Week 4

We have a fun week ahead, and it looks like we’ll have some nice weather, too!  With no school on Friday for a professional development day, our memory work and spelling tests will be on Thursday this week.  I’ll be giving the students extra time in class to study, so I hope they use their time wisely!

Fall Fest Quick Start!
Our Fall Fest Quick Start assembly is this Wednesday afternoon!  Fundraising envelopes will come home that afternoon and will be collected for the first time on Monday!

School Picnic:
Join us on Thursday night for our church/school picnic from 5-6!  If your last name ends in A-M, please bring a side dish; if your last name ends in N-Z, please bring fruit or a dessert.  I hope you see you there!

School Pictures:
Pictures are this Thursday!  Picture packets went home last week.  If you need a new packet, you can either pick one up in the office or let me know and I’ll send another one home. 

Christian Studies:
This week in Christian Studies we’ll talk about God testing Abraham, and we’ll discuss how this story points to Jesus.  We’ll also talk about “provision” and how God provides for us.  Then we’ll learn about Isaac and Rebekah (my namesake) and how God uses their sinful choices and brokenness for His plan and His glory.

Math:
This week in math we’ll finish our first module on adding and subtracting fluently, using properties and strategies.  We’ll take our test, then we’ll start on our next module.  We’ll identify even and odd numbers.

Language Arts:
This week our phonics concept is “schwa.”  It’s the most common vowel sound in the English language, but it makes spelling tricky!  Our test words will come from the 15 words we practice on days 1-3 of our dictation practice.  We’ll also have the same words on our practice test as we will on our test.  We’ve been practicing finding the stressed and unstressed syllables in our words by pretending the words are the names of our dogs and practicing calling their names.  So, for “bacon,” we’d shout, “BA-con!”  The schwa is always in the unstressed syllable.

Science:
This week I’m hoping to get to our first lesson in our science unit, which will explore what the students already know about land and water on Earth, and how maps can show them.

Week 3

I’m excited to finally have a full week of school!  This week we’ll really start to get moving, now that we know the routines and procedures.

Christian Studies:
This week we’ll learn about the Flood, and we’ll talk about God’s grace and His plan throughout all of history.  We’ll also briefly learn about Sodom and Gomorrah.  We’ll discuss God’s law, but we’ll also talk about the Gospel.  We’ll also practice building a prayer and praying it.

Math:
This week in math, we’ll continue with practicing addition and subtraction to become more fluent.  We’ll relate addition and subtraction, then we’ll use mental strategies to help us subtract.  After that, we’ll make a ten to add, then we’ll use a tens fact to subtract.  This week is about the students learning and practicing many strategies so they can apply whichever ones make sense for them and the problem on which they’re working.

Language Arts:
This week’s phonics concept is three-letter blends.  We’ll add those blends to other rules the students have mastered to create more complex words.

In reading, we’ll learn about the characteristics of realistic fiction texts.  We’ll use those characteristics to identify realistic fiction, as well as to help us understand the story on a deeper level.

Science:
We’ll begin our first science unit this week.  Our unit is called What Can Maps Tell Us About Land and Water on Earth?  We’ll talk about safety in science, and then the students will show me what they already know about maps and how they show land and water.

Week 2

I hope everyone had a wonderful long weekend and that there was lots of rest and relaxation!  We’re still settling into our normal routine in 2^nd grade, but I’m noticing the kids picking up on the schedule and on our transitions really quickly!

Christian Studies:
This week we’ll start our Christian Studies books.  In 2^nd grade, we learn our stories chronologically, so we’ll start the week learning about Creation and how sin entered the world.  From the very beginning, God promised to send Jesus to save us from our sins, and we’ll talk about that promise and look ahead to Him coming.

Math:
We’ll do our STAR math test on Tuesday, which will give me some valuable insight into where the 2^nd graders are starting the year and which concepts they need some extra review on.  It’s also a great way for me to track their progress in math throughout the year.  Then we’ll start in on our first module, which is fluency in addition and subtraction within 20.  We’ll use doubles facts to add and use mental strategies and properties to add more fluently.

Language Arts:
This week’s phonics concept is contractions.  It’s a review of a first grade concept, which will not only get them settled in to our phonics routine, but also provide some extra practice on a tough skill.  We’ll also have three review red words: been, our, other.  Look for the family connection letter each week with some information about the concept and practice ideas!

We’ll also be starting to look at our reading book.  This week we’ll read How Many Stars in the Sky? and we’ll use that book to practice comprehension strategies, such as diving into the setting of the book.

Fri-Yay!

We finished off our first week strong!  I am so impressed with these 2nd graders!

We had our first memory work test today.  I am very understanding when it comes to memory work--I do not grade spelling, and I am fairly fluent in 2nd grade phonetic spelling. ;)  It is not meant to be high-stress--as long as they show that they know the Bible verse, I am happy.

 

The students also took a math placement test today.  This test is low-key and serves to give me an idea of where the students are starting the year in their knowledge of math and its vocabulary.

 

After lunch, they had their first Spanish class of the year.  Ask them what they did!

 

The students also did another Math-a-Minute, which is a timed math test with 15 math facts on it.  They start on +0 (with all of the math problems adding 0), and work their way up.  They have one minute to complete the test.  If they don't finish, or if they get one wrong, they have the chance to do it again the next time we do Math-a-Minutes.  This is intended to help the students become fluent in their math facts.  I encourage them to do their best, I assure them that they will oftentimes have to do a Math-a-Minute more than once before they pass, and I remind them they aren't to share which one they're on with their friends.  It's a competition for themselves only. :)

 

Then we discussed our "Purple Hand Pledge," which is: I will not use my hands or my words for hurting myself or others.  We talked about what this means and how we can show that in everyday life.  Then we made our own purple hands, which will be displayed on our door for the whole year to remind us of this promise that we're making to each other.

 

We did our next daily language review, and this time they had a chance to do more of it independently.  We went over it together so we’re prepared to do it independently next week.

   

Have a blessed, restful weekend!  No school on Monday!

Thursday, September 3

Volunteer opportunities are still available!  We have lunch parents signed up for every day of the week (thank you so much!), but I'm always glad to have more than one person in the classroom at lunchtime, so let me know if you'd like to double up with someone!  I'd also love to have one more person help out with library on Thursdays from 1:45-2:30--let me know if you'd like to help out with that!

Today was another full day of learning procedures, getting to know each other, and getting into our routine.

We started the day off with P.E.  If your student hasn’t brought in their gym shoes yet, please do so by next week!

Then we did our first Math-a-Minute.  This is a timed, one minute test that helps students become more fluent in their addition math facts.  They have one minute to correctly answer 15 addition problems.  It starts with +0 and, as they pass them, moves up.  This is an individual thing—they move at their own pace and it is not part of their math grade. 

We also took our STAR reading test today.  This test gives me some valuable information about your child's reading fluency and comprehension.  I will send these reports home when all students have tested.  Please know, I understand that we are coming off of months of summer and they are still adjusting to a new class and teacher--these scores are just a starting place. I have other tools for assessing your student's reading skills and use many different observations and tools in order to assess your student.

We settled into silent reading, checking out classroom library books (which will stay at school).  I was impressed how quietly and responsibly the second graders looked for books and handled them!

We also wrote in our Interactive Journals for the first time.  Interactive Journals are an informal way for me to get to know the students on a more personal level.  They aren't graded, and they serve as a weekly dialogue between me and your student.  I love doing them and know that they're a good use of our time!

After recess, we did a practice memory work test (their first memory work test is TOMORROW).  We went over this together and is coming home today.  They can use this to help them study and prepare for tomorrow.

We ended the day by listening to The Rainbow Fish.  This story teaches a lesson about being generous and looking beyond yourself.  We’ll also use this story for our first book report.

Thank you so much for sharing your 2nd grader with me this year!  I am thoroughly enjoying each day!

 

First FULL DAY of School!

It was a fun, long day in 2nd grade today!  Be prepared for your 2nd grader to come home tired!  (I know they wore me out!)

We started off with a tour of our desk and a tour of the classroom so we could get acquainted with the important things we'll be using throughout the year. Then we reviewed some procedures and took a look at our classroom blog.

 

After recess, we learned about the jobs in our classroom and what they all entail.  Ask them which job they’re most excited about!

 

Next, we did our first “morning work” page together.  Every morning, the second graders will have a daily language review to complete independently; then we’ll go over it together some mornings.  In order to get them comfortable doing them independently, we did the first one together today.

  

I also did an All About Mrs. Picker presentation so they could get to know more about me, beyond just what they see in the classroom.  The presentation ended with a game--since I'm an identical twin, I took childhood pictures of me and my twin sister and had the students guess which one was me.  Ask them how well they did!  (I usually get several wrong!)

 

After that, we discussed our classroom rules: 1. Show respect, 2. Make good decisions, and 3. Solve problems.  We discussed what these look like in the classroom, and we all signed the rules, agreeing to follow them throughout the year.

 

We ended the day by decorating a leaf that will become part of our door decoration.  Then we packed up and were introduced to our read aloud: The Tale of Despereaux, then heading to P.E.  If you haven’t sent your second grader’s gym shoes with them yet, please do that ASAP.  They’ll stay at school for the year. 

 

Have a restful, low-key night!

First Day of School!

What a great start to the year we had today!

We started off the day with chapel.  Pastor Josh and Mr. Haan shared a great message about our theme this year: Rooted in Christ based on Colossians 2:6-7.

After chapel, your student learned about their homework sheet.  This week the reading log is blue and it is extra credit (this week only)--I am giving them a chance to get familiar with it and get in the habit of keeping it in their homework folder.  If your child reads for 20 minutes each night, please initial for the night.  They will bring their sheet back each day.

Then we had a chance to go out to recess.  They got to explore the basketball courts, softball field, and Gaga Ball pit.  Ask them what they did at recess!

After recess, the 2nd graders learned some procedures to help our classroom move smoothly.  We discussed our morning routine, how and when to use the restroom, how to make sure they have all the materials they need, and what to do to end our day.

We packed up and talked about how our dismissal procedure works.  It was a whirlwind of a day!

Reminder:  We have P.E. for the first time tomorrow.  Please remember to have your 2nd grader bring their gym shoes ASAP!  Thanks!

Note:  I will be updating the blog each day this week, but will update less frequently after that--about once a week for the rest of the year.  Just so you're prepared. :)