Week 11

This week we got an extra hour of sleep and it’ll be lighter in the mornings!  I hope that brings with it some good rest and rejuvenation for the 2^nd graders, especially after a fun week with Halloween and harvest party!

Christian Studies:
This week in Christian Studies we’ll be learning about two very different people God chose to carry out His plan.  We’ll learn about Othniel, who God used to lead His people to victory, and we’ll learn about Ruth, who not only learned to love God and trust Him, but also was part of Jesus’ lineage.

Math:
This week in math we’ll finish up our module on three-digit numbers.  We’ll then start a module looking specifically at using place value within 1,000.  We’ll add and subtract 10 or 100, and use place value to identify and extend number patterns.

Language Arts:
This week our phonics concept is another diphthong: ou and ow.  We’ll practice spelling it with “ou” when it’s at the beginning or the middle of a word or syllable, and we’ll practice spelling it “ow” when it’s at the end, or when it’s followed by a single “l” or “n.”

In reading, we’ll compare and contrast two different states.  We’ll then discuss the elements of realistic fiction.  We’ll use reading strategies to closely read our new text: You Can’t Climb a Cactus.

Social Studies:

We’ll be continuing to look at government and leaders, focusing on the leaders of our local, state, and national governments.  We’ll then look at the three branches of government and their roles. 

Week 10

It was chilly this morning with that cold, biting wind!  I’ll be encouraging the kids to bring layers, waterproof jackets, and gloves or hats to bundle up.  I’m also encouraging the 2^nd graders to start becoming responsible for unpacking their folders.  Having them start to take on this responsibility will help them to start keeping track of their materials and bringing back their homework.

Free Dress Day:
2^nd grade has a free dress day on Thursday, October 31!  Please see page 29 of the parent/teacher handbook for guidelines for free dress days.  Note: Costumes are not allowed on free dress days.

Christian Studies:
This week in Christian Studies we’ll be learning about how God provides for His people, even when they don’t obey him and when they’re complaining to Him.  We’ll also learn about Israel learning to trust and obey God as they conquer Jericho and Canaan.

Math:
This week in math we’ll use expanded form to write three-digit numbers.  We’ll also write the number names, and then we’ll write and draw numbers in different ways.  We’ll be using place value to understand and use three-digit numbers.

Language Arts:
This week we’ll be looking at the diphthongs “oi” and “oy”.  We learned that the diphthong is spelled “oi” when it’s at the beginning or middle of a word or syllable, and it’s spelled “oy” when it’s at the end of a word or syllable.

We’ll also be doing a close reading of poetry that we read last week, and we’ll be analyzing the format, rhythm, and rhyme in the poems.

Science:
We finished off our science unit on Monday!  We checked a partner’s map against their model.  Then the kids used what they learned to describe the differences between liquid and solid water.  They also showed where ice and snow are found on Earth.

Social Studies:
We’re starting our social studies unit on Leaders and Government.  We’ll talk about citizens and their rights and responsibilities.  We’ll also discuss what a government is and we’ll discuss its purpose.

Week 9

We're back after a 5 day weekend, and the weather finally seems to be changing.  I'll be encouraging the 2^nd graders to be cognizant of the weather and to come dressed accordingly.

Extra Credit:
The students had an opportunity for some math and reading extra credit.  The extra credit is due by Tuesday, October 22, if they chose to do any of it.

Christian Studies:
This week in Christian Studies we’ll be learning about how the Israelites, despite having just seen God’s power on Mount Sinai, made a golden idol to worship.  We’ll learn about God’s forgiveness and we’ll discuss things that we sometimes put before God.  We’ll also learn about God’s instructions to the Israelites for building the tabernacle.

Math:
This week in math we’ll be representing three-digit numbers, we’ll break them up into hundreds, tens, and ones, and we’ll use the place value to write three-digit numbers in expanded form.  We’ll finish off the week with a practice test and a test on this concept.

Language Arts:
Our phonics instruction this week will be a review of previous concepts: three-consonant blends, schwa, and the Bossy R combinations that say /er/: er, ir, and ur.

In reading, we’ll dive into some poetry and will read and discuss a few different poems.  We’ll look at the patterns and structures in the poetry and will learn that poetry doesn’t follow one particular pattern.

Science:
We’ll be finishing off our science unit this week and next.  We’ve already made a model with some patterns of land and water; this week, the students will be creating a legend and then mapping their model.  They’ll create their map and swap with a partner to have them check their map.

Week 8

We have a really short week this week, but it will be filled with fun learning!

No School Wednesday-Friday:
We have school Monday and Tuesday this week, then no school Wednesday-Friday so the teachers can attend the Northwest District Educators Conference.

Spirit Wear Last Day!
Our spirit wear last day will be on Tuesday this week!

Christian Studies:
This week we’ll read about the 10 Commandments and we’ll discuss how they apply to our lives.

Math:
We’ll begin our next module on hundreds, tens, and ones this week.  We’ll be grouping tens as hundreds, then we’ll work with three-digit numbers and understand place value.

Science:
We’ll look at maps around the world and throughout history.  Then we’ll discuss the symbols used in the maps we examine, getting us ready to create our own maps of our models next week!

Language Arts:
No spelling or phonics this week, but we’ll do a week of reviewing concepts next week.

We’ll read our informational text, Places We Go.  We’ll do a first reading of the text, then we’ll do a close read.  Through our close read, we’ll pick out the main topic of each section and supporting details.

Week 7

This is the week before Fall Fest and our final push to raise money for all of the things that will positively impact our students!  All Fall Fest packets are due back on Friday, October 11, whether or not any money was raised, so please return them if you have it!

Free Dress Day!

2^nd grade ONLY has a free dress day on Thursday, October 10!  Look for a note coming home today with more information!

Pumpkin Day!

The pumpkin patch is coming to BL for K-3 grades!  The kids will spend Friday morning choosing a pumpkin, decorating it, playing pumpkin games, and having a special pumpkin snack!

Christian Studies:

This week in Christian Studies we’ll continue chronologically through the Old Testament.  We’ll first learn how God delivered His people from slavery in Egypt.  We’ll also talk about Mose and Miriam’s response to being delivered—their songs.  We’ll discuss how these stories apply to our own lives.

Math:

In math this week, we’ll continue looking at graphs.  We’ll interpret bar graphs, and then we’ll make bar graphs to represent data.  We’ll finish off the week with a test on picture and bar graphs.

Language Arts:
This week we’ll examine our last Bossy R combination that says /er/--ur.  We’ll practice spelling words with Bossy R ur and will keep practicing our new red words for the week.

We’ll also start a new text.  We’ll start by looking at people who help their communities.  Then we’ll learn about the genre informational text.  Then we’ll read our new text: Places We Go. 

Science:

In science we’ll talk about where we can find ice and snow on Earth.  Then the students will plan out where they will put ice and snow on their models.  We’ll also start to examine patterns that we can find on Earth dealing with land and water, then we’ll add some of those patterns to our models.

Week 6

Midterm is at the end of this week, meaning we’re already 1/6 of the way through the school year!  It’s been fun to see the progress the class has made already!  We moved spots last week, so the kids are settling in to a new arrangement and we’ve gotten our routines down!

Picture Day!
Picture day is Thursday, October 3.  Packets went home last week, but if you need another, you can either pick one up in the office or let me know and I’ll send one home with your child.  Even if you don’t order pictures, each child will get their picture taken for the yearbook!  I'm happy to hold onto picture packets until Thursday, so feel free to send them in early, if they're ready!

Christian Studies:
This week in Christian Studies we’ll be talking about Joseph forgiving his brothers, and we’ll relate that forgiveness to the way God forgives us.  We’ll also talk about God calling Moses and we’ll talk about how God calls us to do His work.

Math:
This week in math we’ll be finishing up our module on equal groups and starting our new module on collecting and showing data.  We’ll be taking data via a survey, and we’ll interpret and draw picture graphs.

Language Arts:
This week’s phonics concept is Bossy R -ir.  This is the second most common way to spell the sound /er/.  The kids picked up on last week’s Bossy R concept really quickly, so I have no doubt they’ll do a good job with this one!

We’ll also be looking at our story Maybe Something Beautiful and analyzing the story through close reading to discuss realistic fiction and focusing on the characters.

Science:
We categorized land last week, and this week we’ll use the types of land that we learned about to start our models of land and water.  This week we’ll add two types of land.  After we learn about types of water, we’ll add two types of water to our models and they’ll grow as we learn more.

Week 5

We have a short, but full, week ahead of us!

No School Friday:
We have no school on Friday for a professional day.  Please plan accordingly!

Fall Fest Fundraising:
Our Fall Fest fundraising is in full swing!  Envelopes can be turned in each day, and they will be returned to you.  We’re well on our way to our first incentive: spirit wear last day!  As soon as we earn it, I’ll let you know!

Christian Studies:
We’re moving through the Old Testament, and this week we’ll discuss Jacob and Esau.  We get the interesting perspective of examining the brothers years after Jacob tricks Isaac and Esau.  We’ll discuss forgiveness and link it to our forgiveness from God.  We’ll also learn how God works everything for His good, even bad things, as we discuss Joseph and some of the injustices he had to deal with.

Math:
This week in math we’ll examine odd and even numbers, using equations to represent equal groups.  We’ll also work with arrays and use addition to find the total.

Language Arts:
This week our phonics concept is Bossy R (er).  Over the next few weeks, we’ll also look at ir and ur, but this is the most common of the Bossy R combinations that says /er/.

In reading we’ll discuss ways we can make our neighborhood a better place.  We’ll also examine the characteristics of realistic fiction and find those characteristics in our text for the week: Maybe Something Beautiful.

Science:
Now that we’ve introduced the unit and the students have had a chance to show me what they know about making a map to show land and water, we’ll dive in to categorizing different types of land and discussing their characteristics.  The students will also choose two types of land to add to their clay model.