Different Kind of Week

We have had a different kind of week, but the even with school being a little out of routine, the kiddos did great!  Thank you for a wonderful Special Family & Friends Day.  I know that the students being able to show off what they are doing in Music & Media was a wonderful opportunity.

Read Week!

We have a tradition at RBE that the first full week in March we celebrate the joy of reading!  So Read Week will be March 5-9.  We will have a different themed dress-up day as a school.  Students will have an opportunity to design a bookmark, and we have times throughout the week that we will "drop everything and read."

Will You Be a Mystery Reader?

Another fun tradition is to have Mystery Readers come in to our classroom and read.  We would LOVE to have you (or other family members & friends) to come share a favorite book from your house (or we can provide one for you)!  We have a variety of openings throughout the week (Monday-Thursday) for readers to come in and read to the class.  Please check out the SignUp Genius with the dates/time slots that we have available - click here for the SignUp Genius.  Sometimes, mystery readers like to bring in a snack to share that goes along with the book - this is completely optional, but if you would like to do this please make sure that it is peanut/tree nut free.

2nd Trimester Pizza Party Celebration

On Friday, March 2, we will have our 2nd Trimester Pizza Party!  Students will get 2 slices of cheese pizza, chips, fruit/veggie and a dessert.  They can bring a drink from home if they would like.  It needs to be 20 ounces or less and no glass.  If they do not bring a drink, we will have cups for water.

Reminders:

• Yearbook: If you are wanting to order a yearbook for your child, you have to place your order by February 28.  Yearbooks are $7.00.  You can either turn in your form with money or you can order online - if you want to order a yearbook click here.
• Six Flags Read to Succeed: If your child is wanting to participate in Read to Succeed and earn a free 6 Flags ticket, the reading log is due on March 1.  Please make sure to sign the log at the bottom.  Remind your child that the form is in their folder, so that it gets turned in because no late forms will be accepted.
• Family Eat Out Opportunities to Support RBE:
• March 1-3 at Jersey Mike Subs - If you want more information check out the flyer by clicking here.  Coming home in your child's Friday Folder is a Jersey Mike's Sub card for a regular sub with a donation of at least $2.00 for RBE PTA.  It says FREE Sub but we wanted to make sure that you knew that there has to be a DONATION to receive the sub.
• March 6 is McTeacher Night at McDonalds on Nifong (4:00-8:00) - If you want to check out the flyer click here.
• Countdown to Kindergarten: If you have a child who will be entering kindergarten in the fall or if you know someone, check out the flyer about enrollment on March 8 from 4:00-6:00.  If you want more information click here.
• Summer School: If you are wanting your child to attend summer school, please fill out the enrollment paper that was handed out at conferences or you can enroll online by clicking here.
• Summer Enrichment:  If you are looking for additional summer opportunities for your child you can check out CPS Enrichment Summer School which is July 10-27.  You can check out the information by clicking here.

What's Been Happening in 2nd Grade?

• Math: This week, we focused on different strategies of adding multi-digit numbers.  We talked about using base ten blocks to help us add larger numbers, and adding together partial sums.  Below you will find an example of both of these strategies.  Next week, we will be finishing up Unit 6 and taking our end of unit test.  We will also be starting Unit 7 which will work on adding numbers, data collection, and measurement.

This example shows using base ten (place value blocks) to solve a three digit plus a three digit number.

This example shows adding together partial sums to solve a two digit number.

• Writing: This week, we picked two topics that are similar (example: two animals, two people, two countries, etc.) for our "Which is Better" research project.  The students put their researching skills into practice on Thursday and Friday by researching not one but two topics!  If you aren't following us on Twitter (@MossRBE) you missed out on our Tweet & pictures about this - so start following us or look at the sidebar on the right of our blog page to see what you've been missing!
• Reading: This week, we have continued to focus on identifying the main idea of nonfiction passages and articles and the supporting details.  We talked about the main idea being like the surface of the table and the supporting details the legs of the table.  The students have a good understanding of this concept!  Next week, we will look at fictional texts and begin to have a conversation about theme.

• Word Study: This week, we looked at different long i vowel patterns (igh, y & CVCe words).  Next week, we will continue our conversation about long i vowel patterns.  Next weeks words will look at the patterns igh, icc, and y.  Next week's words are: light, sight, fright, fight, wild, kind, child, wind, fry & spy.
• Science/Social Studies: Next week, we will be starting to have a conversation about geography.  We will be looking at a world map and talking about temperature.  We will also talk about where water is found on Earth and by thinking of the location explaining why the water would be likely to be salt or fresh, warm or cold, and solid or liquid.

Informational Book Writing Celebration

This afternoon, we had an opportunity to share the informational books that we worked so incredibly hard on!  The students were placed in small groups and they read out loud their books.  The students shared out facts that they learned from what other student's studied.  Since there was a "hole" lot that they "donut" know about animals that they wanted to learn, at the end everyone had a chance to celebrate their hard work by enjoying donut holes!  The informational book that the students wrote are coming home in his/her backpack.

Free Read Friday

After library checkout, we always have an opportunity to read for 30 minutes.  Today they enjoyed their books, and just looked so cute reading that I wanted to share a few photos!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Conferences, Parties, Learning Oh My!

We have had an absolutely AMAZING week in Moss world this week!  We have had a week full of conferences, a Valentine's Day party and so much learning!

Reminders:

• Book Fair opened this week!  You can shop tonight until 7:00 pm, 8:00-11:00 am on Friday (2/16), and 7:30 am-3:00 pm on Tuesday (2/20) for Special Family and Friends Day.  Your child had an opportunity to fill out a wish list earlier this week.
• Student Banner will be hung early next week!  If you have not turned in your child's student banner please send it to school on Tuesday. We want for every child to be included.  If you need another copy you can click here to print it off.  If we had not received your child's banner as of Thursday afternoon, we sent a new one home in your child's Friday Folder.  We know that we were meeting with some of you this evening, but just wanted to make sure that everyone had a banner that could be easily found over the weekend.
• No school on Monday due to President's Day.
• Special Family & Friends Day is Tuesday (2/20) at 1:35 for second grade.  Family members and friends are welcome to come to this showcase the students will be at specials at 1:35.  You will have an opportunity to visit your child in Music with Mrs. Sharp and in Media with Mr. Reeder.  If you would like to have a chance to take your child to the Book Fair you can arrive at 1:15 to have a chance to shop before specials (you can shop afterwards also).  If your child will be leaving with his/her special family and friend (who is not a parent) please email me or send a note that the child has permission to leave.
• Decade Day is on Friday (2/23).  What decade will your child dress up like?
• If you are wanting to order a yearbook for your child they are $7.  Order form and money are due by February 28.
• Your child's 6 Flag Read to Succeed form is due by March 1 - no late forms will be accepted!

Look At What's Been Happening in 2nd Grade!

• Math: This week, we continued to focus on learning different strategies to solve word problems. Word problems can be tricky because students have to pull out the important information and use the clues to figure out what they are solving for.  Next week, we will talk about different strategies to solve 2-digit by 2-digit addition.
• Writing: Yay!!!! All students are finished publishing their first informational story!!  We will have a share fair to celebrate their hard work next week and then this writing will be coming home with your child in his/her Friday Folder - so be on the lookout for it.  Next week, we will start our combined informational writing and opinion writing topic "Which is Better" - similar to the Who Would Win book series.  The students will have an opportunity to choose two topics that are similar (jobs, famous people, animals, countries, etc.).  We will research both topics, and then write a book telling what we learned, and then incorporate an opinion paragraph telling which they think is better.  This is a BIG project and the students will end up with a 12 paragraph book.  Last year the kiddos LOVED this project and some of the first grade classes came and walked through our share fair - so they are already excited to get to do this!
• Online Research: We learned a new writing research strategy a few weeks ago from Mrs. Howard, and tried it out this week!  The students chose a topic that they wanted to learn about from PebbleGo (an online resource).  They wrote down their topic and headings on their paper.  Then they had to take their paper to the other side of the classroom (we had laptops on one side and papers on the other).  The students read through a paragraph at least 2 times to learn about their topic.  Then they had to walk to their paper on the other side of the room to write down their facts. The idea behind this research strategy is that the kiddos are putting their facts into their own words and not just copying facts from their source. This worked out great and we will be continue to do this strategy during their research next week.  It was just an added bonus they got be moving around while they researching!

• Reading: We started talking about what the main idea and supporting details of nonfiction text.  We read an article about the planet Mars and then the students had to identify that the main idea of the article was Mars and what the supporting details of the text were.  We saw that all of our supporting facts had the word Mars in, so we realized that it was important that the supporting details all relate back to the main idea.  Next week, we will continue to work on this strategy.
• Word Study: We are continuing to focus on long vowel words.  This week we talked about the vowel team of "ee" and "ea."  Next week, we will look at long i vowel patterns of igh, y, and CVCe.  The spelling words for next week are: might, bright, high, night, sky, dry, try, why, rise, write.

Valentine's Day 

What better way to start off Valentine's Day than doing Conversation Heart math!  The kiddos used their skills of estimation, graphing, ordering from greatest to least, and practicing adding/subtracting with their hearts.  

Before the Valentine's Day Party Mrs. Neale came in to read to us.  She read I Love You Forever and Penguin in Love.

WOW!  What a great party!  We have been so lucky to have parent volunteers and donations to make our parties a success.  Here are the pictures as promised from the party yesterday - click here to see them!

It is at this time, after meeting with families and having an opportunity to reflect on the learning that has taken place during the first two-thirds of our year, that I get to confirm that I am truly lucky to be a part of this learning community!  I appreciate everyone taking time out of their day to come and visit about your student progress with us, and I look forward to another wonderful last three months with you!  Please remember, that if you need anything from me - just ask!

I hope that you have a wonderful weekend!

Fantastic Friday

This week has been a different type of week and we have found out the importance of routines this week!  We have been focusing on re-establishing expectations throughout the day.

A shout out to the kiddos and Mrs. Neale for making us feel so loved!  We were kicked out of our room today and when we we came back we had a surprise in store for us...checkout our super sweet surprise below! We can't wait to get laminated and hung in our classroom!

Happy Counselor Week to Mr. Smith!  He is an amazing counselor and we are lucky to have him.  The kiddos made a banner for him today!

Special Things Happening

Over the next couple of weeks we have a variety of special things happening!

Parent/Teacher Conferences & Book Fair

We have had wonderful parent/teacher conferences this week and are looking forward to meeting with everyone else next week!  The Book Fair will open next week!  I got a teacher preview this afternoon and there are a lot of variety of books - that I know that the kiddos will LOVE!  I hope that you plan a time to come and check it out!

Monday 2/12 7:30 AM-5:00 PM

Tuesday 2/13 7:30 AM-5:00 PM

Wednesday 2/14 7:30 AM-5:00 PM

Thursday 2/15 7:30 AM-7:00 PM

Friday 2/16 8:00 AM -11:00 AM

*Tuesday 2/20 7:30 AM-3:00 PM* -Special Friends and Family Day!

Special Family & Friends Day

Special Family & Friends Day is Tuesday, February 20.  On this day family & friends are invited to go to specials with their student's class.  Second grade specials are from 1:35-2:25.  Mottaz students will start at Music and then go to Media, and Ross students will start at Media and then go to Music.  With specials being at the end of the day, if your child's special family and friend would like to take your child to the Book Fair visitors are welcome to arrive at school by 1:15 to take students to the Book Fair.  The Book Fair will also be open after school.  If your child's special family or friend will be taking your child home at the end of the day, please make sure that you write a note or send us an email!

2nd Trimester Student Banner

As a reminder, continue to bring in your child's Student Banner to your Parent/Teacher Conference.  The ones that we have received so far are great!  This is a fun way to celebrate all your child's accomplishments over the first two trimesters of school.  If you need a new copy of the banner you can click here or email me.

Valentine's Day

I cannot believe that the middle of February is next week and that means Valentine's Day is on Wednesday!  

Class Party

Our class party will be on February 14 at 1:45-2:30.  If you have not already signed up for party items or to volunteer to assist at a station click here to sign up!  

Valentine Exchange

We will have an opportunity to exchange Valentines BEFORE the class party.

• If you child will like to participate in exchanging Valentines, there are two options.  Your child can exchange with students only in his/her homeroom class (23 students) or with student in both classes (46 students).  We only ask that your send Valentines for the entire class - please do not let you child pick & choose who s/he wants to sent Valentines to.
• Please do not address the Valentines (do not fill in the "To) and only fill in the the "From" line.
• We will be exchanging Valentines BEFORE the party, so please make sure that you send any Valentines with your child at the BEGINNING of the day.

Valentine Mailbox

We will give all students the opportunity to decorate a bag to be their Valentine collector.  However, if your child would like to design a Valentine mailbox s/he can.  This is not a requirement, but some families enjoy doing this together.  If your child would like to have a Valentine Mailbox from home please send it to school Wednesday morning of Valentine's Day (please do not send them in earlier because we do not have space to keep them).

Look At What Happened in Moss World This Week

• Math: We started Unit 6 this week.  We talked about how to collect data using tally marks, and different ways to display data (pictograph and bar graphs).  We also continued to talk about different strategies to solve word problems.  Word problems can be a hard concept for second graders because they have to not only pull the important information from the problem, but they also have to figure out how to solve the problem.  Below are some examples of how we are working on solving word problems.  Next week, we will continue to work on solving word problems.

• Writing: The kiddos continued working EXTREMELY hard on their informational writing and almost all the students have finished publishing their writing!  We can't wait to have a writing celebration for all their hard work!  Next week, we will introduce to the students their second informational writing topic - it's a Who Would Win topic!  They will get to choose two of something that are similar (animals, people, countries, etc.)
• Reading: We reviewed a variety of comprehension strategies this week through read aloud.  Next week, we will focus on identifying the main idea of nonfiction texts.
• Word Study: Next week, we are continuing to work on long vowel patterns.  We will focus on long e words that have "ee" and "ea."  Next week words are: feet, keep, teeth, sweep, week, mean, team, heat clean & weak.
• Science: We finished up our ecosystem study this week by having the students create Venn diagrams of two different ecosystems without the headings.  Then the student went around and had to try to figure out the missing headings.  It was a fun way to end the unit.  This paper along with your child's individual exit slip is coming home in your child's Friday Folder - make sure to ask him/her about it this weekend!

I hope that you have a wonderful weekend and stay warm!