studies: We started our first unit today over maps.  We read a book called Gingerbread Man, Loose in the School, about a  class who went off and left a gingerbread man all alone, and he then went on a tour of the school to find his class.  Then we went on a tour of the school and filled in a map of what RBE looks like.  We had a discussion about what made filling out a map easy or difficult.  Next week, we will continue our conversation about what is a map and what needs to be included in a map.

Math Wizard

We took our 2nd math wizard test this week.  The graded test is in your child's Friday Folder.  This is our weekly fact practice test.  They have 3 minutes to complete at least 46 problems correctly.  We encourage the students to practice their facts at home.  It is important for them to know their facts "in a snap."

Library Checkout

We had out first library checkout this week.  They are allowed to check out any books that they wanted.  We had a conversation about the importance of having at least 2 of the books that they check out to be books that they can read independently.  We talked about one of the books can be a a book to be read with someone at home, if they would like, so it could be a little harder.  Please help your kiddo remember to bring his/her library books back to school of Tuesday.!  :)

Pizza Party Money

Thank you to everyone who has sent in their money for our 2 trimester pizza parties.  If you haven't sent in your money, just a reminder, it is $5 and that covers both trimester parties.  Also, thank you to everyone who has volunteered to send in fruits, chips, drinks, or cookies for the parties! :)

Friday Folders

The kids did an awesome job bringing their Friday Folders back this week.  Thank you for signing them and getting them back to your child.  The folders are in your child's backpack again this week.  Please take the time to go over the papers inside.  Some folders have important papers that need to be signed & returned to the office.  Also, there are some RBE Chicken BBQ paperwork inside also.  This is our big PTA fundraiser for our school - so please look through some of the different ways that you can help to support our school.

PE
We have PE on Monday and Friday next week - so make sure your kiddo is wearing his/her tennis shoes!

Have a wonderful weekend!